Written Answers Nos. 345-361
345. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that inspectors regularly inspect school transport bus services to ensure that all allocated seats are being used on a regular basis with a view to reallocating seats that are not in use given the current school transport difficulties. [56493/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. 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.
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.
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.
Applications under the scheme are based on the eligibility criteria, and in this current year, registration. Applicants fulfilling the criteria and registering and/or paying on time.
It is recognised that all pupils issued with tickets will not travel every morning and every evening. In addition, certain after school activities may also result in pupils not travelling on certain days.
Bus Éireann organises for vehicles to be full to capacity with tickets based on applications received and based on the seating capacity of the vehicle. For safety reasons, it is not possible to issue additional tickets over and above the seating capacity of the vehicle which could result in a potential overload situation arising and all pupils not being carried on the service.
346. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Education if a gambling addiction preventative and awareness education programme has been rolled out in secondary schools; if so, when was it launched; if she will; provide details of the programme; and if not, if there are plans for a gambling addiction preventative and awareness education programme to be rolled out in secondary schools across Ireland. [56498/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is active in the area of promotion of health and wellbeing in schools. Schools have a role to play in supporting their students to develop the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make informed choices when faced with a range of difficult issues, including drugs, alcohol and gambling.
This is mainly done through the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme. SPHE is currently mandatory in all primary schools and in Junior Cycle where it is part of the mandatory Wellbeing area. Schools are also encouraged to deliver the SPHE programme in senior cycle.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is currently redeveloping and updating the SPHE curriculum across Primary, Junior Cycle and Senior Cycle. In 2020, the NCCA established two development groups, one for primary and one for post-primary, to oversee this work and support the development of guidance material for schools.
The immediate focus of the work of the NCCA was on creating support materials for teachers for publication online as part of an Interim Guidance Toolkit to support effective teaching and learning of SPHE/RSE. In tandem, work on the broader redeveloping and updating of the SPHE curriculum is progressing.
In relation to Junior Cycle, following a period of consultation running from 18 July 2022 to 18 October 2022, it is expected that the specification will be finalised by the end of this year with the aim of having it implemented in schools in September 2023.
In relation to Senior Cycle, preparation to update the SPHE/RSE specification has commenced and a background paper was published earlier this month for public consultation on the NCCA website. It is anticipated that the Senior Cycle draft specification itself will be available for public consultation by next summer, with a view to being implemented in schools in September 2024.
Following publication of the new Primary Curriculum Framework, expected in early 2023, NCCA will establish a development group for the curricular area of Wellbeing in primary schools.
347. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Education the outcome of the stage one report on the campus project at Clonard, County Wexford; the work that has progressed on the provision of the two schools on the site since this stage one report was reviewed; if there is any other update on both schools on the campus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56535/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project referred to by the deputy is a campus project for two schools in Wexford. It has been devolved for delivery to Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB).
The Department recently received the final Stage 1 Report, by means of follow-up to the Stage 1 meeting held with WWETB and its Design Team. The Department is engaging with WWETB in relation to the options for progressing the delivery of both schools.
While it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project at this early stage, WWETB will be engaging directly with the school authorities to keep them informed of progress
348. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education when school secretaries will transfer to her Department’s payroll; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56539/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn February of this year, following a series of engagements at the WRC, a suite of measures designed to improve the working conditions of school secretaries was proposed, which Fórsa agreed to recommend to its members. A ballot was undertaken, and the result was 95% agreement in favour of the deal.
Since then, in conjunction with Fórsa, work to implement this agreement has been ongoing in my Department. This work requires a complex process of assimilating information to capture accurate data in respect of each individual secretary.
The Department has issued circular 36/2022 to schools which outlines how the agreement will be implemented. This included the requirement that, as part of the first phase of implementation of the agreement, schools had to, by the end of September, calculate the initial assimilation rate of pay and annual leave entitlement and offer it to each individual secretary working in their school. Following this, a survey issued to all schools on the 7th November, seeking further details of the offers made by schools to their secretaries, and also other information to facilitate the onboarding of those secretaries who accept the offer, to the Department’s payroll. The survey is due to close on 18th November.
