Written Answers Nos. 509-523
509. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce the payment of illness benefit for the self-employed in view of the fact that they find themselves in financial difficulty once they become ill or sick, short-term; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42773/24]
View answerIllness 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 4.1%. This is 11.15 percentage points lower than the combined employer and employee contribution of 15.25% 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.
In addition, I was pleased to announce in the Budget that entitlement to carer's benefit will be extended to Class S contributors from the beginning of 2025.
As a result, the only benefits that class S PRSI will not provide access to are 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 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 social insurance contribution rates for self-employed contributors.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
510. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the first and full-year cost of the impact of introducing legislation to give the entitlement of an unmarried cohabitant to a widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension; if this cost is factored into existing levels of service for future years or is it additional expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42787/24]
View answerIt is very difficult to predict the number of people who may be or become entitled under the scheme once it is finalised as there is limited data on cohabiting couples. Following analysis carried out by my Department, it is expected that approximately 500 new surviving cohabitant recipients could be added annually to the cost of providing a survivor's pension during the initial years.
The annualised cost associated with these claimants is estimated to be around €50 million. However, this estimate is subject to the caveat that it is difficult to predict the numbers of people entitled with any certainty, particularly where a death has occurred in the past.
The Existing Level of Service estimates (ELS) look to project the cost of delivering services on a no-policy-change basis, or in other words, providing services “as is”. As such, the ELS does not include the cost of new measures. Given that my officials are continuing to work closely with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to finalise this legislation which will give effect to the proposed changes to the Widow’s, Widower’s, or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension, and there is as yet, no definitive implementation date for the new measures, these additional costs were not factored into the 2025 ELS.
My Department has agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform that additional funding will be made available for expenditure relating to these changes when required.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
511. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the living alone allowance by €3, €5, €7, €10 and €15, in tabular form. [42854/24]
View answerBelow is a table outlining the cost of increasing the Living Alone Allowance by the amounts requested. 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.
|
Increase |
Cost |
|
€3 |
€39.06M |
|
€5 |
€65.1M |
|
€7 |
€91.14M |
|
€10 |
€130.2M |
|
€15 |
€195.3M |
512. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the payment changes made to the treatment benefit scheme in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024 [42907/24]
View answerTreatment Benefit is a PRSI-based scheme which provides free dental and optical services, and assistance towards the provision of audiological appliances and hair replacement products, to people who satisfy certain qualifying conditions, and to their dependent spouses/partners.
In 2023, €133 million was paid in respect of 1.7 million Treatment Benefit claims.
The following changes were made to the treatment benefit scheme from 2020 to date in 2024.
Medical Appliances - Hearing Aids
From April 2021, the Department contributes up to €500 per hearing aid, per ear once every 4 years. Prior to this, the Department paid 50% of the cost of hearing aids up to a maximum of €500 per aid per ear.
This Regulation removed the requirement for the customer to pay 50% of the full cost of the medical appliance. As a result of this change, if the cost exceeds the maximum grant of €500, only the remainder is paid by the customer.
Contact Lenses
From 2022, a payment of up to €1,000 can be claimed towards the cost of a pair of medical contact lenses (€500 for each contact lens) once every 2 years. This amendment provided for the frequency of payment of the grant to be increased from once every 4 years to once every 2 years.
Hair Replacement Grant
From May 2022, an annual hair replacement benefit of up to €500 was introduced. This payment assists people who have suffered hair loss due to the treatment of a disease (cancer) or certain types of alopecia to purchase a hair replacement product.
Qualifying Conditions
Up to 2022, those aged 25-28 years old had to be in employment for 5 years to qualify for Treatment Benefit. This period was reduced to 39 weeks from April 2022, meaning that the number of PRSI contributions required to access treatment benefits was reduced for this cohort from 260 weeks to 39 weeks.
Dental Examination Fee
A new fee structure for the payment of services in relation to dental treatment for patients entitled to Treatment Benefit was introduced from 27th January 2024. The fee for an Oral examination was increased from €33 to €40. Eligible beneficiaries can avail of an examination once per calendar year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
513. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an appeal for domiciliary care allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42943/24]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that this appeal was allowed on the18th October 2024 and Ms Jones has been notified of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
514. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to a carer’s allowance application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42959/24]
View answerCarer's Allowance 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 Carer's Allowance was received from the person concerned on 07 June 2024.
The application was examined, and the Deciding Officer decided that although a certain level of care was provided, the evidence submitted did not satisfy the full time care and attention requirement as defined in the legislation.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 18 July 2024. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
Following receipt of further documents and a review by a Deciding Officer, the person was awarded Carer's Allowance from 19 September 2024.
