Tuesday, 1 Mar 2022

Written Answers Nos. 493-512

Social Welfare Offices

Ceisteanna (493)

Paul Donnelly

Ceist:

493. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the difficulty people are experiencing getting in touch with local INTREO offices and the inability to leave a message to ensure that staff get back to persons in cases in which they do not make contact by telephone; the number of staff in offices who are available to take calls; the number of appointments that were available nationally in the past three months. the number of appointments that were made in the INTREO office in Snughborough, Dublin 15 in the past three months; and when the offices will be fully open to public walk-ins [10884/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The National Intreo Contact Centre (NICC) has been set up to respond efficiently and effectively to telephone calls made to Intreo Offices.  Department of Social Protection staff are there to assist customers and seek to bring about a solution to their query.  Staff on the NICC will normally resolve queries at the first point of contact.  When a client rings the local Intreo office number with a query, including any request to engage with the Community Welfare Service, their call will be answered by NICC staff who will resolve the query if possible, or if necessary escalate onward to the relevant Intreo Centre, including to the Community Welfare Service (CWS).   All Intreo staff are committed to prioritising these follow-up requests and will make contact with the client. Such escalations from the NICC are dealt with in real time, and in instances where CWS queries are deemed to be emergencies these calls are prioritised. The provision of an in-person service to clients and access to Intreo Centres continues and supports for vulnerable clients and home visits where required are all available locally and continue to be an important part of service delivery.

While Intreo Centre opening hours were reduced during the pandemic, business hours are reverting to pre-Covid hours and by end of February will be 9.15am to 5pm Monday to Wednesday, 10.30am to 5pm on Thursdays (to allow for staff training) and 9.15 to 4.30pm on Fridays. An appointment is not necessary for the majority of the Department’s customers as Intreo Centres operate a walk-in service all day. During the reduced opening hours that were in operation during the pandemic,  a walk-in service was available  in the mornings and  customers were facilitated with appointments in the afternoons as required but data on the number of these appointments is not available.

Pension Provisions

Ceisteanna (494)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

494. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the anomaly for those making contributory pension applications that have no credited contributions whilst on farm assist in view of the fact they were paying S contributions previously and at that time were not entitled to make voluntary contributions and are now being penalised with reduced pensions; the number of these farmers that have been affected by the anomaly; if a review of these cases will be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10960/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Low income farmers are not locked out of State pension schemes. As with all other persons, farmers can avail of the State Pension (Contributory) scheme if they have sufficient PRSI contributions. People on low incomes, including farmers, may alternatively qualify for the State Pension (Non-Contributory) (SPNC), which is a means-tested pension, financed by the Exchequer, and paid at up to 95% of the maximum rate of the SPC. The Farm Assist scheme was introduced in 1999 to provide income support for low income farmers. It replaced the Smallholders’ Unemployment Assistance payment and did not entail any payment of self-employed PRSI contributions. Recipients who had previously paid Class S social insurance contributions could, at that time, pay voluntary contributions to maintain their social insurance record, provided they satisfied the qualifying conditions to do so. Since 1st January 2007, the exemption from Class S PRSI has been removed and those self-employed persons receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance or Farm Assist are subject to Class S PRSI as self-employed contributors on their self-employed income, provided their annual income is €5,000 or more. Many low income famers qualify for the non-contributory State pension on this basis.Low income farmers, on Farm Assist who don't, on reaching age 66, qualify for the contributory pension can take the option to retain the Farm Assist rate of payment if that is higher than any amount that they would get on the non-contributory, or means tested, pension.

There are approximately 5,100 farm assist claims in payment at present. Recipient numbers have been falling in recent years, partly due to the rising age profile of the customer base. There are approximately 21% of current recipients aged 62 and over who will reach pension age in the next 4 years. The numbers on the scheme are also dependent on the level of farm income.

