Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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534. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 491 of 11 October 2022, if those in receipt of illness benefit will not be receiving the autumn bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51949/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, my Department will spend approximately €1.2 billion in social welfare measures during the coming months to help individuals and families through this difficult period.

One of these measures is the Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment which will be paid to those schemes which are eligible to receive the Christmas Bonus, with one amendment - the removal of the 12-month duration requirement for certain schemes - allowing short-term jobseekers and Supplementary Welfare Allowance customers to qualify for the October support.

Illness Benefit is not a qualifying payment for the Christmas Bonus. It is a scheme which, by its nature, is a short-term social welfare scheme. It has a high degree of churn with people coming onto the scheme and moving off every week, often with very short duration claims. For example, between July and September 2022, almost 115,000 Illness Benefit claims were awarded, and of these, only 21,000 remain in payment. This indicates a churn of 82% over just a three-month period. The average duration on Illness Benefit is 6 days.

In addition, many Illness Benefit payments are paid directly to the employer. Therefore, a double payment such as the cost of living support would, in many cases, be an employer subsidy as opposed to an additional support to the customer. This is not the intent behind the October cost of living support, and nor would it be a targeted use of resources.

If an individual or family are struggling with additional costs, Additional Needs Payments can provide help and support to people facing financial hardship. Under the scheme, the Department may make an Additional Needs Payment to people on a low income, whether they are working or receiving an income support, to meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. A major national awareness campaign has promoted and raised awareness of the Additional Needs Payment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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535. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the arrangements that are in place to ensure continued payment of illness benefit where a GP has vacated a practice (details supplied) and no locum has been put in place with a registered general practitioner number who can provide the required medical certificates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51950/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all customers. Where a GP vacates a practice and the locum who replaces them has not previously been issued a DSP panel number by my Department, the practice concerned notifies my Department and the locum is asked to complete an application as soon as possible. Pending approval and assignment of a panel number, paper certification may still be used by the locum to supply necessary medical certification.

The practice in question has made contact with my Department and an application for a DSP panel number is in progress. Paper certificates have been issued to the GP practice concerned to facilitate certification until the application for a panel number has been approved.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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536. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide details of each payment that is eligible and not eligible for double payment under proposals in Budget 2023, in tabular form. [51964/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In response to the ongoing cost of living pressures, I have secured a package of almost €2.2 billion for Social Protection measures as part of Budget 2023.  This represents the largest Budget package for the Department of Social Protection in the history of the State and will help to support our pensioners, carers, people with disabilities, lone parents and families during this difficult period.

In addition to a range of bonus lump sum payments to be made to a number of groups, including people on long term disability schemes, recipients of the Fuel Allowance, working family payment recipients, those living alone, and carers, a series of double payments will be delivered before the end of the year:

No other schemes will be eligible for the above double-payments.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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537. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of child benefit claims paid to persons where both the child and social welfare claimant reside outside of the State; the euro value of such payments for 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51965/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Child 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.

In 2021, Child Benefit was paid to 630,000 customers in respect of 1.2 million children.

The number of Child Benefit claims paid to persons where both the child and the child benefit claimant reside outside of the State (posted workers, embassy workers) are as detailed in the tables below.

I trust this helps clarify the position for the Deputy.