Written Answers Nos. 104-118
104. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm that benchmarking of the State pension will be included in Budget 2025 as per the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 (details supplied). [53990/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government agreed earlier this year that the Department of Social Protection would, in submitting budget options, set out the rate of pension payment using the smoothed earnings benchmark approach. I can confirm that this calculation was prepared and submitted to Government as an input into Budget preparations.In assessing options the Government was mindful, as it was last year, that the cost of living pressures were most acute over the winter period. For that reason, and rather than taking a simplistic approach to applying an indexed rate of increase to weekly rates of payment, the Government decided to 'front-load' supports through the provision of special payments including extra fuel allowance, working family, child benefit, carers', disability, qualified child and living alone payments. These payments are in addition not only to the €12 increase in the weekly payment rate, but to the Christmas bonus payments being made this week and an extra double week payments being made in January.
This combination of special payments plus a weekly rate increase, not only exceeds the value of a benchmarked increase but ensures that a significant proportion of this value is delivered when people need it most - over the winter period.
For example, the double payment to be made in January will have a value for a single pensioner of €277.30 – equivalent to over €5 per week, as does the double payment to be made this week – so over €10 per week in value from these two payments alone.
Pensioners living alone, and in receipt of Fuel Allowance will have received bonus payments of €500 – equivalent to a value of about a further €10 per week.
ESRI post budget analysis shows that the approach taken by the Government is progressive in nature and that households, including pensioner households, are better off compared to a purely indexed linked approach. Its analysis also showed that the approach taken benefited low income households the most and reduced their risk of poverty.
The Department of Social Protection will, for Budget 2025 and future budgets, continue to calculate the smoothed earnings benchmark for State Pensions and this will form an important input into Budget deliberations by Government.
105. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the SCOPE investigation into RTÉ; how many cases have concluded; and what the verdicts were. [54002/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn late 2020, the Department commenced an investigation into the PRSI classification of workers engaged by RTE as contractors. RTE provided the Department with lists of workers engaged on a contract basis in from 2018 to 2020 and these formed the basis of the investigation. These amount to 695 workers over the period. The scale of the Department’s investigation in RTE is significant and further workers may be brought into the scope of the investigation as it proceeds.
The Department does not normally comment on the status of ongoing investigations. However, I am aware that RTE has updated the Public Accounts Committee in relation to this matter. On that basis, I am happy to provide the Deputy with the following information.To date:
• Decisions have issued in respect of 126 workers.
• 84 workers were found to have employee status and Class A PRSI applies, while 42 workers were found to be self-employed and insurable at Class S PRSI.
• 48 decisions have been appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. It is, of course, entirely a matter for the worker and RTE to decide if they wish to pursue an appeal.
• Of these appeals, 19 have been disposed of (14 of which were withdrawn); with the original decisions being maintained in 18 cases. Each appeal requires a review of the appellant’s submissions and the preparation of detailed replying submissions.
• RTE has also requested a review by the Chief Appeals Officer of the Appeals Officer’s decision in two cases.
• One of the appeal decisions has also been appealed by RTE directly to the High Court without requesting a review by the Chief Appeals Officer. That case is ongoing.
As is evident from the data just outlined employment status investigations can be complex; each case involves at least two parties and each case must be investigated having regard to its own facts and with an opportunity for each party to be interviewed and to make and respond to submissions.
In some cases there is a difference of opinion between the worker and the employer as to social insurance status, in other cases both the worker and the employer contend that the engagement was that of self-employment. In either situation the Department must form its own opinion based on the information presented to it, the application of the criteria set out in the Code of Practice for the determination of employment status and the prevailing case law. It is noteworthy that in some cases the parties involved have engaged legal representatives to make and respond to submissions on their behalf.