The Department is currently finalising a technical review of the means test disregards for the Farm Assist Scheme, in line with a commitment under the Programme for Government and in 'Our Rural Future, Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025'. Any changes to social welfare supports, are considered in a budgetary context in view of the overall improvements to social welfare supports. I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (495)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

495. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if the provision of an alarm system or a phonewatch will be added to the household benefit package in view of the rise in rural and urban crime and in the interest in protecting our older citizens; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11033/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Department of Social Protection administers the Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) which is a weekly payment of €2.50, which may assist people who qualify under the Seniors Alert Scheme, among others. Customers of my Department who are in receipt of a qualifying payment and who are also in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance and the Fuel Allowance automatically qualify for the TSA. Approximately 139,000 customers are currently in receipt of the TSA payment. The estimated full year cost of the scheme is circa €18.1 million.

The primary objective of the TSA is to support the most vulnerable people living alone at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, with the cost of communications and/or a home alert system.

The Department of Rural and Community Development funds the Seniors Alert Scheme and Pobal administers this on behalf of that Department. This provides funding for a free personal monitored alarm, to enable older persons of 65 or older and of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pension Provisions

Ceisteanna (496, 497)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

496. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if confirmation will be provided that PRSI will not be imposed upon pensioners over the age of 66 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11036/22]

Colm Burke

Ceist:

497. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if confirmation will be provided that no changes will be made to the PRSI status of persons aged over 66 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11037/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 496 and 497 together.

The Pensions Commission was established, inter alia, to develop options for Government to consider in addressing the sustainability of the State pension system and the social insurance fund. The Commission presented its report to Government late last year and unambiguously established that the current State Pension is not sustainable into the future and that change is needed. It is a comprehensive and detailed report that takes account of responses to an extensive consultation process. The report sets out a wide range of recommendations, including measures to increase Social Insurance Fund (SIF) income.

The report was referred to the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands. That Committee published its views on the 2nd February 2022.

Separately, and as set out in its terms of reference, the Commission on Taxation and Welfare is considering the report of the Pensions Commission in the context of its review of potential changes to the social insurance system, including relevant PRSI rates and coverage recommendations, and I await its views.

In parallel, I am working with my officials to examine each of the recommendations carefully and consulting with colleagues in Government through the Cabinet Committee system.

I think it is very important that we get all the relevant views and complete our examination work before reaching conclusions on any specific aspect or recommendation. Once that is done, I intend to bring a recommended response and implementation plan to Government for its consideration by the end of March.

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 trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Question No. 497 answered with Question No. 496.

Social Welfare Code

Ceisteanna (498, 499)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

498. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to amending the criteria for fuel allowance in order that persons that are living with another family member, earning a low income and not in receipt of one of the qualifying payments for fuel allowance would not be disqualified from same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11038/22]

Colm Burke

Ceist:

499. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to amending the criteria for fuel allowance in order that persons that are living with children of working age that are earning a low income and not in receipt of one of the qualifying payments for fuel allowance would not be disqualified from same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11039/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 499 together.

The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from October to April, which is supporting up to an estimated 400, 000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. 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 criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the fuel allowance payment a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including the household composition criteria. This ensures that the fuel allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.

To satisfy the household composition criteria an applicant may live alone or only with:

- a qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren); (if the qualified spouse is in receipt of half rate carers, in addition to the IQA payment, they may qualify for fuel allowance, subject to a means test) or

- a person in receipt of a qualifying payment who would be entitled to the allowance in their own right or

- a person who is in receipt of carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit in respect of providing full-time care and attention to the fuel allowance applicant or their qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren) or

- a person receiving pandemic unemployment payment (PUP), a person receiving short-term jobseeker's allowance (JA) or basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) - i.e., less than 391 days for JA and less than 15 months/456 days for SWA).

Fuel allowance is not payable if an applicant lives with any person, including a family member who is not covered by the criteria outlined above.