The first payment will issue to their nominated post office on 24 October 2024.
Arrears due to the person concerned will issue to their nominated post office on 24 October 2024.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 16 October 2024. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to The Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
515. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension appeal (details supplied); when a decision will be likely to be reached in this case, given that the appeal was submitted some time ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43003/24]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
516. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if or when child benefit might be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43018/24]
View answerChild Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16,17 and 18, if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.
A Child Benefit claim has been received from the person concerned, and has been assigned to a deciding officer. The claim requires further investigation. A decision will be made when all of the relevant information is available to the deciding officer. The person concerned will be informed in writing of the decision as soon as possible thereafter.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
517. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43038/24]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered on the 20th August 2024. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. Upon receipt of the request for these papers, the scheme specific area in the department will carry out a review of the initial application with the new information that was provided in the appeal application.
On the 17th October 2024, the Domiciliary Care Allowance Section carried out a review and revised their initial decision of 29th July 2024 and as a result the appeal was withdrawn. The named person was informed of this decision by letter from the Domiciliary Care Allowance section dated 17th October 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
518. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of increasing the telephone support allowance to €5 and making it an additional entitlement on the household benefits package; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43060/24]
View answerThe Telephone Support Allowance is a weekly payment of €2.50 for people on certain social welfare payments who are also getting both the Living Alone Increase and the Fuel Allowance. The primary objective of the Telephone Support Allowance is to allow the most vulnerable people at risk of isolation, including the elderly and those with disabilities, access to personal alarms or phones for security. Approximately 156,000 customers are in receipt of the Telephone Support Allowance payment. The full year cost of the scheme in 2024 is estimated at €20.9 million.
If the measure outlined by the Deputy was introduced in 2025, it is estimated that there would be an average of 163,000 recipients of the Telephone Support Allowance and an estimated average of 540,000 recipients of the Household Benefits Package; therefore, it is estimated that 377,000 households would benefit from the measure.
Based on a yearly rate of Telephone Support Allowance of €260, the estimated yearly cost of the additional 377,000 households would be €98 million.
Furthermore, the estimated 163,000 people who already have entitlement to the Telephone Support Allowance would see their yearly rate of payment increase by €130 to €260 at an estimated cost of €21.2 million.
The estimated total cost of the measures outlined by the Deputy is therefore €119.2 million.
|
Yearly Additional Rate of Telephone Support Allowance |
Estimated Number of Beneficiaries |
Estimated additional yearly Cost of Measure |
|
€260 |
377,000 |
€98 million |
|
€130 |
163,000 |
€21.2 million |
All proposals, including any proposals to expand the qualifying criteria and increase the rate payable for the Telephone Support Allowance could only be considered while taking account of overall Government policy and in a budgetary context.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
519. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of increasing the electricity and gas allowance under the household benefits package from €35 to €40 and €45; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43061/24]
View answerThe Household Benefits Package comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The Department of Social Protection will spend approximately €294 million this year on the Household Benefits Package.
People over the age of 70 receive the Household Benefits Package, with one package provided per household. The package is also available to people living in the State aged 66-69 years who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments or who satisfy a means test. The package is available to some people under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments.
Based on an average of 523,000 recipients of the electricity/gas element of the Household Benefits Package in 2025, if the increases to the electricity/gas element outlined by the Deputy were introduced in 2025, the estimated additional yearly cost would be as follows:
|
Proposed Monthly Rate Increase |
New Monthly Rate |
Proposed Annual Rate Increase |
Number of Recipients |
Additional Annual Cost |
|
€5 |
€40 |
€60 |
523,000 |
€31.4m |
|
€10 |
€45 |
€120 |
523,000 |
€62.8m |
All proposals, including the proposals outlined by the Deputy could only be considered while taking account of overall Government policy and in a budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies these matters for the Deputy.
520. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost of paying two full rate carer’s allowances to an individual caring for two people, and a half-rate for third and subsequent individuals, as opposed to a half-rate for the second person, as it currently stands; if costs on those over and under the age of 66 can be given; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43062/24]
View answerThe primary objective of the Carer’s Allowance payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their caring responsibilities and in so doing to support the ongoing care of the person or people in respect of whom care is being provided. It is important to note that the Carer’s Allowance is not intended to be a compensatory payment for the full value of earnings foregone nor is it a payment by the State for the provision of care.
Where a carer is providing care to more than one person, the personal rate of Carer's Allowance payable is increased by a maximum of 50% of the standard personal rate. It is important to clarify that this 50% increase is not a Half-Rate Carer’s Allowance payment, but an exceptional increase in the standard personal rate.
