John McGuinness
Ceist:1070. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) has sufficient contributions to claim a State (contributory) pension. [42252/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraState Pensions
Ceisteanna (1070)
Freagraí scríofa
According to the records of my department the person concerned does not have sufficient contributions to qualify for a state pension (contributory) pension. I have arranged for a copy of the person’s social insurance contribution record to issue to them together with an application form for state pension (contributory). If they consider that they have contributions from employment that have not been recorded they can outline the relevant employment information on the application form and return it to my Department. Their entitlement will then be examined.
The person concerned was in receipt of state pension (non-contributory), which is a means tested payment. A review was carried out and the pension was withdrawn in 2013 as their means exceeded the statutory limit at that time. If their financial circumstance has changed, they can re-apply for State pension non-contributory. An application for this pension has also issued to the customer.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Ceisteanna (1071)
John McGuinness
Ceist:1071. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a State pension for a person (details supplied) will be expedited, approved and backdated to the date of the first application; the reason for the delay and the fact that the original application was mislaid. [42280/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned reached pension age on 31 January 2022. The Department has no record of receipt of an application for State pension (contributory).
Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equates to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment. Factors such as an individual’s social insurance record, their attachment to the workforce, and their countries of employment affect the rate of pension entitlement.
I arranged for a copy of the person’s social insurance contribution record to issue to them on 9 August, together with application form for State pension (contributory). On receipt of completed application form, the person’s entitlement to State pension (contributory) will be examined by a Deciding Officer and they will be notified of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Ceisteanna (1072)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:1072. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42303/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Carer's Allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to people who have a disability such that they require that level of care and who satisfy a means test.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 1 September 2021.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses for a maximum of 18.5 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
The application for CA was disallowed on the grounds that person concerned was working for more than 18.5 hour per week.
The person concerned was notified on 28 September 2021 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of their application. Following this, the decision remained unchanged.
The person concerned submitted a reapplication on 20 June 2022.
Additional information was requested from the person concerned on 23 June 2022. Following receipt of this information, it was determined that the matter should be referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
On foot of the SWI report, it was confirmed that a second employment held by the person concerned ceased on 1 October 2021. As a result, the deciding officer awarded CA to the person concerned on 1 September 2022, with effect from 7 October 2021.
The first payment will issue to their nominated post office on 8 September 2022.
Arrears for the period 7 October 2021 to 7 September 2022 will issue by cheque shortly.
The person concerned was notified on 1 September 2022 of this revised decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Departmental Budgets
Ceisteanna (1073)
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:1073. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the total budget allocated to the additional needs payment; if she will provide a breakdown of the total amount of the budget allocated from the scheme for assistance with costs of home heating oil, electricity, gas, petrol and diesel to date in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42304/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 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.
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.
The Government has provided funding of €45.75 million for the provision of exceptional and urgent needs that are provided for as Additional Needs Payment in 2022. The scheme is demand led and is not capped.
A further provision of €4.3 million has been provided for SWA Supplements in 2022 (excluding rent supplement).
To end of August 2022, over 2,600 additional needs payments totaling over €1.1m were made to assist with household bills and heating costs. A Heating Supplement may also be paid to assist people with exceptional heating costs due to ill health who cannot meet those costs. There are over 970 persons receiving this supplement.
Payments are not categorised specifically in relation to assistance for petrol or diesel but assistance totaling over €375,000 has been provided for travel expenses under the ENP scheme to end of August 2022. In addition there are approximately 230 customers in receipt of travel supplement.
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.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (1074)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:1074. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review an appeal for a person (details supplied) and urgently expedite same. [42314/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 the evidence, the Appeals Officer disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on 23 March 2022.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of the Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by the Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. I am advised that the person concerned subsequently submitted additional evidence and that the Appeals Officer agreed to review the person concerned appeal on foot of this additional evidence. The Appeals Officer did not find any new facts or fresh evidence which warranted a revision of his earlier decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 7 June 2022.
Following this the person concerned submitted more evidence and the Appeals Officer again agreed to undertake a review. The Appeals Officer did not find any new facts or fresh evidence which warranted a revision of the original decision and the person concerned was notified of this on 29 July 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Schemes
Ceisteanna (1075)
Marian Harkin
Ceist:1075. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give consideration to an issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42319/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are approximately 1,034,000 customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2022 is €95 million.
