Written Answers Nos. 432-447
432. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will engage with the Minister for Further and Higher Education; Research; Innovation and Science to ensure that a course for SNAs in a third-level education institution (details supplied) is supporting in achieving Level-7 accreditation. [15495/23]
View answerThe situation remains as set out in my recent response to the Deputy on this matter (reference PQ no. 13692/23).
All SNAs who applied to complete the course with UCD did so on the basis that a Certificate of Completion would issue following conclusion of the programme. The subsequent accreditation of the programme was supplementary to this and was completed in line with the tender agreement. UCD is a recognised awarding body and completes accreditation of its own courses, as it did in the case of the SNA programme.
While DFHERIS creates policy for the higher and further education and research sectors and oversees the work of state agencies and public institutions operating in these areas it does not have a direct role in accreditation of courses.
UCD has advised my Department that work has commenced to accredit the programme under UCD’s standard programme approval procedures as a Level 6 Special Purpose Award on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). UCD is also considering how previous graduates from the programme might have their award accredited retrospectively.
Approximately 1,300 SNAs have completed the course to date and it is intended that the programme will be delivered to up to 3,500 SNAs over the four year scheme funded by the Department of Education
As outlined previously, reflecting ongoing engagement with stakeholders on SNA issues, my Department is committed to reviewing this programme after the four-year period has concluded.
By the end of 2023, there will be over 20,000 SNAs working in our schools. Again I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is very aware of the continuing need to provide appropriate training and development opportunities for SNAs with a view to supporting the inclusion of students with additional care needs in education. In this regard, in December 2022, my Department established a dedicated SNA Workforce Development Unit in order to ensure that sufficient time and attention is given to examination of the SNA role, including in the area of learning and development.
433. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will ensure that the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Schools run by religious orders criteria includes schools run by or under the patronage of all religions and denominations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15496/23]
View answerI refer to your recent correspondence to the Minister for Education, Ms. Norma Foley TD, in relation to issues raised.
On 7 March 2023 the Government approved the establishment of a scoping inquiry to inform the government response to revelations of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders.
The scoping inquiry was established in response to recent revelations of historical sexual abuse in a number of day and boarding schools run by religious orders. While these revelations initially focused on the Spiritan Order, revelations and allegations in respect of schools run by other religious orders have since come to light. Having regard to this and the importance of meeting the challenging timeframe which the Minister has set the scoping inquiry, schools run by religious orders will be its priority focus.
It is not the role of the scoping inquiry to make findings of fact in respect of individual religious orders or schools. The scoping inquiry will also not be investigating individual allegations of abuse. Instead, the Lead of the scoping inquiry will, having regard to the outcomes sought by survivors, make recommendations to the Minister on the scope and breath of the Government response to revelations of historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders. In this regard, it is envisaged that the recommended response could also form a template for Government responses in respect of other settings.
Elements of the scoping inquiry will focus more broadly on the school sector as a whole, including an analysis of current child protection systems and frameworks within the primary and post-primary sector.
434. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the financial implications for a person with a diagnosis of autism and in receipt of disability allowance who inherits a home from their parent and the recipient is not a home owner or owner of other property; if the social protection payment is in any way affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15358/23]
View answerThe Department operates a range of means-tested social assistance payments. Social welfare legislation provides that the means test takes account of the income and assets of the person (and spouse/partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. Income and assets includes income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions, maintenance payments as well as property owned (other than the family home) and capital such as savings, shares, and other investments.
If the property in the example outlined by the Deputy is the claimant’s home, the inheritance will not impact on their Disability Allowance payment. Properties other than the primary residence will be assessed. The formula for this assessment for Disability Allowance is: the first €50,000 of capital is fully disregarded, the next €10,000 assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.
In the case where a Disability Allowance claimant sells their home, the means test does not take into account up to €190,500 of the gross proceeds of the sale if the person:
- moves to more suitable accommodation;
- moves in with someone who is caring for them and getting a carer's payment;
- moves to sheltered or special housing in the voluntary, co-operative, statutory or private sectors; or
- moves into a registered private nursing home.
