Written Answers Nos. 118-137
118. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3444/23]
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.
An application for IP was received from the person concerned on 20 December 2022. In order to establish his medical suitability for IP, two forms to be completed issued on 19 January 2023. On receipt of the completed forms, a deciding officer will make a decision on his entitlement to IP and he will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
119. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application by a person (details supplied) for an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3445/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 1 December 2022 and will receive his first payment to his nominated bank account on 26 January 2023. All arrears due from 1 December 2022 to 25 January 2023 will also issue to his nominated account on same date. The person in question was notified of this decision on 20 January 2023.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
120. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will request that the Secretary General of her Department considers correcting the public record (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3514/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I wish to acknowledge the valuable and dedicated service that CE supervisors/assistant supervisors provide in running CE schemes in delivering local based community services while providing a valuable training and development opportunity to the long-term unemployed and to those often furthest removed from the labour market.
I acknowledge that these workers have not received a pay increase since 2008 and Minister Humphreys and I together with Department officials are working to seek a resolution to this issue. To this end, my Department has engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and will attend a conciliation process which is due to take place in the WRC shortly. I am confident that the conciliation process will progress the outstanding matter of pay significantly.
I can confirm that the letter from the union to the Secretary General was responded to on the 5th of January 2023. As outlined in the reply, it is understood that at the time, it was argued that CE supervisors were not public servants and so should not have been made subject to FEMPI measures. This argument prevailed and pay-cuts that were applied to the public service did not apply to CE supervisors. A copy of the correspondence is attached for information.
The Secretary General and the Department have reviewed the record from the Public Accounts Committee of the 1st of December 2022 and for the reasons set out in their response do not believe that further comment or correction is required.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
121. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that a rent allowance issue will be resolved for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3522/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraRent Supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. Persons with a long-term housing need should contact their local authority where information is available regarding suitable housing supports including the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). A HAP application can be submitted to the local authority in conjunction with a RS application.
A Rent Supplement application was registered for the person concerned with effect from 01/01/2022. However as certain information, i.e., bank statements and lease/tenancy agreement, was not provided to my Department, the person’s claim was closed in July 2022.
Following your representation, an official has written to the person concerned requesting the following information:
- Bank statements from January 2022 up to the date that tenancy ended.
- A copy of the lease/tenancy agreement.
- Details of the rent arrears due to the landlord.
- Details of Residential Tenancies Board case.
- Details of any money received other than Social Welfare, i.e., any Go Fund Me or charitable payments.
When this information has been received the person’s application will be progressed and she will be advised of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
122. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the situation regarding entitlement to a reduced rate of the State Pension (Contributory); the number of PRSI contributions required for such a payment; if existing contributions plus the homemakers' scheme and homemaking credits can be combined for the purpose of a reduced rate of the State Pension (Contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3552/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial welfare legislation stipulates that a minimum of 520 full-rate paid contributions are required to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory).
Applicants for the State Pension (Contributory) have their entitlement assessed under two separate criteria, receiving a payment based on which method is most beneficial to the person. The Yearly Average (YA) method has been in place since the introduction of the contributory pension in 1961. The YA method sees all paid and credited contributions divided by time spent in the social insurance system to give an average of Social Insurance contributions per year with payments made on a banded basis. The current bands and payments are:
- Average of 48 or more - €265.30
- Average of 40-47 -€260.10
- Average of 30-39 - €238.50
- Average of 20-29 - €225.90
- Average of 15-19 - €172.90
- Average of 10-14 - €106.00
Under the Yearly Average method, applicants can apply under the Homemaker's Scheme for those years since 1994 spent caring for children under 12 or other dependent relatives to be disregarded in the calculation. Up to 20 years disregard can be applied. This means the pension average does not disadvantage an applicant for the time spent caring.
In January 2018, an interim Total Contributions Approach was introduced which removed the time spent in the Social Insurance system as a factor and simply added paid and credited contributions together. 2080 contributions (equivalent to 40 years) are required for a full rate payment with pro-rata payments for those who have the minimum required 520 paid contributions, but less than 2080.
Homecaring periods can be claimed for providing full time care to children under 12 or people aged over 12 who require an increased level of full time care. Up to 20 years of Homecaring Periods can be claimed.
Where a person reaches State Pension age and does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for a SPC or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one of the following:
- The means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory) (SPNC) which is a means-tested payment with a maximum payment of 95% of the SPC; or
- An increase for a qualified adult, amounting up to 90% of a full rate SPC pension where their spouse has a contributory pension; or
- Where their spouse/civil partner is deceased, a widow's/widower's/civil partner's contributory pension, which they may claim either based on their spouse's or their own social insurance record. The qualifying conditions for this require fewer contributions paid (260) than the SPC and the current maximum personal rate for those aged 66 or over is €265.30, i.e. the same as the maximum rate of the SPC, with allowances (e.g., the Living Alone Allowance) payable where applicable.
Last September, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system. The measures are in response to the Pensions Commission’s recommendations and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system. One of the reforms agreed by Government is a phased 10-year full transition to the Total Contributions Approach and the abolition of the Yearly Average approach to commence from January 2024.
A further key measure is the introduction of a new flexible pension system in Ireland which will provide people with choice by allowing them to defer drawing down their State Pension payment up to the age of 70.
People will decide for themselves what best suits their needs and circumstances. For example, in the case of a person who reaches age 66 and does not have sufficient contributions to qualify for a full pension, they will now have the option to work for longer to build up additional entitlements. If a person has less than 10 years' PRSI reckonable paid contributions, they can use this period of deferral to establish entitlement. A person will also have the option to continue working between age 66 and 70 and receive an actuarially based increase in their weekly payment rate, should they choose to defer their State Pension.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
123. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on an investigation on the records of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who has been awarded a reduced State Pension (Contributory). [3588/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned submitted an application for State Pension (contributory) on 31 August 2022. They were awarded the State Pension (contributory) at 85% of the maximum rate from 23 October 2022 and informed of this interim decision on 11 October 2022.
Following a review of the person’s entitlement to Homecaring credits, they were awarded the maximum rate State Pension (contributory) of €265.30 from 23 October 2022. They were informed of this decision on 20 January 2023. Any arrears due will issue shortly.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
124. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to the living alone allowance. [3681/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for the increase for living alone was received on 10/01/2023. On 14/01/2023, a letter issued to the person concerned requesting confirmation of their household composition.
On receipt of the requested information, their entitlement to the increase for living alone will be determined and they will be notified of the outcome without delay.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
125. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is intended to secure approval to extend the abhaile scheme indefinitely, given the rising need for this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3695/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAbhaile was established in 2016 by the then Ministers for Justice and Social Protection, with the intention of being a three-year response to the impact of the financial crisis on mortgage arrears in Ireland, with a plan to wind down the service at the end of this three-year period. However, in 2019, taking account of continuing need, the Government approved a three-year extension to Abhaile, with earmarked funding until the end of 2022. In making this extension, the Government agreed that a strategic review of the operation of Abhaile should be undertaken. A further extension of the scheme up to the end of 2023 was approved by Government in December 2022.
The purpose of the Strategic Review of Abhaile, currently underway by independent consultants, is to examine the overall operation, objectives and future of the Abhaile service, in the light of its delivery. The completed report of the review is expected to be finalised in late Q1 2023.
The findings of the review will then fall to be considered by me and by the Minister for Justice, and wider Government, in assessing the future of the service beyond the current funding commitment to the end of 2023.
126. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that those in receipt of disability allowance are permitted up to €50,000 in savings, while those on a blind pension are only allowed €20,000; and if there are plans to rectify this. [3737/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Roadmap for Social Inclusion and the Pathways to Work Strategy 2021-2025, my Department has committed to developing and consulting on a ‘strawman’ proposal for the restructuring of long-term disability payments, with a view to simplifying the system, removing inconsistencies and supporting employment. This process will provide an opportunity to examine the issues raised by the Deputy.
Work on developing the strawman is currently underway within my Department, with a public consultation expected to be undertaken later this year.
127. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection how income is assessed for a self-employed professional artist on the professional artists on jobseeker's allowance scheme who wins a commission or Arts Council award; and how it affects their entitlement to the professional artists' on jobseeker's allowance scheme. [3738/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Professional Artist Scheme under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme is an initiative of the all-of-Government Creative Ireland Programme. The scheme acknowledges the status of self-employed artists in specified art forms and gives them a 12 month window to focus on building up their work before they became subject to labour market activation which is mandatory for most recipients of jobseeker's payments. The other conditions associated with Jobseeker’s Allowance, including a means test, continue to apply, as they do for all other claimants.
For a self-employed person the earnings from their business is assessed in the means test for Jobseeker’s Allowance. Earnings are assessed as gross income less work-related expenses.
Commissions and awards, as referred to by the Deputy, are considered income for Jobseeker's Allowance means testing purposes.
If the Deputy is aware of a specific case he should direct the person to their local Intreo Centre where they can outline their specific circumstances so that their position can be examined.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
128. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are any future plans for a site (details supplied) in Dublin; and if so, if he will outline these plans. [3393/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the Department is considering offers of buildings to be repurposed for accommodation, my officials can confirm that it does not posses a record of this property, that no offer has been made in respect of same and that it is not under consideration for use as international protection accommodation at this time.
To provide some context as to the pressure the Department is under to procure accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs) arriving it should be noted that the accommodation of international protection applicants (IPAs) is a demand-led process with applicants arriving in the country and seeking accommodation spontaneously.
During the twelve months of 2022, over 15,000 people have arrived in Ireland seeking accommodation while their applications for international protection are processed by the international protection office. In the first 21 days of 2023, 872 people have arrived seeking international protection in Ireland.
As of 16 January 2023, there are over 19,700 people accommodated in the IPAS accommodation system as a whole. This includes the National Reception Centre and IPAS accommodation centres, City West transit hub and emergency accommodation. Of this total, 4,086 are children.
At this point in 2022, there were approximately 7,500 persons in IPAS accommodation.
These figures are in addition to the arrival of over 65,000 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection since 24 February 2022, as a result of the war in Ukraine. To date, almost 55,000 BOTPs have sought and received accommodation assistance from the State.
The pressure on the State to accommodate over 75,000 people currently has led to significant shortages particularly for the international protection cohort.
All of the limited accommodation capacity within the IPAS system is currently being used. Given the significantly increased numbers of arrivals in the context of accommodation shortages, the Department has no option but to consider all offers of accommodation.
Emergency centres have been opened in all parts of the country. There have been circa 60 accommodation locations utilised since January across 17 counties.
The Department is availing of all offers of accommodation made to it, including the use of office buildings and sports facilities, to address the accommodation shortfall. These options are necessary in order to provide shelter to international protection arrivals, to meet basic needs and to prevent homelessness.
I trust this information clarifies the matter, Deputy.
129. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of staff in International Protection Accommodation Services by grade and division, in tabular form; the number of additional staff since the beginning of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3419/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra130. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons currently employed by his Department; the number of persons assigned to the Integration brief; the number of vacant positions currently under his Department's Integration brief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3420/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 130 together.
There were 621 staff in my department at the end of December 2022.
There are a number of units involved in matters related to integration, including all of the units working on International Protection, the Irish Refugee Protection Program and related policy units.
As of 16 January, there are 17 vacancies across the units working directly or indirectly on integration matters. The changes in the staffing complement in each quarter over 2022 on the integration brief are set out in table below.
|
Q1 2022 |
100 |
|
Q2 2022 |
105 |
|
Q3 2022 |
108 |
|
Q4 2022 |
105 |
The Deputy will be aware that a Ukraine Division was established in 2022. However, staffing in that Division is not included in this response.
Within the International Protection Accommodation Services Unit there are 59 Officers assigned and this is shown in tabular form by grade below.
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
8 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
11 |
|
Executive Officer |
22 |
|
Clerical Officer |
17 |
131. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason a homeowner (details supplied) who has made their property available to accommodate Ukrainian refugees has not received financial support from the State despite having supplied the relevant invoices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3516/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has engaged over 700 properties to provide accommodation for Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. In line with my Department’s commitment to substantially clear the backlog at the end of 2022, the Department temporarily re-assigned staff from other parts of the Department to the payments team in December, doubling the size of the payments unit. The enlarged team approved more than 100 million euros worth of payments.
My Department is prioritising maintaining a practice of more timely payments, including providing more resources to address any issues. We regret any delays in making payments and are according this issue very high priority.
I am informed by my officials that payments in respect of the party referred to are in hand with payments expected to issue shortly once they have passed final checks.
132. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if County Donegal is still under review in relation to accommodating the needs of additional Ukrainian refugees; and if not, if it is now open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3526/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is procuring and allocating accommodation in County Donegal for the purposes of providing shelter to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. My Department did respect a request from the Local Authority in Donegal to introduce a pause on allocating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in the aftermath of the tragedy in Creeslough with services focused on the response at that time. The pause was lifted some weeks ago and officials in the procurement division within my Department are engaging with Donegal County Council in regard to accommodation.
I wish to thank the many individuals, volunteers, community groups and the Local Authority in Co. Donegal who have contributed so much as part of the humanitarian response to welcoming those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
133. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of contracts that have been entered into by his Department in relation to the accommodation of Ukrainian refugees since October 2022, on a weekly basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3527/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 22 January 2023, the number of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who have been accommodated by my Department is approximately 54,000. The information requested has been extracted from our systems, is available monthly and is outlined in tabular form below.
BOTP Accommodation Contracts Procured by Month since October 2022.
|
Month |
Number of Contracts Procured |
|
October 2022 |
62 |
|
November 2022 |
45 |
|
December 2022 |
33 |
|
January 2023 (To date) |
21 |
134. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason his Department has responded to an offer of accommodation from a person (details supplied); if this statement is accurate for all offers of accommodation from County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3528/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department respected a request from the Local Authority in Donegal to introduce a pause on accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in the aftermath of the tragedy in Creeslough with services focused on the response at that time. The pause was lifted some weeks ago and officials in the procurement division within my Department are engaging with Donegal County Council in regard to accommodation.
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is once again procuring and allocating accommodation in County Donegal for the purposes of providing shelter to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
135. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of offers of accommodation on a commercial basis that have been made to house Ukrainian refugees in County Donegal; the number of these applications that have been approved by IPAS; the number of applications that are yet to be approved; the total number of Ukrainian refugees that could be housed in County Donegal if the accommodation offered was availed of; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3529/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received approximately 300 offers of accommodation in Donegal.
Some of these did not meet our criteria, which include amongst others the potential impact on the local private rental market. In the case of houses, only those which can comfortably accommodate a minimum of 15 people are considered- these are generally houses with a minimum of 6 bedrooms. Offers which rely on grouping private houses together to reach the 15 bed threshold are not accepted, as this removes housing from the local property market. My Department will make an exception to this rule in the case of owners of holiday home villages, where the entire development will be considered for contract for accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.
Furthermore, the accommodation must meet the Department of Housing standards applicable to accommodation for homeless people. For example, a 3-bedroom house where the owner proposed to install bunk beds and not to provide any shared recreational space is unlikely to meet the standards. My officials in considering an offer also consider the local amenities available, including ease of transport to schools and shops. There is no guarantee that my Department will contract for every property offered.
Approximately 130 Donegal offers have resulted in contracts being signed.
Of those yet to be evaluated, we are giving priority to assessing those which have been submitted via our updated MS forms offers portal. There are 275 beds in Donegal in the latter category.
The nature of the offer process is such that we do not generate metrics around offers which have not been taken further. Therefore, it is not possible to answer the final part of the Deputy's question.
136. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Ukrainian refugees that have been settled In County Donegal since October 2022 broken down on a weekly basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3530/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 22 January 2023, the number of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who have been accommodated by my Department is approximately 54,000. The information requested with regard to Donegal has been extracted from our systems and outlined in tabular form below.
|
Donegal - BoTP Booked by Month/WEEK |
|
|
October |
No. of BoTP Booked |
|
Week 1 |
366 |
|
Week 2 |
137 |
|
Week 3 |
60 |
|
Week 4 |
55 |
|
Subtotal |
618 |
|
November |
|
|
Week 1 |
54 |
|
Week 2 |
58 |
|
Week 3 |
107 |
|
Week 4 |
154 |
|
Subtotal |
373 |
|
December |
|
|
Week 1 |
115 |
|
Week 2 |
87 |
|
Week 3 |
48 |
|
Week 4 |
25 |
|
Subtotal |
275 |
|
January |
|
|
Week 1 |
66 |
|
Week 2 |
9 |
|
Week 3 |
42 |
|
Subtotal to date |
117 |
|
Total Since October 2022 |
1383 |
137. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of registered preschool providers in the country; the number of these that provide the EECE programme only; the number of children attending these EECE only providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3570/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently 4,587 providers providing Early Learning and Care (ELC) and/or School Aged Childcare (SAC) that have signed an ELC/SAC funding agreement with my Department. Of these 494 offer SAC only, with the remaining 4,093 providing ELC only or ELC and SAC.
1,048 of the 4,093 services providing ELC have signed an ECCE funding agreement only i.e. they have neither signed a National Childcare Scheme (NCS) nor a Community Childcare Saver programme (CCSP) funding agreement. Some of these services may offer childcare outside of ECCE in a private capacity not funded by my Department.
The number of children attending services that have signed an ECCE funding agreement and not an NCS or a CCSP funding agreement is 22,720.
