Written Answers Nos. 1116-1133
1116. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for the processing of applications for and the awarding of a disability allowance by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29711/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical examination, a means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
My Department is committed to making decisions on entitlement as quickly as possible.
In general, social welfare schemes with a number of complex qualifying conditions can take longer to process. Before a decision can be made on entitlement to disability allowance (DA), evidence must be provided in respect of the person’s medical condition, the extent to which it restricts them from taking up employment, their means and their habitual residency.
The claim processing target for DA is to process 75% of claims within 10 weeks. Currently 97% of claims are completed within this timeframe. The average weeks to award currently stands at 6 weeks.
The requested data on the processing times for DA applications broken down by county is not collated by the Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1117. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time to process applications for and award a carer’s allowance by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29712/22]
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.
There are no delays with processing CA claims at present. The target processing time for CA is to process 75% of new claims within 11 weeks. At the end of April 2022, 92% of applications were completed within this timeframe. The average time taken to award a CA claim is 5 weeks.
The requested data on the processing times for CA applications broken down by county is not collated by the Department.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1118. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the up-to-date position in relation to parents' benefit; when the next extension is due to come into place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29721/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently, five weeks Parent's Leave and Benefit is available to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019. The leave and benefit must be availed of within the first two years of the child’s life or adoption.
In Budget 2022, the Government provided for the number of weeks of Parent's Leave and Benefit available to eligible parents to be increased from five weeks to seven weeks from July 2022. The additional two weeks leave and benefit will apply to parents of children who are under age two in July 2022 or, in the case of adoption, where less than two years have passed since the child's placement.
I understand that the regulation to implement the the changes to Parent's Leave is currently being finalised by the Department of Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth. My Department is responsible for the associated changes to Parent's Benefit for the extended leave period. Section 8 of the Social Welfare Act 2021 provides for the extension of Parent's Benefit by two weeks. It requires a Commencement Order which will be brought forward shortly.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1119. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the dates of the introduction of changes and increases for the various social welfare payments as announced in Budget 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29729/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe social welfare package in Budget 2022 was the largest in 14 years and provided for a €5 across the board increase to all weekly payments, as well as a number of other targeted measures intended to focus resources in the most effective way towards the most vulnerable social welfare recipients.
As energy prices were increasing, the €5 increase to the Fuel Allowance rate was implemented from October 2021. At the same time, the income threshold for qualifying for the Fuel Allowance was increased by €20 per week.
The following measures were introduced in January 2022:
- Core social welfare rates were increased by €5 per week, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of payment;
- The Living Alone Allowance was increased by €3, from €19 to €22 per week;
- The weekly rate of the qualified child increase for children aged 12 and over was increased by €3, from €45 to €48 per week, while the rate for children aged under 12 was increased by €2, from €38 to €40 per week;
- The rate of Wage Subsidy Scheme for people with disabilities was increased by €1 per hour.
- Eligibility for the disregard of PhD scholarship income in the means test was extended to recipients of Blind Pension;
- The period during which Domiciliary Care Allowance can be paid for children in hospital was extended from 3 months to 6 months.
In April:
- The income threshold for Working Family Payment increased by €10 for all families. The implementation date for this measure was brought forward from June, as part of the package of measures introduced by Government to help mitigate the impacts of the increase in the cost of living.
In June:
- Under the Treatment Benefit scheme, a grant of up to €500 towards the cost of wigs/hairpieces/hair replacement systems due to illness was introduced;
- The number of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions required by younger contributors to qualify for Treatment Benefit has been reduced;
- The list of agri-environmental schemes that attract a disregard under the Farm Assist scheme is being expanded. The implementation date for this measure has been brought forward from October 2022;
- The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance income thresholds will be equalised for one and two parent households;
- The rate of Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be increased by €10. This will bring the rate for each child aged 4-11 years to €160 and for each child aged 12 and over to €285;
- The income disregard for Carer's Allowance has increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person and from €665 to €750 for a couple, while the capital disregard has increased from €20,000 to €50,000;
- The earnings threshold above which means is fully assessed increased by €25, from €350 to €375 per week, for both the Disability Allowance and Blind Pension. In addition, the general weekly means disregard increased from €2.50 to €7.60 for Disability Allowance.
In July:
- The duration of Parent's Benefit will be extended from 5 weeks to 7 weeks.
