Written Answers Nos. 1098-1115
1098. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a disparity in the rate of social protection payments available to adult Ukrainian refugees based on age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29378/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAge-related rates for young Jobseekers Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance recipients, were introduced on a phased basis from 2009 to tackle high youth unemployment and avoid long term welfare dependency.
Young people on lower rates of jobseeker payments can avail of the full adult rate if they participate on any of the large range of education, training or employment programmes available through Intreo and the Education Training Boards. This payment structure was deliberately designed to give young jobseekers a strong financial incentive to engage in education and training or to take up employment. In this way the State is seeking to address the issue raised in the EU and elsewhere of the so called NEETS - young people who are Not in Employment, Education or Training.
Ultimately it is through engaging in education, training or employment programmes that young people can improve their employment prospects. This approach is not unique to Ireland: a number of other countries have similarly reduced unemployment payments for young jobseekers.
Age-related Jobseekers Allowance rates do not apply to those who have dependent children, those transferring directly to JA from disability allowance, individuals aged 18-24 years who were in the care of the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA) during the period of 12 months before they reached the age of 18 and those who are living independently of the family home and are in receipt of qualifying state housing supports such as rent supplement or the housing assistance payment.
The Temporary Protection Directive for those who are fleeing the war in Ukraine provides access to Social Protection under the same criteria as Irish citizens.
I trust this clarifies the position.
1099. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a carer's allowance payment will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29411/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
Means include capital and income belonging to the carer and their spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant, property, (except their own home) or an asset that could generate an income, for example occupational pensions, or pensions or benefits from another country.
One of the qualifying conditions for receipt of CA is that the means of the person concerned must be less than the statutory limit.
Once claims are in payment, the Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement. Depending on the circumstances in each case and to make best use of resources, a review may only concentrate on a specific condition of entitlement.
Following a recent review, it was determined that the means of the person concerned are greater than the statutory limit.
The Deciding officer also reviewed the entitlement taking into account the 2022 budgetary changes. However, the means of the person concerned continue to be greater than the new statutory limit and her claim has been terminated with effect from 1 June 2022.
The person concerned was notified of this decision on 26 May 2022 , the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. If the person concerned believes their income falls within the appropriate limits, or if their circumstances have changed, they may forward documentary information of their current income to the Department for consideration.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review will take place into eligibility for a carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29425/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 25 January 2022.
The person concerned was awarded a reduced rate of CA on 7 April 2022 with effect from 27 January 2022 and was subsequently advised of her possible entitlement and the application process for Carer's benefit (CARB).
CARB is a PRSI based payment, made to a person who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
A completed application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 5 May 2022.
The Deciding officer also reviewed the entitlement to CA, taking into account the 2022 budgetary changes. However, the means of the person concerned would continue to give an entitlement to a reduced rate of CA.
The CARB claim has been awarded and as the person concerned is financially better off in receipt of CARB, the CA has now been stopped in favour of CARB with effect from 3 February 2022.
This CARB claim will remain in payment until 31 January 2024 so long as the conditions of the scheme continue to be satisfied.
The person concerned was notified of this decision on 2 June 2022, the reason for it and her right of review and appeal. It is also open to the person concerned to apply for CA again if her financial circumstances change or at least three months before the Carb claim is due to finish.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1101. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider removing the rule that pensioners lose their living alone allowance and fuel allowance when their child moves back into their home due to the housing crisis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29426/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe living alone allowance and the fuel allowance payment are considered secondary, or non-primary payments which is incorporated into the person’s qualifying payment. The effect of the allowances is to increase the rate of payment to qualifying people.
The qualifying criteria for these payments are designed to ensure the payments go to those who need them the most. In the case of the living alone allowance it recognises that there are economies of scale associated with living with another person. With regards to the fuel allowance payment, it ensures that it goes to those who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own and who require support with heating their home in the winter period.
The adult child of a householder moving back into the family home might reduce such additional allowances previously held by the householder. However, the economies of scale from living together should mean that a weekly contribution by the person moving in would compensate for any such reduction in payments from my Department.
Significant costs would arise if the criteria were relaxed in the manner suggested by the Deputy and any decision to change the criteria for these schemes would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations
Finally, the Department of Social Protection operates an Additional Needs Payment as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have additional needs, which they cannot meet from their own resources. This payment is detailed on the Department's website at www.gov.ie/anp and is available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1102. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the policy under which the payment of child benefit claims for 16 and 17 year olds is only issued for July and August if the child returns to school in September 2022; the system that is in place to inform child benefit recipients that they will not receive their payment in July; the rationale behind this system; and if her Department considered that parents will have to purchase schoolbooks and uniforms in August 2022 without the help of the child benefit payment. [29443/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability.
Child Benefit is currently paid to over 631,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children with an estimated expenditure of more than €2.1 billion in 2022.
