Written Answers Nos. 111-130
111. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a national school (details supplied) which was informed that it will be losing a developing-school post due to the school being just eight pupils short of the enrolment threshold to save the position. [53815/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30th September. The staffing process contains an appeals mechanism for schools to submit a staffing appeal under certain criteria to an independent Primary Staffing Appeals Board.
The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the October meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board and has been successful in that appeal. As a result, the additional teaching post will be retained in the school for the remainder of the school year.
112. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the current status of the new school building for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; the date which her Department foresees the construction phase of the school building project starting; the date that her Department foresees the project being completed and the children moved into the new building from the cold and damp prefabs which currently make up the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53890/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school to which the Deputy refers is at Stage 3 (Tender Action and Award). The Design Team has recently submitted a Stage 3 Tender Report, which is currently being assessed by my Department. Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that works could commence on site in Quarter 1 of 2023 with an estimated completion timeframe of 23 months.
113. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools availing of the school meals local projects scheme; the number of applications for inclusion in the scheme that were received in 2021 and to date in 2022; the number of successful and unsuccessful applications in each of these years; her plans to further expand the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53606/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,700 schools and organisations and benefitting 260,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Budget 2022 provided €68.1 million for the programme with an additional €9m provided to allow access to all new DEIS schools from September 2022. Additional funding for the programme has been provided for 2023 bringing the total to €91.6m.
The number of applications received for inclusion in the scheme in 2021/2022 and to date in 2022/2023, as well as the number of successful/unsuccessful applications in each of these school years, is set out in the attached tabular statement. The department continues to accept applications from schools for funding to end of November 2022.
I am committed to continuing to expand the school meals programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme in recent years. In this regard, I commissioned the evaluation of the school meals programme to review all elements of the programme. The final report is due to be completed by the end of the year and will be published thereafter.
School Meals Local Projects Applications Breakdown
|
2021/2022 |
2022/2023 |
|
|
Received |
1,395 |
1,119 |
|
Allowed |
1,339 |
724 |
|
Disallowed |
16 |
6 |
|
Withdrawn |
36 |
18 |
|
Pending |
4 |
371 |
114. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm the systems that are in place for persons with disabilities who find it extremely difficult to get a photograph taken to comply with Department standards for social welfare cards including the travel card; if there is no system in place, the reason; if this issue was ever raised at committee level; if not, the reason; if this issue was raised, the reason that a system was not implemented to cater for persons with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53631/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has introduced an online service which allows customers with verified MyGovID accounts to renew their Public Services Cards (PSCs) through the MyWelfare.ie service without having to attend an appointment in one of our offices.
Customers are requested to submit a passport quality photograph which must be verified to ensure it meets certain minimum standards before the application can be accepted. This verification is carried out to ensure the photograph complies with standards similar to those required when applying for a passport.
It is acknowledged that some customers may, for various reasons, have difficulty submitting a compliant photograph using this service but my Department has always provided a multi-channel approach to service provision and any customers who experience difficulties renewing their PSC online can arrange an appointment to have their photograph taken at one of our offices.
My Department continues to review its channels for delivery of its services for all people, including those with special requirements.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
115. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the invalidity review appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53633/22]
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 the evidence, disallowed the Invalidity Pension appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 23 March 2022.
Under social welfare legislation the decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts. I am advised that the person concerned subsequently submitted additional evidence and that the Appeals Officer agreed to review the appeal decision on foot of this additional evidence. The Appeals Officer did not find any new facts or fresh evidence which warranted a revision of his earlier decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 28/07/22.
Subsequently, the person concerned submitted more evidence and the Appeals Officer again agreed to undertake a review. The person concerned will be contacted when the review of her appeal has been finalised.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
116. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a backlog in applications for the fuel allowance (details supplied). [53644/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the overall social welfare Budget 2023 package of €2.2 Billion, I am pleased to have secured a major expansion of the fuel allowance scheme, which will benefit up to 81,000 additional households from January 2023.
To assess entitlement to fuel allowance, which is a means tested payment, a Deciding Officer must have sufficient information to assess whether all necessary eligibility conditions for the payment are met. In certain cases, additional information may be awaited to allow the Deciding Officer to complete their assessment.
Fuel allowance applications are processed across my Department’s network of offices and scheme areas. I am advised that higher than normal volumes of applications are being received and my officials are working through these applications currently.
