Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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626. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 233 of 17 October 2024, of the 15,947 people who are currently in receipt of a half-rate carer's allowance payment and the State pension, the number of these that are caring for two or more people; the cost of paying the State pension and the current full-rate carer’s allowance of €286 for those aged 66 years and over and caring for one person and also the cost of the increased rate of €429 for those aged 66 years and over caring for two or more people; the full-year total cost of such changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43994/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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At the outset, it is important to clarify that where a carer is providing care to more than one person, the personal rate of Carer's Allowance payable is increased by a maximum of 50% of the standard personal rate. This 50% increase is not a Half-Rate Carer’s Allowance payment, but an exceptional increase in the standard personal rate.

The Half-Rate Carer’s Allowance payment differs in that it is available to those in receipt of particular social welfare payments who are also providing full-time care and attention. In these cases, a carer may retain their main, non-care related payment, and receive another payment, depending on their means, the maximum of which is equivalent to a half-rate Carer’s Allowance.

Further to Parliamentary Question No. 233, the most recent updated figure now available of those in receipt of a state pension and a half-rate of Carer’s Allowance is 17,245. Of that cohort, there are 16,707 caring for 1 person and 538 who are caring for 2 or more people.

• The estimated annual cost of providing a state pension along with the current full-rate Carer’s Allowance to the 16,707 carers currently receiving a pension and a half rate Carer’s Allowance is €489.3 million, of which €124 million is additional cost.
• The estimated annual cost of providing a state pension along with the current full-rate Carer’s Allowance to the 538 carers currently receiving a pension and a Carer’s Allowance enhanced rate for caring for 2 or more people is €19.7 million, of which €6 million is additional cost.

It is important to note that these costings are estimates based on current administrative data. They take no account of year-on-year increases in terms of recipients or increases in rates of payment.

Any changes, such as those suggested by the Deputy, while clearly having implications for overall spending, would also likely lead to implications for the rates of other weekly social welfare payments and as such could only be considered in an overall policy and Budgetary context.

I trust that this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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627. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of lone parents in receipt of the fuel allowance; the full-year cost of paying fuel allowance to lone parents who are €100 above the means test and also €75 above the means test; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43995/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €382 million in 2024. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.

The main schemes in my department that provide support to lone parents and are qualifying payments for Fuel Allowance are the One Parent Family Payment and the Jobseekers Transition Payment.

One Parent Family Payment and Jobseekers Transition Payment are both non-contributory means tested schemes, therefore those in receipt of these payments are deemed to have satisfied the Fuel Allowance means test.

There are 25,885 recipients of One Parent Family Payment and 13,016 recipients of the Jobseekers Transition Payment are in receipt of Fuel Allowance.

Increasing the allowable means for Fuel Allowance purposes as outlined by the Deputy would therefore not benefit this cohort of lone parents.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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628. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full-year cost of extending fuel allowance to those in receipt of the working family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43996/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €382 million in 2024. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.

Based on 40,354 additional recipients of the working family payment qualifying for the fuel allowance, the estimated cost of extending the fuel allowance payment to all those in receipt of Working Family Payment is as follows:

Any further widening of the qualifying criteria for accessing the fuel allowance scheme can only be considered while taking account of the overall policy and budgetary situation.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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629. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full-year cost of increasing the domiciliary care allowance by €10, €15, €20, €25 and €30, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43997/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The estimated full year cost of increasing domiciliary care allowance is outlined below.

The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2025. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2025.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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630. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44000/24]

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 an appeal by the person concerned was registered on the 12th June 2024. 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.

These papers were received on 1st October 2024 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 22nd October 2024, 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.