Written Answers Nos. 483-504
483. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the average processing time for a PPS number for Syrian, Afghani, Yazidi and Ukrainian programme refugees, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24140/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not collect data on PPSN processing times by nationality or ethnicity.
The European Union has activated the Temporary Protection Directive, as an emergency provision in response to the war in Ukraine. The Directive, which is effective from 24 February 2022, allows Ukrainian citizens and others fleeing Ukraine to move through the EU and receive supports.
Reception facilities have been established at Dublin Airport, where officials from my Department, together with the Departments of Justice, and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, are available to meet arrivals from Ukraine and provide the relevant information and supports. Dedicated City Centre Ukraine Support Centres have also been established in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.
My Department's main aim is to provide immediate financial assistance. A Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) is required to access social welfare supports and other public services; a fast-track approach is in operation to ensure those who arrive in Dublin Airport from Ukraine are allocated a PPSN for those purposes. Those who arrive through other airports and ports are invited to call into their nearest Intreo or local social welfare office to apply for a PPSN. As of Thursday 12 May my Department has allocated over 30,800 PPSNs to people who have fled Ukraine.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
484. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if guardianship supports will be paid to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24164/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was awarded a guardians payment (contributory) at the weekly rate of €382.00 with effect from the 11th March 2022. Payment will commence at her nominated bank account from the 20th May 2022 . Any arrears due will also be paid into her nominated bank account on the same date.
The person concerned has been notified accordingly.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
485. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24212/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 10 March 2022 and will receive her first payment to her nominated post office on 26 May 2022. Any arrears due from 10 March 2022 to 25 May 2022 will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on 12 May 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
486. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that self-employed persons are not entitled to claim illness benefit if they are unable to work due to illness; the measures that are being taken to bring about changes to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24217/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness Benefit is the primary income support provided by my department to those who cannot work due to illness of any kind. Illness Benefit is a social insurance payment and eligibility depends on the person’s Pay Relayed Social Insurance (PRSI) record and class. Only contributions made in Class A, E, H or P count toward this payment.
Self-employed people who make PRSI contributions at Class S cannot claim Illness Benefit. This is due to the fact that people in Class S pay contributions to the Social Insurance Fund at a lower rate of 4%.
Although self-employed people are not usually eligible for Illness Benefit, an exception was made in relation to Covid-19 enhanced Illness Benefit, primarily as a public health measure, to encourage people to not go to work due to financial constraint when they should be in isolation.
There has been an extensive expansion of access to the range of social insurance benefits for self-employed contributors in recent years without any increase in the 4% rate of contribution made by them. Where all qualification criteria for the particular scheme are satisfied, PRSI contributions in Class S give access to:
- Adoptive Benefit;
- Guardian's Payment (Contributory);
- Invalidity Pension;
- Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed);
- Maternity Benefit;
- Parent's Benefit;
- Partial Capacity Benefit (where in receipt of Invalidity Pension);
- Paternity Benefit;
- State Pension (Contributory);
- Treatment Benefit; and
- Widows, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension.
The benefits to which Class S PRSI does not provide access are Carer's Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit, Illness Benefit, and Occupational Injuries Benefits.
In effect, self-employed contributors, in return for a contribution of 11 percentage points lower than the combined employer and employee contribution of 15.05% made in respect of employed contributors, have access to benefits which comprise over 90% of the value of all benefits available to employed contributors.
Illness Benefit is funded by the Social Insurance Fund through the payment of PRSI contributions. The Fund is central to Ireland’s system of social protection and the Government needs to ensure that it can provide adequate and sustainable social insurance pensions and benefits for a growing and ageing population.
The Programme for Government commits to giving consideration to increasing all classes of PRSI over time to replenish the Social Insurance Fund to help pay for measures and changes to be agreed including to the State pension system, improvements in short-term sick pay benefits, parental leave benefits, pay-related jobseeker's benefit and treatment benefits.
I do not intend to extend illness benefit to persons that are self-employed at this time. My Department will continue to keep its range of supports under review to ensure that they meet their overall objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
487. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if self-employed persons are entitled to apply for the jobseeker's benefit in cases in which their company goes out of business and they are looking for a job; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24230/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Jobseeker's Benefit Self Employed scheme, introduced in November 2019, is a social insurance contribution based income support payment for qualifying self-employed people.
