Written Answers Nos. 310-319
310. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the degree to which the various school extension or new building projects throughout north County Kildare have been affected by Covid-19 or other factors in respect of their delivery date; the action now taking place to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13786/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. This investment will build on the good progress being made on adding capacity to cater for demographic changes and provision for children with special educational needs. This investment will also facilitate an increased focus on the modernisation of existing school stock and help transition the school system for an era of net zero carbon by 2050.
My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve in excess of 1,200 school building projects for delivery under the Department’s Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme. These projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction.
There are currently in excess of 250 school building projects at construction (on site) with a continuous stream of other projects at or near the tendering stage. Most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period up to 2025.
During the period 2018 to 2021 691 school building projects were completed under the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). These projects delivered in excess of 64000 school places. 19 of these projects delivered were in County Kildare; 16 of those were primary schools including one special school and 3 were post-primary school building projects. This strong delivery has been facilitated by the continued operation of the school building projects during the COVID period.
It is anticipated that 150 to 200 school building projects will be completed annually during the 2022 to 2025 period.
As the Deputy is aware the length of time a project takes to deliver depends on a number of factors, including scale and complexity, and is subject to the time it takes to progress through the statutory approval process. There is also always a risk of unforeseen issues giving rise to slippage in the progress of a project through the design, statutory approvals or tendering process. Furthermore, Additional Accommodation projects may differ in the way they progress through the architectural planning process depending on their scope.
Large Scale & Additional Scheme Accommodation (ASA) Projects in north County Kildare:
|
Roll_Number |
School_Planning_Area |
School_Name |
TYPE |
Project_Type |
|
18644U |
Celbridge |
STRAFFAN N S |
Primary |
Extension |
|
18988G |
Celbridge |
ST RAPHAELS SPECIAL SCH |
Special Education |
New School Building |
|
20257C |
Celbridge |
Scoil Naomh Padraig |
Primary |
New School Building |
|
61661P |
Celbridge |
Salesian College |
Post Primary |
Extension |
|
91614B |
Celbridge |
Celbridge Community School |
Post Primary |
New School Building |
|
20526D |
Leixlip |
Leixlip Primary School |
Primary |
New School Building |
|
70691C |
Leixlip |
Confey Community College |
Post Primary |
Extension |
|
00779U |
Maynooth |
PRESENTATION GIRLS PRIMARY SCHOOL |
Primary |
Extension |
|
17341U |
Maynooth |
MAYNOOTH B N S |
Primary |
New School Building |
|
20292E |
Maynooth |
Maynooth Educate Together National School |
Primary |
New School Building |
|
20527F |
Maynooth |
Gaelscoil Ruairí |
Primary |
New School Building |
|
76554W |
Maynooth |
Gael Coláiste Mhaigh Nuad |
Post Primary |
New School Building |
|
15040T |
Naas |
MERCY CONVENT PRIMARY SCHOOL |
Primary |
New School Building |
|
17254C |
Naas |
SCOIL CHORBAIN |
Primary |
New School Building |
|
19597T |
Naas |
AN LINBH IOSA |
Primary |
Extension |
|
61730I |
Naas |
Coláiste Naomh Mhuire |
Post Primary |
Extension & Refurbishment |
|
76194S |
Naas |
Naas Community College |
Post Primary |
New School Building |
|
20542B |
Naas |
Naas Primary School |
Planned Primary |
New School Building |
|
12998C |
Prosperous_Clane |
S N CIANOG NAOFA |
Primary |
Extension |
|
13902O |
Prosperous_Clane |
HEWETSONS N S |
Primary |
Extension & Refurbishment |
|
19796C |
Prosperous_Clane |
ST PATRICKS BNS |
Primary |
New School Building |
|
70720G |
Prosperous_Clane |
St Farnan's Post Primary School |
Post Primary |
New School Building |
|
91372D |
Prosperous_Clane |
Scoil Mhuire Community School |
Post Primary |
Extension |
There are no delays save for:
Hewetsons NS: Prolonged period of time to appoint a design team. Expected to move through next stages efficiently.