If the person uses the proceeds of the sale to buy more suitable accommodation, the balance of the proceeds after buying the new accommodation is exempt up to a limit of €190,500.
If the Deputy would like to contact my Department and provide details of specific cases where he feels there is an issue, my officials can look into these cases and provide a more detailed response.
435. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average waiting time and longest waiting time for social welfare claims, and separately, for claim appeals; and the steps her Department is taking to reduce the backlog of appeals of social welfare claims and the waiting times. [15408/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
All claim decisions taken by the Department’s Deciding Officers and Designated Persons are appealable to the Chief Appeals Officer. In any year about 85% of all claims are awarded by the Department and approximately 1% are appealed. The Department endeavours to ensure that these cases are dealt with as quickly as possible.
The desire to process appeals quickly has to be balanced with the competing demand to ensure that decisions are consistent and of high quality and made in accordance with the legislative provisions and the general principles of fair procedures and natural justice.
The current average processing times for an appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office are 18.6 weeks for a summary decision and 34.8 weeks for a decision by way of oral hearing. These figures are based on appeals finalised in February 2023. The processing time for appeals broken down by scheme for that month are set out in the attached table. It should be noted that the average appeals processing time for some schemes (and especially in respect of oral hearing decisions) may be significantly influenced by the finalisation of a single or a very small number of long-running cases.
Significant efforts and resources have been devoted to improvements in the appeal process in recent years. As a result, average appeal processing times have generally improved between 2018 and 2022 from 30.0 weeks for an oral hearing in 2018 to 26.0 weeks in 2022, and from 24.8 weeks for a summary decision in 2018 to 15.0 weeks in 2022. The average time for all appeals finalised in 2022 was 14.9 weeks.
There is active engagement between the Appeals Office and the Department to ensure that the appeals process operates efficiently and that where the Deciding Officer's decision is not revised in favour of the appellant that the appeal file papers are provided as quickly as possible to the Appeals Office for consideration by an Appeals Officer.
There are currently 42 Appeals Officers assigned to the Appeals Office. Further improvements in appeals processing times are a priority for the Chief Appeals Officer.
The average weeks to award by scheme for February 2023 are shown in the table below. The disability allowance scheme currently has the longest average weeks to award at 10 weeks.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
|
Scheme |
Average weeks to award – Feb 2023 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) - Irish |
7 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
2 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
7 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
1 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
1 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
5 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Basic |
2 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
6 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
6 |
|
Parent's Benefit |
1 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
6 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
4 |
|
Disability Allowance |
10 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
7 |
|
Illness Benefit |
1 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
1 |
|
Child Benefit |
1 |
|
Working Family Payment |
9 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
6 |
|
Household Benefits |
1 |
|
Free Travel |
4 |
Appeal Processing Times by Scheme 1 February 2023– 28 February 2023
|
Average processing times (weeks)Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks)Oral Hearings |
|
|
Back To Work Family Dividend |
16.9 |
- |
|
Carer’s Allowance |
20.2 |
24.7 |
|
Carer’s Benefit |
12.8 |
13.1 |
|
Carer’s Support Grant |
13.9 |
- |
|
Child Benefit |
36.6 |
70.7 |
|
Deserted Wife’s Benefit |
31.3 |
54.4 |
|
Disability Allowance |
17.8 |
31.4 |
|
Disablement Pension |
- |
- |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
19.7 |
23.4 |
|
Farm Assist |
6.9 |
- |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
- |
- |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Con) |
27.2 |
- |
|
Illness Benefit |
17.1 |
37.3 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
- |
- |
|
Insurability of Employment |
10.2 |
49.4 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
25.9 |
18.2 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) |
20.6 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Payments) |
15.2 |
20.0 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
14.5 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit O65 |
21.9 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit Self Employed |
40.4 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional |
32.4 |
114.9 |
|
Liable Relatives |
- |
- |
|
Maternity Benefit |
17.7 |
55.5 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
26 |
- |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
17.4 |
- |
|
Pandemic Unemployment Payment |
61.5 |
- |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
16.0 |
- |
|
Parents Benefit |
- |
- |
|
Paternity Benefit |
19.8 |
- |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
18.6 |
34.9 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
23.8 |
36.0 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
16.1 |
27.0 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
- |
- |
|
Widow/Widower's Pension (Contributory) |
13.4 |
- |
436. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will exempt the carer’s payment from a means test (details supplied). [15410/23]
View answerCarer’s Allowance is primarily aimed at carers on low incomes who look after people in need of full-time care and attention. The two principal conditions for receipt of Carer’s Allowance are that full time care and attention is required and being provided, and that the applied means test is satisfied. The application of the means test ensures that the limited resources available can be targeted a those with the greatest income need.
