Written Answers Nos. 479-493
479. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection the additional supports that are being made available to families living in long-term emergency accommodation in Kildare, especially those in Family Hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42583/24]
View answerThe Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme which is the safety net within the overall social welfare system, helps eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single Additional Needs Payments (ANP)s. 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.
My Department may make an ANP to help meet essential expenditure which an eligible person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) and Urgent Needs Payments (UNPs), and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary. ANPs are administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service considering the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
Supports from this Department are not intended to cover circumstances where another Government Department or Agency has the primary responsibility. For example, the responsibility for the provision of rent support to those with a long-term housing need has transferred from the Department of Social Protection to the local authorities. Persons with a long-term housing need should contact their local authority where information is available regarding suitable housing supports including the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
If the person is experiencing financial difficulties, they can apply for assistance by completing a SWA1 form and providing all relevant documents in support of their application. On receipt of a completed application form and supporting documentation, the person's claim will be assessed on its individual merits based on the circumstances at that time, and they will be advised of the outcome in writing. Alternatively, if the person concerned has a verified MyGovID account they can apply for an ANP at www.MyWelfare.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
480. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection If disability allowance will continue to be paid to a person (details supplied). [42596/24]
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, a means test and the habitual residency conditions.
I can confirm that an application for DA was received in respect of the person concerned on 24 October 2006 and her claim was awarded with effect from 25 October 2006.
The Department periodically conducts reviews to ensure continuing eligibility and to confirm that the qualifying conditions continue to be fulfilled and that no disqualifications from receiving Disability Allowance apply.
The Department initiated a medical review of the person concern on 13 September 2022 and asked her to complete a medical self-review form (MR99). This was returned to the Department on 4 October 2022. On the basis of the medical information provided by the customer, they were deemed not to be eligible for DA and a further medical form, to be completed by her doctor (MR33) was issued on 2nd May 2023. This information was returned on the 13th June 2023 and a review of this information was undertaken by a Departmental Medical Assessor, who provided a medical opinion to the Deciding Officer.
A letter issued to the person concerned on 26 October 2023 informing them that based on the evidence submitted, it had found her to be not substantially restricted in seeking suitable employment, by reason of a specified disability, which is expected to last for a period of at least one year. No response was received from the person concerned. On the 17 January 2024 the person concerned was informed that their DA payment would be terminated with effect from the 6 February 2024.
The person concerned subsequently supplied Further Medical Evidence (FME) on 12 February 2024. Her DA payment was reinstated, and all arrears were issued to her.
The Department reviewed all information provided on this case, including the FME, to determine ongoing eligibility to DA. Following the review it was determined that she was not substantially restricted in seeking suitable employment, by reason of a specified disability, which is expected to last for a period of at least one year, and that her last payment would be on the 25 September 2024. A letter issued to the person concerned informing them of the outcome.
I can confirm that no new review was commenced following the temporary reinstatement of the DA payment. This was a continuation of the initial review.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
481. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to list all the achievements that have been made to benefit and improve outcomes for carers since this Government took office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42605/24]
View answer482. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to detail any changes to carer’s payments and benefits, including the means tests, income thresholds and capital disregards, that are under consideration by her Department; the outcome and conclusions thus far; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42606/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 482 together.
The Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
The 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.
Since my appointment as Minister for Social Protection I have advocated strongly on behalf of carers. Changes to carer’s payments and benefits, including the means tests, income thresholds and capital disregards are always kept under consideration, in consultation with carers and the organisations that represent them.
In this regard, I have taken a range of actions to improve outcomes for carers across all the carer payments under my remit. I have increasing payment rates and income disregards. I have extended access across the schemes to new recipients. I have also provided additional once-off and double payments to assist with additional financial pressures experienced by carers as a result of rising costs-of-living.
• As part of my first Budget as Minister for Social Protection, I increased the Carer’s Support Grant by €150 to €1,850. The grant is not subject to a means test or social insurance contributions, nor is it taxable. As part of Budget 2025 the Carer’s Support Grant will increase by a further €150 to €2,000, its highest ever rate. This is an increase of €300 under this Government.
• Budget 2022 saw the first changes to the Carer’s Allowance means test in 14 years. I increased the income disregards from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner. The capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was also increased from €20,000 to €50,000. It’s important to note that the latter equates to €100,000 in the case of a couple.
