Written Answers Nos. 661-680
661. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on an application by a person (details supplied) for carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44344/24]
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.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 1 August 2024.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information, and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding their claim.
Additional information in relation to the person’s application was requested by a Deciding Officer (DO) on 13 August 2024. The person concerned failed to provide all the information that was required to determine their means did not exceed the statutory limit allowed for receipt of CA.
The application was also referred for the professional opinion of a Department Medical Assessor.
The claim was disallowed on two conditions. The DO, having regard to the opinion of the Medical Assessor, decided that the information supplied did not show that the care recipient required full time care and the person concerned failed to supply all of the requested information.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 11 September 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.
The person concerned requested a review of the decision on 3 October 2024.
The DO reviewed all the evidence of the case and found that, although a certain level of care was provided, the evidence submitted did not satisfy the full-time care and attention requirement as defined in the legislation for the care recipient. The person concerned also failed to provide all of the necessary information requested. Therefore, the application for CA was disallowed and the decision remained unchanged.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 24 October 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.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
662. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for disability allowance will be expedited and approved in the name of a person (details supplied). [44353/24]
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 years. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and the habitual residency conditions.
I confirm that my Department received an application for DA from the person concerned on 21 March 2024. Based on the evidence supplied with the person’s application, his DA was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied.
The person concerned was notified of the decision in writing on 03 May 2024 and advised of their entitlement to request a review and/or to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
Correspondence received on 24 May 2024 from the person concerned, including additional medical evidence, requested both a review and appeal of the decision dated 3 May 2024. A request to open an appeal was sent to the SWAO at this point.
Reviews of the decision to disallow the DA were undertaken in May, July and October on foot of additional medical evidence being submitted. At each point the medical circumstances were fully examined and the original decision was upheld. The person concerned was notified of the outcome of these reviews in writing.
All further evidence in support of this application was also sent onto the SWAO for their consideration. The file is currently with the SWAO, and the person concerned will be notified directly regarding the outcome of their appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
663. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that the provisions of the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform Circular 4/2013 are being properly implemented by her Department; if she is satisfied that civil servants whose career breaks are coming to an end are being notified of appropriate vacancies; if she is concerned by instances where civil servants are having their career breaks extended unnecessarily where the Department has appropriate vacancies to fill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44383/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am satisfied that the Department implements the provisions of Circular 4/2013 by making an offer to any Civil Servant that requests to return from career break as soon as an appropriate vacancy becomes available and within 12 months of their return from Career Break.
The Department's HR and local business areas endeavour to facilitate the return of an employee from career break as soon as is possible having regard to vacancies in the relevant location of the returnee's previous position and also where possible, to find a suitable role for the employee with regard to their experience and skills.
664. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider the diseases of Crohn’s and colitis as qualifying conditions for disability and invalidity payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44406/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. These include contributory payments based on PRSI contributions, such as Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension, and non-contributory payments based on a means test, such as Disability Allowance and Blind Pension.
Invalidity Pension is a social insurance scheme paid from the Social Insurance Fund. Eligibility is based on Pay Related Social Insurance contributions and medical condition. To qualify, the person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months; or must be permanently incapable of work.
Disability Allowance is a means tested social assistance scheme, which is also subject to a medical assessment and habitual residency requirement. Eligibility for the scheme includes the requirement that the disability must be expected to last for at least one year, and substantially restrict a person’s ability to work.
As of September 2024, there were over 56,200 recipients of Invalidity Pension and over 166,400 recipients of Disability Allowance respectively.
Eligibility for the Department’s income support schemes is not dependent on the type or category of illness or disability. Rather, entitlement to these supports is contingent on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
Every application for the Department's schemes is individually assessed, in line with the provisions specified in the relevant social welfare legislation. Assessment is based on the medical information provided by healthcare providers and the claimant and taking into account the opinion of the Department’s Medical Assessor.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
665. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44410/24]
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 6 March 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. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 4 October 2024 and the case has now been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
666. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to ensuring that individuals who have been part of the social welfare system for several years and are required to transition between allowances due to unforeseen circumstances (such as a severe illness or stroke) do not lose eligibility for the Christmas bonus and other entitlements, particularly in cases where the delay in processing their new claim is beyond their control (details supplied). [44423/24]
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 an application for CA was received from one of the persons concerned on 23 October 2024.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that every claimant shall furnish such certificates, documents, information, and evidence as may be required for the purposes of deciding their claim. A request for further information issued to the person concerned on 25 October 2024.
