Written Answers Nos. 497-510
497. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update and proposed timeline for the removal of the means test for the carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5992/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main income supports to carers provided by the Department of Social Protection are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending on these payments is expected to amount to over €1.9 billion in 2025.
The Carer’s Allowance is the main scheme by which the Department provides income support to carers in the community. There are currently 98,311 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance and expenditure in 2025 is estimated to be over €1.24 billion.
The primary objective of the Carer’s Allowance payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their caring responsibilities. This, in turn, helps to support the ongoing care of the person or people in respect of whom care is being provided. It is important to note that the Carer’s Allowance is not intended to be a compensatory payment for the full value of earnings foregone nor is it a payment by the State for the provision of care.
There have been a number of significant improvements made to the means test for Carer's Allowance in recent years. As part of Budget 2025, the weekly income disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for carers with a spouse/partner. This amounts to cumulative increases to the disregards of €292.50 and €585.00 respectively since June 2022.
Notwithstanding these improvements an Interdepartmental Working Group with the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth was established last year to examine and review the system of means testing for carer payments. The Group is chaired by my department and I expect the report on its findings in the coming weeks.
The Government is very aware of the key role that family carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face. The Programme for Government has set out a timeline which commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
498. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal of a pension decision (details supplied) can be examined to see if the matter could be resolved. [6141/25]
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 person concerned applied for State Pension ( Non - Contributory) on 17 February 2022, and the claim was awarded by the Department with effect from 18 February 2022.
A claim for back-dating (for “good cause” period of up to six months) was disallowed in a decision of 21 September 2022 on the grounds that good cause for late claim was not shown and for the period (of greater than six months), as it had not been shown that incorrect information had been given by the Department or that the person was prevented by reason of incapacity from making a claim.
This decision was appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, and the decision to disallow was upheld on 19 January 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
499. Deputy Seán Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if there has ever been or if a scheme is in place to deal with claims (details supplied); if this is deemed separate from a disablement payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6158/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisablement benefit is one of the benefits payable under the occupational injuries benefit scheme to an insured person who suffers a loss of physical or mental faculty as a result of an occupational accident or a prescribed occupational disease that was sustained on or after 1 May 1967.
In 2010, an agreement was reached by my Department with the National Coal Miners Group Committee that a mechanism would be put in place to deal with current or potential entitlements for former miners who suffer from pneumoconiosis, in accordance with the existing terms of the occupational injuries benefit scheme.
All claims must meet the criteria for disablement benefit before they can be referred to the Chief Medical Officer of my Department. These include:
• The insurability of employment must be established (the person must have been employed as a miner on or after 1 May 1967).
• The disease must have developed on or after 1 May 1967.
• The Chief Medical Officer must then be satisfied that there is evidence of pneumoconiosis.
If the Deputy wants to forward on details of a specific case, officials from my Department will review the matter and provide further clarity, as required.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
500. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if he intends reinstating the service wherein a social welfare inspector travels to the offshore islands to allow those who are in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance to sign on without having to travel to the nearest mainland Intreo office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6186/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraPre Covid, individuals residing on an island and in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance were required to certify continuing eligibility for the payment by completing postal dockets once a month and certifying in person by invitation from their local Intreo Centre.
Following Covid all those in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance have been afforded the opportunity to engage with either in-person certification with a frequency of once a quarter, or monthly online signing with in-person signing by invitation to their local Intreo Centre, as required.
While Social Welfare Inspectors did, and continue to, travel to these offshore islands to meet with customers, it was not to facilitate certification (signing) for Jobseeker’s Allowance.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
501. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details of the empty buildings, by county, in his Department’s portfolio; the value of the property; the length of time they have lain empty; and the physical status of each building, in tabular form. [6238/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra502. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide details of undeveloped sites, by county, in his Department’s portfolio; the value of the property; the length of time they have lain undeveloped; and the reason for the lack of development, in tabular form. [6255/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 502 together.
The Department of Social Protection does not own any empty buildings or undeveloped sites. Matters relating to the property portfolio for my department are the responsibility of the Office of Public Works (OPW). With the exception of my department's headquarters, Áras Mhic Dhiarmada, Dublin, which is held by the Minister on behalf of the Social Insurance Fund, all premises are either owned or leased by the OPW.
503. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Social Protection if the humanitarian assistance scheme, or other financial assistance, is available to those requiring tree removal necessitated by the impact of storm Éowyn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6263/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Humanitarian Assistance Scheme, administered by my Department through the local Community Welfare Service, was activated on 23 January 2025 to assist householders across the country affected by Storm Éowyn.
