Written Answers Nos. 484-503
484. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection when she intends to bring forward her recommendations to the Pension Commission report in view that she recently indicated it will be made public in the coming weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27991/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pensions Commission’s Report was published on the 7th October 2021. It contained almost 250 pages of analysis, consideration and recommendations. The report established that the current State Pension 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, I can assure the Deputy that the Government is considering the comprehensive and far reaching recommendations in the 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 also being considered as part of these deliberations.
Once we have considered all of these matters in detail and taken on board the views of my Ministerial colleagues, I intend bringing a recommended response and implementation plan to Government. While this is somewhat later than initially planned, I am sure that the Deputy will understand that the issues raised and views expressed by the Joint Oireachtas Committee and others require careful consideration. In addition, as the Deputy will also appreciate, the Government and my Department has been centrally involved in the response to the crisis in Ukraine and other important matters in recent weeks, including the introduction of the Automatic Enrolment system and measures to address rising energy prices.
It is clear from the 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. The State Pension is the bedrock of the pension system in Ireland. It is extremely effective at ensuring that our pensioners do not experience poverty. This Government is committed to ensuring that this remains the case for current pensioners, those nearing State Pension age and today’s young workers including those who are only starting their careers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
485. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is in receipt of a reduced rate State Pension (Contributory). [28018/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person in question reached pension age on 01 February 2019. According to the records of my Department, the person in question was a self-employed contributor who entered into insurable employment in April 2000.
There is a total of 520 qualifying paid reckonable social insurance contributions from April 2000 to end of January 2019. This equates to a yearly average of 27 contributions giving an entitlement to 85% of the state pension (contributory) rate of payment. This is the correct rate commensurate with the social insurance record as held by my Department.
The claim was reviewed in 20 October 2021 with no change to the rate of payment. If the person in question considers that 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 will be reviewed.
An application for the State Pension (non contributory) was received in May 2020. This application was disallowed as the means were in excess of the limits allowable.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
486. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if urgent assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied) towards payment of a bill for a funeral; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28027/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is to assist people with essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
The ENP scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
Applications for ENPs are made under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service in my Department.
My Departments’ records reflect there is no record of an ENP application registered for the person concerned. For convenience an ENP application pack has issued by post to the person concerned. On receipt of the completed application form and all relevant supporting documentation, the application will be assessed by a Designated Person and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
487. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that self-employed workers are precluded from applying for a working family payment at present, regardless of their income levels; and if she plans to rectify this imbalance in the scheme. [28034/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Working Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings. The WFP is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. There are approximately 47,000 families with 103,000 children in receipt of the WFP. Estimated expenditure on the scheme in 2022 is €349 million.
To qualify for the payment a person must be engaged as an employee in full time paid employment which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week. A couple may combine their hours of employment to meet the qualification criteria. The applicant must also have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them or is part of a family supported by them.
It is possible for the household of a self-employed person to receive a WFP payment where the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the self-employed persons meets the qualifying criteria.
My Department has several schemes available to self-employed individuals including:
- The Back to Work Family Dividend which helps families to move from social welfare into employment or self-employment, by retaining their qualified child increase for up to two years. There are currently 2,678 families in receipt of the dividend.
- The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme encourages people in receipt of certain social welfare payments to become self-employed. If a person takes part in the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme they can keep a percentage of their social welfare payment for up to 2 years.
- The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance gives support to people who have lost their job and want to start their own business.
There are no plans to extend the WFP to the self-employed at this time. Any such extension could only be considered in a budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
488. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that are in place to support people with chronic illnesses and with disabilities who require additional heating to access the fuel allowance on compassionate grounds. [28059/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from October to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist qualifying 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. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those households 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.
While consideration is given to any requests to extend eligibility to the Fuel Allowance, any decision to enable the award of Fuel Allowance on a discretionary or compassionate basis would fundamentally alter the nature of the scheme. Any such change would require significant additional funding for the Fuel Allowance scheme, require new administrative processes and support and would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
Qualifying schemes for Fuel Allowance include Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension and Incapacity Supplement. There is also a household composition test and a means test applies to those in receipt of social insurance payments such as, for example, State Pension (Contributory).
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, a special heating supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances. My Department also provides Exceptional Needs Payments which 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.
489. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a working family payment application will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork [28109/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (WFP) is an in-work payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with qualified children.
An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 27th April 2022.
The Department wrote to the person concerned on 9th May 2022 to request pay slips. To date, no reply has been received.
On receipt of the requested details from the person concerned their WFP application will be processed without delay and they will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
490. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will reinstate the use of a Covid test result text from the HSE to claim the enhanced illness benefit rather than a certificate of incapacity for work medical certificate to reduce pressures on general practitioners. [28155/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraClaims for Illness Benefit must be accompanied by a Certificate of Incapacity for Work from the claimants GP. This specifies the nature of the illness and the duration of the incapacity for work. The use of HSE texts as an acceptable form of medical evidence to support claims for Enhanced Illness Benefit was introduced at the start of the pandemic as an exceptional measure. The objective was to assist people who had tested positive with Covid-19 or who had been identified as a potential source of infection with Covid-19 to promptly comply with medical advice in line with pubic health objectives.
The number of people claiming Enhanced Illness Benefit has fallen significantly over the past two months. In light of the current public health guidance, the Department decided that the exceptional measure of accepting a HSE text message could be discontinued, and that those seeking a payment of Enhanced Illness Benefit would now be required to provide the appropriate medical certificate to support their claim, as is the case for all Illness Benefit claims. This matter has not been raised as an issue by the Irish Medical Organisation who engage regularly with the Department.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
491. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions being taken in relation to early learning and childcare providers who continue to restrict parents and visitors to their premises, contravening the updated guidance issued by his Department in February 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27283/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) providers were directly informed of changes to public health advice which took effect from 28 February 2022.
On 22 February Minister O’Gorman issued a statement announcing the removal of COVID-19-related public health restrictions on ELC and SAC providers. On 25 February an update to public health restrictions was issued to all ELC and SAC providers by direct email, which contained a COVID-19 guidance document, which stated that, “There is no longer a requirement to restrict parents and visitors to early learning and childcare services and services should revert to the normal arrangements for visitors. Anyone who has symptoms should not visit. In this context, regular meetings between parents and early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners should resume”
Better Start, the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and the National Voluntary Childcare Organisations (NVCOs) continue to promote best practice in relation to working in partnership with parents and to remind ELC and SAC providers of their commitment to same.
Partnership with parents is reinforced on an ongoing basis through inspections carried out by Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate and the Department of Education Inspectorate. Areas of review in education inspections of ELC services carried out by the Department of Education include whether clear two-way channels of communication are fostered between the setting, parents, families and children. Inspections carried out by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate incorporate how the service works with parents, guardians and families, as well as their interaction with the local community.
492. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if persons who have level-five or higher qualifications in special needs education but have no specific QQI childcare qualifications are eligible to work in a childcare facility where there is a shortage of suitably-qualified personnel with the resultant pressure in retaining services due to staff shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27315/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that many early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services continue to report difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified staff. In general, staffing pressures in the sector are caused not by insufficient supply of qualified personnel, but by high levels of staff turnover. Recruitment and staff retention difficulties are undoubtedly linked to poor terms and conditions, with for example the average pay for non-managerial staff being €12.60 per hour in 2021.
I am committed to supporting providers to respond to current challenges. In designing responses, however, it is important that any measures considered are proportionate to the problem they seek to address and that wider impacts are carefully considered. In that regard, it is important to stress that the minimum qualification requirement to work directly with children in an early learning care service was introduced in 2016 in order to improve the quality of provision and to achieve better outcomes for children.
To remove this minimum qualification requirement could be contrary to the best interests of children and the vision for the sector that is outlined in First 5, the whole-of-Government strategy to improve the lives of babies, young children and their families. Such a move could be a significant backwards step in efforts to improve quality outcomes for children and could only be considered if there were a very strong evidence base requiring a change.
Individuals who wish to work directly with children in a pre-school service must hold at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), or a qualification deemed equivalent. My Department has published a list of qualifications that meet this regulatory requirement. If an individual's qualification does not appear on the list they may apply to my Department for assessment of equivalence of their qualification.
