Written Answers Nos. 738-757
738. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider bringing in child benefit payments for those over 18 years in full-time secondary education in 2023, instead of from September 2024 onwards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48047/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education was one of my key priorities as part of Budget 2024. The measure is expected to benefit approximately 60,000 18 year olds each year at an estimated cost of €21.6 million in 2024.
With many children now starting primary school at age 5 together with the increase in pupils doing transition year, there has been an increase in the number of 18-year-olds still in secondary education. I believe the extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education is a long-term change for the better and will support families across Ireland into the future.
This is a significant change to the Child Benefit payment which will require technical and operational changes to the social welfare system before implementation. For this reason, the change will take effect from September 2024. Where a child in full time education turns 18 in the meantime they will be covered by the extension from September 2024 until they turn 19.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
739. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure an application for a respite care grant is approved for a person (details supplied). [48066/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Carer's Support Grant (CSG) is an annual payment made to carers by my Department.
I can confirm that my Department received an application for CSG from the person concerned on 23 May 2023.
It is a condition of CSG that the care recipient must have a disability that meets the full-time care and attention requirements set out in the governing legislation such that a person shall not be regarded as requiring full-time care and attention unless the person is so incapacitated that he or she requires from another person –
(a) continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or
(b) continual supervision in order to avoid danger to himself or herself.
Having examined all the evidence presented in support of the claim for CSG, and taking account of the disability of the care recipient, a Deciding Officer decided that they do not meet the full-time care and attention requirements. The person concerned was informed of this decision in a letter dated 9 August 2023.
A request for a review of the original decision was received on 1 September 2023. Following a review, the person concerned was notified on the 3 October 2023 that the original decision was upheld and of their right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
740. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of complaints she has filed to the Corporate Enforcement Agency, CEA, since the establishment of the CEA and-or An Garda Síochána in the past ten years to date in respect of grants and-or funds her Department provided that in her view were misappropriated. [48078/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to our records, my Department has not filed any complaints to the Corporate Enforcement Agency (CEA) since its establishment, or to An Garda Síochána in the past ten years, in respect of grants or funds my Department provided that were misappropriated.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
741. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48094/23]
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.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 14 June 2023.
CA was awarded to the person concerned on 24 August 2023, with effect from 24 August 2023 and the first payment issued to their nominated bank account on the same date.
The person concerned was also awarded an increase for 1 qualified child from 24 August 2023.
The person concerned was notified on 8 August 2023 of this decision, the reason for it and of their right of review and appeal.
In relation to the overpayment refund, a Payment Authorisation form was issued to the person concerned on 3 October 2023. I am informed that monies owed were refunded to the customer's account on 11 October 2023 and the €50 being deducted in respect of the child benefit has ceased. I am further informed that a weekly repayment deduction plan remains in place for a previous debt.
Please note that Fuel Allowance is not payable with CA. However, if another person in the home is in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, they may apply for it. Only one Fuel Allowance may be claimed per household. For more information, please visit: www.gov.ie/en/service/00aa38-fuel-allowance/ or email NationalFuelscheme@welfare.ie
In relation to the fuel allowance payment for the time they were in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, a request for review of this was received on 18 September 2023. The customer was paid Jobseekers Allowance to 29 August 2023 and they applied for the fuel allowance on 24 May 2023 which is outside the fuel allowance season and was therefore not payable in this instance.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
742. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance application in the name of a person (details supplied) will be re-examined and approved as a matter of urgency; and if an oral hearing will be arranged if necessary. [48103/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16, who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and the level of that disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.
This level of care and attention must be required to allow the child deal with the activities of daily living, in areas such as mobility, personal care, feeding / diet, communication, speech / language, sleeping, behaviour, safety, sensory issues, and any other additional needs. However, eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the child's disability / diagnosis but rather on the impact of the disability, in terms of the associated level of care and attention required by the child compared to a child of the same age without their disability.
To qualify for DCA, it must be established that the level of care and attention required by the relevant child is substantially in excess of that normally required by children of a similar age without their disability and likely to be required for at least 12 consecutive months, as provided for in the governing legislation.
An application for DCA in respect of their child was received from the person concerned on 23 March 2022. A Deciding Officer disallowed their claim as per decision dated 1 June 2022. Based on the information provided, the child concerned was not considered to satisfy the conditions for DCA. This determination also considered the supporting medical evidence that was provided by the person concerned in their application.
