Written Answers Nos. 375-394
375. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the official State recognition of partners that have been long-term cohabiters but are not yet married; the position regarding financial assistance and tax credits available to a person in such a situation upon the death of partner prior to marriage; her plans to examine the issue further; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27529/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraClaimants with cohabiting partners are recognised within the social welfare system as having additional needs in cases where their cohabiting partner is financially dependent upon them. The payment of an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) in addition to the personal rate of payment reflects these additional household needs.
The IQA is payable in respect of a person who is wholly or mainly maintained by the customer, subject to a means test, regardless of whether the couple are married or not.
Where one member of a cohabiting couple claims a means-tested social assistance payment, their partner's income is taken into account in the means test.
However, entering into a marriage or civil partnership is a legal act, which confers both rights and obligations on both parties, which do not exist in a legal sense between cohabiting couples.
Widows, widowers and surviving civil partners, who become bereaved, therefore, in addition to their personal loss, also lose someone who had legal duties towards them. In some cases, those legal duties were, in part, financial in nature, and the social welfare code recognises that potential loss by providing a pension to them, subject to certain conditions.
A surviving cohabitant who was not married to their deceased former partner may be entitled to other social welfare payments, depending on their particular circumstances, if he or she has an income need, e.g., One-Parent Family Payment, Jobseekers Allowance or Working Family Payment. Payment of Child Benefit would continue, where applicable.
In terms of other income supports, supplementary welfare allowance is a means-tested weekly payment which provides a basic income support to eligible people whose means are insufficient to meet their needs.
The social welfare system has evolved over time and in response to a variety of factors, including Constitutional imperatives as interpreted by the Courts, changing social trends and EU Directives.
The income tax arrangements and associated legislation for married couples, civil partners and cohabiting couples are a matter for the Minister for Finance.
376. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of visually impaired persons in receipt of the blind pension; and if consideration will be given to removing or amending the means test associated with the pension. [27569/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra377. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the way a visually impaired person can exist and contribute in the State as an artist; and the way a visually impaired person can develop, grow and live as a professional artist here. [27570/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together.
The Blind Pension is one of a range of means-tested payments provided by the Department. It is paid to blind people and certain people with low vision, aged 18 and up to the age of 66 who are habitually resident in the State. At the end of April 2021 there were 1,069 persons in receipt of the Blind Pension.
The means assessment reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or capital are in a position to use these resources to support themselves so that social welfare expenditure can be directed towards those who need it most.
In the means test, cash income that is assessed includes any income from employment or self-employment (and spouse/partner, if applicable), income from a social security pension from another country and maintenance payments. Recipients are supported to pursue employment or self-employment through earning disregards in the means test. A recipient can earn up to €120 per week from employment or self-employment without their payment being affected, while weekly earnings between €120 and €350 are assessed at 50%. A €20 increase in the earnings disregard was announced as part of Budget 2021 for both the Blind Pension and Disability Allowance which will take effect in June. This will see the first €140 of earnings per week from employment or self-employment being disregarded for the purposes of the means test. This increase will be applied automatically.
The means test assesses the income the person may reasonably be expected to receive during the coming 12 months. Where this is not ascertainable otherwise, the income for the previous 12 months can be taken as a guide, allowing for any factors which it is known will vary. Assessing a person’s income in this manner takes account of the fact that some people’s income is irregular, and they will earn more during some periods than others.
Capital assessed as part of the means test includes all monies held in financial institutions or otherwise, the market value of shares, as well as houses and premises owned by a claimant which may or may not be put to commercial use. The family home is never assessed as part of the means test, regardless of who is the legal owner. The first €20,000 of capital from any source is not assessed, the next €10,000 is assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand, while any amount above €40,000 is assessed at four euro per thousand.
