Written Answers Nos. 43-67
43. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to respond to the critical concerns of a parents’ group (details supplied) in respect of the significant disparity between available special education placements in primary and secondary schools in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38218/24]
View answerEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
Over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to 3,335 - 2,338 at primary level and 997 at post-primary level.
Of these, 16 are in Louth - 13 at primary level and 3 at post-primary level, bringing the total number of special classes in Co. Louth to 98 - 75 at primary level and 23 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these are autism classes which have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.
As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.
In October 2022, my department wrote to all post-primary schools requesting that each school begin planning to provide for up to four special classes to meet the needs of children progressing from primary school. The department and the NCSE continue to have engagement with post-primary school management bodies in relation to the provision of special classes.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
There are 3 SENOs in Co. Louth and the NCSE will be undertaking visits to schools during term 1 of this school year to assist with the forward planning of special class provision for the 2025/2026 school year.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.
44. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if Sports Ireland could be requested to provide additional summer camps for children with physical and intellectual disabilities; and if weekly classes could be considered (details supplied). [37971/24]
View answerSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards, including the development of guidance and training programmes for sporting bodies. This remit also includes the measurement of sports participation and the allocation of funding to sporting organisations for the implementation of a range of programmes and measures to address inequalities in sports participation.
Within this remit, Sport Ireland actively works to serve the needs of people with disabilities across sport as a priority. Guided by its "Policy on Participation in Sport by People with Disabilities", it develops initiatives and administers funding and supports to sports organisations nationwide with the aim of enabling people with disabilities of all ages to participate in sport and physical activity on an equal basis. Work is also progressing in appointing a dedicated Disability in Sport Lead within Sport Ireland.
As the issue raised is a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred the Deputy's question to the agency for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 working days.
45. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will provide an update on the current 2024 round of applications for the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37974/24]
View answerEarlier this year, Minister Martin and I announced funding of up to €120 million under the new 2024 round of the the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
The application period for LSSIF 2024 closed on 1 July 2024. A total of 96 applications were submitted by the deadline by Local Authorities and/or National Governing Bodies of Sport and valid applications are now being assessed by my officials.
Assessment of applications, for funding of between €600,000 and €30 million, will take into account population size, sustainability and ensuring that similar access is provided to accommodate access by men and women to LSSIF funded facilities.
It is intended to make announcements in that regard by the end of October.
46. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department or the Arts Council provide any funding to support competitions, competitive prizes, or festivals in the fields of literature, writing, music, singing, visual arts, architecture, ballet or film. [38039/24]
View answerMy Department funds a variety of projects under the B6 Subhead in support of objectives under our high-level goal in relation to developing individual and community engagement with and in the arts, culture and creativity and promoting Ireland’s arts, culture, and creativity globally.
The Arts Council offers a wide range of schemes that provide funding to artists and arts organisations. These include the Festivals Investment Scheme which is a competitive scheme that offers funding to support the staging of festivals on a non-recurring basis. Normally, the Arts Council does not provide funding for competitions, as it is focused on supporting the development and creation of artistic work, rather than competitive events. The Council's mission is to foster artistic expression, encourage innovation, and provide opportunities for artists to create and present their work. The Arts Council’s funding priorities align with projects that contribute to the wider cultural landscape, such as educational initiatives, professional development, and new productions.
With particular emphasis on smaller events organised at community and local level, my Department operates an annual scheme that provides support for festivals in the fields of literature, writing, music, singing, visual arts, architecture, ballet or film.?This Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer School Scheme is designed to support local cultural festivals and summer schools which are not in receipt of other central Government monies and which may not be eligible under funding criteria for larger scale events supported by Fáilte Ireland, the Arts Council and similar bodies. 16 projects were approved for support in 2024 amounting to €68,945.? Cultural initiatives can seek funding under this scheme, which will operate again in 2025. Details of eligibility and application forms can be found at www.gov.ie/en/publication/89595-small-scale-local-festivals-and-summer-schools/.
