Written Answers Nos. 640-660
640. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection what engagement her Department has had with the Department of Education in ensuring that school meals can be provided to schools with low enrolment (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44162/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra642. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if small schools such as that at a location (details supplied) will be allowed to explore alternative ways at a local level to procure school meals outside of the main procurement process, as some schools are finding it impossible to source a provider. [44176/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 640 and 642 together.
There are some 2,200 primary schools currently eligible for hot school meals for the 2024-2025 school year. As announced in Budget 2025, Hot School Meals will be extended to all remaining primary schools in 2025 meaning that there will be 3,200 eligible schools in respect of 550,000 children.
Funding under the programme is solely for food and is made available on the basis of a set price per meal per child per day. All schools who wish to avail of funding are responsible for choosing their school meals supplier on the open market in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules and the primary relationship is between school and supplier.
My Department has engaged with other such schools who have been unable to secure a hot meals supplier due their location, facilities or space, and have advised them to reach out to local caterers or supermarkets or to try to source a local supplier that could instead provide a lunch with drink as an alternative to a hot meal. In such circumstances, many of these schools have been able to provide school meals to their pupils.
If the school referred to by the Deputies has any questions in relation to this matter they can contact officials of my Department at school.meals@welfare.ie and they will clarify any queries that the school may have and advise them of the options available to them.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
641. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive a decision in regard to a carer’s allowance appeal in respect of their spouse; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44167/24]
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 disallow the section 317 review of the person concerned. They have been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
643. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if the findings of a means test relative to an application for a non-contributory pension in the name of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed following a submission from the family’s accountant. [44178/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraState pension (non-contributory) is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, 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. For the purposes of the means test; cash income, including foreign pensions, the value of any property (excluding a person’s own home), and the value of any savings and investments which a person or their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant holds are assessable.
A recent review of the person’s state pension non-contributory was completed on 26 September 2024. The Deciding Officer included in the assessment of means, when calculating their entitlement, income from farming, as the person’s spouse is the registered owner of the farm.
It was determined that the person's means exceeded the permissible statutory weekly limit of €292.50, and their payment was terminated.
The person concerned was notified of this decision on 26 September 2024, together with the reasons for the decision and their right, if dissatisfied with the decision, to request a review of the decision, or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I can confirm that no further information relating to the case has been provided by the person’s accountant. However, the Deputy’s Parliamentary Question, has been accepted as a request for a review. A Deciding Officer will re-examine the person’s State pension non-contributory entitlement without delay.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
644. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 342 of 8 October 2024, to confirm that the high scenario cost estimate of €2 billion is based on 201,600 carers (70% of those who self-reported in Census 2022) being eligible for carer’s allowance in the absence of the means-test; and if not, the number the high scenario is based on. [44186/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra645. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 342 of 8 October 2024, to confirm that the high scenario cost estimate of €2 billion is the resulting total cost of the carer’s allowance scheme if the removal of the means-test resulted in 70% of self-reports in the Census 2022 carers being eligible for carer's allowance; and the additional cost (in numbers of millions) of the high scenario once the 'no policy change' estimated expenditure on the carer’s allowance scheme is subtracted. [44187/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 644 and 645 together.
Estimating the abolition of a means test is difficult and any such estimate is by definition high level and as such should be treated with caution as the actual outcome may be quite different. The key questions in any estimate of the additional cost if the means test was to be abolished are how many additional carers would qualify for a payment and at what payment rate.
For the purpose of the high level estimate below the more recent CSO Census data from 2022, which showed 299,000 people who “self-declared” on the census form as providing unpaid care at that time. This has been used to estimate a number in the order of about 351,000 self-declared carers for 2025. This is based on extrapolating the increase reported in the census period 2016 – 2022 forward by three years or an additional 17,333 Carers per annum. This approach means that there is potentially about 254,000 people not currently in receipt of a payment who might apply for a payment once the means test condition is removed. (i.e. the total estimated for 2025 of 351,000 minus the 97,250 carers already in payment).
The question then arises as to how many of these carers would qualify for a Carers’ payment. It is difficult to assess how many of the estimated ‘additional’ 254,000 carers might qualify but if we assume 70% would qualify then it is estimated that a further 178,000 people would qualify for a payment. This gives rise to an additional cost in the order of €2 billion, at current average payment rates over and above the current expenditure on Carer’s Allowance.
646. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline, noting the requirement to provide over 35 hours of care to qualify for carer’s allowance, the estimated additional cost of running the scheme if the payment were to be extended to all those who have self-declared in Census 2022 to be providing 15 hours care or more per week. [44191/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe main income supports to carers provided by my Department include Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance, and the Carer's Support Grant. Spending on these payments in 2024 is expected to exceed €1.7 billion.
