Brendan Griffin
Ceist:1130. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision will be made on an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [43085/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (1130)
Freagraí scríofa
I confirm that an application from the person concerned for disability allowance (DA) was received by the Department on 22 June 2022.
The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
The application has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 23 August 2022 for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report, a decision will be made on the application as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (1131)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:1131. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a person (details supplied) with a social protection payment. [43103/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned submitted an application for disability allowance (DA) on 21 December 2021. Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that the person concerned was substantially restricted in taking up employment. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 03 February 2022.
An appeal was lodged with the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO). On 14 June 2022 the SWAO notified us that the original decision was upheld and the appeal was disallowed. The person concerned was notified directly by the independent SWAO regarding their appeal.
An Appeal Officer’s decision is final and conclusive in absence of any fresh facts or evidence. It is open to the person in question to reapply for DA.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (1132)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:1132. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43144/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 30 June 2022 and will receive her first payment to her nominated bank account on 08 September 2022. Any arrears due from 30 June 2022 to 07 September 2022 will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on 25 August 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Ministerial Staff
Ceisteanna (1133)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:1133. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the expenses paid to ministerial advisers in her Department 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. [43160/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The expenses paid to Ministerial advisers in my Department during 2020, 2021, and 2022 are set out below:
|
- |
Jan - Jun 2020 |
|
|
Role |
Name |
Expenses |
|
Special Advisor |
Alex Connolly |
Nil |
|
Special Advisor |
Denise Duffy |
Nil |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jun - Dec 2020 |
|
|
Role |
Name |
Expenses |
|
Special Advisor |
Pauric Mc Phillips |
Nil |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2021 |
|
|
Role |
Name |
Expenses |
|
Special Advisor |
Pauric Mc Phillips |
€756.56 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 2022 to date |
|
|
Role |
Name |
Expenses |
|
Special Advisor |
Pauric Mc Phillips |
€1,501.31 |
The expenses relate to travel and subsistence.
Social Insurance
Ceisteanna (1134)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:1134. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated yield in 2023 from increasing the rate of employer's PRSI from 11.05% to 14.25% on the portion of individual salaries in excess of €155,000. [43194/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The estimated additional revenue in 2023 that would be raised by establishing a new employer PRSI rate of 14.25% on the portion of earnings over €155,000 per year would be €147 million.
This estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer behaviour arising from introducing an increased employer contribution rate.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (1135)
Paul McAuliffe
Ceist:1135. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a disability allowance appeal of a person (details supplied). [43286/22]
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 of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 1 September 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (1136)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:1136. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43297/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned is currently in receipt of Disability Allowance and is working part time. While out of work due to covid-19, an application for Enhanced Illness Benefit was received in respect of this person. The full rate of Enhanced Illness Benefit cannot be paid in addition to Disability Allowance, however a top up payment can be made to bring the total weekly social welfare payments for an individual up to €350.00 per week.
The person concerned made an application for Enhanced Illness Benefit from the 28th March 2022 to the 3rd April 2022, which was processed and paid in April 2022.
The person concerned has made a second application for Enhanced Illness Benefit from the 8th August 2022. However, my Department has not yet received appropriate medical certification to support this claim. Medical certification from a GP is required in order to process an application for Enhanced Illness Benefit.
Once my department has received the required medical certification, her claim can be processed and all arrears due to her will issue.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (1137)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:1137. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance is not available to PAYE workers who are under the income threshold; if the allowance will be extended to PAYE workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43349/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The scheme operates from June to September each year.
The allowance is payable for eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.
To qualify for the allowance a person, including PAYE workers, must meet a number of conditions, namely:
- The child must meet the age criteria,
- The applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and getting an increase in that payment for the qualified child (except in certain circumstances) in the period 1 June to 30 September,
- The assessable income for the household must be within prescribed limits,
- The applicant and the child (or children) in respect of whom the allowance is claimed must be resident in the State.
This year, the income thresholds for one parent families were increased to bring them in line with the income thresholds for two parent families, widening the eligibility for that cohort of customers. The income thresholds were also increased to ensure that the increases in weekly social protection payments rates introduced in Budget 2022 will not negatively impact on an individual’s entitlement to the allowance.
