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Gnáthamharc

Tuesday, 19 Oct 2021

Written Answers Nos. 624-643

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (624)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

624. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection when the budget increase to the fuel allowance will be paid to those who receive the allowance by lump sum payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50989/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Qualified Fuel Allowance recipients who opt to receive their payment by way of lump sum received their first payment, of €392, during the week commencing 27 September 2021.  The second lump sum will be paid in early January 2022.  

In Budget 2022, the weekly rate of Fuel Allowance has been increased by €5 with effect from the week commencing 11th October 2021.  Arrears of Fuel Allowance will be paid to those on lump sum payments, to cover the period from 11 October to year end, as soon as is practicable.  It is intended that the second lump sum payment, due to issue in early January will be calculated and paid at the new weekly rate.  Work on the enabling system changes is underway.    

Fuel Allowance recipients, regardless of their preferred payment option will receive payments to the same value, inclusive of any arrears due, on foot of this Budget announcement.  

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (625)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

625. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of a full carer's allowance is entitled to a fuel allowance payment or any other additional social protection supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51035/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The fuel allowance is a payment under the National Fuel Scheme to help with the cost of heating a home during the winter months. It is paid to people who are in receipt of certain qualifying social welfare payments and who also satisfy certain other conditions.  

Carer's allowance (CA) is not a qualifying payment for receipt of fuel allowance. However, carers may qualify for the fuel allowance if they are getting half-rate CA and another qualifying social welfare payment. In this case, the person concerned is not in receipt of a qualifying payment. The person concerned is in receipt of full-rate CA and a household benefits package (HHB) from my department.  It may be that another member of the household may qualify for fuel allowance if they are in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment and satisfy the qualifying conditions for same. Only one fuel allowance may be claimed per household.  

CA recipients automatically qualify for the Carer's Support Grant, an annual payment of €1,850.00, from June 2021 (€1,700 prior to June 2021) which is not means-tested or taxed and also qualify for Free Travel. They can also register for a GP Visit card through the Health Service Executive.  

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (626)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

626. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if the Christmas bonus payment announced in budget 2022 will be provided to persons who are in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, at that time; if she will outline which social protection scheme recipients will be eligible to receive the Christmas bonus this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51036/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Last week, I was pleased to announce that a 100% Christmas Bonus will once again be paid this year to recipients of long-term social welfare payments.

The Bonus will be paid in early December to over 1.4 million people, including pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and the long-term unemployed, in recognition of their long-term dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income.

In normal circumstances, only jobseekers on Jobseeker’s Allowance receive the Christmas Bonus after a total period of 15 months on the scheme.

However, this year, I am reducing that period to 12 months.  Any jobseeker in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Benefit or the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for 12 months or more will receive the Bonus. For jobseekers, periods spent on PUP will count towards satisfying the 12 month duration requirement.

People in receipt of the following payments will receive the Bonus: 

- State Pensions (including Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds) and Widow’s/Widower’s/Surviving Civil Partner’s Pensions;

- Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit, and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (for people who have been in receipt of these payments for 12 months or more); 

- Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension, Disability Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Partial Capacity Benefit, Disablement Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and Guardian’s payments;

- One-Parent Family Payment, Jobseeker’s Transition Payment, Deserted Wife’s Benefit and Allowance, Back to Work Family Dividend and Farm Assist; 

- Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, Back to Education Allowance (over 12 months), Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme, TÚS, Gateway and Job Initiative;

- Supplementary Welfare Allowance (over 12 months), Daily Expenses Allowance (over 12 months), and the Magdalene Commission Scheme.  

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (627)

Michael Creed

Ceist:

627. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of carer's allowance and half rate carer’s allowance who are in receipt of the fuel allowance; the estimated cost of extending this entitlement to all recipients of the carer's allowance and the half-rate carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51049/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 over a full fuel season) from October to April, to 365,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €300 million in 2021.  The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.  The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household.  It is not intended to meet those costs in full.  Only one allowance is paid per household.

The number of people claiming Carer's Allowance, who are directly in receipt of the fuel allowance payment, is 13,600.  This number does not include people in receipt of Carer's Allowance, who would reside in a household where another member of the household is in receipt of fuel allowance.  The estimated cost of extending the fuel allowance payment to all recipients of Carer's Allowance from January 2022 is in the region of €74 million in the first full year. This estimate is based on an additional 79,900 claims qualifying for fuel allowance.  