Any decision to extend the qualifying criteria for Fuel Allowance in the manner outlined by the Deputy would change the targeted nature of the scheme and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.

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.

Question No. 499 answered with Question No. 498.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (500, 501, 502)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

500. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of making the entitlement to fuel allowance automatic at age 70 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11051/22]

Colm Burke

Ceist:

501. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of making the entitlement to fuel allowance automatic at age 75 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11052/22]

Colm Burke

Ceist:

502. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of making the entitlement to fuel allowance automatic at age 80 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11053/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 500, 501 and 502 together.

The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from October to April, to an estimated up to 400,000 low-income households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. 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 estimated additional annual costs of the measures proposed, based on both the current weekly rate of Fuel Allowance at €33 and on the current duration of a 28 weeks fuel season, are set out in the table below.

Proposed Fuel Allowance Automatic Qualification Age	Estimated Annual Additional Cost at Current Rate (€33) / Duration (28 weeks)
Age 70	€296.15 million
Age 75	€172 million
Age 80	€94 million

The criteria for fuel allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the fuel allowance payment a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including a means test and the household composition criteria. This ensures that the fuel allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.

However, significant additional cost is not the only feature of the Deputy's proposal. Automatically awarding the fuel allowance payment to the cohort of people referred to by the Deputy would fundamentally change the nature of the scheme. The scheme would no longer be a targeted measure, as it would be awarded irrespective of a person's or a household's means. The measure would also result in multiple payments of fuel allowance in households that have more than one of the cohort of people referred to by the Deputy residing in them.

Any decision to extend the qualifying criteria for Fuel Allowance in the manner outlined by the Deputy could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.

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.

Question No. 501 answered with Question No. 500.

Question No. 502 answered with Question No. 500.

Pension Provisions

Ceisteanna (503)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

503. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of making the entitlement to fuel allowance automatic upon receipt of the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11054/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

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, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022.  It is estimated that up to 400,000 households will benefit from this payment in 2022.  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 criteria for fuel allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to the Department in as targeted a manner as possible.  People who are in receipt of a qualifying contributory payment must also satisfy a means test.  All non-contributory recipients are accepted as satisfying the means-test.

A fuel applicant and members of his/her household may have a combined assessable income of up to €120.00 a week above the appropriate rate of State Pension Contributory and qualify for a payment.  Therefore, an elderly person who is solely dependent on Social Welfare payments would only be refused the fuel allowance on the grounds of income if s/he is in receipt of an additional payment from my Department at a rate in excess of the allowable €120.00 a week.  

It might be remembered that more than half of those over 66 are solely dependent upon the State pension.  The €120 a week means limit is significantly higher that the weekly fuel allowance rate of €33.00.  Therefore, pensioners with a weekly income of €120 above the appropriate rate of State Pension Contributory will still be receiving a payment that is higher than those received by pensioners, dependent on just the State Pension and fuel allowance. 

Any decision to disregard certain Social Welfare payments when assessing household means for fuel allowance purposes would have budgetary consequences and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and priorities and the availability of financial resources. 

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Exceptional Needs Payments (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet out of his / her own resources.  There is no automatic entitlement to this payment.  Each application is determined by a Deciding Officer based on the particular circumstances of the case. 

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (504)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

504. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount spent in social protection benefits and allowances, by programme and by year in County Cork from 2011 to 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11058/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Detailed information on recipients and expenditure are published annually by my Department at gov.ie/dsp/statistics, including an archive of reports from 1998. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. Work is currently ongoing in respect of the 2021 report, which is due to be published in Q2 this year.

Expenditure is incurred and recorded at the scheme level, and so it is important to note that the expenditure figures detailed in respect of Cork are estimates, based on the proportion of recipients of the various social welfare programmes in county Cork as published in the 2020 Annual Statistical Report. The programmes follow the classifications set out in the Appropriation Accounts.