Alongside this an IT system is being developed to collect the data and action the payroll obligations. It is anticipated that payroll services for those secretaries who have accepted the offer will be operational from the beginning of the 2023/2024 school year.
349. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Education if there are plans to provide a school bus to serve a secondary school in Dungarvan (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the lack of public transport in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56540/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. 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.
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.
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.
Children are eligible for transport at primary level where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school, and at post primary level where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest post primary school/education centre as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
Children who are eligible for school transport and who have completed the application process on time will be accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
Children who are not eligible for school transport, but who completed the application process on time, will be considered for spare seats that may exist after eligible children have been facilitated; such seats are referred to as concessionary seats.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
All school transport services are reviewed over the summer months. Arising from this review, routes may be altered, extended or withdrawn depending on the number and location of eligible children who will be availing of school transport for the following school year.
Temporary Alleviation Measures is a measure pending completion of the review of the School Transport Scheme, will be continued for the 2022/2023 school year. Under these measures, where a service exists , transport will be 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.
In line with normal practice, all eligible children who completed the application and ticket registration process on time for the 2022/2023 school have been accommodated on school transport services where such services are in operation.
350. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the status of the new school building for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56545/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to Cavan & Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB). I am pleased to inform you that the project was recently approved by the Department to proceed to Stage 2b of the architectural planning process. The next step for the Design Team will be to obtain thestatutory planning approvals. While at this early stage it is not possible to provide a timeline for completion of the project, CMETB will be engaging directly with the school authority to keep it informed of progress.
351. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the status of an application by a school (details supplied); if same will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56552/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for major capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy.
The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom and Special Education Needs (SEN) accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation.
While my Department has already approved funding for the provision of permanent additional accommodation at the school in question in 2020 under the ASA scheme, this did not include provision for a PE hall. The School Authority has subsequently re-applied for capital funding for a PE Hall. The main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics. The second half of the NDP will see an increasing focus on the upgrade and refurbishment of the existing school stock. This will include a PE Hall build and modernisation programme to ensure that students in all post-primary schools have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision.
A decision has issued directly to the school authority in this context.
352. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the timeline for the provision of new school buildings for schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56589/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently planning for the delivery of a major campus project on the site referred to by the Deputy. The project will deliver two new 1,000 pupil post-primary school buildings for the two schools in question as well as a new primary school building. The accommodation brief for the campus project is currently being developed and my Department is continuing to engage with the relevant patron bodies during this process, which includes addressing the interim accommodation needs of the primary school.
353. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if financial supports are available for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56616/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not provide funding to schools for educational trips or visits of this nature.
However, Léargas, the National Agency for the Erasmus+ EU Programme in the area of schools education and youth, has advised of the following that may be useful.
One of the key actions of the Erasmus+ Programme available to schools is Mobility for Pupils and Staff in School Education. Interested organisations can apply for funding for distinct projects lasting between six months and three years, under two sets of deadlines each calendar year. The short-term project mobility strand is generally best suited to schools.
A ‘Mobility’ project is where a school or an organisation in the field of school education sends its pupils or staff to another country to train, learn, go on a teaching assignment, or job-shadow. The school or organisation applies for funding to prepare and manage the project, and for the costs of travel and participation. Additional Erasmus+ funding is available to include those with fewer opportunities.
The deadlines for this school year have passed. However, the next mobility funding deadline for Mobility of Pupils and Staff will be 23 February 2023 for projects that wish to participate between 1 June and 31 December 2023.
There will be an in-person Erasmus+ Information session, specifically aimed at DEIS schools,Erasmus+ Opportunities for DEIS Schools, on the 17th November at 4.30pm which will be hosted by Athlone Education Centre.
This session is for those working in primary and post-primary DEIS schools in Ireland and who are interested in learning about funding opportunities under Erasmus+. It will focus on the range of opportunities for pupils and staff in School Education and the inclusion supports available. For further information please contact Jane Carter on jcarter@leargas.ie. Registration link: www.leargas.ie/event/erasmus-opportunities-for-deis-schools/
European Commission
The European Commission in Ireland does not have financial supports to send a group of students to Brussels. However, on arrival in Brussels , the students can avail of the visits service: ec.europa.eu/info/about-european-commission/visit-european-commission/visitors-centre_en.