Carer’s Allowance is a means-tested payment for people living in Ireland who are looking after someone who needs full-time support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness, including mental illness. The primary objective of the Carer’s Allowance payment is to provide an income support to carers whose earning capacity is substantially reduced as a consequence of their full-time caring responsibilities and in so doing to support the ongoing care of the person in respect of whom care is being provided.
As set out in primary legislation for both the Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit payments, the person being cared for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and be likely to require this full-time care and attention for at least 12 months. A carer will be regarded as providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person, where the number of hours providing such care is not less than 35 hours in a period of 7 consecutive days, and care is provided on any 5 days, whether consecutive or not, within a period of 7 consecutive days. These supports are not designed for the provision of part-time care.
There are currently 97,366 people in receipt of Carer's Allowance and the estimated spend on this payment in 2024 is over €1.1 billion. The estimated spend on Carer’s Benefit this year is an additional €57.9 million.
According to Census 2022, there were 161,529 people who self-declared as caring for someone for over 15 hours per week. The estimated additional annual cost of extending the Carer’s Allowance and Benefit schemes to this cohort is €878.6 million.
This costing is based on the current rate of Carer’s Allowance of €248 for those aged under 66 and caring for 1 person and assumes that this cohort would meet all other scheme eligibility requirements for both carer and caree.
It is important to note that these costings are estimates based on current administrative data. They take no account of year-on-year increases in terms of recipients or increases in rates of payment.
The extension of the Carer’s Allowance payment to those providing part-time care, as proposed, would have implications for overall spending and as such could only be considered in an overall policy and Budgetary context.
I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
647. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the rate of carer’s allowance by €10 for every 10,000 additional eligible recipients, based on the average blended cost based on the existing profile. [44192/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cost of a €10 increase, for all recipients, is €39.76 million. The costs are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2025.
The breakdown is as follows:
|
Scheme |
Cost, million |
|
Carer's Allowance Under 66yrs: |
€26.63 |
|
Carer's Allowance 66yrs or Over: |
€0.94 |
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance Under 66yrs: |
€7.42 |
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance 66yrs or Over: |
€4.76 |
The estimated cost per 10,000 CA recipients in 2025 is €124.7m. An additional €10 increase for 10,000 additional recipients gives an adjusted cost of €129.9m per 10,000 CA recipients in 2025.
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 for 2025.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
648. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding provided to Turas Nua and Seetec for the operation of the JobPath scheme each year from its inception to date; if her Department has conducted any value for money assessment of the work of these companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44201/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobPath was a payment by results model and all set-up and day-to-day operational costs were borne by the companies. The companies were paid on the basis of performance and with the exception of the initial registration fee; payments were made only when a client had achieved sustained employment. The overall cost of JobPath was determined by the number of people who participated in the programme and the number who got sustainable jobs.
Referrals to the JobPath service ceased in June 2022 and the service ceased completely in June 2024. The OECD published a report in January 2022 concerning contracted employment services. In this report the OECD specifically states that Ireland’s JobPath programme led to strongly positive employment and earnings outcomes across a variety of hard to place client groups.
It is not intended to publish the individual payments to the JobPath companies as these are commercially sensitive and to do so would place the State at a disadvantage both in terms of the contracts that were in place and in future procurement processes.
Total expenditure under the JobPath programme is provided in the table below.
|
Year |
Expenditure |
|
2015 |
€1.2m |
|
2016 |
€25.2m |
|
2017 |
€57.4m |
|
2018 |
€71.7m |
|
2019 |
€58.6m |
|
2020 |
€36.2m |
|
2021 |
€33.9m |
|
2022 |
€40.9m |
|
2023 |
€17.7m |
|
2024 |
€1.8m |
|
Total |
€344.6m |
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.
649. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum rate awarded per child per day for the school meals scheme 2024/25; the funding rates for hot meal lunches and the funding rates for cold meal lunches for both primary schools and secondary schools; her views on whether the funding per child per day is adequate to provide wholesome lunches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44232/24]
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.
My priority as Minister was the roll out of Hot School Meals to all children in primary schools. As part of this significant expansion plan, it was as announced in the recent Budget that Hot School Meals will be extended to all remaining primary schools in 2025, meaning that there will be 3,200 eligible schools in respect of 550,000 children.
All schools in receipt of school meals funding must sign and meet Service Level Agreements outlining their responsibilities under headings such as procurement and nutritional standards.
In 2023, I published an independent evaluation of the Programme which sets out the positive impact it is having in terms of children’s education and wellbeing. This evaluation is evidence-based and sets out a series of recommendations for expanding the Programme into the future. There is an overwhelming consensus among all participants in the evaluation that the Programme is effective, and it indicates strong support for extending the Programme.
