20 July 2011

Dáil Debates

• Priority Questions: Social welfare supports for carers
• Private Members Motion: Cloyne Report

Parliamentary Questions

• List of SNAs on county basis
• Housing grant allocations made in 2010 and 2011
• Responsibility of each Minister of State in his Department
• SNA numbers if Dublin 5, Dublin 13 and Dublin 17 in 2011

DÁIL DEBATES

• Priority Questions: Social welfare supports for carers

Deputy Sandra McLellan (SF): asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will offer a commitment that there will be no further cuts to the various social welfare payments for carers;

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett (PBPP): asked the Minister for Social Protection if she can reassure the 161,000 carers in the country that there will be no further cuts to their payments in Budget 2012;

Deputy Joan Burton: There will be an ongoing necessity to curtail overall expenditure in 2012 and in later years. The comprehensive review of expenditure currently under way in all Departments and agencies will form the basis for making the necessary decisions to achieve this. The outcome of the review will be considered by the Government in September.

There are not 161,000 carers in receipt of payments from my Department. That figure is the number of persons identified in the 2006 census as providing as little as one hour of care per week. There are currently just over 51,000 full-time carers in receipt of a carers allowance payment from the Department. This includes almost 22,000 who are receiving half-rate carers allowance in addition to another social welfare payment. There are just over 1,700 people in receipt of carer’s benefit. In addition, more than 17,000 people who are not in receipt of a carers allowance or benefit payment received the annual respite care grant of €1,700 in June. Since the introduction of the carer’s allowance, payments to carers have been expanded greatly. Carers allowance was increased in 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively and recipients are also eligible for household benefits, free travel and the respite care grant. The rate of carers allowance for those over 66 was maintained at €239 in the budget for 2011. The current rate of carers allowance for those aged under 66 is €204 per week. The estimated expenditure for carers in 2011, including carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit and the respite care grant is approximately €658 million. The means test for carers is one of the most liberal means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse’s earnings. The income disregard is currently €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn in the region of €35,400 and qualify for the maximum rate of carers allowance as well as the associated free travel and household benefits. A couple with an income in the region of €59,300 can still qualify for a minimum payment, as well as the associated free travel and household benefits package.

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh (SF): Last week the Minister indicated her intention to do a U-turn on the commitment to maintain social welfare rates by introducing a cut in the household benefits package. That caused huge anxiety among carers and even the words she used in her answer about the means test, calling it one of the most liberal means tests, will cause further anxiety. Will the Minister commit today to not cut or restrict in any way the carer’s allowance, half rate carer’s allowance, carer’s benefit, domiciliary care allowance or respite care grant in the budget in December?

Deputy Joan Burton: A couple with an income of just under €60,000 can still qualify for a minimum payment in respect of carer’s allowance while still getting the associated free travel and household benefits package. In anyone’s language, that is a generous income disregard.

I have already said the comprehensive review of expenditure is under way and budgetary decisions will be made in the context of the budget in December. I am not in a position to indicate at this point what decisions will be made in the context of the comprehensive review of expenditure and in the context of the budget. I am simply not in a position to say anything; these are budgetary matters for the Minister for Finance and I am not in a position to give an undertaking on them at this point.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett: When talking about the liberalism of the means test for the carers allowance, is it not the case that the real story is that carers save the State an estimated €2.5 billion euro per year, according to the Carers Association? The cost to the State would be massively higher if those being cared for had to be looked after fully by the State. Is it not also the case that what the Minister calls the generosity of the scheme results from the fact that carers have extra financial burdens, such as increased electricity costs, extra washing and lighting costs, extra heating costs and extra medical bills, along with many other extra burdens that other people do not have to face? That is why we need a carer’s allowance. Carers are already shocked that the Minister has cut the home benefits package. All they want is an assurance that given the contribution they make to the State and the welfare of sick and vulnerable people, the Minister will not cut their allowances further.

Deputy Joan Burton: I agree with the Deputy that carers do a very important job. Their contribution in looking after members of their own families with particular needs, who are ill or may have a disability is truly heroic in many cases. However, as I have said, I am not in a position at this time to make any commitments regarding the outcome of the comprehensive review of expenditure or budget 2012. During the years when the economy was doing well we perhaps lost an opportunity to develop services which were often as important to carers, if not more so, than cash amounts, although they are important also. In looking at the best way to assist carers in the important job they do within their own families I will certainly do everything I can to ensure carers are treated as fairly as possible within the system. Given their significance and importance, particularly those providing full-time care for people with various needs, including disabilities, their needs must be recognised.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I must interrupt the Minister and remind the House that there is one minute to ask a supplementary question and a maximum of one minute for the Minister to reply.

Deputy Derek Keating (FG): I will be very brief. I know the Minister fully appreciates the value of the role and task of carers, as well as their commitment to helping those most in need of care. Recently I have received a number of complaints from people who are experiencing delays in having their applications for carer’s allowance processed. Is the Minister aware of this and does she have any suggestions to make or plans to help to fast-track applications for carer’s allowances?