My Department has provided support for a small number of music competitions - the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, the Dublin International Piano Competition and the National Concert Hall’s Bernadette Greevy Bursary. While it is recognised that these competitions provide opportunities for performers from Ireland and abroad to raise their profile and further their career, the support arrangements are to be reviewed shortly in the light of growing demands and limited resources.
47. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media whether or not compliance with employment law, as part of public procurement guidelines, was a condition required to receive grants from her Department such as the live performance support scheme or LPGRS; and the procedure, if any, that was in place to assess compliance in order to ensure such a condition was met. [38051/24]
View answer48. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of recipients of the live performance support scheme, the music and entertainment business assistance scheme, the local live performance programming scheme, and the live performance restart grant scheme, were asked for and/or provided the proof of payment to artists and crews upon which payment was contingent (details supplied); the number of applicants for these grant schemes who were rejected for failure to provide this proof of payment; and the total number of artists and crew workers who benefited as a result. [38052/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together.
The suite of supports for the live entertainment sector delivered by my Department during the pandemic sustained employment opportunities and well-being and protected the sector’s future viability, supporting over 100,000 days of employment during the pandemic.
Details of the guidelines, terms and conditions and recipients of grant offers for the Pilot Live Performance Support Scheme, Live Performance Support Scheme 2021, Live Performance Support Scheme Phase 3 and Live Performance Scheme - Strand 2 and the Live Performance Restart Grant are published on my Department's website.
The Music and Entertainment Scheme, delivered over three phases in 2021 and 2022 offered over 1600 grants as a contribution to the overheads of businesses in the entertainment sector that had been significantly affected by COVID-19 and did qualify for other business supports.
All 31 local authorities were awarded grants through the Local Live Performance Scheme which supported activity and at a local level and provided employment opportunities for performers and crews. These grants were administered by the local authorities.
The payment of grants for all schemes was contingent upon compliance with the published criteria, terms and conditions. All grantees were required to provide proof of payment to ensure that artists and crews were remunerated and that the grant awarded had been used for the purpose intended. All grantees had to declare that they were in full compliance with Public Procurement Guidelines.
49. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if, in light of the success of Irish swimmers in the recent Olympics and Paralympics in Paris, and considering that there remains a serious deficit in swimming pool facilities, including in east Galway, if she will support the proposal to build a Connaught regional 50-metre, Olympic-size swimming pool in Loughrea, County Galway, close to the motorway and serving the Loughrea catchment area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38103/24]
View answerThe Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Community Sport Facilities Fund (fomerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, SCEP) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF).
Earlier this year, Minister Martin and I announced funding of up to €120 million under the new 2024 round of the LSSIF, which closed for applications on 1 July 2024. New swimming pool projects and the refurbishment of existing swimming pools were eligible to apply for grant funding under LSSIF 2024 subject to published guidelines and conditions of the scheme. No application was received under LSSIF 2024 for a swimming pool in Loughrea.
While the very high level of demand for this second round of the LSSIF strongly suggests that a future round will be required, any decisions on the timing of such a round will depend on the funding available and the pace of drawdown from rounds 1 and 2.
50. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a full update on the Shared Island application from Cork County Council and Belfast City Council, which aims to provide a new cross-harbour cycle and walking swing bridge from Sailortown to the Titanic Quarter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37985/24]
View answerIn September 2022, the Government’s Shared Island Local Authority Development funding scheme (SILAD), which is administered by my Department, supported a number of feasibility assessments by local authorities - including the projects referred to - as potential cross-border collaborative projects across a range of sectors. The scheme, which is funded through the Shared Island Fund, supported Local Authorities North and South in progressing feasibility work on new joint investment projects which could take forward shared local and regional development goals and enable local authorities to pursue relevant funding streams in both jurisdictions for implementation stages. SILAD supports a number of feasibility assessments by local authorities. These studies cover potential cross-border projects across a range of sectors including biodiversity, heritage, tourism, decarbonisation, the circular economy, rural and urban regeneration, education, business innovation, and cultural and creative industries.
