Written Answers Nos. 200-220
200. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education further to Parliamentary Question No. 372 of 31 May 2022, if the joint application has been made by her Department and a third-party developer to Cork County Council to have the roads in question taken in charge; if not, when she expects the application to be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49082/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe planning permission for the school project referred to by the Deputy included planning permission for the roads and was subject to 57 conditions most of which related to the specification and construction of the significant road network by a third party developer and which is essential to access the school site. Following agreement with the local authority on compliance matters, the developer commenced and has completed construction of the roads.
The new roads when taken in charge by the local authority will allow access to the school campus and will require a joint application to the local authority from my Department and the third party developer to have the roads taken in charge. Discussions are ongoing with the third party developer and it is anticipated that a joint application will be lodged with the local authority in the coming months.
201. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education the number of children who are still awaiting school transport places in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49088/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra202. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education the number of children who are still awaiting school transport places nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49089/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra205. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education when school transport will be provided to all students who are eligible for same; the efforts that are being made to resolve this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49093/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 201, 202 and 205 together.
School Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the last school year over 121,400 children, including over 15,500 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country at a cost of over €289m in 2021.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
As you are aware, in July 2022, Government announced funding for the waiving of school transport scheme fees for the coming school year as part of a wider package of cost of living measures.
School Transport ticket registration for the 2022/23 school year closed on 29 July by which time almost 130,000 applications/registrations were received for mainstream school transport. This figure includes 44,299 new applications as well as roll-overs from the previous school year.
There has been an increase in tickets allocated across all counties, with an increase of 18% in the number of tickets issued to eligible pupils compared to start of the 2021/2022 school year and an increase of 27% in the number of tickets issued to concessionary pupils compared to the start of the 2021/2022 school year.
The normal eligibility criteria of the scheme still apply.
Pupils at primary level are eligible where they live no less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest primary school.
At post-primary level students who live no less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post-primary school/education centre are deemed eligible.
All children who are eligible and who completed the application and registration process on time will be accommodated in the 2022 school year. In addition, pending completion of the outcome of the full review of the School Transport Scheme, temporary Alleviation Measures at post-primary level be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, which were initially introduced in 2019, transport will provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April and registered for a ticket by the 29th July.
Any pupils/students who do not meet these criteria are deemed not eligible, or otherwise known as concessionary, applicants and are allocated a ticket based on the availability of a seat on when all eligible children have been catered for.
The information cannot be provided in the manner requested by the Deputy as numbers are still being finalised for the 2022/23 school year. A small number of on time applications are still in the process of being assessed.
Bus Éireann will continue to process applications and to issue tickets as soon as extra buses and drivers are sourced and become available to provide transport for the higher numbers qualifying for the service. Where additional services may need to be put in place for eligible children, any capacity on these services will be offered to concessionary applicants.
Following discussions with Minister McGrath and officials in DPER as part of the budgetary process some additional funding has been approved for the scheme which will allow officials in consultation with Bus Éireann to consider and evaluate where temporary additional capacity may be available.
The initial focus will be where families applied on time and who previously held concessionary tickets, to alleviate the impact of the increased demands on the scheme for those families. However, it is important to stress that this is subject to capacity considerations. Constraints in sourcing vehicles and drivers in certain areas of the country may also mean that it may take a number of weeks to explore solutions for additional capacity.
203. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to issues impacting a school (details supplied) and their ability to access highspeed broadband; the measures that are being taken to alleviate these obstacles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49090/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe delivery of high quality internet connectivity for all schools is a key objective of my Department. It is accepted that good connectivity is essential to ensure that schools are facilitated to progress the embedding of digital technologies in teaching and learning and for the implementation of new and revised curriculum.
My Department operates the Schools Broadband Programme at an annual cost of some €13m, providing broadband connectivity to schools through a range of technologies at the best available connectivity based on local infrastructure. The school referred to by the Deputy is currently on 50mb wireless broadband connection, which is a dedicated service to the school.
As the Deputy has rightly pointed out the school referred is in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) Intervention Area, implementation of which is underway. My Department is working closely with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) on this implementation to prioritise school connectivity, with all schools in the NBP Implementation Area to be provided with high speed broadband infrastructure by 2023. My officials have confirmed that this school, recently connected to the National Broadband Ireland fibre network, has been awarded to a Schools Broadband Programme retail service provider and will be connected to the schools broadband network as soon as possible.
