Written Answers Nos. 402-418
402. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the case of a person (details supplied) and make contact with the relevant party to find a solution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21330/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, this Department may make Additional Needs Payments (ANPs) to help meet expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary.
The scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
In this instance a CWO visited the person concerned at their home on 04/05/2023 to assist with the claim. The person advised that they had already acquired the appliance with use of a temporary loan from their brother and provided a receipt dated 19/04/2023. The person has been asked to provide confirmation of this arrangement from their brother and further telephone contact was made with her on 08/05/2023. As soon as this information is provided, the person’s claim will be assessed, and they will be advised of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
403. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps she is taking to enable full-time carers who are also pensioners to access the State pension (non-contributory) €200 cost-of-living lump sum payment as well as the carer's allowance cost-of-living lump sum payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21346/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is acutely aware of the effect that high energy prices and the cost of living are having on families, businesses and the most vulnerable.
In addition to the substantial package of supports provided in Budget 2023, earlier this year the Government announced a €470 million package of measures to help social protection recipients including families, pensioners, carers and people with disabilities.
The Spring Cost of Living Bonus is one of the range of measures put in place. It is one lump sum payment of €200 for each eligible person in receipt of a primary payment in their own right. The €200 lump sum payment was paid week commencing Monday 24th April 2023 to over 1.2 million people in receipt of long-term social welfare payments at a cost of approximately €250 million.
If a person receives more than one qualifying social welfare payment, they will receive only one €200 lump sum payment. Each eligible primary recipient of a social welfare payment receives one €200, regardless of the number of dependents (qualified adult or children) if any, or other social welfare payments.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
404. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on adjusting the qualifications for the jobseeker's transition payment to enable single parents with joint equal custody of a child or children to apply for it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21347/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra405. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on adjusting the qualifications for the one-parent family payment to enable single parents with joint equal custody of a child or children to apply for it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21348/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 405 together.
The One-Parent Family Payment is a payment for lone parents under 66, who are not cohabiting, and whose youngest child is under seven. The Jobseekers Transitional Payment is a special arrangement under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme for lone parents under 66 who are not cohabiting and whose child/children are between seven and fourteen years old.
In addition to other requirements, to be eligible for either of these supports the applicant must be the main carer for at least one child. This means, for example, that the child must live with that person. The One Parent Family Payment and the Jobseekers Transitional Payment are not paid where there is joint equal custody of a child or children. There are no plans to make changes in this regard.
Where a person who has an income need, does not qualify for either of the above payments, they may qualify for another of the Department's income supports, such as Jobseeker's Allowance.
The Department continuously reviews its services and schemes to ensure they are meeting policy objectives while any proposed changes need also to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the position.
406. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if a means-tested payment will be affected by the new rent-a-room relief scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21353/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast year, I announced a series of measures designed to remove barriers facing social welfare customers who choose to accommodate people in their own homes.
In July 2022 I signed legislation, which introduced a disregard of up to €269.23 per week in respect of income from renting a room in their own home. This disregard means that a social welfare customer will be able to rent out a room in their home for up to €14,000 per annum and this income will not see their means-tested primary social welfare payment impacted.
I introduced this regulation with the aim of removing any means disincentive for people letting out a room in their home for fear that it would impact their social welfare payment and I am pleased that Government has recently approved the extension of this disregard for a further two years until March 2025.
I trust this clarifies the matter for Deputy.
407. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount stored in the Social Insurance Fund investment account; the amount stored in NTMA-issued Exchequer notes for the most recent five years for which data is available, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21381/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSet out below in tabular format is the total amount stored in the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) investment account and in NTMA issued Exchequer notes at the 31 December for the years 2018 – 2022.
|
Year End |
Social Insurance Fund Investment Account balance (€000) |
NTMA Exchequer Notes (€000) |
|
2022 |
1,810,000 |
1,810,000 |
|
2021 |
0 |
0 |
|
2020 |
0 |
0 |
|
2019 |
3,580,000 |
3,580,000 |
|
2018 |
2,065,000 |
2,065,000 |
The SIF operates under the terms of the Social Welfare (Consolidation Act), 2005, as amended. Moneys not required to meet SIF current expenditure requirements are transferred from the current account to the investment account. The investment account is managed and controlled by the Minister for Finance.
During 2020 the COVID 19 Pandemic was the primary cause of the full depletion of the SIF investment account.
The SIF returned to a surplus in 2022 allowing the transfer of funds in excess of expenditure requirements to the investment account.
408. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for JobsPlus will be finalised for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21493/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe JobsPlus scheme is an incentive paid to employers who recruit long-term unemployed people for new positions in their workplace. Employers can avail of JobsPlus when filling new positions or positions that arise as a consequence of natural turnover and receive a subsidy of €7,500 or €10,000 per employee. The value of the grant is dependent on the age of the new employee and their duration of unemployment.
The person referred to applied for JobsPlus assessment on 8 February 2023 and a decision issued advising them they were not eligible on 13 February 2023. On request from the applicant’s employer the decision was reviewed on 14 April 2023 and the original decision was upheld.
The decision to refuse JobsPlus was issued to the applicant on 14 April 2023 and was based on them not being in receipt of a qualifying payment and that they were also in full time employment at the time of application.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
409. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated yearly cost of increasing the rate of jobseeker's allowance for all young people aged under 25 years in line with the maximum person rate for those aged over 25 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21553/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated full year cost of increasing the rate of Jobseeker's Allowance for young people aged under 25 years is €64.91 million.
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2023. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on the Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment, where relevant.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
410. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a matter concerning the rent-a-room scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21588/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn May 2022, I announced a series of measures designed to remove barriers facing social welfare customers who choose to accommodate people in their homes.
