Thomas Gould
Question:170. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait time for an urgent needs payment in Cork. [30187/24]
View answerSocial Welfare Benefits
Questions (170, 171, 173)
Thomas Gould
Question:171. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait time for a supplementary welfare allowance in Cork. [30188/24]
View answerThomas Gould
Question:173. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of community welfare officers employed in Cork in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [30190/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 171 and 173 together.
There is a range of supports provided by the Community Welfare Service (CWS) under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme. These supports can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single Additional Needs Payments (ANPs).
The basic SWA provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. Under the SWA scheme, my Department may also make an ANP to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. The SWA scheme is demand led and payments are administered by Designated Persons (DPs) in the CWS.
The current average time to award a basic SWA in Cork is one week. Work on hand for ANPs in Cork is within the scheme's normal processing levels and fully completed applications, where the required documentation is supplied, are processed generally within ten days.
When considering an application from people in financial difficulty for any payment under the SWA scheme, the DP must consider all of the relevant circumstances when examining a case in determining the most appropriate scheme type and level of assistance required. The DP may ask for a number of supporting documents to ensure the customer receives a level of payment appropriate to their needs. Where an application cannot be finalised promptly, the delay is normally due to the need for additional information or documentation and the time it takes for the information to be provided. Upon receipt of this information, the application is then processed quickly. The CWS is committed to providing a quality service to all citizens, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
There are currently 39 staff engaged in the delivery of Community Welfare Services in Cork. This equates to a whole time equivalent of 36.1. There is currently 1 CWO vacancy in Cork and work is underway to fill this. The number of CWOs in 2023 and 2022 are also displayed in the table below.
|
Year |
County |
CWO |
WTE |
|
2024 |
Cork |
39 |
36.1 |
|
2023 |
Cork |
40 |
37.5 |
|
2022 |
Cork |
40 |
37.5 |
Given the fluctuation in demand for the Community Welfare Service, particularly during the pandemic when resources were allocated to areas where they were most needed, staffing numbers within locations changed frequently. Therefore, it is not possible to provide accurate information relating to number of CWOs for prior years.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Question No. 171 answered with Question No. 170.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (172)
Thomas Gould
Question:172. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for an urgent needs payment in Cork, by reason, in 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, respectively, in tabular form. [30189/24]
View answerWritten answers
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. 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 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.
Table 1 shows the number of Urgent Needs Payments issued in County Cork for 2021 to 2024 (end of Q1). Urgent Needs Payments are not classified by a reason.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to an additional needs payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
Table 1 - The number of Urgent Needs Payments awarded in County Cork 2021 to 2024 (end of Q1)
|
Year |
Number of Urgent Needs Payments Issued |
|
2021 |
21 |
|
2022 |
24 |
|
2023 |
16 |
|
2024 (to end of Q1) |
16 |
Question No. 173 answered with Question No. 170.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Questions (174)
Catherine Murphy
Question:174. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the totality of the funds requested and drawn down by her Department from EU sources in respect of Covid-19 in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form (details supplied). [30230/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived supports EU countries’ actions to provide material assistance (including food and clothing) to the most deprived.
As part of the Fund for the European Aid to most Deprived (FEAD), a claim was made by the Department of Social Protection for Personal Protection Equipment in respect of the of the delivery of the FEAD programme during the Covid-19 pandemic.
|
Programme |
Year 2020 |
Year 2021 |
Year 2022 |
Year 2023 |
YTD 2024 |
Total Amount |
|
Fund for the European Aid to the Most Deprived |
€20,322.00 |
€6,830.00 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
€27,152.00 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Appeals
Questions (175)
Thomas Pringle
Question:175. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the appeal submitted by a person (details supplied) to the Social Welfare Appeals Office in August 2023; if her attention has further been drawn to the situation whereby the person has not received any payment from her Department; when it is expected that the Appeals Office will make a decision on the person’s appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30239/24]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned. Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an Appeals Officer is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in light of additional evidence or new facts.
I am advised that the person concerned submitted additional evidence subsequent to the decision of the Appeals Officer. The case has been referred to an Appeals Officer, who will review the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented, as a matter of priority.
The person concerned will be contacted when the review of his appeal decision is finalised.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Benefits
Questions (176)
David Stanton
Question:176. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports in place for those who are self-employed who are unable to work due to illness or injury; her future plans, if any, in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30295/24]
View answerWritten answers
Illness benefit is the primary short term income support provided by my Department to those who are unable to work due to illness of any type and who are covered by social insurance.
Eligibility for illness benefit depends on the person’s PRSI record and class. The person must have made the required number of contributions under class A, E, H or P to qualify. In general, self-employed people make PRSI contributions at Class S which does not provide entitlement to illness benefit.
Self-employed people pay contributions to the Social Insurance Fund at a lower rate of 4%. This is 11 percentage points lower than the combined employer and employee contribution of 15.05% made in respect of employed contributors. However, self-employed contributors do have access to over 90% of benefits available to employed contributors including;
• Adoptive Benefit;
• Guardian's Payment (Contributory);
• Invalidity Pension;
• Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed);
• Maternity Benefit;
• Parent's Benefit;
• Partial Capacity Benefit (where in receipt of Invalidity Pension);
• Paternity Benefit;
• State Pension (Contributory);
• Treatment Benefit; and
• Widows, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension.
