Written Answers Nos. 693-710
693. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of fish assist in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3016/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra698. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of professional artists on jobseeker's allowance in the State, and in County Clare, for each of the years 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3021/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra741. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of fish assist in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3353/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra746. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of professional artists on jobseeker’s allowance in the State, and in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3358/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 693, 698, 741 and 746 together.
Both Fish Assist and Jobseeker’s for Professional Artists are administered under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme. As such, county breakdowns are not separately available for these forms of Jobseeker’s Allowance. The table below details the number of recipients of Jobseeker’s Allowance for county Clare in each of the years requested. These numbers are inclusive of any recipients of Fish Assist or Jobseeker’s for Professional Artists.
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
3144 |
2925 |
4290 |
3906 |
2995 |
The total number of recipients of Jobseeker's Allowance in the State is shown in the table below. Again, as Jobseeker's Allowance for Professional Artists is administered under the Jobseeker's Allowance scheme, separate numbers for this are not available.
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
125,703 |
108,414 |
126,616 |
119,356 |
107,693 |
694. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of jobseeker's allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3017/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra697. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of jobseeker's transitional payment in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3020/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra742. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3354/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra745. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of jobseeker’s transitional payment in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3357/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take questions Nos. 693, 698, 741 and 746 together.
The number of recipients of Jobseeker's Allowance and Jobseeker's Transitional Payment in County Clare for each of the years 2020 - 2024 are shown below.
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
3144 |
2925 |
4290 |
3906 |
2995 |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional Payment |
292 |
333 |
551 |
579 |
497 |
The Deputy may also be interested to know that the number of people on these schemes by year, including a breakdown by county, is available in the Annual Statistics Reports published by the Statistics Unit of the Department of Social Protection on gov.ie (currently available up to 2023).
695. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of jobseeker's benefit in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3018/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra696. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of jobseeker's benefit for the self-employed in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3019/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra719. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of benefit payment for 65-year-olds in County Clare, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3047/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra739. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of benefit payment for 65-year-olds in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3350/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra743. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3355/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra744. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of jobseeker’s benefit for the self-employed in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if' he will make a statement on the matter. [3356/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 695, 696, 719, 739, 743, 744 together.
The number of recipients of Jobseeker's Benefit in County Clare for each of the years 2020 - 2024 are shown below. Note that Jobseeker's Benefit for the Self-Employed and Benefit Payment for 65-year-olds are administered as part of the Jobseeker's Benefit scheme. As such, county breakdowns are not separately available for these forms of Jobseeker’s Benefit. The table below details the number of recipients of Jobseeker’s Benefit for county Clare in each of the years requested. These numbers are inclusive of any recipients of Jobseeker's Benefit for the Self-Employed and Benefit Payment for 65-year-olds. Note that Benefit Payment for 65-year-olds was introduced in February 2021.
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
1046 |
1120 |
1169 |
1070 |
1101 |
The Deputy may also be interested to know that the number of people on Jobseeker's Benefit by year, including a breakdown by county, is available in the Annual Statistics Reports published by the Statistics Unit of the Department of Social Protection on gov.ie (currently available up to 2023).
699. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who received a supplementary welfare allowance payment in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3023/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of recipients of Supplementary Welfare Allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 - 2024 are shown below.
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
109 |
106 |
189 |
168 |
188 |
700. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the blind pension in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3025/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra748. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the blind pension in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3362/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 700 and 748 together.
The number of recipients of Blind Pension in County Clare for each of the years 2020 - 2024 are shown below.
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Blind Pension |
10 |
12 |
17 |
14 |
15 |
701. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of carer's allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3026/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra702. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of carer's benefit in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3027/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra704. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of disability allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3029/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra705. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of invalidity pension in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3030/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra749. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of carer’s allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3363/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra750. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of carer’s benefit in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3364/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra752. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of disability allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3366/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra753. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of invalidity pension in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3367/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 701, 702, 704, 705, 749, 750, 752, 753 together.
The number of recipients of Disability Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Invalidity Pension, and Carer's Benefit in County Clare for each of the years 2020 - 2024 are shown below.
