Social Protection

In 2011, Social Protection surpassed naturalisation as the most common reason for contacting our Free Legal Service. Nasc co-published a report into the barriers facing immigrants accessing social protection in early 2012 and we are now working with the Department of Social Protection to develop measures to improve matters.

254. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of separated children seeking asylum here that have gone missing on a yearly basis between 2005 and 2012; and the number of these childrens whereabouts that remains unknown.  Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy... Read more

173. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to tackle the large number of non Irish citizens on the live register in view of the fact that nearly one in five persons on the live register are non Irish citizens; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister... Read more

552. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the eligibility criteria for medical cards for those persons who have worked both in this State and another EU Member State, and who are in receipt of a non-social welfare pension (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. Minister... Read more

101. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection the rules regarding habitual residence and to whom those rules apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): The requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced... Read more

344. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of non Irish citizens on the live register; the total amount of expenditure in her Department associated with these persons; if she will provide a breakdown of the nationalities of persons on the live register; and if she... Read more

A report published by the Central Statistics Office on March 1st details a decrease in the number of migrants getting PPS numbers (PPSN) between 2006 and 2011. This is certainly due to a decrease in migration into the country. However, the report also outlined the gap between unemployment figures and... Read more

We are delighted that several of our clients have had good news today that their applications were successful: Stamp 4 residency permission for a dependent of an Irish citizen – W. Came to Ireland at 16 to join her mother who had married an Irish citizen. She was given a Stamp 2 on registering which... Read more

This past week, a number of journalists have been making comparisons between the survivors of the Magdalene laundries and asylum-seeking children who are currently living in the Direct Provision system. Sparked by the written response to a parliamentary question by TD Maureen O Sullivan, questions are... Read more

345. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Social Protection if child benefit is paid in respect of children of asylum seekers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Social Protection (Deputy Joan Burton): An asylum seeker is a person who has applied to the Minister for Justice... Read more

Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular format, the number of non-nationals, their country of origin, and the constituency wherein they are registered, who are living outside the country and are in receipt of children’s allowance;... Read more

Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has considered the Free Legal Advice Centres report on the reform of the social welfare appeals system; if the recommendations are being considered by her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Social Protection... Read more

Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for the future of child benefit; if she intends to tax or means test same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is in a position to provide an... Read more

Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals for decision that have been waiting for three months, six months and more than 12 months respectively for each of the following payments: disability allowance; invalidity pension; rent supplement; and mortgage interest... Read more

Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in processing carer’s allowance appeals; the average timeframe for appeals to be decided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection... Read more

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for an application for family income supplement; the number of applicants currently waiting for their family income supplement application to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister... Read more

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for an application for child benefit; the number of applicants currently waiting for their child benefit application to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Minister for Social Protection... Read more

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting time for an application for jobseeker’s benefit; the number of applicants currently waiting for their jobseeker’s benefit application to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. Deputy... Read more

Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on the Free Legal Advice Centre 2012 report Not Fair Enough with regard to the appeals process in her Department, as well as outlining in detail the reforms that have been reported to have taken place to reduce waiting time for appeals;... Read more

Deputy Patrick O’Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide this Deputy with an update on the ICT improvements that are being progressed by her Department to reduce fraud; if she will provide a time frame for the completion of the bio-metric cards; if she will consider... Read more

Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the steps that are being taken to reduce and minimise delays in the processing time for applications to the various schemes as administered by the social welfare services component of her Department. Deputy Martin Ferris asked... Read more