Any decision to allow all those in receipt of Carer's Allowance to receive the fuel allowance payment would represent a fundamental change to the nature of the scheme and would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context. The fuel allowance payment would no longer be a household or means tested payment that is targeted at those who are most likely to require additional help over the winter period.

While Carer's Allowance is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance, a person in receipt of Carer's Allowance may avail of the fuel allowance payment in certain circumstances.  Fuel Allowance is a household-based payment, and a carer will very often live with and care for a person in receipt of a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance.  Income from full rate Carer's Allowance is disregarded from the fuel means test, if the carer is providing full time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant, his/her qualified spouse / civil partner or cohabitant or qualified child(ren).

If a person is getting certain qualifying social welfare payments and also providing full time care and attention to another person, s/he can keep his/her main social protection payment in addition to receiving the half-rate Carer's Allowance.  S/he can also receive an extra half-rate Carer’s Allowance if s/he cares for more than one person.  The payment of half-rate Carer’s Allowance does not preclude a person from qualifying for Fuel Allowance.  If a person is in receipt of a non-contributory social welfare payment and a half-rate Carer’s Allowance, then s/he is deemed to have satisfied the means test and Fuel Allowance is payable, subject to all remaining criteria being satisfied.  If a person is in receipt of a contributory social welfare payment and a half-rate Carer’s Allowance then s/he will have to satisfy a means test in order to qualify for Fuel Allowance.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Exceptional Needs Payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs.  Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Offices

Ceisteanna (628)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

628. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated amount spent by her Department on the procurement, purchase and rent of new office space; and the amount spent on the procurement, purchase and rent of office equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [51111/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The provision of office space for the Department is a matter for the Office of Public Works which has responsibility for procurement, purchase and rent of office space for Government Departments.

 The amount spent on the procurement, purchase and rent of office equipment in each of the past ten years and to 18th October in 2021 is detailed below:

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

1143740.6

3773224.04

4631087.16

7930148.32

9430593.18

9656722.87

 

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

6156584.78

6003819.36

5265912.53

5715170.93

5138178.2

 

Departmental Offices

Ceisteanna (629)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

629. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of offices currently being rented or in ownership of her Department that are not in use by the Department. [51128/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department has more than 160 offices, including Intreo Centres and HQ buildings.  Some of our staff also operate from HSE buildings.  Additionally there are almost 60 branch offices providing social welfare services. 

All of our offices are in use by the Department, though from time to time offices will be closed for regular maintenance, refitting to suit changing business needs and improvements in facilities for customers and staff.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (630)

Michael Creed

Ceist:

630. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection , further to Parliamentary Question No. 342 of 12 October, the reason the claim for carer's benefit was refused. [51134/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Carer's benefit (CARB) is a PRSI based payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.  

There are a number of conditions that must be satisfied in order to qualify for CARB, including employment conditions and certain PRSI contribution conditions.

Under the provisions of the legislation a person claiming CARB must be in remunerative full time employment (for a minimum of 16 hours in the week or 32 hours in the fortnight) for eight weeks out of the previous 26 week period immediately prior to the first day on which a claim is made.  

Only PRSI conditions paid in classes A, B, C, D, E and H are counted towards CARB.  Contributions paid at class S (self-employed contributions) do not count.  

The person concerned applied for CARB on 15 January 2020. Having considered the evidence submitted in support of the application, a Deciding Officer determined that the conditions above were not met and the claim was disallowed.   The person concerned was notified of the decision on 25 February 2020, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.  

According to the records of this Department, the person concerned has not requested a review or appeal of this decision to date.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (631)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

631. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when arrears of jobseeker’s allowance will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); if the fuel allowance is payable in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51135/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person concerned is currently in receipt of a Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) payment which was awarded from 20/09/2021.  According to the records of my Department, an application for the backdating of this claim has not previously been received from the person concerned.  On 13/10/2021 the person concerned contacted the Maynooth Branch Office by phone to enquire about backdating her JA claim and she was advised to complete forms UP45 and UP19 which were posted to her on the same day.

The person’s current JA claim will close shortly upon the expiration of her current permission to reside in the State on 29/10/2021.  The person concerned must produce a current Irish Residence Permit so that her JA payment can continue beyond 29/10/2021 and she was advised of this accordingly on 13/10/2021.