My Department and the Shared Island unit in the Department of the Taoiseach have engaged with each of the local authority partners on their SILAD feasibility reports. My Department met with representatives of Cork City Council and Belfast City Council on 18 June to discuss how the Councils could consider progressing the proposals in their SILAD project to a further stage of development, working with the relevant line Departments and Agencies, North and South, and aligned with relevant planning and funding processes in each jurisdiction.
51. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there is a compensation scheme available to a farmer who is no longer cutting turf in his bog (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38154/24]
View answerMy Department operates two schemes that support households and individuals to cease cutting turf and facilitate measures to restore the peatland habitat.
The Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (CTCCS) compensates households for the lack of access to fuel for domestic home heating as a result of the restrictions on turf cutting on raised bogs designated as Special Areas of Conservation and certain Natural Heritage Areas.
Additional bog plots not covered by the CTCCS may qualify for the Protected Raised Bog Restoration Incentive Scheme. This is a once off area based compensation scheme open to applications from property right holders who wish to have their lands included as part of the restoration scheme or where access is required for restoration works within a designated raised bog.
Whilst the exact location of the bog plot referred to is unknown, it is my understanding that there are no designated bogs in the townland name provided and hence these schemes may not apply.
In addition to the schemes outlined above the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department operates the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme. This supports landowners to:• deliver actions that benefit habitats and species in Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas, known collectively as Natura 2000 sites,• to support farmland biodiversity more generally, and• to provide a platform for trialing new conservation approaches which can be delivered on a wider scale.
These actions can include a range of activities that contribute to conservation of habitats and species. Further details of this scheme are available on the website www.npws.ie .
52. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 434 of 9 July 2024, if he is aware that for previous general elections, less than half of the returning officers consented to the presence of international election observers; if he will take steps to ensure that for the forthcoming general election, election observers will be permitted to observe in all constituencies, in line with obligations flowing from the Copenhagen Document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37963/24]
View answerIreland is a signatory to the Copenhagen Document. This key document from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) outlines commitments undertaken by participating States in respect of democratic elections, the rule of law, and other fundamental rights and freedoms.In particular, section 8 of the Copenhagen Document notes that participating States consider that the presence of observers, both foreign and domestic, can enhance the electoral process for States in which elections are taking place.Sections 98 of the Electoral Act 1992 specifies the persons who shall be admitted to polling stations while section 113 of that Act explicitly sets out who may be present at the counting of the votes. No other persons may be present without the consent of the relevant returning officer who is independent in the performance of his or her functions under the Act.Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 98 and 113 of the Act, and having regard to our commitments under the Copenhagen Document, my Department, with the co-operation of returning officers, actively seeks to facilitate the attendance of observers at any election whenever such requests are received, including observation missions from the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
In this context, the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights have undertaken Needs Assessment Missions in advance of the general elections held in February 2011, February 2016 and February 2020 respectively. In each of those elections, the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights did not recommend deploying full election-related missions.
The last full election-related mission undertaken by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights took place at the general election held in March 2007. My Department will continue to engage with the OSCE in respect of any future requests.
53. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will intervene to ensure that an application made by a group water scheme (details supplied) under the Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2024-2026 is prioritised on the basis that many homes in the locality rely on the supply, and maintenance of it is an ongoing struggle for the volunteer group that oversee it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37975/24]
View answerIn January this year, I launched the next cycle of the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP) to cover the period 2024 to 2026.
The overall purpose of the MARWP and other grants is to provide the necessary funding to improve the quality, quantity and reliability of the water services relied upon by rural dwellers, where no public water services are available.
An Expert Panel is currently looking at the specifics of each funding request and is tasked with making recommendations on the suitability of individual projects for funding. Under an independent Chairperson, the Panel’s membership includes experts from the key stakeholders in the Rural Water Sector.
I expect to receive the recommendations of the Panel and approve and allocate funding in the coming weeks.
In addition to the funding being provided under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme, my Department also makes funding available to group water schemes with an annual subsidy to fund their operational costs of providing water for domestic use.
54. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will designate Drogheda as a city in law and for local government administrative purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37978/24]
View answerThe National Planning Framework published in 2018 sets out a vision and strategy for the spatial development of Ireland to 2040. The Framework recognises the strategic importance of Drogheda and aims to support its development and its economic potential as part of the Dublin-Belfast Corridor and in particular the core Drogheda-Dundalk-Newry network. Drogheda’s role is reflected at a regional level in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) for the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly area. The RSES targets significant growth into the regional growth centres, including Drogheda, to enable them to act as regional drivers. In 2021 both Meath and Louth County Councils adopted new Development Plans which further underline the importance of Drogheda as a key urban centre in both counties.
The Draft First Revision to the NPF and accompanying technical assessments were published by Government on 10 July 2024 and were subject to public consultation for a 9 week period concluding on 12 September. Almost 300 submissions were received, and these are currently being considered with a view to applying amendments to the Framework where necessary. The finalised document will be published, subject to Oireachtas and Government approval, in October 2024.
Local government areas are specified in primary legislation. The Local Government Act 2001 currently provides for three city council areas, namely Cork, Dublin, and Galway. For an additional a city council to be established, provision would have to be made for this and other consequential matters in the relevant legislation. There are no plans for legislation in this regard currently.
55. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will give a definite date for the publication of the rural housing guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38093/24]
View answerSince the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the NPF published in 2018) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and protection of the environment and adapting to and mitigating climate change have become more central to the operation of the planning system.
Updated Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being prepared by my Department. The updated guidelines will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework (NPF), in particular on National Policy Objective (NPO) 19 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment) on the one hand, and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining, on the other. NPO 19 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social or economic need are to be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence.
The draft Rural Housing Guidelines will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set by the NPF. The guidelines will continue to allow county development plans to provide for housing in the countryside based on the considerations detailed in NPO 19 of the NPF, and will also highlight the need to manage development in certain areas, such as the areas around cities and larger towns and environmentally sensitive areas, in order to avoid over-development.
While planning policy is a national, as opposed to an EU competence, due care is being taken to ensure the updated guidelines will not operate to conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, comply with EU environmental legislative requirements and have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice. The draft planning guidelines will address these complex environmental and legal issues, while also providing a framework for the sustainable management of housing in rural areas.
Having regard to these complex considerations, the draft guidelines are subject to legal review and Ministerial approval, following which it is intended that the draft guidelines will be published for a period of public consultation.
56. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of sanctions sought in 2024 by local authorities for tenant-in-situ acquisitions above the 50% of their allocation, in tabular form. [38099/24]
View answer57. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that with respect to the tenant-in-situ scheme, for acquisitions that are above the local authority allocation plus 50%, if advance approval needs to be obtained from his Department, as set out in Guidance for 2024 Social Housing Acquisitions issued by the Department to local authorities in June 2024. [38100/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 57 together.
Under Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
Social Housing is delivered through a range of local authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) delivery programmes across the build, acquisition and leasing delivery streams.
For 2023, the Government agreed that there would be increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department provided funding for local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions have primarily focused on properties where a tenant is in receipt of social housing supports and has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular in March 2023, setting out details of these arrangements.
For 2024, Government has again agreed to an increased provision to acquire 1,500 social homes with the primary focus on properties where a tenant in receipt of social housing supports has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property.
Each local authority has been provided with a provisional allocation for social housing acquisitions in 2024. An increased headroom of 50%, in addition to this initial allocation, has been applied to enable local authorities to acquire homes within these parameters under delegated sanction. Acquisitions above this headroom amount are subject sanction requests which are dealt with expeditiously.