Under Child Benefit legislation, Child Benefit is only payable to children aged over16 as long as they continue in full-time education or if they have a disability.
Payment of Child Benefit for the summer months will continue where the school has certified that the child will remain in full time education. Where the school has not certified continuing education the payment will be temporarily suspended and the claimant will be advised to confirm continuing education in the Autumn.
Letters issue during the summer from the Department to each of the families affected, which must be completed by the schools to certify the children who have returned to education. At this point the Child Benefit payment will be reinstated, and payment for the months suspended during the summer will be issued as arrears.
Where a school has already certified a child's attendance beyond the summer break, the payment is not suspended.
The Department provides many other supports to families; the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year. The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid, and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid. The rates of payments for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance are €160 for children aged 4 to 11 and €285 for children aged 12 years and over and are returning to second level education.
Funding is also available from Department of Education to schools to help cover the costs of school books.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1103. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim will receive a decision on their application for the State pension (non-contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29524/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for state pension non-contributory was received from the person concerned on 22 November 2021. On 27 November 2021, the case was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector to investigate the means of the person concerned, so that their entitlement to the means-tested pension could be properly assessed.
The Inspector wrote to the person concerned on 7 June 2022, seeking the required information to complete their investigation. In view of the lengthy delay which has occurred in this case, I have asked that the Inspector expedites the means report and that the subsequent Deciding Officer's assessment of the person's entitlement to state pension (non-contributory) be carried out without delay, on receipt of the Inspector's report. The person concerned will then be notified of the outcome, in writing.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1105. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments in relation to help with fuel bills that have been made in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29546/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1106. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments in relation to help with funeral bills that have been made in each the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29547/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1107. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments that have been made in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29548/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1108. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenditure on exceptional needs payments in relation to help in all cases in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29549/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1105, 1106, 1107 and 1108 together.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. An Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is a single payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. An urgent needs payment (UNP) may be made to persons who may not normally qualify for supplementary welfare allowance but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources or where an alternative is not available at that time. Government has provided €45.75 million for the exceptional and urgent needs schemes in 2022.
The scheme is demand led. 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.
Table 1 shows the number of ENP/UNP payments paid 2016 to 2022.
Table 2 show the total expenditure on ENPs/UNPs from 2016 to 2022.
Table 3 shows the number of ENPs paid towards funeral expenses from 2016 to 2022.
Table 4 shows the number of ENPs paid towards heating and household bills from 2016 to 2022.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1- Number of ENP/UNPs paid 2016-2022
|
Year |
Number of Payments |
|
2016 |
100,107 |
|
2017 |
103,454 |
|
2018 |
112,514 |
|
2019 |
92,198 |
|
2020 |
67,589 |
|
2021 |
55,552 |
|
2022 (to end of April) |
18,927 |
Table 2 – Total expenditure on ENPs/UNPs 2016-2022
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2016 |
32.2m |
|
2017 |
38.1m |
|
2018 |
42.3m |
|
2019 |
43.2m |
|
2020 |
41.0m |
|
2021 |
42.4m |
|
2022 (to end of April) |
12.4m |
Table 3 – The number of ENPs paid towards funeral expenses from 2016 to 2022
|
Year |
Number of Payments |
|
2016 |
2,937 |
|
2017 |
2,786 |
|
2018 |
2,881 |
|
2019 |
2,905 |
|
2020 |
2,788 |
|
2021 |
2,445 |
|
2022 (to end of April) |
900 |
Table 4 – The number of ENPs paid towards heating and household bills from 2016 to 2022
|
Year |
Number of Payments |
|
2016 |
3,537 |
|
2017 |
3,036 |
|
2018 |
3,521 |
|
2019 |
3,012 |
|
2020 |
2,242 |
|
2021 |
2,357 |
|
2022 (to end of April) |
1,001 |
Note: These figures in tables 1, 3 and 4 are taken from the Department’s ENP/UNP database and represent a snapshot of the ENPs/UNPs as they are approved by an officer rather than when they are paid. Please note the figures do not capture payments that are cancelled, payments that go out of date or overpayments recouped.
1109. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the entitlements of a certain category of pensioners (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29575/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn general, the criteria for the various secondary benefits schemes administered by my Department are designed to ensure that these benefits go to those who need them the most.
Any decision to expand the qualifying criteria for these schemes would have wider budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of overall budget negotiations.
Having said that, I am very aware that, mainly due to external factors, the recent increase in consumer prices, especially the increase in fuel and other energy prices, has exceeded even the highest forecasts.
In response, the Government acted early to address these challenges. To help mitigate the effects of these rising costs, the Government announced a package of measures in February, which will have a positive impact on the incomes of all households in our country. These measures, while including social protection measures, also included a wide range of initiatives covering tax, energy credits, excise and transport measures.