People in receipt of the Blind Pension are also eligible for the Free Travel Scheme (free travel pass). They may also qualify for other secondary benefits such as the fuel allowance, living alone increase and the household benefits package. Where a person is no longer in receipt of the Blind Pension, for example resulting from an improvement in their overall financial circumstances, they may retain their free travel pass, once they remain registered with the National Council of the Blind of Ireland (NCBI).
A person who is in receipt of the Blind Pension may also qualify for the HSE means tested Blind Welfare Allowance.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, a supplement can be awarded to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary. In addition, officers can make a single exceptional needs payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Decisions on ENPs and SWA supplements are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
The Department also provides the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme (BTWEA) which has been designed to support people, receiving certain social welfare payments, to become self-employed - this includes people in receipt of the Blind Pension and Disability Allowance. A person who avails of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme retains a percentage of their social welfare payment and will receive support through their Intreo Case Officer, who will also refer them to their Local Development Company (LDC) who will assist them to explore the viability of their business idea. Once accepted onto the scheme the person retains100% of their original payment in year one and 75% year two.
Any proposals to change the means testing of payments, including for the Blind Pension, would have budgetary implications, and as such would need to be considered in the context of the annual budget process.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.
378. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of audits of visually impaired persons in receipt of the blind persons pension that were carried out in 2018 and 2019; and the reason these audits were necessary in circumstances in which all recipients of the pension have very limited financial means. [27571/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBlind pension is a residency based means tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people between the age of 18 and 66 who are habitually resident in the State. There are currently 1,069 customers in receipt of blind pension.
It is the policy of my Department that claims across social welfare schemes and programmes are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure the continuing eligibility of customers. In addition, social welfare recipients are obliged to notify my Department of any changes that may affect their entitlement, or rate of entitlement, including any changes in means for those on assistance payments.
In 2018, 194 reviews of blind pension claims were carried out, with 261 completed in 2019.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
379. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reintroduce arrangements in which persons on an invalidity pension could get permission to work part-time, known as an exemption, for rehabilitative or therapeutic purposes and keep their full social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27625/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity Pension (IP) is a pension paid to people who are “permanently incapable of work” because of illness or disability. It is based on a claimant's social insurance contributions and medical conditions and is not means tested.
Under legislative provisions set out in Section 118 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, a person in receipt of or entitled to invalidity pension shall not engage in insurable employment or insurable self-employment. However, a person may, with the prior written permission of an officer of the Minister, undertake for a specified period of time, a course of training with a view to taking up some other occupation, or light work for which no remuneration is or would ordinarily be payable.
Since 2012, the Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) replaced the previous exemption arrangements whereby people on Invalidity Pension could get permission to carry out work in the nature of rehabilitation or occupational therapy for a specified period of time. The PCB scheme allows people to receive a payment at a rate which is a percentage of their Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension rate of payment, while working.
It is important to note the following features of PCB:
- participation is voluntary;
- there is no requirement that a person must undertake work that is of a ‘rehabilitative or therapeutic’ nature;
- there is no restriction on the number of hours worked;
- there is no restriction on earnings;
- a person who participates on the PCB scheme may return to an Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension payment if, for example, the employment ceases or if the person cannot continue to work;
- a person on PCB, with an underlying entitlement to IP, will retain their Free Travel Pass for a period of five years;
- PCB allows people to continue to receive a percentage of their Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension payment while working. The personal rate of payment of PCB is based on a medical assessment of a person’s restriction, regarding their capacity for work, whether the person was in receipt of Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension and their current rate of payment. After the medical assessment, if a person's disability is rated as moderate, severe or profound their previous payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100%, respectively.
There are 3,185 people currently availing of the scheme (as at 19 May 2021).
PCB provides for a substantial improvement on the previous arrangements that were in place for people in receipt of Invalidity Pension who wished to take up work. I will continue to keep the Department’s employment support schemes for people with disabilities under review to ensure that they continue to meet their policy objectives.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
380. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to help vulnerable migrant job seekers, including asylum seekers, to access the workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27665/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraLabour market activation policies delivered by the Public Employment Service (PES) of my Department are designed to assist people in finding employment. Public employment services are available to International protection applicants with permission from the Department of Justice to access the labour market.