• As part of Budget 2024, and with effect from June this year, the weekly income disregards were further increased from €350 to €450 for a single person, and from €750 to €900 for carers with a spouse/partner.
• 2025 will see further increases to the earnings disregard for Carer's Allowance from €450 to €625 for a single person and from €900 to €1,250 for a couple. Since June 2022, this amounts to cumulative increases to the income disregards of €292.50 for a single carer and €585.00 for a carer who is part of couple.
These changes to the means test have enabled more carers on a reduced rate to move to a higher payment. Additionally, many carers who previously did not qualify for a payment due to their means have been brought into the Carer's Allowance system for the first time.
• The Carer's Benefit earnings limit as increased in line with its means tested Carer's Allowance counterpart. With effect from June this year, the Carer’s Benefit earnings Limit will increase by €100 to €450 per week. As part of Budget 2025, the Carer’s Benefit payment will be extended to the self-employed for the first time and the earnings limit will be increased from €450 to €625, after tax.
• From January 2024, the rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance increased from €330 to €340 per month. As part of Budget 2025, and with effect from January, the payment will increase by a further €20, bringing the payment to €360. This payment has increased by €50.50 per month under this Government. Further changes to the payment include:
• As part of Budget 2022, the period during which Domiciliary Care Allowance can be paid for children in hospital was extended from 3 months to 6 months.
• I have also extended the period from 6 months to 18 months for babies who remain in an acute hospital after birth.
• I have delivered on the Programme for Government commitment to provide a pension solution for Long-term Carers. From January 2024, a new Long-Term Carers Contribution scheme was introduced by this Department. Under the scheme, a person who has been a full-time carer for an incapacitated dependent for at least 20 years (1,040 weeks), can get Long-Term Carers Contributions to cover gaps in their contribution record which can help them qualify for the State Pension (Contributory).
• Over the last number of Budgets, there have been a suite of once-off lump sum and double payments to assist carers with the cost of living and rising bills. More recently, as part of Budget 2025, these include: -
• A €400 cost of living lump sum payment for carers eligible for the Carer’s Support Grant will be paid in November.
• In October a cost-of-living bonus will be paid to most people who get a long term weekly social welfare payment including carers.
• A Christmas Bonus will be paid to over 1.3 million long term welfare recipients including carers.
• A €12 increase in the weekly rate of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit will take effect from January. This is the fourth successive rise in weekly welfare rates under this Government. Rates have increased by €41.00 over the last 4 years.
• Carer’s Allowance will be included as a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance – the other qualifying conditions for Fuel Allowance will need to be satisfied.
• For carers with children the following will also apply:
• Weekly rates of Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) will increase by €8 to €62 for those aged 12 and over, and by €4 to €50 for under 12s in January 2025.
• A €100 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting a Child Support Payment to be paid for each qualified child in November 2024.
• A double payment of Child Benefit to be paid in both November and December 2024.
I trust the above provides a comprehensive update on the achievements that have been made to benefit and improve outcomes for carers since this Government took office.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to keep the range of supports available to carers under review, and that any further changes will only be made in consultation with family carers and their representative organisations.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
483. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the consideration that has been given to reforming the means test for carer’s allowance so that the carer is recognised in their own right, including individualisation with regards to the means test and reducing the amount of income of the spouse/partner that is taken into consideration when determining access to the payment and amount of payment received; if any full year costs, provisional or otherwise, are available on this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42607/24]
View answerThe Government recognises the important role that carers play in Irish society and is committed to supporting them through a range of payments and services.
The annual Carer’s Support Grant, which is paid in respect of each care recipient, is not means-tested and is not taxable. The Grant was increased to €2,000 per year in Budget 2025, which is the highest rate at which it has been paid since it was first introduced in 1999. Budget 2025 also contained a once off payment of €400 for recipients of the Carer's Support Grant and this will be paid in the week commencing 11th November.
As part of Budget 2025, I also Increased the income disregard for Carer's Allowance to €625 (single) and €1,250 (couple).
Means tests are an essential component of the Irish social protection system – they help to direct scarce resources to where they are needed most. For social assistance schemes, such as Carer's Allowance, total household income is assessed as part of the means test.
