Written Answers Nos. 140-159
141. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in a disability allowance payment to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39199/24]
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.
The Department periodically carries out reviews to ensure continuing eligibility and to confirm no disqualifications from receiving DA apply. As part of the review, correspondence issued to the person concerned on 28 July 2023 requesting the completion of an MR99 medical form. A customer remains in payment during such a review.
However separately in this case, the DA payment was suspended on 18 August 2023 due to an expired EIT payment which the person concerned had failed to collect from her Post Office. Notification of the missed payments and subsequent payment suspension issued to the registered address of the person concerned on 18 August 2023.
A reminder correspondence in relation to the review also issued on 18 August 2023. The person concerned was issued with an additional reminder dated 17 October 2023, affording her an additional 21 days to return the completed MR99 form.
On the basis of information received on 03 July 2024 confirming the change of address for the person concerned, the MR99 form was reissued to their new address on 24 July 2024. I can confirm the requested information was received on 13 August 2024.
Following a medical review of the customer in question, she has been found eligible for the continued receipt if DA. Her payment was reinstated effective of 25 September 2024 and all arrears due were paid to her.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
142. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of children in receipt of domiciliary care allowance in 2020, 2022 and 2023; the number of children who transferred from domiciliary care allowance to disability allowance once they turned 16 in 2020, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [39220/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of children on Domiciliary Care Allowance in December 2020, December 2022 and August 2023, and the number of those who were on Disability Allowance 12 months later is shown in the table below.
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance children |
Domiciliary Care Allowance children on Disability allowance 12 months later |
|
|
December 2020 |
48,980 |
1,898 |
|
December 2022 |
56,045 |
2,158 |
|
August 2023 |
58,968 |
2,707 |
143. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount her Department paid to external companies to provide security personnel at Intreo offices in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and when the current contract to provide these external security personnel at Intreo offices is next due to expire. [39248/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSARS provided external security to the Department of Social Protection in 2023, and until 30th September 2024 when this contract expired. Since 1st October 2024, my Department has contracted Synergy Security Solutions to provide external security. No payments have yet been made to Synergy Security Solutions, and the current contract will expire on 30th September 2026. There are options available, at the discretion of my Department, for two twelve-month contract extensions thereafter.
Outlined below are payments for external security paid by my Department in 2023 and year to date 30th September 2024*.
|
Year |
Supplier |
Paid € |
|
2023 |
SARS |
€3,465,897.66 |
|
2024* |
SARS |
€2,851,862.79 |
144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance application submitted by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39260/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is an allowance payable in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability and requires continual or continuous care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and the child must be likely to require this level of care for at least 12 consecutive months.
An application for DCA in respect of their child, including supporting medical evidence was received from the person concerned on 27 September 2024.
As part of the decision process, their application is currently awaiting the opinion of a Departmental Medical Assessor (MA).
On receipt of the MA opinion and of the requested details from the person concerned, a decision will be made on their application as soon as possible and the person concerned will be notified of the decision in writing.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the processing of a carer's benefit application submitted by a person (details supplied) will be prioritised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39261/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Benefit 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 must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
An application for Carer's Benefit was received from the person concerned on the 23 September 2024.
A Deciding Officer examined the application and determined that further information is required before a formal decision can be made. A request for said information issued on the 27 September 2024.
On receipt of the required information a Deciding Officer will make a formal decision on the Carer's Benefit application and the person concerned will be notified in writing.
If, the person concerned is in financial need, they may contact their local Community Welfare Officer regarding payment of a Supplementary Welfare Allowance while awaiting a decision.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
146. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection to confirm the status of an appeal for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be likely to be reached in this case given that the appeal was submitted over six months ago; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39293/24]
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.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
147. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason there are no public toilet facilities at the Sligo INTREO office, Cranmore Road, Sligo (details supplied). [39303/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe toilet facilities in the Sligo Intreo building are for staff use and are located behind security doors. In exceptional circumstances, access can be arranged for customers. My officials and OPW are undertaking a refurbishment and accessibility survey of the building and consideration will be given to the provision of public toilet facilities.
148. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider changes that could be made to the rural social scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39375/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rural Social Scheme (RSS) has been subject to a full scheme review over the past year, with the report launched in July 2024. The report contains 19 recommendations, and my Department is currently examining how these recommendations can be progressed.
New flexible pension arrangements were introduced on 1st January 2024. These new arrangements applies to supervisors on employment programmes, including RSS supervisors, who can now continue to work until the day before their 70th birthday. The new measures are specifically for people in standard employment situations and do not apply to participants on State supported schemes such as RSS, where the participant qualifies as a result of their being in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment in advance of their placement on the scheme. Accordingly participants on the RSS can continue to remain on the scheme until they reach the standard State pension age, 66, as long as they continue to have an entitlement to their underlying social welfare payment.
Participants on RSS receive a weekly top up payment of €27.50 in addition to their underlying social welfare payment. As part of Budget 2025, weekly social welfare rates are due to increase by €12 from January 2025, an increase which will also apply to participants on RSS.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
149. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39385/24]
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 child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
I can confirm that my Department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 01 November 2023.