A Fuel Allowance application form was also sent to the person concerned on 13/10/2021.  When the completed form has been received her application will be assessed and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Registration of Births

Ceisteanna (632)

Jennifer Whitmore

Ceist:

632. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of the current average waiting times for the registration of the birth of a child in each county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51146/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have asked the General Register Office to enquire with the HSE the current time taken to register a birth. The table below sets out the processing times to complete the registration process in each county. These processing times are based on registrations completed in the month of September and prior to the re-opening of Civil Registration Offices from 1st October.

The Deputy should note that these processing times includes the time taken by the maternity hospital to notify a registrar of a birth and for the parents to submit the relevant paperwork and to attend to register the birth at a local civil registration office.

The HSE have advised that Civil Registration Offices are currently providing both an appointment-based and walk-in service, with registration of births completed the same day where the parent(s) attend and have provided the necessary paperwork.

COUNTY

WEEKS

Carlow

4.6

Cavan

10.9

Clare

6.0

Cork

4.1

Donegal

4.3

Dublin

11.3

Galway

4.7

Kerry

7.4

Kildare

8.6

Kilkenny

4.9

Laois

5.1

Leitrim

8.6

Limerick

6.1

Longford

5.3

Louth

8.7

Mayo

5.6

Meath

7.1

Monaghan

11.1

Offaly

6.7

Roscommon

7.7

Sligo

6.1

Tipperary

4.7

Waterford

4.3

Westmeath

5.6

Wexford

3.6

Wicklow

8.3

Employment Support Services

Ceisteanna (633)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

633. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection , further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 30 September, if she will ensure that local employment services are not privatised; if community organisations will continue to deliver such services due to the important work carried out over recent years by such services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51155/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department is now at an advanced stage in its first phase of a two-phase procurement of new employment services.

The new service is not a privatisation of Government services. These services have been outsourced by the State since the mid-1990s.  Instead, it is a shift to competitive procurement as required by good governance and the State's legal obligations.  

The possibility of retaining the current LES model, which was developed a generation ago, with annual contracts under a closed procurement process, was not an option. My Department has been given clear legal advice from the Chief State Solicitors Office and the Attorney General that this process cannot continue and there needs to be competitive procurement for future public employment services. In addition, my Department is responsible for ensuring good governance of employment service provision, which requires greater oversight and enhanced visibility of service provision.  

My Department cannot ignore this legal advice. Nonetheless, officials are striving to ensure the new model does not create any barriers to the community and voluntary sectors or inhibit their ability to submit a high-standard tender for future services 

Phase two of this process, to commence shortly, will see the Regional Employment Service model rolled out across the State. The learnings from the limited phase one procurement, currently underway, will be factored into the finalisation of the phase two procurement process.

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (634)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

634. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when the poverty impact of reduced rates of jobseeker's allowance for young persons will be published given that the report is now over 18 months overdue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51178/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Department completed the Poverty Impact Assessment of age related rates of jobseekers for young people aged 18-24 years and it was published in July 2021 on the Governments website. A copy of the report was provided to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, and the Islands at that time.

In September 2021, the rate of unemployment for young persons under 25 was 17% using the traditional measure or almost 20% when we use the CSO’s COVID-19 adjusted measure. The latter rate, which includes those on the PUP, has fallen sharply from its 2021 peak of 56% in January. Furthermore, this rate fell 6 percentage points from 26% in August as students, no longer eligible for the pandemic unemployment payment since last month, will no longer be included in the estimate. Full-time students are not traditionally included in unemployment estimates as they are not considered part of the labour force.

In addition, as the reopening of our economy and society has continued, the number of people under 25 in receipt of PUP has declined significantly, falling by 92% since the 2021 peak in February to just under 9,500 last week. I expect this trend to continue as the restrictions are eased further. In May of this year one in four people  out of work as a result of Covid-19 were aged under 25. The number has now fallen to one in ten.

These trends show that young people are among the most resilient groups in society and, once the opportunities are available, youth employment recovers very quickly.

The current approach to rates of payment for young Jobseekers allowance recipients was introduced in 2009 to encourage young unemployed people to participate in employment, education and training programmes. Although the basic rate is €112.70 per week for young people up to and including 24 year olds, it increases to the standard rate of €203 if a young jobseeker participates on an education or training programme. Where they participate on the new Work Placement Experience Programme, their weekly rate is increased to €306. I have announced as part of Budget 2022 that the core weekly rates of payment will increase by €5 per week from January 2022, including that for young jobseekers which will increase the rate to €117.70.