Pensions - Social Insurance

	Expenditure (€m)	Estimated Expenditure for Cork (€m)
2011	5,120	641
2012	5,320	554
2013	5,498	572
2014	5,641	589
2015	5,907	620
2016	6,108	643
2017	6,392	675
2018	6,737	716
2019	7,172	766
2020	7,431	796

Pensions - Social Assistance

	Expenditure (€m)	Estimated Expenditure for Cork (€m)
2011	972	106
2012	963	103
2013	952	102
2014	954	102
2015	972	103
2016	982	103
2017	995	103
2018	1,020	105
2019	1,043	107
2020	1,049	107

Working Age Income Supports - Social Insurance 

	Expenditure (€m)	Estimated Expenditure for Cork (€m)
2011	1,674	162
2012	1,467	142
2013	1,116	108
2014	887	86
2015	798	77
2016	757	73
2017	753	73
2018	812	79
2019	835	81
2020	4,558	442

Working Age Income Supports - Social Assistance

	Expenditure (€m)	Estimated Expenditure for Cork (€m)
2011	4,560	371
2012	4,533	369
2013	4,395	357
2014	4,053	330
2015	3,670	299
2016	3,190	259
2017	2,845	231
2018	2,610	212
2019	2,427	197
2020	3,799	309

Working Age Employment Supports - Social Insurance

	Expenditure (€m)	Estimated  Expenditure for Cork (€m)
2011	0	0
2012	2	0
2013	7	1
2014	10	1
2015	11	2
2016	13	2
2017	16	2
2018	18	3
2019	21	3
2020	25	3

Working Age Employment Supports - Social Assistance

	Expenditure (€m)	Estimated Expenditure for Cork (€m)
2011	903	83
2012	952	88
2013	985	91
2014	1,025	95
2015	1,052	97
2016	968	89
2017	881	81
2018	789	73
2019	736	68
2020	4,742	437

  Illness, Disability, and Caring - Social Insurance

	Expenditure (€m)	Estimated  Expenditure for Cork (€m)
2011	1,601	207
2012	1,495	193
2013	1,470	190
2014	1,395	180
2015	1,393	180
2016	1,369	177
2017	1,405	182
2018	1,451	187
2019	1,465	189
2020	1,541	199

 Illness, Disability, and Caring - Social Assistance

	Expenditure (€m)	Estimated Expenditure for Cork (€m)
2011	1,842	223
2012	1,852	224
2013	1,935	234
2014	2,041	247
2015	2,153	261
2016	2,331	282
2017	2,557	309
2018	2,767	335
2019	2,984	361
2020	3,171	384

Child Related Payments - Social Insurance

	Expenditure (€m)	Estimated  Expenditure for Cork (€m)
2011	18	1
2012	17	1
2013	17	1
2014	17	1
2015	18	1
2016	18	1
2017	18	1
2018	20	1
2019	21	1
2020	22	1

Child Related Payments - Social Assistance

	Expenditure (€m)	Estimated Expenditure for Cork (€m)
2011	2,412	260
2012	2,377	257
2013	2,252	243
2014	2,265	245
2015	2,459	266
2016	2,605	281
2017	2,627	284
2018	2,634	284
2019	2,634	284
2020	2,608	282

Supplementary and Miscellaneous - Social Insurance

	Expenditure (€m)	Estimated Expenditure for Cork (€m)
2011	312	34
2012	292	32
2013	250	27
2014	213	23
2015	218	24
2016	226	25
2017	227	25
2018	243	27
2019	275	30
2020	304	33

Supplementary and Miscellaneous - Social Assistance

	Expenditure (€m)	Estimated Expenditure for Cork (€m)
2011	1,018	111
2012	890	97
2013	802	88
2014	720	79
2015	670	73
2016	653	71
2017	609	66
2018	574	63
2019	524	57
2020	563	62

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (505)

Colm Burke

Ceist:

505. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to increasing the threshold for means for persons applying for the carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11064/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Government recognises the important role that family carers play in Irish society and is fully committed to their support through a range of supports and services. 