The report also recommended an interim increase in funding rates for all meal options. In response, I secured government approval for the following rate increases for the various meal options provided on the School Meals Programme effective from 1st January 2023:
• Breakfast - increase from €0.60 to €0.75 (15c increase).
• Cold Lunch - increase from €1.40 to €1.70 (30c increase).
• Dinner - increase from €1.90 to €2.50 (60c increase).
• Hot School Meal - increase from €2.90 to €3.20 (30c increase).
These meals must meet the nutritional standards for the school meals programme. The Nutritional Standards for School Meals were developed by a working group led by the Health and Wellbeing Programme in the Department of Health, in consultation with Safefood and the Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme in the Health Service Executive.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
650. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a couple (details supplied), whose sole income and means is their contributory pensions, is entitled to a top-up under the non-contributory scheme, given that their pensions are not at the maximum level. [44255/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraState pension non contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, 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. For the purposes of the means test, cash income, including foreign pensions, the value of any property (excluding a person’s own home), and the value of any savings and investments which a person or their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant holds are assessable.
The person concerned is in receipt of the contributory state pension at the weekly rate of €271.90. This rate is higher than the maximum weekly rate of the non-contributory State pension and, therefore, it is financially beneficial for them to remain on the contributory state pension.
Their spouse is in receipt of the contributory state pension at the weekly rate of €255.70 and it may be financially beneficial for them to be on the non-contributory state pension.
In order for their entitlement to the non-contributory state pension to be examined, it is necessary for the second 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.
651. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if, for example, a Polish couple who meet the habitual residency condition, work in Ireland for over 12 months, have a child here and then move home to Poland or another European Union Member State to live and work, the couple can still claim the children’s allowance from the State; and if so, for how long. [44267/24]
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.
If a family were to leave Ireland to reside and work in another EU state, there is generally no entitlement to Irish Child Benefit.
Entitlement to Irish Child Benefit would only continue under EU regulations if one of the following conditions were satisfied.
• The applicant/ spouse / partner were employed in the Republic of Ireland.
• The applicant/ spouse / partner were in receipt of a contributory benefit or pension from the Department of Social Protection.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
652. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to an appeal for invalidity pension (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44268/24]
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 disallow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
Under social welfare legislation a decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive. However, it may be reviewed by an Appeals Officer under Section 317 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 in the light of new evidence or new facts which were not before the Appeals Officer when they made their decision which had they have been, it would have rendered the decision erroneous.
If the named person wishes to request a review of the Appeals Officer’s decision under Section 317 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, they must specify what new facts or evidence they wish to adduce which were not before the Appeals Officer when they made their decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
653. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection the policy regarding the issuing of a public services card for adopted persons; when the review of the public services card application process for adopted applicants will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44278/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe SAFE (Standard Authentication Framework Environment) registration process is the method used by my department to verify a person’s identity. Following this process, a person will receive their Public Services Card (PSC). Their PSC can then be used to get a verified MyGovID account, which allows the person to access a range of online public services.
To verify their identity, the person should make a SAFE registration appointment at their local PSC/Intreo Centre. When attending this appointment, the person should bring along their current photographic identity documents such as passport, or driver licence (Irish or UK licence, or Irish learner driver permit), as well as proof of their address. They should also bring their mobile phone if they have one, so that their phone number can also be verified.
For all persons born in Ireland, including adopted persons, SAFE officers check the birth record as held by the General Register Office (GRO) as part of recording the person’s identity details. In the event that, following checks with GRO, no record can be found, the person will be asked by my department to provide their birth certificate to allow their birth details to be verified. My department is currently updating information on its www.gov.ie website to advise that birth certificates are only requested from a person where necessary (if no details found on GRO) in order to complete their identity verification.
In early July, my department introduced a new online SAFE registration service for current Irish passport holders. This online service augments the existing in-person SAFE registration process. Once the online SAFE registration application has been approved by an officer, the person receives their PSC and their verified MyGovID account. Over 40,000 people have availed of the convenient new service since its introduction.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
654. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection when a claim by a person (details supplied) for disability allowance will be reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44280/24]
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.
Legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse) applying to the scheme. The weekly rate of a DA payment depends on the amount of weekly means assessed.
A review of the person concerned, was undertaken regarding their continued entitlement to DA. An information request issued to their home address on the 01 May 2024, requesting details of their spouses’ payslips. The letter advised that they had 21 days to supply the information otherwise it could result in their DA payment being suspended or stopped.
