Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way room rental income is treated for those with a serious condition or disability when assessing a disability allowance application in circumstances in which the rent collected is entirely for the purposes of meeting mortgage payments and keeping a person’s home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26076/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Disability Allowance is one of a range of means-tested social assistance payments operated by my Department.  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.  The means assessment reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or capital are in a position to use these resources to support themselves so that social welfare expenditure can be directed towards those who need it most.  

Accordingly, where an individual is renting part of their family home, the cash value of the rental income is assessed.  However, such rental income is reduced by a range of deductions. 

These include: a proportion of any mortgage interest paid by the claimant on the part of the property rented; a 15% deduction for voids (i.e. periods when the accommodation is vacant between lettings); and, if the rooms let are furnished, a 5% deduction for wear and tear.

Any change to my Department’s means assessment policies would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the uptake of the paternity benefit scheme; the steps she is taking to encourage the uptake of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26072/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Paternity Benefit is a payment for employed and self-employed people who are on paternity leave from work who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions.  It is paid for two weeks and is available in respect of any child born or adopted on or after 1 September 2016.  Paternity Benefit is paid at €245 per week - the same rate as Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit and Parent’s Benefit.

A budget of €14.47 million is provided for Paternity Benefit in 2021.  To date this year, the Department has awarded Paternity Benefit to some 8,732 parents with a spend of approximately €4.4 million.  In 2020, the total cost of Paternity Benefit was approx. €12.36 million, which was paid in respect of 24,726 claims.   

Paternity Benefit is one of a number of supports available to new parents.  Parent's Benefit is also available in respect of a child born or adopted since 1 November 2019.  Following the commencement of the Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021, Parent's Benefit is available for 5 weeks for each parent and it can be availed of within 2 years of the child's birth or adoption.

In addition, adoptive parents now have greater flexibility to decide which parent will avail of Adoptive Leave and Benefit, with Paternity Leave and Paternity Benefit being available to the parent who is not availing of Adoptive Leave.  This increased flexibility will provide parents with more choice and is intended to facilitate an increased take-up of the payment. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.