The main income supports to carers provided by my Department include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the Carer's Support Grant. Spending on these payments in 2022 is expected to exceed €1.5 billion. 

The current income disregard and means test for Carer’s Allowance is the most generous within the social welfare system.  The amount of weekly earnings disregarded is €332.50 for a single person and €665 for a couple. 

In acknowledgement of the crucial role that family carers play in our society I introduced a number of measures as part of Budget 2022 in relation to supports provided by my Department. These include the following changes to the carer means test which will take effect in June:  

- An increase in the weekly income disregard for Carer’s Allowance to €350 a week for single carers and to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner,

- An increase in the Capital/Savings disregard for Carer’s Allowance from €20,000 to €50,000.

A more generous means assessment for Carer’s Allowance has been called for over successive Budgets by organisations representing carers.  An increase in the general weekly income disregard will enable more carers with modest incomes to become eligible for Carer’s Allowance, and therefore provide an income support to carers, whose earning capacity is significantly constrained as a consequence of their caring responsibilities.

Increasing the capital disregard will allow carers who have accumulated relatively modest savings, often to provide sufficient moneys to care for a loved one, to retain these savings without it impacting upon their carer’s payment.  It also brings the capital formula applied to savings in the means assessment for Carer’s Allowance in line with Disability Allowance.

Notwithstanding the increased level of support already in place for carers, my Department will keep these measures under review as part of the annual budgetary process.  

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Gender Equality

Ceisteanna (506)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

506. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made on the equality objectives of her Department specifically in relation to women. [11081/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The main policy measure to enhance the equality of women in our society is set out in the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020 which set out a range of equality objectives specifically aimed for women. My department has advanced the following important actions to meet the equality objectives in the Strategy and progress opportunities for women.  A number of strands of activity include income support, opportunities for and the protection of employment and pensions coverage.

Budget 2022 contained a range of measures which will contribute to the alleviation of poverty in families and in particular in female-headed households.  These include increases to

- the weekly rates of all working age payments (including One Parent Family Payment, Jobseeker’s Transition payment and Maternity/Paternity/Adoptive/Parent’s Benefit) and the State pension

- the weekly rates of payment for qualified children

- the income thresholds for the Working Family Payment for all family sizes

- both the income and capital means disregards for the Carers Allowance (in addition to the increase in the weekly payment rate)

- the annual Back to School Clothing and Footwear allowance, along with an adjustment to the weekly income limit for one parent families to bring it in line with two parent families.

My Department brought forward new legislation to protect women's employment rights before policy responsibility moved to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2018 delivered a commitment under the Programme for Government commitment to tackle increased casualisation of work and to strengthen the regulation of precarious work. The Regulatory Impact Analysis on this legislation found that women are disproportionately represented in low paid sectors of the Labour market. As this legislation is targeted at the low-paid and precariously employed, the legislation has a positive impact on the employment rights of women. 

Pathways to Work 2021-2025, the Government’s overall framework for activation and employment support policy, was published in July 2021.  The strategy contains five strands of action with "Strand 4: Working for All - Leaving No one Behind" extending targeted employment supports to groups facing additional challenges accessing work such as people with disabilities, lone parents and minority groups, including Travellers.  The strategy includes a commitment for the development of a Returner programme, to support people who have left the workforce and been out of the workforce for a period with a view to assisting their return to the workforce, to commence from early 2023.  The aim of a returner programme is to help women, in particular, to re-integrate into the workforce following an extended career break and will particularly benefit those with caring commitments.  

The Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP) is a key policy initiative under the Government's new national employment services strategy - Pathways to Work 2021-2025.  WPEP is 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). To date, of the 195 placements approved, 112 (57%) are female, including six participants who are currently in receipt of either One Parent Family Payment or jobseekers transition payments.

The level of consistent poverty among lone parents stands  at 21.6%. In line with the 2020 Programme for Government commitment to prioritise and protect supports for lone parents and having regard to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection's Report on the Position of Lone Parents in Ireland (2017), the need to maintain income adequacy for lone parents is recognised as essential in order to successfully transition to employment and to avoid poverty.  As part of the Budget 2021 measures, the earnings limit of €425 per week was removed in order to incentivise lone parents to work and to enhance the potential for increased work intensity.  This measure also aligned the earnings threshold between jobseekers transition and one parent family payments and offers a vital in-work support for those parenting alone, who are predominantly women.   

In addition, the position of lone parents has been highlighted in another Pathways to Work commitment, recognising that their position is a key consideration.

Pension coverage for women is critical and, in particular, the aim is to reduce the gender pension gap that exists in Ireland. All pensions policy options continue to be examined from a gender perspective.

This is not an exhaustive list of measures advanced by my Department since the publication of the National Strategy on Women and Girls in 2017, but it is reflective of the level of commitment to improving the position of women in our society through income support, employment opportunities and pension coverage.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (507)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

507. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Cork, whose illness benefit claim was awarded some weeks ago will receive payment in respect of same. [11155/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

There was a delay in processing the Illness Benefit claim from the person concerned as the claim had not been submitted within the required timeframe.

Following a review of the particular circumstances involved, a decision was made to award the claim from the date of the commencement of the absence and a payment of €4,804.34 has been issued.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (508)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

508. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made to date in the determination of an appeal against a decision to stop a carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11158/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I am advised that an application for carer's allowance by the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 11 March 2021.  The person concerned sought a review of the decision on 25 March 2021 and was informed by the Department on 14 April 2021 that, on the basis of the review, the decision was not being revised. 

In the normal course, an appeal against the decision of a Deciding Officer must be made within 21 days of a decision being notified. Appeals received outside of this time limit may be accepted at the discretion of the Chief Appeals Officer if the particular circumstances underlying any delay merit such an exception being made.  I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, based on the circumstances of this case, an appeal is not being accepted at this late stage.

If the person's means are insufficient to meet their needs, it is open to them to apply for supplementary welfare allowance. 

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (509)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

509. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility of a person (details supplied) for the jobseeker’s benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11252/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Currently the person concerned has not made a claim for Jobseekers Benefit or Assistance, or for any of the Illness Schemes offered by the Department. 

In order to be eligible for Jobseekers Benefit or Allowance a person must be involuntarily unemployed, must be capable of work, must be available for full time work and must be genuinely seeking work.

In this case, as the person concerned has declared that he would be unemployed due to ill health, he would not be eligible for a Jobseekers Payment. 

Again based on the information supplied that the person concerned needs to retire on health grounds he may have an entitlement to Illness Benefit, Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance.  The full range of schemes operated by the Department are accessible at www.gov.ie/welfare

Alternatively the person concerned may contact his local Intreo Centre for further advice and information on services available to him in this regard. 

 

 

Employment Schemes

Ceisteanna (510)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

510. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the part-time job incentive scheme for the self-employed; if it will continue beyond the end of the pandemic unemployment payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11318/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) was one of the key measures introduced on 15 March 2020 to cushion the impact on incomes as a direct consequence of the Government mandated public health measures. To date expenditure on the scheme is over €9.1 billion.

Flexibility has been provided to the self-employed to take up and receive payment for occasional or intermittent self-employment work while retaining their PUP. This measure has assisted people to maintain their business during the pandemic and provides that a person can earn up to €960 from self-employment over a previous eight week period.

As a temporary measure in response to the pandemic, the Part Time Job Incentive, which was previously limited to employees only, was also made available to the self-employed. The extension of the scheme to the self-employed is targeted at a situation where a self-employed person exceeds the €960 earnings threshold, having been in receipt of PUP. It is intended to support those re-opening their business, but who due to the pandemic could only do so intermittently or on a limited or reduced basis.

The scheme supports those working up to a maximum of 24 hours per week and provides a partial payment while retaining employment income. The rate of payment is a flat personal rate of €131.80. There is no income limit applied. The scheme is supporting approximately 1,300 self-employed.

In line with the gradual lifting of restrictions, the PUP has been closed for applications since 22nd January 2022 and the process of winding down the scheme continues.  With effect from 8 March 2022, anyone still in receipt of the PUP will move to a weekly rate of €208. This represents a four-week extension on what had previously been arranged.  PUP recipients will start transitioning to standard jobseeker terms, and if eligible, will move onto a jobseeker payment from 5 April 2022.

It is intended that the Part Time Job Incentive scheme for the self-employed will run for as long as the PUP scheme is in operation. 

I trust that this clarifies the position at this time. 

 

Social Welfare Benefits

Ceisteanna (511)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

511. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update regarding the professional artists on jobseeker’s allowance; if consideration has been given to extending eligibility for the scheme to artists who are not in a union (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11319/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Professional Artist scheme under jobseekers allowance is an initiative of the all-of-Government Creative Ireland Programme, introduced while I had ministerial responsibility for the Arts.  The scheme was initially introduced as a pilot scheme and was available to professional writers and visual artists.  

In September 2019 the Professional Artist Scheme was introduced as a permanent scheme in its own right, and has been extended to other professional art forms following a review carried out in consultation with the then Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.  A key feature of the initiative is that it acknowledges the status of self-employed artists and writers and gives them a 12 month window to focus on building up their work before they become subject to labour market activation.  Therefore, they are exempted from labour market activation, which is mandatory for most recipients of a jobseekers payment, for a period of twelve months.   

The independent and objective validation process of professional certification was developed as part of the review process in consultation with the then Department of  Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Arts Council and representative bodies. 

There are approximately 85 artists currently availing of the Professional Artist Scheme.  My Department will continue to work with the Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and relevant bodies in relation to the development of this scheme, including any proposal to extend the professional certification process.  

Finally, the Deputy will also be aware that Budget 2022 included the announcement of €25 million to pilot a new Basic Income Guarantee scheme for artists and arts workers as recommended by the Arts and Culture Taskforce and Recovery Oversight Group.  My colleague the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has lead responsibility for this initiative which will be available to qualifying artists and creative arts workers to support their practices.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. 

 

Pension Provisions

Ceisteanna (512)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

512. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when ex-gratia pension payments will be made to community employment supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11336/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection (Deputy Joe O'Brien)

As the Deputy will be aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme.

At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the valuable and dedicated service that CE supervisors provide in running CE schemes in delivering local based community services while providing a valuable training and development opportunity to the long-term unemployed and to those often furthest removed from the labour market.

I am pleased that agreement was recently reached between the Department of Social Protection and unions representing CE supervisors and assistant supervisors that resolves this long standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment to eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors.  On the 23rd December, both unions involved confirmed acceptance of this settlement which will benefit over 2,200 people employed by CE schemes going back to 2008. It is estimated to have a total cost of over €24 million.

Under the terms of this settlement, on reaching retirement age, eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors will receive a once off ex-gratia payment in respect of time employed by CE schemes since 2008.  People who retired since 2008 and who have reached retirement age will be able to apply for payments immediately when the scheme is in place.  The ex-gratia payment provides for 2 weeks pay per year of service or part thereof in the qualifying period.  The calculation will be based on the salary point of the CE supervisor or assistant supervisor on the date of retirement, subject to a cap of €600 per week.

The qualifying period for the scheme is from 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2023 and will apply to all periods of employment as a CE supervisor or assistant supervisor during that period.

The Department of Social Protection is currently working on the administrative arrangements to implement the agreed settlement so that payments will issue to qualified CE workers in 2022.