For a person in receipt of a jobseeker payment, activation is delivered through an engagement and case management process in which customers are expected to use the supports offered such as education, training and employment support schemes to help them back into the workplace.
Customers may also avail of a voluntary public employment service. During these engagements an employment services officer can refer them to an appropriate Further Education and Training (FET) course if necessary.
In addition the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation & Science operates a student grant scheme for persons in the protection process or at the leave to remain (but not deportation order) stage. The scheme provides supports to qualifying students which are similar to those available in the statutory based Student Grant Scheme administered by SUSI.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
381. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the situation in which those that live in close proximity to wind farms and receive compensatory payments from the private operators then have these payments deducted from their pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27675/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial welfare legislation provides for the manner in which a person's means are assessed for social assistance schemes. In summary, any income or capital, with certain exceptions and disregards, belonging to the person and his / her spouse, partner or co-habitant is assessable for social welfare means testing purposes.
Social welfare legislation provides for the disregard of certain compensation awards when assessing the means of a person. These disregards include, for example, all income derived from compensation awarded by the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal, the Residential Institutions Redress Board and in relation to disability caused by Thalidomide. Any payment made by the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board is also disregarded for social welfare means test purposes.
In addition, ex gratia payments made to women who were admitted to and worked in the Magdalen Laundries, or through the Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme, or payments made by the Minister of Health in accordance with recommendations proposed by the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme are also disregarded.
Other compensation payments, with the exception of those specifically disregarded in legislation, are assessable as means for social assistance payments, including the State Pension (Non-Contributory).
382. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if community employment schemes will be extended further beyond July 2021; if contract extensions will be provided to persons aged over 55 that are due to finish community employment placements in July 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27683/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
My Department has continued to support CE since the onset of the Covid-19 emergency in March 2020, including the ongoing provision of funding and the introduction of contract extensions during level-5 periods of restrictions. CE participants, whose contracts were due to end during the latest Level-5 restrictions have had their contracts extended to the 2nd July 2021. Over 7,000 CE and Tús participants are benefitting from this latest extension which applies to all CE and Tús participants whose contracts were due to finish since end-October 2020. Department officials are continuing to monitor the situation while keeping the current extended contract end-date currently under active review.
It is important to note that when CE participants are eventually due to finish on their respective schemes, this will be undertaken on a coordinated, phased basis over a number of months. This will assist the recruitment of new CE participants and ensure service continuity for the CE schemes. It will also provide further opportunities for CE participants to complete their CE placement and finish any outstanding training.
However, where a CE participant finishes up on their CE scheme without completing the training outlined in their Individual Learning Plan and if unfortunately, they remain unemployed, they may continue their development through a range of training supports provided by my Department such as the Training Support Grant and the Back to Education Allowance. Department case officers are available to engage with former CE participants to discuss the available options.
The Department does not intend to extend participation on CE for participants over the age of 55 at this juncture, outside of the existing participation limits or any Covid related extensions. It is important to note that a number of CE participants who are aged over 55 who commenced on the scheme before 2017 can stay on CE for six consecutive years.
The priority for my Department is to ensure that all employment and activation programmes have the best outcomes for participants, including those whose participation has been adversely affected during the pandemic and that CE schemes are supported over the forthcoming period as they re-commence more normal service levels.
I am fully committed to the future of these programmes and will continue to support and improve the programmes for the benefit of the CE participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities throughout the country.
383. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has received a report (details supplied) if so, the timeline for the publication of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27796/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra414. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will publish a report by a company (details supplied) on the cost of disability before the end of May 2021; if not, the timeframe for publication given its importance to budget planning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28013/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra415. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection when research into the cost of disability in the State carried out by a company (details supplied) will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28014/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra428. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if a report (details supplied) has been completed and submitted to her Department; if the delay in receiving the report will cause a delay in the publication of the report; and the date the report will be made available. [28388/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 383, 414, 415 and 428 together.