St Farnan's Post Primary: Prolonged Stage 1 status due to design implications. Expected to move through next stages efficiently.
Naas Community College: Project now complete. The project suffered delays through Stage 4. The original substantial completion date was 09/08/2021 (firstly delayed until 10/12/2021 due to covid19) and it was completed on 18/02/2022.
Mercy Convent Primary: Construction commenced on site in May 2017. The contract terminated in March 2020. Weatherproofing works to reach substantial completion on the 9th of March 2022. Tenders to issue for contractor to complete the major construction project shortly with a proposed completion date June 2023.
Gaelscoil Ruairí: Prolonged planning process owing to a Request for Further Information. Project currently at tender preparation. No further delays anticipated.
Maynooth Educate Together NS: Delays were incurred due to Covid-19 and site closures in 2020. This delayed the final handover of the project. School was handed over in two phases , phase one delivered 8 classrooms in December 2019 and phase two delivered the remainder of the project in May 2021.
Maynooth BNS: Project completed. Construction commenced on site in December 2020 and the current substantial completion date is August 2022. Delays were due to lack of trade’s people on site due to Covid, weather delay and supply chain disruption. No further delays are anticipated.
311. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the form likely to be taken by the junior and leaving certificates in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13787/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to make an informed decision on state examinations 2022, I had intensive engagement, including bilateral meetings, with members of the Advisory Group on State Examinations, which has representatives of students, parents, teachers, school managerial bodies, the further and higher education sector, and the State Examinations Commission. I listened carefully to what each of these stakeholders and others had to say and examined each of their points.
Following consideration of this matter by Government, on 1st February, I announced the decision to operate an examinations approach for Leaving Certificate in 2022, with significant further adjustments to the examinations; and to provide students with a commitment that the overall results of Leaving Certificate 2022 will not be lower than in 2021.
The adjustments to the examination papers are over and above those announced in August 2021, and the detail of these changes have been communicated to schools. These adjustments will mean that candidates: have greater choice in the papers; have less questions to answer; and still have the same amount of time as in a normal year to complete the examination. For example, English - Higher Level Paper 1 and Paper 2. In English Paper 1, candidates will have to answer only half of the usual number of questions in Section 1, Comprehending. In English Paper 2 they will only have to answer on any two instead of on all three sections – a reduction of one third.
This is in addition to previously announced changes, such as the running of the Leaving Certificate Oral Examinations and Music Practical over the first week of the Easter Break.
Timeframes for certain assessment elements of the Leaving Certificate Applied examinations have also been moved out. Schools were also reminded of the flexibilities they have regarding the dates for completion and authentication of examination Coursework.
I also confirmed that Junior Cycle examinations will take place this summer. Adjustments to the assessment arrangements for Junior Cycle were published in August 2021 and provide for more teaching time in schools. They include a reduction in the number of Classroom Based Assessments to be completed, the removal of the requirement to complete Assessment Tasks, and adjustments to the requirements in coursework and practical performance tests.
In addition, there will be a second sitting of the Leaving Certificate examinations, shortly following the first sitting, for those unable to sit those examinations for serious medical reasons, close family bereavement, or due to Covid-19, based on the public health rules that will apply in society in June.
I also confirmed the waiving of the fees for the 2022 Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations. Students will not have to pay the fees which would usually be €116 and €109 for the Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations respectively.
312. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which the education of children with special needs is being accommodated in 2022 and thereafter; the extent to which plans are afoot to meet such needs in a comprehensive way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13788/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecial Education Teachers: The Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile.
Under the allocation model, schools have been provided with a total allocation for special education needs support based on their school profile.
In order to minimise disruption for schools, due to the Covid pandemic and to provide for continuity of allocations, the Minister for Education and the Minister for Special Education and Inclusion agreed to maintain the existing Special Education Teacher Allocations for schools for the 2021/22 school year, with re profiled allocations now due to be made from September 2022.
Both the Department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are committed to ensuring that all schools are treated equally and fairly in the manner in which their school profiles have been calculated.
Accordingly, a number of review processes have been put in place to support schools.
