Written Answers Nos. 372-391
372. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the funding that is available through her Department for the provision and training costs for rapid prompt boards for children on the ASD spectrum at home and in school. [36176/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes.
All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment.
It must be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs. Where necessary, schools may also purchase new or additional equipment or software for students from normal school resources or funds.
The criteria which must be evidenced to qualify for support under the Department’s Assistive Technology scheme are that the professional reports state in each case that the equipment is essential for the effective education of the child, illustrating how the recommended equipment is to be used for educational purposes throughout the school day. Equipment may only be provided where medical and/or other professional reports outline that the degree of communicative disability is such that this equipment is essential to allow the pupil to access education and set out how the equipment will provide for this.
The type of equipment provided under the assistive technology scheme is varied, and includes audiological supports for students with hearing impairment, braille equipment for children with visual impairment, and computer equipment with associated modified software for students with physical or severe communicative disabilities.
Communication devices or medical or therapy related devices which are not specific educational interventions or equipment specifically required as essential for school educational access, and which have a general application outside of school, are not provided for under the Assistive Technology scheme, however. Such equipment is normally provided for children with disabilities by the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the Aids and Appliances Scheme.
Rapid Prompt Boards are communication devices that also have a general use outside of school and as such funding is not provided for Rapid Prompt Boards under the Assistive Technology Scheme.
Through its everyday work, the NCSE aligns its Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) with the Teaching Council’s national framework for teacher professional learning. One of the main aims of the NCSE is to support teachers and schools in a way that builds capacity, supports the inclusion of all children, including students with special educational needs, at a whole school level.
The NCSE provides a suite of professional learning opportunities for school leaders and teachers, which in turn, aims to improve educational experiences and outcomes for all students.
The NCSE offers bespoke in-school support for either whole school staff, small groups, or individual teachers. The support can be tailored to specific TPL needs within a school, such as, in the areas of differentiation, planning, autism and behaviour. A school may contact the NCSE directly with regards to tailored training specific to their needs.
373. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education the number of special school places there are in Stewarts Care, Palmerstown; if the school is at full capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36213/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
This year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs.
This includes additional teaching and care supports.
As a result, the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.
Over the last two years, my Department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special needs placements ahead of each new school-year.
I am satisfied that this more joined up approach is delivering. Through this intensive intervention, we have seen over 300 special classes, providing over 1,800 new places, opened nationwide for the 2021/22 school-year.
I also acknowledge that notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places.
I can confirm that the NCSE is aware of an identified need for additional special school places for students in the Palmerstown area as referenced by the Deputy. Work has been underway with stakeholders for a number of years in this area to meet the demand for places.
NCSE has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for 2022/23 and beyond. There are specific plans in place to open additional special classes and every support will be made available to progress their opening in the shortest possible timeframe with a particular focus on September next.
It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.
My Department is committed, in conjunction with the NCSE, to continue to work with parents, schools, patrons and all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate places for students with additional needs and to support all students to achieve their potential.
I want to reassure the Deputy also that my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education
The list of special schools is available on the NCSE website at the following link:
ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/NCSE-Special-School-Allocations-21-22-website-03-12-2021.pdf.
and for special classes at:
ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Final-2021_2022-Sp-Class-list-25_03_22.pdf.
As your query refers to an individual school, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
374. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Education if she intends to develop further services and supports to address the needs of children and young persons with autism; and if the implementation of such services and supports will be informed by feedback from members of the autism community. [36229/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The Deputy will be aware of many of the strategic initiatives already put in place, particularly in the last 2 years, to support and expand SEN provision in schools throughout the country. An additional 300 special classes have opened in the current school-year providing 1,800 new placements. A further 315 special classes are already planned for 2022/23. Two new special schools opened in Cork and Dublin last September with two further special schools to open in these areas during the next school-year.
In 2022, we will spend over 25% of our total educational budget on providing additional supports for children with SEN. This represents an increase of over 60%, in total expenditure, since 2011.
We are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
Continuing to add capacity in schools to support SEN provision is a key priority with a particular emphasis at post-primary level.
