Chris Andrews
Ceist:293. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Social Protection if the period in which rent supplement payments can be backdated will be increased from the current limit of six months. [46783/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (293)
Freagraí scríofa
The rent supplement scheme 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 provided support to 10,423 recipients as at the end of August 2022.
Since the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment, rent supplement is reverting to its original role of providing short-term support to those who have become temporarily unemployed and require income support to meet their tenancy costs while they seek alternative employment. Responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to those with a long-term housing need remains with local authorities.
Customers who establish an entitlement to rent supplement by satisfying the conditions of the scheme will receive payment from the date of application. There is a provision for the backdating of the claim for a period up to six months before the date of application where specific circumstances apply. There are no plans to extend this period of support beyond this time. Any decision to extend the period of back dating would need to be considered from within a budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (294)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:294. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer’s allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46784/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 4 August 2022.
The application was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 11 August 2022 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
Following the SWI report, CA was awarded to the person concerned on 20 September 2022, with effect from 11 August 2022 and the first payment will issue to their nominated bank account on 29 September 2022.
Arrears for the period 11 August 2022 to 28 September 2022 will issue on 29 September 2022.
The person concerned was notified on 20 September 2022 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Ceisteanna (295, 296, 309)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:295. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to reopening applications for the diet supplement payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46790/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Michael Lowry
Ceist:296. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to further analyse the re-introduction of the diet supplement payment to persons with particular medically certified dietary needs given that the last analysis commissioned by her Department was during 2013 (details supplied); if she will consider this request as part of her Department’s Budget 2023 proposals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46813/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraNiamh Smyth
Ceist:309. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps that her Department is taking to assist those with food allergies regarding the cost of their food; if a food allergy assistance payment is being reviewed by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46906/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 295, 296 and 309 together.
Diet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet because of a specified medical condition. There are currently approximately 1,320 people in receipt of diet supplement.
A review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute was commissioned by my Department during 2013. The research showed that the average costs across all the retail outlets of the diets supplemented under the scheme could be met from within one-third of the minimum personal rate of social welfare payment, i.e. the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) rate, which was then paid at €186 per week (and is currently paid at €206 per week). The diet supplement scheme was discontinued for new applicants from 1 February 2014 based on this evidence.
Recipients continue to receive the diet supplement at their existing rate of payment for as long as they continue to have an entitlement to the scheme or until their circumstances change. This measure ensured that nobody was immediately worse off by the closure of the scheme.
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 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 (ANPs).
Under the SWA scheme, a supplement can be awarded to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. In addition, officers can make a single ANP to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Decisions on ANPs and SWA supplements 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.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to financial support should contact their local Community Welfare Service for assistance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 296 answered with Question No. 295.
Fuel Poverty
Ceisteanna (297)
Paul Donnelly
Ceist:297. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost in 2023 if the fuel allowance were to be increased to €41 per week. [46821/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33.00 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. Only one allowance is paid per household.
Based on an average of 371,000 households qualifying for fuel allowance payment in 2023 and a 28-week fuel allowance season, it is estimated that increasing the fuel allowance rate by €8 a week to €41 would cost an additional €83.1 million.
Increasing the rate of Fuel Allowance would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
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 Service.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Community Welfare Services
Ceisteanna (298, 300)
Jennifer Whitmore
Ceist:298. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community welfare officer positions that are filled and vacant, respectively by county; the number of community welfare officers in each Intreo office in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46850/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraJennifer Whitmore
Ceist:300. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection when her Department will complete the review of the operation of the exceptional and urgent needs’ payments by community welfare officers; if this review will include staffing requirements for INTREO offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46852/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 300 together.
The delivery of crucial community welfare services to meet the challenges and the needs of citizens across the country remains a priority for me and my Department. It is important that the Community Welfare Service (CWS) remains an accessible, flexible, and responsive service to meet the varied needs of vulnerable people, particularly in a time of crisis or emergency.
The Department has maintained staffing levels in the CWS nationwide in recent years during times when demands decreased, reflective of the commitment to continue to support the delivery of locally based services to customers.