As part of Budget 2022 I made significant changes to the Carer’s Allowance means test. These were the first changes to the means test in 14 years.
- The capital and savings disregard was increased from €20,000 to €50,000, and
- For carer’s who work, the weekly income disregard was increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for a couple.
These are the highest disregards in the social welfare system.
Significant non-means tested payments are also available to carers through Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance and the Carer's Support Grant.
As part of Budget 2023, I announced significant improvements to payments for carers including:
- A €12 increase in the maximum rate of Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Benefit with proportionate increases for people receiving a reduced rate.
- The Half-rate Carer’s Allowance is now disregarded in the means assessment for Fuel Allowance.
- Domiciliary Care Allowance increased by €20.50 to €330 per month.
- A double payment for carers paid in October 2022 benefitting over 118,000 carers.
- A €500 payment for people receiving Carer’s Support Grant paid in November 2022.
- Carers received the Christmas Bonus Double Payment.
- A €200 payment for carers which will be paid in April.
Any additional changes to the means test, such as that suggested by the Deputy, would have implications for overall spending and would have to be considered in the context of the budget.
437. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection the provisions that are in place for women who are rejected for maternity benefit due to insufficient PRSI contributions, when they have been required to travel abroad for mandatory high-level training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14674/23]
View answerMaternity Benefit is a statutory payment made for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. The fundamental qualification criteria for Maternity Benefit are that a woman must be in insurable employment and entitled to statutory maternity leave or be in insurable self-employment. The applicant must also satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions.
There are a number of situations in which people might travel abroad for work or training and whether or not this has any impact on a person's PRSI record will depend on the particular circumstances. If an employer is mandating an employee to travel abroad for training, and retains that person as a employee in insurable employment, there would be no break in the person's PRSI record as a result of them engaging in compulsory training.
If a claimant was in insurable employment in a country covered by EU Regulations and has paid at least one full rate PRSI contribution since returning to Ireland, their insurance record in that country may be combined with their Irish PRSI contributions to help qualify for Maternity Benefit. Similarly, the Convention on Social Security between Ireland and the UK, put in place in response to the UK leaving the EU, provides for situations where workers have moved between Ireland and the UK.
Where an individual has insufficient social insurance contributions to qualify for Maternity Benefit, they may be eligible for another social welfare payment provided they meet the relevant conditions. For example, the main purpose of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance for those in need who do not qualify for payment under other welfare schemes.
I trust this clarifies the position for the deputy.
438. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of all procurement competitions, if any, in which companies (details supplied) won contracts from her Department since 2016. [14731/23]
View answerAll contracts awarded with a value over €25,000 are published by the Department and can be accessed on our website: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/48366f-department-of-employment-affairs-and-social-protection-policy-on-pro/#what-we-purchase
None of the companies referred to by the Deputy has received such a contract.
The second company referred to has received three payments totalling €1,890 in 2020 and 2021 for electrical testing and verification. These payments were made under the procurement rules below the threshold of €5,000 which requires verbal quotes and selection based on suitability and competitive cost.
439. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the total costs of accommodation and travel expenses associated with her recent foreign trip, or foreign trips by Ministers for State at her Department, for St Patrick’s Day; and if a breakdown can be provided on travel costs, accommodation costs, country/state visited, number of departmental staff accompanying her, and the duration of the trip, in tabular form. [14749/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy will be answered in the PQ reply from the Department of Rural and Community Development, there has been no cost to date for the trip to the Department of Social Protection.
440. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether a procedure/method exists whereby a person (details supplied) can care for her two elderly parents but also accrue credits towards her State pension given as she does not appear to qualify for the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14753/23]
View answerUnder current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State Pension (contributory).
The person concerned will reach 66 years of age in 2033. Pension entitlement can only be assessed on the basis of the eligibility conditions applicable on the date an individual reaches pension age. Factors such as an individual’s social insurance record, their attachment to the workforce, and their countries of employment affect the rate of pension entitlement.
The current State Pension (contributory) system gives significant recognition to those whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workforce, often to raise families or to provide another full-time caring role. PRSI Credits, Homemaking Disregards and HomeCaring Periods recognise caring periods of up to 20 years outside of paid employment in the calculation of a payment rate.
PRSI Credits are designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who are not in a position to make PRSI contributions. In order to qualify for credits, a person must first have entered insurable employment and have paid at least one PRSI contribution at Class A, B, C, D, E, H or P.
In general, credits can only be awarded where an individual has had a recent attachment to the workforce, i.e., within the last two years. Self-employed class S contributions are not reckonable toward the award of credits. Persons in receipt of carer's allowance can qualify for credits where they have previously entered insurable employment and paid at least one PRSI contribution at Class A, B, C, D, E, H or P and where they have had a recent attachment to the workforce.
Despite the measures currently in place, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system last September including enhanced State Pension provision for people caring for incapacitated dependents for over 20 years. It will do this by attributing the equivalent of paid contributions to long-term carers to cover gaps in their contribution record. Department officials are currently working to implement the reforms, including the drafting of legislation and development of administrative and IT systems for implementation by January 2024.
It is advisable that all contributors maintain their social insurance record as fully as possible over their working life. It is open to contributors to request a copy of their social insurance record from the Department at any time. In addition to seeking the record through normal postal means, a person can also access their social insurance record in real time online where they have a verified MyGovID account. Information on getting a verified MyGovID account is available on www.mygovid.ie.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
441. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is still waiting on an appeal decision for carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14760/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 14 March 2023. The person concerned has been advised of this appeal decision.
Under social welfare legislation the decision of an Appeals Officer is generally final and conclusive and may only be reviewed by an Appeals Officer in the light of new evidence or new facts, or where there has been a change of circumstances which has come to notice since the date of the Appeals Officer's original decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
442. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the school meals programme budget by 5%, 10%, 20% and 25%, respectively. [14768/23]
View answerThe School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations benefitting 260,000 children. The objective of the 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.
Budget 2023 has provided €94.4 million for the programme. The Government has recently approved an additional €14.5m to allow access to the Hot School Meals scheme for all remaining DEIS schools from September 2023.
The estimated cost of increasing the school meals programme budget by 5%, 10%, 20% and 25%, respectively is €5.4m, €10.9m, €21.8m and €27.2m respectively.
I am committed to continuing to expand the school meals programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme that has taken place in recent years. In this regard, I intend to roll out the Hot School Meals to all DEIS primary schools from September 2023. I will also bring forward proposals in the coming weeks on commencing the roll out of the Hot School Meals to non-DEIS primary schools.
In addition, the final report from the evaluation of the school meals programme was recently received and is currently being reviewed. This report will help to inform future decisions around this important programme.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
443. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any mechanism by which a person who has been refused a full State pension (contributory) due to a deficit in contributions can supplement contributions after the fact to become eligible for a full pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14791/23]
View answerPension entitlement can only be assessed on the basis of the eligibility conditions applicable on the date an individual reaches State Pension age. Currently, a person who has 2080 paid or credited contributions, or who has in excess of 520 contributions with a yearly average of 48 or more contributions since they entered the social insurance system, would qualify for the full rate State Pension (Contributory). A person who does not meet the requirements for a full rate pension may be paid a lower rate commensurate with their social insurance record where they exceed the minimum contribution threshold.
