Written Answers Nos. 380-402
380. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the mechanisms that are in place to ensure that Irish language supports are provided as part of social protection services in particularly with regard to customer-facing services such as INTREO offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58335/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to providing a high standard of service in either Irish or English to its customers. The Department is aware of its obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003 and the commitments as set out in our Irish Language Scheme 2019-2022.
Currently, the Department has 200 staff in our various Intreo and Departmental offices across the country that are available to provide services through Irish. In situations where staff are unavailable, an interpreter service is offered. This service, which can be arranged at very short notice, can be provided either by 3-way phone call, or in-person, as required.
All digital platform services and information within www.MyGovid.ie, www.MyWelfare.ie and www.WelfarePartners.ie are available to our customers in both Irish and English.
Application forms and relevant information leaflets are available for download in both Irish and English on gov.ie - An Roinn Coimirce Sóisialai (www.gov.ie)
In addition, my Department is committed to the continued development and training of staff to facilitate the provision of services through Irish and continues to encourage staff to avail of the range of training supports to enhance fluency in the Irish language.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
381. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will contact the UK authorities in order to expedite the required records of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58352/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 20 February 2020. To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution years before the relevant date of their claim.
The person in question does not have the required 260 paid PRSI contributions in Ireland. The claim was refused under national legislation on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme are not satisfied. As the person concerned had previously worked in the United Kingdom (UK), a request was made to the UK Authorities for his UK contribution record. This information was requested from the UK Authorities on 24/10/2020, 25/2/2021, 10/6/21 and most recently on 14/10/2021. To date the requested information has not been received from the UK Authorities.
Unfortunately, claims processed under Bilateral/EU Regulations are more complex and can take longer to finalise as the Department is highly dependent on receiving necessary information from other states. The Department will continue to endeavour to establish the entitlement of the person in question and he will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
382. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to change or review the way the State pension (contributory) is calculated since the changes that were made regarding the total contributions approach in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58359/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn January 2018, the Government announced an Interim Total Contributions Approach (Interim TCA) to calculate the entitlement of pensioners who reached state pension age on or after 1 September 2012 (i.e. those born on or after 1 September 1946) and who had a reduced rate pension entitlement based on post Budget 2012 rate bands. When the Interim TCA was introduced, it included provision for the HomeCaring Periods Scheme which fundamentally changed the entitlement of many who spent time out of the workforce caring for others. It, for the first time, acknowledged home caring periods prior to 1994. Those who have a 40 year record of paid reckonable social insurance contributions, subject to a maximum of 20 years of credits / homecaring periods, qualify for a maximum contributory pension payment where they satisfy the other qualifying conditions for the scheme. From April 2019, all new State Pension (Contributory) applications are assessed under all possible rate calculation methods, including both the Interim TCA and the Yearly Average approach, with the most beneficial rate paid to the pensioner.
The Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine the sustainability of the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment. The Commission was an independent body comprised of knowledgeable and experienced academics, pension experts, members of civil society and representatives of workers and employers. The Commission has completed its work and its report was published on 7th October 2021. The Commission's Report, its Technical Sub-Committee's working papers, and submissions made to the Commission are available on the Commission’s website, pensionscommission.gov.ie.
The Commission’s Report is a comprehensive report that takes account of an assessment of various analyses of population, labour force and expenditure projections; an examination of international approaches; and responses to an extensive consultation process.
It has unambiguously established that the current State Pension system is not sustainable into the future and that changes are needed, and it has set out a wide range of recommendations in this regard.
The report has been referred to the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands and to the Commission for Taxation and Welfare for their views. I understand that both the Chair of the Commission, Ms. Josephine Feehily and the Chair of its Technical Sub-Committee, Ms. Roma Burke met with the Joint Committee on 17th November 2021. Officials from my Department also attended this meeting.