Applications which fall outside the normal rules of the scheme may be considered for an additional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the Community Welfare Service.
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 Service Contact Centre in place – 0818-607080 – which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
School Transport
Ceisteanna (1138)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:1138. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the engagement that she has had with the Minister for Education on the matter of school transport since June 2022; and if she will publish any correspondence shared with the Minister for Education on same. [43363/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Education funds transport services to and from primary and post-primary schools for children who live some distance from their nearest school.
The scheme is operated by Bus Éireann, on behalf of the Department of Education. While I have not written formally to the Minister of Education in relation to this matter, I have engaged with her on the issues arising.
Departmental Advertising
Ceisteanna (1139)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:1139. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount her Department has spent on advertising on social media in 2021 and to date in 2022; the amount spent per platform; and the campaigns per platform, in tabular form. [43382/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
For the purpose of this response, we have interpreted ‘amount spent on social media’ as media buying costs incurred from public information campaigns, announcements and recruitment notices on social media channels.
Advertising on social media in 2021
In total, the Department delivered 18 public information campaigns in 2021, and 15 included advertising on social media channels. Of these campaigns, seven related to the promotion of COVID-19 income supports.
Total spend and spend per platform 2021
Details of the 2021 total spend (ex VAT and agency fees) on social media, as well as the spend on each social media platform is outlined below:
|
Facebook/Instagram |
€108,305.61 |
|
|
€29,242.31 |
|
|
€3,093.98 |
|
Total Social Media Ad Spend 2021 |
€140,641.90 |
Campaigns per social media platform 2021
|
Year |
Campaign name |
Platform Used |
Platform Used |
Platform Used |
|
Facebook/Instagram |
|
|
||
|
2021 |
Child Maintenance Consultation |
Yes |
||
|
2021 |
Pensions Commission Consultation |
Yes |
||
|
2021 |
EURES Health Care Recruitment |
Yes |
||
|
2021 |
Enhanced Illness Benefit |
Yes |
||
|
2021 |
PUP - Apply Online |
Yes |
||
|
2021 |
My Welfare Jobseekers |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
2021 |
Stop PUP |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
2021 |
Treatment Benefit - Increased Grant for Hearing Aid |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
2021 |
GRO (consultation on registration of deaths) |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
2021 |
Re-opening/Stop Your PUP (phase two) |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
2021 |
PUP Eligibility (July) |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
2021 |
PUP Is Changing (PUP September rate change) |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
2021 |
Work Placement Experience Programme |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
2021 |
PUP Is Changing (November) |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
2021 |
Christmas Payments Schedule |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Advertising on social media in 2022
To date the Department has delivered seven public information campaigns in 2022.
Five of these campaigns included social media advertising. Invoices have been received for four of these, with remaining invoices for one campaign just completed.
Total spend and spend per platform 2022
Details of the 2022 total spend (ex VAT and agency fees) on social media, as well as the spend on each social media platform are outlined below:
|
Facebook/Instagram |
€9,003.87 |
|
|
€ 9,003.72 |
|
|
€0.00 |
|
Total Social Media Ad Spend 2022* |
€18,007.59 |
* Amounts are those which have been invoiced to date.
Campaigns per social media platform 2022
|
Year |
Campaign name |
Platform Used |
Platform Used |
Platform Used |
|
Facebook/Instagram |
|
|
||
|
2022 |
Help with Heating Costs |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
2022 |
Reasonable Accommodation Fund |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
2022 |
Treatment Benefit |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
2022 |
Additional Needs Payment |
Yes |
||
|
2022 |
Household Benefits - Apply Online * |
Yes |
* campaign spend not yet invoiced as at 5 September 2022, not included in total 2022 spend to date.
Social Welfare Code
Ceisteanna (1140)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:1140. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if those availing of the widow’s pension can also receive illness benefit and-or the back-to-school allowance in circumstances where they do not have the financial support of another parent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43386/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Widow’s Pension (contributory) is a weekly social insurance payment to those covered by social insurance whose spouse or civil partner has died.