The Deciding Officer had regard to the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor in the decision process.
The applicant requested a review of the above decision and also appealed the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
The SWAO functions independently of my Department and Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions.
Following a review of their application in respect of the child concerned, including all information and evidence available at the time of the original decision and all further additional information and documentary evidence provided in support of their review request and appeal, a Deciding Officer decided not to revise the original decision as per further decision dated 19 August 2022.
Further to their appeal to the independent SWAO, an Appeals Officer decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned via a summary decision, as per appeal decision dated 10 October 2022.
An Appeals Officer's decision is generally final and conclusive.
However, an Appeals Officer's decision may be subject to review by an Appeals Officer under Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, where new facts or evidence is brought to notice since the appeal decision was made.
The person concerned requested a review of the appeals officer decision under Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act and provided further new additional information in their review request, for re-consideration by the Appeals Officer.
Following a re-examination of their case, under Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, including the further additional information provided by the person concerned in support of their review request, the Appeals Officer decided not to revise the appeal decision on the grounds that there was no additional information presented to render the original appeal decision erroneous, as per further appeal decision dated 12 September 2023.
In relation to an applicant's request for an oral hearing in the appeal process, where an Appeals Officer is of the opinion that an appeal case can be determined on the basis of the information and documentary evidence provided, the Appeals Officer may determine the appeal on a summary basis.
As per the appeal file in this case, the designated Appeals Officer did consider the applicant's request(s) for an oral hearing in the appeal process, as referenced in the above appeal decision(s). However, the Appeals Officer decided that their case is of such a nature that the appeal could be determined summarily, without an oral hearing, as the person concerned had provided substantial information relating to the care provided to the relevant child, including substantial medical evidence relating to their child's diagnosis.
On foot of your request for a further review of eligibility for DCA in this case, a review of the applicant's application and my Department's original decision of 1 June 2022 will be now undertaken by a Deciding Officer. This review will include all information and documentary evidence that was provided by the person concerned in relation to their application of 23 March 2022.
Once the review is completed, the person concerned will be notified directly in writing of the review outcome.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
743. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48119/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSupports for small businesses are a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I recognise the current pressures facing employers from increasing costs on expenses associated with running their business. However, to introduce, as is suggested, a temporary abolition of social insurance liability for low earning workers in 2024, 2025 and 2026 (whether for employees, employers or both) would have significant financial implications for the Social Insurance Fund.
The Social Insurance Fund derives income, in the main, from social insurance contributions paid by employees, their employers, and self-employed persons. Contributions made can therefore be differentiated from taxation in that those who participate do so in the knowledge that once the contributions and any other scheme specific requirements are satisfied, they will benefit from these contributions in the event of certain contingencies arising during their working life such as unemployment, illness, maternity and, thereafter, upon retirement from the work force. It is essential to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Fund is financially secure to meet these benefits.
The 2020 Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund found that even without any economic shocks to the economy or change to policy, the long-term sustainability of the Fund will face significant challenges. In the absence of any action to tackle the shortfalls, the excess of expenditure over income of the Fund will increase significantly over the medium to long term with an accumulated deficit by 2076 of €500 billion.
In this context, as Minister for Social Protection, I have brought forward proposals for PRSI changes as one of the primary means of addressing the projected shortfalls in social insurance income. This approach was agreed as an alternative to increasing the State Pension age. Under Budget 2024, the Government agreed to increase all rates of PRSI by 0.1 percentage points effective from 1 October 2024.
Any proposal to introduce a temporary abolition of social insurance liability for low earning workers in 2024, 2025 and 2026 would have to be considered in a budgetary context, taking account of the current economic circumstances and with a view to the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
744. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal for a disability allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48145/23]
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 on the 16 August 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 received on 05 September 2023 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 20 September 2023, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
745. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to a living alone allowance. [48155/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraA living alone increase is an extra payment for people who live alone and are receiving certain social welfare payments.
The person concerned had been in receipt of a living alone increase up to 25 May 2023. The entitlement ceased as the Department became aware that another person was residing at the same address and, therefore, she no longer satisfied the conditions associated with the payment.
Following receipt of communication from the person concerned on 30 May 2023, their case was assigned to a Social Welfare Inspector for their assistance in establishing the person’s entitlement to the payment.
The Inspector has now confirmed that the conditions for the payment are satisfied, and a Deciding Officer has reinstated the person’s living alone increase with effect from 26 May 2023.