Any proposals to change the means assessment formula for assessment of social protection schemes would have to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.
484. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the full-year cost of increasing the income disregards for single and couples for carer’s allowance by €25, €50, €75, €100, €125, €150, €175, €200, €225, €250, €275, €300, €325, €350, €375, €400, €425, €450, €475 and €500, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42608/24]
View answerIncome disregards ensure that, where people are in receipt of a social assistance payment and are working, their income from work to the level of the income disregard, is not assessed in the means test.
As part of Budget 2025, I further increased the Carer's Allowance disregard to €625 for a single person, and €1,250 for carers with a spouse/partner, to commence in July 2025. A detailed costing was undertaken and the estimated the full year cost to increase the income disregard for Carer's Allowance to €625 for a single person and €1,250 per couple is €23.6 million.
The Department does not currently have the available data and modelling capacity to provide a detailed estimate for the full year cost of increasing the disregards for single people and couples by €25, €50, €75, €100, €125, €150, €175, €200, €225, €250, €275, €300, €325, €350, €375, €400, €425, €450, €475 and €500.
A very high-level estimate is that the cost of increasing disregards so that the disregard level is between €500 and €750 for single people and €1,000 and €1,400 for couples would be in the region of €9 million and €35 million, respectively, in a full year.
485. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the full-year cost of increasing the carer’s support grant by €100, €200, €300, €400, €500, €600, €700, €800, €900, €1000, €1500 and €2000, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42609/24]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing the Carer’s Support Grant, by €100, €200 €300, €400, €500, €600. €700, €800, €900, €1,000, €1,500 and €2,000 is as follows
|
Rate Increase by |
Cost € million |
|
€100 |
€16.5 |
|
€200 |
€33.2 |
|
€300 |
€49.9 |
|
€400 |
€66.6 |
|
€500 |
€83.3 |
|
€600 |
€100 |
|
€700 |
€116.7 |
|
€800 |
€133.3 |
|
€900 |
€150 |
|
€1,000 |
€166.7 |
|
€1,500 |
€250.2 |
|
€2,000 |
€333.6 |
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2025.
486. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to detail the full-year cost of increasing all social welfare payments by €5, €7, €10, €12, €15, €20, €25, €30, €40 and €50, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42610/24]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing all social welfare payments by €5, €7, €10, €12, €15, €20, €25, €30, €40 and €50, in tabular form is as follows:
|
Increase |
€5 |
€7 |
€10 |
€12 |
€15 |
€20 |
€25 |
€30 |
€40 |
€50 |
|
Cost in million, by scheme |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Social Insurance Schemes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
€145.9 |
€ 204.4 |
€ 291.6 |
€ 350.3 |
€ 437.4 |
€ 583.2 |
€ 729.0 |
€ 874.9 |
€ 1,166.8 |
