Written Answers Nos. 219-233
219. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection the protections and supports available to self-employed people who become ill and have no income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26016/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness 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%. This is 11 percentage points lower than the combined employer and employee contribution of 15.05% 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
- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension.
The only benefits that Class S PRSI does not provide access to are carer's benefit, 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 the 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 contribution rates and the overall sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
220. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm the social welfare entitlements of a person (details supplied). [26039/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity 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.
The Department received a claim for IP from the person concerned on 6 March 2024. This application claim was refused on 13 May 2024 on the grounds that the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. The person concerned was notified on 13 May 2024 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and/or appeal. No review or appeal request has been received to date.
While the person concerned has no entitlement to IP, they could consider making for Disability Allowance (DA). DA is a means tested 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, means test and Habitual Residency conditions. Once an application for DA is received, a deciding officer will establish if the person concerned has an entitlement to this payment.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
221. Deputy Francis Noel Duffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will consider introducing later opening hours for PSC centres that open outside of Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, or that take appointments to ensure people who work 9-5 jobs are able to secure an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26044/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe SAFE (Standard Authentication Framework Environment) Registration process, which my Department uses to authenticate a person's identity, is currently a face- to-face process which results in the issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC).
In order to ensure maximum use of SAFE registration capacity, a combination of walk-in services and appointment services is available across the network of Intreo/SAFE offices, which remain open during lunch time hours. Information on the PSC service in each Intreo/SAFE Centres can be found on gov.ie - PSC/SAFE Registration Centres (www.gov.ie).
My Department has an online service which allows customers with verified MyGovID accounts to renew their public service cards online at www.MyWelfare.ie. My Department is also at an advanced stage of introducing an online SAFE Registration service, to allow an individual to SAFE register at a time that best suits them using their smart phone. The new service will provide a user-friendly, secure, online alternative to complement the existing in-person SAFE Registration service. The service will be available to persons aged sixteen and over, who hold an Irish passport and who have an address on the island of Ireland.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
222. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a DCA appeal for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26113/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 in that office on 19 January 2024. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. The case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 8 April 2024, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
223. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for invalidity pension by a person in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26116/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity 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 contribution conditions.
The processing time for individual IP claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and information that may need to be provided in support of their claim.
The person concerned has been awarded IP with effect from 15 February 2024 and will receive first payment to his nominated bank account on 27 June 2024. Any arrears due from 15 February 2024 to 26 June 2024 will issue shortly. The person concerned was notified of this decision on 14 June 2024.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
224. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection is she will examine the case of a one-parent family payment for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26120/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of income supports for people who are parenting alone including the One Parent Family Payment.
One-Parent Family Payment (OPFP) is a payment for parents under age 66 who are not cohabiting, and whose youngest child is under 7. A person will usually cease receiving OPFP when their youngest child turns 7, at which point they can apply for a Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST).
The person concerned was awarded OPFP on 28/01/2016 and, as of 30/05/2024, was in receipt of a weekly rate of €254, made up of a personal rate of €232 and an increase for two children of €92 less means due to employment and child maintenance of €70.
Following a recent change in legislation, with effect from 06/06/2024, the child maintenance portion of any maintenance a person receives is no longer assessable as means. For this reason, the person’s claim has been reviewed and their rate of OPFP payable, from 06/06/2024, was increased to a weekly rate of €256.50. The decision was made in accordance with Section 8 of the Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024.
The person concerned was informed of this decision in a letter dated 29/05/2024 and the first payment of €256.50 was paid into their nominated bank account on 06/06/2024.
Information on all schemes and payments administered by my Department can be found at www.gov.ie.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
225. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on her plans to launch a reformed scheme to give effect to all nine recommendations outlined in the review of the reasonable accommodation fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26122/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a wide range of income and employment supports to assist jobseekers and employees with disabilities, and their employers. These supports include the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and the Disability Awareness Support Scheme.
The Reasonable Accommodation Fund provides financial support for people with disabilities and for employers to help make their workplaces more accessible. The Disability Awareness Support Scheme provides funding for disability awareness training for employees.
Last autumn, I published a review of these schemes. The review recommends combining the two schemes into a single flexible scheme, simplifying systems and processes, providing approval in principle, and promoting the reformed scheme.
It also recommends increasing funding, extending workplace needs assessments, and job coaching to new recruits and all existing employees, increasing the number of support hours eligible for funding, providing support for blended working, and opening the scheme to other employers, for example the voluntary and community sector.
I have allocated an additional €1 million to implement all nine recommendations in the review.
My officials are finalising work to make these recommendations operational. I expect to launch the reformed scheme in the next few weeks.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
226. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a breakdown of the fines issued against her Department by the Court of Justice of the European Union for the period 2010 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26141/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been no fines issued against Ireland in the Court of Justice of the European Union since 2010 in respect of matters which are the responsibility of the Department of Social Protection. Therefore it has not been necessary for my Department to pay any fines over the said period.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
227. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review will be carried out in respect of a claim for child benefit submitted by a person (details supplied); the status of same; when decisions will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26163/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild 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 person concerned has had their entitlement reviewed under EU regulation 1408/17 and has been awarded payment from November 2022. Payment of arrears and the monthly Child Benefit payment will be made to their nominated financial institution on Tuesday July 2nd.