My Department provides assistance to households in the event of severe weather under Stage 1 of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme. This includes emergency support payments for items such as essential food and clothing. These payments are not income tested and are based on the immediate need of impacted individuals.
Under Stages 2 and 3 of the scheme, support is available for the replacement of white goods and basic furniture and to repair damage to homes. Income limits for these supports are: €50,000 for a single person; €90,000 for a couple and €15,000 per dependent child. Reduced or tapered levels of support may be provided in cases where a household‘s income is above these limits.
The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme does not pay for the costs of removing fallen trees or damage that is covered by insurance policies, such as spoiled freezer food, storm damage, nor does it cover commercial, agricultural, or business losses.
However, under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources.
Payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
The decision process involves consideration of the need presented and the ability of the person and their household to meet that need. This entails an assessment, as opposed to a specific means test, of an applicant’s weekly household income, their savings and investments, their outgoings and the type of assistance needed. Other State supports that may already be available to the person are also considered.
People who need assistance in the areas affected should contact their local Community Welfare Service by visiting their local Intreo Centre or Branch Office, or phoning the Department at 0818 60 70 80. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
504. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost if the telephone support allowance increased to €4 per week. [6290/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Telephone Support Allowance is a weekly payment of €2.50 for people on certain social welfare payments who are also getting both the Living Alone Increase and the Fuel Allowance. The primary objective of the Telephone Support Allowance is to allow the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to personal alarms or phones for security. Approximately 160,000 customers are in receipt of the Telephone Support Allowance payment. The full year cost of the scheme in 2025 is estimated at €21.8 million.
If the measure outlined by the Deputy was introduced in 2026, it is estimated that there would be an average of 166,000 recipients of the Telephone Support Allowance. The estimated total cost of the measures outlined by the Deputy is therefore €12.95 million.
|
Yearly Additional Rate of Telephone Support Allowance |
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries |
Estimated additional yearly Cost of Measure |
|
€78 |
166,000 |
€12.95 million |
All proposals, including any proposals to increase the rate payable for the Telephone Support Allowance could only be considered while taking account of overall Government policy and in a budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
505. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of WTE medical assessors within his Department in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [6291/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently 36 Medical Assessors working in my Department. The numbers in situ at the end of December 2023, 2024 and at the end of January 2025 are outlined below in tabular form and include both the Chief Medical Officer and the Deputy Chief Medical Assessor.
|
Year |
People |
Posts |
|
End Dec 23 |
35.00 |
32.60 |
|
End Dec 24 |
36.00 |
33.00 |
|
End Jan 25 |
36.00 |
33.00 |
506. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision on an appeal can be expedited (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6302/25]
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 Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the domiciliary care allowance appeal of the person concerned on 21 November 2024.
Under social welfare legislation a decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive. However, it may be reviewed by an Appeals Officer under Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 in the light of new evidence or new facts.
Further medical information was received pertaining to the appellant and as a result, a Section 317 Review of the appeal officer's decision was opened on 21 November 2024.
Once a decision is made on this Section 317 Review, the person will be notified in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
507. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department will suspend all reviews of current recipients of carer’s benefit given that the programme for Government indicates a change in the assessment procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6309/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main income supports to Carers provided by the Department of Social Protection are Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Spending on these payments is expected to amount to over €1.9 billion in 2025.
There have been a number of significant improvements made to the means test for Carer's Allowance in recent years. As part of Budget 2025, the weekly income disregard will increase from €450 to €625 for a single person, and from €900 to €1,250 for Carers with a spouse/partner.
The Government is very aware of the key role that family Carers play in Irish society and the challenges they face. Thus, the programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future - has set out a timeline that commits to significantly increasing the income disregards for Carer’s Allowance in each Budget with a view to phasing out the means test during the lifetime of the Government.
The Government extended Carer’s Benefit to self-employed from 1 January 2025 and the Programme for Government promises to examine the introduction of Pay Related Carer's Benefit for individuals who have to give up work suddenly in order to provide full time care to a loved one.
Reviews form part of my Department's control mechanisms that ensure compliance with regulations. Therefore, once claims are in payment, my Department undertakes periodic reviews to ensure that there is continued entitlement to payment. This includes reviews to ensure that the person being cared for continues to satisfy the care requirement. In some instances reviews are initiated by the Carer themselves when they notify the Department of a change in their circumstances or in the circumstances of the person(s) being cared for.