To be eligible for the payment a self -employed person must satisfy all of the statutory conditions including the contribution condition. This requires that they must have at least 156 weeks of Class S contributions or at least 104 weeks of paid Class A or H PRSI since first starting work. In addition, they must also have 52 weeks of Class S contributions paid in the Governing Contribution Year (GCY). The GCY is the second last complete tax year before the year in which the claim is made. The GCY for current year claims is 2020.
Where a person’s company goes out of business and they are available for and genuinely seeking employment they may be eligible for the payment subject to satisfying the scheme conditions. However, a person shall be disqualified for receiving the benefit for a period of up to nine weeks where they have received or are entitled to receive any moneys, in excess of €50,000, in respect of the sale or disposal of their self-employment business. This figure is calculated as the net cash value received by the person from the sale of the business after all expenses and debts associated with the business have been paid.
Where a self- employed person does not meet the conditionality for Jobseeker's Benefit Self Employed they may apply for support under the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme, subject to satisfying the conditions of that scheme.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
488. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the fuel allowance; the number of applications for fuel allowance; the number of refusals for fuel allowance over the past three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24274/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs, it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
As at the end of December 2021, there were 374,861 Fuel Allowance recipients. At the end of 2020, the number of recipients was 375,269 and at the end of 2019, it was 369,255. Precise information on the number of fuel allowance applications received or disallowed is not readily available. Common disallowance reasons include where the means of the customer or household exceeds the permissible threshold; the applicant resides with a non-qualified person (for example, someone in employment); or the applicant resides with another person who is already in receipt of fuel allowance. Where an application is disallowed, it is open to the person to re-apply if there is a change in their circumstances.
The Government is acutely aware of the increase in consumer prices in recent months, especially the increase in fuel and other energy prices. To help mitigate the effects of these rising costs, the Government announced additional expenditure measures of €505 million. As part of these measures, I announced an additional lump sum payment of €125 to households in receipt of the fuel allowance payment. This additional lump sum was paid in March 2022 at an estimated cost of €49 million.
The National Energy Security Framework includes provision for a further additional lump sum payment of €100 to be paid to all households in receipt of fuel allowance in the last week of the 2021/22 fuel allowance season – a payment equivalent to over 3 weeks additional fuel allowance. It is expected that this additional €100 fuel allowance payment will commence to customers over the coming days.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, discretionary payments can be made to help people with the cost of heating their homes. A Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people with exceptional heating costs due to ill health or infirmity who cannot meet those costs. My Department also provides discretionary Exceptional Needs Payments to people who face difficulties in meeting their fuel bills.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
489. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the price substitute between bituminous smoky coal and smokeless coal; if the fuel allowance will be increased to take into account any prohibition of the sale of bituminous smoky coal, wet wood and sod turf; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24275/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMatters relating to the sale of fuels are the remit of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications.
I am informed that, according to the most recent SEAI Fuel cost comparison (available on the SEAI web site), the difference between the cost of Premium bituminous coal and smokeless coal is approximately €0.06 per 40kg bag and the difference between the cost of a standard bituminous coal and smokeless coal is approximately €2.52 per 40kg bag.
I am further informed that, in order to improve our air quality, we must reduce our reliance upon the burning of solid fossil fuel. The Government is committed to supporting households with their energy costs through energy efficiency measures. A total of €267 million (of which €202 million is funded from carbon tax receipts) has been allocated for SEAI residential and community schemes in 2022. This investment will support almost 27,000 home energy upgrades, including over 8,600 homes to a BER of B2 (a near doubling of B2 output over 2021) and 4,800 free energy upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection operates both Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
490. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the way that her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit meet their obligations for reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. [24314/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department employs a full-time Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) who provides support to staff and their managers through advice, information and necessary adaptions of individuals' working environments. The DLO accesses a dedicated budget for the support of those individuals who have a disability.
Department officials who disclose a disability to the DLO are supported in identifying suitable accommodation and adaptions that are necessary for the staff member to fulfil their role. These adaptions can include ergonomic assessments for desk and seating arrangements; sign-language interpreters required for meetings, webinars, well-being sessions and interviews; subtitling for videos available within the Department; adaption of office premises, restrooms, doors and parking.
The Department also provides software for individuals with visual impairments or dyslexia; adjustments to work patterns; adjustments to roles and responsibilities and the provision of specialised equipment such as cameras, magnifiers, large monitors, adjustable desks, custom chairs, headsets and telephone equipment.
