Written Answers Nos. 778-801
778. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update with regard to a person (details supplied) who has applied for invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14561/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The Department received a claim for IP from the person concerned on 21 November 2023. This claim was refused on 15 January 2024 on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. The person concerned was notified on 15 January 2024 of this decision, the reasons for it and of their right of review and/or appeal. No request for a review of this decision has been received and no request for an appeal has been made to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
779. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection whether a diagnosis of myalgia encephalomyelitis would allow a person to access disability allowance. [14584/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. These include contributory payments based on PRSI contributions, such as Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension, and non-contributory payments based on a means test, such as Disability Allowance.
Eligibility for these scheme is not dependent on the nature of the illness or disability. Rather, entitlement to these supports is contingent on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
Every application for the Department's schemes is individually assessed, in line with the provisions specified in the relevant social welfare legislation. Assessment is based on the medical information provided by healthcare providers and the claimant and taking into account the opinion of the Department’s Medical Assessor. Furthermore, for Disability Allowance the applicant must also satisfy a means test in order to qualify for the payment.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
780. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants refused for the domiciliary care allowance on first application; how many first applicants appealed this decision; how many first-time applicants were successful on appeal; how many were successful on a second application in 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14604/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) s a monthly allowance payable 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 where the level of the child's disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of additional care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months.
The following table sets out the number of applicants that were refused DCA by my Department on first application (at the initial decision stage), the number of first applicants that appealed this decision, including the number of first-time applicants (applications) that were successful on appeal in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. The number of DCA applicants (applications) that were partially allowed on appeal for the relevant year(s) is also included.
|
YEAR |
Applications refused during year |
Decisions Appealed during year |
Appeal Allowed |
Appeal Partially Allowed |
|
2021 |
2,478 |
896 |
533 |
25 |
|
2022 |
3,948 |
2,084 |
1,458 |
21 |
|
2023 |
4,076 |
1,934 |
927 |
20 |
It should be noted that statistics relating to the number of DCA applicants that are successful/ unsuccessful on a second, or subsequent application are not collated by my Department.
In some cases, more than one decision may be made on an application, where an applicant provides further information/documentary evidence and/or seeks a review of a decision, i.e. an application can be disallowed initially and then subsequently allowed on review, by a Deciding Officer. Applicants are advised to provide as much detail as possible at application stage, including any additional information and/or documentary evidence that is relevant, to ensure that all information is available for consideration in the decision and assessment process.
The number of DCA applications continued to increase during the above year(s) 2021, 2022 and 2023.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
781. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of notifications her Department has received from international protection applicants and beneficiaries of temporary protection in receipt of social protection payments who wished to leave the State for travel; in the case of IP applicants for each year from 2010 to date and for BOPT applicants from 2022 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14630/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Habitual Residence Condition is a social welfare condition that a person must satisfy to receive a social assistance payment. Generally, International Protection Applicants who have not yet been granted protection will not qualify for social welfare payments that are subject to the Habitual Residence Condition. However, those who reside in, or are waiting for, accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Services, receive the Daily Expenses Allowance in order to meet incidental, personal expenses.
International Protection Applicants are not permitted to leave Ireland without the permission of the Minister of Justice. Where my Department is made aware of an International Protection Applicant travelling out of the State, their payment is stopped.
Up until March of this year, Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection were eligible for the full range of social welfare payments, provided they met the qualifying conditions. From March of this year, newly arriving Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection resident in Designated Accommodation Centres are entitled to a weekly allowance of €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child, so long as they remain in these Designated Accommodation Centres.
Any impact on a payment in respect of absence from the State depends on the conditions of the underlying scheme. Some social welfare payments, mainly contributory pensions and long-term benefits payable under the social insurance fund, are payable while the recipient is absent from the State. Other, mainly short-term and means tested payments, may be payable in respect of periods a person is temporarily absent from the State for up to two weeks subject to the qualifying conditions continuing to be met.
The numbers of International Protection or Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection leaving the state for travel are not counted or collated by my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
782. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection what options are available to an individual, who has retired after 30 years of service but does not yet meet the minimum age requirement to be in receipt of a pension and does not want to draw jobseeker’s payment; if she has any plans to not treat those who are retired after 30 years of service and are not aged 66 years as jobseekers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14662/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraA person who retires after 30 years' of service with an employer may be entitled to an occupational pension. The terms and conditions of the relevant occupational pension are matters for the person’s employer and not the Minister for Social Protection.
