Written Answers Nos. 1090-1109
1090. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied); and the proposals that are being considered to deal with the issues highlighted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42509/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability.
There are schemes available to people based on Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions, for example Invalidity Pension and Illness Benefit (Illness Benefit is a short term scheme payable for a maximum of 104 weeks).
Entitlement to these, non means tested schemes, is dependent on the individual's social insurance contribution record, the class of social insurance paid as well as satisfying other qualification criteria relevant to the scheme.
Where a person does not qualify for a social insurance payment, they may be eligible to apply for the relevant means-tested social assistance scheme, for example, the Blind Pension. The system of social assistance provides payments based on an income need with the means test playing the critical role in determining whether an income need arises because of a particular contingency – be that illness, disability, unemployment or caring.
Persons are of course able to choose which payment type they wish to apply for.
The personal rate of Invalidity Pension is €213.50 per week, while the weekly rate for the Blind Pension is €208 per week. Additional payments are available under the two schemes where there is a qualified adult and/or children. The rate for a qualified adult, where a person is in receipt of Invalidity Pension, is higher at €152.50 per week compared to €138 under the Blind Pension.
A person in receipt of Invalidity Pension may be eligible to receive the following additional supports, depending on their circumstances:
- Living Alone Allowance
- Free Travel Pass
- Increase for Living on a Specified Island
- Fuel Allowance.
- Household Benefits Package.
In relation to the Blind Welfare Allowance and Personal Assistants queries, these are schemes operated by the HSE under the Department of Health, while the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme comes under the remit of the Revenue Commissioners.
It is important to note that my Department continues to also provide the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, for those whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. Under the scheme, the Department may make an additional needs payment to meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The scheme is administered by the Community Welfare Service of the Department and payments are at the discretion of the Community Welfare officer taking into account all the relevant circumstances of the case.
The main items eligible for assistance include help with fuel, utility bills, repairs to or replacement of household appliances, clothing, child related items and assistance with travel. 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.
By way of additional information, under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion and Pathways to Work strategies, my Department has committed to developing and consulting on a strawman proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments. The main objectives are to simplify the system, remove inconsistencies / anomalies, ensure they recognise the continuum of disability, and to support employment. Work has commenced by officials on the strawman, with a public consultation process to be undertaken in due course.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
1091. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received for supplementary welfare to date in 2022; the number that were successful; the average payment awarded; the reason that the same application form is used for the additional needs payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42526/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1194. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received for supplementary welfare to date in 2022; the number that were successful; the average payment awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44327/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1091 and 1194 together.
The supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single additional needs payments.
The basic supplementary welfare allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
Rent supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that for those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
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. This is an overarching 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 and is funded accordingly. The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income.
Table 1 shows the number of Basic SWA and Additional Needs Payment applications registered from 1st January 2022 to end of July 2022 and the outcomes of these applications in terms of awards. It does not reflect claims that were withdrawn, cancelled or awaiting further information. These figures represent a snapshot of claim activity and are subject to change.
Table 2 shows the number of Rent Supplement recipients at the end of each month for the period 1st January 2022 to end of July 2022. The number of applications registered/awarded for Rent Supplement is not currently available.
Statistics on the average payment amounts under the SWA scheme are not maintained. The payment amounts under the Additional Needs Payment, will depend on a person’s weekly household income, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed. Payment amounts can range from small weekly supplements to larger one off payments.