The following schedule details the number of CWO positions that are currently filled and vacant, respectively by county:
|
County |
Number of CWOs |
Full-time Equivalent |
CWO vacancies |
|
Carlow |
3 |
3 |
|
|
Cavan |
3 |
2.8 |
|
|
Clare |
9 |
8.8 |
|
|
Cork |
40 |
37.5 |
|
|
Donegal |
12 |
11.2 |
1 |
|
Dublin |
82 |
76.23 |
3 |
|
Galway |
17 |
14.5 |
|
|
Kerry |
16 |
12.33 |
|
|
Kildare |
11 |
10.8 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
5 |
4.3 |
|
|
Laois |
6 |
5.73 |
|
|
Leitrim |
4 |
4 |
|
|
Limerick |
20 |
19.4 |
|
|
Longford |
4 |
4 |
|
|
Louth |
10 |
9.4 |
|
|
Mayo |
12 |
10.8 |
|
|
Meath |
5 |
4 |
|
|
Monaghan |
3 |
2.8 |
|
|
Offaly |
5 |
5 |
|
|
Roscommon |
4 |
4 |
|
|
Sligo |
4 |
4 |
|
|
Tipperary |
15 |
14.3 |
|
|
Waterford |
11 |
11 |
|
|
Westmeath |
7 |
6.8 |
|
|
Wexford |
7 |
7 |
3 |
|
Wicklow |
8 |
7.7 |
|
|
Grand Total |
323 |
301.39 |
7 |
Work is underway to fill the vacancies which have arisen through various staff movements, including staff availing of mobility opportunities to other Departments.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Schemes
Ceisteanna (299)
Jennifer Whitmore
Ceist:299. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasons that a service (details supplied) was shut down; if there are plans to reopen this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46851/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department recently completed a significant expansion of employment services across the State. This includes the provision of a State-wide intensive employment service for those furthest from the labour market - the new Intreo Partners Local Area Employment Service (IPLAES). This new service will for the first time cover all of County Wicklow.
In a competition run in accordance with EU procurement rules, 17 community and voluntary sector organisations were successful and were awarded contracts to provide the new IPLAES. These contracts replace the previous Local Employment Service and Job Club contracts. 16 of these contracts are now in place and the new service is being mobilised with the support of my Department.
County Wicklow was partnered in a Lot with County Kildare for the purposes of the new employment service. The successful bidder was Bray Area Partnership, with another Kildare-based community body as sub-contractor.
The Wicklow-Kildare IPLAES is part of a State-wide expansion that represents a significant increase in state investment in these services from €23m per annum to €39m per annum exclusive of VAT. The services represent a substantial expansion on employment services previously available to the long term unemployed cohort who will benefit from this new expanded service.
It is forecast that this new service will mean that in the Wicklow-Kildare area some €2.7 million per annum will be spent engaging with those furthest from the labour market, an increase of almost 90% of the previous funding.
I trust this clarifies the position.
Question No. 300 answered with Question No. 298.
Community Employment Schemes
Ceisteanna (301)
Peter Burke
Ceist:301. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to address the pay-scales and current pay rates of the community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46864/22]
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.
The programme is delivered through independent CE sponsoring authorities who are the legal employers of their CE supervisors, CE assistant supervisors and CE participants. CE sponsoring authorities receive state funding to cover the cost of remuneration, training and material costs from the department. CE scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector that receive public funding.
The employees concerned are not public servants, but employees of individual schemes. Any increase in pay rates that would potentially increase the overall cost to the state of funding schemes or state funded activities in the wider community and voluntary sector must take into consideration the potential cost to the exchequer.
My Department acknowledges the valuable and dedicated service that CE supervisors and assistant supervisors provide in running CE schemes in delivering local based community services while providing a valuable training and development opportunity to the long-term unemployed and to those often furthest removed from the labour market.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Fuel Poverty
Ceisteanna (302)
Denise Mitchell
Ceist:302. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will review the status of a fuel allowance application by a person (details supplied). [46868/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Fuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their heating needs.
The main eligibility conditions that apply to the fuel allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with other qualifying persons. The threshold for the fuel allowance means test is €120.00 above the maximum weekly rate of state pension (contributory), or €383.30 in the case of a single person.
The application of the person concerned was examined and they were notified in writing that their weekly household means exceeded the limit for fuel allowance.
The means limit is strictly adhered to in order to ensure uniformity and equity to all customers. Therefore, the decision outlined in our letter dated 18/08/2022 remains unchanged.
If the person’s circumstances change it is open to them to re-apply.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Departmental Communications
Ceisteanna (303, 325)
Claire Kerrane
Ceist:303. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 362 of 14 September 2022, if she will advise on the matter considering that her attention has been drawn to the fact that clarification was not sought from her Department regarding the situation referenced (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46870/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Paul Murphy
Ceist:325. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the action that she has taken to rectify the erroneous information put to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Welfare in December 2019; and the action that she has taken in relation to the repetition of the erroneous information by the Secretary General of the Department at the Public Accounts Committee in 2021 (details supplied). [47057/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 303 and 325 together.