Once the information requested is received, a decision will be made, and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
Disability 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 examination, a means test and habitual residency conditions.
A DA application was received from one of the persons concerned on 23 October 2024. The person will be notified directly of the outcome once the application has been assessed.
Processing times vary across schemes, depending on the differing eligibility criteria. Schemes that require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer, particularly in the case of illness-related schemes, can take longer to process. Similarly, means-tested schemes can also require more detailed investigations and interaction with the customer, thereby lengthening the decision-making process.
The current average processing time for CA is 7 weeks while the current average processing time for DA is 6 weeks.
Subject to meeting all qualifying criteria for the schemes, payments commence on the first week following receipt of application. The payment of a Christmas bonus and any cost of living payments will be automatic (and included with arrears if the payment date is missed), subject to the all qualifying conditions being satisfied.
In the meantime, the people concerned may apply to the Community Welfare Service for the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance if they are in need of financial assistance while awaiting the outcome of their applications.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
667. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the Farm Assist for a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made on a claim originally made in October 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44455/24]
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.
668. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made in relation to a domiciliary care allowance review (details supplied); the current processing times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44488/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of the child's disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months. This level of care and attention must be required to allow the child to deal with the activities of daily living in areas such as mobility, personal care, feeding / diet, communication, speech / language, sleeping, behaviour, safety, sensory issues, including any other additional needs.
Eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the type of disability or diagnosis but primarily on the impact of the child's disability, in terms of the associated overall level of care and attention required by the child compared to a child of a similar age who does not have such a disability. The decision process that applies in the consideration of whether a child meets the conditions for DCA includes the examination of all relevant factors identified as impacting on the child's additional care needs.
An application for DCA from the person concerned was received by my Department on 7 December 2023. A Deciding Officer disallowed the claim as per decision dated 23 January 2024. Based on the information provided, the child was not considered to satisfy the conditions for DCA. This determination considered the supporting medical evidence that was provided by the applicant in their application. The Deciding Officer had regard to the professional opinion of a departmental Medical Assessor in making their decision and a copy of this opinion was issued to the applicant for information along with the decision notification.
An appeal request was registered by the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO) on the 23 April 2024.
On foot of a request for an appeal, it is the Department's policy for a Deciding Officer to review all appeals received where new additional information has been provided. A full review of the DCA claim and the Deciding Officers original decision of 23 January 2024 was undertaken by a Deciding Officer. Following this review of the application, including all information and evidence available at the time of the original decision and all further information and documentary evidence that was provided in support of their appeal/review request, a Deciding Officer decided not to revise the above decision as per review decision dated 19 September 2024.
The person concerned requested a further review of eligibility for DCA and included further documentary evidence in support of this review. On foot of this request, a full re-examination of their DCA claim and my Department's original decision dated 23 January 2024 was undertaken by a Deciding Officer. Following this review, a Deciding Officer has revised the original decision and a decision letter has issued by post.
New DCA claims are currently taking an average of 6 weeks to process from date of receipt of application.
In cases where further medical evidence is submitted as part of the review, a Deciding Officer may request the opinion of a Departmental Medical Assessor (MA) which can increase the time taken to process a review. An MA opinion is sought to ensure that the Deciding Officer has all of the necessary information to make a fair and accurate decision.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
669. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can avail of the Jobs Plus incentive following his return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44491/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe JobsPlus scheme is an incentive paid to employers who recruit long-term unemployed people for new positions in their workplace. Employers can avail of JobsPlus when filling new positions or positions that arise as a consequence of natural turnover and receive a subsidy of €7,500 or €10,000 per employee. The value of the grant is dependent on the age of the new employee and their duration of unemployment.
The person referred to applied for JobsPlus assessment on 29 September 2024 and a decision issued advising that they were not eligible on 2 October 2024 as the person concerned was not at that time in receipt of a qualifying payment. On request from the applicant’s employer the decision was reviewed on 11 October 2024 and the original decision was upheld.