The application form for an Additional Needs Payment is the SWA1 form. This form is used as it facilitates the application process for a number of schemes under SWA operated by the community welfare service. The nature of the scheme awarded will depend on the needs of the applicant as outlined in the application form and can result in a once off payment or ongoing assistance.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to a payment under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
TABLE 1 – Number of Basic Supplementary and Additional Needs Payment applications registered and of which were awarded from 1st January to-date for 2022 (to end of July)
|
Month |
Claims Registered |
of which awarded |
|
Jan |
5,355 |
3,864 |
|
Feb |
6,034 |
4,363 |
|
Mar |
7,488 |
5,441 |
|
Apr |
8,036 |
6,030 |
|
May |
11,715 |
9,115 |
|
Jun |
14,919 |
9,828 |
|
Jul |
17,296 |
6,697 |
|
Total |
70,843 |
45,538 |
TABLE 2 - Number of Rent Supplement Recipients at the end of each month from January 2022 to end of July 2022
|
2022 |
Recipients |
|
January |
12,975 |
|
February |
12,604 |
|
March |
12,083 |
|
April |
11,771 |
|
May |
11,295 |
|
June |
11,093 |
|
July |
10,911 |
1092. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that capital spending under her vote group is -67.8% to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42530/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe capital allocation for my Department is used to deliver IT modernisation and carry out refurbishments on the Department’s buildings. The primary reason for the underspend to date relates to supply delays due to worldwide events and shortages.
The Department was allocated a sum of €1.2m in capital carry-over in 2022 which has been fully spent on IT equipment and buildings. When this is included in the overall totals, the underspend at end July amounts to -61%. The Department anticipates that this underspend will reduce over the coming months.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1093. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 623 of 12 July 2022, if she will consider in the upcoming Budget extending the child dependent cut-off age to 24 years if the child is still attending a third level course (details supplied). [42583/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMost weekly social welfare payments include an additional payment known as an Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) in respect of each qualified child up to age 18. This is extended to include older school or college going children up to age 22 under certain circumstances. This increase provides targeted assistance that is directly linked with household income and family-size to support low-income families.
In Budget 2022 I provided for the weekly rates of the Increase for a Qualified Child to increase by €2 to €40 per week in the case of children under age 12 and by €3 to €48 per week in the case of children age 12 or over.
The measure is in recognition of the need for greater income support for welfare-dependent households with children. It includes a higher level increase for children aged 12 and over, in recognition of the higher costs faced by families with older children. It is estimated that this measure will cost €39.3 million in 2022.
The supports provided by my Department are kept under review, particularly in the context of the Budget. Currently there are no plans to increase the age in respect of which an Increase for a Qualified Child is payable.
1094. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress, if any, that has been made in attempting to have funds recovered following a transfer to an incorrect account in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42600/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials from my Department are in contact with the relevant individuals in the company concerned and are making arrangements to facilitate a refund of the funds to the Department. Once this is finalised my Department will then be in a position to make a payment to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1095. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection if discussions are expected to increase the fuel allowance to help persons who are struggling with the escalating costs of fuel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42620/22]
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, which is supporting over 370,000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household.
The Government is acutely aware of recent price increases and their impact on households who are dependent on social welfare. For this reason, this Government did not await a further budget cycle to address these challenges but acted early. Overall, the tax and spending measures we have introduced to ease the burden and provide support to those most in need have amounted to €2.4 billion.
In the forthcoming budget, the Government will consider how it can support people on low incomes and those on social welfare payments who are at risk of fuel poverty.
Finally, my Department 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.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1096. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when an old age pension payment will be backdated in the case of a person (details supplied) to the time by which they had paid the necessary contributions given that delays were through no fault of their own; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42671/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 02 April 2022.
Their claim for a State Pension Contributory was received on the 7th February 2022. Following an examination of their insurance record it was noted that the person concerned had outstanding self-employment liabilities for the years 2019 and 2020 and was advised on 08 March 2022 that they were deemed not to satisfy this qualifying condition for a State pension (Contributory). The claim was further reviewed on 30 March 2022, 2 June 2022 and on the 11 July 2022 - liabilities remained outstanding.
Section 110 (1) of The Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, provides that a Self-Employed contributor shall not be regarded as satisfying the qualifying conditions unless all outstanding self-employment contributions are paid. It further provides that the pension will only be paid from the date all outstanding contributions have been paid in full.
Following a further review, confirmation was received that outstanding liabilities had been paid in full on 26 July 2022 - State Pension (contributory) has been awarded from 26 July 2022. The person concerned was notified in writing on 08 August 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1097. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the carer’s allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied). [42683/22]
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 23 August 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1098. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made to date in the determination of a carer’s allowance appeal in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42690/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 30 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 22 August 2022.
