James Lawless
Question:250. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education the projected time scale for the commencement of a tender for a school (details below); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2471/23]
View answerSchools Building Projects
Questions (250)
Written answers
The school referred to by the Deputy is currently completing stage 2B and tender documentation was received by my Department. This was examined and a small number of fundamental issues with the tender documents were pointed out to the Design Team on 19th December 2022. That communication was also copied to the school authorities. The Design team have been requested to review these issues and to revert to the Department when they have been resolved. On receipt of the response from the Design Team the project will then be ready to be considered for progression to tender stage.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (251)
Catherine Murphy
Question:251. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a schedule of the planned school developments in County Kildare, to include new schools, upgrades to existing schools, school closures and the impact of same on capacity numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2475/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department utilises a Geographic Information System (GIS) to support its strategic planning for capital investment. Where the geo-spatial assessment of demand and capacity in an area indicates that additional provision is required my Department considers the options of extending the capacity of a school or schools, or of providing a new school or schools. The timing and duration of the accommodation need is also considered in determining the optimum accommodation solution – for example a short-term accommodation requirement does not require a long-term accommodation solution.
My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve in excess of 1,300 school building projects for delivery under the Department’s Large Scale and Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. These projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction.
Details of large-scale and ASA projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie, and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
The Department continues to monitor requirements for school places across the country, including across County Kildare, to identify any particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.
Additionally, the Department will continue to work to advance the planned and current projects and to ensure sufficient places for both mainstream provision and for pupils with special education requirements both for the coming academic year and into the future.
School Admissions
Questions (252)
Catherine Murphy
Question:252. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will conduct a capacity review of post-primary schools in Clane and Prosperous, County Kildare. [2476/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a Geographical Information System to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. Additionally, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform my Department's projections of school place requirements.
While the Department is aware of increasing pressures and demand for additional school places in the Prosperous_Clane School Planning area, it is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by the following factors:
- Duplication of applications – pupils have applied for a place to a number of schools in the area
- School of choice – pupils can’t get a place in their preferred school while there are places in other schools in the town/area
- Some towns/areas have single sex schools and while places are available in the school they are not available to all pupils
- External draw – pupils coming from outside the local area
The Department is working to establish the true extent of any capacity issues through ongoing discussions with the relevant school authorities. In that context, similar to the process adopted in advance of the current academic year, the Department is engaging with patron bodies and school authorities, including those of schools in the Prosperous_Clane School Planning area, to identify particular capacity requirements for the forthcoming years which may necessitate further action to that already in train.
Additionally, the Department will continue to work to advance the planned and current projects in Prosperous_Clane School Planning area and to ensure sufficient places for both mainstream provision and for pupils with special education requirements both for the coming academic year and into the future.
School Transport
Questions (253)
Catherine Murphy
Question:253. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education if she will provide an update on the school transport policy; if she will set out her plans to make changes to the scheme ahead of the 2023-2024 school year; and if she will remove the lottery-based system and replace it with a needs-based model of service. [2477/23]
View answerWritten answers
The School Transport Scheme is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department of Education. In the current school year over 147,900 children, including over 18,000 children with special educational needs, are transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country.
In addition, school transport scheme services are being provided in the current school year for over 3,800 children who have arrived to Ireland from Ukraine.
The total cost of the scheme in 2022 was €332.2m.
A review of the School Transport Scheme commenced in February 2021. The review is being conducted with a view to examining the current scheme, its broader effectiveness and sustainability, and to ensure that it serves students and their families adequately.
Following commencement of the review the Steering Group presented me with an initial interim report in June 2021, with regard to eligibility and with an examination of issues for mainstream pupils relating to the nearest and next nearest school.
Following consideration of this report, for the 2021/2022 school year, the extension of temporary alleviation measures were approved for transport for post-primary students who are otherwise eligible for school transport but are attending their second nearest school and had applied and paid on time.
These measures are being continued for the current school year, pending completion of the review and means transport will be provided for post-primary pupils who are eligible for transport to their nearest school and are attending their second nearest school and who applied by the 29th April and registered for a ticket by the 29th July.
While work on the review was impacted somewhat by the challenges of the pandemic and the impact of the current conflict in Ukraine, it is anticipated that the final phases of the review will be completed shortly with recommendations on the future operation of the Department’s School Transport Scheme.