These measures are in addition to others introduced as part of Budget 2022 - which was the largest social welfare budget package in 14 years - and are more expansive than measures introduced in most other countries.
All of these measures will be kept under review, together with trends in prices to inform preparations for the budget later this year.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if eligibility for a State pension (contributory) in the case of a person (details supplied) can be reassessed following the payments for 2019 and 2020 being paid in full; when a decision is likely to be reached; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29602/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 02 April 2022.
In general, to qualify for the State pension (contributory) a person must have at least 520 paid contributions and satisfy a yearly average test (a yearly average of 48 contributions paid and/or credited is required for a maximum rate pension).
Section 110 (1) of The Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, provides that a Self-Employed contributor shall not be regarded as satisfying the qualifying conditions unless all outstanding self-employment contributions are paid.
As the person concerned has outstanding self-employment liabilities for the years 2019 and 2020, the person was advised on 08 March 2022 that they were deemed not to satisfy the qualifying conditions for a State pension (Contributory). This decision was reviewed on the 30 March 2022 and 02 June 2022,; but the liabilities remain outstanding.
Where outstanding self-employment liabilities are paid subsequent to an applicant reaching pension age, State pension (contributory) will be awarded from the date on which self-employment liabilities are deemed as paid in full.
It is open to the person to contact this Department when their outstanding liabilities have been paid in full and their entitlement to a state pension (contributory) will be reviewed. It is also open to them to apply for the means-tested state pension (non-contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% that of the maximum rate of the state pension (contributory).
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1111. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that her Department is taking to ensure that those caring for loved ones at home will be entitled to a State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29605/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the State Pension (Contributory) system already includes a comprehensive range of measures including PRSI Credits, Homemaker's Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods (of up to 20 years) outside of paid employment in the calculation of a pension payment.
The Programme for Government “Our Shared Future” includes a commitment to examine options for a pension solution for carers, the majority of whom are women, particularly those of incapacitated children, in recognition of the enormous value of the work carried out by them.
The Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine the sustainability of the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund. The Commission’s terms of reference included consideration of how people who have provided long-term care for incapacitated dependents can be accommodated within the State Pension system.
The Pensions Commission’s Report was published on 7th October 2021. It established that the current State Pension system is not sustainable into the future and that changes are needed. The report set out a wide-range of recommendations, including enhanced pension provision for long-term carers (defined as caring for more than 20 years).
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. I intend bringing a recommended response and implementation plan to Government for its consideration in the coming weeks.
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.
1112. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that she will take to ensure that national insurance credits earned by a person (details supplied) while working in the United Kingdom are duly credited to this person’s contribution record, for the purpose of ensuring they receives the appropriate State pension (contributory) payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29606/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for the State Pension Contributory (SPC) was received on 11th January 2021. At that time, it was determined that the person concerned had a total or 1495 reckonable paid/credited contributions during the period 1971 to 2020 which resulted in a yearly average of 31. Based on this information the person concerned was awarded SPC at the weekly rate of €223.20 from 25th November 2020.
The insurance record from the Department of Work and Pensions in the UK was received on 7th June 2022. The records held by my Department were updated to include the UK contributions giving the person concerned a total of 1774 reckonable paid/credited contributions for the period 1971 to 2020 resulting in a yearly average of 36.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of €227.70 per week which is the personal rate payable based on a yearly average of between 30 and 39 contributions. As the yearly average following review is 36, it resulted in no change to the rate payable.
If the person concerned considers they have additional unrecorded contributions or credits, it is open to them to forward relevant documentary evidence and my Department will review their entitlement.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1113. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is fair that a parent of a child who is incapacitated is only receiving €46 per week in carers allowance due to a means test, despite the person giving up a well-paid job to look after their child full-time and considering that they are saving the State thousands of euros in costs weekly by not having the State take up the cost of full-time care for their child; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29637/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of income supports for full-time carers including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2022 is estimated to exceed €1.5 billion.
Eligibility for Carer’s Allowance is not contingent on a particular disability or illness or the severity of disability or incapacity of the person being cared for but acts as an income support for those carers who cannot earn an adequate income in the open labour market due to their caring responsibilities. This allowance is part of the system of social assistance supports that provide payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most. It is also important to note that, just as in the case of disability and job seeking payments, the allowance is not intended to be a compensatory payment for the full value of earnings foregone and nor is it a payment by the State in recognition of services rendered.
Removal of the means assessment for Carer’s Allowance would not only change the nature of the scheme from a targeted income maintenance support for those most in need and providing full-time care, and it would, in effect, create a new universal social protection scheme. This would give rise to a very significant annual cost. Based on the number of carers identified in Census 2016, it is estimated that a universal carer’s payment could cost in the order of an additional €1.2 billion per annum. This would result in the provision of payments to people who may have significant sources of income while reducing the scope to fund other critical schemes and services.
