Written Answers Nos. 1-20
10. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection when the review of the part-time substitute service in Castlepollard will be finished and available for the public to read; and if she has carried out any research into the reduction of footfall in shops in Castlepollard since the part-time closure. [5801/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCastlepollard Branch Office closed on 8 April 2022 at the request of the then Branch Office Manager due to unforeseen circumstances. No formal decision has yet been taken as to the opening of a new Social Welfare Branch Office dedicated to Castlepollard.Since the closure, an outreach service has been put in place in the County Council Offices, Mullingar Road, Castlepollard on Tuesday and Wednesday each week, 09.30 to 13.00 and 14.00 to 16.00.This service is fully supported by Mullingar Intreo Centre where customers are welcome to conduct their business by either attending in person, emailing mullingar@welfare.ie or via the dedicated phoneline (044) 9350921. The Department’s services are also available through digital and online channels at MyWelfare.ie.
My Department closely monitors all relevant data in regard to the service provisions in this and all other localities. There has been no reduction in service levels by the Department in relation to Activation measures, Community Welfare Support or Inspector activities as a result of the closure of the Branch Office. In addition, the closure of the Branch Office has not impacted on the claims processing and prompt customer service. All new claims are processed by the National Processing Team and this was the position prior to the closure of the Branch Office in April 2022.Castlepollard Branch Office, claimload is 589, which also takes account of the additional increase claimload associated with Temporary Protection customers from the Ukraine. Since week ending 10th April 2022, 336 new claims have been registered at Castlepollard, which include TPU customers. This averages less than 8 claims per week, with the average footfall figures at the outreach service standing at 18 customers per day.Social Welfare payment arrangements continue to be available for collection at Castlepollard Post Office and post offices in the surrounding area. I understand that 170 of my Department's customers collect their payments in the Castlepollard post office on a weekly basis.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
14. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the provision for wigs for those who have lost their hair due to medical reasons that are not specifically cancer-related; the exact amount of the grant available to support such persons with the cost of non-surgical hair replacement in each county per calendar year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6040/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Treatment Benefit scheme is available to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people who have the required number of PRSI contributions. It is also available to their dependent spouse or partner if applicable. Those who are eligible can avail of dental, optical and hearing services under the scheme. Some €120 million was spent on the scheme in 2022 and the estimated spend for 2023 is €128 million.
As part of Budget 2022, I announced an expansion to the range of services available under the Treatment Benefit scheme. A new grant became available from 28 May 2022 towards the cost of wigs and hairpieces for people who suffer from hair loss due to disease.The grant of up to €500 is available nationwide once every calendar year to support people towards the cost of non-surgical hair replacement, for example wigs and toupées.
Hair loss is a common issue among people that can be caused by a variety of medical conditions including autoimmune diseases such as alopecia or systemic conditions like cancer. It is not limited to people with cancer. I recognise not only the physical impact, but also the psychological impact, that hair loss can have on a person’s life. This new grant should help improve the quality of life of those who need it. The grant is available for hair loss in respect of a disease and not due to ageing or other natural causes. Some1,400 customers availed of the scheme in 2022 to the value of over €692k and the estimated spend in 2023 expected to be €1.4 million.
15. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on her Department’s review of the extension of the free travel scheme to persons with epilepsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6035/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2023 is €95 million.It is important to note that, in general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is a secondary benefit linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary Social Protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit. As many illnesses or physical conditions have an impacts ranging from mild to severe, entitlement to these social welfare schemes is not provided on the basis of a diagnosis but on the basis of the impact of that diagnosis on the individual concerned and in the case of disability and carers allowance to an assessment of their means. In this way, resources can be targeted to people in most need.
I am aware of an ongoing campaign by Epilepsy Ireland. I fully recognise the issues and difficulties that can arise due to a person being diagnosed with epilepsy and who is unable to drive as a result of their condition. Following a meeting with representatives of Epilepsy Ireland to discuss its proposal in detail, I asked my Department officials to examine the issues raised in relation to access to the Free Travel scheme.
There are many illness and conditions that affect a person's ability to drive a car, not all of these people however are unable to work nor do all of them face financial hardship. Extending access to State supports simply on the basis of a diagnosis of a specific condition rather than on an assessment of impact or need would represent a fundamental shift in policy and potentially require very significant additional funding not just to fund the service for people with epilepsy but for people with many other conditions. These are matters which need to be considered in light of Epilepsy Ireland's request.
My officials advise me that they are currently finalising the report and I expect to receive it shortly. I will carefully consider its contents and any recommendations that it may contain.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
16. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the process by which her Department contacts the British work and pensions department seeking contribution information about people who have made social protection applications based on their British contributions; the current average waiting times for this information to be received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6108/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the social security arrangements between Ireland and the United Kingdom, the respective authorities exchange social insurance record details for pension entitlement assessment purposes.State Pension (Contributory) applications are examined to establish entitlement based on a person’s Irish contribution record. If a person does not qualify for the pension or qualifies for a reduced rate pension, their entitlement using UK contributions or contributions from other countries covered by EU Regulations or countries with which Ireland has bilateral agreements is examined.If a person indicates that they worked in the UK, an application for a UK pension is forwarded electronically to the UK authorities on their behalf, together with their Irish social insurance record. If their UK social insurance record is required to determine entitlement to a pension from my department, a copy of their record is also requested from the Department of Work and Pensions in the UK.Documents are exchanged electronically using a system approved for the electronic exchange of social security information. While many records are received within a short period of time, others may take a prolonged period, due to incomplete information and the complexities of identifying older records.
While information is not readily available in relation to the average waiting time for receipt of insurance records requested from the UK, my department is in contact on an ongoing basis with the UK authorities regarding the exchange of information between the two jurisdictions to ensure applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
If the Deputy has details of a specific case where it appears there may have been a delay in processing, the information should be provided to my Department for review.
17. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures that are being taken to reduce child poverty; the impact of these measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6099/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraA key priority for this Government is the reduction of all forms of poverty, and particularly child poverty.Budget 2023 provided a social welfare package worth almost €2.2 billion which included a range of measures to support children. This included a double payment of Child Benefit to all families, a €500 cost of living lump sum payment to all families in receipt of the Working Family Payment and an Autumn and Christmas double payment for most weekly payment recipients. Since last month personal; rates of payment on working age schemes have been increased by €12 per week. In addition, the Increase for a Qualified Child has been increased to €42 where the child is under age 12 and to €50 where the child is 12 or over.Additional funding of €9m was also provided for the Hot School Meal programme, bringing the total budget to €94.4m. The number of schools with access to the Hot School Meal option has increased from 37 to over 500 since my appointment.
While income supports play a central role in addressing poverty, a whole of Government approach is required. Access to affordable services such as housing, health, childcare and education are also essential.With this in mind, the National Childcare scheme saw an increase in the universal subsidy rate from €0.50 per hour to €1.40 per hour in this year's Budget. Furthermore, from September 2023, free schoolbooks and related classroom resources will be supplied to all pupils in recognised primary schools. This is expected to benefit approximately 540,000 pupils.
Between 2011 and 2021, the number of children in consistent poverty fell by 45,000 to 62,000, and the consistent poverty rate fell by 4.1 percentage points from 9.3 per cent to 5.2 per cent in 2021. So, we can see that the measures taken to date have had a positive impact although we still have further to go.The Roadmap commits us to setting a new child poverty target. My Department and the Department of Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth are working together to progress this in the context of the development of a new Policy Framework for Children and Young People.As the Deputy will be aware, the Taoiseach is establishing a new Child Poverty and Wellbeing Unit in his Department. The aim of this new unit is to build on what has already been achieved and provide greater focus to improving the lives and wellbeing of all children in Ireland.
18. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is actively seeking to give a double payment of social welfare payments to assist with meeting costs, given that inflation is still running at just below 9%, the price of groceries has gone up by 15% and gas bills have gone up by nearly 60%. [6126/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully recognise the challenges the increased the cost of living has brought to many people and families. That is why, in September, I announced the largest social protection Budget package in the history of the State - comprising measures worth almost €2.2 billion.This included eight separate cost of living lump sum payments throughout October, November and December to ease the pressure that many households are facing.From the start of January, we have seen a wide range of increases come into effect which were announced as part of Budget 2023. This includes a €12 across the board increase to weekly rates – the largest increase to weekly rates since the mid-2000s.I also announced the largest ever expansion in the Fuel Allowance scheme, and we have seen over 20,000 additional households join this scheme since the Budget.The ESRI post-Budget analysis shows that Budget 2023, combined with once-off measures to reduce the cost of living, will be effective in protecting most households from rising prices this winter and in fact that lower income households are better off than if they had just received an inflation indexed increase in basic rates.And further measures are in train - the third energy credit is due in March / April and will deliver an extra €200 to virtually all households in the state.Also, when including the once-off measures, the ESRI’s December Distributional Analysis shows that the Budget was progressive, helping those in the lower income deciles the most.Finally, I can assure you that we are keeping the situation under close review on a whole of Government basis and are ready to respond as and when required.
19. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the legal basis on which welfare inspectors are entitled to enter a person’s home. [6173/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Welfare Inspectors are appointed in accordance with the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. Their duties include the investigation and ongoing review of claims made by customers for the various schemes administered by my Department and ensuring that employers are compliant with their PRSI obligations.Social Welfare Inspectors support a range of the Department's activities and schemes where on occasions a home visits could be required, for instance, to facilitate a customer who for various reasons is unable to leave their home, or to review a case without which a delay in payment to the customer might occur. Home visits may also be used to verify the information provided by the customer such as their stated residence and household composition.
My Department is quite clear that an Inspector can only enter a person’s home where the person gives permission. The Department’s guidance to staff states that the statutory power to enter premises only extends to places of employment and not to a customer’s home and that an officer should only enter a customer’s home with the permission of the customer. If a customer does not give permission, the customer will be asked to attend for interview at an office of the Department.
Officers must clearly identify themselves to the householder (all staff carry with them their certificate of appointment or official identity), and clearly explain the purpose of their visit, and only enter a person’s home if permission is granted by the customer.
Customers must at all times be treated equally, fairly, with respect and dignity. Where home visits arise, staff are expected to be sensitive to the fact that it is a person’s home and that issues may arise regarding privacy.All officers making home visits are expected to conduct themselves appropriately in line with the Department’s instructions and guidance to staff and in accordance with the Department’s Customer Charter.I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
20. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider amending the eligibility criteria for illness benefit to cover workers under 25 years of age who do not have 104 weeks of PRSI contributions and who do not have contributions in the relevant tax year, to ensure access to a short-term illness payment when ill just after commencing employment for the first time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6101/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness benefit is the primary income support provided by this Department to those who are unable to work due to illness of any type and who are covered by Pay Related Social Insurance contributions. Claimants must have a minimum of 104 social insurance contributions and must meet other conditions in relation to when these were paid and whether they are paid or credited contributions.
Given that Illness Benefit may be paid for up to two years, subject to the other scheme conditions being met, I consider the current contribution requirements to be proportionate and appropriate.
In circumstances where people are ill but do not qualify for illness benefit, my Department provides means tested supports under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. An additional needs payment is also available to people who have expenses that they cannot pay from their weekly income.
My Department will continue to keep its range of supports under review to ensure that they meet their overall objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, and in the context of contribution rates and the overall sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
