Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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496.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied) who has applied for a backdate of IQA and IQC on his invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25522/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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 they have contacted the Deputy's office with a query in relation to this appeal application and are awaiting a response to their query before the appeal can be registered.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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497.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the mandatory retirement age of job initiative participants to ensure that those who wish to remain on the scheme past the State pension age can do so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25523/24]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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As the Deputy is aware Job Initiative (JI) is an employment support scheme which was designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities. Recruitment onto the scheme ceased from November 2004, while existing participants have their annual contracts renewed until they reach age 66, State Pension age.

Changes introduced to the State Pension in January 2024 maintained the State pension age at 66 and introduced a new flexible pension model, whereby people have the option to continue working up until the age of 70 in return for a higher pension.

The new measures are specifically for people in standard employment situations and do not apply to State supported schemes like JI, where the participant qualifies due to having been on a specific social welfare payment in advance of their placement on the scheme.

Accordingly, the position regarding funding for participants on employment support schemes, including the JI scheme, remains the same. Funding for participants will continue to be available to State Pension Age, which is currently 66.

Should participants wish to continue to work after they reach 66, it is open to them to apply for positions that are not state funded. There may also be the option to work with the JI scheme in a voluntary capacity.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.