In September:
- Jobseeker's Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance recipients will be able to access Fuel Allowance after 12 months duration on their payment, instead of the current 15 months.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1120. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an appeal by a person (details supplied) in relation to their disability allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29745/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) 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.
Separate to the appeaI referred to by the Deputy, I am advised that a revised decision in favour of the person concerned was recently made by a Deciding Officer of the Department. Consequently, the appeal to the independent SWAO was withdrawn on 3 June 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1121. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expand the children’s allowance scheme to include all 18-year-old secondary school children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29939/22]
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.
There are currently no plans to extend Child Benefit in respect of full-time students in second level education who are over 18 years of age. Such an extension would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
Families on low incomes may be able to avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
- Increase for a Qualified Child (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
- the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children; and
- the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1122. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the rule was introduced that children over 16 years of age in full-time education have the payment of child benefit suspended for the summer months and reinstated by application if they return to full-time education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29941/22]
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.
Child Benefit was introduced for children aged over 16 who remain in education by Part 6 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act of 1973.
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. This is a well established practice that predates the transfer of Child Benefit to its current IT system in the early 2000's.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1123. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the Tús scheme to a two-year programme or at least allow the option of an extra year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29943/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTús is a targeted activation measure delivered as short-term, community-based work placements for jobseekers who have been unemployed a year or more, that provides opportunities to participants for a duration of one year.
As a first-step activation measure for people who have become long-term unemployed, the objective of Tús is to move participants closer to the labour market, through the provision of structured work opportunities within their community, lasting one year. The aim is to support participants find employment on completion of the programme.
If participants are still unemployed on completion of their Tús placement and continue to require the option of supported employment, further opportunity in this regard is provided by my Department through the Community Employment (CE) scheme. The commencement of a CE placement is available as a progression path for a jobseeker on the completion of Tús, and this can be accessed with the assistance of an employment support officer in their local Intreo centre.
I trust this clarifies matters.
1124. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to address the social welfare trap that is preventing homecarers from working extra hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29970/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports 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.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. Carer’s Allowance is a means tested social assistance payment awarded to those carers who are caring for certain people who require full-time care and attention. The means test is used to target the support to those most in need.
The primary objective of the payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their caring responsibilities and in so doing to support the ongoing care of the person in respect of whom care is being provided.
The Carer's Benefit payment is an entitlement based on social insurance contributions. Carer’s Benefit is a payment made to insured people who may be required to leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care. It is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).
A primary qualifying condition for the Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit payments is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such a level of care. The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this full-time care and attention for at least 12 months.
The minimum hours condition for which a carer can be regarded as providing full-time care and attention is set out in legislation. A carer will be regarded as providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person, where the number of hours providing such care is not less than 35 hours in a period of 7 consecutive days, and care is provided on any 5 days, whether consecutive or not, within a period of 7 consecutive days.
However, in order to support a carer’s continued attachment to the workforce and to support broader social inclusion, carers may engage in some limited employment, education or training, while still being regarded as being in a position to provide full-time care and continue to receive their full payment. During this time of employment, education or training, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.
There have been a number of significant improvements to the Carer’s Allowance scheme regarding the relaxation of the full-time care and attention requirement so as to enable carers to engage in education, training or work.
From August 1999, the full-time care and attention requirements were relaxed to introduce some flexibility and allow carers to work for up to 10 hours per week. As of June 2006, this was increased from 10 to 15 hours per week. In Budget 2020, this was further increased from 15 to 18.5 hours per week. This measure was prioritised in response to carers who had stated that they found the previous number of 15 hours to be too restrictive.
Both the full-time care and attention requirement and the 18.5-hour limitation are contained in the respective legislative provisions of the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Carer’s Support Grant schemes.
I consider the limit of 18.5 hours to represent a reasonable balance between meeting the care recipient's requirement for full-time care and the carer's need to maintain contact with the workforce. Any proposals for further changes to this condition would need to maintain this balance and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1125. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a pre-pension scheme in other European Union countries in which employees working with hazardous material can avail of 85% of their State pension from the age of 58 years onwards with the remaining 15% paid at retirement age; if she is considering any such scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30007/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pensions Commission was established in November 2020 to examine the sustainability of the State Pension system and the Social Insurance Fund, in fulfilment of a Programme for Government commitment. The terms of reference included a review of the situation in other countries, the changes they have planned or legislated for and the approaches taken. The Commission was an independent body comprised of knowledgeable and experienced academics, pension experts, members of civil society and representatives of workers and employers. Once it completed its work and fulfilled its obligations, the Commission was dissolved.