In the meantime, the school may wish however to contact the Schools Broadband Service Desk (tel. 1800 334466) to ensure that they are receiving the maximum service on their current connection, and to get the latest updates on this upgrade.
204. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Education if she will examine an anomaly in the Pobal deprivation map for two schools (details supplied) which are split on their campus according to the map; and if rectification of this would lead to DEIS status. [49091/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March I was glad to be able to announce a major expansion of the DEIS – Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools programme which means that, for the first time since 2017, the programme is being significantly expanded and eligible schools will now gain access to targeted supports to address educational disadvantage. This will add an additional €32million to my Department’s expenditure on the DEIS progamme from 2023, bringing the 2023 allocation to in the region of €180million.
Schools were identified for inclusion in the programme through the refined DEIS identification model which is an objective, statistics based model. Schools were not required to apply for inclusion in the DEIS programme and the model has been applied fairly and equally to all schools.
Officials from my Department reviewed the data submitted by the schools referred to and the application of the refined DEIS identification model and find no change to the outcome. It is important to note that inclusion in the DEIS programme is not based on school location. The DEIS identification process is based on the principle of concentrated disadvantage and the proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds within a school. The model uses information from the school’s individual enrolment database and 2016 national census data as represented by the Pobal HP Deprivation index. It takes into account the specific enrolment within a school and the proportion of students within that school, with a weighting applied based on the HP index assigned in respect of where the individual student resides or Traveller/Roma ethnicity.
A detailed paper on the refined DEIS identification model is available on gov.ie at www.gov.ie/en/publication/a3c9e-extension-of-deis-to-further-schools/#how-schools-were-selected-for-inclusion-in-deis
Schools that were not satisfied with the outcome following the application of the DEIS identification model to their school enrolment data were provided with the opportunity to have that outcome reviewed. The details of the Appeals process is outlined in Circular 0019/2022 which can be found on the gov.ie website. All appeals submitted have now been processed by my Department and schools have been notified of the outcome. The DEIS appeals process was applied fairly across all appellants and the results are final. My Department will continue to support schools to deliver high quality, inclusive teaching and learning to students and young learners.
It is important to note that the extension of the DEIS programme to new schools is just one phase of work in my vision for an inclusive education system which supports all learners to achieve their potential. While the DEIS programme supports those schools with the highest levels of concentrated educational disadvantage, I recognise that there are students at risk of educational disadvantage in all schools. Conscious of this, and recognising the need to target resources to those schools that need them most, the next phase of work will explore the allocation of resources to schools to tackle educational disadvantage. Part of this programme of work will involve consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
In addition to this, following the National Census 2022 held on the 3rd April last it is envisaged that an updated HP Deprivation Index will be generated by Pobal and will be available in Q3 of 2023. My Department will engage with Pobal in relation to this process. The updated HP Deprivation Index, when available, can be considered by my Department to inform future resource allocation to tackle educational disadvantage.
206. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on a disability application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48667/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the Department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 30 June 2022
Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that they were substantially restricted in taking up employment.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 31 August 2022 and was also notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
They requested a review of the decision by a deciding officer (DO) and submitted additional medical evidence for consideration on 16 September 2022. This evidence is currently being reviewed and the Department will notify the person concerned directly regarding the outcome of their review
In addition, an appeal was lodged with the independent SWAO. The SWAO will be in touch with the person in due course in relation to the progress of the appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
207. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on disability allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48668/22]
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 29 September 2022. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
208. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Social Protection if the fuel allowance has been extended to recipients of the jobs initiative scheme. [48693/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra233. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any changes as part of Budget 2023 in relation to fuel allowance for jobs initiative participants to assist them in coping with fuel poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48858/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 233 together.
The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, which is supporting over 370,000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The Job Initiative Scheme provided full-time employment for people 35 years of age or over who had been unemployed for 5 years or more. Since November 2004, there has been no recruitment to the Scheme. Since January 2004, participants on the Job Initiative Scheme could no longer retain their entitlement to Fuel Allowance while participating on the scheme. This decision was taken as the minimum rate of payment to participants on the scheme was significantly higher than the rate of qualifying Social Welfare payments.
