Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I also thank our guests for being with us this morning and it is a very important discussion we are having. If it is okay, I will start on the topic of carers. I am aware that in the run-up to the increases in the means test on 1 June, many letters were sent to carers and those in receipt of the carer's allowance. Does the Department have any idea of how many people lost out as a result of that review and how many people had reduced payments? I know many people coming to my office were affected by the letters that went out and the reviews carried out. I am interested to know if those figures are available.

It has been said that in social welfare terms, the means test is very high and nobody will dispute that. I am sure the Department was listening and looking when we had some people in receipt of the carer's allowance before this committee. We heard heartbreaking testimony on that occasion. One of the issues they brought up was housing adaptation. I know it is not under this Department's remit but I am asking the question because I am aware there is a review ongoing of the housing adaptation grant. Has the Department of Social Protection had any consultation with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage about that? It is very important that the review is carried out and that carers' voices are heard. I am very interested in hearing if the Department has had any input into that.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman mentioned there are approximately 6,000 carers not getting the benefit of the carer's or domiciliary care allowance but who get the carer's support grant. Does the Department have any figures on how much those people are above the means test as it stands? What would it take, money-wise, to bring those people into getting the carer's allowance? We know and have met many such people. They are in need of a weekly payment but currently they are losing out, although they are getting the carer's support grant. I would be very interested to hear if the Department has any idea about those approximately 6,000 families losing out because they are above the means test now.

With regard to the community employment and rural social schemes, I was very interested to hear the remark made that nobody will have to leave a community employment scheme unless a replacement is found. Who determines that? We are all aware of the great work that those individuals do on the ground, whether with the GAA club, the local community hall or wherever they work. They have built years of experience in that regard. What training will determine the person who is coming to replace them? Are we looking at a position that if somebody becomes available, the person who has worked in a role for many years would be gone overnight because there is a person who can replace the person in question, even if that person is not trained? It is a very important question and a very important point for community employment schemes. It is one brought up with me continuously. Some of the people coming may not be suitable or have the experience or training to fill that position. It is something that needs to be answered.

One big question being raised about community employment schemes now is that sponsors have to raise funds for materials. Are there plans to increase the material grants available under community employment schemes? It is a major issue for those schemes.

The figures provided in the opening statement indicate there are 3,500 free community employment schemes given the money available now and up to 2,000 free rural social schemes. The figures indicate there are 19,000 people on those and there could be 22,500 people on community employment schemes. The question I asked on the previous day and the question I am asking today is what attempt the Department is making to encourage young people to take up such schemes. We are all aware here of the age cohort of people on community employment and rural social schemes to the extent they can be on such schemes. What attempts are being made to encourage young people to become involved with their communities?

With many of the communities I deal with, the persons involved are of an age where it is a worry as to whether they may be able to continue. We need young people to get involved in the community. Given the massive unemployment figures we have among our young people, is the Department aware of this? What attempts are being made by the Department to ensure young people get involved?

My final question relates to the community employment scheme supervisor pension. Could we get an update on where that stands? Is the Department considering any pay increase because it has been so long since supervisors have had a pay increase? A stakeholder forum was mentioned but when was the last time the Department met union representatives as part of that? Is that to be part of the stakeholder forum?