Joan Collins
Ceist:404. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection when the expansion of the hot meals programme into primary schools will take place (details supplied). [9800/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSchool Meals Programme
Ceisteanna (404)
Freagraí scríofa
The School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations benefitting 260,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking 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 2023 has provided €94.4 million for the programme. The Government has recently approved an additional €14.5m to allow access to the Hot School Meals scheme for all remaining DEIS schools from September 2023.
I am committed to continuing to expand the school meals programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme that has taken place in recent years. In this regard, I intend to roll out the Hot School Meals to all DEIS primary schools from September 2023, benefiting 64,500 children. I will also bring forward proposals in the coming weeks on commencing the roll out of the Hot School Meals to non-DEIS primary schools.
In addition, the final report from the evaluation of the school meals programme was recently received which I am currently reviewing. This report will help to inform future decisions around this important programme.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Ceisteanna (405)
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:405. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a fuel allowance will be awarded to persons (details supplied) once a means test is satisfied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9805/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including a means test and the household composition criteria. This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment is targeted at those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
To satisfy the household composition requirement, an applicant aged under 70 must live alone or only with:
- a qualified spouse / civil partner / cohabitant or qualified child(ren); (if the Qualified Adult is in receipt of half rate Carer’s Allowance, 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 or Basic SWA (less than 312 days for JA and less than 12 months/364 days for SWA).
The Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds is a short-term payment for people aged 65 who have ceased employment or self-employment and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. It is not a means tested payment. Therefore, Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance.
Any decision to include the Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds as a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Ceisteanna (406)
Michael McNamara
Ceist:406. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) has not qualified for an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9807/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Invalidity Pension (IP) is payable to an insured person who satisfies certain Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions and who is permanently incapable of work due to an illness or incapacity and for no other reason.
Claimants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions (class A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension claim.
The relevant date is:
(a) any date after the completion of one year of continuous incapacity for work, or
(b) any lesser period that may be prescribed, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that may be prescribed
where the insured person has entered into a continuous period of incapacity for work and he or she is subsequently proved to be permanently incapable of work.
A qualifying condition for IP is that a person must be regarded as being permanently incapable of work. 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 or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the person is likely to continue to be incapable of work for at least another year,
OR
A Deciding Officer or an Appeals Officer is satisfied that the likelihood is that the person will be incapable of work for life.
My Department has not received an application for IP from the person concerned. In March 2022, a medical review commenced as the person concerned was in receipt of Illness Benefit (IB) for 18 months and IB is payable for a maximum of 2 years. This review was to assess his continued eligibility for the IB that was in payment to him and also to access his possible medical suitability for IP. The result of the medical assessment was that he did not meet the medical eligibility conditions for IP at that time. The person concerned was informed of the outcome of the medical assessment on the 9 May 2022, he was also advised that he could still make an application for IP if he felt he met the qualifying criteria.
Eligibility for IP can only be established on receipt of a completed application form. The person concerned should submit an IP application form and their entitlement can then be determined.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (407)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:407. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a review of a decision on a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9834/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
I confirm that my department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 04 October 2022.
Based on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, her application for DA was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 11 January 2023, and they were given the right to a review or an appeal.
Further medical evidence was received on 23 January 2023 and a review of this decision was carried out. The original decision was upheld and the person concerned was notified in writing on 09 February 2023.
The person concerned requested an appeal with the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO) on 16 February 2023. The file of the person in question was forwarded to the SWAO for consideration on 23 February 2023.
The person will be notified directly regarding the outcome of the appeal by the independent SWAO.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
State Pensions
Ceisteanna (408)
Robert Troy
Ceist:408. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the contributory pension appeal by a person (details supplied), and if an oral hearing can be arranged. [9871/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned reached pension age on 13 August 2022 and applied for State pension (contributory) on 14 November 2022.
Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment.
According to the records of my Department, the person has a contribution record of 417 paid full-rate social insurance contributions. As their contributions fall short of the required 520 paid full-rate contributions to qualify for State Pension (contributory), their claim was disallowed. The person concerned was notified in writing on 21 November 2022 and provided with a copy of their social insurance record.
The person concerned appealed the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office which functions independently of my Department. My department was notified of the appeal on 21 February 2023 and officials are preparing the information requested by the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (409)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:409. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a schedule of social media influencers and online personalities, television and or radio personalities engaged by her Department and bodies under her aegis in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; if she will include the fees expended, name of personality and campaign they were engaged on; and if she will also provide the key performance indicators in respect of their engagement. [9906/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
For the purposes of this response, we have interpreted social media influencers as individuals who advertise, endorse or review goods or services on social media, in return for payment or other consideration.
I can confirm that my Department has not engaged with any social media influencers or online personalities as part of our internal or external communication activities, including public information campaigns and advertising.
My Department has however engaged with a number of experts as part of our Health and Well-being programme for staff in the Department, and as part of our stakeholder engagement at the Department’s annual Pre-Budget Forum event.