There has been no change to this decision and participants on the Job Initiative Scheme cannot retain their entitlement to Fuel Allowance while participating on the scheme.
The minimum rate of payment to a Job Initiative participant is still significantly higher than most Social Welfare primary payments, including payments such as Illness Benefit and Jobseeker's Benefit, which are also non-qualifying payments for Fuel Allowance. Participants on the Job Initiative Scheme are also considered to be in full time employment and not in receipt of a Social Welfare support payment.
While consideration is always given to suggested improvements to the Department's schemes, any decision to provide participants on the Job Initiative Scheme with access to the Fuel allowance payment would change the targeted nature of the Fuel Allowance scheme, as it would be awarding the payment to people in full-time employment irrespective of means.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
209. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to apply for payments. [48701/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is currently in receipt of a widows contributory pension at the maximum weekly rate for a person under age 66 of €213.50. In addition she is in receipt of the fuel allowance at the weekly rate of €33.00, with the first payment for the current season on 30 September. The fuel allowance is paid during the winter months . The person concerned is also in receipt of a half rate carer's allowance at the current weekly rate of €112 .00 and has a Free Travel Pass.
In order to qualify for a living alone allowance, in addition to a widows contributory pension, a claimant must be aged 66 years of age and over, and live entirely alone. As the person concerned is not aged 66 years of age, she is not eligible to receive the living alone allowance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
210. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the carer's allowance, half-rate carer's allowance, carer's benefit, carer's support grant and the domiciliary care allowance, per county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48706/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is included in the attached tabular statement, and refers to current recipients of Full-rate Carer's Allowance, Half-rate Carer's Allowance, Carer's Support Grant, Carer's Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance as of September 30th 2022.
|
County |
Full-rate Carer's Allowance |
Half-rate Carer's Allowance |
Carer's Support Grant |
Carer's Benefit |
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
|
Carlow |
826 |
695 |
1,888 |
32 |
733 |
|
Cavan |
894 |
643 |
2,009 |
64 |
757 |
|
Clare |
1,256 |
1,057 |
3,116 |
73 |
1,141 |
|
Cork |
5,248 |
4,888 |
14,724 |
438 |
6,785 |
|
Donegal |
2,570 |
1,763 |
5,162 |
103 |
1,424 |
|
Dublin |
9,900 |
9,765 |
27,272 |
601 |
12,155 |
|
Galway |
2,852 |
1,857 |
6,268 |
195 |
2,210 |
|
Kerry |
1,929 |
1,314 |
4,283 |
157 |
1,475 |
|
Kildare |
1,948 |
1,489 |
4,935 |
140 |
2,286 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,029 |
815 |
2,477 |
59 |
938 |
|
Laois |
1,075 |
837 |
2,509 |
64 |
1,142 |
|
Leitrim |
419 |
348 |
977 |
37 |
279 |
|
Limerick |
2,621 |
2,384 |
6,479 |
136 |
2,517 |
|
Longford |
612 |
583 |
1,441 |
28 |
479 |
|
Louth |
1,513 |
1,282 |
3,632 |
102 |
1,398 |
|
Mayo |
1,681 |
1,277 |
3,786 |
131 |
1,085 |
|
Meath |
1,633 |
1,227 |
4,360 |
153 |
2,153 |
|
Monaghan |
689 |
465 |
1,491 |
38 |
532 |
|
Offaly |
1,245 |
966 |
2,770 |
55 |
1,082 |
|
Roscommon |
923 |
687 |
2,102 |
72 |
692 |
|
Sligo |
738 |
622 |
1,770 |
63 |
557 |
|
Tipperary |
2,223 |
1,976 |
5,349 |
140 |
1,882 |
|
Waterford |
1,295 |
1,180 |
3,111 |
86 |
1,070 |
|
Westmeath |
1,220 |
952 |
2,786 |
80 |
1,141 |
|
Wexford |
2,116 |
1,848 |
4,884 |
112 |
1,685 |
|
Wicklow |
1,341 |
1,093 |
3,402 |
77 |
1,463 |
|
Unknown |
33 |
4 |
154 |
95 |
62 |
|
Total |
49,829 |
42,017 |
123,137 |
3,331 |
49,123 |
211. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who chooses to stay in work upon reaching the age of 66 years can access their State pension under her new pension plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48716/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system on 20th September 2022. The measures, which were approved by Government, 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.