Recruitment for the Department is undertaken by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). PAS are fully committed to ensuring that competitions held are accessible to all individuals who may require adaptions to the competitions process. Similarly for internal recruitment, adaptions and accommodations are provided for participants who request them during the competition process. These include Irish Sign Language Interpretation and the provision of additional time during the interview process.
In 2021, the Department’s commitment to an equal opportunity hiring practice and diversity in the workplace was placed on the Gov.ie webpage in keeping with best practice.
The Pensions Authority is an equal opportunities employer, with support available for recruitment interviews such as a sign interpretation, braille or other supports. The Employee Assistance service is also available along with other supports such as changes in employee working patterns and working hours, providing home-based working where appropriate. The Pensions Authority also provides equipment such as chairs, desks, laptop-risers and specialised IT equipment to employees who work from home. Other equipment such as foot-stools are provided both in the office and in remote-working locations, as appropriate.
Pension Authority employees undergo ergonomic assessments and this support remains available to employees throughout their employment. The Pensions Authority office is fully wheelchair-accessible having a ramp at the front door and a lift to all floors in the building.
The Citizens Information Bureaus typically work with an Occupational Health Service to establish accommodations that staff members may require for a variety of reasons. These accommodations include, the provision of assigned car parking, reductions or changes in working hours, supply of specialist ergonomic chairs, reallocation of tasks across a team, and temporary change of work location. The range of provisions available are included on a televised induction loop which has been installed in CIB's main office. CIB has an Employee Assistance Service in place that is accessible to all staff members.
491. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that a person who qualifies for and is in receipt of the invalidity pension will not lose his or her invalidity pension if granted the basic income for the arts, given that this is a frequently asked question on her Department's website but the answer does not clarify whether or not the invalidity pension would be retained. [24360/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Basic Income for Artists pilot scheme is not a social protection or income support payment. Rather it is a payment in recognition of the valuable contribution of the arts community and an incentive to encourage people to remain actively employed in the arts instead of seeking employment elsewhere. The scheme was launched by the Government in April and falls within the remit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
However, payments under the pilot scheme will be considered as income from employment and will therefore be reckonable for the purposes of taxation. Similarly, under social welfare legislation, income from the scheme will be treated as income from self-employment for the purpose of various means tests.
Invalidity Pension is a social insurance payment paid to people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or disability. It is based on a claimant's social insurance contributions. Expenditure on Invalidity Pension amounted to approximately €730 million in 2021.
A qualifying condition for Invalidity Pension is that a claimant must be regarded as being permanently incapable of work. Applicants who are selected to take part in the Basic Income for Artists pilot scheme are advised to engage with my Department to determine the impact on their social welfare payment before accepting an offer to participate.
People in receipt of Invalidity Payment who would like to participate in the pilot can request to transfer to Partial Capacity Benefit. This is a flexible scheme that allows people with reduced capacity to return to employment or self-employment with no limit to their earnings while still getting an income support. The rate of the Partial Capacity Benefit is based on the person’s capacity loss which is medically assessed by the Department as moderate, severe or profound. Permission must be granted by the Department to transfer to the scheme in advance of a person engaging in any type of employment or self-employment.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
492. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if a recipient of the basic income for the arts can be considered capable of work for the purposes of qualifying for the invalidity pension and, therefore, be disqualified. [24361/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Basic Income for Artists pilot scheme is not a social protection or income support payment. Rather it is a payment in recognition of the valuable contribution of the arts community and an incentive to encourage people to remain actively employed in the arts instead of seeking employment elsewhere. The scheme was launched by the Government in April and falls within the remit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
However, payments under the pilot scheme will be considered income and will therefore be reckonable as income for the purposes of taxation.
Similarly, under social welfare legislation income from the scheme will be treated as income from self-employment for the purpose of its various means tests.
Invalidity Pension is a social insurance payment paid to people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or disability. It is based on a claimant's social insurance contributions. Expenditure on Invalidity Pension amounted to approximately €730 million in 2021.
A qualifying condition for Invalidity Pension is that a claimant must be regarded as being permanently incapable of work. Applicants who are selected to take part in the Basic Income for Artists pilot scheme are advised to engage with my Department to determine the impact on their social welfare payment before accepting an offer to participate.
