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Thursday, 21 Oct 2021

Written Answers Nos. 234-243

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (234)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the amount awarded through the exceptional needs payment could be increased in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51753/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person concerned was recently awarded 2 Exceptional Needs Payments of €1,000 and €525 for white goods and flooring respectively.

The application was assessed in line with current legislation and the rules governing social assistance entitlements.  If the person concerned is not satisfied with the decision of the designated officer it remains open to her to request a review of her case by the SWA Review Officer, Department of Social Protection, 77 Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin 1.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (235)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

235. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for the fuel allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51780/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Fuel Allowance is a means-tested payment and the aim of the scheme is to help qualified households in receipt of certain social welfare payments with the cost of heating their home during the winter months. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses. It is not intended to meet those costs in full.

 The Department last received a claim for fuel allowance for the person concerned in September 2014.  The application was refused as the qualifying conditions for the payment were not met at the time.  The Department does have a current application for Fuel allowance for the person in question.  An application form for Fuel allowance has been issued to the person concerned,   

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Question No. 236 answered with Question No. 232.

Direct Provision System

Ceisteanna (237)

Gary Gannon

Ceist:

237. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if the rates of daily expenses allowance for those who are in direct provision has been increased by €5 per week as part of the announcements of the increases in core social welfare rates for Budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51792/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Applicants for International Protection accommodated under the system of direct provision, operated by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth , are provided with full board accommodation and other facilities and services.

My department administers the daily expenses allowance which is paid to protection applicants who live in the direct provision system, on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Daily Expenses Allowance is not an income support payment.  It is a weekly allowance made under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018.  There has been no changes to the rate of this allowance as part of Budget 2022.

Any increases to the rate of daily expenses allowance would have to be approved by Government and considered in an overall budgetary context.

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (238)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

238. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if planning of the potential for a cost of disability payment has taken place which would support persons with specific additional costs which they encounter as a result of disability. [51816/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Programme for Government commits the Government to use this research into the cost of disability to individuals and families to properly inform the direction of future policy. My Department commissioned Indecon International Consultants to carry out research into the cost of disability in Ireland.

This matter is significantly wider than the income support system which is why a whole-of-Government perspective is being taken. There is not a single typical ‘cost of disability’, rather there is a spectrum from low additional costs to extremely high extra costs of disability, depending on the individual circumstances of the person with a disability. Additional costs of disability go across a number of areas of expenditure including housing; equipment, aids and appliances; mobility, transport and communications; medicines; care and assistance services and additional living expenses.

The report has been received and my Department is considering it in detail. As part of this consideration, the Department has been briefing and seeking the views of relevant Government departments which have a role to play in the delivery of disability services and supports.

Once this process is complete, I intend to submit the report to Government for consideration. 

Separately, the supports and services for people with a disability are continually reviewed by my Department. As part of Budget 2022, I announced a number of improvements, including specific changes to Disability Allowance and the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS), as follows:

- €5 increase in the maximum weekly rate of Disability Allowance, with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced rate.

- An increase in the earnings threshold above which means is fully assessed by €25 from €350 to €375 per week, for Disability Allowance (and Blind Pension), effective from June 2022.

- An increase in the general weekly means disregard entry point for Disability Allowance from €2.50 to €7.60. Increasing this to €7.60 will bring the weekly means disregard for Disability Allowance in line with Blind Pension,

- One Parent Family and Carer’s Allowance. The effect of this measure will be to increase the weekly rate of payment by up to €5 per week for Disability Allowance recipients who have means.

- The WSS base subsidy paid to employers who employ people with a disability will increase from €5.30 to €6.30 per hour from January 2022.

Other changes introduced in recent years included establishing a fast-track reapplication process for people with disabilities who take up employment but subsequently lose that employment, enabling people with a long term disability to retain their free travel pass for 5 years if they take up employment and removing the requirement that work be of a ‘rehabilitative’ nature, where a person in receipt of Disability Allowance wishes to undertake employment, has been removed.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Registration of Births

Ceisteanna (239)

Neale Richmond

Ceist:

239. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a birth registration application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51824/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I can inform the Deputy that the HSE is responsible for processing birth registration applications. The General Register Office has searched the Register of Births and have advised that birth in question was registered on the 19th October 2021.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy. 

Social Welfare Schemes

Ceisteanna (240)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

240. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of farm and fish assist at present by region; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51885/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the tables beneath.

Fish Assist Recipients end of September 2021

County

Recipients

Donegal

8

Galway

21

Waterford

9

Other

12

TOTAL

50

Farm Assist Recipients End of September 2021

Carlow   38 

Cavan        183 

Clare          223 

Cork           353 

Donegal     921 

Dublin        20 

Galway       489 

Kerry          425 

Kildare       18 

Kilkenny     53 

Laois          44 

Leitrim       211 

Limerick     98 

Longford   100 

Louth         50 

Mayo         822 

Meath        38 

Monaghan 245 

Offaly         44 

Roscommon 171 

Sligo          129 

Tipperary   169 

Waterford   40 

Westmeath 64 

Wexford     114 

Wicklow     27 

Total          5,089 

 

Social Welfare Payments

Ceisteanna (241)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

241. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment can be made in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51953/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

According to the records of this Department, the person concerned has not submitted a recent application for an Exceptional Needs Payment. 

For the convenience of the person concerned, an application form was posted to her on 19th October 2021.  Upon receipt of the completed application and supporting documentation, the application will be assessed and a decision will issue to the person concerned.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Homeless Persons Supports

Ceisteanna (242)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

242. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if cognisance will be taken of the protracted period of homelessness in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51955/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person concerned is currently in receipt of a Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) since 20/09/2021.  One of the qualifying conditions for JA is that a person must be capable of and actively seeking full-time employment. 

The person concerned was previously in receipt of JA during the period 28/09/2020 to 23/12/2020 and had been referred to my Department’s JobPath programme in December 2020.  As the person concerned had not completed a 12-month engagement with JobPath, she was automatically referred to JobPath when she recommenced JA in September 2021.

Participants on JobPath receive intensive individual support to help them tackle barriers to employment and to assist them in finding jobs.  Each person is assigned to a personal advisor who assesses a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals.  The personal advisor works with the Jobseeker to agree a personal progression plan that includes a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets.  Jobseekers are also provided with a range of training and development supports including online modules, career advice, CV preparation and interview skills.  Jobseekers spend a year on JobPath and if they are placed into a job, they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to twelve months while in employment.

The person concerned is actively engaged with JobPath.  Should she have any queries about her JobPath engagement, she can contact her Job Coach or alternatively she can contact the Newbridge Activation service by phone at 045 491500 or by email at astnewbridge@welfare.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

State Pensions

Ceisteanna (243)

Bríd Smith

Ceist:

243. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a series of matters in relation to a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51970/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

State pension (non-contributory) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.  For the purposes of the means test; cash income, including foreign pensions, the value of any property (excluding a person’s own home), and the value of any savings and investments which a person or their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant holds are assessable.

The person concerned should submit a completed application in their own right for State pension (non-contributory), three months in advance of their 66th birthday.  Following assessment of their eligibility, the person will be notified directly in writing of the outcome of their application. 

In completing their application form, it is open to the person concerned to apply for an increase in respect of their spouse, who is currently on jobseekers allowance.  If the person qualifies for the increase and it is payable at a higher rate than their spouse's personal rate of jobseekers, their spouse will be transferred to the higher payment.  If qualified and the weekly rate is lower, their spouse will remain on their existing personal rate of jobseekers allowance payment. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

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