My Department has commissioned Indecon International Consultants to carry out research into the cost of disability. I understand that a final report is expected to be submitted to the Department shortly. I look forward to receiving this very important report which will provide a valuable input to inform policy direction in relation to the adequate provision of supports to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Given that this is a matter for the whole of Government, and considerably wider than the income support system, I will be bringing the report to the attention of my Cabinet colleagues for consideration in advance of publication.
In line with the principles of consultation and engagement with the disability sector that have underpinned the conduct of this research project, it is my Department's intention to hold a briefing on the research with the relevant organisations at an appropriate time. The input of these organisations has been invaluable to the survey work undertaken by Indecon.
It is worth noting that at the outset of the process, the target response rate to the survey element was 1,000 respondents. However, a remarkable 4,700 responses were received from people living with a disability. This represents one of the most detailed surveys ever undertaken in Ireland of individuals with disabilities. Given that context, I am satisfied that the longer time it took to conclude the project will ultimately strengthen the research and increase the usefulness of the final report. I trust this clarifies the matter at this time.
384. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the initiatives being undertaken in her Department in relation to addressing food poverty; the research or scoping exercises being undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27799/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe income supports provided by my Department help to meet the basic living needs of individuals and families across Ireland. In addition to these supports, my Department provides the following targeted measures:
The School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,506 schools and organisations benefitting 230,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. It is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Since the start of the pandemic, Minister Humphreys has worked with colleagues in Government to ensure that funding continued to be provided for the school meals programme throughout the pandemic while schools were closed and over holiday periods. The government has provided €65.1m for the School Meals Programme in 2021.
As part of Budget 2019, funding was provided for a pilot scheme from September 2019, providing hot school meals in primary schools at a cost of €1m for 2019 and €2.5m in 2020. The pilot involved 37 schools benefitting 6,744 students for the 2019/2020 academic year and was aimed primarily at schools with no onsite cooking facilities.
In Budget 2021, an additional €5.5m is being provided to extend the provision of hot school meals to an additional 35,000 primary school children, currently receiving the cold lunch option. The Department of Social Protection issued invitations for expressions of interest to 705 primary schools in November 2020. A total of 281 expressions of interest were received in respect of 52,148 children.
The 35,000 places were allocated to each local authority area based on the number of children applied by local authority as a percentage of the total number. A minimum of one school for each Local Authority area was selected. As a result of this process, 189 of the 281 schools that submitted an expression of interest were selected.
The Department of Social Protection is the designated managing authority for the Operational Programme for the Fund for European Aid to the most Deprived (FEAD) and has responsibility for the implementation of the programme in Ireland. FEAD supports EU Member States’ actions to provide material assistance to the most deprived. The total value of the fund in Ireland is €26.7m, €4m of which will come from the Irish Exchequer. FEAD support helps people take their first steps out of poverty and social exclusion and helps the most deprived people by addressing their most basic needs. Over €16m has been spent on food since operations commenced in late 2016. There are over 150 charities, approved as Partner Organisations and over 5,100 tonnes of food has been distributed to communities through these charities.
In January 2020, Government published the Roadmap for Social for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 which aims to reduce poverty and improve social inclusion in Ireland. The Roadmap outlines 66 unique commitments for delivery across Government, including Commitment 61: “develop a comprehensive programme of work to further explore the drivers of food poverty and to identify mitigating actions.”
Following a meeting of the Social Inclusion Roadmap Steering Group on 30 March 2021, I announced the establishment of a Working Group to tackle the issue of food poverty. I have recently written to relevant Departments seeking nominations of members for this group and draft terms of reference will be agreed when the group first meets. This group will provide updates on its work to the Social Inclusion Roadmap Steering Group, which I chair.