European Parliament Ambassador School
The European Parliament Ambassador School (EPAS) programmes is a Euopean Parliament initiative to raise awareness of European parliamentary democracy and European citizenship among students and to create an increasing network for schools, teachers and students that are engaged with the European Parliament and its members. It is run by the European Parliament Liaison Office (EPLO) in each Member State. Applications open at the end of August each year for the upcoming school term.
MEPs
MEPs can invite groups to visit the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg every year. Interested schools are invited to contact the MEPs for their constituencies for more information.
354. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if her Department will engage with a school (details supplied) regarding a student who missed vital deadlines as a result of having no school transport and who requires additional resources to allow them time to catch up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56617/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current 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.
The National Council for Special Education acts in an advisory role to the Department of Education on the suitability of placements for children with special educational needs. Under the terms of the School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, the Department will consider the report of the Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO). School transport is provided to children with special educational needs who are attending the nearest school to their place of residence that is or can be resourced to meet their educational needs, as identified by the SENO.
I am pleased to advise that the pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible under the terms of the scheme and a sanction has been sent by School Transport Section of my Department to Bus Éireann for the establishment of a new service for the pupil to the school referred to by the Deputy.
Bus Éireann have tendered this service in line with procurement guidelines and are in the process of allocating a contractor to operate this service, once a contractor has been sourced, the service will commence. Bus Éireann will liaise with families directly with regard to this matter at that stage.
Both the Department and Bus Éireann are very conscious of the challenges faced by parents awaiting transport for students with special educational needs. Families of children who are eligible for these services may therefore apply for the Special Transport Grant which is a once off payment, paid retrospectively to families once the School Transport service is in place and is to assist with the cost of private transport arrangements the family had put in place until services are finalised. Families should contact School Transport Section at: school_transport@education.gov.ie for more information on this grant.
355. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education if advice will be provided in relation to a matter (details supplied); the options that are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56638/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. The Council registers teachers under five routes of registration namely, Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher. The minimum registration requirements for each route are set out in the Schedule of the regulations.
With regard to Route 3: Further Education, the minimum registration requirements as set down in the schedule are as follows:
An Honours Bachelor’s Degree at Level 8 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) which has a ECTS credit weighting of at least 180 credits,
or
An Ordinary Bachelor’s Degree at Level 7 on the NFQ which has a ECTS credit weighting of at least 180 credits AND either
i. An appropriate additional qualification, or
ii. A minimum of three years’ experience in a workplace or instructional setting which is relevant to the qualification(s)
AND
A Teaching Council accredited Further Education teacher education qualification (TEQ).
Applicants who meet the degree qualification requirements set out above and who have not completed an accredited TEQ will be eligible for conditional registration for a period of three years in which time this requirement must be completed.
For further detail in relation to eligibility to apply for registration under Route 3, it is advisable to contact the Teaching Council directly.
356. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education the reason for the ongoing delay in the provision of promised therapists to a school (details supplied); and when they will finally be in place. [56653/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and wish to advise the following:I as Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, and my Department were very much involved in discussions over the summer period which ultimately led to the Government confirming in August that priority will be given to reinstate health and social care supports that were historically provided in special schools.
This decision was very much welcomed by special schools, parents and advocacy groups.
My Department has been advised that the HSE have developed a programme for the reinstatement of 136 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) posts, which is in addition to the 85 re-instated posts for Special Schools announced in 2021.
The intention of the HSE as we understand it is to implement the programme in 3 phases.
My Department meets regularly with the Department of Health, the HSE and other Government Departments to monitor the progress being made on the reinstatement of these posts in our special schools. The latest update from the HSE indicates that 55 of the 85 posts allocated to support special schools in 2021 have been filled.
My Department has been advised that the Trade Union (which represent personnel involved in this work) had issued an instruction of non-cooperation to its members regarding the re-instatement process. However, I understand that intensive discussions between the HSE and the trade union are on-going to address the concerns of its members with regard to this initiative.
The HSE remains committed to the programme and continues to engage proactively with the union to facilitate a resolution to this matter as quickly as possible, ensuring the re-instatement of these posts to Special Schools across the country. Further questions on this matter should be addressed to the Department of Health and/or the HSE directly.
357. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education if she will provide policy documentation and details for her Department’s pilot programme for church divestment in schools; and if she will ensure that parents' associations in all schools involved in the pilot programmes are provided with the information that they need to support the process and to reassure parents that the standards of education, governance and support will be properly supported and maintained. [56733/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2022 I announced that arrangements are being put in place in a number of towns and areas of cities that have no multi-denominational primary schools at present as part of a pilot reconfiguration arrangement. This work involves identifying potential schools and engaging with school authorities, school staff and the school communities, including parents, with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there is sufficient demand for this. Where a school transfers from the patronage of one patron to another, the school remains open with the same roll number and operating from the same school property. All State-funded primary schools follow a common national curriculum and are subject to the same rules and regulations.
The Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference (representing the Catholic patrons) and relevant Bishops have confirmed their willingness to engage and co-operate fully with the Department in seeking to facilitate a more diverse school patronage in these towns and cities. The pilot areas are:
|
Arklow |
Athlone |
Cork* |
Dublin* |
|
Dundalk |
Galway* |
Limerick* |
Yougha |
*parts of these cities
My Department has made available a number of independent facilitators across the pilot areas to work with the school patron and relevant school authorities at a local level:
- to progress the reconfiguration pilot initiative;
- to assist in identifying potential school(s) in this regard; and
- to engage with stakeholders including school authorities, school staff and parents
with a view to agreeing on a transfer of patronage and change of ethos, where there is sufficient demand for this in the pilot areas.
The first step in the local engagement - meetings with relevant Bishops, the Department and the local facilitator in each pilot area – is complete. The facilitators are following up with diocesan representatives and the next stages of engagement are underway in many areas.
As part of the structured engagement process, the relevant facilitator engages with the school Principal and Board of Management Chairperson (or full Board as appropriate), school staff and parents of children in the school. In respect of parents, the structured process involves the facilitator inviting parents to an information meeting where the facilitator makes a presentation to parents providing information on the schools reconfiguration for diversity process initiative, including information on what this may mean for parents and pupils and setting out the steps in the engagement process. At the information meeting with the facilitator, parents have the opportunity to raise any questions and to share their views. Following this, the facilitator and patron/patron’s representative where appropriate, reviews the engagement as part of each of the information sessions with the school community and the facilitator writes a preliminary report reflecting the engagement with the Principal/BoM, staff and parents and submits this to the patron.
In pilot areas where the engagement has already progressed to this stage, the facilitator’s preliminary report to the patron was circulated to the full school community and a dedicated reconfiguration e-mail address was provided so that the school community, including parents, could provide any feedback/views and the Department collated this and provided this to the relevant facilitator.
An information pack for school communities, including parents, on transfer of patronage was published in March this year and can be accessed from www.gov.ie/schoolsreconfiguration
Parents in the pilot areas can contact my Department directly by e-mail to ask questions or share their views on reconfiguration@education.gov.ie
358. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of second level schools by county that have facilitated an education programme (details supplied) in the years 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [56746/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not appropriate that resources or materials produced or funded by the drinks industry, for education and awareness on alcohol, are in use in our schools. As the Deputy may be aware, this position is set out in Departmental Circular 13/2016, Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Primary Schools, which states that schools should avoid using resources developed by the alcohol industry. This message is also reiterated in the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s SPHE Guidelines for Teachers.
My Department does not hold records of external resources engaged by schools. Clear guidance is provided to schools on the engagement of outside speakers and on the use of external resources to assist in delivering the curriculum. These guidelines are most recently outlined in updated circular 0042/2018 for primary schools and 0043/2018 for post primary schools. Where an external facilitator is engaged by a school, he or she should be engaged in the context of delivering a planned and comprehensive programme in the school. He or she should not be brought in to replace the school programme but to enhance it.
My Department continues to liaise with the HSE in the context of ongoing work with both the HSE and the Department of Health and HSE on the cross- Government Healthy Ireland programme, the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in Ireland.
359. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the number of second level teachers who have taken part in teacher training programmes funded and delivered by organisations (details supplied) in the years 2021 and to date in 2022. [56747/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe quality of our teaching profession is a critical factor in sustaining and enhancing the quality of education outcomes. The Department promotes the quality of teaching and learning through the provision of continuing professional development and supports for teachers and principals. The Department ensures that a range of high-quality models of CPD is provided to teachers and school leaders through its support services, the national network of Education Centres and appropriate groups, bodies and institutions who are empowered to design, develop and deliver CPD programmes, and also to ensure that valuable teacher student contact time is protected.
Provision for teachers is supported through the Departments teacher support services like the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT), Centre for School Leadership (CSL) and the National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT).
It is not appropriate that resources or materials produced or funded by the drinks industry, for education and awareness on alcohol, are in use in our schools. As the Deputy may be aware, this position is set out in Departmental Circular 13/2016, Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Primary Schools, which states that schools should avoid using resources developed by the alcohol industry. This message is also reiterated in the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s SPHE Guidelines for Teachers. My Department will continue to liaise with the HSE, in the context of ongoing work with both the HSE and the Department of Health and HSE on the cross- Government Healthy Ireland programme, the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in Ireland.
Along with other government departments and agencies my Department is working to support the full implementation of the national drug and alcohol strategy Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017-2025 which aims to promote healthier lifestyles within society and encourage all to make healthier choices around drug and alcohol use.
In 2019, my Department, along with the HSE and the National Drugs and Alcohol Task Force launched ‘Know the Score’, a new national resource for teachers of senior cycle students aimed at guiding and supporting them to improve their knowledge and strengthen their skills in dealing with the risks associated with alcohol and drugs.
‘Know the Score’ is the first national evidence-based resource on alcohol and drugs for senior cycle students and was developed in partnership between public health and education professionals, with input from teachers and young people.
360. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasoning as to if a person who is in receipt of disability allowance and that person takes up a community employment scheme before 16 November 2022 that they will not be entitled to the one-off payment of €500, and someone who is currently on a community employment scheme who was originally on disability allowance will not get this one-off payment either; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56572/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra398. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons who are in receipt of the disability allowance on a community employment scheme who started before 16 November 2022 will be issued with the one-off cost-of-living payment of €500 given that reports show that persons with a disability are the most vulnerable to poverty; and if the matter will be examined. [56543/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 360 and 398 together.
Budget 2023 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.
Community Employment is an active labour market programme designed to provide people with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
Participation on the scheme is part time - 19.5 hours per week. Participants can also work outside of the 19.5 hours that they participant on CE, income from this employment does not affect their CE payment rate.
The minimum rate of payment on a Community Employment scheme is €230.50. In addition, a participant may be eligible for payments in respect of any qualified dependent adult and children.
Community Employment participants are not eligible for the €500 disability lump sum.
As part of the measures announced in Budget 2023, Community Employment participants will see an increase of €17 being applied, increasing the minimum payment from €230.50 to €247.50 per week from January 2023.
In addition, weekly payments for qualified child dependents will increase by €2 to €50 for children aged 12 or over and to €40 for children aged up to 12.
A number of once off bonus payments were also announced in Budget 2023, which will benefit eligible Community Employment participants, including a once off payment of €400 for those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance. These are in addition to the Autumn Cost of Living double week payment, the double payment of Child Benefit in November and the Christmas double payment in December 2022.
361. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will have a decision on their invalidity pension claim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56112/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP from the person concerned on 24 June 2022. The claim was refused on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on 09 September 2022 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and/or appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted further medical evidence in support of her request. Following a review of all the information available it has been decided that there is no change to the original decision. She was notified on 14 November 2022 of the outcome of the review and of her right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days.
Entitlement to IP can only be established on receipt of a completed application form, and any request for backdating of a claim for a period prior to date of receipt can only be considered if there is a current entitlement.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
