Alan Farrell
Question:230. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the weekly State pension to €310, €320, €330, €340, €350, and €360 per week by 2030. [43783/24]
View answerState Pensions
Questions (230)
Written answers
The estimated full year cost of increasing the State Pension Contributory from the current weekly rate of €277.30 to €310 is €953.8M.
The estimated full year cost of increasing the State Pension Contributory from the current weekly rate of €277.30 to €320 is €1,245.5M.
The estimated full year cost of increasing the State Pension Contributory from the current weekly rate of €277.30 to €330 is €1,537.1M.
The estimated full year cost of increasing the State Pension Contributory from the current weekly rate of €277.30 to €340 is €1,828.8M.
The estimated full year cost of increasing the State Pension Contributory from the current weekly rate of €277.30 to €350 is €2,120.4M.
The estimated full year cost of increasing the State Pension Contributory from the current weekly rate of €277.30 to €360 is €2,411.9M.
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 in 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.
It is not possible to estimate for subsequent years out to 2030 due to lack of information on future recipient numbers, which will be affected by a number of factors including demographics and the economic cycle.
Social Welfare Rates
Questions (231)
Alan Farrell
Question:231. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing all social welfare payments by €5, €10, and €15 each year from 2026 to 2030. [43784/24]
View answerWritten answers
The estimated full year costs of increasing all social welfare payments in 2025 are as follows:
• €5 increase: €381.3m;
• €10 increase: €762.4m;
• €15 increase: €1,143.8m.
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2025. 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.
It is not possible to estimate for subsequent years out to 2030 due to lack of information on future recipient numbers, which will be affected by a number of factors including demographics and the economic cycle.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Rates
Questions (232)
Alan Farrell
Question:232. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the child support payment for each child under 12 to €80 and for each child over 12 to €100 per week. [43785/24]
View answerWritten answers
The total cost of increasing the Child Support Payment for children under 12 from the current rate of €46 to €80 per week is €377.8M.
The total cost of increasing the Child Support Payment for children over 12 from the current rate of €54 to €100 per week is €188.3M.
Budget 2025 will increase the weekly rate of the Child Support Payment for children under 12 from €46 per week to €50 per week with effect from January 2025.
Budget 2025 will increase the weekly rate of the Child Support Payment for children aged 12 and over from €54 per week to €62 per week with effect from January 2025.
The above costings are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2025. 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.
Social Welfare Rates
Questions (233)
Alan Farrell
Question:233. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the weekly carer’s allowance to €320 by 2030. [43786/24]
View answerWritten answers
The estimated full year cost of increasing all personal rates of weekly carer's allowance from the current rates to €320 per week is €264.56 million.
This costing is on a full year basis and is based on 2024 rates and the estimated number of recipients. It is not possible to estimate for subsequent years to 2030 due to lack of information on future recipient numbers, which will be affected by a number of factors including demographics and the economic cycle.
It should be noted that this costing is 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 this costing includes those on half-rate carer's allowance.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (234)
Alan Farrell
Question:234. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of introducing a permanent double child benefit payment each August. [43787/24]
View answerWritten answers
The estimated cost of a Double Child Benefit payment for 2024 is €185.7 million. This estimate would change on a yearly basis due to updates of recipient numbers.
This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (235)
Alan Farrell
Question:235. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of introducing a €1,000 child benefit lump sum payment in respect of all newborn babies, based on the average level of new births over the past five years. [43788/24]
View answerWritten answers
I am delighted, as part of Budget 2025, to have introduced a new baby grant of €280. This new payment will assist parents with the costs associated with new babies. It will provide additional financial support to a family to ensure adequate resources and that the material needs of a newborn are met. It is estimated that in 2025, the grant will be paid in respect of some 54,000 children, at a cost of approximately €15 million.
In order to issue this new payment some changes to my Department’s systems are required. As a result, the first new baby payment will issue in the new year in respect of those babies born in December.
Child Benefit has been awarded in respect of over 270,000 newborn babies over the last 5 years, an average of 54,000 per annum. Based on this average, the cost of introducing a €1,000 Child Benefit lump sum payment in respect of all newborn babies would be in excess of €54 million per annum.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
Departmental Data
Questions (236)
Alan Farrell
Question:236. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of 16- and 17-year-olds living in Ireland, based on child benefit data for 2023 or the latest data available. [43789/24]
View answerWritten answers
Child 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.