The case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 31 August 2022, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1099. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied); if she will address these concerns as part of her Department's 2023 Budget proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42701/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1114. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to a document (details supplied); if she will take the findings into account and ensure that pensions are increased in Budget 2023 from the day of the Budget rather than from next January; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42956/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1099 and 1114 together.
My Department and I, as we do each year, have been engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, through the pre-budget process. This includes the receipt of many pre-Budget submissions, the Department’s Pre-budget Forum, the Social Inclusion Forum, and bilateral meetings with both the community and voluntary sector and individual representative groups.
As with all of these engagements, the views of Age Action, including their recently published papers, will form part of consideration by Government when forming social welfare measures to be included as part of Budget 2023, taking account of Government priorities, available resources, and the need to protect the most vulnerable in society.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
1100. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the Pensions Council’s proposed cost-transparency initiative in respect of the costs and charges applied to the management of private pensions; if she will outline the details of the promised response (details supplied) that she has received, if any, on the issue from the Pensions Council; her views on the Pensions Council’s findings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42715/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Pensions Council is a body established under Section 26B of the Pensions Act 1990. Its key role is to advise the Minister for Social Protection on matters relating to policy on pensions and to represent and protect the consumer interest. Both I and previous Ministers have asked the Council to give special attention to matters relating to charges.
In March 2021, I wrote to the Council asking it to consider the merits of introducing in Ireland an initiative similar to the UK’s ‘Cost Transparency Initiative’ for pension providers. The availability of comprehensive and transparent information on costs and charges is important and helps consumers to decide whether investments represent value for money. I also suggested that the Council consider whether such an approach is effective on a voluntary basis, as in the UK, or whether it operates better on a mandatory basis, such as in Denmark and the Netherlands.
I am pleased to confirm that the Council’s report has recently been completed and its recommendations are currently being considered by officials within my Department.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1101. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider an increase in the qualified adult allowance payment in line with any increase in social welfare payments, particularly in the instance of those qualified adults over 80 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42741/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that I am considering a wide range of options for Budget 2023, taking account of available resources and the need to protect the most vulnerable in society.
Recipients of certain social welfare payments can claim an increase in their payment in respect of a Qualified Adult, subject to a means assessment. A Qualified Adult is the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the recipient who is being wholly or mainly maintained by that claimant. For working-age payments where the maximum personal rate is €208 per week, such as Disability Allowance and jobseeker payments, the Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) is €138.
For those on the maximum personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) of €253.30, with a Qualified Adult aged over 66, the IQA rate is €227. As part of the Budget 2022 package, I increased personal weekly payment rates and those with a Qualified Adult saw an additional proportional increase.
It should be noted that a higher rate of pension is payable to a pensioner aged 80 or over. The over 80 allowance is an increase of €10 per week on the basic pension rate, which is automatically awarded to qualified pensioners on attaining 80 years of age. Only one such allowance is payable in respect of each pension.
The current rate of payment in respect of qualified adults reflects the economies of scale faced by a two-adult household compared to those of a one-adult household. Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) research has found that the minimum needs of the adults in a couple headed household cost 1.5 times (rather than twice) that of an equivalent one adult headed household with children. This finding was backed up by similar research in other countries which have carried out research into minimum budget standards.
Any changes to the proportionate rates of payments for qualified adults would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1102. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to including disablement benefit as a qualifying payment for the fuel allowance scheme; the reason that receipt of this benefit currently limits otherwise-qualifying households from receiving the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42754/22]
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, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household and only one allowance is paid per household.
The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct limited resources in as targeted a manner as possible. 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.
Disablement Benefit is a benefit under the Occupational Injuries Scheme. It can be paid to a recipient who suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty because of an accident at work, an accident travelling directly to or from work, or a prescribed disease contracted at work. The contribution requirements for the scheme are minimal when compared to other Departmental benefit schemes.
People in receipt of Disablement Benefit (without another social welfare payment) can work full or part time and continue to receive the Benefit Payment – in other words, they are not prevented from generating additional income.
