Written answers

Wednesday, 18 January 2023

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Benefits

Photo of Fergus O'DowdFergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

930. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on the proposals that have been raised by an organisation (details supplied) with respect to making free travel passes available to persons diagnosed with epilepsy who are temporarily unable to drive due to their illness; the steps that have been taken since she met with the organisation in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2180/23]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme.  These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators.  There are approximately 1,054,000 customers with direct eligibility.  The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2023 is €95 million.

I am aware of an ongoing campaign by Epilepsy Ireland and recognise the issues and difficulties that can arise due to a person being diagnosed with epilepsy and who is unable to drive as a result of their condition. 

Following the meeting with representatives of Epilepsy Ireland to discuss its proposal in detail, I asked my Department officials to examine the issues raised by Epilepsy Ireland. 

Department officials are currently finalising the report examining the issues raised by Epilepsy Ireland, along with relevant submissions and I am expecting this report very soon.

It is important to note that, in general, access to a free travel pass for those aged under 66 is linked to a person being in receipt of certain primary Social Protection payments such as Disability Allowance, Invalidity Pension, Carer’s Allowance, Blind Pension and Partial Capacity Benefit.  Crucially, as many illnesses or physical conditions have an impact across a spectrum from mild to severe, entitlement to these social welfare schemes is not provided on the basis of a diagnosis but on the basis of the impact of that diagnosis on the individual concerned.  In this way, resources can be targeted to people in most need.

Therefore, while a diagnosis of a particular medical condition will be required to establish if a person may be eligible for certain social welfare schemes, evidence of impact is also required before entitlement to the scheme or the related free travel scheme is established.  The sole exception to this general approach is in respect of people who are blind.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Photo of Mick BarryMick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

931. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider reviewing the benefits available for those paying class S PRSI; if access to illness benefit will be extended to this group given the increased awareness and necessity for persons to isolate when ill from many illnesses and the increasing number of persons in this group who are on low or middle incomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2247/23]

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

933. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has any plans to allow self-employed workers to claim illness benefit when they are out sick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2373/23]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 931 and 933 together.

Self-employed workers whose income is €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable to pay social insurance contributions at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500.  Such contributors are currently covered for a wide range of social insurance benefits including State pension (contributory), widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory), guardian’s payment (contributory), maternity, adoptive and paternity benefits, treatment benefits, invalidity pension, partial capacity benefit if in receipt of invalidity pension, jobseeker’s benefit (self-employed) and parent’s benefit.

The issue of extending additional social insurance benefits to self-employed persons paying class S social insurance contributions was considered in the last Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund, conducted by independent consultants, and published in October 2017. 

That Review indicates that if access to certain additional benefits, including illness benefit, was extended to self-employed contributors, the class S rate of social insurance contribution would need to increase by 94% in order to ensure that the additional benefits are delivered in a revenue neutral manner.  This rate of increase would bring the current class S contribution rate of 4% to 7.8% to cover the additional benefits only and does not take account of the value of the existing benefits to such contributors at the time of the Review.

Since the Review was published, self-employed contributors have gained access to invalidity pension from December 2017 and jobseeker's benefit (self-employed), and parent's benefit from November 2019, without any increase in their rate of contribution.  With respect to the level of contribution to the social insurance fund by self-employed workers, they are now covered for most of the benefits available under the social insurance scheme which represents approximately 93% of the value of all benefits paid by the social insurance fund - in return for a contribution of 11 percentage points lower than that made in respect of employed contributors. 

In view of the significant access to a range of social insurance benefits in recent years, without any increase in the rate of contribution by self-employed workers, access to the remaining benefits, including illness benefit, would fall to be considered in the context of the findings of the actuarial review due later this year and in the development of a proposal on the required changes to social insurance contribution rates.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.