Illness Benefit is the main income support provided to those who cannot work due to illness of any kind and who are covered by social insurance.
If a customer is getting a reduced rate of Widow’s Pension, they may also get a reduced rate of Illness Benefit, so that the combined amount of both payments is not greater than the rate of Illness Benefit to which they are entitled.
However, there is 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 they can receive only one payment. This principle is common to social security systems across the world.
As a result, people on Widow’s Pension cannot be in receipt of an overlapping second payment, for example Illness Benefit, at the same time.
The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a means-tested once-off payment aimed at helping families with the extra costs of clothing and footwear when children start school each autumn.
In order to qualify, a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social protection payment or participating in an approved employment, education or training support scheme and they must be in receipt of an increase for a qualified child in respect of each child for whom the allowance is being claimed (except in certain circumstances). Each child must be between 4-17 or 18-22 (only if returning to second level education).
Widow's Pension is a qualifying payment for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment. However, in order to qualify, the applicant’s household income must also be below the relevant income limit of this payment.
My Department keep its schemes under regular review in order to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Maternity Leave
Ceisteanna (1141)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:1141. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will put measures in place in consultation with the Department of Health to ensure that women who are missing days of work through pregnancy loss will not have to take annual leave to cover the days which they are forced to miss. [43395/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Pregnancy loss is a tragedy and the difficulties that parents and families experience as a result cannot be over-stated. The Government recognises the need to support parents who find themselves in these tragic circumstances. Work to examine the needs of bereaved parents coping with pregnancy loss is being advanced at present.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy and legislative responsibility for the various types of family leave such as Maternity Leave and Paternity Leave. The Department of Social Protection has responsibility for any associated social welfare benefit payments. The same would be true were a decision taken to introduce a system of leave and benefit in the case of pregnancy loss.
A pregnant employee who has a stillbirth or miscarriage after the 24th week of pregnancy is entitled to 26 weeks of Maternity Leave and Maternity Benefit (subject to PRSI requirements) and a further 16 weeks Maternity Leave (for which no benefit is payable). Similarly, the other parent is entitled to 2 weeks Paternity Leave and Benefit provided they also satisfy PRSI requirements.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is commissioning a qualitative research study to examine the workplace experiences of parents coping with pregnancy loss. The study will examine whether policy interventions are required at a national level to provide better supports to bereaved parents in the workplace following pregnancy loss.
Recommendations arising from this study will help to inform Government policy on this matter, including the development of legislation if required. It is my understanding that initial outcomes from the study will be available by the end of 2022.
In Budget 2020, €60,000 was allocated to the Irish Hospice Foundation, to carry out a research project into funeral poverty in Ireland, together with the wider economic impact of bereavement. This project is expected to be completed this year.
I will continue to work with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to see how the Government can best support parents through their bereavement.
Social Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (1142)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:1142. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost if the carer's support grant increased to €2,100. [43405/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The estimated full-year cost of increasing the Carers Support Grant to €2,100 is €35.5m.
This costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
Any changes to the Carers Support Grant would have to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
School Meals Programme
Ceisteanna (1143)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:1143. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list of the schools in the Dublin 9 and 11 region that are part of the hot meals programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43458/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,700 schools and organisations benefitting 260,000 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.
Budget 2022 provided €68.1 million for the programme.
As part of Budget 2019, funding was provided for a pilot scheme from September 2019, providing hot school meals in primary schools at a cost of €1m for 2019 and €2.5m in 2020. The pilot involved 37 schools benefitting 6,744 students for the 2019/2020 academic year and was aimed primarily at schools with no onsite cooking facilities.
In Budget 2021, I announced an additional €5.5m to extend the provision of hot school meals to an additional 35,000 primary school children, currently receiving the cold lunch option. Invitations for expressions of interest were issued to 705 primary schools (612 DEIS and 93 non-DEIS) in November 2020. A total of 281 (256 DEIS and 25 non-DEIS) expressions of interest were received in respect of 52,148 children.
The 35,000 places were allocated to each local authority area based on the number of children applied for by each local authority as a percentage of the total number. A minimum of one school for each Local Authority area was selected. Thereafter, a process of random selection was used for each area.