School Curriculum
Questions (254)
Seán Haughey
Question:254. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Education her plans to review social, personal and health education, including relationships and sexuality education; if any proposed changes will take account of the many types of families that are now in existence, including blended families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2489/23]
View answerWritten answers
The curriculum at primary and post-primary is for all learners, from all backgrounds – regardless of gender, socio-economic background, race or creed. It aims to foster inclusivity, equality and diversity. Currently, Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is a mandatory curriculum subject in all primary schools and in post-primary junior cycle. Relationships and Sexuality Education (or RSE) is required at all levels, from primary through to senior cycle.
The issue of families and relationships, the different types of families, features across the SPHE curriculum both primary and post-primary. For example, in the primary curriculum under the strand ‘myself and others’, which includes the unit ‘myself and my family’, where family relationships are addressed, including recognising different kinds of families.
As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to developing inclusive and age appropriate curricula for RSE and SPHE across primary and post-primary schools.
In giving effect to this commitment, the Department of Education's first focus has been on the development of inclusive and age-appropriate curricula and it continues to work closely with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) in that regard.
A draft revised Junior Cycle specification was published by the NCCA and a consultation process was run from 18 July 2022 to 18 October 2022. The consultation took feedback from teachers and students as well as other interested groups and individuals. The NCCA are finalising the Junior Cycle specification for presentation to the NCCA Council for approval early in the year. The aim is that it will be implemented in schools in September.
In relation to Senior Cycle, preparation to update the SPHE/RSE specification has commenced. In October, a background paper was published for consultation on the NCCA website. The NCCA intends that the Senior Cycle draft specification itself will be available for public consultation by next summer, with a view to being ready for implementation in schools in September 2024.
Following publication of the new Primary Curriculum Framework, expected early in the year, NCCA will establish a development group for the curricular area of Wellbeing in primary schools.
In tandem with this work, the NCCA has created support materials for teachers published online as part of an Interim Guidance Toolkit, to support effective teaching and learning of SPHE/RSE linked to the current curriculum and to provide guidance on how SPHE/RSE may be approached in a more holistic way. The NCCA online SPHE toolkits includes guidance for teachers on how teach issues on from the ‘myself and others’ as well as to foster partnerships with parents, including building an awareness of different family types as well as different family backgrounds, values and beliefs.
Teagasc na Gaeilge
Questions (255)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:255. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais an bhfuil sí ar an eolas faoin tuarascáil atá réitithe le tamall anois ag Ollscoil na Gaillimhe do CNCM ar an gcomhairliúchán a bhí ar siúl faoi na sonraíochtaí Gaeilge don ardteistiméireacht, nó ar chuir CNCM cóip di chuici; an bhfuil sé i gceist í a fhoilsiú go poiblí; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [2499/23]
View answerWritten answers
Tugadh curaclam reatha Gaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta (bunaithe) isteach i scoileanna i 1995. Bunaithe ar thaighde agus ag tógáil ar an tsamhail soláthair atá i bhfeidhm cheana féin ag leibhéil na bunscoile agus na sraithe sóisearaí, bhunaigh an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta (CNCM) grúpa forbartha ionadaíoch don ábhar in 2018 chun tús a chur le hobair ar dhréacht-sonraíochtaí T1 agus T2 a fhorbairt do Ghaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta (bunaithe). D’oscail an CNCM comhairliúchán ar dhréachtshonraíochtaí T1 agus T2 i mí Feabhra 2021. Mar fhreagairt ar aiseolas agus éilimh ó pháirtithe leasmhara, cuireadh síneadh leis an spriocdháta don chomhairliúchán seo go deireadh mhí na Samhna 2021. Cuireadh cóip den tuarascáil chomhairliúcháin faoi bhráid mo Roinne le déanaí dá breithniú
Teagasc na Gaeilge
Questions (256)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:256. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Oideachais an bhfuil sí ar an eolas faoin tuarascáil atá réitithe le tamall anois ag Sealbhú do CNCM ar an gcomhairliúchán luaithe a bhí ar siúl faoi na sonraíochtaí nua Gaeilge don teastas sóisearach, nó ar chuir CNCM cóip di chuici, an bhfuil sé i gceist í a fhoilsiú go poiblí; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [2503/23]
View answerWritten answers
I ndiaidh comhairliúchán forleathan, tugadh isteach sonraíochtaí Gaeilge T1 (Teanga 1) agus T2 (Teanga 2) i scoileanna in 2017 mar chuid de chéim 3 de chur i bhfeidhm an Chreata don tSraith Shóisearach (2015). Ba é sin an chéad uair a rinneadh soláthar curaclaim scoite don Ghaeilge, mar fhreagairt d’aiseolas ó pháirtithe leasmhara, do scoláirí a bhí ag foghlaim na Gaeilge in iar-bhunscoileanna ina ndéantar an teagasc trí mheán na Gaeilge agus trí mheán an Bhéarla. Ó fhómhar na bliana 2017 ar aghaidh, tá na scoláirí go léir atá ag tosú ar an tSraith Shóisearach ag foghlaim na Gaeilge de réir mar atá leagtha amach sna sonraíochtaí nua sin.
