Written Answers Nos. 133-152
133. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the circumstances in which the maintenance for a child (details supplied) will not be assessed in the means test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24203/24]
View answerDisability 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 confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 22 September 2023. Based on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, her DA was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 11 November 2023. They were given the right to request a review and/or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
I can confirm that the person concerned requested an appeal of the decision of 11 November 2023 and an appeal is currently ongoing in this case. The SWAO will notify the person concerned directly of the outcome of the appeal.
A request for an additional review of the case containing supporting documentation was received from the Deputy, on behalf of the person concerned on 30 April 2024. Following the review, the original decision was upheld. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 27 May 2024.
While the person was not disallowed on the grounds of means, the changes on disregarding child maintenance in the social welfare means test represents a significant reform and will be of great benefit to many welfare recipients.
Amendments to both primary and secondary legislation, as well as changes to some of the Department’s systems, application forms and processes are required. Work to implement the changes to the means test is at a very advanced stage and an implementation date is expected to be announced very shortly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
134. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied can be reviewed for a support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24207/24]
View answerThe 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 14 February 2024. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 11 March 2024.
The case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 19 March 2024, who will in due course make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
135. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason legislation was introduced in 2013 to deprive a person of class S contributions from rental income due to the fact that the person had eight class A contributions in that contribution year. [24215/24]
View answerPrior to 1 January 2014, a person with solely unearned income under self-assessment, such as rental income, who was in insurable employment during the same year, was categorised as an excepted self-employed contributor. This meant that such persons were not liable for PRSI under self-assessment in respect of the unearned income and would not have been awarded PRSI class S contributions.
Under provisions of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013, which came into effect on 1 January 2014, PRSI contributions became liable by certain insurably employed contributors on their unearned income, subject to the unearned income reaching the chargeable person threshold of €5,000 per annum set by the Revenue Commissioners. This contribution, recorded as Class K, does not provide entitlement to any social insurance benefits.
If an individual has solely unearned income and they do not have income from insurable employment then PRSI class S is charged under self-assessment, as long as the threshold of €5,000 per annum is reached.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
136. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the invalidity pension; the criteria necessary to qualify; and to provide a breakdown of the number of people that were in receipt of the invalidity pensions in 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024. [24249/24]
View answerInvalidity 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.
Applicants must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months (you may have been getting Illness Benefit or Disability Allowance during that time) or be permanently incapable of work (in certain cases of very serious illness or disability, you can transfer directly from another social welfare payment or from your job to Invalidity Pension).
Applicants must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions class (A, E, H or S) since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete contribution year before the relevant date of their Invalidity Pension claim.
The table below shows the number of people in receipt of IP in the periods as requested:
|
Total number in receipt of IP |
|
|
End December 2020 |
59,230 |
|
End December 2021 |
57,874 |
|
End December 2022 |
56,452 |
|
End December 2023 |
56,650 |
|
End of April 2024 |
56,945 |
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
137. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the invalidity pension; the mental health conditions that qualify for the receipt of the invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24250/24]
View answerMy 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 and Blind Pension.
Invalidity Pension is a social insurance scheme paid from the Social Insurance Fund. Eligibility is based on Pay Related Social Insurance contributions and medical condition. To qualify, the person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months; or must be permanently incapable of work.
As of March 2024, there were almost 57,000 recipients of Invalidity Pension.
Eligibility for the Departments income support schemes 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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
138. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if disability allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied). [24255/24]
View answerDisability 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 confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 1 March 2024. Their initial application did not contain all the information required to determine their eligibility for DA. An information request letter was sent to this individual on 13 March 2024 to supply this supporting documentation. I can confirm that this information was received on 03 April 2024.
