Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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248. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which persons (details supplied) are likely to benefit from Budget 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58507/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned is currently in receipt of Illness Benefit and has been in receipt of payment from the 6th December 2021 to date. He is in receipt of the full personal rate of Illness Benefit at €208 per week. This will increase by €12 to €220 per week in January 2023 as part of Budget 2023.

Illness Benefit is intended for people with short duration illnesses who will return to work relatively quickly. The average duration on the scheme is approximately six days and it is payable for a maximum of two years subject to eligibility conditions being met. For individuals with longer term needs they may apply for an Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance.

I do appreciate however that individual circumstances can vary from case to case. I have asked my officials to examine the issue in respect of people who are in receipt of Illness Benefit for longer periods of time.

If the person concerned is experiencing difficulties in meeting their basic financial commitments it is also open to them to contact the Community Welfare Service at their local Intreo Centre to see if they might qualify for assistance under the terms of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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249. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will examine an issue regarding a gratuity allowance for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58509/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors sought for several years through their union representatives, SIPTU and Forsa, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsoring organisations.

A final settlement was reached with unions representing CE supervisors and assistant supervisors at the end of 2021. This settlement resolves this long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratiapayment to eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. Some 2,500 people employed by CE schemes going back to 2008 will benefit at an estimated total cost of over €24 million.

Generally, under the terms of this settlement, on reaching retirement age, eligible CE supervisors and assistant supervisors will receive a once off ex-gratiapayment in respect of time employed by CE schemes since 2008. People who retired since 2008 and who have reached retirement age are now able to apply for this payment.

Over the past number of months, an administrative and ICT system to accept applications and process payments was put in place within the Department of Social Protection. The first group of ex-gratiaapplications have been received and are being processed - these relate to persons who retired since 2008. Following Government approval earlier this month, legislative provisions to provide for these payments are being included in the Social Welfare Budget Bill, which will also, once enacted, facilitate the payment of processed applications.

A notification will issue to recipients as soon as payments are processed and are ready to issue.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.