A process is in place to address circumstances where the school profile significantly changed following the allocation process e.g. a developing school where the net enrolment numbers significantly increased.
The criteria for qualification for mainstream school developing school posts are set out in the Primary and Post Primary School Staffing Schedule for the 2021/22 school year.
Schools who qualify for additional mainstream developing school posts in accordance with these criteria also qualify for additional Special Education Teaching Allocations to take account of this developing status.
It is also acknowledged that there are some circumstances, which may arise in schools, which fall outside the allocations for developing school status.
These relate to exceptional or emergency circumstances which could not have been anticipated e.g. where the school profile changes very significantly, or where other exceptional circumstances have arisen in a school and which may require a review of schools capacity to provide additional teaching support for all pupils who need it in the school, or of their utilisation of their allocations.
A process is available where schools can seek a review of their allocations by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), including the utilisation of their allocations, in circumstances where a school considers that very exceptional circumstances have arisen subsequent to the development of the profile.
Working is ongoing on the re-profiling for 2022/2023 school year and this will be concluded shortly.
Special Needs Assistants
The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.
The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.
SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.
It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
Schools were notified of the arrangements for the allocation of SNA support in respect of students in mainstream classes for the current school year. The arrangements include the following provisions:
- 2019/20 mainstream class SNA allocations were frozen, from the date of issue of Circular 0030/2020, and have automatically rolled over into the current school year. This means that no school will receive an allocation less than that which they have on the date of issue of this Circular and existing SNAs currently in standard SNA posts were allowed to continue in these posts for the current school year in the normal way.
- A diagnosis of a disability, or a psychological or other professional report, is not be necessary for this process.
The role of the SNA to support the care needs of students in mainstream classes, as set out in Circular 0030/2014, remains unchanged.
It is expected that schools will review and reprioritise the deployment of SNAs within mainstream settings and allocate resources to ensure those with the greatest level of need receive the greatest level of support. Providing access to SNA support continues to be based on primary care needs as outlined in DES Circular 0030/2014.
Schools may apply to the NCSE for additionality where they can demonstrate that the current allocation does not meet additional care needs within the mainstream classes in the school. Applications for additionality arising from significant new or emerging additional care needs, which cannot be catered within existing allocations, are dealt with by way of the exceptional review process.
The exceptional review process for mainstream allocations is available to schools throughout the current school year.
The arrangements for the allocation of SNAs for mainstream classes for the 2022/23 school year are currently under review. An announcement on the matter will be made as soon as possible.
313. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which special needs assistants are available in primary and post-primary schools throughout north County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13789/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government. The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are at unprecedented levels.
Very significant levels of financial provision are made to ensure that children with special educational needs, including those in Kildare, can be provided with an education appropriate to their needs.
The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government. The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants are at unprecedented levels.
The State currently spends in excess of 25% of its annual education and training budget (€9.2 Billion) on making additional provision for children with special educational needs.
This represents an increase of over 60% in total expenditure since 2011, at which point €1.247 Billion per annum was provided.
Budget 2021 provided an additional 990 Special Needs Assistants. This resulted in 18,004 SNAs having been allocated to schools by 31st December 2021
Budget 2022 provides funding for an additional 1,165 SNAs (in 2022) to provide support to children with special educational needs, which will bring the total number of SNAs to 19,169 at the end of December 2022.
Provision for 19,169 SNAs as at 31st December 2022 will represent an increase of 81% since 2011 at which time 10,575 were provided.
The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.
The NCSE publish statistics on SNA allocations to primary, post primary and special schools in tabular form, by county and by school, for each school year, this information is available on their website, www.ncse.ie.
Where circumstances change during the course of the 2021/22 school year that materially increase the level of care need in a school to the extent that the school can clearly demonstrate that it cannot be met within the existing SNA allocation, the school may apply to the NCSE for a review. Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website, ncse.ie/for-schools.
The NCSE manages the exceptional review process and handles each case individually. Some review requests can be concluded as an office based exercise, whilst others require a school to be visited in order to observe the current deployment of SNA support in the school setting.
