Written Answers Nos. 391-411
391. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the full rate of jobseekers' allowance of €232 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22574/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra392. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of the lower rate of jobseekers' allowance of €141.70 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22575/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra393. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons under 25 years of age who are in receipt of a rate of a jobseekers' allowance other than €232 and €141.70 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22576/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 391 to 393, inclusive, together.
Jobseeker's Allowance is a payment to people who are unemployed but are available for and genuinely seeking full time employment. It is a means-tested payment, so a person's income must be below a certain amount in order to qualify for a Jobseeker's Allowance payment.
For the week ending 12th May 2024, there were 13,719 young persons under 25 years of age receiving Jobseeker's Allowance. Of these, 9,680 were in receipt of a rate of €141.70, 1,053 were in receipt of a rate of €232 and 2,986 were receiving another rate.
394. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22588/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of employment services to support jobseekers in preparing for, securing, and sustaining employment. These services are either provided directly by my Department’s own staff, or on behalf of my Department through Intreo Partners and other service providers in both the community and voluntary and commercial sectors. Turas Nua is one of our Intreo Partners.
Externally contracted employment services provide my Department with additional employment support capacity and access to specialised skills to meet the job search support and employment services requirements of jobseekers. This enables my Department to maintain sufficient employment support capacity to meet current and future needs and respond effectively to rises in unemployment and changes in labour market conditions.
A distinctive client journey has been embedded into the employment services process, whereby jobseekers on the Live Register, after engaging with Intreo in the first twelve months are referred firstly to the Intreo Partner National Employment Service and after 24 months to the Intreo Partner Local Area Employment Service which is designed to engage with those with greater barriers to the labour market. In this way, the client is referred to the most appropriate service at each point in time on their client journey.
Participants receive intensive individual support, whereby each person is assigned a personal advisor who assesses their skills, experience, challenges and work goals and agrees a personal progression plan, that includes a schedule of activities, including relevant training and educational programmes to assist them in finding full-time sustainable employment.
For the purposes of the Intreo Partners service all long-term unemployed jobseekers on the Live Register are categorised into groups based on their duration of unemployment (e.g. 1- 2 years, 2 – 3 years etc.). All jobseekers who have been unemployed for more than one year are eligible for selection for the Intreo Partners service and clients are chosen by means of an automated selection process based on a number of criteria such as duration on the live register and employment service history.
Research into contracted employment services including by the OECD ( January 22) indicates that the programme has led to positive employment and earnings outcomes across a variety of hard-to-reach groups.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
395. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an issue with a school (details supplied) in County Kerry has still not been resolved. [22718/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering 443,000 children are now eligible for funding.
Schools are responsible for choosing their own School Meals supplier on the open market in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with Public Procurement rules. My Department provides the funding directly to the schools, who are then required to procure the provision of the food in compliance with Government procurement rules and with relevant Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, Food Safety regulations and the Nutritional Standards for School Meals.
In circumstances where a school is unable to secure a hot meals supplier due its location or facilities and space, I would suggest they reach out to local caterers or supermarkets within its area. If a school is still unsuccessful in securing a supplier, they should then try to source a local supplier that could instead provide a lunch with drink as an alternative to a hot meal.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
396. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if an applicant (details supplied) will be approved for the maximum State pension (contributory). [22760/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 6 March 2024. An application for state pension (contributory) was received in my Department on 27 March 2024. According to the records of my department, the person concerned has a total of 1,797 reckonable contributions from 1977 to 2024 giving a yearly average of 38. Based on this record, the state pension (contributory) has been awarded at the reduced weekly rate of €249.30 with effect from their 66th birthday.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing along with a copy of their contribution record. If they consider that they have additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo, F91 T384 and their pension entitlement can be reviewed.