However, following a further review of the particular circumstances relating to this case, the Department has now decided to award JobsPlus in respect of this employment with effect from date of application. The employer has been notified of this decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
670. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will urgently approve a social welfare appeal for an invalidity pension payment (details supplied). [44492/24]
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 25 October 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.
671. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in each county in receipt of the carer’s support grant, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44549/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra675. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in each county in receipt of the carer’s support grant in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44654/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 671 and 675 together.
The Carer’s Support Grant is an annual payment made to carers who get Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance. It can also be paid to certain other carers providing full-time care, including those not in receipt of these payments.
The number of recipients of Carer's Support Grant by county at the end of each year from 2020 to 2023, and at end of September 2024 is shown in the table below.
Table 1: The number of recipients of Carer's Support Grant, by year
|
County |
2024 |
2023 |
2022 |
2021 |
2020 |
|
Carlow |
2,064 |
2,004 |
1,912 |
1,844 |
1,855 |
|
Cavan |
2,237 |
2,143 |
2,033 |
1,932 |
1,886 |
|
Clare |
3,327 |
3,206 |
3,105 |
3,089 |
2,914 |
|
Cork |
16,018 |
15,451 |
14,846 |
14,332 |
13,889 |
|
Donegal |
5,572 |
5,407 |
5,191 |
5,149 |
5,119 |
|
Dublin |
30,335 |
29,134 |
27,551 |
26,414 |
25,409 |
|
Galway |
6,767 |
6,524 |
6,268 |
6,209 |
6,184 |
|
Kerry |
4,595 |
4,417 |
4,296 |
4,220 |
4,130 |
|
Kildare |
5,601 |
5,314 |
4,979 |
4,753 |
4,603 |
|
Kilkenny |
2,692 |
2,591 |
2,483 |
2,412 |
2,207 |
|
Laois |
2,799 |
2,656 |
2,525 |
2,429 |
2,206 |
|
Leitrim |
1,054 |
1,000 |
974 |
949 |
917 |
|
Limerick |
6,940 |
6,813 |
6,519 |
6,320 |
6,216 |
|
Longford |
1,565 |
1,539 |
1,443 |
1,404 |
1,396 |
|
Louth |
3,981 |
3,806 |
3,651 |
3,535 |
3,495 |
|
Mayo |
4,005 |
3,893 |
3,777 |
3,730 |
3,705 |
|
Meath |
5,017 |
4,761 |
4,400 |
4,183 |
3,879 |
|
Monaghan |
1,663 |
1,585 |
1,520 |
1,451 |
1,405 |
|
Offaly |
3,018 |
2,924 |
2,794 |
2,732 |
2,629 |
|
Roscommon |
2,263 |
2,168 |
2,109 |
2,066 |
1,955 |
|
Sligo |
1,890 |
1,840 |
1,761 |
1,791 |
1,770 |
|
Tipperary |
5,615 |
5,481 |
5,364 |
5,273 |
5,173 |
|
Waterford |
3,436 |
3,314 |
3,158 |
3,036 |
3,071 |
|
Westmeath |
3,093 |
2,935 |
2,809 |
2,780 |
2,735 |
|
Wexford |
5,240 |
5,061 |
4,881 |
4,765 |
4,692 |
|
Wicklow |
3,823 |
3,632 |
3,428 |
3,312 |
3,293 |
|
Unknown |
115 |
102 |
157 |
144 |
105 |
|
Total |
134,725 |
129,701 |
123,934 |
120,254 |
116,838 |
672. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection for an update on how the State pension payment is being protected, as set out in the Programme for Government, in circumstances where the recent €12-per-week increase has resulted in the weekly pension payment dropping to just 30% of the average weekly wage from 32% prior to Budget 2025. [44567/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn assessing Budget options, the Government was mindful that the cost of living pressures are most acute over the winter period. For that reason, rather than taking a simplistic approach to applying an indexed rate of increase to weekly rates of payment, the Government decided to 'front-load' supports through the provision of once-off payments, including extra payments for pensioners receiving Fuel Allowance, those in receipt of carer’s payments and those living alone.