The table below shows the total number of children resident in Ireland aged 16 and 17 for whom Child Benefit is being paid as of 30th of September 2024.
|
16 Years Old |
72,570 |
|
17 Years Old |
69,799 |
|
Total |
142,369 |
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
School Meals Programme
Questions (237)
Alan Farrell
Question:237. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of rolling out hot school meals to Junior Certificate level, and to all students up to Leaving Certificate level. [43790/24]
View answerWritten answers
Post-primary schools are not currently eligible for hot school meals. Post-primary schools in the DEIS programme prior to 2022 can, however, avail of the dinner option. This differs from the hot school meal in that it is generally provided by schools with onsite cooking facilities, whereas hot school meals provided to primary schools are prepared offsite.
There are some 2,200 primary schools currently eligible for hot school meals for the 2024-2025 school year. As announced in Budget 2025, hot school meals will be extended to all remaining primary schools in 2025 meaning that there will be 3,200 eligible schools in respect of 550,000 children. This expansion will increase the School Meals budget by just over €72 million to an overall budget of €288 million.
The estimated annual cost of expanding the hot school meals programme to Junior Certificate level is €120 million, while the estimated annual cost of expanding the hot school meals programme to Leaving Certificate level is €221 million, at a daily rate of €3.20 per pupil.
Any roll-out of Hot School Meals to Secondary Schools would have to be reviewed as the school environment is different than primary schools and the benefit of the programme would have to be assessed.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Insurance
Questions (238)
Alan Farrell
Question:238. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if the PRSI increases are included in the base. [43791/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has clarified that the Deputy is referring to PRSI rate increases outlined in the PRSI Roadmap 2024 - 2028, and that the base refers to Social Insurance Fund (SIF) revenue projections included in the Stability Programme Update.
This forecast is produced on a no policy change basis. This means that potential future Budget measures, such as increases to the rate of payment for social protection schemes, are not taken into account.
However, account is taken of measures that have already been announced when the forecast was produced.
The increases to PRSI rates outlined in the PRSI Roadmap had been already been agreed by Government when the SIF forecast for the 2024 Stability Programme Update was produced, and as such were factored into the revenue projections.
I trust this clarified matters for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (239)
Bernard Durkan
Question:239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the income received from social welfare for 2024 to date in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43827/24]
View answerWritten answers
A payment statement is a record of the amount paid to a customer by the Department of Social Protection for a period of time.
A payment statement covering the requested time period has issued by post to the person concerned.
All customers with a verified MyGovID account can request a payment statement at any time.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (240)
Bernard Durkan
Question:240. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlement to treatment benefit in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43830/24]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
To qualify a person needs to have at least 260 PRSI contributions paid at either Class A, E, H, P or S, since first starting work, and also have 39 contributions paid or credited in the relevant contribution year on which the claim is based.
The person concerned qualifies for Treatment Benefit this year as they have a full record of credited PRSI contributions in the relevant year(s).
A claim for dental benefit (scale and polish), was approved and paid in July 2024, there is no further entitlement to this treatment until January 2025.
The person concerned remains entitled to a dental examination in addition to the optical, aural and hair replacement products and services provided under the Scheme.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (241)
Bernard Durkan
Question:241. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which carer’s allowance may be payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43831/24]
View answerWritten answers
Carer'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 13 November 2023.
It is a condition for receipt of Carer’s Allowance that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information, and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding their claim.
Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a Deciding Officer (DO) on 17 November 2023.
As part of the decision process, the application was referred for the professional opinion of a Department Medical Assessor. The claim was disallowed as the Deciding Officer, having regard of the Medical Assessor, decided that the information supplied did not show what the care recipient required full time care.
The person concerned also failed to provide all the information that was required to determine if their means exceeded the statutory limit allowed for receipt of Carer's Allowance or whether they were employed or in education for more than 18.5 hours per week. Consequently, it was decided that the person concerned was not entitled to Carer's Allowance.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 05 January 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.
To date, my Department has received no further correspondence from the person.
It is open to the person to reapply for Carer's Allowance by completing a new CR1 application form. An application form has been forwarded by post to the address of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (242)
Bernard Durkan
Question:242. 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. [43833/24]
View answerWritten answers
Child 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.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (243)
Bernard Durkan
Question:243. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection to indicate the progress to date in the determination of an application for household benefits in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43836/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Household Benefits Package comprises of an Electricity or Gas allowance, and a Free Television Licence. Only one Household Benefits Package is payable per household. The payment is made on a monthly basis.
The package is generally available to people living in the State aged 66 years or over, who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment, or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to some people under age 66 who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments. For customers aged 70 or over, there is no requirement to be in receipt of a qualifying payment or to satisfy a means test.