In conducting these investigations the Department's fundamental objective is first, to ensure that workers do not suffer a loss of entitlement to social insurance benefits as a consequence of misclassification and, second, to ensure that employers collect and remit the correct amount and value of social insurance contributions. Where an investigation identifies that this has not been the case the workers record is corrected and employers are required to remit the correct value of contributions back-dated as appropriate.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
106. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is her intention to reduce payment rates for recipients of social welfare engaged in criminal behaviour; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54157/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI, like others, are aware of calls being made arising from the terrible events in Dublin just over a week ago for prompt action to punish wrongdoers and deter further acts of violence and aggression. We were all horrified at the scenes that unfolded and are concerned to do all we can to prevent such scenes recurring.However, we need to be careful not to rush to judgement or make assumptions about the backgrounds or circumstances of the people who were engaged in the violent activity. We know for example, and from newspaper reports, that many of the people charged in relation to these events did not come from the north inner city and in addition that many are in employment and not, as some seem to assume, in receipt of a welfare payment.
We also need to be mindful that in our democracy we operate the separation of powers whereby the application of sanctions for people engaged in criminal activity is a matter reserved for the Courts.
Indeed this is a principle that has been confirmed in a Supreme Court ruling in 2018 whereby the Court ruled that the State may not operate a social welfare disqualification regime that applies only to convicted prisoners as it would constitute an additional punishment not imposed by a court dealing with an offender.
Ultimately, if we are to prevent a reoccurrence of the scenes we all witnessed we need to identify and address root causes.
In the meantime our immediate response to dealing with the people engaged in the violence in Dublin must, under the separation of powers, be through the criminal justice system. We need to rely on our Garda Síochána with the DPP to identify and prosecute offenders and on our judiciary to apply appropriate sanctions.
I can confirm that where a court applies a sanction of imprisonment to a person of working age (18 - 66) and where that person is in receipt of a welfare payment then their payment is ceased.
107. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will look at extending the Households Benefits Package and the Living Alone Allowance to single parent families; if her Department can provide a costing for this measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53939/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Living Alone Increase is an extra payment for recipients of certain social welfare payments who live alone. It is an increase of €22 per week. The Household Benefits Package comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence.
Both these payments are widely available to those aged over 66 and who satisfy certain qualifying or age criteria. The payments are more focused to those in receipt of disability type payment under 66 years of age, such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension or caring for a person with a disability.
Extending these payments to those aged under 66 and not in receipt of a disability type payment such as those in receipt of the One Parent Family Payment or Jobseekers Transition would be a significant policy change to these schemes and could only be considered while taking account of overall Government policy and in a budgetary context.
The estimated yearly cost of the provision of the Living Alone Increase to all those in receipt of One Parent Family Payment and Jobseekers Transition payment would be in the region of €70 million.
The estimated yearly cost of the provision of Household Benefits package to all those in receipt of One Parent Family Payment and Jobseekers Transition is €31 million. This estimate takes account of the fact that an estimated 20% of people in receipt of One Parent Family Payment already have access to the Household Benefits package.
However, where there are cases of special need my Department may make Additional Needs Payments 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 schemes are 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 to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
I trust that this clarifies these matters for the Deputy.
108. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection her Department’s plans for a public awareness campaign to alert long-term carers to changes in their pension provisions under the provision of Social Welfare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52958/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Pension Commission set out a wide range of recommendations, including changes to PRSI contributions, the State pension age and flexible access to the State Pension.
In September 2022, following detailed examination and consideration of the Commission’s Report the Government published its response. A key feature was improved access to the State pension for long-term carers.
Since September 2023, Long-Term Carers have been able to apply for Long Term Carers Contributions. These contributions are reckonable for State Pension Contributory purposes for long-term carers (those who have been caring for 20 years or more) and will make it easier for a carer to qualify for the State Pension (Contributory) from1st January 2024 or when they reach pension age.
I am committed to ensuring that members of the public are fully aware of the welfare supports and services available to them. Public information campaigns are an important part of this work.
A public information campaign to raise awareness of Long-term Carers Contributions began on 4 September 2023, to coincide with the opening of an applications system for this scheme. The campaign will continue to run until the end of January 2024.
Advertising featured across targeted national and regional print titles from 6 September until 29 November 2023.
