Written Answers Nos. 315-334
316. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 385 and 398 of 14 September 2022, if funding is available for this programme in 2023 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46986/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Ability Programme, introduced in June 2018, was a three-year pre-activation programme for young people with disabilities, managed by my department, which concluded at the end of August 2021. In line with commitments under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, the Final Evaluation of the Programme was published.
The current Dormant Accounts Fund Measure to Support the Employment of People with Disabilities was a new employment support measure for people with disabilities. On 30 July last year I announced that 45 projects had been funded up to an amount of €7.6 million. This programme began in September 2021 and runs up to the end of 2022. Prior to applying for this measure, all organisations were notified of the relevant timelines which were clearly indicated in the Call for Applications in April of last year. All 27 organisations who received funding under the former Ability Programme were successful in securing funding under this new measure.
As I have stated previously, 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 to applications from organisations across the country, including the organisation referred to by the Deputy, along with the other 26 former Ability Programme organisations.
This new programme is expected to open to applications in 2023 and not 2024 as the Deputy suggests.
I can assure the Deputy that the concern he raises is acknowledged and noted. However, the Deputy will understand that commitments regarding the allocation of public expenditure are subject to the overall budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy at this time.
317. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a statement of contributions regarding the eligibility of a person (details supplied) for the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47002/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe date of birth of the person concerned is 18 March 1966 and under current eligibility conditions, they will reach pension age on 18 March 2032.
Pension entitlement can only be assessed on the basis of the eligibility conditions applicable on the date an individual reaches pension age. Factors such as an individual’s social insurance record, their attachment to the workforce, and their countries of employment affect the rate of pension entitlement. It is advisable that all contributors maintain their social insurance record as fully as possible over their working life.
Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment.
A comprehensive suite of information in relation to current state pension entitlements is available on www.gov.ie. Information is also available from my Department's offices and from the Citizens Information Services.
It is open to contributors to request a copy of their social insurance record from the Department at any time. In addition to seeking the record through normal postal means, a person can also access their social insurance record in real time online where they have a verified MyGovID account. Information on getting a verified MyGovID account is available on www.mygovid.ie. As the Deputy is aware, I also announced that a PRSI contribution statement service would be made available in the future as part of the reform of the State pension system.
I have arranged for a copy of the person’s social insurance contribution record to issue to them.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
318. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that all of those in receipt of the State pension receive the same increase in Budget 2023, guaranteeing that there are no penalties for those who took time out of their working life for caring responsibilities; and if she will confirm that this will be the case for a person (details supplied). [47003/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 30 July 2012 and applied for State Pension (contributory) on 28 March 2012.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a total of 1697 paid and credited social insurance contributions giving a yearly average of 34 contributions. This gives entitlement to a current weekly rate of €248.30 which is 98% of the maximum rate of State pension (contributory).
The Deputy will be aware that I have been considering a range of options for Budget 2023 including increases in weekly rates of payment to all Social Welfare recipients, including those in receipt of pensions.
Details of the 2023 Budget package will be announced by the Minister for Finance today.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
319. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the community employment scheme; the number of persons currently availing of the scheme; her plans, if any, to increase the payment for those availing of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47025/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. Participation on the scheme is part time - 19.5 hours per week.
There are currently just over 18,700 participants on CE. In order to assist schemes to maintain services in the current tight labour market and improve recruitment, Minister Humphreys and I announced a number of reforms to CE in December 2021 and again in June 2022 - allowing all those over 60 to remain on schemes until they reach retirement age and to permit further extensions to participants' contracts where no replacement has been referred to fill places.
The payment rates on CE are related to the underlying value of certain social protection payments plus €22.50 per week. In addition, a participant may be eligible for payments in respect of any qualified dependent adult and children. If a CE participant's underlying payment (including dependents) is €208 a week or less, they receive the minimum CE weekly rate of €230.50, that is €208 plus the top up of €22.50. If a participant's underlying payment (including dependents) is €208 or more, then they receive the same rate as their social protection payment plus €22.50.