The main supports for people who are under pension age and who are not in employment are the social insurance contribution-based Jobseeker’s Benefit or the means-tested Jobseeker’s Allowance schemes if they satisfy the qualifying conditions for these schemes. One of the statutory qualifying conditions for the jobseekers’ schemes is that a person must be available for and genuinely seeking full-time employment. The qualifying conditions are designed for universal applicability, regardless of the previous employment or profession.
Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds has been introduced in line with the Programme for Government commitment, to address the position of people who are required to or choose to retire at age 65 before the pension age of 66. The payment is designed to bridge the gap for people who retire from employment or self-employment at age 65 until they qualify for the State Pension at age 66. To be eligible for the payment a person must satisfy the qualifying conditions of the scheme.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
783. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection how many increased qualified adult payments have been made to those living outside the State; how many recipients, the list of countries recipients are living in, and the total amount paid to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14718/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMost welfare benefits require the recipient to be habitually resident in Ireland. Certain welfare benefits, such as State Pension Contributory allow the recipient to live outside the State.
The data requested by the Deputy for the calendar year 2023 is shown in the attached tabular statement. There were approximately 3,500 recipients of increased qualified adult payments living abroad, and 82,000 payments were made.
Note that only a person's current country of residence is available in my Department's records. Due to this limitation, the table below is a record of all adult dependent allowances paid in the calendar year 2023 to recipients who were resident outside Ireland in March 2024. As such, it does not include payments made to people who moved to Ireland in 2023, while it includes payments made to people who lived in Ireland at the start of 2023 before moving away.
This means that the expenditure figures shown in the table are statistical estimates rather than exact figures.
|
Country |
Expenditure (million €) |
|
Ireland |
954.1 |
|
United Kingdom |
5.9 |
|
Poland |
2.0 |
|
Spain |
1.2 |
|
Australia |
1.0 |
|
USA |
0.8 |
|
Other |
3.4 |
|
All |
968.2 |
784. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection how many living alone allowance payments have been made to those living outside the State; how many recipients, the list of countries recipients are living in, and the total amount paid to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14719/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrimary weekly social welfare payments are intended to enable recipients to meet their basic day-to-day income needs. Each primary payment has specific eligibility criteria, which may include residence in Ireland.
In addition to these primary payments, the Department also provides a range of other payments, on a weekly, monthly, or less frequent basis. These payments are considered secondary in nature and cannot be made available to those who are not in receipt of a primary payment.
The Living Alone Increase (LAI) is one of those secondary payments. It is not a scheme or a stand-alone payment, but it is a supplement to a primary social protection payment of €22 per week made to people in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are living alone.
Qualifying payments for the LAI include State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-contributory), Widow’s, Widower’s, or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Widow's/Widower's Pension under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Incapacity Supplement under the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme, Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Deserted Wife's Benefit.
The LAI can be paid to someone who is not resident in Ireland if they are in receipt of a primary payment which does not require the recipient to be resident in Ireland, provided they continue to meet the other criteria. Of the LAI qualifying payments, State Pension (Contributory), Widow’s, Widower’s, or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension and Invalidity Pension do not require a person to be resident in the Republic of Ireland.
