Written Answers Nos. 486-505
487. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if the €500 disability support grant will be accessible to a person who has recently signed up to a course and is paid through bodies like Louth and Meath Education and Training Board; and if she will consider these people when making the payments. [51568/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget 2023, the Social Protection budget has been designed to assist people with Cost-of- Living increases through a mix of lump sum payments, increases to weekly payment rates and an expansion of the fuel allowance scheme.
The measures introduced include the provision of a one-off €500 Cost-of-Living lump sum payment, which will be paid in November 2022 to recipients of the Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and the Carer's Support Grant. Recipients who are in receipt of one (or more) of these payments will qualify for the €500 payment.
Those attending a Solas training course are not eligible for the €500 Cost-of-Living lump sum payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
488. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the recently announced increase in the threshold for fuel allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51908/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €366 million in 2022. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household.
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.
The new means test limit of €1,000 will be applicable to a couple once one of them is aged 70 or over. Therefore, both partners do not have to be aged 70 or over to benefit from the new measure.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
489. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if the domestic abuse rent supplement will be maintained or adjusted for inflation purposes in the next year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52054/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe accommodation needs of victims of domestic violence are met through a joined-up service delivery model provided by Tusla with the close involvement of the various housing authorities nationwide.
Access to Rent Supplement can be provided on referral by Tusla or by prescribed Tusla funded service providers. This provides victims of domestic violence with a fast-track approval and screening process with a simplified means test to get immediate access to rent supplement so that they are not prevented from leaving their home because of financial concerns.
The standard rent supplement means test does not apply to these applicants for an initial three month period. After three months, a further three month extension may be provided, subject to the usual rent supplement means assessment. After six months, if the tenant has a long-term housing need, they can apply to their local housing authority for social housing supports and, if eligible, will be able to access the Housing Assistance Payment, a social housing support provided by Local Authorities.
While this protocol to assist victims of domestic violence in accessing rent supplement was initially introduced in August 2020 in response to the pandemic, I was pleased to announce in November last year that the measure has been made a permanent feature of the Rent Supplement Scheme, recognising that the underlying rationale for this support will be required long after the impact of the pandemic has receded.
Access to rent supplement is additional and complementary to the range of other supports already in place for victims of domestic violence.
The minimum income disregard for rent supplement has been increased by €12 to €218 per week for a single person in line with the rate increases which I announced recently in Budget 2023.
The cost of maintaining this scheme can be met from within the existing Rent Supplement budget of the Department of Social Protection. I do not anticipate that additional funding will be required and that it will be possible to meet the cost of this measure under the existing Rent Supplement budget. The service has been successfully delivered and is available nationally with active tenancies using the Protocol in all counties.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
490. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the number of persons who have availed of the domestic abuse rent supplement since its introduction, by month, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52055/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe accommodation needs of victims of domestic violence are met through a joined-up service delivery model provided by Tusla with the close involvement of the various housing authorities nationwide.
Access to Rent Supplement can be provided on referral by Tusla or by prescribed Tusla funded service providers. This provides victims of domestic violence with a fast track approval and screening process with a simplified means test to get immediate access to rent supplement so that they are not prevented from leaving their home because of financial concerns.
The standard rent supplement means test does not apply to these applicants for an initial three month period. After three months, a further three month extension may be provided, subject to the usual rent supplement means assessment. After six months, if the tenant has a long-term housing need, they can apply to their local housing authority for social housing supports and, if eligible, will be able to access the Housing Assistance Payment, a social housing support provided by Local Authorities.
While this protocol to assist victims of domestic violence in accessing rent supplement was initially introduced in August 2020 in response to the pandemic, I was pleased to announce in November last year that the measure has been made a permanent feature of the Rent Supplement Scheme, recognising that the underlying rationale for this support will be required long after the impact of the pandemic has receded.
Access to rent supplement is additional and complementary to the range of other supports already in place for victims of domestic violence.
In the period since August 2020, 243 victims of domestic violence have been supported with rent supplement under the protocol. There are 22 victims of domestic violence currently being supported under the Protocol, with a further 36 victims of domestic violence being supported on rent supplement subject to the standard rent supplement means assessment and eligibility criteria, following a period of support under the domestic violence protocol.
Table 1 shows the number accessing rent supplement support under the domestic violence protocol from August 2020 to date in 2022.
Recipients of Rent Supplement under Domestic Violence Protocol
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
|
January |
47 |
49 |
|
|
February |
53 |
46 |
|
|
March |
55 |
45 |
|
|
April |
68 |
48 |
|
|
May |
73 |
43 |
|
|
June |
56 |
38 |
|
|
July |
52 |
32 |
|
|
August |
1 |
50 |
29 |
|
September |
14 |
54 |
31 |
|
October |
22 |
47 |
|
|
November |
32 |
47 |
|
|
December |
41 |
46 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
491. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer's allowance appeal by a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51099/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
492. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the recognition of long Covid as an occupational disease for healthcare workers by the EU Commission, and the EU Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work, if she will confirm her intention to include it as a prescribed disease or illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51102/22]
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.
493. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an appeal for a one-parent family payment for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51106/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
494. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection , further to Parliamentary Question No. 397 of 20 September, if she will provide further details regarding a payment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51116/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraNoting that the figure may be influenced by the factors previously mentioned in Parliamentary Question No. 397 of 20 September 2022, the average duration of payment for current recipients of Carer's Allowance is 85 months. The average duration on the scheme is affected by the Department retaining the first claim date for Carer's Allowance in the system. If an individual reapplies and their claim is awarded, it is deemed a resumption of payments on the original claim.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
495. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that those paying the D stamp and who were recruited prior to 1995 are not eligible for the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51121/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCivil and public sector employees, recruited prior to 6 April 1995, pay social insurance contributions at modified rates under classes B, C and D. Amongst the class B contributors are permanent and pensionable civil servants and Gardaí, the class C contributors are commissioned army officers and members of the army nursing service and the class D contributors include permanent and pensionable employees in the public service other than those insured at classes B and C. All civil and public servants recruited from 6 April 1995 pay social insurance at the standard class A rate.
Prior to 6 April 1995, civil and public servants did not have access to the full range of social insurance benefits as their terms of employment protected them against the main contingencies of illness and old age, and the risk of unemployment was not considered a factor due to the nature of their employment.
Consequently, such contributors pay less in social insurance contributions in return for fewer social insurance benefits. For example, class D contributors currently pay a contribution at the rate of 0.9% on their weekly earnings up to €1,443 and 4% on weekly earnings over that amount and their employers pay a contribution of 2.35% on all employee earnings. Class D contributors are currently entitled to widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's (contributory) pension, guardian's payment (contributory), occupational injuries benefits, parent's benefit and carer's benefit.
In contrast, civil and public servants recruited from 6 April 1995 pay a class A social insurance contribution of 4% on their weekly earnings and their employers pay a contribution of 8.8% where employees’ weekly earnings are €410 or less and 11.05% where their employees’ weekly earnings exceed €410. Class A contributors have access to the full range of social insurance benefits.
While the modified rates of social insurance under classes B, C and D do not give entitlement to the State pension (contributory), such contributors may, subject to a means test, qualify for the State pension (non-contributory).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
496. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the processing time and backlog in terms of the number of applications for new invalidity pension claims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51148/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to providing a quality service to all customers, ensuring that claims are processed as quickly as possible and that backlogs are kept to a minimum.
Processing times for new applications vary across schemes, depending on the differing qualification criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Delays can arise if information is required from social security organisations in other jurisdictions and where additional information has been requested from the applicant but remains outstanding.
The processing target for the Invalidity Pension (IP) scheme is to award 90% of applications within 10 weeks. Currently the average number of weeks to award an IP claim in September 2022 is 9 weeks and the average number of weeks to award an IP claim in 2022 to the end of September was 7 weeks. There were 1,920 new applications awaiting decision at the end of September.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
497. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the processing time and current backlog in terms of the number of appeals for invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51149/22]
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.
All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year around 85% of all claims are awarded by the Department and just 2% are appealed. The Social Welfare Appeals Office and the Department endeavour to ensure that these cases are dealt with as promptly as possible.
The time taken to process an appeal reflects a number of factors including that the appeals process is a quasi-judicial process with Appeals Officers being required to decide all appeals on a ‘de-novo’ basis. In addition, appeals decisions are themselves subject to review by the High Court and decisions have to be formally written up to quasi-judicial standards.
The desire to process appeals quickly has to be balanced with the need to ensure that decisions are consistent, of high quality and made in accordance with the appropriate legislative provisions and the general principles of fair procedures and natural justice. Further improvements in appeals processing times are a priority for the Chief Appeals Officer.
The table below provides the average processing times for Invalidity Pension appeals for the year 2021 and for the period from 1 January to 30 September 2022.
Invalidity Pension Appeals Average Processing Times
|
2021 |
1 Jan to 30 September 2022 |
|
|
By Oral Hearing |
19.4 weeks |
15.6 Weeks |
|
By Summary Decision |
14.9 weeks |
13.8 Weeks |
There was a total of 379 Invalidity Pension appeals on hand at the end of September 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
498. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied) in respect of alleged overpayment; if the appeal can be expedited given the stress that this ongoing case is causing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51158/22]
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 9 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 in question 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.
499. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection the total spend by her Department and the agencies under her remit on cybersecurity measures since 2019 to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51180/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has a dedicated cyber security function to manage the security of the Department’s network and information assets. My Department takes a risk-based approach to cyber security and has achieved the ISO 27001:2013 for Information Security. This standards-based approach enables teams to proactively identify areas where security can be improved, and these security improvements are funded from my Department’s overall ICT budget.
The Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security. Each stage of the project lifecycle from business case, funding approval, project initiation and service introduction through to the development and implementation of ICT systems and networks must pass through numerous steps to satisfy cyber security and information security policies. Accordingly, it is not possible to separately identify the cyber security and information security components of much of the IT spend for the Department or the agencies under its aegis, because security is designed into how systems and networks are developed, built and managed.
I am satisfied that my Department’s technical staff operate and monitor all of the Department’s systems to the highest levels and closely engage with experts in the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to ensure that best practices are followed as it relates to all aspects of cyber security. Similarly, agencies under the Department's aegis avail of central shared services which include cyber security services.
500. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal has now been registered in the case of a person (details supplied) in respect of the person's recent refusal of a carer's allowance application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51189/22]
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 28 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 in question 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.
501. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Social Protection the proportion of her Department's IT data that is stored in the cloud; the proportion of the data held by all agencies and subsidiaries of her Department in the cloud; if this represents an improvement; if so, the development that has been made towards cloud storage since 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51204/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department first adopted Cloud and associated technologies in 2015 and has successfully utilised Cloud to improve our services to customers. Services deployed on Cloud include the MyGovId identity service, JobsIreland, and the Department’s MyWelfare and WelfarePartners digital services.
Department data underpinning digital services is stored electronically on our internal ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) systems located in highly secure ISO 27001 certified data centres owned and operated by the Department. Necessary data to allow the online digital services to function is hosted in the Cloud, as set out in the Department’s privacy statement.
The data supporting the Citizen Information Board’s informational services is fully stored in the cloud. Other agencies under the Department's aegis do not store data in the Cloud.
Use of Cloud has allowed the Department to take advantage of the security, flexibility and scalability that Cloud technology offers. My Department’s information technology systems are continuously improving to meet business demands. As part of this on-going improvement process, the Department’s Information Systems Division continues to monitor and explore new Cloud technologies and services.
I am satisfied that the use of Cloud will continue to play an important role in delivering services to customers.
502. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the television licence is covered as part of household benefits in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51211/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Household Benefits Package comprises an Electricity or Gas Allowance and a Free Television Licence.
I wish to confirm that the person concerned is in receipt of the Free Television licence as part of their Household Benefits Package. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
503. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a married couple now qualify for fuel allowance given the recent changes as a result of budget 2023, whose incomes have not changed but they narrowly missed out on qualifying in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51221/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fuel Allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) is paid from late September to April.
One of the conditions for receipt of fuel allowance is that a person must satisfy a means test. The fuel allowance means test is linked to the maximum rate of State pension (contributory). An individual can have a weekly income of €120.00 above the maximum rate for State pension (contributory) plus any increases for age, living alone and dependants and still be eligible for the fuel allowance.
On 25 January 2022, the person concerned applied for fuel allowance. Following a means assessment, it was determined that the household means were €626.01 which exceeds the permissible weekly means of €600.30 for the household. The application was disallowed, and the person concerned was notified in writing on 11 February 2022.
From January 2023, there will be a new means threshold for people aged 70 and over, of €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple. In addition, these applicants no longer have to be in receipt of a qualifying payment to access Fuel Allowance, provided they satisfy the means test and the household composition rules.
Details in relation to the application process for those aged 70 and over, including how and when to apply, will be advertised by my Department towards the end of this year.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Exceptional Needs Payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
504. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the names of all special advisers who work in her Department; the Minister and junior Minister with whom each adviser is associated and each adviser's respective salaries, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51263/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table outlines the annual salary paid to my special adviser in the Department of Social Protection.
|
Minister |
Special Adviser |
Salary |
|
Minister Heather Humphreys |
Pauric McPhillips |
€106,518 |
505. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce a payment, similar to that of the pandemic unemployment payment, for individuals with monkeypox who are required to isolate for the duration of their illness, which typically lasts two to four weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51267/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to illness or disability. Entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness but on the extent to which a particular illness impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
Illness Benefit is the primary income support payment for people who are unable to attend work due to illness of any type and who are covered by Pay Related Social Insurance contributions. It is payable for up to two years, depending on satisfying the eligibility conditions.
Illness Benefit is payable at a rate of €208 in respect of a range of infectious diseases, including Monkeypox, as well as other conditions such as long Covid or cancer. This approach is broadly in line with that being adopted in other international jurisdictions where specific Monkeypox-related payments have not been introduced.
While I note the position regarding the public health status of Monkeypox, I think it is important not to draw parallels with COVID-19, which involved society-wide infection risks, including high risks of workplace transmission, and the imposition of unprecedented restrictions.
My officials continue to monitor the evolving public health situation in consultation with the Department of Health.
Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, and in light of the evolving public health situation.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