CE participants can retain their medical card and can also retain any additional benefits they were entitled to on their underlying scheme prior to joining CE, for example Fuel Allowance, provided they continue to satisfy the qualifying conditions for those benefits.
Any increase in payments to CE participants is a matter for Budget 2023. CE participants will also receive any increase in underlying social welfare rates announced as part of the budgetary package.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
320. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the criteria that must be met to enable community employment scheme participants to remain on a scheme beyond their allotted time in which replacement participants cannot be found; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47026/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and long-term unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their local communities. The programme aims to improve participants' opportunities to return to work in the labour market.
As the economy and society emerged from COVID, it was clear that some schemes were encountering difficulties maintaining services, as participants with COVID related extended contracts started to leave schemes from April 2022. This led to an increased turnover of participants which could have had an impact on services provided by schemes. As a consequence, Minister Humphreys and I introduced a number of reforms to CE, to minimise the impact on schemes and services they provide.
One of the changes introduced allowed CE participants whose contract term was coming to an end, to stay on CE until a replacement was referred to the scheme to take up this place. Any extension under this provision must be approved by officials from the Department and consideration will be given to the any remaining impact of COVID on the turnover and recruitment of participants, services provided by schemes, along with recruitment and referral efforts. Approximately 900 participants have had their contracts extended on this basis since the start of April.
It remains important that CE places are available for persons who are long term unemployed to assist them return to employment in the labour market. Therefore extensions are only approved in specific circumstances where an extension will not prevent an incoming long term unemployed person the opportunity to take up a CE place.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
321. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will authorise the payment of eligible social welfare payments into an account (details supplied) given the limited banking choices that are available in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47029/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides two main payment method options for its customers: payments in cash at post offices or payments direct to customer accounts in financial institutions. My Department intends, where possible, to continue to offer its many customers the choice of being paid in cash at the post office or directly into an account in a financial institution by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT).
For some social welfare schemes, it can be mandatory for a payment to be collected in cash at a post office. For example, some social welfare scheme rules require a customer to prove that they are resident in the state and are available for work. These payment method restrictions are limited and in most cases a customer can choose the payment method most convenient for them.
Social Welfare payments made directly into customer accounts by EFT can be paid into any financial institution, whether they are commercial banks, credit unions or An Post. This includes new online banks, also known as ‘Fin Techs’, provided the accounts in these institutions have a valid BIC and IBAN which complies with Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA) rules.
I can confirm that my Department is able to make EFT payments to the financial institution named in the details supplied and that it has been doing so successfully for a couple of years.
This is in line with EU Regulation 260/2012 (the SEPA Regulation) which forbids restricting payments to specific financial institutions within the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). Therefore, the Department is required to make payments to all financial institutions licensed by the Central Bank of Ireland and is prohibited from favouring any Irish financial institution over one in another European Union member state or within the wider SEPA zone.
In Ireland, the Central Bank is the competent authority to ensure compliance with Regulation 260/2012. This regulation came into effect in Ireland in 2014. As the competent authority, the Central Bank of Ireland has the power to impose penalties on any Government Department for non-compliance with the Regulation.
If the Deputy is aware of a specific case where a customer of the Department has had difficulty getting paid into a specific financial institution, which is SEPA compliant, then I would be grateful if she could bring this matter to the attention of my officials as soon as possible.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
322. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide funding in Budget 2023 for the Ability Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47033/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra323. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection when the 27 companies countrywide that are running the Ability Programme will be informed whether they are going to receive funding for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47034/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 323 together.
The Ability Programme, introduced in June 2018, was a three-year pre-activation programme for young people with disabilities, managed by my department, which concluded at the end of August 2021. 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. In line with commitments under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, the Final Evaluation of the Ability Programme was published at its conclusion.
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 27 former Ability Programme organisations referred to by the Deputy.
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 organisation’s concern raised by the Deputy is acknowledged and noted. 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.
324. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a schedule of the costs for all live studies, reviews and research projects undertaken or commissioned by her; and the details of the person or body that is conducting each study, review and research project in tabular form. [47052/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe details, as requested by the Deputy, are set out in tabular format as follows:
|
Live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned |
Details of the person or body conducting the study/review/research |
Cost (including VAT) |
|
|
1. |
A survey of employers to ascertain their views of the Department’s employer services. |
Behaviour & Attitudes market research |
€70,017 |
|
2. |
The General Register Office (GRO), which operates under the aegis of my Department, has led an interdepartmental working group to consider how to revise the death registration process to provide for more timely death data and to align our processes with international best practice. The GRO published a consultation document on proposals identified by the working group to improve the timeliness of death registration. |
Cross-Departmental review led by the General Register Office. |
Cost was absorbed within existing resources of the Office - nil additional financial cost. |
|
3. |
The GRO has engaged with the Department of Justice, reviewing proposals for development of the Registration of Wills Bill 2021. This Bill was introduced in the Seanad in October 2021. |
Inter-Departmental group led by the General Register Office. |
Costs were absorbed within existing resources of the Office. Nil additional cost to the GRO. |
|
4. |
The GRO is currently conducting an internal review of the Civil Registration Act, with a view to proposing amending legislation to improve functionality and prepare for digital registration services. |
Internal review conducted by the General Register Office. |
Costs were absorbed within existing resources of the Office. Nil additional financial cost to the GRO. |
|
5. |
Independent evaluation of the School Meals Programme. |
RSM Ireland |
€118,707 |
|
6. |
As part of the 3-year contract for the provision of poverty and social inclusion research, the Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI) is currently undertaking a review of the existing indicators used in the Roadmap for Social Inclusion. |
ESRI |
€328,800 |
|
7. |
OECD - Joint Research Centre (JRC) evaluation of the Community Employment and Tús Schemes. |
OECD/European Commission Joint Research Centre |
Nil additional cost to the Department of Social Protection. |
|
8. |
The Working Group on Food Poverty developed a research proposal to identify the drivers of food poverty and mitigating factors at a local level using a case study approach. |
Amárach Market Research |
€58,970 |
|
9. |
Mid-Term Review of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion. |
Ipsos Market Research |
€37,820 |
|
10. |
Review of Certain Rules for Leased Land for State Pension Non-Contributory and Farm Assist. |
Internal review carried out by the Department of Social Protection |
Review was conducted by officials within the Department. Nil additional financial cost to the Department of Social Protection. |
|
11. |
The Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund. |
KPMG |
€318,570 |
|
12. |
Report on the inclusion of all half-rate Carer’s Allowance recipients under the Fuel Allowance Scheme. |
Internal review carried out by the Department of Social Protection |
Report was done by officials within the Department. Nil additional financial cost to the Department of Social Protection. |
|
13. |
Strategic Review of the Abhaile service. |
Indecon Economic Consultants |
€99,445 |
|
14. |
Report on arrangements for cohabiting couples in the Department of Social Protection schemes. |
Internal review carried out by the Department of Social Protection. |
Report was done by an official within the Department. Nil additional financial cost to the Department of Social Protection. |
|
15 |
Plan and deliver a number of regional workshops as part of the consultation process for a revised Employer Youth Activation Charter. |
Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed |
€8,000 |
326. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to include long-Covid as an occupational disease for front-line workers considering the European Union ACSH Agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47058/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCovid-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 and the 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.
327. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection if provision will be made for parents whose domiciliary care allowance application is delayed due to the long waiting list for an ASD assessment for their child; if not, the other options that are available to the parents to expedite the process in absence of an assessment in the short-term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47064/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability and requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months. This level of care and attention must be required to allow the child to deal with the activities of daily living. Eligibility for DCA is determined primarily by reference to the degree of ongoing additional care and attention required by the child rather than the child's disability.
While an assessment or diagnosis of a specific disability such as ASD may assist the Department's deciding officers and medical assessors to make an appropriate decision on entitlement and at the earliest date possible, eligibility is not based on the type of disability but on the resulting medical and additional care needs. The assessment process that applies in the consideration of whether a child satisfies the criteria for receipt of DCA includes the examination of all relevant factors identified as impacting on the child's additional care needs. A diagnosis of ASD alone or any other disability or condition does not necessarily indicate the level of care required by the child.