It is also open to the person concerned to apply for the State Pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested payment with a maximum payment of €266.00 per week.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
397. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of recipients for each social welfare scheme. [22796/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data requested by the Deputy on the number of recipients end April 2024 is shown in the following table.
|
Scheme |
Number of recipients |
|
Accommodation Recognition Claim |
10,770 |
|
Adoptive Parent Benefit |
10 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
2,999 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
1,887 |
|
Back to Work Scheme Family Dividend |
2,107 |
|
Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds |
4,110 |
|
Blind Pension |
961 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
96,597 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
3,987 |
|
Child Benefit |
671,931 |
|
Daily Expenses Allowance |
17,567 |
|
Dental Benefit |
88,653 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
34 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
4,151 |
|
Diet Supplement |
1,004 |
|
Disability Allowance |
163,874 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
14,313 |
|
Domiciliary Care Scheme |
54,973 |
|
Farm Assist |
3,800 |
|
Free Travel |
1,099,580 |
|
Fuel Allowance |
395,990 |
|
Guardians Payment (Contributory) |
1,289 |
|
Guardians Payment (Non-Contributory) |
623 |
|
Health And Safety Benefit |
29 |
|
Heat Supplement |
861 |
|
Household Benefits Package |
525,844 |
|
Illness Benefit |
52,524 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
702 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
56,945 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
114,054 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
31,221 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit for the Self Employed |
718 |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional Payment |
20,276 |
|
JobsPlus |
606 |
|
Magdalen Payment |
372 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
18,612 |
|
Medical & Surgical Appliances |
2,272 |
|
Medical Care |
364 |
|
Mortgage Supplement |
170 |
|
Occupational Injuries Benefit |
666 |
|
Occupational Injuries Pension |
699 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
44,147 |
|
Optical Benefit |
42,617 |
|
Parents Benefit |
5,276 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
2,852 |
|
Part-Time Job Incentive |
86 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
610 |
|
Rent Allowance |
37 |
|
Rent Supplement |
7,373 |
|
Respite Care Grant |
131,721 |
|
Short Term Enterprise Allowance |
229 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
516,936 |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
100,084 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
12,272 |
|
Systematic Short Time Workers |
665 |
|
Travel Supplement |
212 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
125,950 |
|
Widows Non Contributory Pension |
1,037 |
|
Work Placement Employment Programme |
181 |
|
Working Family Payment |
45,980 |
398. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the average, median, maximum and minimum number of recipients for each social welfare scheme in 2023. [22797/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data requested by the Deputy for the number of recipients by welfare scheme in 2023 is shown in the following table.
|
Scheme |
Average |
Median |
Maximum |
Minimum |
|
Accommodation Recognition Claim |
6,740 |
6,612 |
9,003 |
4,586 |
|
Adoptive Parent Benefit |
10 |
10 |
15 |
7 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
2,305 |
3,103 |
3,567 |
192 |
|
Back To School Clothing And Footwear Allowance |
103,917 |
141,235 |
153,352 |
. |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
2,146 |
2,126 |
2,277 |
2,011 |
|
Back to Work Scheme Family Dividend |
2,458 |
2,477 |
2,665 |
2,255 |
|
Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds |
4,090 |
4,064 |
4,285 |
3,964 |
|
Blind Pension |
984 |
987 |
1,000 |
967 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
94,012 |
93,885 |
95,787 |
92,682 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
3,821 |
3,847 |
3,921 |
3,615 |
|
Child Benefit |
651,720 |
652,095 |
656,057 |
647,374 |
|
Daily Expenses Allowance |
12,086 |
12,144 |
14,660 |
9,396 |
|
Dental Benefit |
67,451 |
64,026 |
93,746 |
44,361 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
39 |
39 |
42 |
35 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
4,438 |
4,436 |
4,617 |
4,248 |
|
Diet Supplement |
1,145 |
1,141 |
1,221 |
1,069 |
|
Disability Allowance |
160,059 |
159,917 |
162,326 |
158,048 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
14,362 |
14,360 |
14,388 |
14,336 |
|
Domiciliary Care Scheme |