Mar fhreagairt do na hiarratais a fuarthas ó pháirtithe leasmhara tríd an gcomhairliúchán maidir le dréachtsonraíochtaí T1 agus T2 do Ghaeilge na hArdteistiméireachta le déanaí, chinn Comhairle CNCM athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar thabhairt isteach luath T1 agus T2 sa Ghaeilge don tSraith Shóisearach. Dá réir sin, tuigim go bhfuil tuarascáil ar thabhairt isteach luath T1 agus T2 sa Ghaeilge don tSraith Shóisearach á tabhairt chun críche ag CNCM faoi láthair.
Schools Building Projects
Questions (257)
Thomas Pringle
Question:257. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education the commencement date for the new school building project for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; the date that her Department has given the building company by which it must start the construction phase of the school building; the envisaged completion date for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2506/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme, including the project for the school to which the Deputy refers. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve in excess of 1,300 school building projects for delivery under my Department’s Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme. These projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction, most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period up to 2025.
During January, my Department will be assessing overall requirements for 2023 and associated work programme and will update individual schools of same in due course.
School Facilities
Questions (258)
Charles Flanagan
Question:258. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Education the number of post-primary schools awaiting approval for a school gym from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2511/23]
View answerWritten answers
Investment and expenditure on PE Halls is an element of the overall expenditure and investment in the School Building Programme. The provision of GP rooms/PE Halls, at primary and post primary level respectively, and outdoor hard play areas form part of the accommodation brief for all new school buildings or where a major building or refurbishment project is being delivered for an existing school.
Almost 80% of the post primary schools that made 2020 Annual Schools Returns have indicated to the Department that they have a PE Hall. A further 10% have indicated that they have access to a nearby PE Hall and 5% more have projects in train that will deliver a new PE Hall. Practically all schools have outdoor play areas and many schools use adjacent local facilities, including community halls, public parks, playing fields and swimming pools.
The main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics particularly at post-primary level and for special education needs provision. The Deputy will appreciate that the immediate priority of my Department is providing new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place.
Under Project Ireland 2040 the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. There will be a rolling 5 year funding envelope which will be updated annually for the period 2026 to 2030 within the Government’s overall NDP funding envelope of €136 billion in exchequer capital (€165 billion total capital including non-Exchequer) that will facilitate building a modern and sustainable school infrastructure.
This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. The strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock will have different strands and will include a PE build and modernisation programme which will enable students in post-primary schools to have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision, particularly also in the context of the roll-out of PE as a leaving-certificate subject. Enhanced and modernised PE facilities will also provide important amenities for local communities.
Details of large-scale projects being delivered under the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at, www.gov.ie and this information is updated regularly. In addition, a list of large-scale projects completed from 2010 to date may also be viewed on the website.
School Facilities
Questions (259)
Charles Flanagan
Question:259. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Education the reason a school (details supplied) was refused funding application for a school gym; the procedure by which the school can lodge an appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2512/23]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm to the deputy that capital funding was approved under the Additional Schools Accommodation (ASA) scheme in 2022 which included the replacement of prefabs and special education needs classrooms. The school also requested funding for PE hall in this application and was refused. The school authority has been notified of the decision. Funding for PE halls does not fall under the parameters of the ASA scheme.
Investment and expenditure on PE halls is an element of the overall expenditure and investment in the School Building Programme. The main focus of resources over the last decade and for the coming period is on provision of additional capacity to cater for increasing demographics particularly at post-primary level and for special education needs provision. The Deputy will appreciate that the immediate priority of my Department is providing new and replacement school places each year, to ensure that every child has a school place.
Under Project Ireland 2040 the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. There will be a rolling 5 year funding envelope which will be updated annually for the period 2026 to 2030 within the Government’s overall NDP funding envelope of €136 billion in exchequer capital (€165 billion total capital including non-Exchequer) that will facilitate building a modern and sustainable school infrastructure.
This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. The strengthened focus on refurbishment of existing school stock will have different strands and will include a PE build and modernisation programme which will enable students in post-primary schools to have access to appropriate facilities to support PE provision, particularly also in the context of the roll-out of PE as a leaving-certificate subject. Enhanced and modernised PE facilities will also provide important amenities for local communities.
