Written Answers Nos. 500-520
509. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to detail the total expenditure on public procurement by his Department and its agencies, including spending on goods, services and works acquired through public procurement processes, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [13552/25]
View answerExpenditure in relation to the Department is contained within the Vote 37 Appropriation Account. A copy of the annual Appropriation Accounts can be found on the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s website as set out below. The 2024 Appropriation account has not been finalised.
2023 - Vote 37 - Social Protection
2022 - Vote 37 - Social Protection
2021 - Vote 37 - Social Protection
2020 - Vote 37 - Social Protection
Details of public contracts awarded for goods, services and works over €25,000 are published quarterly on www.gov.ie.
DSP Contracts Awarded
Details in relation to my Department’s agencies are available below:
Citizens information Board
2023 – Financial Statement
2022 – Financial Statement
2021 – Financial Statement
2020 – Financial Statement
Contracts awarded for goods, services and works over €25,000 - Citizens Information
Pensions Authority
2023 – Annual Report and Accounts
2022 – Annual Report and Accounts
2021 – Annual Report and Accounts
2020 – Annual Report and Accounts
Contracts awarded for goods, services and works over €25,000 - Pensions Authority
Pensions Council
|
Year |
Procurement Expenditure |
|
2020 |
€9,778.50 |
|
2021 |
€9,778.50 |
|
2022 |
€46,000.00 |
|
2023 |
€56,430.00 |
|
2024 |
€102,800.00 |
Social Welfare Tribunal
The Social Welfare Tribunal does not have any procurement of good, services or works in relation to its operations.
510. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list of regulatory, appeal or other bodies, either funded by or under the remit of his Department, which are quasi-judicial in nature. [13582/25]
View answerThere are two bodies under the aegis of my Department which meet the definition in the question - that is they have a quasi-judicial role.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office is independent in its functions. If a person is dissatisfied with the decision of a Deciding Officer regarding one of the Department's statutory schemes, they may submit an appeal to the Chief Appeals Officer. She may delegate the case to an Appeals Officer which is a quasi-judicial role.
The Social Welfare Tribunal is a special statutory appeals mechanism for people who are refused Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance because of an industrial dispute at their place of employment. The members of the Tribunal are appointed by the Minister for Social Protection and consist of an independent Chairperson, two members nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and two by the Irish Business and Employer's Confederation (IBEC). There has been no necessity for it to sit since 2014.
511. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans to include healthcare workers suffering with long-Covid within the occupational injuries benefit scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13591/25]
View answerIn November 2023 my Department published a report on the inclusion of long COVID in the Occupational Injuries Benefit Regulations. This report concluded that COVID-19 does not satisfy the statutory criteria for recognition as an occupational illness or accident at work. Specifically, it found that presumptions about workplace transmission would not be sustainable as it is not possible to establish with confidence that the disease has been contracted through a person’s occupation and not through community transmission. This is because data shows that community transmission was the primary means of transmission. However, the Department's range of income supports, including illness benefit and invalidity pension, at the same or higher rates of payment as occupational injuries benefit, are available to people who cannot work, due to the effects of long COVID.
With specific reference to employees in the health services the report found that the Temporary Scheme of Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees was the appropriate channel through which a targeted sectoral support should be considered. This Temporary Scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. That scheme has been extended a number of times, most recently to conclude on the 30th June 2025. I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
512. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection whether a person (details supplied) is entitled to back-dated arrears to 2017 after being awarded a contributory State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13631/25]
View answerAccording to the records of my department, the person concerned has not submitted an application for the contributory State Pension.
An application for the non-contributory State Pension was received on 4 April 2023 and awarded from 7 April 2023. There are no further arrears due in this case.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy
513. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to list all social welfare payments which are currently payable to the surviving cohabiting partner of a deceased claimant after their death, in circumstances where the couple are not married; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13695/25]
View answerUnder Section 248 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, where a person who is in receipt of a benefit dies and
(i) he or she was receiving an increase in respect of a qualified adult, or
(ii) his or her spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is in receipt of a benefit in his or her own right,
payment of the deceased person's benefit shall continue to be made for 6 weeks after his or her death and shall be paid to the deceased person's qualified adult, spouse, civil partner or cohabitant.
