Written Answers Nos. 306-319
306. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection the advices given to family carers when they are awarded the carer’s benefit or carer’s allowance in relation to the impact on their State pension (contributory) due to the fact that care-related credited contributions are not considered as qualifying contributions. [38784/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCredited contributions, normally known as credits, are awarded to recipients of carer’s benefit and of carer’s allowance where they have an underlying entitlement to credits. Recipients of these payments qualify for credits where they have at least one paid contribution in the previous two years or have had credited contributions in that period. Credits are also awarded to workers who take unpaid carer’s leave from work.
Credits protect social insurance entitlements by bridging gaps in an employee’s social insurance record, where they are not in a position to pay PRSI, such as during periods spent caring. In combination with paid PRSI contributions, credits assist employees in qualifying for short-term schemes and enhance the level of benefit for long-term schemes.
When a carer’s allowance or carer's benefit claim ends, and the award of credits is appropriate, a notice of award of credits is issued internally in my Department and the person's insurance record is updated.
This Government acknowledges the important role that carers play and is fully committed to supporting them in that role. Accordingly, once a person has met the minimum requirement of 520 paid contributions, the current State Pension (Contributory) system provides measures including PRSI credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods to recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.Despite these measures, some long-term carers of incapacitated dependents may still face barriers in accessing the State Pension (Contributory). They may, for example, have difficulty establishing the minimum number of 520 paid contributions.I was very pleased that legislation to give effect to a number of important State Pension reforms was enacted last December. A key measure introduced under this legislation is enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years.Since January 2024, long-term carers contributions (LTCCs) can be awarded to a person who has cared for an incapacitated person for a period of 20 years (1040 weeks) or more and these contributions can be used towards the calculation of their State Pension (Contributory) entitlement. This is done by attributing the equivalent of a paid contribution to long-term carers of incapacitated dependents to cover gaps in their contribution record. These long-term carers contributions will be treated the same as paid contributions for State Pension (Contributory) entitlement only and can, where there are gaps in paid contributions, be used to satisfy the minimum 520 qualifying contributions condition.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
307. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding allocated to the Citizens’ Information Board in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [38802/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Citizens Information Board (CIB), under the aegis of my Department, is the statutory body responsible for providing information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy services on a wide range of public and social services. CIB delivers on this remit through providing some services directly, while also funding a network of 22 Service Delivery Companies.
My Department allocates an annual budget to CIB to deliver its services.
This funding is reviewed annually by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, as part of the Government's Estimates process, to ensure that it is sufficient to meet the Existing Level of Service of CIB and its funded companies, and to ensure that it is based on required expenditure.
The table below outlines the funding allocated to CIB for the period 2014 to 2024.
It is important to note that this funding allocation does not represent CIB's final outturn or expenditure in the years in question. In line with Circular 13/14, any surplus funds by CIB or its funded companies are returned to the Exchequer.
|
Year |
Funding Allocation |
|
2014 |
€46,000,000 |
|
2015 |
€46,013,000 |
|
2016 |
€50,000,000 |
|
2017 |
€54,050,000 |
|
2018 |
€57,410,000 |
|
2019 |
€59,260,000 |
|
2020 |
€61,774,000 |
|
2021 |
€62,222,000 |
|
2022 |
€60,258,000 |
|
2023 |
€60,858,000 |
|
2024 |
€61,495,000 |
308. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for delays in application and appeal decisions relating to the domiciliary care allowance; and the efforts that are being made to reduce these waiting times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38834/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to providing a quality service to all of its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) new claim processing activity, including associated customer requested reviews, is prioritised on an ongoing basis with particular focus on processing times, to ensure a timely service to applicants.
The average processing time for DCA new applications is currently 6 weeks from date of receipt.
Applicants are advised to provide as much detail and relevant information as possible at application stage, including any available additional documentary evidence that is relevant in their child's case, to ensure that all information / documentary evidence is available for consideration in the decision and assessment process, so that an appropriate decision on entitlement may be made at the earliest possible date.
As part of the decision-making process, all DCA applications are referred on receipt to my Department's Medical Review and Assessment Service (MRAS) for the professional opinion of a Medical Assessor (MA). In cases where an applicant subsequently requests a review of a deciding officer's decision and/or appeals the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and where the applicant submits further new or additional medical evidence that is relevant, such cases are referred for a further departmental MA opinion. The deciding officer has regard to the MA opinion in the decision process.
In some cases, more that one decision may be made on a DCA application where an applicant subsequently provides further information, documentary evidence, or more substantial medical evidence for consideration and seeks a review(s) of a decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) is an office of my Department which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare schemes and entitlements, including DCA. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions and management of the Appeals Office is the responsibility of the Chief Appeals Officer.