The only benefits that class S PRSI does not provide access to are carer's benefit, health and safety benefit, illness benefit and occupational injuries benefits.
In circumstances where people are ill but do not qualify for illness benefit or invalidity pension, my Department provides means tested supports under the disability allowance scheme and the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. An additional needs payment may also be available to people who have expenses that they cannot pay from their weekly income.
My Department will continue to keep its range of supports under review to ensure that they meet their overall objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, and in the context of contribution rates and the overall sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Rates
Questions (177)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:177. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing a half-rate fuel allowance payment to households with a gross income of less than €40,000 per year. [30514/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €382 million in 2024. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including the household composition criteria, not just a means test.
This ensures that the Fuel Allowance payment goes to those who are more vulnerable to fuel poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
My Department does not hold data on the number of households with a gross income of less than €40,000 per year and are therefore it is not possible to forecast a costing for providing a half-rate fuel allowance to this cohort.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Equal Opportunities Employment
Questions (178)
Pauline Tully
Question:178. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across her Department and bodies under the aegis of her Department in each of the years 2020 and 2023; the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across her Department and bodies under the aegis of her Department in the corresponding timeframe that had full-time contracts; and the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed in her Department and bodies under the aegis of her Department in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 who had part-time contracts, in tabular form. [31054/24]
View answerWritten answers
Please see below (in tabular format) the number and percentage of people with disabilities employed across DSP including bodies under the aegis of the Department in each of the years 2020 to 2023.
All staff were employed on a full-time basis.
|
- |
2023 |
- |
|
|
Public Body |
Total number of employees |
Number of employees reporting a disability |
% of employees reporting a disability |
|
Department of Social Protection |
7016 |
435 |
6.20% |
|
Citizens Information Board |
85 |
6 |
7.05% |
|
The Pensions Authority |
84 |
7 |
8.33% |
|
- |
- |
2022 |
- |
|
Public Body |
Total number of employees |
Number of employees reporting a disability |
% of employees reporting a disability |
|
Department of Social Protection |
6860 |
367 |
5.34% |
|
Citizens Information Board |
85 |
8 |
9.41% |
|
The Pensions Authority |
94 |
8 |
8.51% |
|
- |
- |
2021 |
- |
|
Public Body |
Total number of employees |
Number of employees reporting a disability |
% of employees reporting a disability |
|
Department of Social Protection |
6719 |
440 |
6.54% |
|
Citizens Information Board |
88 |
9 |
10.22% |
|
The Pensions Authority |
96 |
8 |
8.33% |
|
2020 |
|||
|
Public Body |
Total number of employees |
Number of employees reporting a disability |
% of employees reporting a disability |
|
Department of Social Protection |
6715 |
386 |
5.74% |
|
Citizens Information Board |
95 |
11 |
11.57% |
|
The Pensions Authority |
86 |
8 |
9.30% |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Legal Aid
Questions (179)
Patrick Costello
Question:179. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice if she will restore fees paid to criminal barristers, to ensure effective administration of criminal justice. [29475/24]
View answerWritten answers
I can assure the Deputy that I fully recognise the important role played by barristers and solicitors in the administration of criminal justice, both in the context of working to defend those accused and working with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in respect of prosecutions.
Having undertaken to make progress on criminal legal aid in Budget 2024, I secured €9 million to provide for a 10% increase in criminal legal aid fees, with effect from 1 January 2024.
This year I will again seek to make progress in relation to restoration of criminal legal aid fees.
However, as the Deputy will be aware there is a budgetary process which must be followed.
While I cannot pre-empt a budgetary decision, I hope that the progress we achieved last year is a sign of good faith on my part and the part of the Government that more can be achieved this year. In this context I believe that the action this week by criminal law barristers is very regrettable - it has real impacts on accused persons and the victims and witnesses involved.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has commenced a review of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and is engaging with all relevant stakeholders including the legal professions, on the modernisation and funding structure of the legal aid system. This team are currently laying the foundations for an improved, more efficient system of administering Criminal Legal Aid and has discussed this in two recent meetings with the Bar Council and Law Society.
In addition, I published the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Bill 2023 to modernise the Criminal Legal Aid system. The key purpose of the Bill is to transfer the administration of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to the Legal Aid Board and to otherwise update the administration of criminal legal aid. The Bill will also introduce strengthened oversight and governance structures.
It is my intention that significant progress will be made on these reforms as Department officials continue to engage with the legal professions.
Departmental Data
Questions (180)
Mattie McGrath
Question:180. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of crimes recorded in the Carrick-on-Suir Garda district, Tipperary, for the years 2014 to date; for a breakdown of the crimes recorded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30015/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics.
The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were released 26 June 2024, providing statistics for Recorded Crime for Quarter 1 (Q4) 2024. However, it is worth noting that crime statistics for Q2 of 2024 are not yet available and are due to be published by the CSO towards the end of September.