Applications for DCA are decided by a deciding officer on a case by case basis, while also considering the opinion of a Departmental medical assessor. In addition to the personal details supplied on the completed application form (Dom Care 1), including the signed details from the applicant's GP on this form, the applicant may provide any additional information or documentary evidence that is relevant to their application, such as medical professional report(s) if available, but there is no specific requirement to provide this information.
A parent / guardian should apply for DCA once they consider that their child may meet the qualifying conditions for the allowance. It is also open to an applicant to subsequently request a review of any decision and this right is not time limited. If requesting a review of a deciding officer's decision, an applicant may forward further new documentary or medical evidence that was not previously available with the initial DCA application for further consideration.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
328. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to social welfare regulations that disincentivise workers from taking on extra employment; if her Department plans to review the eligibility criteria for social welfare supports for those engaged in part-time work; if a cumulative-hours-worked basis of assessment is being considered to replace the current days-worked assessment; if these measures can be considered for industries facing specific recruitment and retention challenges including home-care and others; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47089/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a range of supports available from the Department of Social Protection for individuals who have part time employment by allowing them retain access to a social welfare payment.
The main social welfare schemes for people who are unable to find full time employment are the social insurance contribution based Jobseeker's Benefit and the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance. These schemes provide that a person can work up to 3 days per week, where they are fully unemployed for at least four in any seven consecutive days. In relation to Jobseeker's Allowance a disregard of €20 per day up to a maximum of €60 per week (3 days) applies to earnings from employment. The balance is then assessed at 60%.
In addition to the Jobseeker schemes, the Working Family Payment (WFP) is a tax free in-work support which provides an income top-up for low-earning employees with children. Once awarded, WFP is generally payable for a minimum period of 52 weeks as long as the recipient continues to be engaged in paid employment as an employee for not less than 38 hours per fortnight with the same employer. There is no upper limit on the number of hours or days a person can work. The average total weekly family income must be below the relevant income threshold for the family's size. The payment is calculated at 60% of the difference between the total family income and the income threshold that applies to the family.
The Back To Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) scheme supports those who had been in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment (including Jobseeker’s Transition payment) and One-Parent Family Payment, to retain their full increase for a qualified child payment for the first year of employment, tapering to 50 per cent in the second year.
There is no limit on the number of hours or days a person in receipt of the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) or Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) for lone parents, subject to satisfying the means test. Under these schemes the first €165 of gross weekly earnings is disregarded and only half of the remainder is assessed as means.
A primary qualifying condition for the Carers Allowance, Carers Benefit and Carers Support Grant payments is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such care. However, a carer can work or engage in education or training for up to 18.5 hours per week.
In terms of reviewing working age social welfare supports, consideration is being given to the development of a new pay-related Jobseeker's Benefit payment as committed to in the Programme for Government. Consideration is also being given to the development of a new Working Age Payment, as committed to in Pathways to Work 2021-2025. Options will be examined to modify the longer-term assistance payment, including Jobseeker's Allowance, by utilising Revenue real time earnings data to adjust payment levels in line with a person’s weekly earnings, to guarantee a basic income floor, and to ensure that in all cases a person’s income increases when they work.
I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.
329. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of a carer’s allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47090/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer'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.
If a person is in receipt of another Social Welfare payment in their own right (other than unemployment payments or supplementary welfare allowance) or is deemed to be a qualified adult on their spouse / partner's payment, CA can also be paid at half-rate as long as all the normal conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
The person concerned has been in receipt of half-rate CA since 5 August 2015 as they were also in receipt of another social welfare payment in their own right to October 2019 and they were a qualified adult on their spouse / partner's payment from October 2019 to May 2022.
Following a request to review the rate of CA, it has been decided that the person concerned is entitled to full rate CA from 2 June 2022 as they are no longer a qualified adult on their spouse / partner's social welfare payment.
