asked the Taoiseach if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
Written Answers. - Departmental Aids.
361.
There are no grants, subsidies or benefits administered by my Department.
362.
asked the Minister for Energy if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
The following are the grant schemes administered by my Department in the current year:
(i) £5.8 million is being granted to the town gas industry by way of subsidy to the 8 town gas companies to enable them to reduce the price of gas to their customers by between 16p and 19p per therm approximately.
Each company's allocation for a year is proportionate to their sales of gas in that year and is paid on a quarterly or half-yearly basis. The companies are obliged to submit an auditor's certificate in respect of each claim for subsidy by them.
(ii) Grants are available for the repair of bog roads over which turf is transported to the four small electricity generating stations at Gweedore, Screebe, Miltown Malbay and Cahirciveen. The grants are paid to the county councils concerned on receipt of certified returns of expenditure and they are allocated by reference to the quantity of turf actually delivered to each station in the preceding year.
(iii) Grants of up to £35 per householder are available for the installation of bottled gas equipment in rural households which have not been connected to the electricity supply and who because of their location can obtain connection only on payment of a capital contribution. These grants are not available for bottled gas equipment already installed. Householders with bottled gas equipment already installed who qualify under the above criteria eligible for a grant up to a maximum of £25 for the purchase of additional bottled gas equipment.
(iv) Grants of up to 33 per cent are available to manufacturing and service industry and hotels towards the cost of engaging consultants to carry out fuel efficiency surveys. To qualify, an application should be made before the survey begins, together with a preliminary report from the consultants indicating the scope and estimated cost of the survey. A preliminary report is not necessary if the survey is expected to take 2½ days or less.
(v) As part of the national energy conservation programme which is funded by my Department and carried out by the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, a national boiler testing service is provided under which every non-domestic boiler, over 50 KW in size, is tested for combustion efficiency, free of charge, and a report on performance is supplied to the organisation.
(iv) As a demonstration project worthy of support from an energy conservation point of view, my Department is grant-aiding a project for the use of reject heat, at Lanesboro electricity generating station, for horticultural purposes.
363.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
The grant-in-aid for Cultural Relations, which amounts to £150,000 in 1980 is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs with the assistance of the Cultural Relations Committee. This voluntary advisory body, consisting of not less than nine and not more than eighteen members, is appointed annually by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to advise on the administration of the annual grant-in-aid The Minister is not obliged to accept the committee's advice, but may not incur expenditure from the grant-in-aid otherwise than on its recommendation.
Most of the funds allocated to cultural promotion abroad are given in response to applications received by the committee from individuals or groups for projects involving performances, lectures or exhibitions outside the country. Priority is given to projects of a high standard which are expected to contribute to the enhancement of Ireland's image abroad and to the development of cultural relations with other countries.
In the Vote for International Co-operation, grants are made available for aid to developing countries and are disbursed either multilaterally, i.e. through various international agencies engaged in relief work and assistance, or bilaterally. Grants are also issued from the Disaster Relief allocation in response to appeals by national or international agencies or national Governments for aid in emergency situations.
Four grants-in-aid are administered under the Vote for International Co-operation. The first is that to the Agency for Personal Service Overseas. The reason for establishing APSO was the desire to promote personal service in developing countries by Irish people. APSO has been allocated £600,000 in the current year.
The second is that to the bilateral aid programme. As Deputies are aware this subject has been discussed recently in the House. The criteria for selection of the five priority countries, Lesotho, Sudan, Zambia, Tanzania and India, are given in the reply to Question No. 405 of 13 November 1978. A total of £2,275 million has been allocated to the Bilateral Aid Programme in 1980.
The third grant-in-aid is for Gorta—the Freedom from Hunger Campaign, set up in 1960. As Minister responsible for Development Co-operation, I became President of Gorta last year. A grant of £25,000 will be made as in past years to Gorta's administration costs in 1980.
Finally, there is the Advisory Council on Development Co-operation. This council was set up to provide a forum for a representative discussion of matters relating to development co-operation and to offer advice to the Government, through the Minister for Foreign Affairs on such matters. £25,000 has been allocated to the council this year towards its administration costs.