The number of people in receipt of the LAI will vary over time as individual circumstances change. The Department’s records as of the 31st of March 2024 show that there are 172,584 Living Alone Increases in payment. Of these, 6,228 were being paid to those with a registered address outside the Republic of Ireland. The number of recipients per country is listed in the below table. Each person would be receiving €22 on a weekly basis in addition to their primary payment. For 6,228 payments this would equate to an approximate cost of €137,000 on a weekly basis.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Details of LAI payments awarded as of 31/03/2024
|
Country |
Total |
|
AUSTRALIA |
512 |
|
AUSTRIA |
12 |
|
BELGIUM |
22 |
|
BELIZE |
1 |
|
BULGARIA |
7 |
|
CANADA |
270 |
|
CAYMAN ISLANDS |
1 |
|
CHANNEL ISLANDS |
7 |
|
CHINA |
1 |
|
CYPRUS |
9 |
|
CZECH REPUBLIC |
25 |
|
DENMARK |
18 |
|
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC |
1 |
|
ESTONIA |
9 |
|
FINLAND |
3 |
|
FRANCE |
115 |
|
GERMANY |
131 |
|
GREECE |
8 |
|
HONG KONG |
1 |
|
HUNGARY |
15 |
|
INDIA |
4 |
|
INDONESIA |
1 |
|
ISRAEL |
3 |
|
ITALY |
21 |
|
JAPAN |
1 |
|
JERSEY |
3 |
|
KENYA |
1 |
|
LATVIA |
30 |
|
LITHUANIA |
59 |
|
LUXEMBOURG |
5 |
|
MALAYSIA |
2 |
|
MALTA |
8 |
|
MEXICO |
2 |
|
MOROCCO |
1 |
|
NETHERLANDS |
45 |
|
NEW ZEALAND |
20 |
|
NORFOLK ISLAND |
1 |
|
NORWAY |
8 |
|
PHILIPPINES |
8 |
|
POLAND |
90 |
|
PORTUGAL |
38 |
|
ROMANIA |
5 |
|
SERBIA |
1 |
|
SLOVAKIA |
17 |
|
SOUTH AFRICA |
15 |
|
SPAIN |
241 |
|
SWEDEN |
9 |
|
SWITZERLAND |
16 |
|
THAILAND |
9 |
|
TUNISIA |
2 |
|
TURKEY |
3 |
|
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
1 |
|
UNITED KINGDOM (incl. Northern Ireland) |
3668 |
|
USA |
720 |
|
VIETNAM |
2 |
|
Total |
6228 |
785. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection how many cost of living allowance payments have been made to those living outside the State; how many recipients, the list of countries recipients are living in ; the total amount paid to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14720/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraPersons entitled to receive their social welfare benefit abroad are also entitled with once of bonuses to help with the cost of living. This includes, for example, recipients of State Pension Contributory, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension or Invalidity Pension.
In 2023 there were approximately 63,000 recipients receiving 91,000 cost of living allowance payments (Budget 2024).
The data requested by country by the Deputy is shown in the below table. Note that all Figures are preliminary estimated from individual payments excluding arrears.
Note that only a person's current country of residence is readily available in my Department's records. Due to this limitation, the table below is a record of all cost of living payments paid in the calendar year 2023 to people who were resident outside Ireland in March 2024. As such, it does not include payments made to people who moved to Ireland in 2023, while it includes payments made to people who lived in Ireland in 2023 before moving away.
|
Country |
Expenditure (million €) |
|
Ireland |
812 |
|
United Kingdom |
5.0 |
|
Poland |
1.1 |
|
USA |
0.8 |
|
Australia |
0.7 |
|
Spain |
0.4 |
|
Canada |
0.3 |
|
Germany |
0.2 |
|
Lithuania |
0.2 |
|
France |
0.2 |
|
Other countries |
1.2 |
788. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14752/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
I can confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 13 September 2023, while they were in receipt of an Illness Benefit payment. On 6 October 2023 and 20 November 2023, the person was requested to supply supporting documentation required by a deciding officer in order to make a decision on their DA eligibility.
As the requested information was not returned in full and eligibility to DA could not be determined, their application was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 29 January 2024 for a report on the person’s means and circumstances.
Following the return of the SWI report on 20 February 2024, the person concerned has been awarded DA with effect from 13 September 2023. The first payment will be made by their chosen payment method on 24 April 2024. The person was notified of the decision in writing on 3 April 2024 and of their right to request a review and/or appeal.
Arrears of payment, if due, will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments from other Social Welfare schemes.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
789. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount her Department paid each external security company for security personnel at INTREO offices in the years of 2023 and to-date in 2024; and when the contract with each security company is due to expire, in tabular form. [14790/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe costs paid by the Department for external security at INTREO offices in 2023 and up to 31 March 2024 are stated in the below table:
|
Year |
Company |
Contract expiration |
Total Paid for INTREO office security (€) |
|
2023 (1 Jan – 31 Dec) |
SAR Security |
30/09/24 |
€2,325,097.94 |
|
2024 (1 Jan – 31 Mar) |
SAR Security |
30/09/24 |
€692,228.29 |
790. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 230 of 29 February 2024, if a matter regarding a fuel allowance payment (details supplied) can be rectified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14799/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuel allowance (FA) is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments and persons aged over 70 with the cost of their winter heating needs. Qualification for FA is subject to satisfying all the relevant qualifying conditions.