There are many opportunities for young unemployed people - the Department has introduced a series of targeted measures under the Pathways to Work strategy targeted at young people including ring-fencing 4,000 places on the Work Placement Experience Programme and providing 50,000 additional further education and training places.

I trust that this clarifies the position.

Departmental Reviews

Ceisteanna (635)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

635. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when the report of the child maintenance review group will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51179/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Government established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine certain issues in relation to child maintenance in Ireland.  The Group is chaired by former Circuit Court Judge Catherine Murphy and includes legal, policy and academic professionals as well as officials from my Department and the Department of Justice.

The Group's Terms of Reference are to consider and make recommendations on: (i) the current treatment of child maintenance payments in my Department; (ii) the current provisions regarding liable relatives managed by my Department; and (iii) the establishment of a Child Maintenance Agency in Ireland.

The work of the Group is well underway.  To date, the Group has held eleven meetings and there are a number of other meetings scheduled on a regular basis over the coming months. A consultation process to facilitate feedback from stakeholder groups and members of the public in order to inform the Group's work has been undertaken. The Group's report is due to be finalised by the end of the year. 

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (636)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

636. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the fuel allowance, by social protection scheme, from September 2019 to date, by payment type and month, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51180/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The following tables provide the total number of qualified fuel allowance recipients in October 2019, October 2020 and September 2021. The numbers are broken down by scheme name and payment type, weekly or by way of lump sum, as requested by the Deputy.

Slight variances occur across total scheme qualified recipients from month to month, year on year, in line with normal scheme fluctuations.

October 2019

Weekly

Lump Sum

Primary Payment

Oct-19

Oct-19

State Pension (contributory)

65,633

8,296

Disability Allowance

56,360

14,751

State Pension (non-contributory)

48,857

5,042

Long-term Jobseeker's Allowance & PRETA + Farm Assist

37,682

13,557

Widow/er or Surviving Civil Partner’s (contributory) Pension

37,374

5,115

One-Parent Family Payment

26,355

11,604

Invalidity Pension

13,270

3,714

Community Employment Scheme

8,539

0

Deserted Wife's Benefit

2,562

546

TÚS

2,570

75

Rural Social Scheme

1,301

2

Back to Work Allowance

1,021

223

National Fuel Scheme (EU/Bilateral Payments)

1,018

97

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

857

0

Widow/er or Surviving Civil Partner’s (non-contributory) Pension

814

187

Occupational Injuries/Death Benefit + Incapacity Supplement

432

71

Blind Person's Pension

371

82

Deserted Wife's Allowance

61

11

Guardian's Payment (non-contributory)

7

2

Guardian's Payment (contributory)

4

2

 

October 2020

Weekly

Lump Sum

Primary Payment

Oct-20

Oct-20

State Pension (contributory)

66,074

10,028

Disability Allowance

57,141

18,164

State Pension (non-contributory)

48,199

6,019

Widow/er or Surviving Civil Partner’s (contributory) Pension

36,216

5,720

Long-term Jobseeker's Allowance & PRETA + Farm Assist

34,199

13,714

One-Parent Family Payment

25,438

12,709

Invalidity Pension

12,680

4,185

CE

7,919

0

Deserted Wife's Benefit

2,391

537

TÚS

1,728

110

Rural Social Scheme

1,286

0

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

945

0

National Fuel Scheme (EU /Bilateral Payments)

923

140

Widow/er or Surviving Civil Partner’s (non-contributory) pension

780

188

Back to Work Allowance

647

198

Occupational Injuries/Death Benefit & Incapacity Supplement

432

77

Blind Person's Pension

356

88

Deserted Wife's Allowance

49

8

Guardian's Payment (non-contributory)

6

3

Guardian's Payment (contributory)

4

2

September 2021

Weekly

Lump Sum

Primary Payment

Sep-21

Sep-21

State Pension (contributory)

66,464

10,849

Disability Allowance

56,575

19,202

State Pension (non-contributory)