To date 13 local authorities have sought sanction to exceed the allocation with each request subsequently being approved. The number of sanction requests is detailed below:
|
Local Authority |
Number of Applications |
|
Carlow Total |
25 |
|
Cork City Total |
15 |
|
Galway City Total |
8 |
|
Kildare Total |
34 |
|
Kilkenny Total |
1 |
|
Longford Total |
3 |
|
Meath Total |
5 |
|
Monaghan Total |
1 |
|
SDCC Total |
1 |
|
Sligo Total |
4 |
|
Tipperary Total |
13 |
|
Westmeath Total |
6 |
|
Wexford Total |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
117 |
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including completed acquisitions. From 2023, this data includes a breakdown of acquisitions completed by each local authority where a Notice of Termination issued to a tenant and is available, for all local authorities, to the end of Quarter 1 2024 on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
58. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason for the delay in establishing the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) stakeholder forum, which was included in the strategic action plan for the NPWS and was due to be established in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38195/24]
View answer59. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps taken to ensure that the National Parks and Wildlife Service stakeholder forum will be established on a permanent footing with regular meetings starting in quarter four of 2024 as promised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38196/24]
View answer60. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he can provide a concrete timeline for the establishment of the National Parks and Wildlife Service stakeholder forum, including the dates for the first meeting and the frequency of subsequent meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38197/24]
View answer61. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the way the National Parks and Wildlife Service stakeholder forum will ensure the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders, including environmental, conservation, rural pursuits, and farming interests, to ensure a fully inclusive approach to future policymaking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38198/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 59, 60 and 61 together.
I have committed to establishing a Stakeholder Forum which will meet in the coming months and which will include stakeholders with an interest in the policy areas under the remit of the NPWS. The Forum will adhere to the consultation principles set out in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Consultation Principles and Guidelines (2016) which aim to ensure that consultation is genuine, meaningful, timely, balanced and with the objective of leading to better outcomes. It is envisaged that the forum will meet twice yearly.
62. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if documentation can be located and a decision be made on an application for domiciliary care allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37972/24]
View answerIn line with other Social Protection schemes, Carer's Allowance, including any related or underlying payment such as Carer's Support Grant or Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA), is subject to review to ensure that all qualifying conditions for receipt of payment(s) continue to be met.
The Carer's Allowance (CA) claim for the person concerned was under review by my Department. Further to that review, a Deciding Officer wrote to the person on 5 March 2024 to advise that their underlying DCA claim in respect of their child was also under review. Further to the above communication, a Deciding Officer decided as per review decision dated 26 March 2024, that the person concerned was not entitled to DCA payment, effective from 29 February 2024, on the grounds that it could not be determined if they continued to satisfy the eligibility conditions for receipt of their DCA payment. The claimant had failed to provide information that had been requested by a departmental official on 14 February 2024, in relation to a review of their claim(s).
I can confirm that my Department subsequently received correspondence including documentation from the person concerned and that this correspondence was received in my Department's CA scheme area on 20 May 2024.
Further to receipt of the above correspondence, a review of the decision on the CA claim was undertaken by a Deciding Officer, as per decision dated 5 June 2024 and the person concerned was notified of that further decision in writing on 5 June 2024. This review resulted in no change to the original decision .
On the 9 September 2024, correspondence was received from the person concerned regarding the status of their DCA claim/payment. I can confirm that further to this correspondence, a review of the claimant's DCA claim has now been undertaken. Following that review, a Deciding Officer decided as per decision dated 19 September 2024 to reinstate their DCA payment with effect from 1 March 2024 and the person concerned was notified of that review decision in writing on 19 September 2024.
The CA claim is still with the Appeals office for an Appeals officer decision.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
63. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) has an entitlement to carer's benefit from their current or previous PRSI contributions. [37988/24]
View answerCarer's Benefit is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.
To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
The legislative provisions for Carer's Benefit require a person to have been in remunerative full time employment for a minimum of 16 hours in the week, or 32 hours in the fortnight, for eight weeks out of the previous 26 week relevant period which is immediately prior to the first day on which a claim is made.
Only PRSI contributions paid at classes A,B,C,D,E and H are reckonable for Carer’s Benefit. PRSI Class “S” contributions are not qualifying contributions for the purpose of Carer’s Benefit.
This condition requires a person to have 156 PRSI contributions paid since entry into insurance and either
• 39 contributions paid in the "Relevant Tax year" which would be for this year - 2022.
or
• 39 contributions paid in the 12 months immediately before the commencement of the Carer's Benefit claim
or
• 26 contributions paid in the "Relevant Tax year" and 26 contributions paid in the previous "Relevant Tax year".