These payments will be provided in addition, not only to the €12 increase in the weekly payment rate, but to the double week payments delivered in October and December.
This combination of once-off payments means that, in real terms, pensioners are receiving a much larger increase than €12 per week while ensuring that a significant proportion of this value is delivered when people need it most over the winter period.
Post Budget analysis by the ESRI that shows that the package of measures introduced under Budget 2025 will result in average gains in income for most households next year.
This package including the cost of living measures are key in ensuring the most vulnerable in our society are protected from the increased cost of living.
673. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection what plans the Government has to benchmark the State old-age pension, as recommended in the Commission on Pensions, in order to protect elderly citizens from falling into poverty. [44568/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Roadmap for Social Inclusion contains a commitment to develop a benchmarking approach for use in adjusting the value of State pension payments. The approach proposed by the Department, known as the smoothed earnings approach, was subsequently endorsed by the Pensions Commission.
Government subsequently decided that the Department of Social Protection would, in submitting budget options, set out a rate of pension payment calculated using the smoothed earnings benchmark approach as an input for consideration as part of overall Budget discussions, on an annual basis, starting from September 2023.
I can confirm that this calculation was again prepared and submitted to Government as part of preparations for Budget 2025 in September 2024. In assessing Budget options, and taking account of this calculation, Government was mindful that the cost of living pressures are most acute over the winter period. For that reason, rather than taking a simplistic approach to applying an indexed rate of increase to weekly rates of payment, the Government decided to 'front-load' supports through the provision of once-off payments, including extra payments for pensioners receiving Fuel Allowance, those in receipt of carer’s payments and those living alone.
These payments will be provided in addition, not only to the €12 increase in the weekly payment rate, but to the double week payments delivered in October and December.
This combination of once-off payments in conjunction with the €12 weekly rate increase, not only exceeds the value of a benchmarked increase but ensures that a significant proportion of this value is delivered when people need it most over the winter period.
Post Budget analysis by the ESRI that shows that the package of measures introduced under Budget 2025 will result in average gains in income for most households next year.
This package including the cost of living measures are key in ensuring the most vulnerable in our society are protected from the increased cost of living.
674. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a detailed update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Commission on Pensions, specifically on the creation of a separate account within the social insurance fund to fund State pensions. [44569/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn September 2022, in response to the report from the Commission on Pensions, I announced the largest ever series of reforms to the State Pension System. Since this announcement, the following reforms have been introduced:
• State Pension age is remaining at 66 years and is not increasing to 67 or 68 over time as recommended by the Commission.
• A person can now choose to defer drawing down their State Pension to any age between 66 and 70.
• Considerable enhanced State Pension provision for people who have been caring for incapacitated dependents for 20 years or more.
• A ten-year phased transition from the yearly average method of calculation of State Pension (contributory) to the Total Contributions Approach (TCA) as the sole method of calculation will begin in January 2025.
• A smoothed earnings method to calculating a benchmarked/indexed rate of State Pension payments has been introduced as an input to the annual budget process.
• Social Insurance contributors now have access to an improved PRSI contribution statement and can now more easily understand their contribution history.
• The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (D/ETE) is introducing legislation that will allow an employee to stay in employment until the State Pension age meaning a contract of employment cannot be used to compel them to retire before State Pension Age if they wish to remain in employment.
In order to deal with the predicted shortfalls in the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) and address the sustainability of the State pension system, the Government agreed that it would be more prudent to introduce gradual and incremental increases in social insurance contributions rather than increasing State pension age and creating a separate pensions account in the SIF.
The PRSI Roadmap with proposed PRSI increases was published in Q4 2023 and the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2024 now sets out the PRSI increases of 0.7% for employers, employees and the self-employed over the next 5 years.
Any further increases will be set every five years, and informed by the outcome of the Actuarial Review of the SIF.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
676. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the average time it is taking for the Independent Social Welfare Appeals Office from receipt of an appeal to decision, broken down between cases that require an oral hearing and those that do not, and between all schemes; the steps she is taking to provide extra resources to the appeals office to deal with delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44751/24]
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.