The person concerned has been awarded the Household Benefits Package (an Electricity Allowance and Free Television Licence) with effect from 12th April 2024, which includes a 6 month backdated entitlement. A letter has issued to the person concerned to advise them of the decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (244)
Bernard Durkan
Question:244. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the decision not to grant domiciliary care allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43837/24]
View answerWritten answers
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level that disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months. This level of care and attention must be required to allow the child to deal with activities of daily living in areas such as mobility, personal care, feeding/diet, communication, speech/language, sleeping, behaviour, safety, sensory issues , including any other additional needs.
Eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the type of disability or diagnosis but primarily on the impact of the child's disability, in terms of the associated overall level of care and attention required by the child compared to a child of a similar age who does not have such a disability. The decision process that applies in the consideration of whether a child meets the conditions for DCA includes the examination of all relevant factors identified as impacting on the child's additional care needs.
The DCA application from the person concerned was disallowed by a Deciding Officer as per decision dated 23 April 2024. Based on the information provided, the child was not considered to satisfy the conditions for DCA. This determination considered the supporting medical evidence that was provided by the applicant in their application and the Deciding Officer had regard to the professional opinion of a Departmental Medical Assessor in making their decision and a copy of this opinion was issued to the applicant for information along with the decision notification.
On foot of your previous request for a review of eligibility for DCA in this case, a review of the application in respect of their child has been completed by a Deciding Officer and they have decided not to revise the above decision, as per review decision dated 22 October 2024. Full details of the review decision have been sent by post to the person concerned and should be received shortly.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) have been notified of a request for an appeal of the original decision and will be in contact directly with the person concerned in due course.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
State Pensions
Questions (245)
Bernard Durkan
Question:245. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for State pension (non-contributory) in the case of payment in their own right in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43838/24]
View answerWritten answers
State pension non-contributory is a means tested payment for people aged 66 or over, legally and habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.
Following a previous representation from the Deputy, an application form for State pension non-contributory issued to the person concerned on 27 September 2024. To date, no reply has been received. In light of this further representation, another application form for State pension non-contributory has been issued to the person concerned by post. On receipt of the completed application, the person's eligibility will be examined and they will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (246)
Bernard Durkan
Question:246. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for job seekers allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43839/24]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned made an application for Jobseekers Allowance on 11/10/2024.
The Deciding Officer (DO) sought, but was unable, to contact the person concerned by phone on 11/10/24 in relation to additional information required to progress the JA application. As the DO failed to speak with the person concerned the required information was then requested by post.
There has been no contact from the customer concerned and requested documents are still outstanding.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (247)
Bernard Durkan
Question:247. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of a review in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43840/24]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned was a qualified adult on their spouse's State Pension (contributory) since 28 December 2009.
An increase for qualified adult (IQA) allowance is a means-tested payment, payable to a claimant whose spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where that qualified adult’s personal means from any source does not exceed a means test income limit.
Where a qualified adult has weekly means of up to €100, the maximum rate of IQA is payable. Where their weekly means are over €100 and not more than €310, a tapering reduced rate of IQA is payable. If the qualified adult has means of more than €310 per week, this exceeds the means limit and there is no entitlement to an IQA payment. Where property or assets are held jointly, the qualified adult's means are assessed as half of the total amount. The family home is not included in the means assessment.
As part of my Department’s commitment to ensuring that claimants are receiving their full and correct entitlements, ongoing reviews of all means tested payments are carried out. In the case of an IQA allowance on State Pension (contributory), the primary claimant is contacted by my Department to notify them that their continuing entitlement to the means tested IQA payment is being examined. A questionnaire is required to be completed to include details of the means of their qualified adult.
In this case, a questionnaire issued to the spouse of the person concerned on 11 July 2024. A reminder issued on 1 August 2024. As a response was not received, a further letter issued on 26 August 2024 advising that the allowance was being suspended.
Following your representations, a further copy of the questionnaire issued along with an application for state pension (contributory) on 23 September 2024. To date, no response has been received. The allowance will remain suspended until a response is received. If no response is received the allowance will be stopped.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (248)
Bernard Durkan
Question:248. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for jobseeker's transitional payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43842/24]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned submitted an application for Jobseekers Transition payment on 20 September.
As part of the application process a number of documents to support this application were requested. Some of these documents were supplied but there is still an outstanding item in relation to possible self-employment.
In order to assist with the timely processing of this application the case has now been referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector.
Once the Inspector completes their investigations a decision will issue.