The claim was disallowed as the Habitual Residency conditions were not met. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 06 February 2024. They were also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
My Department was notified on 29 May 2024 that the person concerned had appealed this decision to the SWAO. Following a review of the original decision, the person concerned was notified on the 19 September 2024 that CA was awarded from November 2023. The person concerned was also notified of their right to have the decision reviewed (where further information is available) or to appeal the decision to the SWAO.
Arrears due from 02 November 2023 to 25 September 2024 issued on 19 September 2024. The first payment issued on 26 September 2024.
I hope this clarifies the position for the deputy.
150. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration could be given to revising the means test required to qualify for disability allowance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39396/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's primary disability related social assistance scheme is Disability Allowance, which is a means-tested payment for people with a specified disability who are aged between 16 and 66. In addition to the means test, in order to be eligible, the disability must be expected to last for at least one year. The allowance is also subject to a medical assessment and a habitual residency requirement.
Estimated expenditure on Disability Allowance for 2024 is expected to be almost €2.2 billion.
Social welfare legislation provides that, for means-tested social assistance schemes, all income and assets belonging to the claimant, and his or her spouse/partner where applicable, are assessable for means testing purposes. The purpose of the means test is to ensure that resources are directed to those with the greatest need for income supports by the State. It is the nature of means-tested schemes that above a certain level of means a person is not entitled to a payment, as it is deemed their own means are sufficient to provide for their needs.
It should be noted that Disability Allowance has one of the highest capital disregards operated by the Department of Social Protection. A recipient can have up to €50,000 in savings and still receive the full rate of payment. This is compared to €20,000 for most social welfare payments.
Disability Allowance has been structured to support recipients to avail of opportunities to pursue employment, be that self-employment or insurable employment. For people in employment, an income disregard of €165 per week is applied with 50% of earnings between €165 and €375 also disregarded. Meaning that people can currently earn up to €165 per week and keep their payment in full and can earn up to €505.10 per week and keep a small portion of their payment.
The earnings disregard for recipients of Disability Allowance has increased by almost 38% since Budget 2021 from €120 to €165 currently. This enables those on the scheme to earn more without having a negative impact on their means tested payment.
The Taoiseach has established a Cabinet Committee on Children and Education and Disability. Any reform of disability payments will now be considered as part of this broader review of disability matters on a whole-of-Government basis.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
151. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider providing every person with a disability a free travel pass (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39397/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2024 is €104 million.
Given the large numbers involved, extending the free travel scheme to all those with a disability, would require significant additional funding and would have to be considered in a wider budgetary and policy context, having regard to other competing demands for scarce resources.
My Department does already provide free travel for those in receipt of long term disability type payments from my Department such as Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension and Disability Allowance.
Furthermore, as part of Budget 2024, I was particularly pleased to announce the expansion of my Department’s Free Travel Pass to support people who are medically certified as unable to drive. There is no requirement that a person must be in receipt of a Social Welfare payment in order to qualify for a free travel pass on these medical grounds, provided the other qualifying criteria are met. This extension to the scheme is now open for applications.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an essential need which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers and can include payments towards essential heating or repair costs.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
152. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an invalidity application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39422/24]
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 referred to an Appeals Officer on 27th September 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.
153. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Social Protection regarding the delay in processing address changes uploaded to mywelfare.ie, if she is aware that persons (details supplied) are having their disability payments paused due to address errors that they had already updated on mywelfare.ie; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39436/24]
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.
I can confirm that my Department received a DA application from the person concerned on 06 October 2021. Based on the information provided, they were awarded the maximum personal rate of DA from that date.
Correspondence dated 23 July 2024, which issued to the customer’s registered address, was returned to the Department by An Post, as ‘gone away’. On the basis of this information, their claim was suspended with effect from 10 September 2024 in order to establish their whereabouts.
To reinstate their DA payment, the person concerned provided confirmation of their address via MyWelfare on 19 September 2024. The DA payment of the person concerned was reinstated and correspondence issued to their registered address on 19 September 2024, confirming the reinstatement of their payment from 25 September 2024. Arrears for missed payment of 18 September 2024 also issued on 25 September 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to expand the school hot meals programme in 2025; the work in hand for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39459/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs announced in Budget 2025, the Hot School Meals Scheme will be extended to all remaining primary schools in 2025. This announcement now means that in total, 3,200 schools and 550,000 children are now eligible for the Hot School Meals Scheme in 2025. The expansion of the Hot School Meals Scheme will increase the School Meals budget by just over €72m to an overall budget of €288m.
I am very proud to have grown the Hot School Meals Programme from a small pilot project of just 30 schools to universal provision in all primary schools in 2025.
155. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the income threshold for fuel allowance in order that those in receipt of public service pensions are eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39461/24]
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.
In January 2023 a new means threshold was introduced for people aged 70 years and over. The new means threshold was €500 for a single person and €1,000 for a couple. In addition, for people aged 70 or over, the amount of capital that is disregarded was increased from €20,000 to €50,000. Savings over €50,000 are assessed on a proportionate basis only.