In the interests both of older people and of future generations of older people, the Government intends to consider the comprehensive and far reaching recommendations in the Commission’s Report very carefully and holistically. My officials will work over the coming months to examine each of the recommendations. The Commission's recommendations includes a full transition to a Total Contributions Approach (TCA) model and phasing out of the Yearly Average approach over a 10 year timeframe. In terms of the specific design of TCA, the Pensions Commission recommended that the current Interim TCA model should become the definitive TCA. My officials will also consult across Government through the Cabinet Committee system in relation to this.
I think it is really important that we complete that work before reaching conclusions. I intend to bring a recommended response and implementation plan to Government by the end of March 2022.
The State Pension is the bedrock of the pension system in Ireland. It is extremely effective at ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty. This Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case for current pensioners, those nearing State Pension age and today’s young workers including those who are only starting their careers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
383. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to review or remove the habitual residency criteria for the State pension (non-contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58360/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Pension (Non-Contributory), or SPNC, is a payment for people of state pension age who satisfy a means test along with other qualifying criteria. One of the qualifying conditions for SPNC is to satisfy the Habitual Residence Condition (HRC). HRC applies to both Irish citizens and Non-Irish citizens.
Deciding Officers, when determining whether a person is habitually resident for social protection purposes, must take into consideration all of the person’s circumstances, including the following two aspects -
1. Whether or not the person has a right to reside in the State; and
2. Five factors under Section 246 (4) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, i.e.:
- the length and continuity of residence in Ireland or in any other particular country
- the length and purpose of any absence from Ireland
- the nature and pattern of the person’s employment
- the person’s main centre of interest
- the future intentions of the person concerned as they appear from all the circumstances
A person must satisfy both parts of the condition to be regarded as habitually resident in Ireland. There is no minimum period of residence in the State required to satisfy HRC. Each person’s claim is considered on its own merits and within the terms of the relevant scheme guidelines.
There are currently has no plans to review or remove the HRC as a criterion for SPNC.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
384. Deputy Malcolm Noonan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the living alone allowance increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58366/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe living alone increase is an extra payment for recipients of certain social welfare payments who are living alone. 224,361 people are in receipt of this increase.
I trust this clarifies the position.
385. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for jobseeker’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58374/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials are in the process of completing the transition to Jobseeker’s payments for customers who were in receipt of a COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) of €203 per week prior to 07/09/2021. Any customer who is part of this phase and who applied for a Jobseeker’s payment will continue to receive a PUP until a decision is made on their Jobseeker’s claim.
According to the records of my Department, a Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) application was registered for the person concerned on 30/10/2021 and is currently under consideration. The person concerned was asked to provide a letter from the Department of Justice regarding her permission to reside in the State and on provision of the requested documentation the application will be progressed. The person concerned will remain in receipt of a PUP at the weekly rate of €203 until a decision has been made on her JA claim.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
386. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the overpayments recouped from one parent family benefits in each of the years of 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [58414/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOverpayments of social welfare assistance and benefit payments arise as a consequence of decisions made under the relevant sections of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (as amended). Customers who have been overpaid social welfare have a liability to refund the overpayment as they have been in receipt of a payment to which they were not entitled. Where an overpayment is raised, the Department makes every effort to recover the amount overpaid.
Recovery is sought over a period without imposing undue financial hardship on the customer. The Department will work with the customer and consider personal circumstances in determining a repayment plan.
A breakdown of one family parent benefit overpayments recouped in the years 2020 and 2021 to date is set out in the table below:
|
One Parent Family Recoveries |
|
|
Year |
Value |
|
2020 |
€4.1m |
|
2021 (To end of Oct.) |
€3.2m |
387. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the schemes that currently exist in order to help adults with dyslexia; the reason such adults do not qualify for disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58463/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of income and employment supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability.
Income supports for people who cannot work due an illness of disability include means-tested social assistance payments like Disability Allowance and Blind Pension, and social insurance payments like Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension
It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity for employment.
Disability Allowance (DA) is the main income support administered by this Department that is payable for people who cannot work due to a disability. In October 2021, some 154,000 people were in receipt of Disability Allowance.