Deputy Joan Burton:  Receipt of carer’s allowance is based on medical evidence. One of the difficulties with the system is that very often the initial application does not contain sufficient medical evidence of the quality required by deciding officers in the Department. There is scope to improve on this because when decisions on applications for carer’s allowance are appealed, the successful appeal rate is over 50% which suggests the initial application submitted is often inadequate. There is something we can do in this regard. Shortly after becoming Minister, I appointed an extra nine appeals officers because I was conscious of how important this matter was. They will not just be deciding on appeals from carers, they will be working throughout the entire appeals structure. We are beginning to make progress in reducing the time taken to process appeals.

Deputy David Stanton (FG): To follow up on an issue raised by Deputy Boyd Barrett, has the Government carried out an objective economic impact assessment of carers’ work to assess exactly how valuable their work is from an economic viewpoint? We already know how valuable it is from a human viewpoint. Has any proposal been examined to differentiate between the levels of care provided, for example, low, medium or high dependency? Does the Minister agree it would make sense for somebody who needs high dependency care who is bed-ridden to receive more assistance than someone who needs low dependency care?

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett:  It is alarming that the Minister cannot confirm there will not be cuts in this area in the budget. The EU-IMF-ECB troika requires that there be “reforms” - as they are euphemistically called - in the social welfare system. Has the troika commented or made any specific demands concerning carer’s allowance?

Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh:  I have a brief question about carers and the programme for Government. The Labour Party made a commitment in its election manifesto to abolish the habitual residency condition for family carers, in particular. Has there been any such move since the Minister has announced that she cannot stick to the commitment that there will be no social welfare cuts?

Deputy Joan Burton: As regards Deputy Stanton’s point on carers providing care for adults or children with a severe disability, I am not aware if such a study has been conducted. The previous Government made commitments in respect of a carers’ strategy. From my own experience, the provision of services is as important as providing income. For instance, the provision of services for a child with a high level disability is absolutely critical. I will come back to the Deputy on the matter.

As regards the European Union and the IMF, I can only say to Deputy Boyd Barrett they have not mentioned the matter to me, but that is not to say they have not mentioned it, perhaps to officials, in their detailed discussions with the Department of Finance. What they said about budget 2012 concerned reductions of €3.6 billion, if I remember correctly. These included reductions in expenditure across the board. However, as far as I am aware, they did not specify any particular areas. As regards social protection, they did specify the need to activate people to move them from social welfare back into education, training and gaining work experience. Mr. Chopra was extremely keen on this, as were some of his associates.

As regards the habitual residency condition, I will have to revert to Deputy Ó Snodaigh in some detail.

• Private Members Motion: Cloyne Report

…Deputy Finian McGrath: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to speak in this important debate on the Cloyne report. I thank and commend Judge Yvonne Murphy, Ms Ita Mangan and Mr. Hugh O’Neill for their excellent work. I support the all-party motion on the report and the issue of child abuse generally. In the debate it is important to sympathise with and support all of the victims and remind ourselves of the trauma they have gone through. Sympathy is not enough, however, and words are very hollow, unless action is taken to deal with the issue of child abuse and put in place practical supports. In the overall context of the wider debate, let us put the blame where it lies. The leaders of the church, the State and people failed the victims. We should never forget this. We can have all the legislation and all of the reports we like, but they are no good if people do not act in the interests of the child and the victim. There can be no running away from this reality and we all have a responsibility to ensure it happens.

I dedicate my contribution to the protestor at the gate of Leinster House, Mr. Peter Preston, who himself was a victim of a miscarriage of justice in regard to his family. He spends every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday protesting on the issue of child abuse and neglect, as well as the drugs issue. I commend him for his magnificent work in carrying on his protest.

I express my dismay at the disturbing findings of the report and the inadequate and inappropriate response, particularly of the church authorities in Cloyne, to complaints and allegations of child sexual abuse. I deplore the Vatican’s intervention which contributed to the undermining of the child protection frameworks and guidelines of the State and the Irish bishops. When I read this 421 page report and see the evidence, I wonder what is going on in this country after all the talk on child abuse and the so-called protections introduced. The church, the State and the people did not take the necessary measures to protect children - that is the reality and it must change.

My other major concern on the issue of child sexual abuse concerns the fact that there is another core group who have not been discussed in great detail, namely, children with an intellectual disability who were abused and who often have no voice. They have been and are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse. We will always have paedophiles in society who will look at new ways to access children and children with disabilities are a soft, open target. Many have suffered already and my concern is that because they are forgotten, they will suffer again. I appeal to all front-line caring staff to be vigilant and keep a close eye on all children and adults, particularly those with an intellectual disability. I do not want to read about another Roscommon or Galway case. Those involved in front-line services must be extra careful in this regard.

The Cloyne report at page 351, paragraph 2, states:

Children have been placed at risk of harm within the Diocese of Cloyne through the inability of that Diocese to respond appropriately to the information that came to it regarding child protection concerns involving the clergy. It failed to act effectively to limit the access to children by individuals against whom a credible complaint of child sexual abuse was made.