In the case of a benefit that may be payable to a person in their own right based on the death of a cohabiting partner, under the law as currently enacted, entitlement to a Widows, Widowers or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory pension is only available to a surviving partner who was party to a marriage or civil partnership. On 22nd January 2024, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on the entitlement of an unmarried cohabitant to a Widower's Contributory Pension. The Supreme Court judgment overruled a previous High Court decision and found in favour of the claimant and his children. In simple terms, the Court found that section 124 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) is inconsistent with the Constitution insofar as it excluded the claimant from the category of persons entitled to benefit from it. The Court reached that conclusion on the basis of the equality guarantee contained in Article 40.1 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court judgment notes that to resolve the issue raised by the judgment, a legislative amendment is required. In June 2024, the then Government approved the priority drafting of the legislative changes required to respond to the Supreme Court decision. The General Scheme of a Bill was referred to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for priority drafting and to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny. The Committee issued its report and recommendations on the 26th of July 2024. The draft legislation raised a number of complex issues that required the advices of the Office of the Attorney General and ongoing engagement between officials in the Department of Social Protection and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
I am pleased to say that following Government approval, the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025 was published on March 13th and Second Stage in Dail Eireann is scheduled to commence on 26th March 2025. I look forward to working with the Oireachtas in ensuring this important legislation is enacted.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
514. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if workers due to be made redundant in County Waterford (details supplied) will be able to avail of the pay-related jobseekers benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13725/25]
View answerJobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit is a new social insurance income support which replaces the current Jobseeker's Benefit scheme for people who become fully unemployed from 31 March 2025 and who satisfy the conditions for the scheme. Pay-related benefit means that a person's rate of payment will be linked to their previous earnings, subject to maximum and minimum rates. Government has provided almost €160 million for the scheme in 2025.
The scheme will be available to the workers referred to by the Deputy who are due to be made redundant from August.
Under this scheme, where a person has five years paid qualifying PRSI contributions, they could qualify for up to 60% of previous earnings, up to a maximum of €450 for the first three months. After that, the rate will be set at 55% of previous earnings up to a maximum of €375 for the following three months. A further three months will be paid at the rate of 50%, up to a maximum €300 payment.For people who have between two and five years' paid PRSI contributions, the rate will be set at 50% of previous earnings. This will be paid up to a maximum of €300 per week for up to six months.
Applications for Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit can be made online through MyWelfare.ie or through a person's local Intreo Centre or Branch Office from 31 March 2025. Further details of the scheme are available on the Government's website.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the deputy.
515. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on a review (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13788/25]
View answerInvalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
An application for IP was received from the person concerned on 28 August 2023. On 30 August 2023, the claim was refused on the grounds that the person concerned had less than the required 260 total contributions paid in Ireland for IP. The person concerned had a total of 208 Irish contributions.
As they had indicated that they had worked in the United Kingdom (UK), officers contacted the UK authorities to establish details of contributions paid. Their UK record was received on 18 December 2024. Once both records were combined, the person concerned now had the required 260 contributions to satisfy the contribution conditions for IP and their application was reviewed.
However, based on the supporting documentation supplied with the application, a Deciding Officer decided that they did not meet the the medical criteria for the IP. The person concerned was informed of this decision on 31 January 2025, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
On 13 February, a request for a review of this decision along with additional medical evidence was received. A full review was conducted, taking account of the additional medical evidence. The person concerned is now deemed medically suitable for IP and has been awarded IP from 31 August 2023.
They will receive their first payment at their nominated Post Office on 27 March 2025. Arrears due from 31 August 2023 to 26 March 2025 will also issue once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments from this period. The person referred to was notified of this decision on 21 March 2025. I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
516. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he engaged with a person (details supplied) during his visit to Atlanta for St. Patrick's Day events. [13872/25]
View answerI did not meet the CEO of Coca-Cola during my visit to Atlanta for the St. Patrick's Day events.
517. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Social Protection the plans being considered to extend the proposed permanent annual cost of disability support payment to individuals who are in receipt of the State pension, given that disability-related expenses do not cease at 66; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13873/25]
View answer531. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to extend the proposed permanent annual cost of disability support payment to individuals who are in receipt of the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14154/25]
View answer536. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider extending the proposed permanent annual cost of disability support payment to individuals who are in receipt of the State pension, given that disability-related expenses do not cease at 66 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14207/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 517, 531 and 536 together.
My Department provides a number of income supports for people with a disability who are of working age. These include Disability Allowance Blind Pension and Invalidity Pension. Both Disability Allowance and Blind Pension are means tested social assistance schemes, while Invalidity Pension is a social insurance based scheme. These are part of the suite of working age payments.
In contrast, the State Pension, whether Contributory or Non-Contributory, is not a working age payment. It is paid to those who have reached pensionable age 66. Currently, the maximum weekly personal rate of State Pension (Contributory) is €289.30, some €40 per week more than those in receipt of a disability payment.
As part of Budgets 2023, 2024 and 2025 the Department of Social Protection assisted families and vulnerable citizens through a mix of lump sum supports and increases to weekly payments. The measures introduced included the provision of once-off cost-of-living lump sums, to recipients of Disability Allowance, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension and the Carer's Support Grant.
While people in receipt of the State Pension who also had a disability did not qualify for these cost-of-living lump sums, there were significant improvements in Budget 2025 which impacted them including:
• A €12 increase in the maximum weekly rate of all State Pensions with proportionate increases for people getting a reduced rate
• The amount not taken into account when a person sells their home to move into care increased to €337,500 from January 2025 for those who get State Pension (Non-contributory)
• Means test disregard for Fuel Allowance extended to those aged 66 and over from January 2025 - €524 (single person) and €1,048 (couple) meaning more people will qualify for this support
• The Free Travel Scheme Companion Pass for all those aged over 70 from September 2025
• A €300 cost-of-living lump sum for those getting the Fuel Allowance
• A €200 cost-of-living lump sum to people who are getting a Living Alone Increase
• October cost-of-living bonus
• A Christmas Bonus paid in December 2024.