The Commission's Report was published on 7th October 2021 and it contains almost 250 pages of analysis, consideration and recommendations. It is a comprehensive report that takes account of an assessment of various analyses of population, labour force and expenditure projections; an examination of international approaches; and responses to an extensive consultation process. The report includes assessments of the State Pension age (Chapter 11), Flexible Access (Chapter 12), Arduous Jobs (Section 11.8.1) and Recognition of Arduous and/or Hazardous Jobs in Europe (Appendix 11A). The Commission’s Report, Technical Sub-Committee's working papers and submissions made to the Pensions Commission are available on the website, pensionscommission.gov.ie.
The Commission’s analysis indicates that:
- In general, the international trend is moving away from providing specific pension provision and instead using other provisions available within the system to support those in arduous employment
- There is no single definition of what constitutes “arduous and/or hazardous work”.
- The operation of pension policies for workers in arduous or hazardous jobs is complex and varies widely between European countries.
- While Ireland is atypical in not having some element of flexibility in its State Pension system, care needs to be taken in comparing State Pension systems internationally. Disparities in preferences for flexibility across countries are likely driven by the design of pension systems in each country.
- Ireland has a flat rate, rather than earnings related, State Pension payment system. While it makes the State Pension system effective at redistribution and reducing pensioner poverty, it can also limit the extent to which flexibility can be introduced into the system.
- The gender and equality impacts of this issue are difficult to quantify.
- As the labour market evolves, increasingly people are moving between employments more fluidly. Individuals who wish to continue working but can no longer work in their current job should be facilitated in moving to another area of employment.
- There are alternative social welfare payments in Ireland for those who are unable to work past 65 years of age, including the Benefit Payment for 65Year Olds, Invalidity Pension and Illness Benefit.
Successive Governments have committed to supporting older peoples’ continued engagement in economic and social life, including in the National Positive Ageing Strategy (2013), the Report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Fuller Working Lives (2016) and the Roadmap for Pensions Reform 2018 – 2023 (2018). Building on the work of these previous groups and reports, the Pensions Commission supported measures to facilitate and encourage fuller working lives.
The Pensions Commission’s Report established that the current State Pension system is not sustainable into the future and it set out a wide range of recommendations in this regard, including flexible access to the State Pension.
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.
1126. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the legal framework that enables her Department to share information on persons seeking employment with private companies operating JobPath; the way this relates to with the Data Protection Act 2018; if there is any conflict with GDPR compliance where those persons have not provided their explicit consent to be contacted by those companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30008/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraExternally contracted employment services have formed part of my Department's service provision since these services transferred from FÁS. In delivering these services the Department shares data under strict conditions to these service providers. The Department does not distinguish between providers such as JobPath or Local Employment Services or other providers when ensuring strict data protection provisions are respected. Persons in receipt of a job seeker payment are obliged to engage with the Department's activation services including externally contracted services such as LAES and JobPath.
The Department's service providers are contractually obliged to provide a service on behalf of the Department. A necessary aspect of this service is the exchange of information between the Department and any contracted employment service provider such as JobPath and LES. This process is compliant with all relevant Data Protection legislation, including the GDPR provisions.
1127. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if sufficient funding was allocated by her Department to the national Citizens Information Board to allow for the previously agreed reopening and continued service of the Wicklow Town Citizens Information Centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30012/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body with responsibility for the Citizens Information Service (CIS). CIB receives an annual funding allocation from the Department of Social Protection and it, in turn, provides funding to eight CIS companies that operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres.
Each CIS is a limited company overseen by a board of directors and makes decisions independently on the delivery of services in their regions. Decisions regarding the delivery of services in Wicklow town are a matter for the Board of the South Leinster CIS. CIB provided South Leinster CIS with an operational grant of €1,957,191 for 2022, which is in line with previous allocations.