47,673

6,492

Long-term Jobseeker's Allowance & PRETA + Farm Assist

29,336

14,459

Widow/er or Surviving Civil Partner’s (contributory) Pension

35,186

5,796

One-Parent Family Payment

24,476

14,132

Invalidity Pension

11,956

4,127

Community Employment Scheme

7,754

0

Deserted Wife's Benefit

2,202

498

TÚS

2,202

0

Rural Social Scheme

1,238

0

National Fuel Scheme (EU/Bilateral Payments)

886

145

Widow/er or Surviving Civil Partner’s (non-contributory) pension

686

179

Supplementary Welfare Allowance

738

0

Back to Work Allowance

431

171

Occupational Injuries /Death Benefit & Incapacity Supplement

427

81

Blind Person's Pension

337

93

Deserted Wife's Allowance

43

3

Guardian's Payment (contributory)

6

2

Guardian's Payment (non-contributory)

6

3  

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (637)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

637. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if rental income in circumstances in which it is used solely to repay a mortgage will be included as an allowable expense when calculating a person's eligibility for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51235/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

For the purposes of disability allowance (DA),  means are calculated in accordance with Part 2 of the Schedule 3 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended.

Where a DA claimant is in receipt of rental income for a second property, means are assessed based on the capital value of the property rather than income from the letting. Any outstanding mortgage registered against the property is deducted from the market value.

If a portion of the DA claimant's own home is let, any cash income from the portion of the house that is not personally used or enjoyed is assessable against the claimant as income. Deductions from profits are allowed in respect of mortgage interest in proportion to the area used for business purposes. The full loan repayments are not allowed as an expense. If rooms let are furnished then 5% of the gross amount received is allowed for wear and tear along with 15% of the gross receipts allowed for voids.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (638)

Mary Butler

Ceist:

638. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51329/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Parents Leave and Benefit is currently available to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1st November 2019 and must be used within the first two years of the child’s life or adoption. This leave can be taken in either consecutive weeks or in one-week blocks in order to provide the family with full flexibility.

Provision was made in Budget 2022 to increase the number of weeks of Parents Leave and Benefit available to eligible parents from five weeks to seven weeks with effect from July 2021. The additional two weeks leave and benefit will apply to parents of children who are under age 2 years in July 2022 (or adoptive children who have been with their parents for less than two years at that point).  

The extension of Parent’s Leave and Benefit requires legislation and changes to the Department's IT systems. The additional two weeks of Parents Leave and Benefit will not be available until legislation has been enacted, with plans to have this in place by the July commencement date.  However, parents with an entitlement to the existing five weeks of Parents Leave and Benefit can avail of their current entitlement and can then apply for the additional weeks when they become available if their child is still under two at that time. 

Calculation of any bonus entitlement is a contractual matter between the employer and employee and therefore the Department is not in a position to advise how periods on parents leave/benefit would affect an employee’s annual bonus.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (639)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

639. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an invalidity pension claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been disallowed. [51330/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. Permanently incapable of work is defined as an incapacity for work of such a nature that the likelihood is that the claimant will be incapable of work for life or an incapacity which has existed for 12 months prior to the date of claim and where the Deciding Officer or Appeals Officer is satisfied that the claimant is likely to be unable to work for 1 year from the date of the claim.

The Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 18 November 2020. The person concerned was refused IP on 05 February 2021 on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied.

A review request was subsequently received  on behalf of the person concerned and additional medical evidence was submitted.  This was reviewed by a separate medical Deciding Officer on the 12 May 2021 who also refused the claim on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. The person in question was notified on the 12 May 2021 that the decision was unchanged and was afforded the opportunity to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) within 21 days. However, an appeal was not received from the person concerned.

It is open to the person concerned to reapply for an Invalidity Pension or to submit a further review request with any additional medical evidence.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

International Protection

Ceisteanna (640)

Pauline Tully

Ceist:

640. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a reply will issue to a person (details supplied) in regard to consideration for the inclusion of his or her daughter in the Irish refugee protection programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51220/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy may be aware, Refugee Resettlement is carried out under the auspices of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and involves the selection and transfer of refugees from a State in which they have sought protection to a third State that has agreed to admit them as refugees with permanent residence status. Resettlement is also an international responsibility sharing mechanism, allowing States to offer protection to refugees outside their territories, and reduce problems impacting the countries and regions where refugees flee to en-masse. States voluntarily offer resettlement places as a tangible expression of international solidarity.