Correspondence will issue to the customer informing them of this decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office are conducting a Section 317 review of entitlement to Child Benefit from the date the family arrived in Ireland to November 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the case for jobseeker’s allowance for a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26171/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned applied for a Jobseekers payment on the 11/06/2024 through the online service.
Further information was requested from the person concerned on 13/06/2024, including a letter from their spouse's employment to confirm their payment rate and the date from which it took effect.
The person concerned was contacted by their Deciding Officer on the 14/06/2024 by phone to explain the reasons for the request of information. The person concerned confirmed that they hoped to have all relevant documentation submitted by Monday evening 17/06/2024.
On receipt of this information the application will be progressed.
229. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a carer's support grant did not issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26213/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) is an annual payment made to full-time carers who satisfy certain conditions.
The person claiming the Grant must:
- Be aged 16 or over and ordinarily resident in this State.
- Care for the person on a full-time basis.
- Care for the person for a continuous period of at least six months – this period must include the first Thursday in June.
- Live with the person being looked after, or this person can be contacted quickly by a direct system of communication (i.e., a telephone or alarm).
- Not be employed / self-employed for more than 18.5 hours per week.
- Not be in receipt of, or entitled to receive Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit or be signing for credited contributions.
Additionally, the person being cared for must:
- Be so incapacitated as to need full-time care and attention.
- Not normally live in a hospital, convalescent home, or another similar institution.
- Not receive full-time care and attention within their own home from another person other than the person claiming the grant.
A CSG Cost-of-Living Questionnaire issued to the person concerned in October 2023 and no response was received to the Department.
A Department Officer has been in contact with the person concerned and advised that a completed application form (CSG1) was required to establish an entitlement to the grant. The person concerned was also advised that a completed medical report was not necessary in this instance.
The person concerned submitted the application on 14 June 2024. CSG for 2024 and the 2023 CSG Cost-of-Living payment were awarded on 14 June 2024 and the payments issued by cheque.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
230. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the changes regarding cessation of the assessment of child maintenance in the means test for social welfare payments were delayed from 1 May 2024 as in the initial announcement made in March 2024 (details supplied) until 4 June 2024 in the updated press release; if the impact of the delay to those in receipt of such payments has been reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26234/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 (the “Act”), provides for changes to the social welfare means test to exclude child maintenance payments from assessment as means for any means or income tested payment. This was one of the recommendations of the Report of the Child Maintenance Review Group in relation to the social welfare system which the Government accepted.
The Act also provides for the extension of Child Benefit in respect of children who are aged 18 and in full time education or who have a disability. That provision took effect from 1 May 2024. Following the announcement that the Child Benefit change would come into effect from 1 May, some coverage suggested that the change to the means test was also due to come into effect from that date. However, that was not the case.
In addition to the amendments to primary legislation set out in the Act, amendments to secondary legislation as well as changes to some of the Department’s systems, application forms and processes were required in order to implement the change to treatment of child maintenance payments in the means test.
I am delighted to have brought the change to the social welfare means test into effect from the week beginning 4 June. As a result, the amount of child maintenance a person receives is no longer being assessed in the means or income test for any social welfare payments. This change means that many lone parents on reduced rates of payment will see their payment increase and those who may not have qualified at all up to this point may now be able to access a payment.
It is not necessary for any customer to take any action. My Department is undertaking a significant project to identify and review those claims where a maintenance payment has already been assessed.
The Department has started to contact those affected and will continue to do so over the next few weeks to advise them of the review and any resulting changes to their payment.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
231. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person in receipt of jobseeker’s transition payment is unable to apply for half-payment carer’s allowance; if exceptions can be made on application and/or appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26294/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer'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 person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
Half-rate Carer’s Allowance is not payable to customers currently in receipt of a jobseeker payment, including Jobseekers Transitional Payment. However, in certain circumstances, One-Parent Family Payment may be payable to a person with a child up to 16 years of age where that person also qualifies for half-rate Carer’s Allowance or Domiciliary Care Allowance.
If the Deputy wishes to provide me with the details of a specific case, I can have officials from my Department examine it in more detail.
I hope this clarifies the situation.
232. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda mountain bikes allocated to each Garda division to date in 2024, in tabular form. [25898/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda equipment. As Minister I play no role in these independent functions.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of mountain bikes allocated to each Garda division at the end of Q1 of 2024. Please be advised that this information is operational and may be subject to change.
|
Division |
Total |
|
Meath |
19 |
|
Westmeath |
9 |
|
Waterford Kilkenny/Carlow |
29 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
14 |
|
Wicklow / Wexford |
22 |
|
Kildare |
12 |
|
Cork City |
24 |
|
Cork County |
20 |
|
Clare/Tipp |
21 |
|
Limerick |
19 |
|
Kerry |
14 |
|
Donegal |
17 |
|
Louth/ Cavan/ Monaghan |
20 |
|
Galway |
25 |
|
Mayo / Roscommon/ Longford |
27 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
11 |
|
DMR West |
46 |
|
DMR East |
20 |
|
DMR South |
36 |
|
DMR North |
60 |
|
DMR South Central |
44 |
|
DMR North Central |
28 |
|
Total |
537 |
233. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 444 of 14 May 2024, if she has received the necessary information from the Garda authorities to have this PQ answered. [25899/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraParliamentary Question No. 444 of 14 May 2024 refers to the number of Gardaí, by rank attached to the Public Service Vehicle Inspector Unit within Westmeath Division. I can advise that a response issued to the Deputy on 21 May 2024. I have attached the reply for the Deputy's information.