364.
asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
It is assumed that the Question does not comprehend grants, such as those payable to local authorities in respect of civil defence, superannuation payments, and pensions allowances and concessions for veterans of the War of Independence. On that basis no grants, subsidies or benefits relevant to the question arise in my Department.
365.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
The information requested by the Deputy concerning grants and subsidies administered by my Department is set out in the attached tabular statement. This does not include any schemes administered by agencies associated with my Department.
STATEMENT
|
Grant/Subsidy |
Criteria for eligibility |
|
1. Consumer subsidy on standard bread and household flour. |
A subsidy of 5½p on the 800 gm loaf (and pro rata) is restricted to bread which is manufactured and sold for consumption within the State. A subsidy of 2p per 800 gm loaf is payable in respect of standard bread imported from EEC member states for consumption here. |
|
A subsidy equivalent to 2p per kilo to the consumer is payable in respect of household flour which is manufactured and sold for domestic use within the State. |
|
|
2. Subsidy in respect of Export Credit Finance Scheme. |
Insured exporters must satisfy the Department of Industry, Commerce and Tourism and the relevant bank that the goods exported are of a capital nature. |
|
3. (a) Interest Subsidy Scheme for Shipbuilding Industry. |
The preferential interest rate is limited to a minimum of 8% per annum and to a maximum duration of 8½ years and to a maximum loan of 80% of the contract price. The credit-worthiness of the shipowner is a factor in each case. |
|
(b) Production loss subsidy scheme for Verolme Cork Dockyard. |
To qualify for subsidy the yard must incur a loss on the cost of construction compared with the contract price of a ship. |
|
4. Travelling and subsistence expenses subsidy to the Association of Chambers of Commerce. |
The subsidy is paid annually in respect of attendance by the association at the Permanent Conference of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the EEC. |
|
5. Technical Assistance Grants Scheme (Terminated with effect from 11th February 1980) |
The scheme applied to firms in the manufacturing, distributive and insurance sectors and grants were payable in respect of the engagement of consultants with the object of improving efficiency and towards the cost of study visits abroad. Grant payments continue to be made in respect of (a) applications received before 11 February and approved subsequently and (b) applications which had already been approved prior to that date. |
366.
asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
The return here given does not include a reference to the schemes for civil and criminal legal aid or to the scheme or compensation for criminal injuries, none of which is administered direct by the Department. Particulars of these three schemes have already been supplied to the House.
Garda Pensions and Gratuities
Garda pensions and gratuities and pensions and gratuities for the widows and children of deceased members of the Garda Síochána are paid under the provisions of the Garda Síochána Pensions Orders, 1925 to 1976, the Garda Síochána Contributory Widows' and Children's Pension Scheme and the Garda Síochána Ex-Gratia Widows' and Children's Pension Scheme. The criteria for eligibility are set out in the Garda Síochána Pensions Orders.
LSF Compensation
The Local Security Force (Compensation for Personal Injuries) Scheme, 1943, as amended, provides for the payment of compensation for death or personal injuries sustained while on Local Security Force duty. The rates of payment are kept in line with the rates of occupational injuries benefits payable under the Social Welfare Acts. The criteria for eligibility are set out in the 1943 Scheme, as amended.
Adoption Grants
Grants are payable to voluntary adoption societies, which are registered with An Bord Uchtála, mainly to enable them to employ more qualified social workers. Applications are dealt with on their merits, account being taken of the main objective of the grants.
Grants for welfare work with offenders
Grants are paid to a number of voluntary organisations involved in welfare work with offenders released from custody, people on probation and people who are considered to be likely to become involved with the criminal law. The amounts given are either based on the expenditure incurred on the provision of services or as capitation payments in respect of individuals catered for.
Payment to the Incorporated Council of Law Reporting in Ireland
An annual payment is made to the Council towards the payment of the salaries of the Secretary/Editor and the reporters employed by the Council and to assist in the publication of legal text books. The amounts given take account of the expenditure under those heads.
FLAC
An annual grant has been paid to FLAC to help the organisation to provide legal aid and advice. The main criterion has been the level of expenditure on certain services.
Ground Rent Purchase Scheme
A subsidised purchase scheme is provided in the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No. 2) Act, 1978, during the five-year period from 1 August, 1978. It is available to ground rent tenants of dwelling-houses to whom Part II of the Act applies.