Disablement Benefit is paid at the same time as most social welfare payments including Jobseeker’s Benefit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, State Pension and One-Parent Family Payment. It is not considered as means for most social welfare means-assessed schemes except for Fuel Allowance, Supplementary Welfare Allowance or Working Family Payment.
Incapacity Supplement is an increase payable in addition to Disablement Benefit where a person is considered to be permanently incapable of work as a result of an occupational accident or disease and does not qualify for another Social Welfare benefit such as Illness Benefit. This Incapacity Supplement is a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance.
Therefore, while Disablement Benefit on its own is a disqualifying payment for Fuel Allowance because a person may continue to work or take up work, or may receive another social welfare payment in parallel, qualification for Incapacity Supplement in addition to Disablement Benefit qualifies that recipient for Fuel Allowance (subject to satisfying all other qualifying criteria).
I have asked officials in my Department to prepare a report reviewing the treatment of Disablement Benefit under the Fuel Allowance scheme. This report is now being finalised and the report's contents and recommendations will be considered in the context of the forthcoming budget.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1103. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of disablement benefit in each of the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42756/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisablement benefit is one of the benefits payable under the occupational injuries benefit scheme, to an insured person who suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty as a result of an occupational accident or a prescribed occupational disease that was sustained on or after 1 May 1967. The person must have been in insurable (occupational injuries) employment at the time of the accident or when the disease was contracted.
The number of persons in receipt of Disablement Benefit for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 are shown in the table below:
|
Scheme |
Year |
Month end |
No. Of Recipients |
|
Disablement Benefit |
2020 |
December |
14665 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
2021 |
December |
14807 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
2022 |
June |
14779 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1104. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42760/22]
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, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 5 July 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 has submitted additional evidence and that the Appeals Officer has agreed to review the case. The person concerned will be contacted when this review of the appeal has been finalised.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1105. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review will be undertaken of a carer's allowance application in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42761/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
I can confirm that two applications for CA were received from the person concerned on 15 November 2021, in respect of two care recipients.
The evidence submitted in support of both applications was examined and the deciding officer decided that although a certain level of care was being provided, the level involved did not amount to full-time care.
The person concerned was notified on 8 December 2021 of these decisions, the reason for them and of their right of review and appeal.
The person concerned appealed the decisions to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). The outcome of the appeal is that the original decisions are upheld, and the appeal was disallowed. The SWAO decision is final in this matter and can only be reviewed in light of new evidence or facts not previously considered.
It is always open to the person concerned to re-apply for the scheme in the future. The person concerned may also wish to consider making an application for the standalone Carer’s Support Grant and Homemakers Scheme.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1106. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a modification will be made to the taxation system in order that if in one year fewer than 52 class A PRSI credits are accrued and a significant amount of PRSI is paid by the taxpayer on unearned income that sufficient class S credits would be awarded to bring the total number of credits to 52 and class K should only be used when there are already 52 class A credits. [42813/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is understood that the Deputy's question is asking that where there is a gap in Class A contributions in any contribution year, that any Class K contributions paid on unearned income should be converted to Class S contributions to bring the total contributions for that year up to the maximum of 52.
Chapter 5B of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) provides, inter alia, for the making of contributions by certain employed contributors on their unearned income subject to the unearned income reaching the chargeable person threshold of €5,000 per annum set by the Revenue Commissioners. In accordance with its underpinning legislation, this contribution, recorded as Class K, does not give access to any social insurance benefit and therefore is disregarded when determining whether the contribution criteria for any such benefit are satisfied.
There are no plans to change these provisions.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1107. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will advise on a matter raised in correspondence; if she will review particular circumstances on behalf of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42815/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTaxation of income is a matter for the Minister for Finance and the Revenue Commissioners.
They have advised my Department that the tax treatment of the widow’s pension (contributory and non-contributory) follows the general taxation rule for social welfare type payments and, thus, is chargeable to income tax, but exempt from the USC and PRSI.
Where a person is receiving taxable social welfare payments from my Department and has an additional source of income such as employment income, the tax on such social welfare payments is collected through the PAYE system by reducing the person’s annual tax credits and rate band by their annual social welfare income. The weekly/monthly employment income received by the person from their employer will be net of any tax due in respect of both their weekly/monthly social welfare income and employment income.