The Department’s Geographic Information Management System (GIS) will continue to support a strategic and coordinated approach to planning and delivery of SEN provision. This includes “real-time” data on capacity across the school system.
The Department is working actively with the NCSE and other key stakeholders including School Patrons and Management Bodies to provide additional special classes and special school places for the 2022/23 school year.
The Deputy will also be aware that my Department has actively engaged in reviewing and updating the relevant legislation at this time. Earlier this week the Government approved the text of an Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022. This legislation provides for a truncated and more streamlined Section 37A process and also places additional duties on schools to co-operate with the NCSE in relation to making additional provision for children with special educational needs.
Every support will be made available to progress additional special education capacity, in the shortest possible timeframe with a particular focus on Dublin. The NCSE is in ongoing contact with the families of children who have not yet secured a special class or special school placement for the 2022/23 school-year.
375. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be examined. [36264/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention.
Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs.
Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.
Budget 2022 provides funding for an additional 1,165 SNAs (in 2022) to provide support to children with special educational needs, which will bring the total number of SNAs to 19,169 at the end of December 2022.
I am committed to supporting developing schools to ensure that resources are available to support their growing enrolment and the care needs of their students.
My department officials along with NCSE officials have been consulting with educational partners (school management bodies) representing developing schools in recent weeks to try to ensure that SNA resources are available to support these schools from the start of the new school year.
The school mentioned in the question was included in the list of schools discussed with the management bodies and I would urge the school in question to raise their resourcing concerns with their local NCSE Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) as soon as possible so that a review of their SNA resources can be prioritised.
All schools have the contact details of their local SENO, and the SENO is available to offer assistance and advice to the school.
Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
376. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education the status of the action points issued following the 2018 visit to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36275/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland.
This investment will build on the good progress being made on adding capacity to cater for demographic changes and provision for children with special educational needs. This investment will also facilitate an increased focus on the modernisation of existing school stock and help transition the school system for an era of net zero carbon by 2050.
There are approximately 1,200 school building projects for delivery under the Department’s Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme. These projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction - most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period up to 2025.
There are currently in excess of 250 school building projects at construction (on site) with a continuous stream of other projects at or near the tendering stage.
During the period 2018 to 2021 ,691 school building projects were completed under the Large Scale Capital Programme (LSCP) and the Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). These projects delivered in excess of 64,000 school places.
It is anticipated that 150 to 200 school building projects will be completed annually during the 2022 to 2025 period.
377. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that the appropriate strategic direction is issued to all European Union member states to ensure that there is the adequate inclusivity and robust approach towards the relevant areas of policy in relation to the commitment to reduce consistent poverty below 2% (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36087/22]
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 aims to reduce the number of people in consistent poverty in Ireland to 2% or less and to position Ireland within the top five countries in the EU under a number of leading social inclusion measures. Towards this end, the Roadmap contains seven high level goals with 22 specific targets, which will be delivered by 66 unique commitments (actions) across government.
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. 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.
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.
As well as the national target, Ireland has committed to achieve the EU Headline Poverty Reduction Target under the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan. The overall EU target is for a reduction of at least 15 million people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by 2030. The Irish contribution is a reduction of 90,000 people at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Each member state has poverty targets, progress of which the Commission will monitor.
378. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the services and supports available to a person with an intellectual disability in Cork city seeking employment. [36152/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a wide range of services and supports to assist jobseekers with a disability to find work and to incentivise employers to recruit them support them in employment.
Disability-related income schemes have been designed to support people with disabilities to enter or return to employment or self-employment. Both Disability Allowance and Blind Pension are structured to support recipients to avail of opportunities to pursue their employment ambitions, be that self-employment or insurable employment. When an individual commences employment, they can avail of an income disregard of €140 per week and 50% of earnings between €140 and €375 per week are disregarded in the means test. The Partial Capacity Benefit scheme allows a person who has been in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit to enter or return to employment and continue to receive a partial or full payment.
The Back To Work Enterprise Allowance has been designed to support persons, including persons with disabilities, to become self-employed. Customers retain a percentage of their income support payment for up to 2 years.