367.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
The following are the details relating to the Department of Finance.
Special Regional Development Fund
This fund is used to promote worth while economic projects in Western counties for which no other state assistance is available. Nominees for grants are recommended by the county development teams and the Central Development Committee. The fund is administered with the greatest degree of flexibility, each case being assessed on its merits, subject to the criteria that there is no duplication of assistance which might be provided by another State agency and that the provision of assistance from the fund would not be in conflict with the policy of any other agency concerned.
Employment Guarantee Fund
Section 2 of the Employment Guarantee Fund Act 1980 places the fund under the control and management of the Minister for Finance. Section 3 of the same Act specifies that the Minister "shall apply the moneys standing to the credit of the fund for the purpose of defraying expenditure on projects or schemes which in his opinion will result in the creation of additional employment or the maintenance of existing employment". In practice, however, detailed criteria for the allocation of moneys from the fund have been drawn up by the Tripartite Standing Committee on Employment which has been assigned responsibility under the current National Understanding for supervising the employment guarantee provision of the understanding.
368.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
I presume that the information sought by the Deputy relates to grants, subsidies or benefits payable to the public by my Department. Details including the main criteria of eligibility, are as follows:—
|
Type of Grant |
Amount |
Payable to |
Main Criteria |
|
New house |
£1,000 |
A person purchasing building or providing a new dwelling for his own occupation. |
1. Dwellings must meet specified standards as regards construction, floor area, etc. 2. Applicant or spouse must not have purchased or built a house previously. |
|
2. Applicant or spouse must not have purchased or built a house previously. |
|||
|
3. Dwelling must be occupied as normal place of residence. |
|||
|
Housing accommodation provided for elderly persons. |
£1,000 for each dwelling; £200 for a room, up to a maximum of £1,000, for persons providing welfare or caretaker services. |
Approved voluntary housing associations |
Housing provided must be for occupation by elderly persons at least 90% of whom would be otherwise eligible for local authority housing or institutional care at public expenses. |
|
Normal improvement. (See notes 1 and 2) |
£600 or two-thirds of approved cost which ever is the less. |
Any person (including a local authority) carrying out improvement works to a house. |
1. Dwelling, on completion of work, must meet a seven-point standard relating to structure, hot and cold water systems, heating, insulation etc: |
|
2. The dwelling must be occupied as a normal place of residence. |
|||
|
3. Approved work must cost at least £100. |
|||
|
Water and sewerage installations. (See notes 1 and 2) |
Private installations: £200 for water and £150 for sewerage services or two-thirds of the approved cost whichever is the less. |
Any person or groups of two or more persons carrying out installations. |
A water supply or sewerage facilities must not have previously been available or, if available, must now be seriously deficient. |
|
Group schemes: |
|||
|
£300 for water and £250 for sewerage in a dwelling and £200 for a farmyard water supply subject in all cases to a maximum of two-thirds of the approved cost whichever is the less. |
|||
|
Solid Fuel (See note 1) |
£600 or two-thirds of of the approved cost whichever is the less. |
Any person carrying out the installation in his house. |
Work must reduce dependence on oil and cost at at least £100. |
|
Essential Repairs |
£300 or two-thirds of the approved cost, whichever is the less. |
A person or County Council carrying out the work. The County Council may contribute in whole or part to the balance of the approved cost. |
Dwelling must be in a rural area and not be capable of being brought up to normal improvement standards at reasonable cost. |
|
Disabled Persons (See note 3). |
Entire approved cost in the case of a non-vested local authority dwelling; up to two-thirds of the approved cost in the case of any other dwelling. |
A person carrying out the work. |
Approved work must be for the proper accommodation of a physically disabled or severely mentally handicapped or mentally ill person. |
Notes:
1. The normal improvement, solid-fuel and private water and sewerage grants were terminated on 21 January 1980; grants are now payable only in respect of applications received on or before 1 February 1980.
2. Higher improvement and water and sewerage grants are payable in certain islands off the western coast.
3. Disabled persons grants are paid by local authorities who may recover from the Department half the cost incurred by them, subject to a maximum of £1,200 in any case.