52,061 |
52,178 |
53,656 |
50,414 |
|
Farm Assist |
4,233 |
4,225 |
4,464 |
4,031 |
|
Free Travel |
1,073,351 |
1,073,234 |
1,089,411 |
1,056,430 |
|
Fuel Allowance |
387,673 |
386,792 |
399,674 |
376,370 |
|
Guardians Payment (Contributory) |
1,185 |
1,182 |
1,240 |
1,139 |
|
Guardians Payment (Non-Contributory) |
577 |
574 |
598 |
567 |
|
Health And Safety Benefit |
34 |
35 |
39 |
26 |
|
Household Benefits Package |
515,900 |
514,980 |
523,301 |
509,274 |
|
Heat Supplement |
931 |
923 |
971 |
901 |
|
Illness Benefit |
57,813 |
58,245 |
60,422 |
54,654 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
721 |
722 |
732 |
707 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
56,289 |
56,311 |
56,650 |
55,799 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
120,893 |
121,783 |
126,642 |
114,184 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
30,756 |
29,707 |
36,976 |
28,260 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit for the Self Employed |
623 |
637 |
732 |
515 |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional Payment |
20,030 |
19,985 |
20,374 |
19,738 |
|
JobsPlus |
762 |
749 |
865 |
650 |
|
Magdalen Payment |
388 |
389 |
396 |
379 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
19,047 |
18,956 |
19,974 |
18,330 |
|
Medical & Surgical Appliances |
2,099 |
2,138 |
2,657 |
1,472 |
|
Medical Care |
260 |
263 |
330 |
191 |
|
Mortgage Supplement |
265 |
261 |
317 |
223 |
|
Occupational Injuries Benefit |
563 |
552 |
634 |
496 |
|
Occupational Injuries Pension |
705 |
705 |
713 |
697 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
43,839 |
43,803 |
44,355 |
43,207 |
|
Optical Benefit |
40,399 |
42,016 |
44,925 |
32,405 |
|
Parents Benefit |
4,857 |
4,992 |
5,714 |
4,037 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
2,984 |
2,998 |
3,078 |
2,891 |
|
Part-Time Job Incentive |
102 |
105 |
112 |
85 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
634 |
634 |
763 |
342 |
|
Rent Allowance |
37 |
37 |
37 |
35 |
|
Rent Supplement |
8,252 |
8,148 |
8,907 |
7,861 |
|
Respite Care Grant |
126,237 |
127,433 |
129,701 |
120,430 |
|
Short Term Enterprise Allowance |
218 |
212 |
261 |
171 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
496,344 |
496,513 |
506,724 |
485,520 |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
98,901 |
98,813 |
100,201 |
97,755 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
11,912 |
11,930 |
12,842 |
11,307 |
|
Systematic Short Time Workers |
811 |
771 |
1,128 |
601 |
|
Travel Supplement |
225 |
227 |
234 |
215 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
125,368 |
125,341 |
125,943 |
124,734 |
|
Widows Non Contributory Pension |
1,061 |
1,056 |
1,086 |
1,048 |
|
Work Placement Employment Programme |
159 |
160 |
188 |
126 |
|
Working Family Payment |
46,175 |
46,187 |
47,152 |
45,365 |
399. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline, with regard to the jobseeker’s benefit pay related scheme, noting the revised estimates, what the full-year cost of the proposed scheme will be. [22798/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on 2019 data, pre the impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it is estimated that the new Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit for fully unemployed jobseekers will cost approximately €130 million in a full year.
Full year costs will not arise until 2026 as people who are in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit when the new scheme commences will remain on that scheme until their claim is exhausted.
On the basis of a Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit implementation date in late 2024, provision has been made in Budget 2024 for €5 million.
I trust that clarifies the position for the Deputy.
The cost of Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit will be paid for by the Social Insurance Fund and funded by contributors through the increased PRSI rates.
400. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the qualified child increase by €1 for children under the age of 12 years and €1 for children over the age of 12 years, respectively. [22799/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated full year cost of increasing the Increase for a Qualified Child by €1 for children under 12 years of age is €11.8m.
The estimated full year cost of increasing the Increase for a Qualified Child by €1 for children aged 12 and over is €4.4m.
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.
401. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other scheme payments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22800/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated full-year cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other scheme payments is €75.99 million as shown in the table below.
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.