School Funding
Questions (260)
Michael Creed
Question:260. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify the situation regarding the minor works grant for schools in the 2023 calendar year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2548/23]
View answerWritten answers
My Department recognises the importance of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. The funding provides good flexibility at local level to assist schools to manage and undertake works that support the operation of the school.
I can confirm to the Deputy that the Minor Works Grant for primary schools for the current school year (2022-2023) was paid in December 2021 - in order to give schools a good lead in period.
The timeline for the payment of the Minor Works Grant, which involves expenditure of circa €30m, is currently being assessed by my Department having regard to the overall availability of financial resources and further clarity will be provided later in January
School Funding
Questions (261)
Michael Creed
Question:261. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education if she will clarify the situation regarding the payment of the next tranche of the Covid cleaning grant to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2549/23]
View answerWritten answers
More than €317 million of additional Covid-19 Capitation grant funding was made available to recognised primary and post primary schools to provide for the implementation of infection prevention and control measures to reduce the risk of the spread of COVID -19 for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 school years. A further €45 million has been provided to cater for ongoing enhanced cleaning, PPE and hand hygiene for Term 1 of the 2022/23 school year. This represents a total of €362.7 million to date.
As the Deputy is aware, the continued payment of Covid-19 capitation grants is determined by the prevailing public health advice at the time.
Staff in my Department are currently engaging with colleagues in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the Covid-19 Capitation grants for Term 2 of the 2022/2023 school year. Further details will be provided as soon as soon as possible.
Community Employment Schemes
Questions (262, 263, 264, 265)
Paul Murphy
Question:262. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if the landlord of the building which houses the Enniscorthy Intreo office (details supplied) ever applied for any funding to carry out any work to upgrade the building prior to and during Covid-19; if so, the funding that was applied for; the work that was carried out; and the person or body that signed off on same. [2535/23]
View answerPaul Murphy
Question:263. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the person in her Department that visited the Enniscorthy Intreo office (details supplied) to check its suitability for employees and clients to be in the building; and if no one inspected the suitability of the building, the reason. [2536/23]
View answerPaul Murphy
Question:264. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the person from her Department that inspected the building to check the ventilation system and the non-availability of hot water for workers to wash their hands in the building housing the Enniscorthy Intreo office (details supplied). [2537/23]
View answerPaul Murphy
Question:265. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if any representatives from her Department verbally voiced any concerns in relation to the safety of employees in the building housing the Enniscorthy Intreo office during and at the start of Covid-19, guaranteeing the duty of care owed to workers (details supplied). [2538/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 to 265, inclusive, together.
Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.
The Community Employment (CE) programme is delivered through independent CE sponsoring organisations who receive state funding to cover the salary costs of supervisors, assistant supervisors, and participant remuneration, along with a grant towards training and material costs from my Department. CE sponsoring organisations are the legal employers of CE supervisors, assistant supervisors and participants.
The provision of CE work locations is a matter for each employer, with responsibility for premises, Health and Safety, and all other employee related matters remaining with the employer (the Community Employment sponsor). CE sponsor organisations are subject to all legislation and regulatory oversight that applies to all employers in the State.
While the questions refer to Enniscorthy Intreo Centre, it is understood that they are intended to refer to another building in the town. The building concerned is privately owned and is occupied by a not-for-profit Community Employment sponsor organisation.
While most of the matters referred to are not the responsibility of the Department and should be referred to the appropriate regulatory authorities; the Department can confirm that no application for funding has been received and/or paid from the Community Employment materials grant for building renovations.
In regard to the safety of employees during and over the period of Covid 19 restrictions, Government guidelines were issued and updated weekly for this purpose and were communicated to all, individuals and employers. The staff of the Department remained available for consultation by employers at all times and advised on best practice as it evolved.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Question No. 263 answered with Question No. 262.
Question No. 264 answered with Question No. 262.
Question No. 265 answered with Question No. 262.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (266)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:266. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the welfare entitlements of non-EU or non-EEA refugees coming to Ireland and being placed in communities by the Red Cross under the community scheme of the Department of Justice; if there is an entitlement to jobseeker's allowance for those available for work, disability allowance for those with a disability, child benefit for children and domiciliary care allowance where the terms of the scheme are fulfilled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2543/23]
View answerWritten answers
Matters regarding the right to reside of applicants for refugee status or of those seeking permission to reside under the International Protection Act are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice.