€ 1,458.2 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension Under 66 |
€ 7.6 |
€10.6 |
€15.1 |
€18.2 |
€ 22.7 |
€ 30.3 |
€ 37.9 |
€ 45.4 |
€ 60.6 |
€ 75.8 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension Over 66 |
€ 25.6 |
€ 35.9 |
€ 51.2 |
€ 61.5 |
€ 76.8 |
€ 102.4 |
€ 128.0 |
€ 153.6 |
€ 204.8 |
€ 256.1 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit Under 66 |
€ 0.3 |
€ 0.4 |
€ 0.6 |
€ 0.7 |
€ 0.9 |
€ 1.2 |
€ 1.5 |
€ 1.8 |
€ 2.3 |
€ 2.9 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit Over 66 |
€ 0.7 |
€ 0.9 |
€ 1.3 |
€ 1.6 |
€ 2.0 |
€ 2.6 |
€ 3.3 |
€ 3.9 |
€ 5.2 |
€ 6.5 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
€ 15.1 |
€ 21.1 |
€ 30.1 |
€ 36.1 |
€ 45.1 |
€ 60.2 |
€ 75.3 |
€ 90.3 |
€ 120.4 |
€ 150.5 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
€ 0.4 |
€ 0.6 |
€ 0.9 |
€ 1.0 |
€ 1.3 |
€ 1.7 |
€ 2.2 |
€ 2.6 |
€ 3.4 |
€ 4.3 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
€ 0.3 |
€ 0.5 |
€ 0.7 |
€ 0.8 |
€ 1.0 |
€ 1.3 |
€ 1.6 |
€ 2.0 |
€ 2.6 |
€ 3.3 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
€ 0.2 |
€ 0.2 |
€ 0.3 |
€ 0.4 |
€ 0.5 |
€ 0.7 |
€ 0.9 |
€ 1.0 |
€ 1.4 |
€ 1.7 |
|
Disablement Pension |
€ 0.9 |
€ 1.3 |
€ 1.8 |
€ 2.2 |
€ 2.8 |
€ 3.7 |
€ 4.6 |
€ 5.5 |
€ 7.4 |
€ 9.2 |
|
Illness Benefit |
€ 13.7 |
€ 19.2 |
€ 27.4 |
€ 32.9 |
€ 41.1 |
€ 54.8 |
€ 68.5 |
€ 82.1 |
€ 109.5 |
€ 136.9 |
|
Injury Benefit |
€ 0.1 |
€ 0.2 |
€ 0.2 |
€ 0.3 |
€ 0.3 |
€ 0.5 |
€ 0.6 |
€ 0.7 |
€ 0.9 |
€ 1.1 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
€ 0.2 |
€ 0.3 |
€ 0.4 |
€ 0.5 |
€ 0.7 |
€ 0.9 |
€ 1.1 |
€ 1.3 |
€ 1.8 |
€ 2.2 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
€ 7.7 |
€ 10.8 |
€ 15.5 |
€ 18.6 |
€ 23.2 |
€ 31.0 |
€ 38.7 |
€ 46.4 |
€ 61.9 |
€ 77.4 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) |
€ 0.2 |
€ 0.2 |
€ 0.4 |
€ 0.4 |
€ 0.5 |
€ 0.7 |
€ 0.9 |
€ 1.1 |
€ 1.4 |
€ 1.8 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
€ 1.1 |
€ 1.5 |
€ 2.2 |
€ 2.6 |
€ 3.3 |
€ 4.3 |
€ 5.4 |
€ 6.5 |
€ 8.7 |
€ 10.8 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.1 |
€ 0.1 |
€ 0.1 |
|
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit |
€ 5.0 |
€ 7.0 |
€ 9.9 |
€ 11.9 |
€ 14.9 |
€ 19.9 |
€ 24.9 |
€ 29.8 |
€ 39.8 |
€ 49.7 |
|
Paternity & Parent's Benefit |
€ 2.2 |
€ 3.0 |
€ 4.4 |
€ 5.2 |
€ 6.5 |
€ 8.7 |
€ 10.9 |
€ 13.1 |
€ 17.4 |
€ 21.8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Social Assistance Schemes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State Pension (Non Con) |
€ 26.1 |
€ 36.5 |
€ 52.1 |
€ 62.6 |
€ 78.2 |
€ 104.3 |
€ 130.4 |
€ 156.4 |
€ 208.6 |
€ 260.7 |
|
Blind Person's Pension |
€ 0.3 |
€ 0.4 |
€ 0.5 |
€ 0.6 |
€ 0.8 |
€ 1.0 |
€ 1.3 |
€ 1.5 |
€ 2.0 |
€ 2.5 |
|
Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension |
€ 0.3 |
€ 0.4 |
€ 0.5 |
€ 0.6 |
€ 0.8 |
€ 1.0 |
€ 1.3 |
€ 1.5 |
€ 2.1 |
€ 2.6 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.0 |
€ 0.1 |
€ 0.1 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
€ 11.4 |
€ 16.0 |
€ 22.8 |
€ 27.4 |
€ 34.3 |
€ 45.7 |
€ 57.1 |
€ 68.5 |
€ 91.4 |
€ 114.2 |
|
Carer's Allowance Under 66 |
€ 13.3 |
€ 18.6 |
€ 26.6 |
€ 32.0 |
€ 39.9 |
€ 53.3 |
€ 66.6 |
€ 79.9 |