Radio ads in both Irish and English commenced on 4 September and will end on 15 December 2023.
Advertising on social media and digital will run until 31 January 2024.
All ads will direct people to the campaign hub at gov.ie/statepension where they can access more information. The dedicated hub was developed to provide an accessible one stop shop with information on all the changes, in Plain English. It includes contact phone and emails for relevant scheme areas should anyone require support or additional information.
As part of our communications strategy in relation to the changes to the State Pension (Contributory), we also ran a campaign to encourage people to check their contribution statement is up to date.
My officials have worked with Family Carers Ireland to promote the carers scheme and officials attended a briefing session hosted by Family Carers Ireland and attended by carers from across the country. Following the success of this event, it is planned to hold another similar event next week.
109. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the fact that, standard disregards for maintenance that apply in the means testing of other payments, do not apply in the means testing of the Guardians payment non-contributory. [54244/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Guardians Payments scheme, first introduced in 1936, was originally called orphan’s payment. It was renamed guardian’s payment in July 2006, in recognition of the fact that the original remit of the scheme had been extended to include certain children who had not lost both parents through bereavement.
The payment is made to a person caring for a child who satisfies the definition of an “orphan” under social welfare legislation. A child is considered an orphan if they are under 18 (or 22 if in full time education) and both parents are deceased; or one parent is either dead or unknown or has abandoned and failed to provide for the child and the other parent is unknown or has abandoned and failed to provide for the child.
There are two Guardians Payment schemes: Guardian’s payment (contributory), based on the PRSI contributions of the orphan's parents or step-parent. The Guardian’s Payment (Non-Contributory) is a non-contributory payment for a child who is not entitled to the contributory payment which is a means tested payment based on the child’s means.
The means of the guardian including any maintenance payments paid to them in respect of the child are not assessed when establishing entitlement.
Currently, the Guardians payment is paid in respect of 2,297 children with the guardians payment (non-contributory) paid in respect of just under 800 children.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
110. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if a ‘cost-of-disability’ payment will be introduced in Budget 2025 (details supplied). [53989/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department provides a suite of income supports to those who cannot work due to illness or disability. It is important to note that eligibility for these payments is generally not dependent on the type of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. My department also provides a range of employment supports for disabled people who want to work or who are working.
The Indecon Cost of Disability report identified that additional costs of disability run across many areas of expenditure, including housing, transport, health, and education.
The report did not propose a Cost of Disability payment. It found that the cost of disability is significantly broader than income supports and there is not a single, typical cost of disability. Rather, there is a spectrum from low to high additional costs of disability, depending on individual circumstances.
The report concluded that disability payments should be targeted to those most in need and who face the greatest additional cost of disability rather than spreading resources thinly.
I am committed to addressing the cost of disability and improving outcomes for people with a disability. I announced a suite of measures to support disabled people in Budget 2024. I am not in a position to comment on Budget 2025 at this time.
However, despite the measures in the recent budget, there is still a need to reform our system of disability payments. In September, I published the Green Paper on Disability Reform to begin the conversation about improving these supports and further addressing the cost of disability.
The aim of the Green Paper is two-fold. Firstly, it aims to support a higher level of employment for people with disabilities, which will improve their outcomes; and secondly, to better insulate disabled people who cannot work from poverty and deprivation.
The Paper’s key proposal is to introduce a new long-term disability payment that has three tiers of payment with associated employment supports.
This takes into consideration the recommendations of the Cost of Disability report, which found that income supports should be differentiated by need and that government policy should facilitate employment among those who can work.
The Green Paper is not a cost cutting measure. Based on a conservative estimate, the Green Paper proposals, if introduced, would increase spending by more than €130 million per year.
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 would like to emphasise that the Green Paper is not a final design. It is only a starting point for a structured discussion on what the future of long-term disability payments could look like. It offers one possible approach on how to target limited resources - its proposals are intended to invite discussion, debate and suggestions.