The person concerned has only has 1 paid qualifying PRSI contribution in 2022 and 1 paid qualifying PRSI contribution in 2023.
Where a person is unable to satisfy the conditions of the Carer’s Benefit payment, the means tested Carer’s Allowance is available for those who are in need of income support.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
64. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection her proposals to change the eligibility for self-employed persons to carer's benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37989/24]
View answerThe main income supports to carers provided by my department 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 €1.7 billion this year.
Carer's Benefit is available to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. It is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).
Only Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions paid at classes A, B, C, D, E and H are counted towards Carer's Benefit. Contributions paid at class S (self-employed contributions) do not count. Self-employed workers paying class S contributions are currently covered for most of the benefits available under the social insurance system.
Self-employed workers whose income is €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable to pay social insurance contributions at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500.
There has been an extensive expansion of access to the range of social insurance benefits for self-employed social insurance contributors in recent years, without any increase in the 4% rate of contribution made by them. In effect, self-employed contributors, in return for a contribution of 11 percentage points lower than for employed contributors, have access to benefits which comprise over 90% of the value of all benefits available to employed contributors.
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.
Where a carer cannot satisfy the PRSI conditions attached to the Carer's Benefit payment, application for the non-means tested payment of Carer's Allowance is available. A self-employed carer may also be eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carers Support Grant provided they satisfy the criteria for those schemes. My Department will continue to keep its range of supports under review to ensure that they meet their overall objectives. However, any changes in access to additional schemes, including Carer's Benefit, for self-employed contributors would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, including the appropriate contribution rates.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
65. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of the Workplace Relations Commission's recent ruling in the case of musician (details supplied) and its implications for the music sector; if she has discussed plans to address the specific issue of bogus self-employment in the music industry with the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, or the Minister for Finance in the context of this ruling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38049/24]
View answerIt is important to emphasise that there are different statutory bodies in place that make determinations on employment status, all with distinct remits. My Department makes employment status decisions in relation to PRSI, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners makes decisions in relation to tax and the WRC determines employment status as a preliminary issue when adjudicating on employment rights issues.
My Department is currently working with the Revenue Commissioners and the Workplace Relations Commission to finalise a revised the 'Code of Practice for Determining Employment or Self-Employment'. The purpose of this document is to provide a clear understanding of employment status, taking into account current labour market practices and developments in legislation and caselaw. The Code aims to be of benefit to employers, employees, independent contractors and legal, financial and HR professionals. It is also aimed at investigators, decision-makers and adjudicators in the Department of Social Protection, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the WRC, their respective appeals bodies, and the courts.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
66. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the carer’s allowance application for a person (details supplied). [38133/24]
View answerCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 02 February 2024.
The application was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 12 February 2024 to confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied. The SWI reported on 24 September 2024.
A Deciding Officer decided on 26 September 2024 that the claim can be awarded. However, as the person concerned is currently in receipt of another social welfare payment that includes a payment for a qualified adult, they were contacted by phone on 26 September 2024 to ensure that they wish to proceed with the CA claim, which will result in a lower weekly rate of payment. The person wished to consider this and will revert to confirm whether they wish to proceed, and if they do, their claim will be put into payment immediately.
I would like to apologise for the delay in processing this application. Applications for CA can sometimes take longer to process because they require more detailed investigations and interaction with the customer, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.
My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that all applications are processed as quickly as possible.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
67. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of vacancies at each grade of higher executive officer and above within her Department as of 18 September 2024, in tabular form. [38206/24]
View answerDetails of the number of vacancies within the Department are set out in table below as requested by the Deputy.
|
Grade |
Number of vacancies |
|
Administrative Officer |
9 |
|
Assistant Principal |
21 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
161 |
|
Medical Assessor (Principal Officer equivalent) |
1 |
|
Total |
192 |
Note: There are no current vacancies at Principal Officer or Assistant/Deputy Secretary levels.