|
Payment |
Personal |
Qualified Adult |
Total |
|
|
€ million |
€ million |
€ million |
||
|
Social Insurance Schemes |
||||
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
€ 25.44 |
€ 2.49 |
€ 27.93 |
|
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension |
Under 66yrs |
€ 1.48 |
€1.48 |
|
|
Over 66Yrs |
€4.81 |
€4.81 |
||
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
Under 66yrs |
€ 0.08 |
€0.08 |
|
|
Over 66Yrs |
€ 0.14 |
€ 0.14 |
||
|
Invalidity Pension |
€2.84 |
€0.17 |
€3.01 |
|
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
€0.12 |
€ 0.00 |
€0.12 |
|
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
€0.06 |
€ 0.06 |
||
|
Death Benefit Pension |
€ 0.02 |
€0.02 |
||
|
Disablement Pension |
€0.24 |
€0.24 |
||
|
Illness Benefit |
€ 2.72 |
€ 0.09 |
€2.82 |
|
|
Injury Benefit |
€0.03 |
€0.00 |
€ 0.03 |
|
|
Incapacity Supplement |
€0.04 |
€0.00 |
€0.05 |
|
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
€1.83 |
€0.07 |
€1.90 |
|
|
Jobseeker's Benefit (Self Employed) |
€0.03 |
€0.00 |
€0.04 |
|
|
Carer's Benefit |
€0.20 |
€ - |
€0.20 |
|
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
€0.00 |
€ - |
€0.00 |
|
|
Maternity Benefit |
€0.98 |
€ - |
€0.98 |
|
|
Adoptive Benefit |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
||
|
Paternity Benefit |
€0.05 |
€ - |
€0.05 |
|
|
Parent's Benefit |
€0.30 |
€ - |
€0.30 |
|
|
Social Assistance Schemes |
||||
|
State Pension (Non Con) |
€5.11 |
€0.11 |
€5.22 |
|
|
Blind Person's Pension |
€0.05 |
€0.00 |
€0.06 |
|
|
Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension |
€ 0.06 |
€0.06 |
||
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
€0.00 |
€ 0.00 |
||
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
€2.33 |
€2.33 |
||
|
Carer's Allowance |
Under 66yrs |
€2.55 |
€ - |
€2.55 |
|
66yrs or Over |
€0.10 |
€ - |
€ 0.10 |
|
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance |
Under 66yrs |
€0.70 |
€0.70 |
|
|
66yrs or Over |
€0.43 |
€ 0.43 |
||
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
€0.03 |
€0.03 |
||
|
Jobseeker's Allowance Max Rate |
€6.90 |
€ 0.82 |
€7.73 |
|
|
JA age 18 to 24 |
€0.76 |
€0.01 |
€0.77 |
|
|
Disability Allowance |
€8.32 |
€ 0.56 |
€8.88 |
|
|
Farm Assist |
€0.20 |
€0.06 |
€0.26 |
|
|
Back To Work Enterprise Allowance |
€0.12 |
€0.04 |
€ 0.31 |
|
|
Back To Education Allowance |
€0.14 |
€0.01 |
€0.15 |
|
|
Community Employment Programme * |
€0.98 |
€0.13 |
€1.11 |
|
|
TÚS - Community Work Placement * |
€0.25 |
€0.03 |
€0.28 |
|
|
Rural Social Scheme * |
€0.15 |
€0.03 |
€0.18 |
|
|
Jobs Initiative |
€0.04 |
€0.04 |
||
|
Work Placement Experience Programme |
€0.02 |
€0.01 |
€0.03 |
|
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
€0.63 |
€0.06 |
€0.69 |
|
|
TOTAL |
€71.28 |
€4.72 |
€75.99 |
|
Changes to other Schemes/Payments |
Total €m |
|
€1 change in the monthly rate of Child Benefit |
€ 14.78 |
|
€1 change in the rate of Fuel Allowance |
€ 12.48 |
|
Change to the duration of the Fuel Allowance - cost of an additional week |
€ 14.71 |
|
€1 change in the rate of Qualified Child Increase - age under 12 |
€ 12.01 |
|
€1 change in the rate of Qualified Child Increase - age 12 and over |
€ 4.46 |
|
€1 change in the rate of Living Alone Allowance (for everyone) |
€ 12.28 |
|
- Pensioners only |
€ 10.47 |
|
- Other schemes (Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension) |
€ 2.26 |
Note - Rounding may affect totals
402. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the current young jobseeker’s rate of €129.70 by €1 per week. [22801/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAge-related reduced rates apply to jobseekers aged 18 to 24 years and were introduced to prevent long-term welfare dependency by encouraging participation in training and employment programmes.
Budget 2024 increased the maximum personal rate for a young adult to €141.70 per week from January 2024.
There were 9,345 jobseekers on age related reduced rates in April 2024. The estimated full-year cost of increasing the current reduced jobseeker’s rate by €1 per week is approximately €485,940 based on the current number of recipients.
