Written Answers Nos. 137-144
137. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department requested any formal review from the Environmental Protection Agency regarding repeated manganese exceedances in Cork city drinking water supplies since 2024. [40599/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not contacted the Environmental Protection Agency seeking a formal review regarding repeated manganese exceedances in Cork City drinking water supplies during 2024.
Responsibility for monitoring, supervision and enforcement of drinking water quality is provided for under the statutory framework set out in the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations. In this regard, the Environmental Protection Agency is the independent regulator with oversight responsibility for public drinking water supplies
The Environmental Protection Agency is established under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1992, and is entirely independent of the Minister in the exercise of its functions.
138. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total amount allocated to each local authority for tenant-in-situ in 2024, 2025 and 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40720/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra139. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if a review of PRSI will be carried out in relation to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40366/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne of the key changes to state pension that came into operation from the 1 January 2024, was the introduction of a flexible pension system. Under this system, persons from January 2024 can defer access to their state pension contributory to any age from 66 up to the age of 70, and receive an actuarially adjusted higher rate of payment. A person who continues in employment after age 66 and who has not claimed their state pension contributory is liable to pay PRSI until they either claim the state pension contributory or reach age 70, whichever is earlier.
Following a review of entitlement for the person concerned the state pension contributory has been awarded from their 66th birthday. A refund of PRSI paid from the date the person reached 66 will issue without delay.
My Department is committed to ensuring that members of the public are aware of the welfare supports and services available, and to ensuring key changes are communicated to them. Since February 2025, all active customers approaching age 66 are contacted directly by the Department 26 weeks in advance of reaching age 66. This communication provides information on pensions and on PRSI liability for those in receipt of the Bereaved Partners Contributory pension.
140. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive their application for partial capacity benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40374/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraPartial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a social welfare scheme which allows a person to return to work or self-employment and continue to receive a payment from my Department. A person must be in receipt of Illness Benefit (IB) for a minimum of six months (156 days) or Invalidity Pension (IP) before applying for PCB.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of IB but has not reached the required 156 days. They have made an application for PCB and their capacity to work has been assessed as ‘moderate’. They have been informed of this decision and have been advised to notify my Department with their expected employment start date after they have completed 156 days on IB.
Once my Department receives notification that the applicant is proceeding with their employment and provides details of their expected employment start date, their PCB will be put into payment and their IB will stop.
141. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Social Protection when the change from half to full carer's allowance payment will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40395/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance 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 the payment of the person concerned has been re-rated to full rate from 26 March 2026 following the cessation of their Illness Benefit claim.
The new rate of payment of €270.00 per week will issue to their nominated bank account from 28 May 2026. Arrears due will issue shortly.
The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing on 22 May 2026.
142. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if a schedule of contracts will be provided that his Department and bodies under his aegis have had with an organisation (details supplied) and/or its subsidiaries; the value of each; the type and/or name of each project; if any project has been abandoned, paused, put on hold and completed; if any projects over ran on cost and delivery; and if so, the details of same. [40425/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, or any of the bodies under its aegis has not held any contracts with the organisation in question.
In respect of its subsidiaries, the Department does not hold information on corporate ownership but details of all contracts over €25,000 awarded by the Department are published quarterly on gov.ie at www.gov.ie/en/collection/6d4953-procurement-contracts-awarded/.
143. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of engagement with social welfare branch managers following the recent refusal by representative groups to accept the proposed increase in remuneration; if further negotiations are planned; the timeline for any such engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40431/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently has 55 Social Welfare Branch Offices at various locations around the country. Each Social Welfare Branch Office is operated and managed, under a commercial contract for service, by a Branch Manager. Branch managers are independent self-employed contractors who play an important role in supporting my Department in the delivery of services at local level.
In 2018, a new remuneration package and service delivery model were agreed with Branch Managers. Remuneration is now based on delivery of an agreed Intreo service level relating to information provision, use of all Department IT systems, and support to activation and control measures.
There are two Branch Manager representative groups, The Branch Manager’s Association (BMA) and Representative Group of Branch Managers (RGBM). Officials from my Department actively engage with the representative groups on all contractual and service delivery issues relating to the Branch Manager contracts.
As the Deputy is aware, in 2025 officials from my Department received and reviewed a request from the Branch Manager representative groups seeking a review of their overall remuneration agreement for Branch Managers. Any changes to the current remuneration arrangements resulting from this review could only be made in the context of the 2026 budgetary cycle and required discussion and agreement with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
On 8th May, the Department notified the Branch Managers representative groups of the sanctioned increase and effective date and notifications of revised changes on contractors remuneration were communicated to each individual Branch Manager.
While the representative groups notified the Department that they were not willing to accept the sanctioned remuneration increase, officials from my Department will continue to facilitate discussions with both representative groups on an on-going basis.
144. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who has paid a D class stamp all their working lives, will qualify for any State payments including the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40473/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraCivil and public sector employees recruited prior to 6 April 1995 pay social insurance contributions at modified rates under classes B, C and D. Amongst the class B contributors are permanent and pensionable civil servants and Gardaí, the class C contributors are commissioned army officers and members of the army nursing service, and the class D contributors include permanent and pensionable employees in the public service other than those insured at classes B and C.
Prior to 6 April 1995, civil and public servants did not have access to the full range of social insurance benefits as their terms of employment protected them against the main contingencies of illness and retirement, and the risk of unemployment was not considered a factor due to the nature of their employment.
Consequently, such contributors pay less in social insurance contributions in return for fewer social insurance benefits. For example, class D contributors currently pay a contribution at the rate of 1.1% on their weekly earnings up to €1,443 and 4.2% on weekly earnings over that amount and their employers pay a contribution of 2.55% on all employee earnings. Class D contributors are currently entitled to Bereaved Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Guardian's Payment (Contributory), Occupational Injuries Benefits, Parent's Benefit and Carer's Benefit.
Class D contributions are not reckonable for the purpose of entitlement to a State Pension (Contributory) and as such a person who has paid Class D for their entire working life does not qualify for a State Pension (Contributory).
Civil and public servants recruited from 6 April 1995, and those employed in the private sector, pay a class A social insurance contribution of 4.2% on their weekly earnings. Their employers pay a contribution of 9.0% where employees’ weekly earnings are €552 or less and 11.25% where their employees’ weekly earnings exceed €552. Class A contributors have access to the full range of social insurance benefits, including the State Pension (Contributory). However, the value of the State Pension (Contributory) is integrated with their public service pension (in the case of those recruited after 6 April 1995 and before 1 January 2013), unlike those pre-April 1995 civil and public servants who receive their full pension entitlement under their public service pension. Matters relating to the pension entitlements of public servants are a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
The State Pension (Non-Contributory) is available to those who satisfy a means test and who are ordinarily resident in the state, regardless of their social insurance contribution history.
Access to other benefits available from my Department that are not dependent on receipt of a primary payment or are available subject to satisfying a means test or reaching a specified age may be available to class D contributors provided the underlying conditionality is met. These include the Fuel Allowance, the Household Benefits Package and the Free Travel Scheme.