In January 2024, the allowable means for those aged over 70 was further increased to €512 for a single person and €1,024 for a couple.
In January 2023 the weekly means threshold for those aged under 70 was also increased by €80 to €200 above the appropriate rate of State Pension (Contributory).
These were very significant increase in the means threshold and allowed many more households to qualify for the fuel allowance payment.
In Budget 2025 I announced that the enhanced means allowance available to those aged over 70 will now be available to those aged 66 or over. Furthermore, those aged 66 or over will no longer be required to be in receipt of a qualifying Social Protection payment. This measure will allow more households including Public Service pensioner households to qualify for the Fuel Allowance payment.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
156. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice the number of convictions have taken place under the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 since they were introduced, per year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39295/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, management of the courts, along with related operational matters and logistical functions, are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and through the separation of powers in the Constitution.
It should be noted that the Department does not record data relating to convictions, as this is a function of the courts.
The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas: oireachtasenquiries@courts.ie
To be of assistance, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Courts Service for direct reply.
157. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Justice the number of prisoners who are addicted; and the number of full-time addiction nurses are there employed in Mountjoy Prison. [39472/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra165. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice the number of full-time addiction nurses employed, solely for the purpose of the role of addiction nurse, in the Irish Prison Service in the years 2017 to 2024 inclusive respectively, in tabular form. [39412/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 165 together.
I can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Service employs nurses across the prison estate to provide primary care to the prison population and work as part of the prison healthcare team.
The Irish Prison Service does not currently employ full-time Addiction Nurses. There are, however, a number of primary care nurses who are assigned the function of carrying out specialist addiction assessments when this is feasible taking account of the operational demands of the prison.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Irish Prison Service engages Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) to provide a prison-based addiction counselling service across the entire Irish Prison Service estate (with the exception of Arbour Hill Prison and the Training Unit where the clinical need is currently under review).
The MQI service provides a range of counselling and intervention skills related to substance misuse and dependency. These skills include motivational interviewing and enhancement therapy, a twelve step facilitation programme, cognitive behavioural therapy and harm reduction approaches and people in custody are offered one to one counselling and group work interventions.
Furthermore, the Deputy may wish to know that the Irish Prison Service has recently employed a national lead to oversee the provision of Mental Health and Addiction in Irish prisons.
I can also advise the Deputy that preventing access to contraband into prisons continues to be a high priority for the Irish Prison Service. The prison environment mirrors the same range of activity and challenges arising in many communities grappling with the scourge of harmful drug use. A significantly high proportion of prisoners, approximately 80%, are committed to custody with addiction issues. The Irish Prison Service published a new Drugs Strategy on 29 November 2023, setting out clear measures to be taken by the Prison Service to tackle the problem of illicit drug use over the next three years.
158. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the progress that has been made in the past six months regarding the new Garda dog training centre. [39244/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including the addition of new facilities to the Garda estate. Works on the Garda estate are carried out in close cooperation between the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Garda management.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to Keep People Safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This represents a 27% increase in funding since 2020.
I have also secured additional capital funding of €93 million under the National Development Plan (NDP) for Justice projects in 2024 to 2026. This brings the total capital allocation available for the Justice sector between now and 2026 to €930 million.
Under the NDP, the Government is committed to investing significant levels of capital funding into An Garda Síochána. This increase in funding, along with the additional funding as part of Budget 2025, will allow for the delivery of a Garda station modernisation and refurbishment programme; to delivering strategic ICT and digitalisation projects; and to providing a modern, fit for purpose Garda fleet.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the Estate Management Office in An Garda Síochána is working closely with the OPW and all relevant stakeholders on the project outlined by the Deputy. I am advised that work for the provision of a National Centre of Excellence for the Garda Dog Unit is at project design stage at this time. It is, therefore, not yet possible to provide additional details at this time.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Garda Dog Unit is currently based at Kilmainham Garda Station, in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. It has a national remit under the direction and control of Assistant Commissioner, Organised and Serious Crime and the strategic control of Detective Chief Superintendent, Operational Support Services and the Operational control of Superintendent, Operational Support Services.
159. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice the amount spent on the maintenance and upkeep of the Garda CCTV cameras in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and the frequency in which these CCTV cameras are examined to ensure that they are in full working order. [39245/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including any decisions relating to procurement of services and equipment. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
However, to be of assistance I sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and have been advised that the value of expenditure on installation, repairs and maintenance of Garda CCTV cameras for the last 3 years is as follows:
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2022 |
€1.145m |
|
2023 |
€1.425m |
|
2024 to end of September |
€1.251m |
I am further advised that Garda CCTV systems are monitored by divisional personnel in line with divisional policing requirements. In this regard should a fault develop with a system it would be notified by the operator to ICT once they become aware of it. ICT would then seek to have the fault rectified. In addition the majority of Garda CCTV schemes have a maintenance service contracted on them which involves a service call being carried out by a contracted third party on a monthly or quarterly basis to ensure the CCTV system is operating within its specifications.