Budget 2022 provided for hot school meals to be extended from January 2022 to the 81 DEIS schools that submitted an expression of interest but were not selected in the extension to 35,000 children as referred to earlier. This brought the number of children benefitting from a hot school meal to 54,266 in the 2021/2022 school year.
In March 2022, the Minister for Education announced an extension of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in School to an additional 283 primary and 38 post-primary schools from September 2022 I have recently announced that the provision of the hot school meal option will be extended to all new DEIS primary schools and the cold lunch option to all new DEIS secondary schools at a full year cost of €26m and benefitting some 60,000 children.
Details of the schools in the Dublin 9 and 11 region that provided hot school meals for the 2021/2022 school year and the new DEIS primary school with access to hot school meal funding from September 2022 are contained in the attached tabular statement.
I am committed to continuing to grow the school meals programme and in particular the hot school meals element, building further on the significant extensions announced previously. In this regard, I have commissioned an evaluation of the school meals programme to be undertaken in 2022 to inform future policy decisions on the scheme.
Any extension of the school meals programme will need to be considered as part of the budgetary process.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Table 1 – Schools in the Dublin 9 and 11 region that are part of the hot school meals programme at the end of June 2022
|
School Roll Number |
School Name |
Address |
|
|
18137D |
S N Naomh Feargal Boys Senior |
Finglas West |
Dublin 11 |
|
19015R |
St Joseph’s G N S |
Barry Avenue |
Dublin 11 |
|
19197D |
St Kevin’s B N S |
Barry Avenue |
Dublin 11 |
|
19546C |
St Oliver Plunkett N S |
St Helena's Drive |
Dublin 11 |
|
19619D |
St Malachys Ns |
St. Helena's Road |
Dublin 11 |
|
19929S |
St Brigid’s Senior Girls |
Wellmount Avenue |
Dublin 11 |
|
20220C |
Gaelscoil Uí Earcain |
Bóthar Ghlas An Éin |
Dublin 11 |
Table 2 – New DEIS Primary Schools in the Dublin 9 and 11 region from September 2022 that have access to hot school meal funding
|
School Roll Number |
School Name |
Address |
||
|
17214N |
St. Vincent's Primary School |
St Philomena’s Road |
Glasnevin |
Dublin 11 |
Pension Provisions
Ceisteanna (1144)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:1144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if officials in her Department will liaise with their counterparts in Hungary with a view to assessing contributions for the purpose of qualifying for an invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43470/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The Department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 28 July 2022. To qualify for IP a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution years before the relevant date of their claim.
The person in question does not have the required 260 paid PRSI contributions in Ireland. The claim was refused under national legislation on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme are not satisfied. As the person concerned had previously worked in Hungary, a request was made to the Hungarian Authorities on 29 August 2022 for his Hungarian contribution record.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (1145)
John McGuinness
Ceist:1145. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a jobseeker’s allowance will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) given that the information requested has been submitted and the client is experiencing hardship; and if the back-to-school allowance will also be expedited. [43489/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Jobseekers Allowance has been awarded for the person concerned at the rate of €394.00 per week. The first payment will have issued on 02/09/2022 to the nominated post office and payment will issue every Tuesday thereafter.
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) has also been awarded at the rate of €385.00 in respect of the 2022 BSCFA year and payment will issue directly to the customers AIB bank account.
Public Services Card
Ceisteanna (1146)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:1146. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that the public services card is not acceptable as a form of ID for the opening of credit union and bank accounts; and if she will review this to ensure that it can be used for opening back accounts and so on where the holder does not hold a driving licence or passport. [43509/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Since 1998, when legislative provision was first made for the Public Services Card (PSC), it was always intended that it would be used only across the public service to assist people in their dealings with public bodies.
The list of public bodies that are permitted under law to accept the PSC as proof of identity is set out in Schedule 5 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended).
Credit unions and other financial institutions are not public bodies and are therefore not permitted to accept a PSC as proof of identity, even if the holder of that PSC offers it as proof of identity.