The Department's focus is on supporting and improving the capacity of young people to take up employment, education and training opportunities to help them enhance their employment prospects over time, as well as their ability to earn an adequate income. If a young jobseeker participates in education or training, they receive up to the full rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance of €232. If they participate on the Work Placement Experience Programme the weekly rate increases to €335.
I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
403. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of introducing a child benefit double payment. [22802/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated full-year cost of introducing a child benefit double payment for one month of the year is €177.4 million.
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.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
404. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost to the Exchequer of the JobPath scheme for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. [22803/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraReferrals to the JobPath service ceased in June 2022 and the service is now in a run-off phase. The service is due to cease completely in June 2024.
JobPath is a payment by results model and all set-up and day-to-day operational costs are borne by the companies. The companies are paid on the basis of performance and with the exception of the initial registration fee; payments are made only when a client has achieved sustained employment. The overall cost of JobPath is determined by the number of people who participate in the programme and the number who get sustainable jobs.
The details requested are provided in the table below.
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2019 |
€58.6m |
|
2020 |
€36.2m |
|
2021 |
€33.9m |
|
2022 |
€40.9m |
|
2023 |
€17.7m |
Please note the figures provided are expenditure, net of any discounts, and do not take into account the savings made in respect of welfare payments for those who secured sustained employment or in any resulting increase in tax receipts.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
405. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of including the working family payment as a qualifying payment for fuel allowance. [22804/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
The Fuel Allowance is paid to social welfare recipients such as pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents and the long-term unemployed in recognition of their long-term financial dependence on their social welfare payment for all or most of their income.
The estimated cost of including the Working Family Payment as a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance is €22 million. This is based on 24,000 additional households qualifying for Fuel Allowance at a weekly rate of €33 and a 28-week fuel season.
Any further widening of the qualifying criteria for accessing the fuel allowance scheme can only be considered while taking account of the overall policy and budgetary situation.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
406. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the annual carer’s support grant by €1. [22805/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Carer’s Support Grant is a support for Carers paid once a year, in June, by the Department of Social Protection. The current rate of Carer's Support Grant is €1,850.
The estimated full year cost of increasing the annual Carer's Support Grant by €1 is €0.2 million.
This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2024, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
407. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of extending carer’s benefit to the self-employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22806/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has made significant improvements to self-employed people's access to social insurance schemes in recent years, including extending access to invalidity pension, jobseeker's benefit and treatment benefit to the self-employed.
These improvements are part of the Government’s stated aim of creating a supportive environment for entrepreneurship, including providing an income safety net to employees and the self-employed alike.
Self-employed workers who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. This provides them with access to the following benefits: State pension (contributory), widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory), guardian’s payment (contributory), jobseeker's benefit for the self employed, invalidity pension, maternity benefit, adoptive benefit, paternity benefit, parent's benefit, and treatment benefit.
This compares favourably with employees who, in general, are liable to the Class A rate of 4%. In addition their employers are liable to PRSI at the rate of 8.8% on weekly earnings up to and including €441 or at the rate of 11.05% where weekly earnings exceed €441. Accordingly, the combined rate of PRSI rate paid in respect of Class A employees is 12.8% or 15.05%, depending on the level of weekly earnings. These Class A employees are entitled to the full range of social insurance benefits.
The estimated full year cost in 2024 of extending Carer's Benefit to those who are self employed is €7.1 million. This costing is sourced from the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund 2020.
Any changes in access to additional schemes, including Carer's Benefit, for self-employed contributors would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, including the appropriate contribution rates.
408. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection whether a person in receipt of disability allowance, who receives a bequest, can have a trust established, which would be administered on their behalf to provide for long-term secure accommodation, instead of being immediately assessed under a means test; and if she will outline the conditions if any which would have to be met. [22808/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability allowance (DA) is a means-tested payment for people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. The applicant must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect which has lasted for one year or is expected to last for one year and, as a result of which, they are substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the person’s age, experience and qualifications. The person must also satisfy a means test and be habitually resident in the State.
If capital held by the person concerned is lodged into their own bank account, the money is assessed as part of the means test.
Where money is lodged into a Trust Fund, the nature of the Trust Fund will determine how the capital is dealt with when carrying out an assessment of the means of the person concerned for the purposes of DA.
Where a Trust Fund is owned by the person concerned, and accessible to the person, then money held in the fund is regarded as property owned and is therefore assessed as capital and the standard capital means test applies.