The timeframe for concluding a review can vary depending on the school context or the nature of the information provided.
The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.
314. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which parents of children with special needs can expect to have their child’s accommodation requirements met in full at primary and second level throughout north County Kildare in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13790/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs.
This includes additional teaching and care supports.
As a result, the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with additional needs nationwide.
Over the last two years, my Department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special needs placements ahead of each new school-year.
I am satisfied that this more joined up approach is delivering. Through this intensive intervention, we have seen over 300 special classes, providing 1,800 new places, opened nationwide for the 2021/22 school-year.
I also acknowledge that notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places.
The NCSE has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
In terms of Kildare, I can confirm that the NCSE is aware of an identified need for additional special classes for students with autism in primary and post-primary schools. Work has been underway with stakeholders for a number of years to meet the demand for places.
We are always grateful to those schools that have responded, and continue to respond positively to meet the educational needs of children in their communities.
Currently, a network of 69 primary special classes, including 5 Early Intervention classes, and 22 post primary special classes provide specialist placements for students with autism in Kildare. 6 of these classes were newly established for the current school year.
The NCSE is continuing to engage with primary and post-primary schools throughout County Kildare regarding the establishment of additional special classes for 2022/23 and beyond. There are specific plans in place to open additional special classes and every support will be made available to progress their opening in the shortest possible timeframe with a particular focus on September next.
It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.
I want to reassure the Deputy that my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
315. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education if her Department can accommodate the teaching and accommodation needs of children of all ages at primary and second-level schools throughout the country and north County Kildare in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13791/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is aware of some local pressures and demand for additional post-primary school places in a number of school planning areas across the country including north county Kildare.
It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area.
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area.
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils.
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area.
The Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues across a number of school planning areas through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities/patrons. The Department has been working closely with representatives of schools in Co Kildare to deliver appropriate solutions to provide any required school places, including the provision of necessary accommodation.
Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland.
Approximately 1,200 school building projects under the Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction – most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period up to 2025. The current status of large-scale projects being delivered under Project Ireland 2040 including north county Kildare, may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
In terms of staffing, my Department allocates teachers to all schools annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.
The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources at primary and post primary level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The primary staffing schedule has been consistently improved in recent years to ensure that less pupils are required to recruit or retain a teacher. Furthermore, primary schools that project an increase in enrolment may apply for an additional teacher allocation and provisional approval is sanctioned in May pending official confirmation of enrolments in September.
School place needs across all school planning areas will continue to be kept under review, using refreshed Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and other updated information as they become available.
316. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of external consultant's reports commissioned by her Department in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022; the cost of same; the company involved; the title and publication date of the report in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13569/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table sets out the 14 reports conducted by external consultancies for the period in question:
|
2019 |
|||
|
Report |
Name of Consultants |
Publication Date |
Cost |
|
An Initial Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Intreo Activation Reforms |
ESRI |
Q1 2019 |
€82,820 |
|
Measurement and Analysis of Household Income & Living Conditions 2017 Programme: 1. Technical Paper on Social Inclusion and Access to Care Services in Ireland 2. Research Paper: Access to Childcare and Home Care Services across Europe |
ESRI |
February 2019 September 2019 |
€78,392 |
|
Review of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion |
Indecon |
Internal Management Report |
€90,824 |
|
Static Electricity Survey of Kennedy House, Navan |
Chris McGee Group |
Internal Management Report |
€2,460 |
|
Review of Information Systems Division Computer Operations |
Philip O’Reilly |
Internal Management Report |
€24,600 |
|
Shift Roster Design Options (for Information Services Division Computer Operations) |
Working Time Solutions |
