Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together.

Carer’s Allowance is a payment to people on low incomes who are caring full-time for a person who needs support because of age, disability or illness (including mental illness). The person being cared for must require full-time care and attention.

At the end of October 2022, there were 91,892 recipients of Carer's Allowance. Of these, 42,136 were recipients of half-rate Carer's Allowance.

Rates of payment, based on their most recent payment, for full rate Carer's Allowance, split by age and number of carees, is shown in the tables below. Due to the fact that the data may be statistically disclosive and lead to individuals being potentially identified, my Department is unable to provide some of the breakdowns requested by the Deputy.

The figures below are the rate received by the recipient.

Table 1: Full rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged under 66 with one caree

Table 2: Full rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged 66 or over with one caree

Table 3: Full rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged under 66 with two or more carees

Table 4: Full rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged 66 or over with two or more carees

Table 5: Half rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged under 66 with one caree

Table 6: Half rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged 66 or over with one caree

Table 7: Half rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged under 66 with two or more carees

Table 8: Half rate Carer's Allowance rates of payment, for recipients aged 66 or over with two or more carees

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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464. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which oral hearings in respect of appeals against disallowance for various payments are up-to-date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59538/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that there are currently 7,479 appeals at various stages of the appeals process. Under Article 13 of the Social Welfare (Appeals) Regulations, 1998 (S.I. 108/1998), if an Appeals Officer is of the opinion that the case is of such a nature that it can be properly determined without a hearing, the appeal may be determined summarily. Once it is decided to hold an oral hearing it can usually be scheduled and held in a timely manner.

An oral hearing may be held virtually (online), by phone or, where it is deemed essential by the Appeals Officer, on an in-person basis.

Oral hearing arrangements will continue to be kept under regular review by the Chief Appeals Officer.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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465. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of persons currently in receipt of unemployment assistance on a short or long-term basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59539/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Jobseeker’s Allowance, formerly known as Unemployment Assistance, is a means-tested income support for people who are unemployed. In the week ending 20 November, 2022, there were 114,650 Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients. Of these, 41.5 per cent (47,539) are long-term unemployed (one year or more), while 58.5 percent (67,111) are considered short-term recipients. It should be noted that people who are casually employed (or part-time unemployed) are defined as short-term recipients of the scheme.

Looking at jobseeker recipients more widely, as of 20 November 2022, 34.2 percent of those on the Live Register (which includes Jobseeker’s Allowance, Jobseeker’s Benefit and Credits) are considered long term claimants.

It should be noted that, unlike in previous years, Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients includes people who arrived under the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive from Ukraine. This income support is provided in the first instance, until the most appropriate income support for the individual is determined.

It is welcome that, as reported in the Q3, 2022 Labour Force Survey published by the CSO last week, the Long-Term Unemployment Rate is 1.1%, which is below the pre-pandemic Q3 2019 level of 1.4%.