Rather than fixating on the idea of a single State Pension age, a flexible pension system will be introduced in Ireland. Under this new system, which will take effect from January 2024, people will still be able to retire at 66 and draw-down their pension in exactly the same way as they can today. In addition, there will be new flexibility so that people can choose to defer their pension, work longer and receive a higher pension payment.
People can draw down their State Pension at age 66 and continue in paid employment if that is what they want to do. The current position is that a person aged 66 years of age and over who works in paid employment can receive a contributory State Pension payment, and there is no means testing or retirement condition for this payment. Furthermore, a person in receipt of the State Pension (Non-Contributory) can also work in paid employment subject to means testing rules. The State Pension reforms announced in September 2022 will not change that position.
The flexible State Pension system is about providing people with choice. People will decide for themselves what best suits their needs and circumstances. For example, in the case of a person who reaches age 66 and does not have sufficient contributions to qualify for a full pension, they will now have the option to work for longer in order to obtain a higher pension payment. A person will also have the option to continue working between age 66 and 70 and receive an actuarially based increase in their weekly payment rate.
My officials will work to implement the reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative and IT systems as necessary.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
212. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a disability payment appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48718/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of a means review into her continued entitlement to disability allowance (DA), the person concerned was notified on 21 March 2022 that their entitlement to DA will cease effective from 30 March 2022. Based on the information provided by this person, her current means are in excess of the statutory limit for DA under section 210 and 302(b) of the 2005 Social Welfare Consolidation Act.
An appeal was lodged with the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO). On 24 August 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 the absence of any fresh facts or evidence. If the person concerned wishes to have her claim reviewed, they need to submit documentation in relation to a change in circumstances.
Alternatively, it is open to the person in question to reapply for DA.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
213. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons within her Department who are working remotely on a part-time or full-time basis in County Clare in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48742/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 12th September 2022, my Department implemented a formal blended working policy under which staff members may apply for a blended working arrangement, with attendance both in the office and remotely, subject to role suitability and other conditions.
As at 30th September 2022, the number of staff members within my Department working remotely on a part-time or full-time basis and who have advised the Department that their remote location is in County Clare, is as follows:
|
Number of staff members working remotely on a part-time basis (part of their weekly working hours) |
50 |
|
no. of staff members working remotely on a full-time basis (100% of their weekly working hours) |
0 |
214. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that additional resources are in place to ensure social welfare recipients who are supplying new bank details to their social welfare office do not experience delays or lose a payment due to the payment details not being changed on-time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48750/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBoth Ulster Bank and KBC have announced their intention to leave the Irish market and have commenced communication with their customers, including customers of the Department who have their social welfare payments paid into their Ulster Bank and KBC accounts.
My Department been proactively engaged in putting in place arrangements to facilitate a streamlined and accessible process to allow impacted customers update their payment method. An enhanced easy to use online functionality has been developed so that customers can change their payment method on MyWelfare.ie at a time that best suits them. A paper based process is also available to those customers who are unable to use this functionality. Impacted customers have been contacted by the Department on a number of occasions to ensure they are aware of the options available to them.
Contact Centre personnel and scheme area staff have been made aware of the impending Ulster bank closure and have been given guidance on how to support customers who make contact and additional staff training has been made available to facilitate short notice change of payment method requests
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
215. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) who has been on a community employment scheme for four years should be eligible for fuel allowance, given that if they had remained on jobseeker’s allowance for that duration they would now qualify; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48753/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the Fuel Allowance payment is to assist households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household.
The Fuel Allowance payment is targeted towards those who are more vulnerable to energy poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
If a participant on a Community Employment (CE) scheme was in receipt of Fuel Allowance prior to going on the scheme, they continue to receive the Fuel Allowance payment while participating on the scheme, once they continue to satisfy the qualifying conditions.
If the CE participant was not in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment prior to starting on CE t,hey may still apply for and potentially qualify for Fuel Allowance.