The Half-Rate Carer’s Allowance payment differs in that it is available to those in receipt of particular social welfare payments who are also providing full-time care and attention. In these cases, a carer may retain their main, non-care-related payment, and receive another payment, depending on their means, the maximum of which is equivalent to a half-rate Carer’s Allowance.
The current weekly personal rates of Carer’s Allowance for those who are caring for two or more people are €372 for those aged under 66 and €429 for those aged 66 or over.
What the Deputy is effectively suggesting is the following:
• A payment rate of €496 per week for those aged 66 and under caring for 2 people, plus an additional €124 for those caring for 3 or more people, and
• A payment rate of €572 per week for those aged 66 and over caring for 2 or more people, plus an additional €143 for those caring for 3 more people.
The number of recipients currently caring for 2 or more people is 11,832 of whom:
• 11,265 are aged under 66, of whom 407 are caring for 3 or more care recipients.
• 567 are aged 66 years and over, of whom 4 are caring for 3 or more care recipients.
The costings requested by the Deputy are provided in tabular form below:-
|
Age Profile of Carers |
Additional Annual Cost |
|
Under 66 |
€75,261,056.00 |
|
Aged 66 and Over |
€4,245,956.00 |
It is important to note that costings are estimates based on current administrative data. They take no account of year-on-year increases in terms of recipients or increases in rates of payment.
The provision of further increased personal rates for those caring for 2 or more people, as proposed, while clearly having implications for overall spending, would also likely lead to implications for the rates of other weekly social welfare payments and as such could only be considered in an overall policy and Budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
521. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people over the age of 66 who are in receipt of the State pension and a half-rate or reduced rate carer’s allowance; the full-year cost of allowing these recipients to be paid their State pension and the rate at which they were previously paid their carer’s allowance prior to reaching State pension age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43063/24]
View answerPersons in receipt of certain social welfare payments who are providing full time care and attention to another person may continue to receive their main payment, and an additional payment of 50% of their rate of Carer's Allowance. This is known as the Half-Rate Carer's Allowance. At the end of September 2024 there were 14,889 recipients of State Pension Contributory or State Pension Non-Contributory, who were also in receipt of Half Rate Carer's Allowance. It is not possible to complete the costing requested by the Deputy.
522. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current expenditure on the school meals holiday hunger programme; the number of schools currently partaking in the scheme; the full-year cost of doubling the number of schools in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43064/24]
View answerThe school meals programme currently solely operates for 36 weeks of the school year in respect of primary schools and 33 weeks of the school year in respect of post primary schools.
As announced in Budget 2025, it is planned to commence in Summer 2025, a Holiday Hunger pilot project which will be implemented by utilising my Department's School Meals Programme and the Department of Education’s Summer Programme.
This could support up to 40,000 children at a full year cost of €1.3 million. As this programme is a pilot, it will be reviewed in the 3rd quarter of 2025.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
523. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection to list the work activation measures that are currently under the remit of her Department; the full-year cost of each of these measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43065/24]
View answerThe Irish labour market continues to perform well. According to data made available by the CSO, the seasonally adjusted monthly unemployment rate is 4.3 percent as of September 2024. It has been between 4 and 5 percent, the level conventionally considered full employment for Ireland, since January 2022. Additionally, according to the quarterly Labour Force Survey, the long-term unemployment rate decreased to 0.9 per cent as of Q2 2024, which is the lowest recorded since the series began in 1998.
Despite the strong performance of the Irish labour market there is a continued need to improve the participation rate of certain groups who face additional barriers to entering the labour market, such as people with disabilities, migrants, lone parents, members of the Traveller and Roma communities and older people. Furthermore, there are growing skills and labour shortages across a range of sectors which have the potential to hinder future growth prospects, making it essential to promote upskilling and reskilling, in light of the green and digital transitions.
To overcome these challenges, and to support employment opportunities for all, my Department oversees a range of activation measures which support the take up of employment, and the development of new skills.
|
Working Age Employment Supports |
2024 Estimate €000 |
|
COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMME |
350,575 |
|
RURAL SOCIAL SCHEME |
52,246 |
|
TÚS |
90,646 |
|
JOB INITIATIVE |
11,142 |
|
BACK TO WORK ENTERPRISE ALLOWANCE |
33,021 |
|
BACK TO EDUCATION ALLOWANCE |
35,729 |
|
JOBSPLUS |
3,521 |
|
WORK PLACEMENT EXPERIENCE PROGRAMME |
6,378 |
|
OTHER WORKING AGE - EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS |
5,956 |
|
Total |
589,214 |