€ 106.5 |
€ 133.2 |
|
Carer's Allowance Over 66 |
€ 0.5 |
€ 0.7 |
€ 0.9 |
€ 1.1 |
€ 1.4 |
€ 1.9 |
€ 2.4 |
€ 2.8 |
€ 3.8 |
€ 4.7 |
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance Under 66 |
€ 3.7 |
€ 5.2 |
€ 7.4 |
€ 8.9 |
€ 11.1 |
€ 14.8 |
€ 18.6 |
€ 22.3 |
€ 29.7 |
€ 37.1 |
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance Over 66 |
€ 2.4 |
€ 3.3 |
€ 4.8 |
€ 5.7 |
€ 7.1 |
€ 9.5 |
€ 11.9 |
€ 14.3 |
€ 19.1 |
€ 23.8 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
€ 0.2 |
€ 0.2 |
€ 0.3 |
€ 0.4 |
€ 0.5 |
€ 0.6 |
€ 0.8 |
€ 0.9 |
€ 1.2 |
€ 1.6 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance Max Rate |
€ 33.0 |
€ 46.2 |
€ 66.1 |
€ 79.4 |
€ 99.3 |
€ 132.3 |
€ 165.4 |
€ 198.4 |
€ 264.6 |
€ 330.7 |
|
JA age 18 to 24 |
€ 3.3 |
€ 4.6 |
€ 6.6 |
€ 8.0 |
€ 9.9 |
€ 13.3 |
€ 16.6 |
€ 19.9 |
€ 26.5 |
€ 33.1 |
|
Disability Allowance |
€ 45.9 |
€ 64.3 |
€ 91.8 |
€ 110.3 |
€ 137.8 |
€ 183.8 |
€ 229.7 |
€ 275.6 |
€ 367.5 |
€ 459.4 |
|
Farm Assist |
€ 1.1 |
€ 1.5 |
€ 2.2 |
€ 2.6 |
€ 3.3 |
€ 4.4 |
€ 5.5 |
€ 6.6 |
€ 8.8 |
€ 11.0 |
|
Employment Support Schemes (BTWA & BTEA) |
€ 1.3 |
€ 1.8 |
€ 2.5 |
€ 3.0 |
€ 3.8 |
€ 5.1 |
€ 6.3 |
€ 7.6 |
€ 10.1 |
€ 12.6 |
|
Employment/Internship Schemes (CE, Tús, RSS etc.) |
€ 7.9 |
€ 11.0 |
€ 15.8 |
€ 18.9 |
€ 23.7 |
€ 31.5 |
€ 39.4 |
€ 47.3 |
€ 63.1 |
€ 78.8 |
|
Work Placement Experience Programme |
€ 0.1 |
€ 0.1 |
€ 0.1 |
€ 0.1 |
€ 0.2 |
€ 0.2 |
€ 0.3 |
€ 0.3 |
€ 0.4 |
€ 0.5 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
€ 3.6 |
€ 5.0 |
€ 7.1 |
€ 8.5 |
€ 10.7 |
€ 14.2 |
€ 17.8 |
€ 21.3 |
€ 28.5 |
€ 35.6 |
|
TOTAL |
381.3 |
533.9 |
762.4 |
915.4 |
1143.8 |
1525.0 |
1906.2 |
2287.4 |
3050.3 |
3812.5 |
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2025.
It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
487. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide the full-year cost of increasing the domiciliary care allowance by €10, €15, €20, €25, €30, €35, €40, €45 and €50, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42611/24]
View answerThe estimated full year cost of increasing the Domiciliary Care Allowance by €10, €15, €20, €25, €30, €35, €40, €45, and €50 are as follows
|
Increase |
€10 |
€15 |
€20 |
€25 |
€30 |
€35 |
€40 |
€45 |
€50 |
|
Cost €million |
€8.0 |
€12.0 |
€16.0 |
€20.1 |
€24.1 |
€28.1 |
€32.1 |
€36.1 |
€40.1 |
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2025.
488. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of making the disability support payment of €400 a permanent annual payment; to provide the full-year cost of increasing it in increments of €100 up to €2000, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42612/24]
View answerI am committed to improving outcomes for people with a disability. As a result, I announced an extensive range of cost of living measures to support people with disabilities in Budget 2025. These included:
• October 2024 cost of living bonus for people in receipt of a long term weekly social welfare payment.
• €400 cost of living lump sum payment for people in receipt of Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension and Blind Pension to be paid in November 2024.