DA is payable to persons aged between 16 and 66, subject to a means test, a habitual residency requirement and a medical assessment. Medical assessment is essential in order to determine medical eligibility for the scheme. To be eligible, a person must have an injury, disease or mental or physical disability that has continued, or may be expected to continue for at least one year and, as a result of this disability, the person is ‘substantially restricted’ in undertaking employment. Medical eligibility for DA is assessed on a case by case basis and is determined by its severity, and resultant effects on activities of daily living and work-related activities. Eligibility is not based solely on diagnosis or treatment but rather is assessing the person’s eligibility for the relevant scheme in accordance with the relevant statutory conditions.
In addition to income supports, my Department provides a wide range of employment supports and services to assist jobseekers/existing employees with disabilities, and also employers seeking to hire a jobseeker (or support an existing employee) with a disability.
The Department manages the State’s Public Employment Service (PES) through its nationwide network of Intreo centres and contractors delivering services on its behalf, for example, Local Employment (LES) and Employability. The employment supports and services have been designed to focus on supporting the individual jobseeker, rather than being focused on their disability, to best assist them to obtain and maintain employment.
Jobseekers, including Jobseekers with a disability, who seek support from their local Intreo office or LES centre work with a case officer/mediator with a view to agreeing a suitable personal progression plan in order to access the full range of employment supports available. These offices also deliver a recruitment and job matching service for employers.
EmployAbility is a referral only service that is designed to address the additional challenges some jobseekers with disabilities may experience in securing and maintaining employment. The Department contracts with 24 companies for the delivery of EmployAbility services in 31 locations. A jobseeker may be referred to an EmployAbility service provider if it is agreed between the jobseeker and their Intreo Case Officer/LES Mediator. Providers deliver a supported employment model of services for jobseekers with disabilities. Jobseekers work with a job coach who provides both pre-employment and in-employment support and assistance. Providers also deliver a recruitment and job matching service for employers.
The Department provides specific support for graduate jobseekers with disabilities through AHEAD (Association for Higher Education Access and Disability), a contracted service provider. They deliver the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) and ‘Get Ahead’ Programmes on behalf of the Department that provides paid work experience and other supports for graduates with disabilities who want to enter or re-enter the job market.
Schemes and supports that are available through local Intreo centres that jobseekers/employees with disabilities or their employers may be eligible to participate in or avail of include the Rural Social Scheme, the Community Employment Scheme and the Wage Subsidy Scheme for people with disabilities and the Reasonable Accommodation Fund Grants.
The Department regularly reviews its supports and payments schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives. As set out above, a comprehensive set of income and employment supports is in place for those experiencing illness and disability, based on a person’s medical condition and either their social insurance contributions or means testing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
388. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount a recipient of a State pension contributory or non-contributory pension can earn without affecting their pension payment. [58471/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department provides income supports through contributory payments (which are based on a person's social insurance record) and means-tested social assistance payments. Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse or partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme.
The State Pension Contributory (SPC) is a contributory payment and, as such, is not means tested. A recipient of the SPC can claim an increase to their pension in respect of a qualified adult (IQA). A qualified adult is the spouse / partner of the pensioner who is being wholly or mainly maintained by the pensioner.
An increase for a qualified adult may be payable at the maximum rate of payment where the means of the spouse/partner are €100 a week or less, while reduced rates are payable where the means are over €100 and less than €310 per week. No increase is payable where the means of the spouse/partner are in excess of €310 per week.
The State Pension Non-Contributory (SPNC) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 or over who do not qualify for the SPC based on their social insurance record.
As such, all recipients of the SPNC are subject to a means test. Social welfare legislation provides that all income and capital belonging to an applicant (and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable) is assessable for means testing purposes for social assistance schemes, such as the State Pension Non-Contributory (SPNC). This includes all income and property (other than the family home) belonging to the claimant.
To calculate the rate payable, the means of the claimant is deducted from the maximum rate of SPNC. In cases where the means of the claimant exceed the maximum rate, the claimant is not entitled to any payment.
SPNC recipients can earn up to €200 per week from employment without their rate of payment being affected. In addition, the first €30 of means from any source is also disregarded.