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 understand that under the procedures adopted by the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO) in relation to a complaint, the respondent is notified of the fact that a complaint about them has been received by the Commission.
As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 262 of 14 September 2022, I am advised by my officials that neither the Chief Appeals Officer nor the Department have ever been contacted by SIPO in relation to any such complaint and nor have they been advised of any such ruling.
I am further advised that the information provided by the Secretary General at the Public Accounts Committee in relation to classification of employment for PRSI purposes was, and remains, correct.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Ceisteanna (304)
Eoin Ó Broin
Ceist:304. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection if Covid-19 is an occupational illness under the occupational injuries' benefits scheme; and if not, if her Department intends to add Covid-19 to the occupational injuries list as the case in many other European states. [46876/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Covid-19 does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as it does not meet the criteria laid down in the Act. Section 87 (2) of the Act states that a disease or injury shall be prescribed for the purposes of this section in relation to any insured persons, where the Minister is satisfied that—
(a) it ought to be treated, having regard to its causes and any other relevant considerations, as a risk of their occupations and not as a risk common to all persons, and
(b) it is such that, in the absence of special circumstances, the attribution of particular cases to the nature of the employment can be established or presumed with reasonable certainty.
My Department is aware of the work of the EU Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH) regarding the recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease. My Department is monitoring the European Commission's work and recommendations in this regard.
My Department reviews its supports and schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy, legislative and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Ceisteanna (305)
Michael Creed
Ceist:305. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a qualified adult dependent allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46898/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As part of my Department’s commitment to ensuring that claimants are receiving their full and correct entitlements, ongoing reviews of all means tested payments are carried out.
In the case of an increase for qualified adult (IQA) on SPC, the primary claimant is contacted by my Department to notify them that their continuing entitlement to the means tested IQA payment is being examined.
A review letter and questionnaire issued to the person concerned on 26 August 2022. A response was received on 20 September 2022. Further information was requested on 21 September 2022. On receipt of the outstanding information a decision will be made on their entitlement.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Ceisteanna (306)
Michael Creed
Ceist:306. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the means test for State pension (non-contributory) as it applies to money on deposit; if she will specifically clarify the position regarding money on deposit held jointly, where one of the account holders is in receipt of a State pension (contributory) and his spouse is contemplating an application for a State pension (non-contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46899/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Social welfare legislation provides that, for social assistance schemes such as the State Pension (Non-Contributory), all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner/cohabitant, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes.
The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in determining whether or not an income need arises as a consequence of a particular contingency – such as disability, unemployment or caring. This ensures that each recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.
If a claimant is married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, the means of the couple will be assessed. This is the case even if only one of the couple is actually claiming a payment. The means assessed include income from employment or self-employment, non-social welfare pensions, and the capital value of savings, investments and property other than the family home. It should be noted that the value of the family home, regardless of who is the legal owner, is never taken into account in this assessment.
It should be noted that the full value of capital is not assessed. The standard formula for assessing the value of capital for most social welfare payments is as follows: the first €20,000 is fully disregarded; the next €10,000 is assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.
Any proposals to change the means assessment formulas for social assistance schemes would have to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (307)
Colm Burke
Ceist:307. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if sufficient funding will be provided to an organisation (details supplied) to continue the ability programme in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46900/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
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.
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 following a meeting with this group. This included a two-month extension to the 26 organisations still operating under the programme at that time.
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 and runs up to the end of 2022. All 27 organisations who received funding under the former Ability Programme were successful in securing funding under this new measure, including the organisation referred to by the Deputy.
It was agreed 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 organisation referred to by the Deputy, along with the other 26 former Ability Programme organisations.
I can assure the Deputy 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 raised by the Deputy is recognised. However, the Deputy will understand that commitments regarding the allocation of public expenditure are subject to the overall budgetary context and must be considered accordingly.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy at this time.
Widow's Pension
Ceisteanna (308)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:308. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for a working person in receipt of a widow's pension being unable to claim illness benefit if they fall ill; if there are any other benefits available to a person in this position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46901/22]
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.
This department provides long-term payments to those who cannot work due to an illness or disability in the form of Disability Allowance and Invalidity Pension. These are not payable at the same time as Widow's Pension. However, the person may apply for these payments if they are more appropriate to the person's individual needs and circumstances.