People in receipt of Invalidity Payment who would like to participate in the pilot can request to transfer to Partial Capacity Benefit. This is a flexible scheme that allows people with reduced capacity to return to employment or self-employment with no limit to their earnings while still getting an income support. The rate of the Partial Capacity Benefit is based on the person’s capacity loss which is medically assessed by the Department as moderate, severe or profound. Permission must be granted by the Department to transfer to the scheme in advance of a person engaging in any type of employment or self-employment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
493. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24380/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have advised that following a review, the person concerned will be paid the arrears due under the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment for the period 20/08/2021 to 06/01/2022 within the next two weeks.
The person concerned will be informed of the details in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
494. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost of recruiting four additional full-time medical assessors for her Department, in tabular form. [24386/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated cost of an additional four full-time Medical Assessors to my Department for a one year period would be €334,160. This figure is broken down as below. Please note that the annual salary is based on the first point of the Medical Assessor salary scale.
|
Annual Cost Breakdown |
Annual Salary |
|
Annual Salary (1st point of scale) |
€82,685 |
|
Irish Medical Council Registration |
€605 |
|
Professional Competency Scheme Enrolment |
€250 |
|
Total per Medical Assessor |
€83,540 |
|
Total for 4 Medical Assessors |
€334,160 |
495. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the disability allowance and the blind pension are treated differently in terms of the means allowed; the reason for the difference in the savings disregard between the two schemes; if she will review the terms for disability schemes that restrict the ability of a person to work, particularly in the instance of artists who engage in the arts for rehabilitative reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24484/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the means test for Disability Allowance and Blind Pension, income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her partner, where applicable, is assessable for means assessment purposes. The purpose of this is to maintain the policy of ensuring that social welfare expenditure is targeted to those who need it most.
The assessment of means can vary from scheme to scheme depending on the nature and purpose of the scheme. Sometimes, a certain amount of income, or income from particular sources, is not taken into account for a particular scheme. This is known as an income disregard.
For both Disability Allowance and the Blind Pension, capital is assessed as part of the means test. Capital assessed includes all monies held in financial institutions or otherwise, the market value of shares as well as houses and premises owned by a claimant which may or may not be put to commercial use. The family home is not included in the means assessment.
The Department uses an assessment formula, which is set out in legislation, to calculate a person's weekly means from capital. For Blind Pension, and most other social assistance schemes, the formula is as follows: the first €20,000 is fully disregarded; the next €10,000 assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.
For Disability Allowance, the first €50,000 is fully disregarded; the next €10,000 assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.
The Blind Pension is a means-tested payment paid to blind and visually impaired people. It is unique in the social protection system as it is a payment provided to people with a specific physical impairment. As such, it contains different eligibility and means assessment criteria to Disability Allowance. Unlike Disability Allowance, recipients of Blind Pension may also qualify for a range of other primary schemes such as Jobseeker’s Benefit, Illness Benefit, and One-Parent Family Payment.
Both schemes are structured to support recipients to avail of opportunities to pursue their own employment ambitions, be that self-employment or insurable employment.
In the means test, both schemes have an income disregard of €140 per week. In addition, 50% of earnings between €140 and €350 are also disregarded, i.e., 50% of earnings in this band are disregarded for the purpose of the means test. Earnings above €350 are currently assessed at 100%.
In relation to the means test, Budget 2022 measures will see the following changes effective from June:
- An increase in the upper disregard of €25 per week, from €350 to €375 for both payments
- An increase of €5.10 being applied to the general weekly means disregard entry point for the Disability Allowance. This increase will bring the entry point of the weekly means disregard for Disability Allowance in line with that of the Blind Pension, at €7.60 per week.
Legislation does not provide for a disregard for funding from grants for artists and as such, any awards made through these types of schemes are assessed as income in the means test. However, artists earning through their art can similarly avail of the disregards mentioned above.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
496. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that a person (details supplied) is not entitled to the illness benefit given that he or she has been paying class A PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24543/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to qualify for a payment under the terms of the Illness Benefit scheme a person must have at least 104 class A, E, H or P social insurance (PRSI) contributions paid since first starting work. They must also have 39 paid or credited contributions in the relevant tax year i.e. the second-last complete tax year before the year in which the claim begins, or 26 paid contributions in the relevant tax year and 26 paid contributions in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year.