• €300 cost of living lump sum payment to all households getting Fuel Allowance to be paid in November 2024.
• €200 cost of living lump sum payment to people who are getting a Living Alone Increase to be paid in November 2024.
• €100 cost of living lump sum payment for people getting a Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) to be paid for each qualified child in November 2024.
• Christmas bonus to all persons in receipt of a long-term disability payment to be paid in December 2024.
• €12 increase in the maximum personal rate of weekly disability payments from January 2025. There will be proportionate increases for people on a reduced rate.
• Weekly rates of Child Support Payment (previously known as Increase for a Qualified Child) will increase by €8 to €62 for those aged 12 and over, and by €4 to €50 for under 12s in January 2025
• €20 increase a month in Domiciliary Care Allowance from January 2025.
The cost to the exchequer of making the cost of living lump sum payment of €400 permanent, based on recipient figures as at the end of August 2024, would be €89.4 million.
The cost of increasing the cost of living lump sum payment of €400 in increments of €100 to a maximum of €2000 is laid out in tabular form below. The figures listed below are based on combined recipient numbers for Disability Allowance, Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension (223,500) as at end of August 2024.
|
Cost of Living Lump Sum Payment |
Cost per annum |
|
€400 |
€89,400,000 |
|
€500 |
€111,750,000 |
|
€600 |
€134,100,000 |
|
€700 |
€156,450,000 |
|
€800 |
€178,800,000 |
|
€900 |
€201,150,000 |
|
€1,000 |
€223,500,000 |
|
€1,100 |
€245,850,000 |
|
€1,200 |
€268,200,000 |
|
€1,300 |
€290,550,000 |
|
€1,400 |
€312,900,000 |
|
€1,500 |
€335,250,000 |
|
€1,600 |
€357,600,000 |
|
€1,700 |
€379,950,000 |
|
€1,800 |
€402,300,000 |
|
€1,900 |
€424,650,000 |
|
€2,000 |
€447,000,000 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
489. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of giving the fuel allowance to every household that qualifies for the household benefits package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42613/24]
View answerThe 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.
If the measure outlined by the Deputy was introduced in 2025, it is estimated that there will be an average of 540,000 recipients of the Household Benefits Package. As 48% of those in receipt of the Household Benefits Package also receive the Fuel Allowance payment, it is estimated that this measure will result in an additional 280,800 households qualifying for the Fuel Allowance payment. Based on a yearly rate of Fuel Allowance of €924, the estimated yearly cost of the measure is €259.5 million.
|
Weekly Rate of Fuel Allowance |
Number of weeks payable |
Number of additional Claims |
Estimated Additional Yearly Cost |
|
€33 |
28 |
280,800 |
€259.5m |
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. 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.
A change in the qualifying criteria such as automatically awarding the Fuel Allowance payment to all those in receipt of the Household Benefits Package would change the targeted nature of the scheme and would have to be considered in a wider budgetary and policy context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
490. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if any financial supports are available from her Department to those who are considered young carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42614/24]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the important role played by family carers, including young carers, and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
Both the Carer’s Benefit and the Carer’s Support Grant are available to young carers in need of financial support.
Carer's Benefit is a non-means tested payment made to insured people, aged 16 and over, who may be required to leave the workforce, or reduce their working hours, to care for someone in need of full-time care and attention. A person may be eligible for Carer's Benefit if they have sufficient PRSI contributions. The payment 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).
While Carer’s Benefit is not a means-tested payment, it is subject to an earnings limit. The earnings limit is in line with the income disregard (single) for the Carer's Allowance payment. The current earnings limit is €450 per week (after tax). As part of Budget 2025, Carer’s Benefit will be extended to the self-employed for the first time and the earnings limit will be increased from €450 to €625, after tax.
As part of Budget 2025, a €12 increase in the weekly rate of Carer’s Benefit will take effect from January. This is the fourth successive rise in weekly welfare rates under this Government. Rates have increased by €41.00 over the last 4 years.
The Carer’s Support Grant is a payment for all carers aged 16 and over, even those not in receipt of a carer's payment from my department. It can be claimed by carers regardless of their means or social insurance contributions. It is paid in respect of each care recipient. Over 132,000 carers received the grant this June at a cost of €275 million.
As part of Budget 2025, the Carer’s Support Grant will increase by a further €150 to €2,000, bringing it to its highest ever rate.