Refugees are proposed to Ireland for resettlement by UNHCR on the basis of vulnerability. Interviews are scheduled on the basis of these proposals. There is limited opportunity for a person to be admitted as a programme refugee other than where proposed by the UNHCR.

Youth Services

Ceisteanna (641)

John Brady

Ceist:

641. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider increasing investment in Budget 2022 for the youth sector in line with the proposals by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50376/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In Budget 2022, I secured an additional €5 million in current funding for youth services. The additional funding will assist in the further development of youth services during 2022. More precise allocations across the youth subheads are currently being considered by my Department and details will be shared as soon as possible.

In recent years, funding for the provision of youth services has increased on an annual basis. Between 2016 and now moving into 2022, the annual current youth funding available to my Department will have increased from €51.9 million to €71.79 million. Including capital allocations, the total funding next year will be €73 million.

The additional funding secured for Youth Services is particularly important given the disproportionate impact Covid-19 has had on young people. This additional funding will allow us to re-engage young people in youth services, re-engage and train volunteers, and provide new youth services where needed.

It is now more critical than ever that our young people are supported as they experience the social, economic, physical and mental health impacts of the pandemic. In recognition of the vital role played by youthwork services in providing such support to young people, funding levels have been maintained throughout the current challenging period. This has enabled the youth sector to continue to provide supports to young people, particularly to marginalised, disadvantaged and vulnerable young people. The increased funding in 2022 will enable DCEDIY to offer more supports to existing services, to help them reach more young people, and will enable the introduction of brand new services across the country.

As we begin to move beyond the pandemic, I am committed to supporting this important sector, which has enormous value to the many young people involved and from a broader social and economic viewpoint.

International Protection

Ceisteanna (642)

Pa Daly

Ceist:

642. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of the forthcoming allocation scheme for housing international protection applicants. [50390/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

 As the Deputy knows, on 26 February of this year I published A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service. This document outlines the future system of accommodation and supports that will be offered to applicants for International Protection (also known as asylum-seekers) and will replace the current system (commonly known as Direct Provision). This new system will have human rights at its core, helping to ensure that all applicants are treated with dignity and respect.

My Department began to implement this extensive programme of reform when the White Paper was adopted by Government.

An allocation key to determine the spread of this accommodation across all counties has been agreed by Local Authorities through the County and City Management Association and this is what we are using to determine where to acquire properties.

Working closely with the Housing Agency, my Department has developed the detailed parameters for the accommodation that will be required for Phase Two - that is, after people have completed their initial four-month period in a Reception and Integration Centre and move into the community.

Based on these parameters and using the allocation key agreed by the City and County Management Association, my Department has begun to source accommodation, with the assistance of the Housing Agency, focusing initially on turnkey properties and those in need of some refurbishment.

Assisted Decision-Making

Ceisteanna (643)

Darren O'Rourke

Ceist:

643. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the process, schedule and level of financial resources committed to provide for the commencement of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 by June 2022 and the establishment of the decision support service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50459/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is a very important piece of legislation that changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue- and time-specific basis.  It will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871. Adults currently in wardship will transition to the new decision-making support arrangements on a phased basis over 3 years from the date of commencement.

The Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government to commencing the 2015 Act, recognising the importance of the much needed reform that it represents.  We are working towards a date of June 2022 for full commencement.

The Decision Support Service, which is the organisation that will operate the progressive provisions of the 2015 Act, will respond to the complex decision-making needs of people with capacity difficulties.  To date, the Decision Support Service has made considerable progress in putting in place the administrative and IT systems needed to operate the 2015 Act. A budget of €7.3 million has been secured for the Decision Support Service in 2022. This represents an increase of €1.5 million compared to 2021 and a doubling of financial resources since the transfer of functions to my Department in 2020.

Amendments are required to the 2015 Act before full commencement can take place.  Work is actively taking place on an Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill, which is expected to be enacted by year end.  I will shortly seek Government approval for the General Scheme of the Bill.  The amendments will streamline processes, in the interests of those using its provisions.  They will also strengthen the safeguards included in the 2015 Act.

A high-level Steering Group, chaired by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, meets monthly to oversee and drive progress towards full commencement.  The Steering Group comprises senior officials from relevant Departments and agencies.  It is working towards commencement of the 2015 Act in June 2022, with the Decision Support Service opening for business immediately thereafter.

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