In addressing issues of staff recruitment and retention, improving pay and conditions for those working in the early learning and childcare sector is a key priority. The Programme for Government committed to supporting the establishment of a Joint Labour Committee (JLC) in the sector and the drawing up of an Employment Regulation Order. I initiated a pre-JLC process in December 2020 and I was happy to see this result in a JLC for Early Years Services being established last year.
The JLC is continuing to meet. The new Core Funding scheme, which commences this autumn, will, among other objectives, support early learning and childcare providers to meet the requirements of any Employment Regulation Orders that result from the work of the JLC. The precise implications of Core Funding for staff terms and conditions depends on the agreement by the JLC. However, I believe that the level of funding provided is significant enough to achieve a substantial improvement in levels of staff pay and the development of career frameworks which are fundamental to improving quality in the sector and supporting the retention and progression of staff.
493. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the new funding model for early year services will build in recognition of those offering childcare in disadvantaged settings; if it will include a DEIS-style mechanism for childcare settings where there are added needs and in which additional resources may be required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27353/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPartnership for the Public Good, A New Funding Model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) - the report of an independently chaired Expert Group - was adopted in full by Government last December.
Amongst other things, this sets out a new approach to State funding of the ELC and SAC sector that includes universal and targeted Tackling Disadvantage funding and support, building on Core Funding.
A number of research inputs contributed to this work including a paper on “Approaches to Identifying Children or Settings in Need of Additional Support” and another on “Funding Models Addressing Early Childhood Disadvantage”. There was also extensive and detailed stakeholder consultation on the issue of addressing disadvantage. The Expert Group was also briefed on the Department of Education’s DEIS model.
Informed by recommendations in Partnership for the Public Good, services will be provided with a proportionate mix of universal and targeted supports to support children and families accessing their services who are experiencing disadvantage.
As recommended by the Expert Group, once core funding is embedded and changes to existing programmes take effect arising from Budget 22 (ECCE and NCS), my Department will progress the development of the Tackling Disadvantage funding and support.
494. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is engaging with childcare providers on their inclusion policies to ensure children with additional needs can access childcare outside of the Access and Inclusion Model and the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27383/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), which was launched in June 2016, is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early learning and care.
One of the commitments in First 5, A Government Strategy for Babies and Children, was to undertake an end of Three-Year Evaluation of AIM. That evaluation has been undertaken and the draft report has been reviewed by the Cross Sectoral Implementation Group (CSIG), with the final report due to be published in Q3 of this year.
The evaluation included extensive consultations with parents, providers and other key stakeholders.
Subject to evaluation findings and other relevant developments, we will be considering potential enhancements to, and/or extensions of AIM including expanding to children outside of ECCE provision.
495. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he or his Department have considered extending the Access and Inclusion Model Programme to children of school-going age who require childcare in after school settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27384/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), which was launched in June 2016, is a model of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience, ensuring that every eligible child can meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme and reap the benefits of quality early learning and care.
One of the commitments in First 5, A Government Strategy for Babies and Children, was to undertake an end of Three-Year Evaluation of AIM. That evaluation has been undertaken and the draft report has been reviewed by the Cross Sectoral Implementation Group (CSIG), with the final report due to be published in Q3 of this year.
Subject to evaluation findings and other relevant developments, we will be considering potential enhancements to, and/or extensions of AIM including expanding to children of school-going age who require childcare in after school.
496. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the decision making and assisted decision-making (capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2021 amending the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 will be enacted in June 2022 as committed to by Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27519/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (the 2015 Act) is an important piece of legislation that represents significant legal reform. It changes the existing law on capacity from the status approach of the wardship system to a flexible functional approach, whereby capacity is assessed on an issue and time-specific basis.
The Act will abolish the wards of court system for adults by repealing the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act 1871. Adults currently in wardship will transition to the new decision-making support arrangements on a phased basis over 3 years from the date of commencement.
The Decision Support Service (DSS), which is the organisation that will operate the provisions of the 2015 Act, will respond to the complex decision-making needs of people with capacity difficulties. To date, the Decision Support Service has made considerable progress in putting in place the administrative and IT systems needed to operate the 2015 Act.
Amendments are required to the 2015 Act before full commencement can take place. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill, was published on 30th May and will streamline processes in the interests of those using its provisions. Amendments will also strengthen the safeguards included in the 2015 Act.