These individuals were chosen based on their professional expertise and some of those engaged with for this purpose include people working in the media and appearing on television and radio; those working in the media are included in the following table, along with the fees expended:
|
Name |
Engagement |
Fees Paid |
Key performance indicator |
|
Ingrid Miley (Presenter and Broadcaster) 2021 |
Moderator for Pre-Budget Forum held on 14/7/2021 in Dublin Castle. This is an opportunity for stakeholders to say what their priorities are for the Social Protection budget |
€1,000 |
A feedback survey is conducted every year with pre-budget forum participants on what went well and what can be improved on. |
|
Karl Henry (Fitness Expert) 2021 |
Delivered 3 separate Webinars: - Setting Goals - Maintenance - Keeping it going |
€6,050 |
Feedback is sought after each well-being session from the participants on what went well and what might be improved upon. |
|
Gráinne McElwain (Presenter and Broadcaster) 2022 |
Moderator for Pre-Budget Forum, held on 27/7/2022 in Farmleigh House. Attendees include NGOs, Trade Union and Employer Representatives. |
€1,599 |
A feedback survey is conducted every year with pre-budget forum participants on what went well and what can be improved on. |
Question No. 410 answered with Question No. 401.
Question No. 411 answered with Question No. 401.
Social Welfare Appeals
Ceisteanna (412)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:412. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in respect of an appeal for carer’s allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9927/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 that the carer's allowance application of the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 20 October 2022. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal against that decision was received in that Office on 10 January 2023.
In normal course, an appeal against the decision of a Deciding Officer must be made within 21 days of a decision being notified. Appeals received outside of this time limit may be accepted at the discretion of the Chief Appeals Officer. In light of the length of time which has elapsed since the notification of the decision and in the absence of any current explanation for the failure to submit an appeal within the prescribed timeframe, the Social Welfare Appeals Office wrote to the person concerned on 23 February 2023 advising them that their appeal had not been accepted but providing them with the opportunity to provide an explanation for the appeal being late. If an explanation is provided the matter will be re-considered and the person concerned will be advised of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Ceisteanna (413)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:413. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9996/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Disablement Benefit is one of the benefits payable under the Occupational Injuries scheme to an insured person who suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty as a result of an occupational accident or prescribed occupational disease, on or after 1 May 1967. In order to qualify for Disablement Benefit, the person must be in employment which is insured at PRSI Class A, B, D, J or M.
The person concerned applied for Disablement Benefit on the 11 October 2022. Their entitlement to this payment is currently under investigation and has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) to ascertain if they satisfy all the conditions for receipt of this scheme.
No decision has issued to the person concerned regarding their entitlement to Disablement Benefit and therefore no appeal has been registered regarding same.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Ceisteanna (414)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:414. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection why an application for the invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) was refused on the basis that they did not have sufficient contributions; the reason they have not received credits for the past two years in view of the fact that they have been in receipt of the disability allowance for the past seven years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10000/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Invalidity Pension is payable to an insured person who satisfies certain Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions and who is permanently incapable of work due to an illness or incapacity and for no other reason.
Claimants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions class (A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension claim.
The relevant date is:
(a) any date after the completion of one year of continuous incapacity for work, or
(b) any lesser period that may be prescribed, subject to the conditions and in the circumstances that may be prescribed where the insured person has entered into a continuous period of incapacity for work and he or she is subsequently proved to be permanently incapable of work.
The person concerned submitted an application for Invalidity Pension on 28 September 2022. It was decided that the relevant year in this case is 2017. According to the Department’s records there are 0 weeks qualifying contributions paid or credited for him in the contribution year prior to the relevant date (2016) and 0 weeks qualifying contributions paid or credited for him in the second last year prior to the relevant date (2015). This application has been disallowed and the person concerned was notified of the decision on 28 January 2023, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.
The person concerned is not due credits for their Disability Allowance (DA) payment as they to not have the required social insurance (PRSI) contributions paid or credited in the tax years immediately prior to the award of their DA claim.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Question No. 415 answered with Question No. 383.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Ceisteanna (416)
Emer Higgins
Ceist:416. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person applying for home caring in the context of State pension (contributory) must have a date of birth after 11 September 1946, even when they have paid in excess of 520 paid contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10012/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The current State Pension (Contributory) system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period outside the paid workforce, often to raise families or to provide another full-time caring role.
Applicants for the State Pension (Contributory) have their entitlement assessed under two separate criteria, receiving a payment based on whichever 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 uses 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.
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. 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. This reform fundamentally changed the entitlement of many who spent time out of the workforce caring for others. For the first time, it acknowledged home caring periods prior to 1994. The Interim Total Contributions Approach arrangement results in a fairer and a more transparent system, as the person’s lifetime contribution is reflected in the State Pension (Contributory) payment received.
People whose pensions were decided under the 2000-2012 rate bands (i.e., those born before 1 September 1946) were subject to a significantly more generous payment regime than those who qualified before or afterwards, as a Yearly Average of only 20 contributions per year (out of a maximum of 52) could attract a 98% pension. If pre-2012 pensioners were also allowed avail of HomeCaring Credits, their arrangements, as a group, would continue to be significantly more generous than those of post-2012 pensioners. There would also be a very significant cost which, in turn, could significantly impact funds for future pension increases with consequential implications for pensioner poverty.
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.
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, he/she may qualify for the means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum rate of which is over 95% of the rate of the State Pension (Contributory). Alternatively, an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA) is paid, generally, where a pensioner has an adult dependent who does not have enough contributions to claim a maximum rate State Pension (Contributory) in his or her own right. The payment rate for the IQA is up to 90% of a full contributory pension. The most advantageous payment for a pensioner will depend upon their individual circumstances.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.