I thank the Deputy for her question and hope this clarifies the matter.
385. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that children whose carers that have been allocated a free travel pass have not themselves being allocated a free travel pass; and the estimated cost for implementing such a process. [27827/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 996,000 customers with direct eligibility. The 2021 funding allocation for the free travel scheme is €95 million.
While my Department does not provide a free travel pass to children aged under 16, for whom a person is receiving carer's allowance, my Department does provide additional support in the form of the domiciliary care allowance. The domiciliary care allowance is a monthly payment of €309.50 to the carer of a child with a disability. The allowance may be used for the additional costs involved in caring for the child and this may include additional transport costs.
Support is also available under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA). A travel supplement may be awarded in any case where the circumstances of the case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
Children aged 16 or over may apply for disability allowance. Disability allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a disability and a person can continue to attend school while receiving the payment. A child in receipt of disability allowance is entitled to a free travel pass in his/her own right.
Providing an accurate projection of the cost of extending the free travel scheme to all children whose carers have been allocated a free travel pass is very difficult as the cost is determined by the usage of the extra passes provided and not by the number of newly qualified people. The fact that many operators have reduced fares for children and that in some cases children under five years of age can travel for free would also have to be taken into account. Taking all of this into consideration I am advised that the yearly cost of the measure suggested by the Deputy could be as high as an estimated €6.1 million.
Any decision to extend the free travel scheme to all children whose carers have been allocated a free travel pass would require additional funding for the free travel scheme and would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
386. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection when the work placement and experience programme announced as part of the July jobs stimulus is due to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27829/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the July Jobs Stimulus the Government committed to a €200m investment in training, education, skill development, work placement schemes, recruitment subsidies and jobs search and assistance measures aimed to help those who have lost their jobs find a new one, retrain or develop new skills, in particular for emerging growth sectors. Included in this is provision for a funded work placement scheme to provide work experience for jobseekers who have been unemployed for more than six months, including time spent on the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) and regardless of age. A particular objective is to provide a mechanism for those unemployed to pivot into new employment in new sectors through additional learning with new and relevant work experience.
Work is nearing completion on the development of this work placement scheme to provide work experience for jobseekers that have been unemployed for more than six months (to include time spent on PUP ). This initiative builds on advice from the Labour Market Advisory Council that such placements have the capacity to keep unemployed people close to the labour market and provide them with quality work experience to increase their employability. Moreover, work placements afford employers the opportunity to contribute to the national activation agenda. The use of work placements to straddle the transition from education and training to full-time employment has proven successful in the past and it is important that a new scheme under development provides valuable work experience for jobseekers.
With COVID related public health restrictions impacting on social mobility and business operations, it has not been possible to commence the programme over the past number of months. However, work has been steadily progressing to design and deliver a comprehensive programme to support 10,000 work placements for jobseekers with some 5,000 host organisations. It will provide important and valuable work and development opportunities to persons whose previous jobs are permanently lost due to COVID, as well as to those who were unemployed prior to COVID.
I expect to be in a position to bring details of the programme to Government shortly for consideration and approval with a view to launching the programme shortly thereafter.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
387. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools that provide school meals by county in tabular form. [27847/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra388. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of primary schools that provide school meals by county in tabular form. [27848/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra389. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of post-primary schools that provide school meals by county in tabular form. [27849/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra390. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of special schools that provide school meals by county in tabular form. [27850/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra391. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of alternative education settings including youthreach and related schemes that provide school meals by county in tabular form. [27851/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra392. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of schools that provide school meals. [27852/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra393. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of primary schools that provide school meals. [27853/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra394. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of post-primary schools that provide school meals. [27854/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra395. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of special schools that provide school meals. [27855/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra396. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of alternative education settings including youthreach and related schemes that provide school meals. [27856/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 387 to 396, inclusive, together.