In practice, this means that a social welfare customer will be able to rent out a room in their home to a person who is not an employee or an immediate family member, for up to just under €270 per week (equivalent of €14,000 over a year), and will not see their social welfare payment impacted, including the Household Benefits Package or Living Alone Allowance.
While the Rent-A-Room means disregard applies to Fuel Allowance applicants who rent out a room in their own home, the Fuel Allowance household composition criteria have not been changed and existing rules still apply to all household members including those renting a room within the property for which the rental income is disregarded.
Therefore, Fuel Allowance will only be payable if the person renting a room is in receipt of a qualifying or disregarded Social Protection payment in their own right.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
411. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if financial statements are always required for social welfare payments, including the medical card and GP visit card schemes; if these schemes can be accessed by persons without a bank account; the safeguarding in place to protect the financial details of those who receive payments through social welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21594/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection administers Ireland’s social protection system. Customers are required to provide personal data to determine eligibility for relevant payments and benefits. In the case of means tested payments, this often requires supporting documentary evidence of bank accounts to ensure that the Deciding Officer has all the necessary facts relevant to the claim in order to ensure the correct rate of payment is made. Bank accounts are not required to enable persons to access social welfare payments as my Department also facilitates payments through the An Post Network.
My Department operates under a number of Acts which provide that personal data may be legally processed. The main Act is the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. Access to personal data is restricted to those staff members who need the information to carry out their official duties. Personal data may only be shared with other Government Departments and agencies where provided for by law. My Department’s data protection policy is available at www.gov.ie/dsp/privacystatement.
The medical card and GP visit card schemes are administered by the HSE.
I trust that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
412. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when a refund will be paid to a person (details supplied) whose additional €200 payment was reduced by an amount; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21629/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Spring Cost of Living Bonus is one of the range of measures put in place to help social protection recipients including families, pensioners, carers and people with disabilities.
It is one lump sum payment of €200 for each eligible person in receipt of a primary payment in their own right. The €200 lump sum payment was paid week commencing Monday 24th April 2023 to over 1.2 million people in receipt of long-term social welfare payments at a cost of approximately €250 million.
The full €200 cost of living payment was paid, but in a small number of cases direct debits agreed via the An Post Household Budgeting system were applied to the bonus payment, in addition to being applied to a person’s normal weekly payment.
The department is working with An Post, the local authorities and accommodation providers to identify the people affected. In cases where rent was deducted, the department will recover the amount deducted and arrange for a refund to the affected customers.
It is expected that refunds for rent will be made to customers, including the person concerned, by the end of May.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
413. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is still the Government's intention that the State pension will be equal to 34% of gross average industrial earnings; if he is aware that the present rate of the State pension falls considerably short of that commitment; when this objective will be attained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21638/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025, Government committed to finalising an approach for the benchmarking and indexation of pension payments.
A smoothed earnings method to calculating a benchmarked/indexed rate of State Pension payments was also recommended by the Commission on Pensions.
Last September, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system. The measures are in response to the recommendations from the Commission on Pensions and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
As part of this, a smoothed earnings method to calculating a benchmarked/indexed rate of State Pension payments will be introduced as an input to the annual budget process and will be submitted to Government in September each year, commencing this year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
414. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for carer's allowance by a claimant (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21666/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 10 March 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were returned to the Appeals Office on 6 April 2023 and referred on 2 May 2023 to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
415. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the contributory pension application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21672/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 9 June 2022.
They have been awarded State Pension (contributory) from 9 June 2022. The current weekly rate of payment is €238.50 which equates to 90% of the current maximum rate of pension. This is the correct rate of pension commensurate with the current social insurance record held by my Department. The person concerned was notified of this decision along with a copy of their insurance record.
If the person concerned considers that they have additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to my Department and their pension entitlement can be reviewed.
Entitlement to an EU pension based on their Irish and UK contributions was examined. As the rate of State Pension awarded using their Irish contributions alone is a more beneficial rate, that pension will remain in payment.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
416. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a full review of a refusal of an application for carer's allowance will be undertaken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21682/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer’s Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
It is a condition for receipt of Carer’s Allowance (CA) that the person being cared for must have such disability that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring, from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and being likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
An application for Carer’s Allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 21 October 2022.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the Deciding Officer (DO) decided that this evidence did not indicate that these conditions were satisfied. The person concerned was notified on 2 December 2022 of this decision, the reason for it and of the right of review and appeal.
A review of this decision was requested by the applicant on 27 January 2023 and further medical evidence was submitted. On examination of this evidence, the decision remained unchanged. The person concerned was notified on 11 February 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of the right of review and appeal.
In order to further review this decision, the person concerned should submit any further medical evidence or information that would be of benefit to the application.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
418. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of individuals who have taken up paternity leave each year since its introduction, up to and including 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21725/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraPaternity leave gives new parents 2 weeks off work. You can take time off if you are employed or self-employed, and can start the leave any time in the first 6 months after the baby's birth. You can also take paternity leave when you adopt a child. Your employer does not have to pay you during paternity leave, but you may qualify for Paternity Benefit. Paternity Benefit is a payment to employed and self-employed people who are on paternity leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI).
The number of individuals in receipt of Paternity Benefit each year from 2016 to 2022 is shown in the table below.
Table 1: Recipients of Paternity Benefit, by year
|
Year |
Recipients |
|
2016 |
4,580 |
|
2017 |
25,753 |
|
2018 |
24,004 |
|
2019 |
26,630 |
|
2020 |
24,270 |
|
2021 |
26,463 |
|
2022 |
24,713 |