It is important to note that, in general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary Social Protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit. A free travel pass cannot be issued on a temporary or discretionary basis.
While consideration is given to any requests to extend eligibility to the free travel scheme, any decision to enable the award of a free travel pass on a discretionary or temporary basis would fundamentally alter the nature of the scheme. Any such change would also require potentially very significant additional funding for the free travel scheme and would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers and may include help towards recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Ceisteanna (1076)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:1076. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) who has submitted extra documentation as requested; when the application is likely to be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42360/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 02 June 2022 and received his first payment to his nominated bank account on 21 July 2022. Arrears due from 02 June 2022 to 20 July 2022 issued to his nominated bank account on 28 July 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (1077)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:1077. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review will be undertaken of a recent decision to refuse an application for a domiciliary care allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42365/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of a child with a disability so severe that the child requires ongoing (continual or continuous) care and attention substantially in excess of that usually required by a child of the same age. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months. Eligibility is established primarily on the additional care required by the child rather than the child's disability.
An application for DCA was received from the person concerned in respect of their child on 23 May 2022. Their application was disallowed on 20 July 2022, as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for DCA. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision, the reason for it and of their right to request a review and/or appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The person concerned has not submitted any new or additional information or documentary evidence to date for consideration and there is no record of a request for an appeal of this decision. The person concerned may request a review of this decision in writing or via email and should forward any new or additional information or further documentary evidence (such as medical report) that was not previously available to the Department for consideration. A full review of the decision will be completed by a deciding officer on receipt of this information.
DCA reviews are currently taking approximately 6-8 weeks to process from date of receipt.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Ceisteanna (1078, 1082)
Matt Shanahan
Ceist:1078. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Social Protection if previous Northern Ireland pension contributions made in the UK qualify or are recognised as contributions in the Republic of Ireland for assessment of old age pension entitlements, given the proposal to amend the number of contributions required to be eligible for a full old age pension in Ireland and the passing of Brexit legislation in the United Kingdom; if she will advise that previous pre-Brexit UK contributions will be recognised in Ireland and the processes required for a resident in Ireland to make an application for a contributory pension on this basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42368/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
David Cullinane
Ceist:1082. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise on a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42419/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1078 and 1082 together.
The Withdrawal Agreement concluded between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) established the terms of the UK's orderly withdrawal from the EU, in accordance with Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union.
That Agreement contains provisions for the Coordination of Social Security systems, and includes special situations, for persons who were subject to the social security legislation of the UK prior to the end of the transition period on 31st December 2020.
This means that the UK social security contributions made by the person concerned shall be taken into account in accordance with Regulation (EC) 883 of 2004, and may continue to be aggregated with Irish social security contributions for the purpose of supporting an entitlement to an Irish State Pension Contributory (SPC), just as before.
Within six months of the person becoming eligible for the State Pension, they should apply for a SPC using the application form that is available online at gov.ie - State Pension (Contributory) Application Form (SPC1) (www.gov.ie) and indicate in the relevant section of the application form that UK contributions have also been made.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Ceisteanna (1079)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:1079. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who has been declared bankrupt and-or insolvent, has a Revenue Commissioners judgment against them and has no means available to them may obtain social welfare payments such as jobseeker’s allowance or the State pension (non-contributory) (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42386/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
State pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. For the purposes of the means-test, at initial application stage and throughout the lifetime of the pension claim, an applicant must provide full and up to date details of any income(s), asset(s), savings and investment(s) held, and notify any changes that occur that may affect their pension entitlement. In all cases, including situations of bankruptcy or insolvency, sufficient supporting documentation must be furnished by the applicant in order to enable a Deciding Officer to correctly assess a possible pension entitlement.
The person concerned applied for state pension non-contributory on 16 February 2018. The person’s claim was assigned to a Social Welfare Inspector on 10 March 2018 to investigate their means. On 28 February 2019, the Inspector reported to the Deciding Officer that the person concerned had failed to fully disclose their means or provide sufficient documentary evidence for the purposes of determining pension entitlement.