Internal Management Report |
€23,124 |
|
Provision of expert consultancy support to the Department on the deployment of online services and the development of a strategic implementation plan for the implementation of Digital Transformation and the Front Office/Back Office (FO/BO) service model. |
Deloitte |
Three (3) Internal Management Reports |
€288,496 |
|
Research on Costs of Disability in Ireland |
Indecon |
December 2021 |
€318,660 |
|
2020 |
|
|
|
|
Social Transfers and Deprivation in Ireland: A study of cash and non-cash payments tied to housing childcare and primary health services |
ESRI |
November 2020 |
€78,391 |
|
Social Inclusion Forum 2019 – Conference Report |
Elizabeth Costello |
August 2020 |
€2,600 |
|
Public Employment Services Review: Draft Recommendations |
Institute for Employment Studies and Social Finance |
To be decided |
€123,318 |
|
2021 |
|
|
|
|
Technical paper on the measure of basic deprivation and consistent poverty in Ireland |
ESRI |
October 2021 |
€49,315 |
|
Research on recalibrating the PEX statistical profiling model that is currently in use by Intreo offices
|
ESRI |
Expected to be published in Q4 2022 |
€60,000 |
|
Recommendations for the Department of Social Protection Migration from SAS to Microsoft and the Framework for Statistical Analytics |
Project Botticelli |
Internal Management Report |
€25,830
|
317. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the recent closure of the Wicklow town citizens information centre (details supplied); if her Department proposes to fund a new centre at another location in the town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13576/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a statutory independent body as set out in the Comhairle Act 2010 which operates under the aegis of my Department. CIB provides funding to 22 companies in order to deliver services on its behalf. This includes eight CIS companies, of which South Leinster CIS encompasses Co. Wicklow, that operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres.
CIB have informed me that new premises have been located in Wicklow Town and planning permission for the change of use of these proposed premises has been granted. My Department and CIB are currently holding discussions in respect of the funding required to complete the new premises development for Wicklow Town.
318. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will conduct a comprehensive review of a pension entitlement for a person (details supplied) in County Cork who is currently in receipt of a reduced contributory pension; if she will examine their entitlement to homemaker credits for the years when their children were born; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13602/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 26 April 2020. An application for State pension (contributory) was received from them on 24 April 2020.
Since April 2019, all new State (Contributory) Pension applications are assessed under all possible rate calculation methods, including the Yearly Average and the interim Total Contributions Approach, with the most beneficial rate paid to the pensioner.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned was initially assessed as having a total of 1,654 qualifying paid and credited social insurance contributions from their date of entry into insurable employment in 1974 to 2020. This gave them a yearly average of 36 contributions and entitlement to 90% of the full rate State pension (contributory).
They were subsequently awarded a 2 year disregard for homemaking and an additional 104 contributions for the years 1995 and 2015, giving them a total of 1,758 qualifying paid and credited social insurance contributions and a yearly average of 39 contributions. This however did not change the rate of payment.
Their entitlement using the Total Contributions Approach was also assessed. This gave them an entitlement to 84.53% of the full rate State pension (contributory) which is less than the rate currently in payment to them.
The person concerned was informed in writing of the initial decision on 09 June 2020 and the updated decisions on 19 June 2020 and 02 February 2021. They were also informed on 12 March 2021 that their self-employment record was checked with Revenue and it was confirmed that no further contributions were due. They also appealed their case and the appeal was disallowed on 12/01/2022.
They are currently in receipt of the most financially beneficial rate of State pension (contributory) commensurate with their social insurance record. However, If they consider that they have additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to my Department and their pension entitlement can be reviewed. I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
319. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the illness benefits that are available to a person (details supplied). [13610/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date, my department has not received an application for any of the illness related schemes from the person concerned.
In order to qualify for a payment under the terms of the Illness Benefit scheme, a person must have paid a prescribed number of reckonable PRSI contributions in the relevant tax years prior to their claim. It appears that the person concerned would not qualify for an Illness Benefit payment as he has been paying Class S contributions paid by the self employed in the relevant tax years. Class S contributions are not considered reckonable contributions for Illness Benefit.
If the person concerned feels that he is permanently incapable of attending work or expects to be unable to do so for at least a further year, it is open to him to make an application for the long-term illness schemes of Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance.
If the person concerned is experiencing difficulties meeting his financial commitments he should contact the Department's representative, formerly known as a Community Welfare Officer, at his local Intreo Centre so that an assessment of his circumstances can be carried out to determine whether he might qualify for assistance under the terms of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
