Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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364. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider extending the provision of domestic violence emergency rent supplement beyond the end of 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34571/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Lead responsibility for the development and provision of services to support victims of domestic violence rests with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

In August 2020, I agreed a protocol with Tusla on a pilot basis to make Rent Supplement more easily accessible to victims of domestic violence on a pilot basis. This seeks to ensure that victims of domestic violence are not prevented from leaving their home because of financial or accommodation difficulties. The arrangements in this protocol are additional and complementary to, and not a substitution for, the range of other supports already in place for victims of domestic violence.

There are currently 62 victims of domestic violence being supported with rent supplement under these arrangements.

Under the protocol, after six months period of support, it is expected that the customer will, if eligible, be able to migrate to HAP or other social housing supports supported by their local authority.

In line with the National Economic Recovery Plan, these special arrangements for victims of domestic abuse will remain in place at least until the end of the year. A review of the pilot will be undertaken at that stage, involving key stakeholders, to determine whether the provision of rent supplement to victims of domestic violence should be extended and to take on board any lessons learned.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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365. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of pension recipients who had attained over 40 years of pension contributions, over 41 years, over 42 years and so on up to a maximum in other words, someone who might have worked since 16 years of age to retirement age the number of those there are in Ireland in each of the years 2015 to 2020, in tabular form. [34579/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department applies a number of tests in respect of each claim to State Pension Contributory in order to provide the highest level of pension possible to the customer, based on their contribution record. However, once a record is found that qualifies the person to receive the maximum rate of pension, the process completes and a decision is issued to them.

This means that the Department does not compile a listing of people who have worked 40 years, or in excess of 40 years and has no way of attributing the information sought to the pension claims awarded or in payment for the years outlined in the question.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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366. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer’s allowance review in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34722/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's allowance (CA) 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.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 31 March 2021.

It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have such a disability that they require full-time care and attention.

The evidence submitted in support of the application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.

The person concerned was notified on 28 May 2021 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.

The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of his application.

Following this review, CA was awarded to the person concerned on 22 June 2021, with effect from 1 April 2021. The first payment will issue to his nominated post office on 8 July 2021.

Arrears for the period 1 April 2021 to 7 July 2021 will issue shortly.

The person concerned was notified on 22 June 2021 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and/or appeal.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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367. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider changing the regulations to allow the blind pension to be paid concurrently with the invalidity pension given that it is means-tested (details supplied). [34737/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Illness Benefit (IB) is a payment made to people who are unable to work due to illness and who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. The maximum payment duration for IB is two years. Persons on IB may apply for Invalidity Pension (IP) if they are permanently incapable of work or have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and are likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months.

It is important to note that it is not a requirement that a person needs to be in receipt of IB in order to apply for IP.

IP is a long-term payment for persons who are permanently incapable of work and who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions - it is not means tested. To be eligible a person must have not less than 260 weeks contributions paid and not less than 48 weeks contributions paid or credited in the last or second last complete tax year.

Persons in receipt of IP are also eligible for the Free Travel Scheme (free travel pass). They may also qualify for other secondary benefits such as the fuel allowance, living alone increase and the household benefits package.

Blind Pension is one of two means-tested disability related payments provided by the Department. As at the end of April 2021 there were almost 155,000 persons in receipt of these payments, comprising 153,805 in receipt of the Disability Allowance and 1,069 in receipt of the Blind Pension.

The Blind Pension is paid, subject to the means test, to blind people and certain people with low vision, aged between 18 and 66, who are habitually resident in the State.

The assessment of means 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.

It is important to note that the two scheme types - the social insurance benefits (Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension) and the social assistance payments (Disability Allowance and Blind pension) are fundamentally different: the former are payments based on PRSI contributions made, while the latter are means tested payments. It would not be appropriate to provide automatic access from one to the other.

It should be noted that for those in financial difficulty, the Supplementary Welfare Allowance, including Urgent Needs Payments or Exceptional Needs Payments, are available through my department's Intreo centres. This is a means-tested payment administered by this Department’s Community Welfare Service.

My Department will continue to keep the range of supports available under review. The Deputy will be aware that any proposed change would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.