The weekly assessable income threshold for the Working Family Payment is €551 for a parent with one child. The threshold increases with each subsequent child with the threshold for a family with 3 children being €652 per week. Any changes to this threshold would need to be considered in budgetary context.
There is also a general principle of 'one person, one payment', which applies across the social welfare system. Given the contingency-based nature of this system, it can happen that a person may experience more than one contingency at the same time, but generally, as these payments are to help them meet his or her income needs, he or she can receive only one of those payments. This principle is common to social security systems across the world.
The issuing of a medical card is a matter for the Minister of Health.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1108. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the totality of grant-aid and or subsidy provided to each local authority in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 (details supplied). [42835/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection (DSP) provides funding to a number of local authorities in respect of the Urban School Meals Scheme, Community Employment (CE) and Job Initiative (JI).
The Urban School Meals Scheme is for primary schools only. It is operated and administered by the local authorities and is part-financed by my department.
CE and JI are delivered through CE sponsoring authorities and JI managing agents, including some local authorities, who receive state funding from my department to cover the cost of remuneration, training and material costs.
Table A below shows the funding provided by DSP to local authorities for the Urban School Meals Scheme.
Table B below shows the funding provided by DSP to local authorities for the CE and JI schemes.
Table A
Urban School Meals Scheme Payments to Local Authorities 2019-2022
|
Local Authority name |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Carlow County Council |
€7,500.00 |
€5,646.77 |
€6,652.69 |
€1,911.59 |
|
Cork City Council |
€79,093.80 |
€75,364.12 |
€70,345.58 |
€69,550.02 |
|
Dublin City Council |
€399,171.00 |
€274,639.00 |
€242,584.70 |
€357,371.30 |
|
Dun-Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
€13,734.79 |
€14,874.13 |
€15,109.35 |
€14,055.75 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€22,337.91 |
€19,877.98 |
€31,204.98 |
€28,516.48 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€4,096.93 |
€2,945.55 |
€2,195.74 |
€4,437.80 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
€1,693.00 |
€874.98 |
€1,185.10 |
€0.00 |
|
Limerick City Council |
€51,808.34 |
€34,330.56 |
€34,823.33 |
€32,990.38 |
|
Louth County Council |
€10,679.06 |
€9,884.69 |
€10,934.11 |
€9,461.29 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€2,741.30 |
€1,412.80 |
€1,698.07 |
€129.53 |
|
Meath County Council |
€2,373.18 |
€1,833.66 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
€36,645.39 |
€36,347.11 |
€32,390.87 |
€24,957.92 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
€3,848.16 |
€623.85 |
€2,037.52 |
€1,793.28 |
|
Waterford County Council |
€12,996.08 |
€12,583.13 |
€12,179.85 |
€7,797.72 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€27,321.10 |
€18,057.52 |
€23,948.80 |
€7,111.72 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€16,979.43 |
€11,357.35 |
€11,066.31 |
€13,768.33 |
|
Total |
€693,019.47 |
€520,653.20 |
€498,357.00 |
€573,853.11 |
1109. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if those who let a room to a student will be penalised in terms of their social welfare entitlements. [42846/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirst of all, for social protection benefits based on PRSI contributions, there is no means test so renting out a room would never affect a person's primary payment.
Because of the pressure on supply in certain areas of the country, my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD and I introduced Regulations that allowed people on social assistance schemes to rent out rooms for accommodation purposes in their own home and keep their social welfare payment.
The Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No. 10) (Income Disregard) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 397 of 2022) and the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) (Amendment) (No. 3) (Calculation of Means) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 396 of 2022) were signed on 12th of July 2022.
These regulations provide that certain income received (up to a maximum of €269.23 weekly which equates to €14,000 per annum) by renting out a room in their home to a person, who may or may not be a student, and who is not an immediate family member, will be disregarded in the assessment of means for the purposes of weekly social assistance payments, increases for qualified adults, Working Family Payment and Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