There are no plans to amend legislation to allow for the use of the PSC by non-public bodies.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Local Authorities
Ceisteanna (1147)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:1147. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the details on the total amounts of moneys awarded to Louth County Council by her Department in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; if she will seek details on the total moneys drawn down and spent by Louth County Council over the same years, in tabular form, and, if not spent, the total moneys that were returned to her Department over the same years, respectively, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43527/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The total amounts of monies issued to Louth County Council by the Department is in respect of funding for the Urban School Meals Scheme as part of the Schools Meals Programme.
The School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,700 schools and organisations benefitting 260,000 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.
The Urban School Meals Scheme for primary schools is operated and administered by local authorities and is part-financed by my Department. In 2021, 33,132 students in 279 primary schools benefitted from the Urban School Meals Scheme.
The total amounts of funding issued to Louth County Council by my Department in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022 are contained in the attached tabular statement.
No funding was returned over these years.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Payments to Louth County Council under the Urban School Meals Scheme
|
Year |
€ |
|
2016 |
11,576.00 |
|
2017 |
10,449.00 |
|
2018 |
12,000.00 |
|
2019 |
10,679.06 |
|
2020 |
9,884.69 |
|
2021 |
10,934.11 |
|
2022 |
9,461.29 |
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (1148)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:1148. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of supports for property owners who make their properties available for Ukrainian or other refugees; the amount that has been spent on these schemes to date; and the maximum payment made to any one property owner under these schemes. [43534/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The provision of accommodation for Ukrainian or other refugees who indicate that they require such accommodation on arrival into Ireland, or in circumstances where privately arranged accommodation is no longer suitable, is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has introduced a €400 ‘Accommodation Recognition Payment’ for individuals hosting people who are beneficiaries of Temporary Protection having fled the conflict in Ukraine. Payment is made monthly in arrears.
The payment is a recognition of the generosity of people who have made private accommodation available to victims of a humanitarian crisis, and it is linked to a minimum hosting commitment of six months.
Where a host has provided such accommodation, the payment may be backdated to 4 March 2022 and will be made available until the end of March 2023.
Payment of the ‘Accommodation Recognition Payment’ is administered by my Department on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and I am happy to support Minister O’Gorman in recognising the contribution of those who opened their homes and houses to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
To date, payments totalling €3.36 million have issued in respect of the scheme, with a maximum payment of €2,000 in respect of any one property in respect of the period from March to July.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Employment Schemes
Ceisteanna (1149)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:1149. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the various supports or incentives provided to employers hiring workers with disabilities, such as, but not limited to, the wage subsidy scheme for persons with disabilities, and the annual expenditure relating to each support over the past five years, in tabular form. [43539/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In addition to income supports, my Department provides a wide range of supports for jobseekers/existing employees with disabilities and specific financial incentives for private sector employers, to encourage them to recruit and retain jobseekers with disabilities.
It is important to note that the below grants and financial incentives are demand led, i.e. the overall value of the grants issued each year rises or falls in response to the number and value of the grants applied for.
The supports provided by the Department are:
Reasonable Accommodation Fund.
The Reasonable Accommodation Fund includes four grants. The grants have been designed to assist jobseekers and existing employees with disabilities, and to encourage employers in the private sector to recruit Jobseekers with disabilities.
The four grants are the:
1. Workplace Equipment/Adaptation Grant:
Where a person with a disability has been offered employment, is in employment or is self-employed and requires a more accessible workplace or adapted equipment to do the job, a grant is available towards the costs of adapting premises or equipment.
A maximum grant of €6,350 can be given towards the cost of adaptations to premises or equipment. Applications in excess of this sum are considered on an individual basis up to a maximum of €9,523 if specialist training for assistive technology is required.
2. Job Interview Interpreter Grant:
A jobseeker who is deaf, hard of hearing or has speech impairment and is attending job interviews, may apply for funding to have a sign language interpreter or other interpreter to attend interviews. A three-hour period for each interview can be funded. The amount of the grant payable is based on an hourly fee paid which may vary. A person may have several interviews arranged and can apply for funding for each. There is no limit to the number of interviews a person can attend with an interpreter.
Funding is also available to cover the cost of an interpreter to assist a person during the induction process, when he/she starts work with a private sector employer. A maximum of three hours interpreter support is available, to be utilised by the person as he/she feels is needed.