The most recent figures in respect of recorded crime incidents can be found on the CSO website at the following link: www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/ep/p-rc/recordedcrimeq12024/data/.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government is determined to tackle anti-social behaviour and its causes. A number of priority actions are contained in the Programme for Government to reduce instances of such behaviour and help people to be safe and feel safe in their local communities.
We are committed to tackling the scourge of anti-social behaviour and crime to build safer streets and stronger communities. This includes:
• Increasing penalties for knife crime and strengthening the use of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs)
• The deployment of body-worn cameras for Gardaí in Dublin City Centre, Waterford, and Limerick in 2024, with nationwide roll-out to follow
• The introduction of Community Safety Partnerships around the country, to develop Community Safety Plans for every area.
• Continued expansion of youth justice and youth diversion measures
• New laws to criminalise the grooming of children into a life of crime.
• Introducing Facial Recognition Technology to help investigate and prosecute cases of serious crime
• Providing the funding necessary to strengthen the equipment available to An Garda Síochána for public order policing, including the deployment of tasers and stronger incapacitant spray.
• Proposing solutions to public order and anti-social problems through the Local Leadership Programme which brings together local stakeholders in a structured manner.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (181)
Catherine Murphy
Question:181. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice when the manual for Garda members was last updated in respect of dealing with ebikes, scooters, mopeds, scramblers, motorcycles and so on that have been travelling at speeds that breach legal thresholds and are a high risk to other road users on a public road. [30047/24]
View answerWritten answers
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
An Garda Síochána
Questions (182)
Mattie McGrath
Question:182. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí assigned to the Carrick-on-Suir Garda division for the years 2014 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30069/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the different Garda units and Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime, and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. I was pleased to secure unprecedented funding of over €2.35 billion for this year, a 25% increase since 2020, which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.
While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, I engage regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need. I am informed that when allocating and transferring Garda members to and from any Division, consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan and priorities as determined in delivering ‘A Policing Service For the Future’.
Coupled with the continued roll-out of the new Operating Model, I am confident that the Commissioner will have the resources and plans in place to continue to deliver on An Garda Síochána's mission of Keeping People Safe.
I understand that the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide are also taken into account, which include, but are not limited to:
• Local and national crime trends and workloads;
• Policing arrangements and operational strategies;
• Minimum establishment statistics;
• Local population and trends, geographical area and size;
• Transfer applications, including welfare, personnel issues and concerns.
There are currently around 14,000 Garda members across the country. This represents an increase of around 9% since 2015.
Carrick-on-Suir Garda Station forms part of the Clare/Tipperary Garda Division. I am informed by the Garda authorities that, as of 31 May 2024 (the latest date for when figures are available), the number of Gardaí assigned to the Carrick-on-Suir Garda Station in each of the years 2014 to 2024 is as follows:
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024* |
|
15 |
15 |
15 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
14 |
14 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
*As of 31 May 2024. Information supplied is operational and subject to change.
Also, in the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by Division and Station is publicly available and can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/.
Environmental Investigations
Questions (183)
Patricia Ryan
Question:183. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice the number of District Court enforcement proceedings for environmental and pollution breaches/offences brought by Kildare County Council in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [30081/24]
View answerWritten answers
Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas at: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie.
Figures of this nature are recorded by the Courts Service. Therefore, I have referred your question to the Courts Service for their direct reply.
Prison Service
Questions (184)
Patrick Costello
Question:184. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners sleeping on mattresses, by prison, in tabular form; the number of prisoners sleeping more than one to a cell; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30100/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware the Irish Prison Service must accept all people committed by the courts.I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service and my Department are committed to providing safe and secure custody for all people committed to prison while ensuring a safe working environment for staff. Officials in the Irish Prison Service and the Department are continuously working to identify short, medium and longer term proposals to help manage the current capacity issues in our prisons.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has made significant capital funding available to the Irish Prison Service in order to enhance the existing prison infrastructure and to provide additional capacity.
In recent years, capacity across the prison estate has been increased by in excess of 200 additional spaces through the reopening of the Training Unit in Mountjoy, the opening of new male accommodation in Limerick and the new standalone female prison in Limerick.
The Irish Prison Service continues to engage with my Department to progress plans to bring on stream accommodation for over 1,100 prisoners between 2024 and 2030.
As part of these plans, I secured capital funding of €159m for the years 2024 to 2026, including an increase of €49.5m in the most recent NDP allocations.
Short term projects are being progressed which are expected to deliver accommodation for over 170 prisoners in 2024. The Prison Service are also currently engaged with the Defence Forces to assess the feasibility of bringing the Curragh Military Prison into use.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of the number of people in custody sleeping on mattresses on the floor on 8 July 2024 is provided in the table below.
|
- |
Castlerea |
Cloverhill |
Cork |
Dóchas |
Limerick Male |
Midlands |
Mountjoy |
Wheatfield |
Total |
|
08/07/2024 |
2 |
56 |
32 |
8 |
20 |
35 |
60 |
29 |
242 |
Further the data from the last Cell Occupancy Census carried out by the Irish Prison Service, published in April 2024, indicates that 1,920 (40%) of people in custody were accommodated in single cell accommodation, while 2,935 (60%) were sharing.