I trust that this clarifies the issue..
389. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason it appears that section 30E (1)(a) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) penalises persons working a partial year as an employee at a disadvantage compared to persons that are self-employed full-year employees (details supplied). [58496/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is understood that the Deputy's question relates to the provisions of subsection 30E(1A) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended).
This subsection applies the provisions of Chapter 5B of the Act to employed social insurance contributors as well as to persons in receipt of an occupational pension between the age of 16 and pensionable age where such contributors or persons also have unearned income in a contribution year.
Where employed persons work for any part of a contribution year and also have unearned income in that contribution year, they are liable for the 4% contribution on that unearned income unless it is less than the Revenue chargeable person amount of €5,000 per annum. This contribution, recorded as class K, does not give rise to any social insurance entitlements.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
390. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment who have transitioned to jobseekers’ payments; the number transitioning from pandemic unemployment payment to various jobseeker’s terms by week and by jobseeker’s payment type that is, jobseeker’s allowance or jobseeker’s benefit in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58511/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 26 October 2021, those who earned less than €200 per week began the process of moving to standard Jobseeker terms. From 09 November 2021, those who earned between €200 and €299.99 per week began this process. Accordingly, the table below details the movements of those in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment on 26 October 2021 and 09 November 2021 to Jobseeker Payments in subsequent weeks. The weeks in the table below refers to the week in which the Jobseeker claim was registered with the Department. The transition process is being carried out in a phased, gradual manner and where a person makes an application for a Jobseeker's payment, they are not transitioned from PUP until such time as there is a decision on their application.
People who have transitioned from receipt of PUP to receipt of Jobseeker Payments
|
Week Ending |
Jobseeker's Allowance |
Jobseeker's Benefit |
|
25 October |
277 |
1,450 |
|
31 October |
357 |
45 |
|
7 November |
252 |
2,504 |
|
14 November |
177 |
141 |
|
21 November |
109 |
131 |
|
28 November |
59 |
100 |
|
Total |
1,231 |
4,371 |
391. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person in receipt of or who is applying for a social welfare payment is obliged to get a Public Services Card given that an investigation is currently underway by the Data Protection Office which is focusing on the use of the public service identity dataset and other systems linked to the card such as single customer view and MyGovID; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58535/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial welfare legislation (Section 241 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended) provides that it shall be a condition of any person’s right to benefit that they, inter alia, satisfy the Minister as to their identity.
It also provides (in section 247C of the same Act) that a person in receipt of any social welfare benefit must satisfy the Minister as to their identity, when requested to do so.
The SAFE registration process is the process through which a person satisfies the Minister as to their identity. Once their identity is verified in this way, they are issued with a Public Services Card which can be used as proof of their identity when dealing with public service bodies.
In their 2019 Report into the processing of personal data in relation to SAFE registration processing, the Data Protection Commission found that my Department has a legal basis for the processing of such data and for the issuing of a PSC for the purpose of authenticating the identity of a person claiming, presenting for or receiving a social welfare benefit.
392. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools in Ballymun and Finglas that receive funding for the hot meals programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58546/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
A budget of €65.1 million has been provided for the scheme 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.
Budget 2021 provided an additional €5.5m to extend the provision of hot school meals to an additional 35,000 primary school children, currently receiving the cold lunch option. Invitations for expressions of interest were issued to 705 primary schools (612 DEIS and 93 non-DEIS) in November 2020. A total of 281 (256 DEIS and 25 non-DEIS) 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. Thereafter, a process of random selection was used for each area.
Budget 2022 is providing for the hot school meals to be extended from January 2022 to the 81 DEIS schools that submitted an expression of interest but were not selected in the extension to 35,000.
A list of the schools from Ballymun and Finglas who have received funding for Hot School Meals in the 2021/2022 academic year is contained in the attached tabular statement 1. A list of the Ballymun and Finglas schools invited to commence Hot School Meals from January 2022 is contained in the attached Tabular Statement 2.
I am committed to continuing to grow the hot school meals element of the school meals programme and building further on the significant extension announced as part of Budget 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement 1: The schools in Ballymun and Finglas who have received Hot School Meals Funding 2021/2022
|
Roll Number |
Organisation Name |
County |
|
18137D |
S N Naomh Feargal |
Dublin |
|
19015R |
St Joseph’s G N S |
Dublin |
|
19197D |
St Kevin’s B N S |
Dublin |
|
19546C |
St Oliver Plunkett N S |
Dublin |
|
19619D |
St Malachy’s NS |
Dublin |
Tabular Statement 2: Ballymun and Finglas schools invited to commence Hot School Meals Scheme from January 2022
|
Roll Number |
School Name |
County |
|
19929S |
St Brigid’s Senior Girls |
Dublin |
|
20220C |
Gaelscoil Ui Earcain |
Dublin |
394. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the death certificate for a person (details supplied) which their widow has been awaiting for four months since first applying; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58687/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the HSE is responsible for the day-to-day delivery of civil registration services which includes issuing death certificates.
I have been informed by the General Register Office that the death certificate in question was issued by the HSE on the 24th November 2021.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
395. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a working family payment application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58688/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (WFP) is an in work family payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children. In order to qualify for WFP an applicant cannot be claiming a Jobseeker's Transitional (JST) payment.
An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 20 August 2021 and was disallowed on 03 September 2021, as they had a current JST claim at the time of application.
The person concerned submitted a request for a review of the above decision. An officer subsequently wrote to the person concerned to request further information, including a payslip and housing cost details.
Following receipt of the requested details, a review of the decision was completed. The person concerned has been awarded WFP from 16 September 2021, the first payment date after their JST payment stopped. WFP will be paid for a period of 52 weeks to 14 September 2022. The first weekly payment of WFP and all arrears owing have been issued to the bank account of the person concerned on 25 November 2021.
The person concerned was notified of the decision in writing on 25 November 2021 and of their right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
396. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) has applied and is entitled to a State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58700/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 27 October 2008 and was in receipt of State pension (non-contributory) from 31 October 2008 to 14 October 2021.
Their application for State pension (contributory) was received on 24 August 2021.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a social insurance record of 980 full-rate paid contributions and 127 credited contributions. State pension (contributory) has been awarded at 98% of the maximum rate, with effect from 15 October 2021, following on from the State pension (non-contributory) previously in payment. Officials are currently examining the entitlement of the person concerned to a State pension (contributory) for the period 31st October 2008 to 14th October 2021 and will contact him directly in this regard in due course.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 25 November 2021.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
397. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when the full rate of the child dependent payment will be paid to a person (details supplied) for their four children; if the arrears will also be paid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58738/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen a person is in receipt of disability allowance (DA) and their child is in full-time education, an increase for qualified child (IQC) will be paid up to eighteen years of age or up to the end of the academic year in which he or she reaches twenty two.
The person concerned has now been awarded half rate IQC for her four children and arrears have issued in respect of the two children born in September of this year.
Where the spouse of a DA recipient is in receipt of a payment in their own right from this Department the IQC is paid at half rate on each scheme. The spouse of the person concerned will need to contact their payment provider (INTREO office) regarding this.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
398. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of pension auto-enrolment; the expected timescale for its introduction; if she expects an advance on the timescale or other matters following the discussion at the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Economic Recovery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58753/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to introducing a pension auto-enrolment system. The objective of this commitment is to address the low proportion of employees in Ireland with supplementary pension cover, which includes both occupational and personal pensions.
According to CSO figures, the rate of supplementary pension coverage is around 55% of the working population (Pension Coverage Survey 2020). It is estimated that this reduces to less than 35% when the private sector is considered in isolation. As a consequence of this low supplementary pension coverage rate, many retirees may suffer an unwanted reduction in living standards when they retire.
This Government, recognising the exceptional strain that both employers and employees are now under as a result of the COVID-19 emergency, will seek to gradually deliver an AE system, based on the following principles:
- There will be a phased roll-out, over a decade, of the contribution made by workers.