Further to Dáil Question No. 230, the person concerned was awarded a FA payment of €594 which was paid with their weekly Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) of €232 on 05/03/2024.
The person has also been awarded further arrears of €531 due to them up to the end of the FA 2023/24 season. This was paid to the person with their JA payment on 09/04/2024.
791. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage of applications made for increased qualified adult payment refused to applicants living in Ireland; the percentage of applications for increased qualified adult payment refused to applicants living outside of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14802/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecipients of certain social welfare payments can claim an increase in their payment in respect of a qualified adult, subject to a means assessment. A qualified adult is the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the recipient who is being wholly or mainly maintained by that claimant.
The information requested is not readily available. My Department is in the process of collating the data in question and will revert with a reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
792. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the review/appeal for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14834/24]
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 in relation to a decision on Disability Allowance was received in that Office on 2nd February 2024. 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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
793. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection is she will give due consideration to raising the full rate of the State pension (contributory) in order to restore it to its 2020 spending power, as a further step towards benchmarking the rate at 34% of average earnings, which should be achieved by 2026 as a 'living pension' alongside the introduction of the new national living wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14862/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra795. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the maximum rate of the State pension (non-contributory) to bring it to the same level as the State pension (contributory) and benchmark both the contributory and non-contributory State pension against 34% of average earnings, to reduce gender pension inequality; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14864/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra796. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will take the necessary steps to implement benchmarking and indexing of the State pension and reinforce this by commissioning a comprehensive analysis of the costs associated with ageing, and the cost-of-living for all older people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14866/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 793, 795 and 796 together.
The Roadmap for Social Inclusion contains a commitment to develop a benchmarking approach for use in adjusting the value of State pension payments. The approach proposed by the Department, known as the smoothed earnings approach, was subsequently endorsed by the Pensions Commission.
Government subsequently decided that the Department of Social Protection would, in submitting budget options, set out a rate of pension payment calculated using the smoothed earnings benchmark approach as an input for consideration as part of overall Budget discussions, on an annual basis.
I can confirm that this calculation was prepared and submitted to Government as part of preparations for Budget 2024. In assessing Budget options, and taking account of this calculation, Government was mindful that the cost of living pressures are most acute over the winter period. For that reason, 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 once-off payments, including extra payments for pensioners receiving Fuel Allowance, those in receipt of carer’s payments and those living alone.
These payments were provided in addition, not only to the €12 increase in the weekly payment rate, but to the double week payments delivered in December last and this January.
This combination of once-off payments in conjunction with the €12 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 value of the double payments for a single pensioner is €542.60 – equivalent to over €10 per week 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.
In addition, the 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.
Any changes to the State Pensions, both Contributory and non-Contributory would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context. The smoothed earnings calculation will be assessed in the coming months and submitted for consideration of Government as part of the preparations in advance of Budget 2025.
794. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give due consideration to raising the income thresholds for the State pension (non-contributory) to take account of inflation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14863/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection provides income supports through a mixture of contributory payments (which are based on a person's social insurance record) and means-tested social assistance payments. The State Pension (Non-contributory) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a State Pension (Contributory), or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record. The system of social assistance supports provides payments based on an income need. The means test plays a critical role in ensuring that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.
Social welfare legislation provides that means tests take account of the income and assets of the person (and their spouse or partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. The means assessment includes income from sources such as employment, self-employment, occupational pensions and maintenance payments. It also includes property owned, other than the family home, and capital such as savings, shares, and other investments. Income earned under the rent-a-room tax relief scheme is exempt from the means test.
An applicant can have savings or assets of up to €20,000 and earnings of up to €200 per week from paid employment and still qualify for a full State Pension (Non-Contributory). The first €30 per week of means does not affect the rate of the pension. After that first €30, your pension is reduced by €2.50 for every €2.50 of means. If a person’s assessed weekly means is over €292.51, they will not be eligible to receive a State Pension (Non-Contributory) Pension.
Increasing either the income disregards for the State Pension (Non-Contributory) may have significant cost implications and would need to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
I have committed to carrying out a broad review of means testing. This will include consideration of means test provisions such as income thresholds for the State Pension (Non-contributory).