The person concerned does not satisfy the PRSI contribution conditions outlined above. While he does not qualify for a payment of Illness Benefit he has been awarded credits which may assist him in relation to future social welfare claims.
I trusty this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
497. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of staff members who are currently employed to answer phone calls through the customer care line in the client identity services section of her Department; the number of phone calls that have been received, broken down by month, from January 2021 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24549/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a centralised phone service for Public Service Card (PSC) and related queries from its Client Identity Services (CIS) office in Carrick-on-Shannon. My Department also provides telephone and in-person service to customers enquiring about the PSCs through its nationwide network of Intreo offices.
In the Carrick-on-Shannon office, there are normally 17 staff assigned to deal with telephone calls from customers, with additional resources assigned to help meet spikes in demand, when required. The number of calls to this centralised phone service has increased substantially since January 2020.
The number of phone calls dealt by the centralised phone service each month from January 2020 to April 2022 is shown in the table below.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Calls dealt with by centralised Call Centre Per Month January 2020 to April 2022
|
Month |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Jan |
8,301 |
29,577 |
25,289 |
|
Feb |
7,245 |
32,591 |
28,110 |
|
Mar |
10,102 |
28,132 |
26,818 |
|
Apr |
19,849 |
25,456 |
20,990 |
|
May |
13,400 |
28,791 |
|
|
Jun |
18,353 |
30,422 |
|
|
Jul |
17,342 |
28,777 |
|
|
Aug |
9,623 |
25,335 |
|
|
Sep |
21,075 |
31,804 |
|
|
Oct |
23,049 |
29,180 |
|
|
Nov |
30,072 |
29,931 |
|
|
Dec |
24,004 |
20,751 |
|
|
Total |
202,415 |
340,747 |
101,207 |
498. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new requests that have been received for a MyGOV.ie account, broken down by month, from January 2021 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24550/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMyGovID is an online account which provides citizens with a safe, secure online identity for accessing public services. A person does not need to request the Department to set up an account for them; instead, anyone can do so by visiting www.mygovid.ie.
The number of new MyGovID accounts that have been created each month since January 2021 is shown in the table below. (Note: The figure given for May 2022 is from 01 May to 11 May inclusive.)
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
MyGovID Accounts created per month, January 2021 to date
|
Month |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Jan |
145,387 |
110,165 |
|
Feb |
64,115 |
72,782 |
|
Mar |
51,508 |
77,979 |
|
Apr |
48,094 |
65,602 |
|
May |
54,751 |
23,838 |
|
Jun |
62,479 |
|
|
Jul |
66,065 |
|
|
Aug |
63,416 |
|
|
Sep |
64,364 |
|
|
Oct |
63,797 |
|
|
Nov |
68,107 |
|
|
Dec |
61,016 |
|
|
Total |
813,099 |
350,366 |
499. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is in receipt of the back to education allowance will be permitted to take up a part-time job for the summer months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24567/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPeople getting Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) who wish to take up employment during the academic year are assessed under the rules, including means assessment where applicable, that apply to their primary payment i.e. the payment from which they qualified for BTEA.
The person concerned was in receipt of Illness Benefit prior to being awarded BTEA and therefore the rules governing Illness Benefit would apply in respect of wishing to take up employment.
With the exception of people who satisfy the conditions for Partial Capacity Benefit, which allows a person to take up employment and retain a portion of their social welfare payment, those in receipt of Illness Benefit are not permitted to take up employment and retain their payment. The person concerned is currently in receipt of BTEA which is not a qualifying payment for Partial Capacity Benefit and therefore she cannot take up employment and retain her BTEA payment.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
500. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the way that her Department will ensure that the recipients of the proposed payment of €400 to households who offer accommodation to Ukrainian refugees will not affect the means testing of income for social assistance payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24573/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is providing ongoing support and services to assist people covered by the Temporary Protection Directive who are fleeing Ukraine and who arrive in Ireland, such as the provision of PPSNs and income supports.
Currently, where a recipient of a means tested social assistance payment provides accommodation in their own home, any rental payment received in exchange will be assessed in the means test for their social assistance payment and could affect their weekly rate of payment.
In addition, entitlement to secondary benefits such as Fuel Allowance or Living Alone Allowance may be affected due to changes in household composition.