My Department has a voluntary contribution scheme, the purpose of which is to provide persons who were, but are no longer, compulsorily insured under social insurance with the opportunity to pay contributions directly to my Department.
The scheme’s entry criteria require applicants to have at least 520 social insurance contributions paid from either employment or self-employment. Furthermore, an application must be made within 60 months (5 years) from the end of the contribution year during which the applicant last paid a compulsory social insurance contribution or was last awarded a credited employment contribution. Voluntary contributions can only be made before a person reaches State Pension Age.
Last September, I announced a series of landmark reforms to the State Pension system. The measures are in response to the Pensions Commission’s recommendations and represent the biggest ever structural reform of the Irish State Pension system.
Among the measures agreed is the introduction of a system to allow people to choose to defer access to the State Pension (Contributory) up to age 70 and receive a cost neutral actuarial increase in their State Pension payment. This system also provides for a person to continue to pay social insurance contributions past State Pension age to improve their social insurance record for State Pension (Contributory) purposes. These PRSI contributions may enable individuals without a full contribution record (and who have deferred access to the State Pension) to become entitled to the State Pension (Contributory), or increase the pension rate of payment, as a consequence of the additional paid contributions. People will still be able to retire at 66 and draw-down their pension in the same way as they can today. These measures will become effective from January 2024.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
444. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any pathway for a person (details supplied) to apply for additional credits to receive a full contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14800/23]
View answerIn April 2012, the number of paid contributions required to qualify for a state pension (contributory) increased from 260 to 520. This change was announced well in advance of its introduction.
In 1993, "Developing the National Pension System - Final Report of the National Pensions Board” was published and recommended that the number of paid contributions required to qualify for a contributory pension should be increased to 520 contributions, in recognition of the expansion of PRSI coverage over the decades.
The enabling legislation was contained in Section 12 of the Social Welfare Act 1997, which provided for the implementation of the change in two stages, with the paid contribution requirement being standardised initially at 260 from 2002, and rising to 520 from April 2012, 15 years after its introduction in law.
The person concerned reached 66 years of age in 2016. To be eligible for state pension (contributory), at least 520 full-rate paid contributions are required. Credits are only reckonable once this condition is met.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has 352 full-rate contributions. As they do not have the minimum of 520 full-rate contributions, they do not qualify for the state pension (contributory).
Entitlement to an EU pro-rata pension was also examined. To qualify for this pension, a total of 520 combined contributions are required. The person concerned has 83 UK contributions bringing their combined paid contributions to 435. As they did not have the minimum of 520 combined contributions required, they do not qualify for this pension.
If the person concerned considers that additional contributions have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to my Department and their application will be reviewed. It is also open to them to apply for State pension (non-contributory). This is a means-tested, residency-based payment for people of pension age. The maximum personal rate is approximately 95% of the maximum rate of contributory pension. I have arranged for an application form to issue to the person.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
445. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14825/23]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
A claim for IP was received from the person concerned on 15 February 2023. In order to establish their eligibility, two forms were sent to them on 10 March 2023. On return of these completed forms, the IP claim will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
446. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14838/23]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 16 February 2023. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 30 March 2023. Any arrears due from 16 February 2023 to 29 March 2023 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue in due course. The person was notified of this decision on 22 March 2023.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
447. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if child benefit is payable to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14938/23]
View answerChild 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 and 17, if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.
The person concerned has not submitted an application for child benefit to date and, consequently, the Department are not in a position to determine if the person would meet the conditions of the scheme.
The person concerned should be advised to make an application. Details on the application process are available on www.gov.ie .
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