As the requested information was not provided, the pension application was disallowed on 27 March 2019 on grounds of non-disclosure and the person concerned was notified of the outcome and their right of appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. The person subsequently appealed the decision. On 6 May 2022, the appeal was disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned failed to disclose their means.
If the person concerned is now in a position to provide documentary evidence which sufficiently reflects their financial situation and which allows a Deciding Officer to correctly assess their weekly means, they should contact the Department and request a review of their state pension claim. Their claim will be reviewed and they will be notified of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Rates
Ceisteanna (1080)
Richard O'Donoghue
Ceist:1080. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if discussions are expected to increase the children’s allowance payment to help ease the burden on families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42391/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Child Benefit is a monthly payment of €140 made to families with children in respect of all qualifying 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.
In addition, 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 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.
As part of Budget 2022, I increased the rates for a qualified child aged under 12 by €2 to €40 per week, and for a qualified child aged 12 or older by €3 to €48 per week, from January. Budget 2022 also provided for a €10 weekly increase in the income limits for Working Family Payment which came into effect from April.
More recently, the Government has introduced a range of measures to support families with the increased cost of living. In July we announced changes to three initiatives to assist families with back to school costs at a total additional cost of €67 million.
As a result, the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, was increased by €100 for each eligible child under the scheme. Consequently, the amount paid for each qualified child aged 4 to 11 years is €260 and the rate payable for each eligible child aged 12 and over is €385. This is in addition to the increases which had already been provided for in Budget 2022. It is estimated that some 151,000 families will benefit from this measure in respect of over 262,000 children.
In addition, the School Meals Programme is being extended to an additional 310 schools who were designated as DEIS schools in March and students availing of the school transport scheme will not be charged fees for the next academic year.
The supports provided by my Department are kept under review, particularly in the context of the Budget.
Community Employment Schemes
Ceisteanna (1081)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1081. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if an increase in payment will be given to persons on community employment schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42410/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. Participation on the scheme is part time - 19.5 hours per week.
The payment rates on CE are related to the underlying value of certain social protection payments plus €22.50 per week. In addition, a participant may be eligible for payments in respect of any qualified dependent adult and children.
If a CE participant's underlying payment (including dependents) is €208 a week or less, they receive the minimum CE weekly rate of €230.50, that is €208 plus the top up of €22.50. If a participant's underlying payment (including dependents) is €208 or more, then they receive the same rate as their social welfare payment plus €22.50.
CE participants can retain their medical card and can also retain any additional benefits they were entitled to on their underlying scheme prior to joining CE, for example Fuel Allowance, provided they continue to satisfy the qualifying conditions for those benefits.
CE participants can also work outside of the 19.5 hours that they participant on CE. The income from this employment does not affect their CE payment rate.
A number of Social Welfare payment increases took effect in January 2022 as part of measures introduced by Government in Budget 2022. All core social welfare weekly payments increased by €5. The weekly payments for qualified child dependents increased by €3 to €48 for children aged 12 or over and by €2 to €40 for children aged up to 12. Fuel Allowance, which is paid during the fuel season each year, was increased by €5 to €33 per week. These increases benefitted eligible CE participants.
Eligible CE participants in receipt of Fuel Allowance have also benefited from two payments, €125 and €100 respectively, this year.
I am fully committed to the future of this programme and will continue to support and improve the programme for the benefit of the CE participants in particular, given the valuable contribution being made to local communities through the provision of services. Any change to payment rates to participants on the scheme would have to be examined at Budget time, in line with budgetary priorities and commitments.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 1082 answered with Question No. 1078.
Departmental Contracts
Ceisteanna (1083)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:1083. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of the company that has secured the bid for the new private job activation service replacing JobPath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42421/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has recently undertaken the procurement of a number of employment services as the contracts of existing services were lapsing. Competitive procurements for these services are required under EU law.
As part of this process, employment services have been reconfigured to provide the most appropriate service to the jobseekers at the most appropriate time. No existing employment service has been directly replaced and no services were reserved for either the community and voluntary sector or for-profit enterprises.