Persons who have been granted refugee status by the Department of Justice have the right to claim social welfare payments subject to satisfying all of the conditions of entitlement of the particular schemes, including the habitual residence condition. Generally where a person’s application for refugee status is granted by the Department of Justice, they will be regarded as habitually resident for the purposes of entitlement to relevant social assistance schemes and child benefit but only from the date that status is granted. No payment may be made for any period prior to that date.
I trust that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Eligibility
Questions (267)
Bernard Durkan
Question:267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment or similar payment will be made available to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2567/23]
View answerWritten answers
The purpose of the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is to assist people with essential, once-off, exceptional expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
The ENP scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
Applications for ENPs are made under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service.
According to the records of my Department an application for financial assistance has not been received from the person concerned. For the convenience of the person, an ENP application pack was posted to her home address. When a completed form and all relevant supporting documentation has been received, the person’s application will be assessed, and she will be advised of the outcome in writing.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
Social Welfare Code
Questions (268)
Seán Sherlock
Question:268. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will make carer's allowance a qualifying payment for the fuel allowance. [2659/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €412 million in 2023. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs.
The Government values the role of carers in society and it is for this reason that they receive significant income supports from the Department. In addition to Carer’s Allowance, carers receive additional support in the form of free travel and household benefits (for those who live with the person for whom they care) and the annual Carer's Support Grant (€1,850) in respect of each person for whom they care.
While Carer's Allowance is not a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance, a person in receipt of Carer's Allowance may avail of the Fuel Allowance payment in certain circumstances. Fuel Allowance is a household-based payment, and a carer will very often live with and care for a person in receipt of a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance. Income from Carer's Allowance is disregarded from the fuel means test if the carer is providing full time care and attention to the Fuel Allowance applicant, his/her qualified spouse/civil partner or cohabitant or qualified child(ren).
If a person is getting certain qualifying social welfare payments and also providing full time care and attention to another person, they can keep their main social protection payment in addition to receiving the half-rate Carer's Allowance. They can also receive an extra half-rate Carer’s Allowance if they care for more than one person. The amount of half-rate Carer’s Allowance received is now disregarded when assessing means for Fuel Allowance purposes.
Any decision to adjust the rules of Fuel Allowance to make Carer's Allowance a qualifying payment for Fuel Allowance would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Exceptional Needs Payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which customers are unable to meet out of their own resources, and this may include exceptional heating costs. Decisions on such payments are made on a case-by-case basis.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (269)
Seán Sherlock
Question:269. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for the fuel allowance in the year 2022 to 2023; and the number approved and disallowed per county, in tabular form. [2660/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Fuel Allowance scheme is a means tested payment to assist pensioners and other long-term social welfare dependent householders with their winter heating costs. The payment is a contribution towards heating costs; it is not intended to meet these costs in full. The payment is made over the winter season at the weekly rate of €33.00 or, if preferred, by way of two lump sum payments. Only one Fuel Allowance is payable per household. Those who qualify for the payment do not need to reapply annually.
The Department generally collates data on an annual basis. As of the end of December 2021, the Fuel Allowance scheme supported approximately 375,000 households. By the end of 2022, the number of households supported had increased to almost 394,000. It should be noted that the number of recipients fluctuates as people join and exit the scheme as their circumstances change.
The Fuel Allowance is paid, in conjunction with primary social welfare schemes, across a number of IT systems with differing functionality for recording processing activity, and consequently precise information on approved and disallowed applications is not available. As the Department upgrades these systems, it is expected that this data will become available in the future.
Following the largest ever expansion of the scheme, announced as part of the Social Protection Budget 2023 Package, it is estimated that up to 81,000 additional households will qualify for the scheme. As a result of the new measures introduced, effective from January 2023, particularly for those aged 70 and over, my Department has seen an increase in applications for the Fuel Allowance. My officials have put additional measures in place so that Fuel Allowance applications will be processed as efficiently as possible. Additional resources have been assigned to process the increased number of applications and a telephone service is also in place to support customers. There is a more streamlined process in place for applicants aged 70 and over. A new online Fuel Allowance application service was made available from 5 December 2022, which makes it easier and quicker for customers to apply for the payment at a time and place that suits them. A short over 70s paper application form is also available to download from the Government website, gov.ie or by contacting the Sligo Fuel Allowance phone service.
Where an application for fuel allowance is awarded, it will be back-dated as appropriate and there will be no loss in payment to the qualified households concerned.
Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, discretionary payments can be made to help people with the cost of heating their homes. A Heating Supplement may be paid to assist people with exceptional heating costs due to ill health or infirmity who cannot meet those costs. My Department also provides discretionary Additional Needs Payments to people who face difficulties in meeting their fuel bills.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.