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
797. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will give due consideration to the provision of a €5 per week digital allowance to those older persons who cannot afford digital devices or internet subscriptions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14867/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Household Benefits Package comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The Department of Social Protection will spend approximately €285 million this year on the Household Benefits Package for over 521,000 customers.
People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
In Budget 2024, the Government did provide for increases to core Social Welfare payments including increases to the weekly rate of State Pension payable, as well as once off payments of €200 for those in receipt of the Living Alone Increase and €300 for those in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment. Budget 2024 also provided for the Christmas Bonus payment and January Cost of Living Bonus payment.
The Government is of course providing very significant funding through the National Broadband Plan towards the provision of broadband. The National Broadband Plan is the largest ever telecommunications project undertaken by the Irish State. It aims to radically transform the country’s broadband landscape through the delivery of quality, affordable high-speed broadband to all parts of Ireland, where such services are not available commercially.
While consideration is always given to suggested improvements to the Departments schemes, any decision to enhance the Household Benefits Package by the provision of a €5 per week digital allowance to those older persons who cannot afford digital devices or internet subscriptions would have to be considered in the context of overall budget negotiations.
I trust that this clarifies these matters for the Deputy.
798. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the position for employees who have recently set up pensions before the auto-enrolment scheme is introduced; if these people will be allowed to benefit from the scheme of employers matching contributions, and €1 Government contribution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14888/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe introduction of an automatic enrolment (AE) retirement savings system is a Programme for Government commitment and a key priority for me as the Minister for Social Protection. Implementation of the AE system is well underway, with the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2024 now published and a tender process to contract for administration services being well advanced. Enrolment of the first participants is expected to commence in January 2025.
The AE system is being set up to help people who do not currently have pension coverage to start saving for their retirement. Employees who are aged between 23 and 60, earning more than €20,000 a year across all of their employments and who aren’t currently in an occupational pension scheme or equivalent will be automatically enrolled. Payroll data will be used to determine eligibility, and the instruction for contributions will also be issued via payroll.
Any employee outside of those age and earnings brackets, who is under the State Pension age (66), and who is not already actively contributing into a pension scheme, will be able to opt in.
It is important to note that contributions will start at 1.5% of the employee's gross earnings for both the employee and employer, and will rise by 1.5 percentage points every three years until 6% is reached in year 10. As contribution rates for AE start at a modest level, it is likely that employees currently enrolled in a private or occupational pension scheme will be making higher contributions than those in the early years of AE. Members of existing pension schemes will not receive the State top-up contribution provided through AE as they already receive tax relief on their pension contributions.
I hope that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
800. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a redundancy liability will be waived in respect of a former retired employer in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15026/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is an employer’s responsibility to pay statutory redundancy payments to all eligible employees. In the event that an employer is unable to pay due to financial difficulties, an application from the employer on behalf of an employee may be submitted to the Department for payment from the Social Insurance Fund. When a payment is made from the Social Insurance Fund, a debt for this amount is raised against the employer. The Department will make every effort to recover the debt owed to the Social Insurance Fund, in line with its debt management policy. Where the employer is a sole trader or partnership, the Department will engage with the individual to assess their current financial situation and their ability to repay the debt. Where appropriate, an agreed repayment plan can be put in place to minimise financial hardship; for example, the debt can be recovered by way of instalments over a period of time. I suggest that this individual should contact officials from my Department to discuss their current financial situation and their capacity to repay the debt. They can contact officials in my Department on 0818 111 112 (select menu option 5) or at debtmanagement@welfare.ie.
801. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision on a widower's pension application (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15039/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo qualify for widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's contributory pension, a person must satisfy certain social insurance conditions, based on either their own or their late spouse's or civil partner’s record.
The social insurance record of the person concerned comprises 539 paid and credited Irish social insurance contributions in respect of the period between 1997 and 2022, giving a yearly average of 21 weeks of contributions since entering insurable employment. Therefore, the person concerned does not meet the yearly average minimum requirement of 24 to entitle him to a standard widower's contributory pension. As the late spouse of the person concerned did not pay social insurance in Ireland, their record cannot be considered. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 29 February 2024.
My Department will now assess the entitlement of person concerned to a pro-rata pension under EU Regulations based on employment in Ireland and other EU countries, including the UK. We have contacted our counterpart, the Department for Work & Pensions, in the UK to obtain the person's UK social insurance record. When this is received, entitlement to a pro-rata pension will be assessed and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