In March 2020, the Board of South Leinster CIS made the decision to close the Wicklow CIC office as part of their COVID 19 response. The Information Officer who had been based in Wicklow CIC has supported the citizens of Wicklow from Bray CIC since then. In December 2021, the South Leinster CIS Regional Manager on behalf of the Board informed CIB that they had made the decision to discontinue services in their Wicklow town office due to health and safety concerns, on foot of an internal assessment it carried out.
An alternative office space in the centre of Wicklow town was considered in 2021. However, this premises would require substantial financial investment before it could be utilised. Planning permission for the change of use of these premises was granted in late 2021 and consequently had not been factored into CIB’s 2022 budget allocation estimates process.
Within the CIB allocation of funding to the various regional CIS companies, funding may be available for projects that are necessary for the effective delivery of service. Any requests for such funding from regional CIS companies would be assessed in the context of CIB’s annual budget allocation and other competing priorities, and also within the normal efficiency and value for money obligations that apply to public funding.
The Board of South Leinster CIS have confirmed to the CIB that, at their next Board meeting, they will discuss the possible provision of an outreach citizens information service in Wicklow Town, for which a potential location in the town has been found. The Board will then revert to CIB with their decision.
Citizens Information Services continue to be available for local residents in the Arklow and Bray offices. Arklow CIC is open for drop in callers on Tuesdays from 10am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Appointments are also available. Callers can also ring the service Monday to Friday with their queries from 9am to 5pm. Bray CIC is open for drop in callers on Mondays and Thursdays from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Callers can ring the service Monday to Friday with their queries from 9am to 5pm. Appointments are also available.
1128. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the disability allowance in the context of the higher cost of living to allow its recipients to continue to be able to cover the main financial necessities. [30015/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability, the largest of which is the Disability Allowance scheme. As at the end of April there were in excess of 155,600 people in receipt of this payment.
Following Budget 2022, the Disability Allowance personal weekly rate increased, in January, to €208 per week. In addition, increases are applied where there is a qualified adult (€138 per week) or where there are qualified children (€48/€40 per week depending on the age of the child). Persons in receipt of Disability Allowance are also entitled to a Free Travel Scheme pass and may be entitled to additional secondary benefits such as the Household Benefits Package.
Through the Budget process, a number of measures were introduced to support people with disabilities and carers, as follows:
1. General increase to the weekly rates of payment for working age schemes / recipients (under 66 years of age) by €5 per week, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates;
2. Increase to the income disregard for Carer's Allowance from €332.50 to €350 for a single person and from €665 to €750 for a couple;
3. Increase to the capital disregard for Carer's Allowance from €20,000 to €50,000;
4. Extension to period during which Domiciliary Care Allowance can be paid for children in hospital from three months to six months (including payment of Carer's Allowance for this period);
5. Increase to the upper earnings disregard limit for both the Disability Allowance and the Blind Pension from €350 to €375 per week;
6. Increase to the rates of payment available under the Wage Subsidy Scheme which provides financial incentives for private sector employers to offer employment to jobseekers with disabilities, (bringing the strand one rate equivalent to 60% of the National Minimum Wage);
7. Three grants, currently available through Intreo centres, are also to be made available through Employability contractors in 2022;
8. Increase to the general weekly means disregard for Disability Allowance to €7.60 (was €2.50 per week);
9. Extension to the eligibility for the disregard of PhD scholarship income, in the means test, to recipients of Blind Pension;
10. Introduction of a grant of up to €500 in any calendar year towards the purchase of wigs/hairpieces/hair replacement systems in cases of hair loss due to illness or treatment of an illness;
11. Increase to the Fuel Allowance of €5 to €33 per week. The weekly means threshold was also increased by €20 from €100 to €120;
12. Increase to the Living Alone Allowance of €3, from €19 to €22 per week.
My Department also provides the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for those whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. This scheme includes Additional Needs Payments and SWA Supplements (heat, travel and dietary supplements). These means tested payments may be made to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income.
In addition to the above, my Department commissioned Indecon International Research Economists to carry out research into the cost of disability in Ireland and the Government published their report in December. Additional costs of disability identified run across a number of areas of expenditure including housing; equipment, aids and appliances; mobility, transport and communications; medicines; care and assistance services and additional living expenses. The Government has referred the report to the National Disability Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, which is chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Deputy Rabbitte. All Departments have been asked to consider actions that are currently being implemented and any proposed new actions that they will be undertaking in the context of the findings of the Report.