Based on all the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, their DA claim was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition for the scheme was not satisfied.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 25 April 2024. They were given the right to request a review or to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. I can confirm that no request for a review or an appeal has been received to date.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
139. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who was declined a carer’s allowance in January 2024 and immediately submitted an appeal, but is yet to receive a response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24329/24]
View answerThe 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 there is no record of any appeal by the person concerned having been received by that office. I understand that the Department's carer's allowance section is currently carrying out a review and as soon as this is completed the above named will be notified of the outcome. If Ms O'Grady is unhappy with the outcome of the review, she can then submit an appeal to the appeals office, within 21 days of the date of the review decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
140. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is eligible for a reduced rate of State pension (contributory) due to not meeting the level of PRSI contributions for the maximum payment can improve their level of payment by deferring pension payment after their 66th birthday; and if she will outline how this works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24382/24]
View answerIn 2023, I introduced legislation for a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system in response to the recommendations from the Pensions Commission. This set of measures represented the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
One of the key measures under these reforms, which came into operation from the 1st January 2024, is the introduction of a flexible pension system in Ireland.
Under this system, there is now flexibility for those reaching State Pension age from the beginning of 2024 to defer access to their State Pension (Contributory) at any age from 66 up to the age of 70, and receive an actuarially adjusted higher rate of payment.
A person can use the period between 66 and 70 years of age to build up additional entitlements and, if a person has less than 520 PRSI reckonable paid contributions, they may be able to use this period to establish entitlement.
Those who defer claiming their State Pension (Contributory) and continue to work, will have access to certain short-term contingency payments during the period of deferral.
The situation remains unchanged where a person reaches State Pension age (66) and does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for State Pension (Contributory) or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one of the following:
• 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); or
• An increase for a qualified adult (based on their own means), amounting up to 90% of a full rate State Pension (Contributory) where their spouse has a contributory pension; or
• Where their spouse/civil partner is deceased, a widow's/widower's/civil partner's contributory pension, which they may claim either based on their spouse's or their own social insurance record. The qualifying conditions for this require fewer contributions paid (260) than the State Pension (Contributory) for the maximum personal rate for those aged 66 or over.
Full details of the State Pension (Contributory) and how deferment works are set out on the Department's website at www.gov.ie/spc.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
141. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Justice the position regarding the ongoing review of the coroner’s service following the closure of the public consultation in January 2024; to provide a timeline for the publication of the reports; the parameters of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24184/24]
View answerOn 20 October 2023, I launched a wide-ranging consultation to inform the development of proposals for comprehensive reform of the Coroner Service in Ireland. Public consultation closed on 19 January 2024.
The consultation provided an opportunity for members of the public, stakeholder groups and members of the Oireachtas to express their views, express observations and provide proposals on how the Coroner Service might be enhanced into the future.
My Department sought submissions in relation to four key areas:
• Structure and Roles;
• Pathology and Related Services;
• Reportable Deaths; and
• Inquests.
The Consultation involved two online surveys. Survey 1 was aimed at members of the public who have lived experience of the Coroner Service. Survey 2 was targeted at a wide range of interested parties who are involved either directly or indirectly in supporting the delivery of the coroner service.
My Department has also established an Advisory Committee to support the consultation process. Members include representatives from the Department of Justice, the Coroners Society of Ireland, the Department of Health, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Local Authorities, the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána, the Office of the State Pathologist, the Royal College of Physicians - Faculty of Pathology, an independent expert, and two members of the public who have experience of engaging with the coroner service.
In order to reach as many interested parties as possible, officials from my Department sent more than 500 emails to individuals and stakeholder groups encouraging them to take part every member of the Oireachtas. As well as the surveys, my Department provided a specific email address for any party who wished to make a written submission. Department officials also held a large number of bilateral meetings with key stakeholders.
Links to the surveys were shared on my Department's social media channels a number of times throughout the consultation period, to further extend public awareness of the consultation.
I am pleased to say that there was a very high level of public engagement in the consultation process with approximately 250 submissions received across both surveys.
My officials are currently analysing the information gathered during the consultation process with a view to publishing a report on the main themes emerging from the Consultation later this year. I intend to bring forward proposals for the reform of the service thereafter.
142. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of thefts of domestic dogs and/or pets reported to An Garda Síochána in the past three years to date. [24231/24]
View answerI have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will contact her again when this is to hand.
|
Year Reported |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 (to 27 May) |
|
Number of Incidents |
116 |
50 |
45 |
20 |
143. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Justice if all formal requests from An Garda Síochána and the Government since 2021 for intelligence and other co-operation from the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom authorities relating to bombings in this jurisdiction in 1972 and 1973 have been fully facilitated; if An Garda Síochána is satisfied that no further information held by the PSNI or the UK authorities has been withheld or is outstanding following these specific requests relating to those heinous crimes committed more than 50 years ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24234/24]
View answerI acknowledge the Deputy's long term interest and advocacy for the survivors and the families of the victims of these bombings, in particular in relation to the Belturbet bombing, as well as Clones, Co. Monaghan, and Pettigo, Co. Donegal on 28 December 1972 and the series of bombings in Dublin city centre in 1972 and 1973. The perpetrators of these appalling crimes demonstrated a callous disregard for human life, murdering innocent victims and injuring many people. It is a matter of deep regret that, to date, no one has been made amenable for these crimes.
As the Deputy will be aware, a comprehensive review of the Belturbet bombing investigation was carried out by An Garda Síochána in recent years which identified a number of lines of inquiry. A Senior Investigating Officer was appointed in 2022 to lead the investigation and an incident room has been established at Ballyconnell Garda Station. Numerous media appeals have been made by An Garda Síochána calling for anyone with information in relation to the bombing to make contact.
It has always been the case that An Garda Síochána work closely with the PSNI to advance investigations. The normal mechanism is to utilise the Mutual Legal Assistance process in relation to criminal matters. This is an operational Garda matter and as the Deputy will appreciate it would not be appropriate for me to comment on live investigations or individual requests for mutual assistance.
The Government is fully committed to seeking the truth behind these appalling events and, hopefully, to secure some measure of comfort for the victims’ families and the survivors. Legacy matters are raised with the UK Government, in the context of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference, including on individual cases such as the Belturbet bombing.
The implementation of the All-Party Dáil motions which call on the British Government to allow access to all relevant documents relating to a series of bombings, including the Dublin bombings of 1972 and 1973, is a priority and I can assure the Government continue to regularly raise the matter with the British Government, most recently, at the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference in London on 29 April last.
I can assure the Deputy that the objective is to bring perpetrators of these horrific crimes to justice and remain committed to supporting An Garda Síochána in their investigation.
144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in progressing an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24259/24]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs.
My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eVetting and online payments.
My Department has recently moved from paper to online based citizenship applications. This is one of a number of measures introduced in an effort to optimise the application process and enhance the overall customer service experience. As part of the new online process, customers are issued with an acknowledgment on submission of the online application. The forms provide a seamless application process and help guide applicants through what is required for an application.
In a little over two years the Citizenship Division of my Department has gone from processing around 12,000 applications a year to processing over 20,000 applications. This 66% increase in processing has been achieved through digitising and streamlining processes.
Finally, I can advise the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department continues to communicate regularly with all applicants to keep them informed as to updates on processing times and arrangements.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: IMoireachtasmail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
145. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Justice the number of fixed charge notices and penalty points issued for driving in cycling lanes in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in total and on a geographical basis, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24266/24]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately the information was not received on time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.
146. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice the total overtime paid to Garda members and to gardaí at sergeant rank in each of the years between 2020 and 2023; and the total of overtime payments made to gardaí and to sergeants in Q1 of 2024, respectively (January, February and March). [24270/24]
View answerI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately the information was not received on time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is available.
|
Rank |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Q1 2024 |
|
Garda |
€ 71.74m |
€82.53m |
€92.73m |
€132.17m |
€30.9m |
|
Sergeant |
€ 19.72m |
€22.42m |
€26.14m |
€36.55m |
€9.16m |
|
Total |
€ 91.46m |
€104.95m |
€118.87m |
€168.72m |
€40.06m |
147. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice if she will consider extending the hours of operation of the International Protection Office on Mount Street Lower, Dublin 2 to process applicants for international protection given the significant increase in the number making applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24327/24]
View answerDue to an increase in the number of new international protection applications over recent months, since 10 April 2024, the International Protection Office (IPO) has been operating a second location for registering families accompanied by children at Citywest Convention Centre, Saggart, Co. Dublin.
The Citywest facility has greater capacity to process families with children and is equipped to handle large groups of people. A large family waiting area and a child-friendly space is available, alongside private rooms for vulnerability assessments. Staff from Citywest and the IPO are supported by local volunteers. Applicants are assisted by cultural mediators from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Interpreters are on site to work with applicants in completing their forms.