I encourage all those with an interest to express their views in our public consultation by making a submission. It is essential that we hear from as many disabled people and representatives as possible. We would like to hear what people like and don't like about the proposals and suggestions of how they could be improved or replaced with alternatives. I have extended the consultation period until 15 March 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
111. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection when details on the carer’s pension will be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54185/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra118. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the specifics regarding the pension entitlements being worked on for carers by her Department presently if she will outline the specifics regarding the pension entitlements being worked on for carers by her Department presently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53598/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra148. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the long-term carers contribution scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54065/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 118 and 148 together.
This Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, the current State Pension (Contributory) system provides measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.
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 key pension reform measures announced is the introduction of enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for 20 years or more. It will do this by attributing the equivalent of paid contributions to such long-term carers to cover gaps in their contribution record for the periods that they were caring for an incapacitated dependent.
The measure will be available to individuals who reach State Pension age from 1 January 2024 and will also be available to people currently over pension age. They will be able to apply for these contributions and receive a State Pension (Contributory) or enhanced pension from 1st January 2024 where eligible.
In September, my Department launched an online system for people to register for long term caring contributions. This will facilitate the expeditious processing of these contributions upon enactment of the legislation.
I was very pleased to introduce the legislation to give effect to these measures in the Dáil last month and I expect the legislation to be enacted by the end of the year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
112. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if provision will be made to have child benefit paid in respect of students in full-time education who reach the age of 18 during the current school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54211/23]
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 scheme 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.
113. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of her plans following the public consultation stage on document (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54165/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra121. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason there was no co-production and co-design involved between her Department and disabled persons representative organisations and disability organisations in relation to the production of the Green Paper on Disability Reform and the subsequent consultation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54158/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra149. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the public consultation deadline on the Green Paper on disability reform; the number of submissions received to-date; the expected timeline for the consideration of all submissions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54183/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 121 and 149 together.
The 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 20 September and marked the start of the consultation process.
My officials engaged with disability stakeholders, including Disabled Persons Organisations, prior to the launch to discuss and plan how to make the consultation process as accessible as possible. The Green Paper was published in plain English, easy-to-read and screen reader friendly formats. We are also accepting not just written submissions but also Irish Sign Language video submissions as a result of this engagement.
The Green Paper is a consultation document. It is not a final reform design. The Paper’s purpose is to invite discussion, debate 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.
I can assure the Deputy that all feedback on the Green Paper proposals will be considered in any future reforms of the system. That is the purpose of the consultation process. My officials have held a stakeholder event and four public consultation events over the last two months. I want to hear from as many disabled people and their representatives as possible. For this reason, I have extended the closing date for the consultation until the 15th March 2024. This was in response to a number of requests for an extension and to allow individuals, Disabled Persons Organisations and disability groups time to compose their submission. I am open to all ideas and suggestions and I encourage everybody with an interest in improving the lives of people with disabilities to engage in the consultation process.
My department has received 212 submissions to date; 190 from individuals and a further 22 from Disabled Persons’ Organisations and disability groups.
Following the close of the public consultation, the feedback from these submissions and the public consultation events will be reviewed, analysed and considered. They will then inform the final proposal to Government. 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.
The Deputy will understand that it is not possible to commit to a timeline for this part of the process at this point, as it will depend on the submissions received in the coming months, which will then need to be analysed carefully.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
114. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details on her Department’s efforts to reform jobseeker’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54064/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently secured the approval of Government to proceed with design proposals for a new Pay-Related Benefit for jobseekers. The design of the scheme approved by Government was informed by an extensive consultative process following the publication of a Strawman document in December 2022.
The Strawman document also set out the parameters of a new Working Age Payment. This is in line with Pathways to Work 2021-2025 and the Commission on Taxation and Welfare’s recommendation that working-age payments should be reformed to move towards an income related working-age assistance payment.
A Working Age Payment would utilise Revenue Commissioner real time earnings data to adjust payment levels in line with a person’s weekly earnings. In this way it would guarantee a basic income floor and ensure that in all cases a person’s income increases when they work. This would represent a significant change to Jobseeker's Allowance and would address any issue whereby the use of days or hours worked thresholds complicate individual decisions at the margin.