It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers be sought from the scheme area of the Department. This may involve further medical assessments in certain illness related cases or further investigation by Social Welfare Inspectors, where required. All of these elements can in certain circumstances lead to extended processing times.
In 2023 the average time taken to process an appeal was 16.0 weeks. The average processing time for an appeal dealt with summarily was 17.6 weeks. The average processing time for an appeal that included an oral hearing was 29.2 weeks.
An Appeals Modernisation Project is currently underway. The key features of the project are:
(1) Introduction of a new IT system for more efficient end to end processing of appeals. The first release of this system went live in November 2023 and work on adding functionality to the system is continuing.
(2) Provision of an online service for appellants to make their appeals on the MyWelfare platform. This service was implemented in July 2024 and work on enhancing online appeals functionality is continuing.
The modernisation project has contributed to a reduction in the time taken to register and acknowledge appeals lodged with the Appeals Office and this is assisting with the management of processing times. The new system has streamlined the engagement between the Appeals Office and my Department to ensure that the appeals process operates as efficiently as possible. Where the Deciding Officer's decision is not revised in favour of the appellant, the appeal file papers are provided as quickly as possible to the Appeals Office for consideration by an Appeals Officer.
The Chief Appeals Officer continues to monitor processing times and resource requirements and every effort is made to reduce the time taken to process an appeal. I am advised that business process improvements have been introduced within the Office to improve customer service and processing times in tandem with the implementation of the new systems. Several initiatives to streamline decision processes are also being undertaken. However, the drive for efficiency must be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and of high quality and made in accordance with the provisions set out in primary legislation and regulations.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
677. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are discussions ongoing with her Department on behalf of the administrators of CE schemes to provide extra funding to their schemes to enable them pay increased wages to CE supervisors and assistant supervisors; when these discussions commenced; the progress made with them to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44786/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) schemes deliver important locally based community services, while providing a valuable training and development opportunity to the long-term unemployed and to those furthest removed from the labour market.
The Deputy will be aware that CE scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector that receive public funding. The terms and conditions of employment for these employees, including remuneration, are primarily a matter for individual employers and employees as part of the employment relationship.
In 2023, Pay increases were awarded to CE supervisors, an increase of 3% from 1 April 2023 and 2% from 1 November 2023, the funding for which was provided by my Department as the programme funder.
Officials from my Department, as the programme funder, continue to engage in ongoing discussions with employer and unions representatives on a range of issues, including remuneration.
In particular, in respect of this issue, I have written to Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform seeking approval for my officials to progress the remuneration discussions.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
678. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the CE supervisor terms and conditions review (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44797/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) schemes deliver important locally based community services, while providing a valuable training and development opportunity to the long-term unemployed and to those furthest removed from the labour market.
The Deputy will be aware that CE scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector that receive public funding. The terms and conditions of employment for these employees, including remuneration, are primarily a matter for individual employers and employees as part of the employment relationship.
In 2023, Pay increases were awarded to CE supervisors, an increase of 3% from 1 April 2023 and 2% from 1 November 2023, the funding for which was provided by my Department as the programme funder.
Officials from my Department, as the programme funder, continue to engage in ongoing discussions with employer and unions representatives on a range of issues, including remuneration.
In particular, in respect of this issue, I have written to Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform seeking approval for my officials to progress the remuneration discussions.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
679. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 126, 127, 128 and 129 of 23 October 2024, the number of staff coming to an end of career break in her Department in 2023 and 2024 who were not notified of an appropriate vacancy within 12 months of the end of career break; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44801/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra680. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 126, 127, 128 and 129 of 23 October 2024, the length of time in months spent on career break by each of the 18 staff referred to; if any of those 18 spent longer than 60 months on career break; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44802/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 679 and 680 together.
There were no staff coming to an end of career break in my Department in 2023 and 2024 who were not notified of an appropriate vacancy within 12 months of the end of career break.
Given the small numbers involved it would not be appropriate to provide detailed breakdowns for individual staff members. In accordance with the relevant circular, staff members may, subject to agreement, avail of career breaks in up to three separate instances, with a cumulative duration not exceeding 12 years.