A decision letter issued to the person concerned on 3 November 2023, confirming that the living alone increase has been reinstated and that all arrears due will issue without delay.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
746. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection in regard to the announced expansion of the free travel pass to support people medically certified as unable to drive, if only people in receipt of a primary medical certificate will qualify as medically certified as unable to drive. [48156/23]
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.
As part of Budget 2024 I was particularly pleased to extend my Department’s Free Travel Pass to support people who are medically certified as unable to drive including those with Epilepsy.
The measure will expand access to the Free Travel scheme to:
• People who have never been able to drive due to a disability.
• Drivers who have a license and have been deemed medically unfit to drive for a period of one year or longer. In some cases these drivers will only need the Travel Pass until they are medically certified to drive again.
To qualify for a primary medical certificate an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled and satisfy at least one of six medical criteria as set out in primary legislation.
As the medical free travel pass will be open to people who may be either temporarily or permanently unable to drive, there will be no requirement that only those that are in receipt of a primary medical certificate will qualify for the pass.
My officials are currently working to implement the reforms, including the drafting of relevant qualifying criteria and development of administrative and IT systems as necessary.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
747. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection to detail the consultations which took place within her Department in the formation of the green paper on disability allowance. [48212/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Green Paper on Disability Reform is my department’s response to our commitment under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion to develop and consult on proposals to restructure long-term disability payments and to simplify the system.
The Green Paper is a consultation document we developed to start a structured discussion with disabled people and stakeholder groups on what the future of long-term disability payments could look like. It is not a final reform design. The proposals represent a starting point for a structured discussion on what the future of long-term disability payments could look like. They are intended to invite discussion, debate and suggestions.
It is important to highlight that under the proposals nobody will lose their payment or have their payment reduced. The objective is to increase people’s payments and provide more employment supports for those who can and want to work.
I am very mindful of our commitment under Article 4(3) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to consult closely with and actively involve disabled people and their representative groups in changes to policies and services that will impact them.
Thus, my officials engaged with a number of disability stakeholders and Disabled Persons' Organisations to ensure that the consultation process is as accessible as possible. The Department incorporated stakeholders’ feedback and published the Green Paper in plain English, easy-to-read, and screen reader friendly formats. It is also available on request in two Braille formats. We also took the recommendations of stakeholders on board regarding video submissions to allow for people whose first language is Irish Sign Language to submit their views to us, and their input regarding the importance of hybrid and regional events.
I launched the Green Paper and the associated wide-scale public consultation on 20th September, at which I met a number of stakeholder organisations as part of a briefing session. I also held a consultation event with stakeholders on 18th October.
Further consultation events are taking place in Dublin Castle on 9th November, in Cork on 14th November and in Athlone on 23rd November. These are open to disability groups, Disabled Persons' Organisations and members of the public. Invitations have been shared with over 100 organisations. Registration for these events is already open to all via Eventbrite. Depending on demand, my officials are happy to add more locations and more consultation events to this event series. In addition, individuals and groups are welcome to make a submission until 15 December. They can do this in writing or by video in Irish Sign Language through our web page. My officials have already received over 120 submissions which will feed into the final reform design. I would further ask you to encourage those you represent to make their voices heard. It is essential that we hear from as many disabled people and representatives as possible. I can assure everyone that their voices will be heard. I engaged in similar consultations on pay-related benefit and pensions auto-enrolment which led to the revision of some key features. The same will apply here. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
748. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the closing date for the public consultation on the green paper on disability allowance in order to allow disabled people and organisations ample time to submit their responses to the proposed changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48205/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government committed as part of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion to develop and consult on proposals to restructure long-term disability payments and to simplify the system. The proposals developed are set out in the Green Paper on Disability Reform. This was published on the 20th September and marked the start of the consultation process.
The Green Paper is a consultation document. It is not a final reform design. The Paper’s purpose is to invite discussion and suggestions.
I am very mindful of our commitment under Article 4(3) of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to consult closely with and actively involve disabled people and their representative groups on changes that will impact them. Thus, we will be holding public consultation events in Dublin Castle on 9 November, in Cork on 14 November and in Athlone on 23 November. These are open to members of the public, Disabled Persons’ Organisations and disability groups.
It is essential to the consultation process that the department hears from as many people as possible and ensures that people have ample time to submit their responses is integral to this process. My officials consulted with stakeholders in advance of the launch of the Green Paper and they requested a period of 12 weeks to enable meaningful consultation with their members.