From the 1st September 2022, the period a person must be in receipt of Jobseeker's allowance or Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) to access the Fuel Allowance scheme is reduced to 12 months. This will also benefit people on CE who previously have been in receipt of the above payments for greater than 312 days but who did not meet the 390-day requirement.
A fuel allowance application form will be sent to the person concerned. The completed form should be returned to the Department of Social Protection Employment Programmes Section, Unit 5, Bridgepoint, Abbey Square, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.
The application will be reviewed on receipt, and a decision taken as to their entitlement or otherwise to fuel allowance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
216. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that have applied for the exceptional needs payment in counties Laois and Offaly from 1 January to date in 2022; the number of applications that were successful; the number rejected; the total amount paid out through the exceptional needs payment during this time period for each county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48757/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department can make additional needs payments to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
The scheme is demand led. Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation, and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
Table 1 shows the number of additional needs payments (excluding supplements) registered, awarded and disallowed in Laois and Offaly from 1st January 2022 to end of August 2022. This does not reflect claims that were withdrawn, cancelled or awaiting further information.
Table 2 shows the total additional needs payment (excluding supplements) expenditure for Laois and Offaly from 1st January 2022 to end of August 2022.
These figures represent a snapshot of claim activity and are subject to change. Figures for September 2022 are not yet available.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement
Table 1- The number of additional needs payments (excluding supplements) registered, awarded and disallowed in Laois and Offaly from January 2022 to date(end of Aug)
|
County |
Registered |
of which awarded |
of which disallowed |
|
Laois |
1,640 |
1,020 |
76 |
|
Offaly |
1,691 |
1,316 |
83 |
Table 2- Total additional needs payment ( excluding supplements) expenditure for Laois and Offaly from January 2022 to end of August 2022
|
County |
Expenditure |
|
Laois |
€682,177 |
|
Offaly |
€841,407 |
217. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will be recognising the recommendation of the European Commission and the EU Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease for health care workers; if her Department will move to adapt legislation according to the updated Commission recommendation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48758/22]
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.
218. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) who has been on the carer’s benefit in respect of care for their elderly father is entitled to a further round of carer’s benefit in respect of a fresh application for care of their mother. [48761/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.
To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of CARB in respect of their father. This is due to expire on 30 November 2022. A new application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 15 September 2022 in respect of care for their mother to commence from 1 December 2022.
Applications for CARB are assigned to Deciding Officers in date of receipt order. The current average processing time for CARB applications is approximately 8 weeks. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome of their application.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
219. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if two pensioners over 70 years of age who are in receipt of the State pension and one of whom is in receipt of a half-rate carer’s allowance are now eligible for the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48762/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, which is supporting over 370,000 households in 2022, at an estimated cost of €366 million. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household.
A household’s entitlement to the Fuel Allowance payment can only be determined following the submission of a completed Fuel Allowance application form. A Deciding Officer from my Department will then make a decision on the submitted application form, taking into consideration all relevant qualifying criteria for the Fuel Allowance payment.
In Budget 2023, I was pleased to announce the largest ever expansion of the Fuel Allowance Scheme. As part of this, from January 2023 a new means test will be introduced for Over 70s. Under the new means test a single person over 70 will be able to have income of €500 per week and a couple will be able to have income of €1,000 per week and still qualify for Fuel Allowance. This was a priority for me as part of Budget 2023 and is in recognition of the fact that older people are more vulnerable to the cold.
Also, from January 2023, the standard means test for persons under 70 will be increased by €80 from €120 to €200 over the maximum State Pension Contributory. In addition, the half-rate Carer's Allowance payment will be disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes.
It is estimated these measures combined will bring an additional 81,000 households into the Fuel Allowance Scheme from January. My Department is already working on developing the IT systems to give effect to these changes.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
220. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection the current situation regarding an invalidity pension appeal by a person (details supplied). [48763/22]
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.
An application for invalidity pension by the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 9 May 2022. I am informed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that no appeal from the person concerned was received in that office until 8 September 2022.
In the normal course, an appeal against the decision of a Deciding Officer must be made within 21 days of a decision being notified. Appeals received outside of this time limit may be accepted at the discretion of the Chief Appeals Officer. I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that, following consideration of the reasons put forward by the person concerned for submitting their appeal outside of the time limit, an appeal has been registered in this case and correspondence confirming this has issued.
It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