On the 23 September 2024, the person concerned was notified that they had failed to respond to the Department's correspondence dated 01 May 2024. The person concerned was given a further 14 days to respond before their payment would be suspended with effect from the 9 October 2024. As the information requested was not received, their payment was suspended on the 16 October 2024.
The Department received further information on the 17 October 2024. Based on the evidence supplied in support of this review, it was determined that there had been a reduction in the means assessed, with effect from the 16 October 2024. However, whilst there had been a reduction in means due to the household circumstances, the weekly DA rate payable to the person concerned reduced from €259.50 to €195.00, with effect from the 16 October 2024.
This reduction was implemented as their spouse was now in receipt of another welfare payment in their own right. A letter notifying the person of this decision issued on 24 October 2024. The person concerned was notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
The Fuel Allowance for the person concerned stopped with effect from the 16 October 2024 as they no longer qualify for this allowance as their household consists of another individual who is not on qualifying payment for receipt of Fuel Allowance. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing also on 24 October 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
655. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of civil servants, by grade, in her Department who were on a career break in 2023 and 2024; the number of those who in 2023 and 2024 who were on a career break of five years or more; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44310/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs requested by the, below are details of staff on career break from the Department:
End of December 2023 in my Department
|
Grade |
Total number on career break |
On career break Over 5 years |
|
Administrative Officer |
4 |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
2 |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
46 |
15 |
|
Executive Officer |
28 |
3 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
10 |
1 |
|
Medical Assessor |
1 |
0 |
|
Services Officer |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
92 |
22 |
End of September 2024
|
Grade |
Total number on career break |
On career break Over 5 years |
|
Administrative Officer |
6 |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
1 |
0 |
|
Clerical Officer |
50 |
14 |
|
Executive Officer |
30 |
5 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
5 |
2 |
|
Medical Assessor |
2 |
0 |
|
Services Officer |
1 |
1 |
|
Total |
95 |
23 |
I trust this clarifies the matter.
656. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she agrees that the double payments that will be made over Christmas by her Department should be extended to include those receiving maternity benefit; if not, why not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44316/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Christmas Bonus is paid to long-term social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, 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.
Those on maternity benefit who do not avail of the Christmas bonus may be eligible for the Double Child Benefit payment in both November and December. The rate for Maternity Benefit will increase from January 2025 by €15 as announced in Budget 2025.
Any changes to schemes whose recipients avail of the Christmas Bonus would need to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
657. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection whether it is possible to have the General Registry Office recognise a UN birth document for a refugee born overseas (now an Irish citizen) with a new birth certificate issued in Ireland. [44319/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe registration of a birth outside the State is provided for under Sections 26 and 27 of the civil Registration Act 2004.
Section 26 applies if the child is the child of an Irish citizen domiciled abroad, and section 27 applies where the child is born on a Irish aircraft or an Irish ship, a foreign vessel travelling to and from a port in the State. Section 27 also applies in the circumstances where the child is a child born abroad to a member of the Permanent Defence Force , or of a member of An Garda Síochána, while they are serving outside the State.
The circumstances surrounding the birth mentioned by the Deputy do not appear to fall into either section, and therefore it would not be possible to register the birth in the Register of Births.
However, should the Deputy has additional information suggesting that the person may meet the criteria outlined above, my officials would be happy to assist in any registration of the birth.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
658. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection what assistance her Department can offer in circumstances where a small rural school is having difficulty in procuring a supplier under the hot school meals programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44320/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are some 2,200 primary schools currently eligible for hot school meals for the 2024-2025 school year. As announced in Budget 2025, Hot School Meals will be extended to all remaining primary schools in 2025 meaning that there will be 3,200 eligible schools in respect of 550,000 children.
Funding under the programme is solely for food and is made available on the basis of a set price per meal per child per day. All schools who wish to avail of funding are responsible for choosing their school meals supplier on the open market in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with public procurement rules and the primary relationship is between school and supplier.
My Department has engaged with other such schools who have been unable to secure a hot meals supplier due their location, facilities or space, and have advised them to reach out to local caterers or supermarkets or to try to source a local supplier that could instead provide a lunch with drink as an alternative to a hot meal. In such circumstances, many of these schools have been able to provide school meals to their pupils.
If the school referred to by the Deputy has any questions in relation to this matter they can contact officials of my Department at school.meals@welfare.ie and they will clarify any queries that the school may have and advise them of the options available to them.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
659. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on a fuel allowance application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44322/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fuel allowance is a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924) is paid from late September to April to assist households with their energy costs.
The Fuel Allowance has been awarded. The first lump sum payment of €462 will issue on Friday 1 November 2024. An additional lump sum of €300 to help offset the impact of increasing energy costs and the cost of living will issue on 8 November 2024.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