People might be eligible to receive one of the supports below in addition to their Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension:
Working Family Payment is a weekly means-tested tax-free payment available to employees with children. A person can receive Working Family Payment (if they meet the criteria) and get a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension at the same time. Full details are available and updated regularly on the www.gov.ie website. The Widow's, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Pension is assessed as means.
A person might also be eligible to receive Living Alone Increase, Fuel Allowance or Household Benefits Package depending on their living circumstances and their age.
My Department operates the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, administered by the Community Welfare Service, which provides a number of supports and services to help people facing financial hardship. Under this 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 payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently on a social welfare payment or working on a low income.
My Department will continue to keep the range of supports under review. However, changing the underlying one person-one payment principle would involve significant additional expenditure which could prove unsustainable in the long-term, and would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 309 answered with Question No. 295.
Social Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (310)
Duncan Smith
Ceist:310. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if a disability allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) will be processed and paid from the period of application to their passing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46907/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I confirm that an application from the person concerned for disability allowance (DA) was received by the Department on 01 April 2022.
The person concerned has been awarded DA with effect from 06 April 2022 until the Tuesday after his death 06 September 2022. Arrears of payment from 06 April 2022 to 06 September 2022 less any necessary adjustment was issued on 22 September 2022 which will be paid by their chosen payment method on 28 September 2022.
Where a person in receipt of disability allowance dies, the payment may continue for a period of six weeks after death in certain circumstances. The main provisions relating to payments after death are contained in Section 248 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005.
As the widowed partner of the person is getting certain social welfare payments in her own right, she is entitled to the six weeks after death payment. This payment was issued by cheque to her on 22 September which covers the period 07 September 2022 to 18 October 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Ceisteanna (311)
Paul McAuliffe
Ceist:311. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for domiciliary care allowance. [46919/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment in respect of a child with a severe disability who requires care and attention substantially in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age without their disability. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months.
The person concerned has been awarded DCA and backdated 6 months, as provided for under legislation, effective from 1st February 2022. Backdating of payment was considered following consideration of the evidence provided by the applicant relating to the good cause for not sending an earlier application. Payment commenced on 20th September 2022 and arrears owing from 1st February 2022 also issued on this date.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 14th September 2022.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Parental Leave
Ceisteanna (312)
James Lawless
Ceist:312. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46937/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended), working parents are entitled to seven weeks of paid Parent's Leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy and legislative responsibility for Parent's Leave with my Department paying the associated Parent's Benefit.
It is important to note that the entitlement under the 2019 Act is for each parent in their own right and is not an allocation per family.
Under the EU Work-Life Balance Directive, two months of Parent's Leave cannot be transferable between parents. This recognises the importance of equality between men and women in respect of labour market opportunities and the importance of fathers bringing up their children. It should encourage an increase in the number of men taking Parent's Leave.
Any proposal to extend Parent’s Leave for lone parents would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Equality, Children, Disability, Integration and Youth.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 313 answered with Question No. 285.
Public Transport
Ceisteanna (314, 315)
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:314. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the analysis that her Department has carried out into decoupling the free travel scheme from other social welfare payments, as per recommendation 9.1.1 of the November 2018 report of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport entitled Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46940/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCatherine Connolly
Ceist:315. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of any reviews carried out or commissioned by her Department into the free travel scheme to assess whether the scheme is adequately addressing the needs of persons with long -term health conditions or disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46941/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 315 together.
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 1,043,000 customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2022 is €95 million.
The objective of the Free Travel scheme is to ensure that older people and people with disabilities remain active within their community. The scheme was never intended as a targeted support for people with severe mobility issues or to address the transport requirements of all persons with long-term health conditions or disabilities and therefore no review of the free travel scheme has been carried out to address the transport requirements of this cohort of people.
While the Report of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, referred to by the Deputy did recommend uncoupling the link between receipt of particular social welfare payments and eligibility for the free travel scheme, implementation of the proposed recommendation would entail a fundamental change to the very nature of the free travel scheme and a significant increase in the numbers qualifying for the scheme – beyond the customer base of the Department – the details of which would not be available to this Department. In essence, uncoupling the link between receipt of particular social welfare payments and eligibility for the free travel scheme would so fundamentally alter the scheme that it would move it away from the Department of Social Protection to become a general transport initiative.
It could also be expected that extensive negotiations, including negotiations around levels of recompense, would have to be undertaken with transport operators to ensure their continued participation in such a considerably revised scheme.
Any such change would also require potentially very significant additional funding for the free travel scheme and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.