Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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896. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average amount paid to recipients of social welfare schemes administered by her Department in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1422/23]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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897. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount paid to the highest single recipient of social welfare schemes administered by her Department in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1423/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 896 and 897 together.

The majority of payments that are issued by the Department reflects the entitlement period where the recipient’s claim was open.  However payments can be issued in respect to different entitlement  periods (i.e. arrears payments).  Arrears can be due to persons where there is a gap between their entitlement date and the date of their first payment.  In some cases, typically cases where a claim is awarded following an appeals process, there may be several weeks of arrears payments due to a person.  Such payments occur each week, and these payments cannot readily be distinguished from non-arrears payments.  Because of this, and on statistical disclosure grounds, my Department is unable to provide details on the highest amount issued.  However the amount paid to individuals by pay band rates for 2022 is provided in Table 1.  These amounts paid may include arrears payments and may not therfore pertain solely to 2022.

The average payment issued to a recipient in 2022 was €7,700.  Note that this average amount may also include arrears payments and may not pertain solely to 2022.

The amount paid to recipients of social welfare schemes in 2022.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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898. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the total number of persons who are currently in receipt of a payment from a social welfare scheme administered by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1424/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department offers a wide range of social welfare payments.  Social Insurance based benefits are available to those who have a sufficient number of contributions over their lifetimes, and are funded through pay-related social insurance (PRSI).  Other benefits and additional allowances are means tested, which ensures that the highest payments are available to those most in need, depending on their circumstances. 

As at the end of 2022, there were some 1.9 million people in receipt of a social welfare payment.

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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899. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of claimants who are currently in receipt of the accommodation recognition payment; the total cost of payments made under this scheme to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1425/23]

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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900. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of Ukrainian refugees who are currently known to be accommodated by persons who are currently in receipt of the accommodation recognition payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1426/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 899 and 900 together.

The Accommodation Recognition Payment is available to individuals hosting people who are beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who have fled the conflict in Ukraine.  The rate of payment increased from €400 per calendar month to €800 per calendar month with effect from 1 December 2022.

The payment is a recognition of the generosity of people who have made accommodation available to victims of a humanitarian crisis, and it is linked to a minimum hosting commitment of six months.

The Accommodation Recognition Payment is administered by my Department on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and I am happy to support Minister O’Gorman in recognising the contribution of those who opened their homes and houses to those fleeing the war in Ukraine.

As at 16 January 4,274 individual hosts are in receipt of the Accommodation Recognition Payment. 8,969 people who are beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are currently being hosted by people in receipt of the payment.  To date, €13.9 million has been paid to recipients of the payment.

I trust that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.