In the case of a Life Interest Trust Fund, income from the fund is assessed as means rather than the capital value of the fund. Periodic payments or cash income that the person concerned may reasonably expect to receive from the fund during a particular year is assessable as means. The terms of the Trust and the manner in which it is administered will determine what income the person concerned may reasonably expect to receive. Where the person does not have the right to access the trust fund’s capital or assets until they reach a specified age and no periodic payments are being made to the person, means will not be assessed until they reach that specified age.
Where the person concerned receives compensation and this is lodged to a Discretionary Trust, the manner of the administration of the Trust Fund will determine how the capital is assessed in any means assessment. Discretionary Trust Funds are administered by the trustee(s) who is given the authority to apply the income from the capital for the benefit of the person concerned as they see fit. The person concerned does not own the capital or have a life interest in it. The effect on the means of the person concerned for DA purposes depends on how the trust is administered.
If the Deputy has a specific case in mind, my officials would be happy to examine the case.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
409. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if all documentation (details supplied) was reviewed in the context of an application for carer’s benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22820/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. To qualify, the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions; employment conditions; show that they are providing full-time care and attention; and show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention. An application for CARB was received from the person concerned on 5 March 2024. As part of the decision process, the application was referred for the professional opinion of a department Medical Assessor (MA). The claim was disallowed as the Deciding Officer (DO), having regard to the opinion of the MA, decided that the information supplied did not show that the care recipient required full-time care. The person concerned was notified on 9 April 2024 of this decision, the reasons for it and of their right of review and appeal. A request for a review with further medical evidence was received on 25 April 2024. The DO assessed all information and the outcome was that the decision remained unchanged. The person concerned was notified of this review decision on 25 April 2024 and also of there right of review and appeal. A request for a further review was received on 2 May 2024. All information supplied was examined. This included a family impact letter, a letter from their GP, an Enable Ireland supporting letter, Pre school supporting letter, medical opinions from Psychological-Pedagogical consulting office and non public Psychological-Pedagogical clinic. The outcome of this review was that the decision remained unchanged. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 7 May 2024 and of their right of review and appeal. It remains open to the person concerned to request a further review (where further medical information / evidence is available) and / or to submit a request for an appeal of the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
410. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will be provided with a payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22866/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is currently in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance at a rate of 178.00 euro per week which was awarded on the 24/07/2023
The person concerned applied for Jobseekers Benefit for 65 year old's on 28th of November 2023. This claim was disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned does not meet the specific contributions conditions as set out in legislation to qualify for Jobseekers Benefit for 65 year old's.
The person concerned appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and this decision was upheld.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
411. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of DEIS band 1 schools refused funding for a breakfast club for the school years 2023-24 and 2024-25, respectively; the number of these in each county, in tabular form; and the rationale for same. [22887/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering 443,000 children are now eligible for funding.
Funding under the school meals programme can be provided for breakfast, snack, cold lunch, dinner, hot school meals and afterschool clubs and is based on a maximum rate per child per day, depending on the type of meal being provided.
In July 2022, I announced that the access to the hot school meal option would be extended to the 282 newly designated DEIS primary schools and to the cold lunch option to the 38 newly designated DEIS secondary schools from September, benefitting some 60,000 children. This allowed all pupils in the new DEIS schools to avail of one substantial meal for the additional budget provided.
In the 2023/2024 school year, six DEIS Urban Band 1 schools were declined funding for a breakfast club as they were all schools newly designated as DEIS in 2022 and are solely eligible either for a hot meal (if they are a primary school) or a cold lunch (if they are a post-primary school). The application process for 2024/2025 is not open yet.
Any school that has any questions in relation to their applications for funding for any of the meal options under the School Meals Programme can contact officials of my Department, at school.meals@welfare.ie, and they will clarify any queries that they may have and advise them of the options available to them.
The number of the Urban DEIS Band 1 schools by county that applied for a breakfast club and were not eligible for funding for the 2023/2024 school year is provided in the following table.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Number of DEIS Urban Band 1 schools declined Breakfast Club funding - 2023/2024
|
County |
Number of Schools |
|
Carlow |
1 |
|
Cork |
1 |
|
Kerry |
1 |
|
Limerick |
2 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