Over the last number of Budgets, there have been a suite of once-off lump sum and double payments to assist carers with the cost of living and rising bills. More recently as part of Budget 2025, I made the following changes that will directly benefit carers, including young carers:
• A €400 cost of living lump sum payment for carers eligible for the Carer’s Support Grant will be paid in November.
• In October a cost of living bonus will be paid to most people who get a long term weekly social welfare payment including carers.
• A Christmas Bonus will be paid to over 1.3 million long term welfare recipients including carers.
Under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2024, my Department introduced a measure to support Family Carers, including Young Carers, to access employment and/or training and education supports to improve their current and future employment outcomes. The focus of this measure is on improving the future employment prospects of young carers through schools/educational settings-related initiatives. Funding of €2.5 million has been allocated for this purpose.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to keep the range of supports available to all carers including young carers under review, and further changes will only be made in consultation with family carers and their representative organisations.
491. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of raising the 18.5-hour ceiling for carer’s allowance recipients who wish to pursue training or education while providing full-time care to 20 hours and 25 hours, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42615/24]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the valuable role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.
My department provides a comprehensive package of carers’ income supports including Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer’s Support Grant. Combined spending on all these payments to carers in 2024 is expected to exceed €1.7 billion.
The Carer’s Allowance is a means tested social assistance income support paid to those carers who are caring for certain people who require full-time care and attention. The means test is used to target the support to those most in need. There are currently 97,366 people in receipt of this payment.
A primary qualifying condition for the carer income supports provided, is that the applicant provides full-time care and attention to a person in need of such a level of care. The person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this full-time care and attention for at least 12 months. The time spent providing care must not be less than 35 hours per week.
While carer support payments are premised on the provision of full-time care and attention by the carer, they also provide flexibility in terms of allowing carers to engage in work, training or education up to 18.5 hours per week. During this time, adequate provision must be made for the care of the relevant person.
Both the full-time care and attention requirement and the 18.5-hour limitation are contained in the respective legislative provisions of the Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Carer’s Support Grant schemes.
The main cost elements of a proposal to increase the threshold would arise from new claimants who are not currently eligible because of the 18.5 hours condition. It is not known to the Department the number of people engaged in education or training who could become eligible as a consequence of increasing the hours threshold, as outlined by the Deputy, and therefore an estimate of the costs cannot be provided.
I believe that the 18.5-hour limitation represents a reasonable balance between meeting the requirement for providing full-time care for the care recipient and the needs of the carer to engage in education, training or employment, thereby supporting a carer’s continued attachment to the workforce and broader social inclusion. In effect, a carer can engage in these activities for half of a full-time working week.
Finally, any proposals for further changes to this condition would need to maintain this balance and would have to be considered in a policy and budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
492. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of the free travel scheme, and the projected expenditure on the scheme out to 2030; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42616/24]
View answerThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2024 is €103.5 million.
In 2023, the cost of the Free Travel Scheme was €92.577 million.
As part of Budget 2025, I announced that all those aged over 70 will be entitled to a Free Travel Companion pass from September 2025. An additional €7 million has been allocated to the scheme in 2025 to finance this measure. The estimate cost of the Free Travel scheme in 2025 is €110.5 million.
It is not possible to provide an accurate projection of the cost of the Free Travel Scheme beyond 2025, as the cost is determined by a number of factors including pass usage and overall fare costs. Both may be subject to change in the period outlined by the Deputy.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
493. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of providing two oral dentist examinations as opposed to one, in one calendar year, under the treatment benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42617/24]
View answerThe Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical, aural and hair replacement products and services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependent spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
The Department pays a fee to dentists providing an oral examination once per calendar year for each qualified customer. A payment of €40 is provided for an oral examination to dentists registered on the Department’s panel.
In 2023, €59.8 million was paid in respect of 1.6 million treatments, of which over 800,000 were oral examinations, eligible under the Dental Benefit Treatment Benefit Scheme.
If the policy was changed to allow two oral dental examinations in one calendar year, based on the 2023 data, it would cost an additional €32 million. This is based on every person who availed of an oral examination in 2023,availing of a further exam in the year. A number of other factors would have to be considered before changes to the scheme could be contemplated.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