369.
asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
The information sought by the Deputy is as follows:—
|
Vote Subhead |
Nature of Service |
Criteria for Eligibility |
|
G |
Research |
Grants are made to various research bodies towards expenses incurred on approved research projects. |
|
H |
Resettlement Allowances |
*A scheme of allowances is operated under regulations made pursuant to the Redundancy Payments Act, 1967. |
|
K |
National Industrial Safety Organisation |
The Department of Labour matches grants on a 4: 1 basis with vouched membership contributions from industry, within the confines of the subheads annual allocation. |
|
L |
Irish Management Institute |
A grant for management training is made annually to the Institute on the basis of its programmed budget. |
|
M |
Grant to Council for Education Recruitment and Training of Hotel and Catering Workers (CERT) |
A grant towards the costs of various programmes of education, recruitment and training of staff in the hotel catering and tourism industry carried out by CERT. |
|
N |
Grants for Services for Emigrants |
Grants related to an annual programme are made to emigrant services bodies on the recommendation of the Emigrants Committee. |
|
O |
Grants for Trade Union Education and Advisory Services |
This is an expenditure-related grant paid to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for trade union activity in education and training. |
|
P |
Employment Incentive Scheme |
*This scheme provides assistance at the rate of £14-20 per week for a maximum period of 24 weeks towards the costs of employment of additional employees. |
|
Q |
Grant to the Council for the Status of Women |
An annual grant is paid in respect of the accommodation, staffing and other expenses incurred by the Council in the course of its activities. |
|
R |
Grant to the Employment Equality Agency |
An annual grant is paid towards the cost of administraion travelling, subsistence and other expenses incurred by the Agency in performance of its functions under the Employment Equality Act, 1977. |
|
S |
Trade Union Amalgamations |
Grants are paid in respect of certain vouched expenses incurred in Trade Union amalgamations and transfers of engagements. |
|
T |
Employment Maintenance Scheme |
*Per capita payments at the rate of £5 per employee per week are made to employers in certain labour intensive industries for the purpose of maintaining employment. This scheme terminated on 31 March, 1980. |
|
U |
Work Experience Programme |
*Grants, at the rate of £20 per week for a maximum of 26 weeks are made via employers to young persons for undertaking work on a short term basis, for the purpose of providing them with work experience and career orientation. |
|
W |
Graduate Conversion Courses allowances |
Allowances ranging from £1,000 to £2,000 per person per academic year are payable to University Graduates undergoing courses of conversion to skills in which there are identified shortages. |
|
payments from Redundancy Fund |
Redundancy Payments Scheme |
*A scheme of payments is operated in accordance with criteria defined by the Redundancy Payments Acts, 1967 to 1979. |
Notes:
1. The list does not include grants-in-aid from the Vote of the Department of Labour.
2. Information leaflets are available in respect of the schemes marked with an asterisk.
370.
asked the Minister for the Public Service if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
There are no grants, subsidies or benefits administered by my Department.
371.
asked the Minister for Education if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
My Department are responsible for the administration of the following grants:
Aid towards the cost of school books.
The scheme applies to necessitous pupils in:—
(a) National Schools,
(b) Secondary Schools who are providing free education for day pupils,
(c) Comprehensive and Community Schools and
(d) Vocational Schools.
For the purposes of this scheme a necessitous pupil may be defined as a child from a home where genuine hardship exists because of unemployment, illness of breadwinner, inadequate means, widowhood of mother or other circumstances connoting a similar degree of hardship.
The selection of pupils to be assisted and the extent of assistance to be granted to each one is left to the discretion of the principal teachers subject to the amount of money made available to them.
Transport services for parents and relatives of children in care.
Free travel facilities are provided for periodic visits by parents, guardians and relatives of children in care in Residential Homes and Special Schools.
372.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
Particulars of the services administered by my Department are contained in the notes entitled "Main Activities of the Department" which were circulated to members of the Houses of the Oireachtas prior to the debate on the Votes for Agriculture and Lands. Further information on these services is contained in the latest edition of "Specially for the Farmer".
Copies of the two documents mentioned are available in the Dáil Library.
