Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

633. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of recipients of disability allowance and State pension (contributory) as of August 2023; and the total spend on each payment in August 2023. [40127/23]

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

As of end of August 2023 there were 160,585 recipients of Disability Allowance and 499,108 recipients of State Pension (Contributory).

The total expenditure for these schemes in August 2023 was €193 million for Disability Allowance and €521 million for State pension (Contributory).

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

634. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address the delays regarding an appeal by a person (details supplied) for an invalidity pension, as well as the denial of supplementary welfare allowance, and who has had no social welfare supports since 17 August 2023, when their illness benefit was stopped; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40147/23]

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

The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered on the 14th August 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.

When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

635. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the workplace equipment adaptation grant can be obtained to hire an interpreter for a deaf employee; and if not, what supports, if any, are available. [40185/23]

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

My Department provides a wide range of supports for jobseekers and existing employees with disabilities. These supports include the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and the Disability Awareness Support Scheme.

It is important to note that these grants are demand led, i.e. the overall value of the grants issued each year rises or falls in response to the number and value of the grants applied for.

The Reasonable Accommodation Fund includes four grants which were designed to assist jobseekers and existing employees with disabilities, and to encourage employers in the private sector to recruit Jobseekers with disabilities:

The Workplace Equipment/Adaptation Grant cannot be used to hire an interpreter for a deaf employee as this is a grant towards the cost of adaptations to premises or equipment.

The Job Interview Interpreter Grant does provide funding for a sign language interpreter or other interpreter to attend interviews for a jobseeker who is deaf, hard of hearing or has speech impairment. The amount of the grant payable is based on an hourly fee paid which may vary. There is no limit to the number of interviews a person can attend with an interpreter.

My Department has recently published a review of the Reasonable Accommodation Fund and the Disability Awareness Support Scheme. The review made a number of recommendations including that they be amalgamated into a single flexible scheme, that the number of interpreter hours eligible for funding would be increased and that the scheme would be opened up to other employers, for example the voluntary and community sector. Work on implementation of these recommendations is underway and it is hoped to launch a reformed scheme in Q1 2024.