The current deadline is the 15th December, thereby allowing the 12 weeks as requested by stakeholders, but I am open to extending the consultation period if needed. My department has previously accommodated requests for extensions for public consultations, so the Deputy can be assured that people will have sufficient time to have their say.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
749. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection whether her Department has conducted any research into the social and structural barriers preventing people with disabilities from accessing employment; and whether this research fed into the construction of the green paper on disability allowance. [48206/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department provides a range of income and employment supports for people with disabilities. These supports remain under review by my department, as we look to national and international best practice to improve them.
As part of our commitments under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy, my department carried out a review of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and Disability Awareness Support Scheme.
The Reasonable Accommodation Fund provides financial supports to jobseekers and employees with a disability and their employers to make workplaces accessible. The Disability Awareness Support Scheme provides a contribution towards the cost of disability awareness training for private sector employers.
My department undertook a focused policy review comprising of a literature and expenditure review, an international comparison, and a comprehensive public consultation, which received strong stakeholder engagement.
The review was published in August 2023. It recommends combining the two schemes, simplifying the application process, and extending scheme eligibility and funding. Under Budget 2023, I allocated an additional €1 million to expand the scheme and implement these recommendations. The new, single scheme is expected to launch in early 2024.
My department is also currently reviewing the Wage Subsidy Scheme (WSS), which included a four-week public consultation in June 2023 that received over 1,000 submissions. The WSS offers financial incentives to private sector employers to employ people with disabilities.
I expect to receive the completed report of the review over the coming months. Under Budget 2024, I allocated an additional €3.7 million to expand the scheme by reducing the minimum required hours from 21 to 15 hours. Research shows that lowering the minimum required hours will make the scheme more accessible by allowing for more flexible jobs. Administrative and IT work is underway to implement this change by April 2024. Any further revisions to the scheme will be carried out in the context of the recommendations contained in the report.
My officials review relevant international and national research into the barriers preventing people with disabilities from accessing employment on an ongoing basis. An extensive literature review was carried out in advance of preparing the proposals in the Green Paper on Disability Reform.
The Green Paper’s key proposal is to introduce a new tiered disability payment with associated employment supports.
This proposal takes into consideration the recommendations of Indecon’s Cost of Disability report, commissioned by this department. The report found that there is no single, typical cost of disability. Rather, income supports should be differentiated by need and government policy should facilitate employment among those who can work.
The proposed tiered system would work in tandem with my department’s employment supports to ensure that those who can and want to work can reach their employment ambitions.
I would like to emphasise that the Green Paper is not a final design. It is only a starting point for discussion on the future of long-term disability payments.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
750. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications received for disability allowance; the number of applications refused; and the number of applications approved on appeal, from 2019 to date, by year, in tabular form. [48207/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total number of disability allowance (DA) applications received, allowed and disallowed or withdrawn from 2019 to 30 of September 2023 are set out in the table below.
|
Year |
DA Received |
*DA Award |
DA Disallowed |
DA Withdrawn |
|
2019 |
24,017 |
16,949* |
13,981 |
1,519 |
|
2020 |
20,671 |
15,686* |
13,559 |
2,077 |
|
2021 |
20,599 |
13,298* |
13,989 |
871 |
|
2022 |
26,021 |
13,817* |
14,593 |
1,070 |
|
2023 (Jan to Sept) |
21,341 |
12,321* |
13,207 |
1,160 |
(*) Please note that the statistics in relation to awarded cases include cases in the disallowed category which were subsequently awarded following a review or a successful appeal.
The following tables show the number of DA appeals received and allowed or partially allowed by the social welfare appeals office (SWAO) from 2019 to 31 of October 2023 are set out in the table below.
Outcome of DA appeals received and allowed by SWAO
|
Year |
**DA appeals received |
DA appeals allowed |
DA appeals partially allowed |
DA appeals disallowed |
|
2019 |
6,242 ** |
3,416 |
78 |
1,801 |
|
2020 |
6,661** |
3,930 |
127 |
2,642 |
|
2021 |
5,733 ** |
2,611 |
101 |
2,178 |
|
2022 |
5,637 ** |
2,348 |
74 |
2,222 |
|
2023 (Jan to Oct) |
5,034** |
2,176 |
41 |
2,009 |
(**)Please note that the statistics in relation to appeals received include both received and re-opened appeal cases less cancelled appeals.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
751. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details on the proposed structure of means testing under the green paper on disability allowance; how cohabitating couples will be assessed; and what the income threshold would be. [48208/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Green Paper on Disability Reform is my department’s response to our commitment under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion to develop and consult on proposals to restructure long-term disability payments and to simplify the system.