The income disregard and means test for Carer’s Allowance is the most generous within the social welfare system. Since my appointment as Minister for Social Protection, supporting carers has been a key priority for me.
In this year’s Budget, I made significant changes to the Carer’s Allowance means test which took effect at the beginning of June:
- The capital/savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment has been increased from €20,000 to €50,000, aligning it with that which applies for Disability Allowance.
- For carers who work, I have increased the weekly income disregard from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.
These are the first changes that have been made to the Carer’s Allowance means test in 14 years.
A more generous means assessment for Carer’s Allowance had been called for over successive Budgets by organisations representing carers. An increase in the general weekly income disregard will enable more carers with modest incomes to become eligible for Carer’s Allowance, and therefore provide an income support to carers, whose earning capacity is significantly constrained as a consequence of their caring responsibilities.
Increasing the capital disregard will allow carers who have accumulated relatively modest savings, often to provide sufficient moneys to care for a loved one, to retain these savings without it impacting upon their carer’s payment. It also brings the capital formula applied to savings in the means assessment for Carer’s Allowance in line with Disability Allowance.
It should be noted that both the monthly Domiciliary Care Allowance and the annual Carer’s Support Grant are available to family carers providing full-time care and assistance regardless of means. As part of Budget 2021, I increased the Carer’s Support Grant from €1,700 to €1,850. On Thursday 2 June the grant was paid to some 121,000 carers and their families. The overall cost of the grant in 2022 is expected to be over €241 million.
I can assure the Deputy that I am keenly aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face. I will continue to keep the range of income supports provided to family carers under review. However, any improvements or additions to the current supports provided by my Department – such as introducing further changes to the means testing for Carer’s Allowance - would have implications for overall spending and could only be addressed in an overall budgetary and policy context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1114. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case of a person (details supplied) will be expedited given that it is affecting their level of care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29673/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21 April 2022. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. Those papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 17 May 2022 and the case was referred on 10 June 2022 to an Appeals Officer.
The Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1115. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025; the number of its commitments that have been achieved to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29707/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 - 2025 is a whole of Government strategy that aims to reduce poverty and make Ireland one of the most socially inclusive countries in the EU. The Roadmap contains seven high level goals with 22 specific targets, which will be delivered by 66 unique commitments.
I am pleased that the first Progress Report of the Roadmap was published in January 2022 and sets out progress towards the Roadmap goals for the period January 2020 to September 2021. It is accompanied by a Report Card detailing progress on each of the Roadmap commitments. The Progress Report and Report Card are available on the Department of Social Protection pages on gov.ie.
Implementation of Roadmap commitments is underway with a number of commitments fully achieved or close to completion and with work ongoing in relation to a number of other commitments. This was achieved against a challenging backdrop with many Departments having to redirect resources during 2020 and 2021 to address the range of social, health, community and economic consequences arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
By the end of September 2021:
- 21 of the 69 Roadmap commitments were fully achieved or achieved with ongoing delivery;
- A further 4 commitments were in progress on schedule with ongoing delivery;
- 37 commitments were in progress, with delivery on some delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;
- Work on 5 commitments had yet to commence; and
- 2 were deferred due to the pandemic.
Commitments that have been delivered over the first 21 months of the Roadmap include:
- The introduction of an additional three weeks of Parent’s Leave and Parent’s Benefit are available to each parent of a child born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019 (bringing the total to five weeks). Budget 2022 includes the introduction of an additional 2 weeks, which will bring the total to 7 weeks in 2022.
- The extension of the Hot School Meals programme in 2021, with 189 schools, including 171 DEIS schools, receiving funding under the programme.
- The allocation of €5m to the Department of Social Protection under the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2020 to Support and Improve Employment Opportunities for Carers and Persons with a Disability, with funding in excess of €2.3 million awarded to 17 projects in December 2020.
- The establishment of the Labour Market Advisory Council, which plays a key role in advising the Minister and the Government on public policy responses to support the labour market recovery.
- The inclusion in Budgets 2021 and 2022 of specific welfare measures to support working families on low incomes such as improvements in the core weekly rates of payment and the Working Family Payment, and targeted increases in payments for children.
- The publication of national strategies which will support the delivery of Roadmap commitments including:
- The Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2020-2024 "Transforming Learning" in July 2020;
- National Volunteering Strategy 2021-2025 in December 2020;
- Our Rural Future - the Rural Development policy 2021-2025 in March 2021;
- Pathways to Work Strategy 2021-2025 in July 2021;
- Adult Literacy for Life: 10–year Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy in September 2021; and
- ‘Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland’ in September 2021.
It is expected that the second Progress Report and Report Card will be published shortly. These will detail progress made in relation to Roadmap commitments over the whole of 2021.