373.
asked the Minister for the Gaeltacht if she will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by her Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
Is é is feidhm reachtúil do mo Roinnse leas cultúrtha, sóisialach agus geilleagrach na Gaeltachta a chur chun cinn agus cabhrú le caomhnú agus leathnú na Gaeilge mar ghnáthurlabhra agus, faoi mar is léir ó Mheastachán na Roinne, tá roinnt mhaith scéimeanna á reachtáil chun na cuspóiri sin a bhaint amach. Beidh mé sásta cóip de scéim ar bith a chur ar fáil don Teachta ach ní dóigh liom go bhfuil sé réasúnach bheith ag súil le heolas faoi na coinniollacha sna scéimeanna uile mar fhreagra ar Cheist Dála.
374.
asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
The following schemes of financial assistance are operated by health boards:
(i) Disabled Persons Maintenance Allowances are payable to persons with long-term disabilities which prevent them from working, subject to assessment of the means of the applicant and his spouse. The maximum weekly allowance is £20.25 as from April 1980.
(ii) Infectious Diseases Maintenance Allowances are payable to persons who are prevented from making adequate provision for themselves or their families because they are undergoing treatment for certain specified infectious diseases. The principal maximum rates with effect from April 1980 are:—Personal rate, £15.30; Person with a dependant spouse, £36.95; Increase for a dependant other than a spouse, £8.05.
(iii) Mobility Allowances, at the rate of £150 per annum, are payable to severely handicapped persons who are unable to walk.
(iv) Domiciliary Care Allowances are payable to parents of severely handicapped children who are cared for at home and who require special care and attention in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age and sex. The allowance is £35 per month.
(v) Blind Welfare Allowances are additional to the blind pension or the disabled persons maintenance allowance for necessitous blind persons. The principal maximum rates are: Personal rate, £6.90; Blind couple, £13.75; Child dependent, £1.50.
(vi) Maternity Cash Grants of £8 in respect of each child are payable to women with full eligibility.
(vii) Grants for Motorised Transport are payable to disabled persons who require a car in connection with their work. The maximum grant is £1,000.
375.
asked the Minister for social Welfare if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
The schemes of social insurance and social assistance administered by my Department are set out in the booklet entitled "Summary of Social Insurance and Social Assistance Services" which is updated and published each year when the budget provisions in relation to social welfare are implemented. The information given in the booklet includes the conditions of eligibility for the various schemes.
Copies of the booklet have been distributed to all Deputies and Senators. I am, however, sending a copy separately to the Deputy in case his copy may not have reached him.
376.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
Details of grants administered by my Department and the criteria for eligibility for such grants are as follows:—
A. Planting grants scheme—this scheme, which includes a free technical advisory service, is available to encourage and assist the afforestation of privately-owned land in harmony with State forestry. The basic grant for conifer planting is £125 per acre, payable in three instalments over an 8-year period; there are additional grants for planting broadleave species and scrub clearance.
Certain requirements apply in relation to such matters as size of plantation, suitability and spacing of species etc. The grants are paid at my discretion and are subject to satisfactory formation, protection and maintenance of the plantation.
B. Grants are available to assist regional Regional Game Councils and Tourist Shoot Operators in the development of game resources. A free technical advisory service is included.
Applicants must have as their objective the improvement of game stocks by development of habitat, protection, management and utilisation.
C. Under section 11 of the Wildlife Act, 1976 grants may be made on an ad hoc basis to further "projects or activities which have as their object the conservation of wildlife generally, a particular aspect of such conservation or the development and proper use of hunting amenities and resources".
377.
asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
The only grant of this kind made by my Department is one to the Dublin Postal Youth Club. The grant is made on the basis that the Club provides recreational facilities for Junior Postmen and Junior Postwomen.
378.
asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the grants, subsidies or benefits administered by his Department and the criteria for eligibility in each case.
I assume that the Deputy is referring to grant, subsidy or benefit schemes which are available to the general public. No such schemes are administered by my Department. However, there is provision under the Merchant Shipping Acts for assistance in the relief and repatriation of seamen of Irish nationality or seamen of any other nationality serving on Irish ships who encounter difficulties abroad. These aids are well known to the limited class of person affected. My Department also operates a scheme of pensions and allowances to seamen injured through belligerent action while serving on Irish ships during World War II and to the widows and dependants of seamen who lost their lives in such circumstances.