That conclusion is the bottom line in this debate. We have had enough talk. We have had professional, objective and sensitive reports. What the victims want is real action. They deserve compassion, support and justice. The church, the State and the people must face up to that reality and, once and for all, try to end child abuse for all children.

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS  

• List of SNAs on county basis

Deputy Seán Crowe (SF): asked the Minister for Education and Skills   if he will list, on a county basis, the numbers of special needs assistants working in schools in the academic year 2009/2010; and the proposed number of SNAs that will be employed in schools, on a county basis, during the new school term, starting from September 2011 onwards.

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn):  The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants employed in schools on a county basis is not readily available.

The number of Special Needs Assistants employed nationally from 2007 to 2010 is available in the attached document. The details for each year are the December figures for the year in question. The primary schools information is inclusive of the special schools details. SNAs are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities in an educational context. The class teacher is responsible for educating all pupils in their class, including any pupil with a special educational need. In this task, the teacher may be supported by a learning support teacher and/or resource teacher. As a result, the allocation of SNAs in each school can alter from year to year. Some schools may receive an increased allocation, while others may experience a reduction because the allocation of supports are provided in line with the needs of individual schools. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating special needs resources to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department’s criteria in allocating such support. The NCSE will continue to support schools, parents, children and teachers and special needs assistants will continue to be deployed to schools to meet children’s needs in line with my Department’s policy.

Number of Special Needs Assistants

• Housing grant allocations made in 2010 and 2011

Deputy Catherine Murphy (I): asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the home adaptation and essential repairs grant allocations that were made by local authorities, in 2010 and 2011; if the absence of matching funds is impeding drawdown of these grants; if so, the location of same; if any local authorities have indicated a need for additional resources to administer the grant system;

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Willie Penrose):  The Housing Adaptation Grant Schemes for Older People and People with a Disability, introduced in November 2007, replaced the discontinued Disabled Persons Grant Scheme, the Essential Repairs Grant Scheme and the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme, administered by the Health Service Executive.

The grant schemes are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. It is a matter for each local authority to decide on the specific level of funding to be directed to each of the various grant measures, and to manage the operation of the schemes in their areas from within their allocation. Exchequer funding amounting to €78.7m was allocated and recouped to local authorities in respect of the grant schemes in 2010. Allocations totalling almost €64m were notified to local authorities under the grant schemes on 17 February 2011. To date some €18.3m, amounting to 29% of the Exchequer funding, has been drawn down by the local authorities.

My Department is aware that these schemes are very heavily subscribed and available funding has been committed in many areas. My Department is also aware of the financial constraints on local authority own resources funding at this time and, in order to relieve the pressure on revenue funding, agreed to allow authorities to use internal capital receipts to boost the revenue funding available for supporting the grant schemes in 2011.

The allocations to local authorities for 2010 and 2011 are set out in the following table:

• Responsibility of each Minister of State in his Department

Deputy Nicky McFadden (FG): asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the level of participation and responsibility of each Minister of State in his Department in attendance at Ministerial Councils for which his Department has responsibility since the formation of the Government; and if he will list all such meetings which have taken place and the Minister in attendance at each meeting.

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter):  The Department of Justice and Equality has responsibility for the Justice and Home Affairs Council. Since the formation of the current Government in March this year, this Council has met on three occasions. Two of these meetings, April and June, have been scheduled while the third one in May was a one-off extraordinary meeting.

There has been one further informal meeting of the Council this week in Sopot, Poland. Since being appointed as Minister for Justice and Equality, I have attended all scheduled meetings of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, including the informal meeting hosted earlier this week by the Polish presidency.

I can inform the Deputy that Minister of State at my Department, Ms. Kathleen Lynch T.D., who has responsibility for Disability, Equality and Mental Health issues attended the extraordinary meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in May. This meeting was held in Brussels on 12 May 2011 and was convened primarily to discuss the situation in the Southern Neighbourhood Region arising from recent events in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.

• SNA numbers if Dublin 5, Dublin 13 and Dublin 17 in 2011

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan (L): asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants in each school in Dublin 5, Dublin 13 and Dublin 17 in September;

Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn):  The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants employed in each school in Dublin 5, Dublin 13 and Dublin 15 in September is not readily available.

The number of Special Needs Assistants employed nationally from 2007 to 2010 is available in the attached document. The details for each year are the December figures for the year in question. The primary schools information is inclusive of the special schools details.

SNAs are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities in an educational context. The class teacher is responsible for educating all pupils in their class, including any pupil with a special educational need. In this task, the teacher may be supported by a learning support teacher and/or resource teacher. As a result, the allocation of SNAs in each school can alter from year to year. Some schools may receive an increased allocation, while others may experience a reduction because the allocation of supports are provided in line with the needs of individual schools.

The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating special needs resources to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department’s criteria in allocating such support. The NCSE will continue to support schools, parents, children and teachers and special needs assistants will continue to be deployed to schools to meet children’s needs in line with my Department’s policy.

Number of Special Needs Assistants

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