The Programme for Government; Securing Ireland's Future commits to introducing a permanent Annual Cost of Disability Support Payment with a view to incrementally increasing this payment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
518. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for disability allowance that are on appeal to the social welfare appeals office; and the number that are under consideration for two, three, four months and so on, in tabular form. [13928/25]
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 table below shows the number of disability allowance appeals on hand and the number that are under consideration for two, three, four months and so on:
|
Year/Quarter/Month |
Disability Allowance appeals on hand |
|
2024 |
3033 |
|
Quarter 1 |
13 |
|
Quarter 2 |
553 |
|
Quarter 3 |
1726 |
|
Quarter 4 |
741 |
|
2025 |
1236 |
|
January |
450 |
|
February |
506 |
|
March |
280 |
|
Total |
4269 |
The time taken to process appeals reflects the need to consider each decision in detail and, in many cases, to examine additional information submitted at appeal stage and, in some cases to seek further information by way of correspondence or oral hearing. The Chief Appeals Officer continues to monitor processing times and every effort is made to reduce the time taken to process an appeal. However, the drive for efficiency must be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and made in accordance with the provisions set out in primary legislation and regulations.
The Chief Appeals Officer has put in place measures to deal with the increase in appeals received during 2024. 20 additional staff were assigned and attended training during December 2024 and January 2025. They have now been appointed as Appeals Officers and are making decisions on appeals. In addition new Appeals Regulations have been signed to come into effect from April this year which provide, among other things, for simpler processes and specified response times. These should further help to reduce processing times.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
519. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) is classified in their receipt of disability allowance as an adult dependent. [13934/25]
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 condition.
The means test takes account of all income and assets of the applicant and their spouse/partner, where applicable. Income and assets include income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions, maintenance payments as well as property owned (other than the family home) and capital such as savings, shares and other investments. The weekly rate of a DA payment depends on the amount of weekly means assessed.
Following a review of the DA entitlements of the person concerned, based on the evidence supplied and information available to the Department, it was found that they had an increase in their means from their previous assessment. The person concerned was assessed with weekly means of €259.05. A reduced rate of DA was awarded with effect from 8 May 2024. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 24 April 2024.
When means are calculated, this will come off the personal element of the payment first and then be deducted from the increase for qualified adult. This apportionment of means does not change the amount payable to the person concerned.
On their award letter, the person concerned was awarded an overall DA rate of €166.50 which included Fuel Allowance of €33.00. This was calculated as a Basic rate of €232.00 plus an Increase for a Qualified Adult of €154.00. Means of €252.50 were then subtracted giving a total of €133.50. When the fuel allowance is included, this gives a total of €166.50.
The person concern appealed that decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on 3 May 2024 and this was received on 12 May 2024. Having examined this case, an Appeals Officer upheld the Department’s decision, and the person concerned was notified of the outcome in writing on 18 February 2025. An Appeal Officer’s decision is final and conclusive in the absence of any fresh facts or evidence.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
520. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on a HAS application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13959/25]
View answerThe Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS), administered by my department through the Community Welfare Service, was activated on 23 January 2025 to assist householders affected across the country by Storm Éowyn.
Humanitarian assistance is available in three stages.
Stage 1 of the HAS is available to people while they are directly impacted by the storm. It targets people who need immediate supports. This stage of humanitarian assistance is to help people with the essentials of life – food, water, shelter and warmth.
Stage 2 support generally involves the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items after a severe weather event.
Stage 3 humanitarian support helps to make a person’s accommodation habitable again in the aftermath of a severe weather event. It generally includes funding for work such as plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting.
Stage 1 of the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS) is available to people who need immediate humanitarian support while they are without power and/or water. Payments under Stage 1 are not income tested and applications paid have generally been to meet the additional cost of food, in the context of people being unable to either refrigerate or cook food while they had no power.
The scheme does not provide a general compensation payment for damage or losses incurred as a consequence of a weather event. It does not cover damage or losses that are reasonably expected to be covered by insurance policies, this includes spoiled food in a freezer etc., nor does it cover commercial, agricultural, or business losses.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned applied for a HAS payment on 20/02/2025 for support towards lost freezer/fridge content. This claim was disallowed as freezer/fridge contents are not covered under HAS and are generally covered by home insurance.
I can confirm that the person concerned has since been awarded a payment for their household towards the additional costs of having to purchase food while unable to appropriately refrigerate perishable goods and/or cook food while their household was without power. The person concerned will be notified of this outcome in writing and will receive payment in 2 – 3 working days.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