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Disability Allowance |
3658 |
3825 |
3855 |
3997 |
4136 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
2229 |
2320 |
2311 |
2350 |
2388 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
1293 |
1339 |
1300 |
1325 |
1267 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
97 |
89 |
74 |
104 |
111 |
703. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of constant attendance allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3028/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra751. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of constant attendance allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3365/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 703 and 751 together.
Constant Attendance Allowance is an increase to Disablement Benefit for persons who lose their physical or mental ability due to an accident at work or a work-related illness, and as a result need daily care.
The Department of Social Protection does not currently hold statistics on the number of recipients of the Constant Attendance Allowance by county; the number of recipients of Disablement Benefit by county are given in the below table. Note that statistics on number of recipients by county of Disablement Benefit were not maintained before 2021 and so are not currently available.
|
- |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
361 |
358 |
387 |
385 |
706. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who received an urgent needs payment in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3031/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra714. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of basic supplementary welfare allowance in County Clare, in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3042/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra734. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of basic supplementary welfare allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3345/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra747. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who received a supplementary welfare allowance payment in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3360/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra754. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people who received an urgent needs payment in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3368/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra759. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of rent supplement in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3373/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 706, 714, 734, 747, 754, 759 together.
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as Additional Needs Payments.
The Basic Supplementary Welfare allowance provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
Rent supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that for those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income. This is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments, and certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the customer’s own resources, and which are deemed to be necessary. Urgent Needs Payments make up only a small percentage of the payments made under the Additional Needs Payment scheme.
Table 1 shows the number of Basic Supplementary Allowance and supplement recipients in Co Clare, at year end 2020-2024.
Table 2 shows the number of Additional Needs Payments (excluding supplements) issued in Co Clare, 2020-2024.
Any person who considers they may have an entitlement to a Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.
Tabular Statement
Table 1- Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance and Supplement recipients in Co Clare, at year end 2020-2024.
|
Scheme |
End of 2020 |
End of 2021 |
End of 2022 |
End of 2023 |
End of 2024 |
|
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
111 |
115 |
193 |
169 |
194 |
|
Rent Supplement |
132 |
61 |
57 |
54 |
54 |
|
Other Supplements |
52 |
48 |
56 |
51 |
41 |
Table 2- Additional Needs Payments (excluding supplements) issued in Co Clare, 2020-2024
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Number of Exceptional Needs Payments/Urgent Needs Payments |
1,777 |
1,270 |
3,666 |
2,706 |
1,800 |
|
Of which Exceptional Needs Payments |
1,763 |
1,264 |
3,638 |
2,682 |
1,783 |
|
Of which Urgent Needs Payments |
14 |
6 |
28 |
24 |
17 - |
707. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the wage subsidy scheme in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3032/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra755. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the wager subsidy scheme in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3369/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 707 and 755 together.
The number of recipients of the Wage Subsidy Scheme in County Clare at the end of 2024 was 66.
Note that statistics on the number of recipients of the Wage Subsidy Scheme by county were not maintained by the DSP prior to 2024 and so the number of recipients broken down by county for the years 2020 - 2023 is not available.
708. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the back to education allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3033/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra718. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the back to work enterprise allowance in the county of Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3046/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra738. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the back-to-work enterprise allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3349/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra756. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the back-to-education allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3370/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 708, 718, 738, 756 together.
The number of recipients of Back to Work Enterprise Allowance and Back to Education Allowance in County Clare for each of the years 2020 - 2024 are shown below.
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
88 |
81 |
70 |
69 |
72 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
130 |
141 |
101 |
93 |
102 |
709. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the State pension (contributory) in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3034/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra757. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of people in receipt of the State pension (contributory) in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3371/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 709 and 757 together.
The number of recipients of State Pension (Contributory) in County Clare for each of the years 2020 - 2024 are shown below.
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
10707 |
11610 |
12108 |
12684 |
13433 |
710. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the State pension (non-contributory) in County Clare for each of the years 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3035/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below shows the end-year numbers of recipients of state pension non-contributory in Co Clare for the years 2020 - 2024. The numbers have remained relatively consistent, averaging at 3,179 over the past five years.
|
Date |
Number of recipients of SPNC (personal rate) |
|
2024 |
3,120 |
|
2023 |
3,253 |
|
2022 |
3,204 |
|
2021 |
3,119 |
|
2020 |
3,201 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