My Department regularly reviews its supports and payments schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives, while any proposed changes have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
1129. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Social Protection the materials that have been translated into Ukrainian with information as to accessing State services and supports; if such materials are physically available to State services to post as notices or provide to persons as leaflets and booklets; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30084/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department places a high priority on ensuring that those arriving in Ireland due to the war in Ukraine are aware of the Government services and supports available to them and that they are given clear information on how to access these public services.
When people arrive from Ukraine, my Department immediately engages with them to provide an income support, if necessary and also to allocate a PPSN, which will give access to a range of public services. The majority of those who arrive have no accommodation arrangements in place and therefore they initially rely on accessing information via the Department's website and through engagement with DSP and officials from other Departments upon their arrival.
To this end, my Department has published a dedicated page available at gov.ie/dsp/ukraine, which includes information on the social welfare supports available and how to access them. It also provides information on how to apply for a PPSN which will provide access to public services while in Ireland, information on how to apply for income supports and information on the locations of DSP offices throughout the country, including the dedicated Ukraine Support Centres. This page is translated into both Ukrainian and Russian and is updated regularly.
This dedicated social welfare supports page is part of the main information hub, published as part of Ireland's response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This hub is available at gov.ie/Ukraine. The dedicated Ukraine hub also ensures that information on all aspects of the government services and supports available are easily accessed in one central location and this information is translated into the Ukrainian and Russian languages.
Officials from my Department also engage on a face to face basis with such persons when they arrive in Ireland at dedicated reception centres such as City West. When those arriving are applying for a PPSN or for an income support, a version of the form is available in Ukrainian and Russian to help them to apply. Where required, interpreters are also made available to help them to complete the form. Copies of the relevant application forms are also available in Intreo centres in Ukrainian and Russian, should they arrive into the country and go directly to the Intreo centre without visiting a reception centre beforehand.
As those arriving may move location or address after they arrive, at present the most efficient way to provide them with the information they need is via our website. This allows us to quickly update content to ensure that the information is as relevant and accurate as possible as the situation evolves. Systems are also in place to ensure that payment of the relevant income support can be made at the nearest post office to where they now reside.
My priority at present is to ensure that people arriving from Ukraine can get the information they need about how to access state services and supports in one location and to provide this information in the Ukrainian and Russian languages. In March and April, the dedicated web pages for people arriving from the Ukraine were the 6th and 8th most visited pages respectively on the DSP website.
1130. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the refusal of disability allowance of a person (details supplied); if the inability to take up work was appropriately decided given the age of the applicant; and the areas of work available to them.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30088/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 10 January 2022.
The question before the Deciding Officer (DO) is whether the person is substantially restricted in accessing “employment…..of a kind which, if the person was not suffering from that disability, would be suited to that person’s age, experience and qualifications”.
Therefore, if a DO is not satisfied that a person is by reason of a disability substantially restricted in taking up any employment, the DO will then have to decide whether they are substantially restricted in taking up suitable employment having regard to the person’s age, employment history and educational qualifications.
This person's application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that he was substantially restricted in taking up employment. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 03 February 2022.
An appeal was lodged with the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO). On 10 May 2022 the SWAO notified us that the original decision was upheld and the appeal was disallowed. The person concerned was notified directly by the SWAO regarding their appeal.
An Appeal Officer’s decision is final and conclusive in the absence of any fresh facts or evidence. It is open to the person in question to reapply for DA.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1132. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer’s allowance review for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30482/22]
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.
If a person is in receipt of another Social Welfare payment in their own right (other than unemployment payments or supplementary welfare allowance) or are being claimed as a qualified adult on their spouse/partner's payment, CA can also be paid at half-rate as long as all the normal conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
The person concerned has been in receipt of half-rate CA since 3 December 2015 as she was also in receipt of a primary payment in her own right from this Department.
Following a request to review the rate of CA, it has been decided that the person concerned is entitled to full rate CA from 10 December 2020 as the primary payment referred to ceased on 9 December 2020.
The CA claim for the person concerned has been updated and the first CA payment at full rate issued to their nominated bank account on 14 April 2022.
Arrears due from 10 December 2020 to 13 April 2022 issued to the same account on 21 April 2022.
The person concerned was notified in writing of the outcome of this review on 6 April 2022 and of their right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1133. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal for carer’s benefit by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30483/22]
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.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 10 June 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