- Matching contributions will be made by both workers and employers and the State will top up contributions.
- There will be an opt-out provision for those who choose to opt out.
- Workers will have a range of retirement savings products to choose from.
- There will be a charges cap imposed on pension providers.
My Department is currently working on finalising a proposal for Government on the overall design of the AE system. As set out in the Economic Recovery Plan 2021, it is hoped that the design can be completed by the end of this year. Thereafter, it is intended that the necessary legislative, organisational and process structures will follow over the course of 2022 and 2023.
In progressing this work, the Department is receiving technical support from the European Commission’s DG Reform which assists EU member states implementing administrative and institutional reforms.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
399. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) cannot be added to their spouse’s contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58792/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Increase for qualified adult (IQA) is a means-tested payment, payable to State pension (contributory) claimants whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source do not exceed a means test income limit. Where property or assets are held jointly, the qualified adult's means are assessed as half of the total amount. The family home is not included in the means assessment.
Where a qualified adult has weekly means of less than €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where their weekly means are between €100 and €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment.
The person’s spouse applied for an Increase for qualified adult in respect of the person concerned when applying for State pension (contributory) on 16 March 2020. The IQA means assessment is based on the person’s UK pension, as well as capital and property in the person’s name. The person’s weekly means were assessed as €324.82 which exceeds the statutory limit of €310. The person’s spouse, as the State pension (contributory) recipient, was notified of this decision in writing on 13 July 2020 and was afforded the right of review and/or appeal. To date, neither a review request nor notification of appeal has been received by my Department in respect of the person concerned.
If the person’s circumstances change, it is open to the person’s spouse to re-apply for the Increase for qualified adult.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
400. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a pension application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58801/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's contributory pension was received by my Department in April 2021 from the person concerned. A copy of the U.S.A. marriage license/certificate and a copy of the late spouse's French death certificate were submitted with the application.
Evidence of births, marriages and deaths which occur in this State is available to the Department. However, where the events occurred outside the State, the original certificates are required by the Department. The marriage certificate or marriage licence must also show the civil status of both parties at the time of marriage. A person claiming widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's contributory pension must provide evidence that they are the legal widow, widower or surviving civil partner.
The person concerned was requested to furnish the original marriage and death certificates on a number of occasions. Failure to provide the necessary documents resulted in the claim being withdrawn.
The person concerned has recently been in contact with my Department and the Deciding Officer has again requested the required original certificates. Once the original marriage license/marriage certificate, showing the civil status of both parties at the time of marriage, and the original death certificate are received, the claim to widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's contributory pension will be re-examined without delay.
The person concerned has also appealed the decision of the Deciding Officer, and her claim will be forwarded to the independent Chief Appeal's Officer for review.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
401. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if scholarship awards for PhD students are excluded from the means test for the one-parent family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58802/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraScholarship awards for PhD students are not excluded from the means test for persons in receipt of one-parent family payment.
The social protection system includes a variety of social assistance payments with different rules in relation to means testing, reflecting the different contingencies under which payments are made. 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.
My Department encourages social welfare recipients to avail of education and training. In addition, income received from the SUSI grant is disregarded in the means test for most social welfare schemes.
Any fees paid to the relevant educational establishment under SUSI are not counted as means.
Disregards across all of the Department's schemes are kept under constant review and any changes have to be considered in a budgetary context.
402. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review primary social welfare rates given they remain unchanged since 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58822/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Budget 2022, I was pleased to announce a €5 increase across all core weekly social welfare payments, including a proportionate increase for qualified adults. The increase, which is estimated to cost €375 million, will take effect from January 2022 and will benefit approximately 1.4 million recipients.
I also announced a number of targeted measures which are aimed at addressing the needs of the most vulnerable including increases for those living alone, families with children and those most likely to be exposed to fuel poverty. This focused approach to supporting those in greatest need continues the approach adopted in Budgets which preceded it.
My Department continues to monitor the effectiveness of social transfers, taking account of evidence-led research such as the Minimum Essential Standard of Living and the findings of bodies such as the ESRI and the CSO.