With this in mind, I am bringing forward proposals for Government's consideration which will ensure that persons who offer accommodation to Ukrainians do not see their social welfare payments adversely impacted in any way.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
501. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the development and implementation of new systems, by her Department, to process and retain applicants' personal information pursuant to the December 2021 resolution of proceedings involving the Data Protection Commission on the processing of personal data when issuing public services cards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24628/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department and the Data Protection Commission (DPC) reached an agreement in December 2021. This agreement has been published by the Department and the DPC on their respective websites.
The Agreement acknowledges that the Department of Social Protection can continue to process personal data as is necessary and proportionate in order to authenticate a person’s identity and issue them with a Public Services Card (PSC) which can be used for the purposes of accessing public services.
The DPC has already found that social welfare legislation provides a legal basis for the requirement that customers of the Department authenticate their identity by way of SAFE registration. The Agreement acknowledges that other public bodies listed in social welfare legislation (“specified bodies”) may use the PSC as a means of verifying the identity of the people they deal with, provided that they also accept other methods of authenticating identity.
The Agreement also acknowledges and accepts that the Department and other specified bodies can continue to use MyGovID as the sole means of authenticating identity for the purpose of accessing online services, provided that an alternative service channel is made available.
The Department undertook to work with the DPC to develop an agreed programme of work to ensure that any non-public service identity data ("non-PSI data") that may be collected during a SAFE registration is permanently deleted or irreversibly redacted. In addition, the Department undertook to make some changes to its privacy statement as requested by the DPC.
The DPC acknowledged as part of its agreement that the implementation and development of any proposal would require adjustments to the Department’s current systems.
The Department is developing and implementing revisions to its systems and these will be completed in the coming weeks. The Department liaised with the DPC on the development of these systems changes. .
In addition, as per the Agreement, the Department has amended its privacy statement.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
502. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection , further to Parliamentary Question No. 122 of 22 March, the status of her Department's consideration of the recommendations made by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands in its February 2022 response to the Report of the Commission on Pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24629/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra503. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of her Department's response and implementation plan for the October 2021 report by the Pensions Commission; when she expects to bring the plan before Cabinet; the Departments or agencies that her Department is consulting with on the development of the plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24630/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 502 and 503 together.
The Pensions Commission’s Report was published in October 2021 and it contained almost 250 pages of analysis, consideration and recommendations. The Commission's Report established that the current State Pensions system is not sustainable into the future and it has set out a recommended approach for Government.
In the interests both of older people and future generations of older people, the Government is considering the comprehensive and far reaching recommendations in the Pensions Commission’s Report very carefully and holistically. My officials are examining each of the recommendations and consulting across Government through the Cabinet Committee system. The views of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands and the Commission on Taxation and Welfare are being considered as part of these deliberations. Following detailed consideration of all of this in the round, I intend bringing a recommended response and implementation plan to Government in the coming weeks.
It is clear from the Pensions Commission’s work that State Pension reform is necessary and it is complex. It would be a strategic risk not to plan and provide for projected demographic changes, not least in terms of income adequacy for older people. As the bedrock of the pension system in Ireland, the State Pension is very 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.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
504. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will re-establish the tripartite forum with an organisation (details supplied), trade unions and her Department on the operation of TÚS and the rural social scheme; if she will include a representative of the rural social scheme on this forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24632/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTús is a work initiative that commenced operation in 2011 as a response to high levels of unemployment at that time.
The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support initiative that provides part-time employment opportunities in the community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fisherman and woman who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation.
Both schemes are delivered by a network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. The Irish Local Development Network represents the local development companies.
The Department has established regular check-point meetings for representatives of the schemes as well as with the schemes themselves. For example, officials meet with the ILDN approximately every two months. Tús, RSS and the ILDN representatives are in attendance at the Employment Support Schemes Operational Forum established in 2021 which meets three to four time each year. I attend this meeting, along with my officials.
My officials met with union representatives of RSS and Tús schemes, as well as representatives of both schemes, on the of 6th April last and discussed a range of issues including cross cutting human resource policy issues of concern, including pay and conditions. While the Department is not the employer of RSS or Tús supervisors, these engagements will continue and will continue to include RSS representatives.
My Department and I will continue to engage with all scheme representatives across all forums in order to ensure effective communication with all stakeholders involved in the delivery of these important state funded programmes.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