I hope this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
508. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within his Department in 2024 and to date in 2025; if any section of his Department currently makes use of artificial intelligence; if he will outline the purposes it is utilised for and costs associated with same; if he has consulted with any consultancy firms in respect of the use of AI; if he will provide a schedule of consultants engaged and costs of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6345/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently examining the potential future use of AI technologies and has engaged with IT consultancy companies, who hold existing contracts with the Department. The companies involved are Accenture, Bearing Point, Deloitte, Ernest Young and Gartner. No additional costs have arisen in relation to AI consultancy with these companies.
My officials have also actively participated in several stakeholder groups, providing observations to The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the EU AI Act drafts and its implementation.
An AI Chatbot on the MyGovID platform is in use, providing real-time advice to customers on how best to use the MyGovID service, with approximate monthly charges of €50. As part of an internal review of Microsoft Office services in the Department, a small number of users are temporarily piloting an upgrade, which includes limited integration of AI tools within the suite as standard.
The Department will continue to examine the merits of AI suitability for departmental needs.
509. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the specific training on foetal alcohol spectrum disorder that each deciding officer, appeals officer and medical assessor involved in the disability allowance process are required to undertake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6357/25]
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, a means test and the habitual residency condition.
As previously outlined, assessments of medical eligibility for DA are based on medical reports and other evidence supplied by the applicant. In arriving at their decision, a Deciding Officer will review all evidence available, including that provided by the person’s own doctor and the opinion of the Department’s medical assessor to assess the impact of a person’s illness/disability on their capability for work and on whether a person is substantially restricted from taking up full time employment.
The Department’s medical assessors are fully qualified medical practitioners who have experience and specialist training/qualifications in occupational medicine as well as in human disability evaluation. The Department's medical assessors have an ongoing commitment to continuing medical education to ensure that standards are maintained and enhanced.
Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder is one of many topics taught during medical training. Its pathology, symptomatology and treatment are all covered in the curriculum. This is a condition that can present with different levels of severity and as such cases are assessed individually. The medical assessor considers how it impacts a person's functional ability and the impact that this has on their capability for work.
Where a decision is appealed, an Appeals Officer makes a decision taking account of all of the evidence presented. This includes medical evidence on the impact of a person’s illness/disability on their capability for work and on whether a person is substantially restricted from taking up full time employment. Training is provided on an ongoing basis to Appeals Officers on a broad range of issues of relevance to their role.
If the Deputy has a particular case in mind, he might provide the relevant details so that my officials can examine the specific case.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
510. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection to support a matter (details supplied); if the Latvian authorities responded on a pension issue; and if he will outline the process for the person to apply for a State pension. [6419/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 24 January 2025. An application for State Pension (contributory) was received on 06 November 2024. On receipt of an application for State Pension (contributory), entitlement to the standard State Pension (contributory) is examined first. Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions to qualify for standard state pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a total of 401 full-rate contributions which falls short of the requisite 520 full-rate contributions for the standard state pension (contributory).
For those who do not qualify for the standard pension or who qualify for less than the maximum rate, entitlement to a pro-rata pension is then examined. This can include those who have paid modified-rate contributions or paid contributions in another EU country or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement. In order to qualify for a pro-rata EU/Bilateral state pension, a minimum of 520 paid contributions is required across all relevant countries. A minimum of 52 Irish contributions are required, of which at least one must be a paid contribution. My Department contacts the pension authorities in the relevant countries directly to request a copy of the contribution records held. A request for a copy of the Latvian contribution record for the person concerned was sent to the Latvian authorities on 15 January 2025. On receipt of the requested information, entitlement to a pro-rata EU State Pension will be examined and a decision letter will issue to the person concerned. Where a person qualifies for less than the maximum rate of State pension (contributory), it is open to them to apply for the means-tested State Pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested payment (based on their share of household means) with a maximum payment of 95% of the State Pension (contributory).
In September 2022, a series of landmark reforms to the state pension system in response to the recommendations from the Pensions Commission were announced. One of the key measures under these reforms, which came into operation from 1 January 2024 was the introduction of a flexible pension system. This allows those reaching state pension age to defer access to their state pension (contributory) to any age up to the age of 70 and receive an actuarially adjusted higher rate of payment. The person concerned can also use the period between 66 and 70 years of age to build up additional contributions to establish entitlement.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