My Department provides a case managed employment service to jobseekers, including those with disabilities, who seek support from their local Intreo Centre. They work with a case officer with a view to agreeing a suitable personal progression plan in order to access the full range of employment supports available. Intreo also delivers a recruitment and job matching service for employers.
Employment programmes such as Community Employment and the Work Placement Experience Programme provide valuable stepping stones into sustainable employment. My Department also contracts AHEAD (Association for Higher Education Access and Disability) to deliver the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) and ‘Get Ahead’ Programmes on its behalf. These programmes provide paid work experience and other supports for graduates with disabilities seeking to enter or re-enter employment.
If the person would like to explore education and training options, there are a wide range of opportunities available with mainstream and specialist training providers. Funding is also available through the Training Support Grant to help the person to access private sector training providers.
As part of our commitments under the Pathways to Work Strategy and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, my Department is shortly to commence an early engagement approach that will see the Intreo service proactively engaging with persons with a disability at the earliest opportunity, to offer support and assistance to help them enter or return to employment. The process will initially focus on persons aged 18 to 22 and in receipt of Disability Allowance, before being expanded to other age groups and schemes.
My Department also contracts for the provision of Local Area Employment Services. Providers deliver a case managed employment service for all jobseekers, including those with disabilities.
My Department recognises the additional challenges that some jobseekers with disabilities may experience in securing and maintaining employment, and contracts for the provision of specialist employment services (EmployAbility) to help address this. A jobseeker with a disability who is working with their Intreo case officer (or LEAS provider) may be referred to these service providers if it is agreed that they would benefit from the type of services and support provided. Jobseekers work with a job coach who provides both pre-employment and in-employment support and assistance. Providers also deliver a recruitment and job matching service for employers.
My Department also provides a range of services and supports for employers to recruit/retain jobseekers with a disability, including financial incentives under the Wage Subsidy Scheme and Reasonable Accommodation Fund Grants. The Disability Awareness Support Scheme provides funding for employers to pay for disability awareness training for staff who work with a colleague with a disability.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
379. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if all applicants for a supplementary welfare allowance payment are entitled to an in-person meeting with a community welfare officer to assist with applications for same. [34799/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Welfare Service of my Department delivers the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme which is the safety net within the overall social welfare system. This scheme provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents.
The Deputy can be assured that I am committed to a Community Welfare Service (CWS) that is a flexible service which meets the varied needs of vulnerable people and continues to provide local access to a CWO.
CWOs can facilitate emergency and in-person meetings in 51 Intreo Centres across business hours, five days per week. Some CWOs are based in Social Welfare Branch Offices and provide appointments at those offices. A person can be seen by appointment in any Branch Office.
In addition to meeting citizens in Intreo Centres, Branch Offices and DSP offices, Community Welfare Officers can facilitate an appointment within an hour with a person at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home.
As part of my continued commitment to improve the CWS across the country, citizens no longer have to meet in person with a CWO to make a claim. Application forms are available on www.gov.ie and at any Intreo Centre or Branch Office.
Consultations with a CWO are available via phone, at our offices and if needed a direct home visit appointment can be arranged depending on the person's need. All applications for assistance are dealt with promptly by officials.
This change is a significant enhancement to the service offered to citizens as it means that those who require assistance no longer need to visit an office or wait to make a claim or wait to access the service.
I am fully committed to developing and enhancing access to the Community Welfare Service nationwide, and to ensuring that the service is responsive to customer needs particularly in a time of crisis or emergency.
380. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of payments that have been made to date under the additional needs payment scheme; the average amount of each payment; and the categories of payments assigned for the scheme. [34802/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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. This is an administrative umbrella term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
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.
In general, additional needs payments are not intended to cover circumstances where responsibility rests with another Government Department or Agency. However, an additional needs payment can be made to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
In the period January to end of May 2022, payments totaling €16.8 million have been made in relation to over 27,800 additional needs payments in respect of exceptional and urgent needs. The main items eligible for assistance include help with fuel, utility bills, repairs to or replacement of household appliances, clothing, child related items such as cots and prams, assistance with funerals or burial costs and travel. Support is also available to assist persons under this scheme towards rent deposits. A total of 3,400 customers are currently in receipt of an additional supplement to help with ongoing needs. Assistance provided under these supplements includes heat, travel and other ongoing costs. Payments totaling €1.5 million have been made to date under these supplements.
The payment amount, which can have a wide range value, will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed, therefore an average payment amount may not be representative of the trend in payments.
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.
381. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection when all citizens information offices will close and become subsumed into existing departmental structures. [34800/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Citizens Information Board (CIB) is a statutory independent body, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection. CIB provides funding to 22 companies in order to deliver services on its behalf. This includes eight Citizen Information Services (CIS) companies that operate a national network of Citizens Information Centres. These eight companies are fully responsible for the delivery of services and all related operational matters including office opening hours in their respective regions.
CIB have advised me that there are no plans to close all Citizens Information Centres. I can also confirm that my Department has no plans to subsume the Citizens Information network into current Departmental structures.
Both the CIB and the CIS Boards are committed to the continued ongoing delivery of high-quality services nationally and will continue to provide essential information, advice and advocacy to the citizens of Ireland in the most effective manner possible.
382. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of former civil servants who are currently serving on State boards under her remit; the number of former county managers and chief executive officers of local authorities who are currently on each of the State boards under her remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33860/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe state bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
There is currently one former Civil Servant serving on the Board of the Citizens Information Board. No former County Managers or Chief Executive Officers of local authorities are currently serving on its Board.
No former Civil Servants or former County Managers and Chief Executive Officers of Local Authorities are currently serving on the Boards of the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council or the Social Welfare Tribunal.
383. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the status of the disability allowance appeal for a person (details supplied). [35257/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the above named person on 10 March 2022.
Based on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, his application for disability allowance (DA) was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 25 April 2022.
He submitted additional further medical evidence (FME) on 04 May 2022 and 11 May 2022.
On foot of the FME received, the claim was reviewed and the Deciding Officer (DO) determined that, based on all the evidence provided, the person concerned was eligible for DA.
The person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 16 March 2022. The first payment will be made by his chosen payment method on 06 July 2022.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments (if applicable).
The Department would reaffirm the importance of applicants submitting all available evidence with their application if they wish to ensure that a decision is made as quickly as possible on their claim.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
384. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has any discretion in relation to income threshold qualification limits for eligibility for the fuel allowance; if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reconsidered for access to the scheme given the circumstances of their refusal, their age and circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35265/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to be eligible for fuel allowance, a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, satisfy a household means test and live alone or only with certain other qualified people. Under the means test, an applicant and members of his/her household may have a combined assessable income of up to €120 a week above the appropriate rate of State Pension Contributory, currently €253.30 (€263.30 for persons aged 80 years and over), and qualify for fuel allowance.
On the 17th June 2022 it was decided that the person concerned no longer qualified for fuel allowance as her weekly means of €416.78 were in excess of the weekly income threshold of 373.30. The person was notified in writing of this decision and advised if there were any changes in their circumstances to submit a new application. Where a persons' means exceed the permissible income limit, there is no scope for discretion.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, an Additional Needs Payment 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 by the local Community Welfare Service staff in my Department.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
385. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to extend the provision of the hot school meals scheme to continue beyond term time in 2022 and throughout the summer months, as it did for the previous academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35271/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,506 schools and organisations benefitting 230,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Funding under the School Meals Programme is normally confined to the academic year but an exception was made in summer 2020 and 2021 in the context of the Covid-19 Pandemic. As restrictions relating to Covid-19 have been lifted, the School Meals Programme has resumed funding for the normal duration of 36 weeks for primary schools and 33 weeks for post primary schools.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
386. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of maternity benefit and paternity benefit who also received another means tested social protection payment from 2019 to date; if she will advise on these figures as an overall percentage by payment type and year in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35295/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables below. Table 1 refers to recipients of Maternity Benefit and Table 2 refers to recipients of Paternity Benefit. The dates in these tables refer to instances where at least one Maternity/Paternity payment issued in a given year, and at least one means-tested payment issued to that person in that same year. It should be noted however that a single Maternity or Paternity Benefit claim could have payment dates in two years; where a payment may have issued to the customer in both December and January, or beyond. The percentage breakdowns of the schemes is set out in Table 3. Where a person received more than one means-tested payment, the last payment received in the year is reported. The 'Other' claims includes scheme and supplements with small numbers of recipients which do not appear in all of the years, such as the Diet Supplement, Heat Supplement, Guardian's Payment Non-Contributory, Daily Expenses Allowance, and Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
Table 1: Maternity Benefit Recipients also in receipt of a means-tested payment
|
Year of Maternity Payment |
Maternity Benefit Recipients who received at least one means-tested payment in that year |
|
2019 |
7344 |
|
2020 |
7852 |
|
2021 |
6709 |
|
Year to 30th June 2022 |
3640 |
Table 2: Paternity Benefit Recipients also in receipt of a means-tested payment
|
Year of Paternity Payment |
Paternity Benefit Recipients who received at least one means-tested payment in that year |
|
2019 |
1605 |
|
2020 |
1601 |
|
2021 |
1118 |
|
Year to 30th June 2022 |
450 |
Table 3: Means-tested payments received
|
Year |
Scheme |
Maternity Benefit |
Paternity Benefit |
|
2019 |
Back To School Clothing And Footwear |
6% |
2% |
|
|
Back to Work Family Dividend |
3% |
4% |
|
|
Carer's Allowance |
4% |
0% |
|
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
13% |
2% |
|
|
Disability Allowance |
1% |
1% |
|
|
Working Family Payment |
23% |
65% |
|
|
One Parent Family Payment |
31% |
0% |
|
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
12% |
17% |
|
|
Exceptional Needs Payment |
2% |
1% |
|
|
Others |
6% |
7% |
|
2020 |
Back To School Clothing And Footwear |
7% |
3% |
|
|
Back to Work Family Dividend |
1% |
1% |
|
|
Carer's Allowance |
4% |
0% |
|
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
12% |
2% |
|
|
Disability Allowance |
1% |
1% |
|
|
Working Family Payment |
18% |
48% |
|
|
One Parent Family Payment |
27% |
0% |
|
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
8% |
10% |
|
|
Exceptional Needs Payment |
15% |
25% |
|
|
Others |
6% |
9% |
|
2021 |
Back To School Clothing And Footwear |
7% |
1% |
|
|
Back to Work Family Dividend |
1% |
4% |
|
|
Carer's Allowance |
4% |
1% |
|
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
14% |
4% |
|
|
Disability Allowance |
1% |
2% |
|
|
Working Family Payment |
24% |
63% |
|
|
One Parent Family Payment |
32% |
0% |
|
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
9% |
14% |
|
|
Exceptional Needs Payment |
3% |
5% |
|
|
Others |
6% |
7% |
|
2022 |
Back To School Clothing And Footwear* |
- |
- |
|
|
Back to Work Family Dividend |
1% |
1% |
|
|
Carer's Allowance |
4% |
1% |
|
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
15% |
3% |
|
|
Disability Allowance |
1% |
4% |
|
|
Working Family Payment |
27% |
68% |
|
|
One Parent Family Payment |
38% |
0% |
|
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
7% |
15% |
|
|
Exceptional Needs Payment |
2% |
2% |
|
|
Others |
5% |
5% |
* The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for 2022 is due to be paid in Q3 this year.
387. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of PhD positions funded by her Department or bodies under the aegis of her Department; the average stipend or salary paid to full-time PhD candidates through these funding streams; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35438/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department continues to provide learning and development opportunities to all staff. As part of our refund of fees scheme, the Department is supporting 4 PhD students in their studies at present which are being undertaken on a part-time basis and the staff continue to work in the Department over the course of their studies.
388. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an illness benefit application by a person (details supplied); if their credits from England have been considered as part of the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35448/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned made an application for Illness Benefit from the 1st February 2022. This application was disallowed as she did not satisfy the PRSI contribution conditions necessary for payment.
The person concerned wrote to us to inform us that she had previously worked in the UK, and my Department subsequently requested her contribution record from the UK in order to ascertain if she had further contributions that could be used to help her qualify for Illness Benefit.
This record has been received, and with the additional contributions from the UK, she has qualified for Illness Benefit. Her claim has been awarded at a rate of €208.00 per week and arrears of €3466.67 have issued to the person concerned. This pays her up to the 1st June 2022, the date on her most recent medical certificate.
If the person concerned is still unfit for work, she should submit a further medical certificate as soon as possible in order for further payments to issue to her.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
389. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to a contributory or non-contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35460/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 15 January 2020.
An application for the State Pension (non-contributory) pension was received in July 2019. The application was disallowed as their means exceeded the statutory limit. The decision was appealed by the person concerned and upheld by the Appeals office in May 2020. A further application was received in May 2022. This application was disallowed as their means continue to exceed the statutory limit. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing.
According to the records of my Department an application for the State Pension (contributory) pension was not received.
Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have at least 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for a standard contributory pension. As the person concerned was employed in the public sector, they can also be considered for a mixed insurance pension. To qualify for a mixed insurance pension, 520 employment contributions are required, of which at least 260 must be full-rate employment contributions with the remainder made up of modified contributions. The records of my Department show that the person concerned has 145 full-rate paid contributions which falls short of the required full-rate contributions for the standard and mixed insurance pensions.
I have arranged for a copy of the person’s social insurance contribution record to issue to them, together with an application form for a State Pension (contributory) pension.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
390. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who lives with a sibling can get fuel allowance or if their sibling’s income is taken into account even though they are not a single household; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35500/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, to over 370,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.
The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the fuel allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including the household composition criteria. This ensures that the fuel allowance payment goes to those who are 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.
To satisfy the household composition criteria, an applicant may live alone or only with:
- a qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren); (if the qualified spouse is in receipt of half rate carer's, in addition to the IQA payment, they may qualify for fuel allowance, subject to a means test) or
- a person in receipt of a qualifying payment who would be entitled to the allowance in their own right or
- a person who is in receipt of carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit in respect of providing full-time care and attention to the fuel allowance applicant or their qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren) or
- a person receiving short-term jobseeker's allowance (JA) or basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) - i.e., less than 391 days for JA and less than 15 months/456 days for SWA).
Fuel allowance is not payable if an applicant lives with any person, including a family member, who is not covered by the criteria outlined.
Any decision to extend the qualifying criteria for Fuel Allowance in the manner outlined by the Deputy would change the targeted nature of the scheme and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Additional Needs Payments 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.
391. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who was on disability allowance for many years and who took up a position on a community employment scheme can now make an application for the partial capacity benefit after having worked for four weeks on the scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35503/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraPartial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a scheme which extends the Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension schemes to recognise and respond to the reality that some people in receipt of these payments have a capacity to engage in open market employment while continuing to need to receive some income support from the State. People in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit (the latter for a minimum of 26 weeks) who wish to return to work are eligible for PCB if their capacity for work is reduced as a result of their medical condition.
The personal rate of payment of PCB is based on a medical assessment of a person’s restriction regarding their capacity for work. After the medical assessment, if a person's disability is rated as moderate, severe or profound their payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100% per cent of their existing rate, respectively. If assessed as mild they will not qualify for PCB. The duration a person can be in receipt of PCB is linked to the payment they moved from. For someone moving from Illness Benefit, the maximum duration is two years (less the 26 weeks required to be eligible). In the case of Invalidity Pension, a maximum duration of 156 weeks applies.
Disability Allowance is not a qualifying payment for the Partial Capacity Benefit scheme. However, Disability Allowance has been designed to support recipients to pursue employment opportunities, be that self-employment or insurable employment. When a person commences employment, an income disregard of €140 per week is applied. In addition, 50% of earnings between €140 and €375 are also disregarded for the purpose of the means test. There is no duration limit where a person continues to be in receipt of Disability Allowance payment while in employment / self-employment.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