Draft proposals for a new Working Age Payment will subsequently be developed next year, informed by the views and feedback on such a scheme received as part of the consultation on the Pay-Related Benefit.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
115. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of plans to close the pay gap between Tús supervisors and CE supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54184/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates a number of employment support schemes; including Tús and Community Employment (CE), for long term unemployed persons which also assist communities across the country in the provision of vital services. The Department is very conscious of the important role that these work programmes play and wish to support these schemes.
While Tús supervisors are employees of the individual Implementing Bodies and neither the Department, nor the State, is the employer of this group of workers, officials in my Department continue to hold regular meetings with representative associations to discuss employment related matters.
Not withstanding the 5% pay increase that this group has received in 2023, along with all other supervisors on our employment programmes, Departmental officials have engaged with representative groups in relation to a claim seeking pay parity between Tús/RSS supervisors and CE supervisors.
However, it should be noted that there is a difference in the supervisor roles on these schemes, with CE supervisors having a key role in drawing up and supervising individual participant learning and development plans.
As a consequence, there are a number of complex issues that need to considered in this regard by my Department, in it's role a funder of the programmes, and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. My officials continue to liaise with the union and employing companies representatives. in relation to this issue.
I wish to assure the Deputy that the work undertaken by supervisors on all employment schemes is valued and makes an important contribution to participants and communities across the State.
116. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any measures under consideration by her Department to reduce poverty levels among those with disabilities that were not announced in the Budget. [54180/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department provides a number of income supports for those who are unable to work due to illness or disability. These include insurance-based schemes, based on Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions, and means-tested social assistance schemes.
In Budget 2024, I announced a number of measures to further address the poverty faced by those with disabilities, including a €400 lump-sum payment in November, a Christmas Bonus double payment in December, a Cost-of-Living Bonus payment in January and a €12 increase in the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments.
However, there is still a need to reform our system of disability payments. In September, I published the Green Paper on Disability Reform to begin the conversation about improving income supports and further addressing poverty among people with disabilities. It is a response to commitments made under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion, Pathways to Work and the Make Work Pay report.
The aim of the Green Paper is two-fold. Firstly, it aims to encourage a higher level of employment for people with disabilities, which will improve their outcomes; and secondly to better insulate disabled people who cannot work from poverty and deprivation.
It seeks to achieve this through a new three-tiered Personal Support Payment. This tiered proposal takes into consideration the recommendations of the Cost of Disability report, which found that income supports should be differentiated by need and that government policy should facilitate employment among those who can and wish to work.
Nobody will lose their payment or have their payment reduced and nobody will be forced to take up unsuitable employment. The objective is to increase people’s payments and provide more employment supports for those who can and want to work. At a conservative estimate, the proposed measures, if introduced, would cost an additional €130 million each year.
I would like to emphasise that the Green Paper is not a final design. It is only a starting point for a structured discussion on what the future of long-term disability payments could look like. It offers one possible approach on how to target limited resources - its proposals are intended to invite discussion, debate and suggestions.
I encourage all individuals and groups with an interest in disability issues to make a submission in writing or by video by 15 March 2024. It is essential to the consultation process that the department hears from as many disabled people and representative organisations as possible.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
117. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the tender for EmployAbility which was due to be published in April 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54242/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department issued a Request for Tender (RFT) for the provision of contracted public employment services for people with disabilities on 14 September 2023, with a closing date of 20 November. Bids were requested for 23 geographic lots.
An evaluation of the bids received in respect of all 23 lots is underway at present. Where a particular lot will be vacant on 1 January 2024 it is intended to award a contract for that lot with effect from 1 January; in all other cases it is intended that new contracts will commence on 1 April 2024.
The new model for EmployAbility was developed following extensive engagement with existing service providers, and will enhance the autonomy of service providers to enable them to more effectively provide a high-quality supported employment service for people with disabilities.