As part of the appeals process, all DCA appeal cases are further reviewed and re-examined by my Department, including all information/evidence available at the time of the original decision and any further decision(s) if applicable, including any additional information and/or documentary evidence provided in support of the appeal and, if warranted, a revised decision is made by a deciding officer in such appeal cases. If the original decision remains unchanged following the appeal-related review by a deciding officer, the DCA file is submitted to the SWAO for determination by an Appeals Officer.
However, it should be noted that the DCA review process may take longer to conclude for both reviews and appeal related reviews where it is deemed necessary to refer the case for the opinion of an MA.
With reference to appeal decisions, the SWAO has advised that the number of requests for appeals in relation to my Department's schemes, including DCA, has continued to increase substantially to date in 2024, by comparison to 2023.
The Chief Appeals Officer closely monitors the number of appeals and appeal processing times on an ongoing basis.
An Appeals Modernisation Project is currently underway in the SWAO and it is envisaged that this Business Process Improvement project will assist with the management of appeal decision processing times, in accordance with all available resources. As part of this project, several initiatives to streamline/expediate the appeal decision process are also being undertaken. However, it must also be acknowledged that the objective to process appeal cases quickly must be balanced with factors such as the complex nature of Appeals Officer's decisions, including the competing demand to ensure that appeal decisions are consistent, well reasoned and of high quality and made in accordance with the legislative provisions and the general principles of fair procedures and natural justice that underpin a quasi-judicial process.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
309. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection in light of the review report in Nature Medicine in August 2024 (details supplied), if she will review the wrap around services within her Department to be made available to persons with long Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38842/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department continues to provide a suite of income supports to those who cannot work due to illness or disability. These supports are available to people with COVID-19 and long COVID. Eligibility for these payments is generally not dependent on the type of illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
Illness benefit is the primary income support provided by my Department to those who cannot work in the short term due to illness of any kind. Eligibility for illness benefit depends on the person’s PRSI record and class and only contributions made under classes A, E, H or P count toward this payment.
The two main long-term disability income support payments provided by my Department are invalidity pension and disability allowance. Invalidity pension is a social insurance weekly payment where eligibility is based on PRSI contributions and medical condition. Disability allowance is a weekly means-tested allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66.
People who are ill but do not qualify for other illness or disability schemes may apply for means tested supports through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.
As people begin their recovery from long COVID, they may wish, initially, to return to work on a limited basis. If a person has been getting illness benefit for a minimum of six months or invalidity pension and wishes to return to work, they may qualify for partial capacity benefit if their capacity for work is reduced by their medical condition.
My Department is committed to ensuring that members of the public are aware of the welfare supports and services that are available to them and that they are notified of any scheme changes, which may affect them. Public information campaigns are targeted carefully, using the best mix of media formats, to ensure that my Department’s messages reach members of the public effectively. The information provided online is augmented by face-to-face engagement and signposting of entitlements in Intreo and Branch Offices. Also, staff of my Department answered over 4 million phone calls in 2023 giving information and answering queries from the public.
The medical matters in the review report referred to by the Deputy are the responsibility of the Minister for Health.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
310. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if a method of payment will be reviewed for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38847/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability 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, means test and habitual residency conditions.
An application for DA in respect of the person concerned was received on 08 February 2024 and they were awarded the maximum personal rate with effect from 14 February 2024. They were also awarded an increase in payment for a child dependent and Fuel Allowance, paid seasonally.
Persons in receipt of Fuel Allowance can opt to receive their allowance with their weekly Social Welfare payment or by lump sum payment paid twice yearly during the fuel season.
The Fuel Allowance payment of the person concerned was set to issue weekly with their Disability Allowance payment, commencing on 25 September 2024 rather than their requested lump sum payment.
I can confirm that this has now been rectified and the person concerned will receive their fuel lump sum payment less one week already paid, via their chosen payment method on 02 October 2024. Correspondence dated 25 September 2024 issued to the person concerned confirming details of this payment.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
311. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the current number of persons in receipt of payment pending wages under the supplementary welfare allowance; the number of such payments made in 2023 and to date in 2024: the total amount expended on the scheme in 2023 and to date in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38876/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as Additional Needs Payments.
The Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. This assistance is subject to the person having the right to reside and satisfying the Habitual Residence Condition.
Where a person has commenced or returned to employment, they may have an entitlement to Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance for up to 30 days while waiting for payment of wages. Entitlement to payment is subject to all the other conditions of the scheme being satisfied.
Statistics on the cumulative number of claims in respect of pending wages awarded throughout the year are not maintained. However, at the end of August 2024, there were 81 such claims in payment.
In 2023, the total provisional expenditure for Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance was €121.3m. In 2024 to the end of August, expenditure of €89.2m has been incurred.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to Supplementary Welfare Allowance is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
312. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to disregarding as means any income that is expended on maintenance when determining eligibility for fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38940/24]
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 criteria for Fuel Allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. To qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment, a person must satisfy all the qualifying criteria including a means test and the household composition criteria. The means test ensures that the recipient has a verifiable income need and that resources are targeted to those who need them most.