In all cases, applications for fuel allowance should be directed to the office or scheme area which manages the applicant’s primary payment. Enquiries about a specific fuel allowance application should also be directed to that office or scheme area, as it is best placed to advise on the status of the application.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
117. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending child benefit to parents of children, who are over 18 years, in full-time education and still living with their parents. [53657/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to over 631,000 families in respect of almost 1.2 million children with an estimated expenditure of more than €2.1 billion in 2022.
In Budget 2023, I secured a significant Social Welfare package of almost €2.2 billion. As part of that, one of my priorities was to provide support for families and children. Parents who are in receipt of Child Benefit will receive a cost-of-living double payment on 1st November 2022 which will be made at an estimated cost of €170.4 million.
There are currently no plans to extend Child Benefit in respect of full-time students who are over 18 years of age, in full time education and still living with their parents. Such an extension would have significant cost implications.
Families on low incomes may be able to avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
- Increase for a Qualified Child (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
- the Working Family Payment for low-paid employees with children; and
- the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
Budget 2023 provides for a €40 weekly increase in the Working Family Payment income limits for families of all sizes from January at a cost of approximately €16.8 million in 2023. I have also provided for a €500 lump sum payment to all families in receipt of the payment in November 2022 at an estimated cost of €23 million.
I also provided for the weekly rates of the Increase for a Qualified Child to increase by €2 to €42 per week in the case of children under age 12 and by €2 to €50 per week in the case of children aged 12 or over. This increase will take effect from January at an estimated cost of €30.4 million in 2023.
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked to household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
118. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the working family payment claim of a person (details supplied); if she will note that the wrong amount is being paid; and if she will rectify the issue. [53665/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (WFP), formerly Family Income Supplement, is a weekly in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. To qualify for Working Family Payment the customer must have at least 1 qualified child who normally resides with them and be working a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight in ongoing insurable employment.
An application for WFP renewal was received from the person concerned. Further information was requested in relation to the application. When this information was received a Deciding Officer reviewed the application, and WFP was awarded on 12 October 2022, with effect from 22 September 2022 (renewal date). The first weekly payment has issued to their selected financial account on 12 October 2022, and all arrears due have also issued.
The person concerned was notified of this decision and of the right of review and appeal.
If the person concerned wishes for this decision to be reviewed, they should be advised to forward this request in writing to the WFP Section outlining the details of the review request, with the necessary documents to support this request.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
119. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the disability allowance appeal claim by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53666/22]
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 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.
120. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection when the community welfare service will be reinstated to provide a walk-in community service in the newly refurbished unit in Killybegs, County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53692/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA CWO is available to meet with customers by appointment 5 days a week at the DSP office in Killybegs or where needed, arrange to visit a person’s house by appointment.
In addition any person who needs to access the Community Welfare Service (CWS) can call the national CWS freephone phoneline, which is available at 0818 60 70 80, to speak to a CWO or to make an appointment to meet at a mutually agreed location, including at the person's home. In cases where urgent local action is required, such as an immediate cheque payment this is facilitated on the same day.
The application form, SWA1, is widely available. It can be downloaded at www.gov.ie. It is available in all Intreo Centres and Branch Offices. It can also now be requested by emailing cwsforms@welfare.ie, by calling 0818 60 70 80 by or using the Request Application Form page available on www.gov.ie. The completed application form should be returned to the Department where it will be processed promptly.
The delivery of a locally based Community Welfare Service remains and will continue to remain a cornerstone of the service.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
121. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason that posts for community welfare offices nationwide are not being filled (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53693/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraStaffing levels have been maintained in the Community Welfare Service nationwide in recent years, even as demands on the service decreased. This reflects my commitment to continue to support the delivery of in-person services to citizens in over 50 Intreo Centres across the country as well as Social Welfare Branch Offices and Departmental public offices. There are currently over 400 staff working in the Community Welfare Service throughout the country and work is underway to fill vacancies which have arisen through various staff movements, including retirement and staff availing of mobility opportunities to other Departments.
The Department is taking steps to allocate additional staff to the CWS having received an increased staffing allocation during the estimates process. I expect recruitment for these posts to begin shortly.