The first CA payment at full rate will issue to their nominated bank account on 29 September 2022.
Arrears due from 2 June 2022 to 28 September 2022 will issue in due course.
The person concerned was notified on 22 September 2022 of this review decision and of their right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
330. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of full-time community welfare officers in each Intreo office in County Kildare as of 20 September 2022, in tabular form. [47164/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Welfare Officers (CWOs) in County Kildare are set out in the following table:
|
Location |
No. of Full Time Equivalent CWOs |
No. of CWOs employed |
|
Athy |
2 |
2 |
|
Maynooth |
2 |
2 |
|
Newbridge |
6.8 |
7 |
|
Total |
10.8 |
11 |
I trust this clarifies the matter.
331. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a reply will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47180/22]
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 19 May 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 18 July 2022 and the case was referred on 26 July 2022 to an Appeals Officer who has determined that an oral hearing should be held in the matter. The Appeals Office will be in touch with the person concerned regarding the arrangements for the hearing in the coming weeks.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
332. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for the benefit payment for 65-year-olds. [47182/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe customer concerned has a strong employment record over a long number of years. However, in order to qualify for Benefit Payment for over 65s, the customer concerned must satisfy the contribution conditions for the scheme at this particular point in time.
Under Jobseekers Benefit legislation, the customer concerned would need 39 paid or credited A PRSI contributions in the relevant tax year ( GCY ) 2020 (or 26 paid in 2020 and 26 paid in 2019) – the customer concerned last paid full class A PRSI contributions in 2016 so cannot qualify for normal Jobseekers Benefit.
My Department examined whether the person concerned would qualify for Jobseekers Benefit for the Self Employed. In order to do this, the customer concerned would need to have 52 Self Employed contributions in the relevant tax year which they do. These contributions are solely from the fact that the Approved Retirement Fund (ARF) they hold attracts a self employed contribution. In order to qualify under Jobseekers Benefit for the Self Employed, self-employment must also have ceased. As the Approved Retirement Fund is ongoing, the customer concerned cannot on the one hand use the self employed contributions from this to establish an entitlement yet at the same time then want those contributions discounted or ignored when it comes to satisfying the 2nd condition of not being engaged in self-employment.
My officials have been reviewing the issue of the treatment of ARFs in relation to the Benefit Payment for over 65s and I expect to have the outcome of this review in the near future.
333. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry is on the correct rate of pension. [47185/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 14 May 2014. According to the records of my Department, they have a total of 585 qualifying paid and credited social insurance contributions for the period from their date of entry into insurable employment, 30 September 1965 to end of December 2013 which equates to a yearly average of 12 contributions.
This gives entitlement to State pension (contributory) at the current weekly rate €101.20. In order to qualify for a maximum rate of pension, the person concerned would need a yearly average of 48 contributions.
The person concerned is in receipt of the correct rate of State pension (contributory), commensurate with their social insurance record held by my Department.
I have arranged for a copy of the person’s social insurance contribution record to issue to them. If they consider that they have additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to my Department and their pension entitlement can be reviewed.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
334. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to her announcement that carers will receive entitlements and contributions towards an old age pension, the basis on which contributions will be awarded; the date from which such pensions will apply; if they will be backdated; if the payment rates will be aligned fully with the standard State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47252/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system on 20th September. The measures, which were approved by Cabinet, are in response to the recommendations from the Commission on Pensions. The set of measures represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the reforms agreed by Government is enhanced State Pension provision for long-term carers (in excess of 20 years), as recommended by the Pensions Commission, and to be introduced from January 2024. This will be implemented:
- through a scheme to ensure that long-term carers can be attributed with contributions for gaps in their contribution record arising from their time spent caring; and
- through the establishment of a ‘Family Carer Register'.
My officials will start working to implement the reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative / IT systems as necessary. As part of the work to implement the new scheme, relevant Government Departments, and other stakeholders, will examine options for the creation of a statutory ‘Family Carer Register’. Therefore, I cannot provide precise details of the conditions for the new scheme at this stage.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