The means test does not take account of a person’s expenditure commitments or income tax circumstances. Allowing deductions in means assessed for outgoings would significantly increase the complexity of the means assessment and would give rise to inconsistencies in how means tests are applied across schemes.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
313. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can confirm that for PRSI purposes, postmasters are class-A PRSI contract-of-service employees according to social welfare legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38944/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has been an agreement since 1979 between the Department, An Post and the Post Master’s Union that they be insured at PRSI Class A, but for tax purposes it is recognised that running a post office is akin to other self-employed ventures (i.e., postmasters have to maintain a premises, pay insurance, may have to hire additional counter staff, etc.).
In practical terms, this sees An Post remit postmaster’s PRSI directly to DSP, while the postmasters themselves files annual returns of income (profits) to Revenue for the collection of taxes.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
314. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38985/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you will be aware, the Citizens Information Service (CIS) comprises of eight regional companies that are funded by the Citizens Information Board (CIB), the statutory body funded by my Department. The Citizens Information Phone Service (CIPS) is also funded by CIB. As I have stated on many occasions, I absolutely acknowledge and value the important information, advice and advocacy services that the staff of the CIS provide right across the country. I believe that CIS workers should be paid fairly for the important work they do and I am supportive of a pay increase.
Since the Labour Court issued its recommendation in relation to CIS and CIPS pay, my Department has been actively engaging with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Delivery Plan and Reform in relation to a pay agreement and expenditure requirements.
In addition, talks commenced on 12th September last between representatives from SIPTU, CIS, CIB and my Department in relation to a pay agreement. It was agreed that talks would reconvene later this month.
I am fully supportive of the ongoing engagement process as the best way to reach consensus on a pay agreement for CIS and CIPS workers, and I strongly encourage all parties involved to continue to engage constructively in this process with a view to avoiding planned strike action.
I trust this answers your query.
315. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for payment in their own right in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38990/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraState pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and 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.
In order for their entitlement to state pension non-contributory to be examined, it is necessary for the person concerned to complete and submit an SPNC1 application form, which has been issued to them by post. On receipt of the completed pension 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.
316. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will extend the age from 66 years for the rural social scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39007/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe question arises in the context of new flexible pension arrangements which were introduced on 1st January 2024. The changes include maintaining the State Pension age at 66 and introducing a deferred pension age up to 70 years. Accordingly, a person who now turns 66 can defer access to their pension, thus allowing them to access their pension at any point between age 66 and 70.This new pension arrangements applies only to supervisors on work schemes, including Rural Social Scheme (RSS) supervisors. A supervisor who turns 66 on or after 1st January 2024 may continue to work until the day before their 70th birthday. The Department is currently funding supervisor positions from 66 to 70 years of age, however the decision to retain a supervisor remains with the Implementing Body, as the employer. The new measures are specifically for people in standard employment situations and do not apply to State supported schemes like RSS, where the participant qualifies due to being on a specific social welfare payment in advance of their placement on the scheme. Accordingly, the position regarding funding for RSS participants remains as heretofore. Funding for participants continues to be available to State Pension Age only, which is currently 66.I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
317. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the contact she or any Minister in her Department have had with any minister or official in the government of Israel since January 2014; the nature of these contacts, the purpose of these contacts; if a record was kept; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39078/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that neither myself, nor any officials of my Department have had official contact with any Minister or official in the Government of Israel during the period in question.
318. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she, her special advisory teams, or senior officials have consulted with, received briefings or sought advice from an external communications expert or communications consultancy company, or a public relations or public affairs company, in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; the costs associated with those interactions; the names of those that have been engaged with; the subject matter or topics the engagements related to, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39140/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Social Protection has not engaged or paid for external communications experts or firms to provide any services to the Minister or her special advisory teams.
In 2023, my Department engaged a course provider to provide training to senior officials to develop their communication skills, details of which are included in the following table:
|
Year |
Course Provider |
No. of Staff who received training |
Total Cost |
|
2023 |
The Communications Clinic |
37 |
€4,070 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
319. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Social Protection the schools in County Cork that submitted an expression of interest to participate in the hot school meals programme; which schools were selected; which schools were not selected; the criteria for selection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39149/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Hot School Meals Programme has grown from a small pilot project to a nationwide programme now approved in 2,200 primary schools nationwide.
Currently there are 197 primary schools in Cork eligible for Hot School Meals.
In April 2024, my Department contacted the remaining 1,000 primary schools, who have not yet joined the Hot School Meals programme, asking them if they wished to submit an expression of interest in commencing the provision of Hot School Meals. Out of these 1,000 schools, 103 schools in Cork submitted an expression of interest.
My Department is currently collating the responses received under this year's Expression of Interest process with the aim of including more schools, subject to available funding in Budget 2025.
No school has been refused access to the programme to date if they received and replied to an Expression of Interest request from my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