Since the Citywest processing site opened to cob Thursday 23rd May, some 1,180 applicants have made their applications at this location, reducing by almost half the number of applicants presenting at the IPO offices on Lower Mount Street (where single and adult applicants continue to apply).
I am ramping up investment at every level of the international protection system, including in the International Protection Office. In recent years, the budget for the IPO has doubled. This has enabled 5,000 interviews to be scheduled to end April this year compared to 2,800 in the same period in 2023. It has also led to a trebling of the number of decisions issued. My Department are continuing to take steps to increase the numbers of interviews scheduled, and the number of cases completed in the IPO. This includes through additional investment, the hiring of additional staff, and the piloting of remote interviews.
148. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of outstanding TAM applications are due for payment; and to provide an indicative date for when these payments will be made. [24151/24]
View answerThe processing of payments under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) is continuing on a weekly basis, with 504 claims on hand currently being processed.
To date, a total of 941 claims for payment have been submitted under TAMS 3. My Department is currently processing payment claims, and it is anticipated that payments will start to issue in June in cases where there are no issues with the claim.
149. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) will receive an increase to their pension. [24247/24]
View answerI understand that my Department is currently looking into this request. It will also liaise with the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) on this matter, as the NSSO has responsibility for the payment of pensions to former civil servants.
I would like to assure the Deputy that one of my staff will contact him directly to assist with this matter.
150. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) will receive a payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24328/24]
View answerPayments to the named person stopped in 2019 as she applied to transfer the entitlements into her name by way of inheritance from the Reps of her deceased husband. This application was submitted using a Temporary Reference Number (TRN) but no herd number was ever provided to my Department to link to the TRN and so it was not made available for processing.
As with all transfers, this transfer out of the herd number resulted in a stop being placed on payments so as to avoid the risk of overpayments being made. As the herd number has not been changed into the name of the named person and the BPS applications for 2019-2021 were submitted by the Reps of her deceased husband, the stop is being lifted and the application to transfer the entitlements withdrawn. This will allow payment to issue for those years the next time past year payment runs are made.
As no application was received for the given herd number for BPS in 2022 or BISS in 2023 and 2024, there are no payments due for those years. Late applications for the 2024 scheme year are being accepted with a penalty up to the 9th of June 2024. Applications for the 2024 Scheme year received after this date will be subject to 100% penalty.
If the named person has been allocated a different herd number and has used that to submit the BPS and BISS applications then she should contact the Transfer of Entitlement section at either 057 86 74422 or Transferofentitlements@agriculture.gov.ie. Staff will be available to assist her with making the application to transfer the entitlements to her new herd number.
151. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current number of vacant TAO and SAO positions; the breakdown of same across the divisions per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24369/24]
View answerMy Department is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its priority business needs. Workforce planning processes are utilised to identify our requirements across all our technical grade streams and locations, and to ensure a long-term, proactive and strategic plan through which current and future staffing needs are addressed.
Overall staffing levels and required skills are continually monitored and prioritised to ensure business needs are met, subject to the limits of the annual estimates process, the usual budgetary constraints and approvals by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.
In consideration of above, we currently have no vacancies to be filled at this time for Supervisory Agricultural Officers and we have 1 Technical Agricultural Officer that is in final clearance prior to a formal offer, as of 28th May.
152. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of TAO and SAO that have currently applied to retire in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24370/24]
View answerI can confirm that no staff at TAO or SAO grades in my Department have indicated their intention to retire in 2025.
Retirement notice periods in the Civil Service are governed by DPER Circular 10/2012. Staff in TAO and SAO grades are only required to give a minimum of one month's notice of intention to retire from the Civil Service.
It should be noted that, following the Government Decision of December 2017 to increase the compulsory retirement age to 70 for public service employees recruited before 1 April 2004, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform published Circular 21/2017, effective from 5th December 2017. This Circular allows Civil Servants to apply for retention beyond their compulsory retirement age of 65, until they reach the age of eligibility for the Contributory State Pension, currently age 66. Applications for retention are considered by individual Government Departments in line with their business needs.