The delivery of crucial community welfare services to meet the challenges and the needs of citizens across the country is a priority for the Government and for the Department of Social Protection.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
122. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 544 of 18 October 2022, if consideration will be given to extending the hot-meal scheme to a school (details supplied), in view of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the fact that the school is a DEIS school in a low-income area, and that many children are dependent on the hot meals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53718/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,700 schools and organisations benefitting 260,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Budget 2022 provided €68.1 million for the programme with an additional €9m provided to allow access to all new DEIS schools from September 2022.
Access to the hot school meals funding is provided to the schools that were selected for the pilot, the DEIS schools that submitted an expression of interest for the extension of hot school meals in 2021, as well as the new DEIS schools from September 2022. The school referred to by the Deputy is not one of these schools with access to hot school meal funding but have been assured that they remain eligible to receive funding for the breakfast and the cold lunch.
I am committed to continuing to expand the school meals programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme in recent years. In this regard, I commissioned the evaluation of the school meals programme to review all elements of the programme. The final report is due to be completed by the end of the year and will be published thereafter.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
123. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if Section 39 community workers can qualify for the fuel allowance payment through the jobs initiative scheme for the duration of their participation in the scheme given that they are in receipt of a low weekly allowance rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53722/22]
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 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.
Therefore, the Job Initiative Scheme is not a qualifying scheme for Fuel Allowance.
To receive the Fuel Allowance payment, an applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying Social Welfare payment, satisfy a means test and the household composition test. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and those who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
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.
124. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if the conditions of a payment for a person (details supplied) will be reviewed. [53753/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
A person is regarded as being permanently incapable of work if, for the period of 1 year immediately before the date of application the person had been continuously incapable of work and a deciding officer (DO) or an appeals officer (AO) is satisfied that the person is likely to continue to be incapable of work for at least another year or a DO or an AO is satisfied that the likelihood is that the person will be incapable of work for life.
Eligibility for IP can only be established on receipt of a completed application form. Based on the information provided, the Department has not received a completed IP application from the person in question.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
125. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the anomaly in cases in which a social welfare recipient, who would otherwise qualify for the fuel allowance, is deemed illegible because they are renting a room in a house in which non-qualifying persons live with whom they have no relationship; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53754/22]
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 allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. Only one allowance is paid per household.
Fuel Allowance is a household payment and the status and means of all members of the household are taken into consideration when deciding entitlement. To qualify for the fuel allowance payment a person must satisfy the household composition criteria.
To satisfy the household composition criteria an applicant may live alone or only with:
- a qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren); (if the qualified spouse is in receipt of half rate carers, in addition to the IQA payment, they may qualify for fuel allowance, subject to a means test) or
- a person in receipt of a qualifying payment who would be entitled to the allowance in their own right or
- a person who is in receipt of carer’s allowance or carer’s benefit in respect of providing full-time care and attention to the fuel allowance applicant or their qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren) or
- a person receiving short-term jobseeker's allowance (JA) or basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) - i.e., less than 312 days for JA and less than 12 months/ 364 days for SWA).
Fuel allowance is not payable if an applicant lives with any person, including a non-family member, that is not covered by the criteria outlined.
Any decision to extend the qualifying criteria for Fuel Allowance in the manner outlined by the Deputy would change the targeted nature of the scheme and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
126. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will ensure that a domiciliary care allowance is awarded to a person (details supplied) without further delay. [53780/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability or condition and requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of that 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 months. 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.
An application for DCA was received from the person concerned in respect of their child on 6 July 2022. A deciding officer disallowed the claim on 22 August 2022 because the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for DCA.
The person concerned requested a review of the Department's decision.
The further documentary evidence and new information, including the family impact statement and the daily diary that was subsequently provided by the person concerned in support of their review request, is currently awaiting an assessment by a Departmental medical assessor. Once this assessment is complete, a full review of the application will be undertaken by a deciding officer and the person concerned will be notified in writing of the review decision.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
127. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that a supplementary welfare allowance is awarded for a person (details supplied) without further delay. [53785/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the records of my Department, a letter issued to the person concerned on 24/10/2022 requesting further information in support of her application for an Exceptional Needs Payment.When this information is returned, the person’s application will be processed promptly.I trust this clarifies the matter.
128. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will detail the five towns and or villages with the smallest populations that have taken in groups of asylum seekers; and if he will provide details of locations, populations of locations and volumes of asylum seekers that have been placed in those locations. [53804/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy, the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) collates international protection (IP) applicant residency statistics on a county rather than on a locality basis.
In addition, an IP applicant is not required to take up an offer of accommodation from IPAS. This, in turn, means that there may be IP applicants living in any town or locality in the country that IPAS is not aware of.
Please find below a table with IPAS residents by county, as at 16 October 2022. The five counties with the smallest population sizes are Leitrim, Longford, Carlow, Monaghan and Sligo - 2022 Census, preliminary data.
|
County |
IPAS resident numbers |
|
Cavan |
111 |
|
Clare |
631 |
|
Cork |
1,151 |
|
Donegal |
601 |
|
Dublin |
6,250 |
|
Galway |
616 |
|
Kerry |
900 |
|
Kildare |
451 |
|
Laois |
402 |
|
Leitrim |
97 |
|
Limerick |
257 |
|
Longford |
70 |
|
Louth |
454 |
|
Mayo |
360 |
|
Meath |
858 |
|
Monaghan |
413 |
|
Offaly |
161 |
|
Sligo |
179 |
|
Tipperary |
397 |
|
Waterford |
410 |
|
Westmeath |
1,014 |
|
Wexford |
182 |
|
Wicklow |
508 |
|
Total |
16,473 |
129. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Early Learning and Care services that have engaged with County Childcare Committees in relation to financial sustainability in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53922/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra136. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the financial supports that are available to community and private early years' services which find themselves in financial difficulty. [53703/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra137. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any early years' services have engaged with their local childcare committee to get financial supports in 2022. [53704/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 129, 136 and 137 together.
Services which encounter financial or other sustainability concerns can avail of supports through the case management process. My Department oversees this process, through which local City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to ELC and SAC services experiencing difficulties.
CCCs administer on-the-ground case management assistance, co-ordinated by Pobal. This can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.
To date, the total number of services which engaged in Case Management for financial sustainability reasons in 2022 is 115. This is made up of:
- 66 services where financial sustainability was the main concern; and
- 49 cases where financial sustainability was one element of concerns about a service.
In 2022, my Department has received four completed funding requests through the Sustainability Funding available in Case Management. These four requests originated from two services in total. All four requests have been approved.
Given that Core Funding is in operation less than six weeks, it is important to note that these services availing of case management supports and sustainability funding relate primarily to issues arising from the old funding model rather than the new arrangements. Recent engagement with CCCs confirms that they are not picking up evidence of sustainability difficulties for any service type related to Core Funding or any indications to suggest that services will face closure as a result of Core Funding.
This continues the trend of the last two years or more with very limited call on the strands of sustainability funding, largely due to the very significant investment in the sector through Covid-19 funding arrangements.
In some instances, financial supports may be appropriate, in tandem with the case management process. Prior to 2020, these financial supports were only available for community (not-for-profit) services presenting with sustainability issues following a financial assessment by Pobal. However, an additional strand of sustainability funding was established to provide support to services requiring it due to the impact of Covid-19 which was open to both private (for-profit) and community (not-for-profit) services.
As a new development to the suite of supports available, a further stand of sustainability funding is being made available to Core Funding partner services, both community and private, who are experiencing financial difficulty. This is part of the partnership relationship with the sector that has been established under the new funding model, Together for Better. As with previous strands of the Sustainability Fund, it will focus on operational as well as financial supports to assist services to manage their immediate difficulties and transition to sustainability. Sustainability funding will provide for a further safety net for partner services who do experience financial difficulty and to assist them for a period of time to allow them to become more sustainable. Given the very substantial additional resourcing that Core Funding is providing to the sector, we do not expect to see much demand for this funding, except for a small number of outlier cases.
Services that are experiencing difficulty and who would like support are encouraged to contact their CCC to access case management supports. Services can be assisted on an individual basis through this route and it also allows for trends and themes across the country to be identified that can inform a more systematic response if necessary. This case management process through the CCCs is the route to access additional sustainability funding if required.
130. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he intends to respond to the recommendations related to his Department in the Ballymun A Brighter Future Report commissioned by Dublin City Council and presented to An Taoiseach at the Dublin north-west area joint policing committee in July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53632/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