The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,506 schools and organisations benefitting 230,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
The Programme provides funding towards food services for disadvantaged school children through two schemes: The urban school meals scheme and the school meals (local projects) scheme. The Urban School Meals Scheme for primary schools is operated and administered by local authorities and is part-financed by my department. 44,095 pupils in 301 primary schools benefit from the Urban School Meals Scheme. 188 of these schools also benefit from funding for school meals through the local projects scheme.
The school meals (local projects) scheme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations. 214,574 students in 1,393 schools and organisations benefit from the school meals (local projects) scheme.
In recent years entry to the school meals programme has been confined to DEIS schools in addition to schools identified by Department of Education and Skills as having levels of concentrated disadvantage that would benefit from access to the programme. Prior to the introduction of DEIS in 2005, all schools and organisations that were part of one of a number of Department of Education and Skills’ initiatives for disadvantaged schools were eligible to participate in the programme, which included Breaking the Cycle, Giving Children an Even Break, the Disadvantaged Area Scheme, Home School Community Liaison and the School Completion Programme. These schools and organisations have continued to remain in the programme. Participation in the scheme is entirely voluntary with the onus being on the individual eligible schools to make an application. Schools and organisations must reapply for funding in advance of each school year and are required to submit detailed records at the end of the school year. Funding is based on a rate of payment per meal, per child, per day.
The number of schools, primary schools, post-primary schools, special schools and alternative education settings that provide school meals by county in tabular form is in table 1 of the attached Tabular Statement.
The percentage of primary schools, post-primary schools, special schools and alternative education settings that provide school meals in tabular form is in table 2 of the below Tabular Statement.
These are the most up to date figures. Applications are still being accepted from schools/organisations who were in the scheme last year and are currently finalising their applications for the current year.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement
Table 1 – Number providing School Meals by County
|
County |
Primary Schools |
Post-Primary Schools |
Special Schools |
Alternative Education Settings |
Number of Schools |
|
Carlow |
18 |
6 |
1 |
5 |
30 |
|
Cavan |
13 |
3 |
1 |
10 |
27 |
|
Clare |
17 |
5 |
2 |
6 |
30 |
|
Cork |
52 |
26 |
9 |
26 |
113 |
|
Donegal |
120 |
19 |
2 |
9 |
150 |
|
Dublin |
183 |
70 |
15 |
79 |
347 |
|
Galway |
45 |
12 |
5 |
5 |
67 |
|
Kerry |
31 |
8 |
2 |
10 |
51 |
|
Kildare |
13 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
22 |
|
Kilkenny |
7 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
21 |
|
Laois |
11 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
16 |
|
Leitrim |
12 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
15 |
|
Limerick |
23 |
10 |
3 |
11 |
47 |
|
Longford |
11 |
7 |
1 |
2 |
21 |
|
Louth |
16 |
9 |
1 |
3 |
29 |
|
Mayo |
77 |
14 |
4 |
1 |
96 |
|
Meath |
11 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
19 |
|
Monaghan |
14 |
6 |
0 |
9 |
29 |
|
Offaly |
16 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
24 |
|
Roscommon |
21 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
32 |
|
Sligo |
21 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
29 |
|
Tipperary |
31 |
11 |
3 |
8 |
53 |
|
Waterford |
14 |
6 |
2 |
10 |
32 |
|
Westmeath |
13 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
25 |
|
Wexford |
29 |
10 |
2 |
8 |
49 |
|
Wicklow |
11 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
19 |
Table 2 – Percentage providing School Meals
|
Total Number |
Number providing School Meals |
% Providing School Meals |
|
|
Primary Schools |
3,107 |
830 |
26.71% |
|
Post-Primary Schools |
730 |
267 |
36.58% |
|
Special Schools |
134 |
70 |
52.24% |
|
Alternative Educations Settings |
Not available* |
226 |
Not Available |
* The total number of these types of organisations is not held.