The Programme for Government remains committed to commencing the amended 2015 Act in full by June 2022, recognising the importance of the much needed reform that it represents. This will allow the Decision Support Service to become fully operational and provide the progressive services and supports of the 2015 Act.
The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022 is scheduled to be introduced to the Dáil and begin its passage through the Houses on 1st June this year.
497. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a data breach within his Department whereby the home addresses of childcare providers were published on the Department’s website; the number of persons that were affected by such breaches; if all the of the persons concerned have been contacted and informed of the breach; the reason that the breach occurred; the actions that he proposes to take in response to the breach; if he will provide an assurance that there will not be a re-occurrence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27522/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department are currently compiling the information as requested by the Deputy. This information will be supplied to the Deputy in no later than 10 working days. I have asked my officials to follow up on this to ensure delivery as a matter of urgency.
498. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staff employed in his Department by gender and by civil service salary scale in tabular form.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27591/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently employs 290 females and 219 males. The breakdown of my Department's staff by civil service salary scale and gender is as follows:
|
Civil Service Salary Grade |
Female |
Male |
Total |
|
Administrative Officer |
29 |
24 |
53 |
|
Administrative Officer Higher |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Assistant Principal |
58 |
30 |
88 |
|
Assistant Principal Higher |
17 |
7 |
24 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
Clerical Officer |
42 |
34 |
76 |
|
Clerical Officer Temporary |
5 |
0 |
5 |
|
Clerical Officer Higher |
8 |
3 |
11 |
|
Executive Officer |
55 |
52 |
107 |
|
Executive Officer Higher |
7 |
7 |
14 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
30 |
28 |
58 |
|
Higher Executive Officer Higher |
7 |
6 |
13 |
|
Principal Officer |
19 |
18 |
37 |
|
Principal Officer Higher |
4 |
4 |
8 |
|
Secretary General |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Services Officers |
0 |
3 |
3 |
|
Total |
290 |
219 |
509 |
499. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the Joint Labour committee looking into childcare wages is due to publish its report and recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27640/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Employment Regulation Order (ERO) is an instrument drawn up by a Joint Labour Committee (JLC), adopted by the Labour Court, and given statutory effect by the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail. The ERO fixes minimum rates of pay and conditions of employment for workers in specified business sectors: employers in those sectors are then obliged to pay wage rates and provide conditions of employment not less favourable than those prescribed. The Industrial Relations Act 1946 sets out the process for adopting an Employment Regulation Order.
I acknowledge the independent nature of the Labour Court and Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process and the hard work of its members to negotiate pay and conditions for employees in the early learning and childcare sector.
I understand that the first stage of the work of the JLC has been completed with the recent publication by the Labour Court of a recommendation for an early years educators and school-age childcare practitioner minimum pay rate of €13 per hour. A draft Employment Regulation Order (ERO) was published by the JLC on 11 May 2022 for public consultation. There is an opportunity for anyone interested to make representations to the JLC by 31 May 2022.
I also understand that the Labour Court sat recently in relation to a referral from the JLC on outstanding issues for a further ERO for other roles in early years services. The Court’s recommendation was published on 27 May.
The JLC will continue to meet and exercise its statutory functions with a view to formulating and potentially adopting proposals for one or more EROs in the sector, for subsequent consideration by the Labour Court and the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail.
Any pay rates that are agreed through the JLC process and are set down in an Employment Regulation Order will be minimum rates, and it will be open to employers in the sector to pay rates higher than the minimum.
500. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the breakdown of the proportion of pay of the total €357,016 expenditure for Tusla that is specifically for social workers; the number of social workers who are employed in total by Tusla; the total number of social workers employed by a third-party agency; the total of cost of this workforce; the total number of social workers employed in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27685/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked Tusla to respond directly to you on this matter.
501. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount spent by Tusla on ICT infrastructure and support in each of the years 2014 to 2021 and to date in tabular form. [27686/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is referring to an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have therefore referred the matter to Tusla, and asked that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
502. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of foster care placements by county in tabular form. [27687/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to Tusla for their direct reply to the Deputy.
503. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of child sexual abuse imagery cases notified to Tusla by An Garda Síochána from 2016 2021 and to date in tabular form. [27688/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to case numbers which is an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