The Paper addresses concerns raised in the Pathways to Work Strategy and the Make Work Pay report, and the recommendations given in the Cost of Disability report.
The main proposal of the Green Paper is to merge the social welfare assistance payments, Disability Allowance and Blind Pension, and the social insurance payment, Invalidity Pension, into a new Personal Support Payment with contributory and non-contributory streams.
Current eligibility for these long-term disability payments is based on either PRSI contributions or a means test, in addition to medical and habitual residency requirements. The Green Paper does not propose any changes to the means, habitual residence and contributory requirements currently in place.
The Green Paper does, however, outline a possible approach to in-work supports in the form of a working age payment type model. Under this approach, which is based on the Working Family Payment, a person would receive a payment based on a percentage of the difference between their income and a specified threshold.
It is important to highlight that the proposals in the Green Paper are not final. They are a starting point for a structured discussion on the future of long-term disability payments.
It is essential we hear from as many disabled people and representatives as possible. I encourage all those with an interest to express their views in our public consultation by making a submission or attending one of our public consultation events in Dublin, Cork and Athlone this month.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
752. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the reasoning behind the proposal to raise the age of access to the disability allowance from 16 to 18 years of age in her Department’s green paper on disability allowance; to detail the research that went into the basis for this proposal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48209/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government committed as part of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion to develop and consult on proposals to restructure long-term disability payments and to simplify the system.
One of the Green Paper’s proposals is to raise the qualifying age for Disability Allowance to 18 to create a common tiered approach to disability payments.
The age of entry for Disability Allowance has been 16 since its introduction in 1996. This age criterion followed from the scheme that preceded Disability Allowance, the Disabled People’s Maintenance Allowance. When introduced in the 1950s, this allowance sought to accommodate the many disabled people who left the education system at that age. The Green Paper proposes to raise the age of entry to recognise that education for many people with disabilities now continues to age 18 and over.
The proposal would also bring Disability Allowance’s age criterion in line with the rest of the social welfare system, as all other working age payments become payable at age 18.
In line with this change, the Green Paper proposes to extend Domiciliary Care Allowance to age 18. This recognises that young people aged 16 and 17 are still in the care of their parents or guardians.
Domiciliary Care Allowance is a monthly payment to a parent or guardian for a child aged up to 16, who has a severe disability and requires care and attention substantially over and above that required by other children their age. It ceases to be payable when a child reaches 16 years of age. The young person can then apply for Disability Allowance if they meet the eligibility requirements.
I have increased the rate of payment of Domiciliary Care Allowance in successive Budgets.
The reconfiguration of Disability Allowance and Domiciliary Care Allowance has been highlighted in a wide range of reports going as far back as the Report of the Commission on Social Welfare in1986, and more recently, the May Work Pay report in 2017.
The proposals in the Green Paper are not final. They are a starting point for a structured discussion on the future of long-term disability payments.
It is essential that we hear from as many disabled people and representatives as possible on this matter. I encourage all those with an interest to express their views in our public consultation by attending one of our public consultation events in Dublin, Cork and Athlone this month or by making a submission by 15 December.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
753. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection whether the cap of a €20,000-per-annum scholarship income disregard for PhD students who are in receipt of disability allowance will be raised in light of the increase to PhD stipends announced by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48210/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Allowance is a means tested social assistance scheme, which is also subject to a medical assessment and habitual residency requirement. My Department seeks to support persons in receipt of Disability Allowance to pursue educational or training opportunities and as a result, a number of disregards are in place.
I introduced a PhD disregard effective from 2021, for persons in receipt of Disability Allowance and from 2022 for persons in receipt of Blind Pension who have been granted a bursary, stipend or scholarship towards completing a PhD. An annual disregard of €20,000 was introduced with the disregard available for a maximum of four years.
I've asked my officials to examine the issue raised by the Deputy.
754. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the name of each company contracted to provide the hot school meals programme, in tabular form; the total cost and duration of each contract; the numbers of schools and students in each county availing of the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48218/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,700 schools and organisations benefitting 300,000 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 provided €94.4 million for the programme. In February, the Government approved an additional €14.5m to allow access to the Hot School Meals scheme for all remaining DEIS schools from September 2023. Budget 2024 has increased the funding by an extra €42.5m
Since my appointment as Minister for Social Protection, I have increased the number of schools with access to the Hot School Meal option from 37 to 1,100. 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, the roll out of the Hot School Meals to all remaining DEIS primary and Special schools began in September 2023, benefiting more than 60,000 children.
My Department provides funding directly to the schools and organisations. The schools are then required to procure the provision of the food in compliance with relevant Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Point (HACCP), Food Safety regulations and the Nutritional Standards for School Meals.
As such, my Department does not secure contracts with any suppliers of School Meals. It is down to each individual school or organisation to source a supplier that best meets their own individual needs and falls in line with the School Meals guidelines outlined in the Service Level Agreements.
A tabular breakdown of the number of schools and pupils per county with access to Hot School Meal funding from September 2023 has been provided below.
As part of significant plans to extend the Hot School Meals programme, all remaining primary schools were contacted and requested to submit an expression of interest form if their school is interested in commencing the provision of Hot School Meals. Expressions of interest forms were received from over 900 non-DEIS schools in respect of 150,000 children.
I was pleased as part of Budget 2024 to secure funding for the extension of the Hot School Meals programme next year to these 900 schools.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Schools and pupils per county with access to hot school meal funding
|
2023/2024 |
Number of Schools |
Pupils with option to avail |
|
CARLOW |
18 |
3,875 |
|
CAVAN |
18 |
3,145 |
|
CLARE |
31 |
3,301 |
|
CORK |
71 |
11,219 |
|
DONEGAL |
134 |
11,737 |
|
DUBLIN |
215 |
44,471 |
|
GALWAY |
72 |
7,867 |
|
KERRY |
40 |
4,118 |
|
KILDARE |
20 |
4,459 |
|
KILKENNY |
18 |
2,090 |
|
LAOIS |
18 |
2,694 |
|
LEITRIM |
16 |
1,225 |
|
LIMERICK |
42 |
6,461 |
|
LONGFORD |
18 |
3,548 |
|
LOUTH |
23 |
5,791 |
|
MAYO |
85 |
6,247 |
|
MEATH |
15 |
3,901 |
|
MONAGHAN |
18 |
2,635 |
|
OFFALY |
26 |
4,441 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
30 |
2,302 |
|
SLIGO |
24 |
2,593 |
|
TIPPERARY |
50 |
6,531 |
|
WATERFORD |
22 |
4,946 |
|
WESTMEATH |
23 |
3,984 |
|
WEXFORD |
35 |
7,808 |
|
WICKLOW |
18 |
3,804 |
|
Grand Total |
1,100 |
165,193 |
755. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal emailed to the welfare appeals office on 17 September 2023 (details supplied) will be registered; if the backlog in registering appeals will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48233/23]
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 02nd November 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. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred 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 appeal hearing.
Improvements in appeals processing times are a priority for the Chief Appeals Officer. An Appeals Modernisation Project is in progress to develop and implement a new appeals business process, including a new IT system.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
756. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a jobseeker’s allowance application from a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48236/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobseekers Allowance (JA) has been awarded form 21/09/2023 at €129.70 per week payable to the nominated Post Office for the person concerned. First payment will issue on 01/11/2023. The person concerned received notification of this on 27/10/2023.
757. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is appropriate for the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office to be holding oral hearings in Intreo offices; if this practice will undermine the integrity of the appeals process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48237/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of my Department which is independent in its decision making functions.
An in-person oral hearing may be convened where an appeals officer is of the view that such a hearing is required to determine an appeal. Intreo office's have been used to hold a number of in person oral hearings. An Intreo office can be a suitable location where it is local to the appellant and the facilities are accessible and appropriate for the hearing.
Regardless of where the oral hearing is held, each appeal is considered on its own merits and an appeals officer makes an independent decision.
Since 2020 Appeals Officers have made greater use of telephony and online solutions to conduct oral hearings. This approach has proven to be an effective way of facilitating oral hearings for appellants and appeals officers in some cases.
The appeals process is quasi-judicial and decisions are subject to review by the High Court.
The Chief Appeals Officer is satisfied that appeals officers can remain independent in their decision making while conducting an oral hearing in an Intreo office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