All procurement competitions for employment services were open to tenders from every type of enterprise, including the community and voluntary sector. I'm pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department received a broad response to the request for tenders published, ensuring a high level of quality among the new service providers throughout the State.
The new employment services have been designated as Intreo Partners, emphasising their role in complementing the activities of Intreo Offices in helping clients return to the labour market.
Twenty-three Intreo Partners are already either already engaging with long-term unemployed clients or will shortly be doing so. In addition, over twenty sub-contractors are also playing a key role in providing these services. There are two main streams in the Intreo Partners services provided via the Local Area Employment Service and via the National Employment Service. The preferred bidders for the LAES are a mixture of locally based providers from the community sector and the preferred bidders for the NES are Seetec and Turas Nua.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Pension Provisions
Ceisteanna (1084)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:1084. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding pension arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42432/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The supervision of compliance with the requirements of the Pensions Act 1990 (‘1990 Act’), including new IORP II related requirements introduced into that Act, is the responsibility of the Pensions Authority, which is the regulator for pensions in Ireland. The Pensions Authority is an independent statutory body and, consequently, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be possible or appropriate to interfere with the Pensions Authority’s compliance supervision function or to direct the Pensions Authority to extend any compliance deadline. Furthermore, IORP II requires Member States to ensure that competent authorities, such as the Pensions Authority, conduct their tasks in a transparent, independent and accountable manner.
Directive (EU) 2016/2341 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2016 on the activities and supervision of institutions for occupational retirement provision (IORPs) (‘IORP II’) became effective from 13 January 2019, sets out minimum standards for the management and supervision of pension schemes, with the objective of ensuring the soundness of occupational pensions and better protections for scheme members and beneficiaries across the European Union.
IORP II requirements were transposed into Irish law by way of the European Union (Occupational Pension Schemes) Regulations 2021 (S.I. No. 128 of 2021) which came into force on 22nd April 2021.
The general principle followed in respect of the transposition of IORP II, in keeping with the Government’s Roadmap for Pensions Reform, is that the requirements of IORP II apply to all schemes and trust RACs, including one-member arrangements (‘OMAs’). This is in order to ensure that all members and beneficiaries are afforded equal protection irrespective of the size of the pension arrangement. It should be noted that the decision to apply the requirements of IORP II to all schemes and trust RACs was announced by the Government in 2019 and it was expected that trustees and insurance providers would have been preparing for compliance with these requirements in advance of transposition.
In the case of OMAs established on or after S.I. No. 128 of 2021 came into force on 22nd April 2021, such arrangements are required to meet all new IORP II related requirements set out under the 1990 Act, where applicable, from the date on which they were established. From a supervision perspective, the Pensions Authority, however, outlined that it was applying a deadline of 1st July 2022 in respect of OMA’s compliance with those new requirements.
As already referred to above, it would not be appropriate to interfere with the Pensions Authority's supervisory function.
The Report of the Interdepartmental Pensions Reform and Taxation Group (IDPRTG), which was published in late 2020, set out a number of measures to help advance the goal of simplifying and harmonising the supplementary pension landscape including some recommendations in relation to PRSAs. A group comprising officials from the relevant Departments and organisations reconvened in 2021 to consider implementation of the various recommendations. To this end, a package of measures was enacted in the Finance Act 2021 which included: the removal of a prohibition of transfers from an occupational pension scheme to a Personal Retirement Savings Account for members with more than 15 years’ service; the abolition of the Approved Minimum Retirement Fund; and the extension of an Approved Retirement Fund option to death-in-service benefits.
The IDPRTG implementation group continues its work considering the various recommendations with a view to bringing further reform measures to legislative effective as soon as possible. In this regard, a number of proposals from the 2020 Report are currently being examined and worked on, including the approach to the tax treatment of contributions to PRSAs. Of course, any measures requiring legislative change will have to complete legislative passage through the Oireachtas.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (1085, 1086, 1087)
James Lawless
Ceist:1085. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if funding will be made available in 2023 for the 27 ability group programmes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42462/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:1086. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will issue an update in respect of funding from the dormant funds account to support persons (details supplied). [42464/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCatherine Murphy
Ceist:1087. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has engaged with the Minister for Health in respect of a petition (details supplied) regarding the continued use of dormant account funds. [42465/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1085, 1086 and 1087 together.