Both the interview interpreter funding and in-employment interpreter support funding, for induction, can be provided. In addition, the grant can also be used to cover travel costs for the interpreter – the cost of public transport or, if not available, a set rate per kilometre is applied.
3. Personal Reader Grant:
A person employed in the private sector who is or is becoming blind or visually impaired, and who needs assistance with job-related reading, can apply for a grant to support them to employ a personal reader.
The amount payable is based on an hourly fee paid to the reader, in line with the current minimum wage, for an agreed period up to a maximum of 640 hours per year.
4. Employee Retention Grant
The Employee Retention Grant Scheme is available to assist employers to retain employees who acquire a disability. The grant provides funding to identify accommodation and/or training needs to enable the employee to remain in his/her current position. It can also be used to retrain the employee to take up another position within the company.
Funding varies from a maximum of €2,500 or 90% of eligible programme costs to fund an occupational capacity and workplace job assessment or to a maximum of €12,500 or 90% of eligible programme costs for training and job coach support.
Table 1: Value of RAF grants 2017-2021
|
GRANT |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
WEAG |
€95,744 |
€100,023 |
€81,984 |
€83,968 |
€65,118 |
|
JIIG |
€4,295 |
€6,361 |
€4,269 |
€4,027 |
€2,878 |
|
PRG |
€31,619 |
€12,464 |
€10,903 |
€18,970 |
€27,572 |
|
ERG |
€00 |
€1,900 |
€00 |
€00 |
€00 |
|
TOTAL |
€131,658 |
€120,748 |
€97,156 |
€106,965 |
€95,568 |
In addition to the above, the Department provides two additional specific supports for private sector employers, these are the Disability Awareness Support Scheme and the Wage Subsidy Scheme.
Disability Awareness Support Scheme.
The Disability Awareness Support Scheme (DASS) provides funding for private sector employers to arrange and pay for disability awareness training for staff who work with a colleague with a disability. Subject to meeting the conditions that apply, the funding available is in:
- the first year that a company applies is: 90% of eligible training costs up to a maximum of €20,000.
- the second and subsequent years: 80% of eligible training costs up to a maximum of €20,000 in any one calendar year
Table 2: Value of DASS grants 2017-2021
|
GRANT |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
DASS |
€2,295 |
€20,214 |
€80,146 |
€5,598 |
€15,884 |
The Wage Subsidy Scheme.
The Wage Subsidy Scheme is a financial incentive paid as a cash amount to private sector employers. The support seeks to encourage private sector employers to employ people with disabilities, where the employee has a perceived productivity deficit of at least 20% when compared to a peer in the same role without a disability.
The base rate of subsidy payable is €6.30 per hour, giving a total annual subsidy available of €12,776 per annum - based on a 39-hour week. Increases in the base rate are payable up to an effective rate of €9.45 per hour depending on the number of employees. The incentive is delivered in three strands:
- Strand I subsidy is a general subsidy for any productivity shortfall in excess of 20% for a person with a disability, in comparison to a colleague without a disability. An employee must work for a minimum of 21 hours per week up to a maximum of 39 subsidised hours per week. The rate of subsidy is €6.30 per hour and the amount of the subsidy is based on the number of hours worked.
- Strand II subsidy is payable when an employer employs three or more people with a disability who are supported by a WSS Strand I payment. Strand II is intended to cover the additional supervisory, management and other work-based costs relating to these employees. This top-up payment is a percentage of the Strand I subsidy and is based on the overall number of employees with a disability employed under Strand I. It ranges from an additional 10% of wage subsidy for 3 to 6 employees with a disability to a maximum of 50% of wage subsidy for 23+ employees with a disability.
- Strand III subsidy enables employers who employ 25 or more workers with a disability on the Wage Subsidy Scheme to be eligible for a grant of up to €30,000 per year towards the expense of employing an Employment Assistance Officer to support these employees.
Table 3: Value of Wage Subsidy Scheme 2017-2021
|
GRANT |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
WSS |
€20.8m |
€22.3m |
€23.8m |
€18.2m |
€17.2m (estimated) |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.