Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As part of Budget 2024 I secured provision for a Pay-Related Benefit for Jobseekers to be introduced later in 2024, subject to further Government approval of the scheme. This would link the rate of benefit to a person's previous earnings.

The aim of a pay-related benefit scheme is to soften the income shock that a worker may face if they suddenly lose their job. The introduction of a pay-related benefit system would bring Ireland in line with other European countries and would represent a significant change to the Irish social welfare system.

Following commitments made in the Programme for Government, the Economic Recovery Plan and Pathways to Work, I launched a public consultation on proposals to introduce a new Pay-Related Benefit for Jobseekers in December 2022. The Department has undertaken an extensive consultative process and engagement with stakeholders on a potential design as to how pay-related benefit could work to facilitate the sharing of ideas and views which will be essential to the development of a proposal for Government. The contributions of stakeholders will inform the design of proposals that I intend to bring to Government.

I trust this clarifies the position for the deputy.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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769. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that individuals on farm assist and fish assist continue to receive letters from her Department inviting them to attend recruitment fairs, as they believe they are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48485/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Intreo hosted a number Work and Skills recruitment fairs across Ireland in October focused primarily on the recruitment of jobseekers into employment.

A number of customers in receipt of other and DSP income support payments e.g. One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance etc. were issued with invites in the context of providing them with the opportunity(if they so wished) to explore current options for training and employment.

These invites were issued as voluntary opportunities so that these customers could find out more about the training/employment options available to support their current or future pursuits.

Fish or Farm Assist recipients would not typically be included in the cohort of customers for invite to recruitment events however some may have received the invitation in error. There is no obligation on these customers to attend these events, though they are welcome to attend if they wish.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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770. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department will ensure that claimants who are likely to lose the free transport benefit over the next eight months and before fulfilling eligibility from July 2024, are not deprived of this important and crucial benefit (details supplied). [48551/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Free Travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. There are over one million customers with direct eligibility. The estimated expenditure on free travel in 2023 is €95 million.

To qualify for a free travel pass when aged under 66 a person must satisfy the relevant qualifying criteria. When a person no longer satisfies the relevant qualifying criteria for a free travel pass their entitlement to the pass ends.

As part of Budget 2024, I was particularly pleased to extend my Department’s Free Travel Pass to support people who are medically certified as unable to drive. As announced, this measure will be implemented from July 2024. My officials are currently examining interim arrangements to apply to those who currently have a pass which is due to expire in the meantime.

Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an essential need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers and include help towards recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the person's own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

A travel supplement may also be paid where a person has a recurring travel expense (for example, where a person has ongoing travel costs for hospital visits).

Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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771. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of disallowed applications for disability allowance for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48557/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers, ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.

Disability allowance (DA) is a means tested payment for people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66.? The applicant must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect, which has lasted for one year or is expected to last for one year and as a result of which they are substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the person’s age, experience and qualifications.? The person must also satisfy a means test and be habitually resident in the State.

The number of DA applications disallowed for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 are set out in the table below.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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772. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of disallowed applications for carer's allowance for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48558/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that, as a result, they require that level of care.

The table below contains details of the number of disallowed applications for CA for 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023.

Carer's Allowance - Applications disallowed by year

I hope this information is of assistance.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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773. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the carer's support grant that are not in receipt of the carer's allowance due to the means test requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48559/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Carer's Support Grant (CSG) is an annual payment to carers who look after a person in need of full-time care and attention. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but is subject to certain conditions.

The number of recipients of CSG who previously applied for Carer's Allowance (CA) but did not satisfy the means condition for CA currently stands at 319.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent)
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774. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection what supports are in place for a person who is self-employed and in need of maternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48560/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Maternity Leave is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy and legislative responsibility for Maternity Leave. My Department has responsibility for Maternity Benefit.

Maternity Benefit is a statutory payment made for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. The fundamental qualification criteria for Maternity Benefit are that a woman must be in insurable employment and entitled to statutory maternity leave or be in insurable self-employment.

In order to qualify for the payment, a self-employed claimant must have 52 qualifying PRSI contributions paid in either the Relevant Tax Year, the Tax Year prior to the Relevant Tax Year, or the Tax Year following to the Relevant Tax Year. If a claimant is now self-employed but was previously in insurable employment, her PRSI contributions in that employment may help her qualify for Maternity Benefit if she does not satisfy the self-employment conditions as outlined.

A person who is self employed can apply for Maternity Benefit either online at www.mywelfare.ie or by paper application.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.