The Ability Programme, introduced in June 2018, was a three-year pre-activation programme for young people with disabilities, managed by my department. The funding for the programme amounted to around €16 million and was provided jointly under the European Union’s ESF 2014-2020 Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning Operational Programme and the Irish Exchequer.
Funding to the amount of €720,000 was awarded to the organisation the Deputy references under the former Ability Programme and the organisation had a target of working with 250 participants over the course of the programme. The activity funded under this programme was designed to end on 30 June 2020. However, the organisation in question requested and were granted an extension to this project to the end of December 2020. Expenditure at project end was €530,385 with 59 young people having participated in the project (24% of target).
Last year, I put a plan in place to allow for the transition of the remaining Ability providers and participants to new arrangements and this was agreed with the Ability Providers Subgroup. This included a two-month extension to the 26 organisations still operating under the programme at that time. The organisation referenced by the Deputy was no longer in contract as of end of December 2020 and were therefore not offered this extension. The Ability Programme concluded at the end of August 2021 and, in line with commitments under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, the Final Evaluation of the Programme was published.
The current Dormant Accounts Fund Measure to Support the Employment of People with Disabilities was a new employment support measure for people with disabilities. On 30 July last year I announced that 45 projects had been funded up to an amount of €7.6 million. This programme began in September 2021 and runs up to the end of 2022. All organisations were notified of the relevant timelines in advance, and this was clearly indicated in the Call for Applications in April of last year. All 27 organisations who received funding under the former Ability Programme were successful in securing funding under this new measure. The organisation referenced by the Deputies has been awarded €200,000 under this initiative.
It was agreed last year that a new employment programme for people with disabilities would be included in the new Operational Programme for Ireland under the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027. This new disability focused employment measure will build on the learnings of the former Ability Programme. The new programme will also need to add complementarity to the suite of existing employment supports targeted at people with disabilities provided by my department and broader national strategies for employment of people with disabilities, including the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities.
The ESF Managing Authority in Ireland - based in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science - has compiled the Operational Programme for Ireland which has been approved by Government. The Operational Programme has been formally submitted to the European Commission. It is expected that Commission approval will be communicated in the latter part of the year.
Once approval is in place, it is anticipated that the new disability programme will be open by way of a competitive process in 2023 to applications from organisations across the country including the 27 former Ability Programme organisations.
I can assure the Deputies that my commitment in relation to providing funding supports to improve the employment possibilities of people with disabilities has not been found wanting to date and that the concern that the Deputies have raised is fully recognised. The Deputies will understand that commitments regarding the allocation of public expenditure are subject to the overall budgetary context and will be considered in that context over the coming weeks.
Finally, I can confirm that I have not engaged with the Minister of Health in this matter as the funding schemes in question are a matter for my Department.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputies at this time.
Question No. 1086 answered with Question No. 1085.
Question No. 1087 answered with Question No. 1085.
State Pensions
Ceisteanna (1088)
Colm Burke
Ceist:1088. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider amending the current employer PRSI contributions policy in which the Department of Education and Skills is the employer of home tutors as per the Revenue Commissioners but does not pay employer PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42476/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The way in which an individual pays tax and PRSI is generally determined by whether they are employed or self-employed. The decision as to which label applies to an individual is arrived at by looking at what they actually do, the way they do it, and the terms and conditions under which they are engaged. The Scope Section of my Department decides the correct class of PRSI and, where appropriate, the responsible employer.
Scope Section has examined the status of home tutors on a number of occasions and has determined that they are engaged under a contract for services (self-employed) and that the appropriate PRSI class is class S.
My understanding is that the Department of Education, under an arrangement with the Revenue Commissioners, placed home tutors on payroll in 2015 and took responsibility for deducting PAYE/PRSI/USC from them, even though they are regarded as being self-employed. The Deputy may wish to take up this matter with the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Education who can provide further information in relation to this arrangement.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (1089)
Niall Collins
Ceist:1089. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if a response will issue to a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42481/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 15 June 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. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 29 August 2022 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter.