Written Answers Nos. 352-374
352. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 is receiving a reduced rate of jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46142/12]
View answerDuring a review of the jobseeker's allowance claim of the person concerned, it was discovered that he has been in receipt of a pension from the Health Service Executive for some considerable time. Consequently his means were taken into consideration when calculating the amount of jobseeker’s allowance he was entitled to, and this resulted in a reduction of €89 per week.
354. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied with the system in operation that notifies long term recipients of carer's allowance that they are no longer eligible for the payment without a current assessment of the person in care and without leaving the applicant sufficient time to reapply for the allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46226/12]
View answerCarer’s Allowance is a payment to people who are looking after a person who needs support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness (including mental illness). To be eligible for carer’s allowance you must satisfy certain criteria. Some of the main conditions are that you must be 18 years of age or over and providing full-time care and attention to a person in need of care who does not normally live in an institution; you must be resident in the State and you must not be engaged in employment, self-employment, training or education courses outside the home for more than 15 hours a week.
The person being cared for must be over the age of 16 and be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention or aged under 16 and in receipt of a Domiciliary Care Allowance. Domiciliary care allowance ceases when a child reaches the age of 16 but carer’s allowance may continue if it is established that child is so incapacitated as to require full-time care. In such instances, a letter issues from the carer’s allowance section to the carer requesting medical information to be submitted for the caree prior to the child turning 16 years of age. Once this medical information is received, it is sent to one of the Department’s medical assessors for assessment. The carer’s allowance remains in payment during the review process until a decision is made.
Where payment is stopped as a result of a review, the customer can submit any new information or medical evidence they may wish to have considered and that information will be further examined by a medical assessor. It will avoid undue delay if a customer being reviewed submits all available and relevant information and evidence at the outset. In addition, a customer who is not satisfied with a decision may appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
355. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will be granted in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46240/12]
View answerThe person concerned recently applied for an exceptional needs payment which was disallowed. The person concerned can seek a review of that decision.
356. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct amount of contributory State pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46242/12]
View answerThis person’s application for State pension (contributory) has been reviewed. Under Irish social welfare legislation his application was disallowed, as his date of entry into social insurance was after his 56th birthday. Additionally he does not satisfy the minimum 520 full rate contributions paid condition. The Department’s records show that he has a total of 398 paid Irish contributions.
The person concerned was awarded a pro-rata State pension (contributory) under EC Regulations at a weekly rate of €41.80, with effect from 24 July 2012 when he reached the age of 66. This pension assessment is based on a combination of social insurance contributions he has paid in Ireland (398) and Lithuania (1,755) from 1962 to 2012. His claim form does not indicate employment in any other EU Member State and he has been asked for additional information in this regard.
358. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in awarding carer's allowance to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [46260/12]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 9th January 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
359. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer's allowance application in respect of a person (details provided) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46263/12]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 6th December 2011. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
360. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who has left their employment to seek alternative employment and have enough contributions, are entitled to claim jobseeker's benefit. [46276/12]
View answerTo qualify for a jobseeker’s benefit a person must satisfy certain conditions including being available for full-time employment and genuinely seeking work. Where a person has an underlying entitlement to jobseeker’s benefit but has left employment voluntarily without just cause or has lost employment through misconduct, a disqualification of up to nine weeks applies. All relevant factors are taken into consideration with each case being examined on its merits.
361. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [46291/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 3rd October 2012. 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. When received, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
362. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for carer's allowance will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46296/12]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 29th November 2011. The application is currently with a social welfare investigative officer for means assessment and confirmation that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the investigative officer has completed and submitted the report a deciding officer will make a full decision and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
363. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a decision on their carer's allowance application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46316/12]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 29th May 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
366. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection in relation to her acknowledgement that parents should not lose the one parent family payment when their youngest child reaches the age of seven unless a comprehensive system of Scandinavian style childcare is in place; if she will fulfil her promise to ensure the introduction of affordable childcare or after-school care nationally before the implementation of the new one parent family payment cut off point of seven years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46334/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare and Pensions Bill, 2012, introduced changes to the structure of the One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) and to the age of the youngest child at which the payment ceases. These changes are being phased in over time. For new recipients who made their OFP claim after the 3rd May 2012, the age of the youngest child will be reduced to 7 years of age from 2014. For all other recipients the age of the youngest child will be reduced to 7 years of age from 2015.
I have acknowledged that the reform of the OFP will require a broad engagement and co-ordinated response from Government. In that context, discussions have been taking place between the Department of Social Protection (DSP) the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) – which is the lead Department in relation to child care policy and provision – and the Department of Education and Skills (DES) with regard to the development of a policy framework around school-age child care and, in the short term, the assessment of the extent of the current provision of such care.
An inter-Departmental Group (IDG) on school-age child care, chaired by DSP and comprising of representatives from both the DCYA and DES, has been established and is presently examining the needs and provision of school-age child care in the country. The role of the IDG is to explore the best possible model for enhancing the provision of school-age child care to assist in meeting the child care needs of the customers of the DSP – including lone parents. The model in question will seek to address the child care requirements of children aged between 7 and 12 years (inclusive) and will also address the level of child care provision required during both the school term and the school holidays.
Extensive work has been completed by the IDG to quantify the level of school-age child care required to support the relevant social welfare income support recipients, in particular lone parents, for each year up to and including 2015. An examination has been completed of existing child care schemes and of the capital investments already made by the DCYA in this sector. The IDG intends to submit proposals on school-age child care to the Government for its consideration in due course.
368. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection when disability payment will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46364/12]
View answerAn application for disability allowance was received from the person concerned on 29 February 2012. This application was referred to one of the Department’s medical assessors who found that the person was not medically eligible for disability allowance. A letter issued on 28 May 2012 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently forwarded further medical evidence which was referred to a medical assessor. A decision will shortly be made on the review of the person’s application and he will be notified directly of the outcome.
369. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Social Protection if a solution can be found under the jobbridge scheme to the dilemma faced by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46384/12]
View answerThe National Internship Scheme provides internship opportunities of either 6 or 9 months for unemployed individuals on the Live Register, in organisations in the private, public and community voluntary sectors and at present is limited to individuals who are in receipt of a live claim (Jobseekers Allowance/Jobseekers Benefit/One Parent Family Payment/Disability Allowance) or signing on for credits for at least 3 of the last 6 months (78 Days).
The eligibility to access the National Internship Scheme is based on the overall objective of Labour Market policy in ensuring a pathway to appropriate employment, training and education opportunities for those on the Live Register. It is important that as employment opportunities become available they are taken up by those on the Live Register. The structure for achieving this objective is through a reinvigorated National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) which currently provides the framework for engaging with the unemployed.
Given the scale of the unemployment crisis, the key objective of the Labour Market policy and of the NEAP will be to keep those on the Live Register close to the Labour Market and prevent the drift into long-term unemployment. As such, the policy objective is to prioritise scarce resources on those on the Live Register so as to increase their chances of leaving it.
370. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on transferring the cost of statutory sick pay payments from her Department to employers in view of the fat that it will increase costs on employers and therefore could lead to payroll cost cutting measures which could increase unemployment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46386/12]
View answerThe Government is considering the introduction of a scheme of statutory sick pay at this time for a number of compelling reasons – as a measure to help in addressing the deficit in the social insurance fund; as a measure to limit progression from short-term illness to long-term illness or disability; and to bring Ireland into line with practice in other countries in this area. There is a range of complex issues that need to be addressed before any decision could be taken by Government on the possible introduction of such a scheme – the extent of coverage; the rate of payment; possible compensatory mechanisms for employers where appropriate and how a scheme would be enforced and policed. I am acutely conscious of the pressures facing employers in the current economic climate and I can assure the Deputy that their views - and the views of all stakeholder groups - will be taken into account in considering the matter.
372. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social Protection the average length of time it takes to process an application for carer's allowance; and in the event of refusal the average length of time to process an appeal of the decision to refuse. [46455/12]
View answerThe Department is committed to delivering the best possible service to its customers. Currently the average time taken to award a carer’s allowance application is approximately 28 weeks. It should be noted that, following a modernisation and business process improvement project, new structures and processes have been put in place with effect from 3 September 2012. In September 2012, the number of new claims processed significantly exceeded the number received and this improvement has continued into this month. However, it will be a number of months before the backlog is cleared.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the current average time taken to process carer’s allowance appeals decided by summary decision is 32.7 weeks, while the current average time for those requiring an oral hearing is 43.5 weeks. Generally the vast majority of cases fall within these average times but extenuating factors, often outside of the control of the Social Welfare Appeals Office, will cause greater delays in some cases.
373. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 367 and 368 of the 16 of October 2012, if she has examined the considerable hardship now caused to single person's due to the differentiation between rent supplement rates and market rent rates within the Kildare area; if she has any immediate plans to address this discrepancy within the rent supplement programme with particular reference to anecdotal evidence of “topping up” whereby tenants are forced into a position to give additional money to their landlords because the rent supplement rates are too low; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46463/12]
View answerThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 90,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €436 million for 2012.
Rent supplement is calculated to ensure that the person, after payment of rent, has an income equal to the basic supplementary welfare allowance rate, less a specified weekly minimum contribution which recipients are required to pay from their own resources. The “top up” payments referred to fall into two specific categories. Where a person has an additional income above the rate of supplementary welfare allowance they are, in certain circumstances, allowed to top up their rent as they will still have sufficient income to meet their basic needs after paying their rent.
The second type of top up payment can occur where the application to the Department declares a rent lower than that actually being charged by the landlord. Any instance of false declarations should be reported to the relevant Department representatives who have specific legislative powers to deal with such offences. There has been no evidence presented to the Department showing widespread or systemic ‘false declarations’ of rent supplement through the use of illegal top-ups.
Analysis shows that for County Kildare, there are properties available within the maximum rent limits for rent supplement recipients, including rental properties available to single persons. Department officials dealing with rent supplement tenants will continue to ensure that their accommodation needs are met and that the residence is reasonably suited to their residential and other needs. Officials in my Department continue to examine the impact of the rent limits on those who claim rent supplement but at this stage I have no plans to revise the existing rent limits. The next review of rent limits will take place before June 2013 and any changes to the limits in County Kildare will be considered as part of this review.
374. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if any review has been undertaken by her Department on the impact which cuts in rent supplement, implemented earlier this year, are having on those living in the private rented sector and who are dependent on the payment; if she has particular concerns about the effects that the cuts are having on households who find it difficult to find accommodation within the rent supplement limits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46479/12]
View answerThe State plays a major role in the private rental market through the rent supplement scheme. As the Department currently funds approximately 30% of the private rented sector it is essential that State support for rents are kept under review and reflect current market conditions. There are approximately 90,000 persons in receipt of rent supplement for which the Government has provided €436 million in 2012.
Revised maximum rent limits came into force on 1 January 2012 and are in place until June 2013. These limits were set after an analysis of the most up to date market data available. The emphasis of the rent limit review was to ensure that maximum value for money for tenants and the taxpayer was achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market for private rented accommodation.
The revised limits are applicable to new rent supplement tenancies from January 2012 and existing tenancies on review. Approximately 40,000 rent supplement claims have been awarded in 2012 indicating that accommodation can be secured within the new limits. Department officials dealing with rent supplement tenants will continue to ensure that their accommodation needs are met; there will no incidence of homelessness due to these changes. Officials in my Department continue to review the impact of the rent limits on those who claim rent supplement but at this stage I have no plans to revise the existing rent limits.
375. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason incapacity supplement is not a qualifying payment for partial capacity benefit; and if there are plans to extend the partial capacity benefit scheme to make it available to those in receipt of incapacity supplement. [46480/12]
View answerThe aim of the partial capacity benefit scheme is to address a limitation of the current welfare system by explicitly recognising and responding to the reality that some people with disabilities will have a capacity to engage in open market employment while continuing to need some income support from the State – the objective being to incentivise people to return to the workplace. Incapacity supplement is an increase to disablement pension, payable where a person, as a result of an occupational accident/disease, is considered to be permanently incapable of work and therefore does not have a capacity to engage in open market employment and be eligible for partial capacity benefit.
376. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she has taken to date and future proposals to address the issue of child benefit being paid in respect of children living outside the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46483/12]
View answerThe social security rights of people living and working in the EU are governed by EU regulations which co-ordinate social security systems and are designed to ensure that people are not disadvantaged by moving within the EU to take up work. For the purposes of the EU regulations, Irish child benefit is classified as a family benefit and there are specific rules governing the payment of these benefits. EU nationals who come to work in Ireland but whose families reside in another EU Member State may have an entitlement to family benefits in Ireland under the EU regulations. As a Member State of the European Union, Ireland is bound to apply these regulations in accordance with the objective of the EC Treaty regarding free movement of persons.
Before payment is made in respect of children resident in other EU countries it is necessary to contact the authorities in the country of residence of the children to confirm details and establish what, if any, family benefits are payable in the home country as this will impact on any entitlement under the Irish system. Once payment has commenced, as part of the Department’s on-going control programme, these customers are required to confirm periodically their continued entitlement to benefit. Where questions arise in relation to entitlement, or there is a delay in responding to enquiries from the Department, payment is suspended pending investigation.
Changes to EU legislation to modify child benefit entitlements in respect of non-resident children requires the agreement of the EU Commission as any proposals for amendments must be tabled by it. I have raised the issue with the Commission and with relevant Ministers from other EU countries, and will continue to do so. The Commission stressed the importance attached to the system of coordinating social security for the role it plays in encouraging and facilitating free movement of people across the Union and indicated extreme reluctance to introduce changes along the lines that have been discussed in this country because they would discriminate against migrant workers and would not be in line with judgements of the Court of Justice of the European Union in this area.
378. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 100 of 16 October 2012, confirming a higher expected out-turn for 2010 of €20.7 to €20.8 billion, if she still intend to target €540 million of new cuts in Budget 2013 as per the Comprehensive Expenditure Review or will she be revising this target and if so by how much. [46491/12]
View answerThe Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2012 – 2014 published by Government last December provides for additional new expenditure reduction measures of €540 million to be achieved by the Department of Social Protection in Budget 2013. My officials are currently preparing, on a no policy change basis, an estimate of the total expenditure of the Department in 2013. This estimate will have regard to the latest information available on scheme trends, macro-economic indicators, demographic change, the carryover financial impacts of measures announced in Budget 2012 and previous Budgets as well as the projected out-turn for 2012. The latter, in itself, is just one factor influencing this pre-Budget estimate for 2013. The preparations for Budget 2013 are still underway and its content has not yet been finalised. The allocation for my Department in 2013 will be announced on Budget Day in conjunction with associated expenditure measures, including the financial impact of same in 2013 and subsequent years.
379. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a jobseeker's benefit appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46522/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29 August 2012. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
380. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made by her Department with the review of the domiciliary care allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46539/12]
View answerI understand that the review of the operation of the domiciliary care allowance scheme is progressing well in accordance with to work plan. The working group is due to submit its report by the end of the year.
381. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in a tabular form a list of quasi-governmental organisations and agencies that have been created since 9 March 2011;the date on which the body was created; the name of the body; the 2012 budget for the body; the number of employees of the body and if the body engages manpower resources from outside the body. [47131/12]
View answerNo quasi-governmental organisation or agency has been set up under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection since 9 March 2011.
382. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the restrictions if any, that are in place which might prevent the sale of nooski traps and rodent control products (details supplied) here; if a licence to sell the products is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46495/12]
View answerThe use of traps, snares and nets in relation to wildlife is governed by the Wildlife Act 1976 (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulations 2003. The Nooski trap referred to by the Deputy does not meet the requirements set by these Regulations and is, therefore, illegal.
383. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in tabular form all appointments to State boards under his ambit since the Government took office; when the person was appointed; if the position entitles the holder to remuneration and if so the amount in each case; if the appointment was made in accordance with new procedures whereby Departments has to invite expressions of interest from the public in vacancies on the boards under their aegis. [45798/12]
View answer384. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of chairs of State boards that have been appointed since the Government came into office; if there is a remuneration for the position and if so the amount of same; if the appointee was required to go before Oireachtas Committees to discuss what they have to offer to the particular Board or Committee to which they are being appointed. [45814/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together.
The information sought by the Deputy is outlined in the table below. It should be noted that board members who are currently serving as public or civil servants no longer receive board fees since 1 November 2011, as set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and that in certain other cases members have chosen to waive their fees.
|
State board |
Board members appointed since March 2011 |
Chairs appointed since March 2011 |
Date of appointment |
Were the board members appointed following public announcement and invitation of expressions of interest? |
Did the chair appear before an Oireachtas Committee? |
Annual remuneration payable to chairs and board members. |
|
Arts Council |
Éimear O'Connor Ciarán Walsh Mark O'Regan John Fanning |
N/A |
13/09/2011 13/09/2011 13/09/2011 07/10/2011 |
Yes |
N/A |
Chair - €8,978 Member - €5,985 |
|
Heritage Council |
Ciara Breathnach Kieran O’Conor Ted Creedon Catherine Heaney Fidelma Mullane Michael Parsons |
N/A |
All appointments made on 25/01/2012 |
Yes |
N/A |
Chair - €8,978 Member - €5,985 |
|
National Concert Hall |
Kieran Tobin (Chair) Dearbhla Collins John McGrane Laurie Cearr Gina Menzies Bruce Arnold Margaret Ryan Ray Bates Alma Hynes Artemis Kent Deborah Kelleher Peter McEvoy Pat Heneghan Rachel Holstead Patricia Slavin |
Kieran Tobin |
Chair appointed on 30/08/2011 All other appointments made on 11/07/2011 |
Yes |
Yes |
Chair - €8,978 No fees payable to board members. |
|
National Gallery |
Fred Krehbiel |
N/A |
08/06/2011 |
No – the appointment was underway prior to the introduction of the new arrangements. |
N/A |
Chair - €8,978 Member - €5,985 |
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
John R. Bowen (Chair) Sheila Maguire Noel O'Keefe Úna Feely Jim Corr Tim Brosnan Tim Lucey |
John R. Bowen |
All appointments made in December 2011 |
No – all of the appointments were reappointments. |
N/A |
No fees payable to board members. |
|
Chester Beatty Library |
Patricia Donlon Declan Downey |
N/A |
P Donlon appointed in November 2011 D Downey appointed in May 2012 |
Yes |
N/A |
No fees payable to board members. |
|
National Archives Advisory Council |
Paul Rousse Mary McAuliffe |
N/A |
Both appointments made on 03/02/2012 |
No – the appointments were underway prior to the introduction of the new arrangements. |
N/A |
Fees not payable to members. |
|
Irish Manuscripts Commission |
James McGuire (Chair) Nicholas Canny David Dickson David Edwards Chris Flynn Greta Jones James Kelly Michael Kennedy Máire Mac Conghail John McCafferty Aileen McClintock Deirdre McMahon Donal Moore Thomas O'Connor Dáibhí Ó Cróinín Ruan O'Donnell Mary O'Dowd Jane Ohlmeyer Fiona Ross |
James McGuire |
All appointments made in November 2011 |
No – all of the appointments were reappointments. |
N/A |
Chair has waived his fee in 2012. No fees payable to commission members. |
For completeness, the table below sets out appointments to the boards of Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency, which comprise An Foras Teanga, a North South Implementation Body. Appointments to the boards of such bodies are made by the North South Ministerial Council, arising from nominations on a 50:50 basis from each jurisdiction.
|
State board |
Board members appointed since March 2011 |
Chairs appointed since March 2011 |
Date of appointment |
Were the board members appointed following public announcement and invitation of expressions of interest? |
Did the chair appear before an Oireachtas Committee? |
Annual remuneration payable to chairs and board members. |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
Liam Ó Maolmhichíl (Chair) Eoghan Mac Cormaic (Vice-Chair) Pól Callaghan Colm Cavanagh Áine Ní Chiaráin Bríd Ní Chonghoile Liam Kennedy Seosamh Mac Donnchadha Tomás Mac Eochagáin Marcus Mac Ruairí Seán Mícheal Ó Dómhnaill Dónal Ó hAiniféin Therese Ruane Tomás Sharkey Cáitríona Ní Shúilleabháin Éamonn Ó Gríbín |
Liam Ó Maolmhichíl |
Éamonn Ó Gríbín appointed on 20/04/2012 All other appointments made on 13/12/2011 |
N/A |
N/A |
Chair: €11,970/Stg £8,140; Vice-Chair: €9,830/Stg£6,690 Member: €7,695/Stg £5,235 |
|
Ulster Scots Agency |
Tom Scott (Chair) Tony Crooks (Vice-Chair) Ida Fisher William Leatham Val O’Kelly Hilary Singleton Sharon Treacy-Dunne Trevor Wilson |
Tom Scott |
All appointments made on 13/12/2011 |
N/A |
N/A |
Chair: €11,970/Stg £8,140; Vice-Chair: €9,830/Stg£6,690 Member: €7,695/Stg £5,235 |
385. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if funding will be available for bursaries to the Arts Council of Ireland in January 2013; if these bursaries will include opera bursary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46362/12]
View answerThe Government's policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms including opera, to increase access to and participation in the arts, and to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life. I am continuing to work towards this goal with my Department and the agencies within its remit, and I remain committed to securing the best possible level of funding for the arts sector. As the Deputy is aware, primary responsibility for funding and promotion of the arts rests with the Arts Council. The Council's grant-in-aid allocation for 2012 is €63.241m. The Council is independent in its decision-making process, including the mechanisms and methods for such grant aid. Details of the Council's programmes and criteria for applications for same are available on the Council's website at www.artscouncil.ie , as well as the decision-making panel and statistics on applications.
386. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reasons that complaints against the Arts Council of Ireland cannot be brought before the Ombudsman in the interest of transparency; if progress has been made to extend the remit of the Ombudsman to the Arts Council of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46363/12]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the primary purpose of the Ombudsman (Amendment) Bill, which it is planned to enact by end-year, is to extend the Ombudsman’s jurisdiction to all public bodies, other than in circumstances where a public body does not have a significant administrative interface with the general public. As my colleague, Mr Brendan Howlin, T.D., Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, indicated in the course of the Committee Stage debate on this Bill in the Seanad, the process will secure the extension of the Ombudsman’s power to review administrative decision-making to 140 public bodies which are currently not within her remit. This will include the Arts Council.
387. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in a tabular form a list of quasi-governmental organisations and agencies that have been created since 9 March 2011;the date on which the body was created; the name of the body; the 2012 budget for the body; the number of employees of the body and if the body engages manpower resources from outside the body. [47121/12]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that no organisations or agencies of the nature referred to have been created under the aegis of my Department since 9 March 2011.
388. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the funding that was allocated to Inland Fisheries Ireland since 2010, on a national and regional basis. [45718/12]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is a National Body formed in July 2010 from an amalgamation of the former Central Fisheries Board and the 7 Regional Fisheries Boards. The establishment of IFI facilitates more efficient and effective management of the inland fisheries resource along with an improved national perspective in the formulation of inland fisheries policy which is more streamlined, coherent and integrated. There is a single allocation of funding to the organisation on a national basis. Outturn on spending on a regional basis is a day to day operational matter for IFI and its Board.
IFI’s outturn figure in 2010 was €13.714 million for the period July to December. The outturn figure for the Central Fisheries Board and the 7 Regional Fisheries Boards was €12.764 million for the period January to June. IFI’s outturn figure in 2011 was €25.718 million. IFI has been allocated €28.462 million for the current year.
Direct Exchequer funding for IFI was reduced by €2.582 million in 2010 compared to 2009 and there was a further €0.749 million reduction in 2011, which are mainly though not exclusively, attributable to savings arising from the restructuring of the inland fisheries sector. The increase in allocation for 2012 can be attributed to the additional €3m capital funding towards the rationalisation of IFI’s Dublin accommodation with the principal aim of achieving major cost efficiencies over the medium to long term while preserving critical functional capability.
389. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the criteria used to decide the season closing date for inland fishing and the reason some rivers are shut down two weeks earlier than others. [45719/12]
View answerThe open season for salmon fishing in Ireland is set by regulation, on the advice of the Standing Scientific Committee, and generally closes on 30 September. I am advised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that in light of requests for extension of the season, it requested the Standing Scientific Committee (SSC) to devise criteria that could be used to extend the angling season.
The following guidance was provided by the Standing Scientific Committee for Salmon (SSC) on the criteria that should be evaluated when considering a proposal for an extension to the angling season in a salmon catchment from a scientific perspective:
An angling season should only be extended if the salmon stock has been meeting Conservation Limit (CL) and is likely to continue to meet its CL
if an extension is given i.e. provided no more than the harvestable surplus is taken.
Where an extension is being considered, there should be a reasonable sized quota and a reasonable proportion of the surplus remaining after
the original season has ended to avoid recruitment over fishing.
An extension could be facilitated on a river with a smaller remaining quota if catch and release was only allowed during the extension period.
Avoiding recruitment over fishing would also be facilitated by having good information on run timing such that the likely proportion of the stock
which will return prior to and within the extension period can be evaluated.
It is recommended that the presence of fresh fish prior to or during the extension period can be confirmed by local IFI Inspectors or that this is
likely from previous year’s experience.
In addition, care must also be taken to address the possibility of taking red or coloured (often referred to as unclean or unseasonable) salmon during a period when the salmon angling season is extended after September. The 1959 Fisheries Act protects ‘unseasonable fish’ in Section 176 as follows: 176.—(1) If any person takes, kills or destroys any unseasonable salmon or trout, such person shall be guilty of an offence (the expression “unseasonable salmon or trout” means any salmon or trout which is about to spawn, or which has spawned and has not recovered from spawning;).
390. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the location at which Inland Fisheries are counting salmon stocks in the River Barrow; and the way these locations were selected. [45720/12]
View answerCatchment-wide electric fishing (CWEF) is the semi-quantitative technique used to assess salmon fry (0+) abundance on rivers like the River Barrow which are closed to angling and do not have any other means to assess salmon status. The data collected using this standard approach is comparable with similar data from other rivers nationally.
Sampling is generally undertaken at sites throughout each catchment to report on likely salmon bearing habitat. Sites are selected in riffle/gravel areas, suitable for wading, where there is good access to the river. Sites are generally selected at more than 1 km distances from each other and an effort is made to include all the tributaries in the catchment.
No sites are sampled in the Barrow main channel (navigable section) as it is unsuitable for salmon production and is too deep to sample. The sampling programme for the Barrow (and all other catchments) is designed to ensure coverage of as many sites as is feasible across the extent of the catchment, within the time frame allocated, based on the methodology outlined.
The catchment wide survey on the Barrow catchment (85 sites) was carried out in August and September 2012. This was the fifth CWEF survey of this catchment. With the exception of 2008, the Barrow survey has been carried out annually since 2007.
391. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his views on the importance of having in place high quality broadband at Carraroe, County Sligo where there is a high level of retail activity and small and medium enterprises located in Sligo; the reason Eircom is not proceeding to activate from their exchange at Carraroe; if the Communications Regulators attention has been drawn to the lack of proper broadband at this industrialised area of Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45796/12]
View answer394. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources his views on the importance of having in place high quality broadband at Carraroe, County Sligo, where there is a high level of retail activity and small and medium enterprises located in County Sligo; the reason Eircom is not proceeding to activate from their exchange at Carraroe; if the attention of the Communications Regulator has been drawn to the lack of proper broadband at this industrial area of County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45933/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 394 together.
The Government remains firmly committed to ensuring that all businesses and citizens have access to high-speed, high quality broadband. This commitment is set out in the Government’s recently-published National Broadband Plan. In addition to setting out clear targets in relation to speeds, the Plan also sets ambitious deadlines for achieving these plus a range of complementary measures (such as demand stimulation, review of our national spectrum policy, addressing planning barriers clarifying the role of State-owned infrastructure in the delivery of telecommunications services), which will also help to expedite the deployment of the necessary infrastructure to deliver these high-speed services.
Preparatory work on undertaking a national mapping exercise has already begun in my Department and this important task can begin in earnest once the current spectrum auction process has been completed by ComReg. This mapping exercise will enable the Government to make informed decisions about where exactly State intervention will be required to ensure that the investment in next generation broadband services takes place.
Given that eircom is a private company, I am not in a position to comment on the upgrading of its various exchanges countrywide. It is my understanding that such decisions are taken based primarily on the anticipated commercial return from the investment. I would reiterate however, that the Government remains committed to the delivery of high speed broadband to all businesses and citizens, irrespective of location so as to ensure that all parts of Ireland, including Carraroe, County Sligo, will have access to a modern and efficient broadband service.
392. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in tabular form all appointments to State boards under his ambit since the Government took office; when the person was appointed; if the position entitles the holder to remuneration and if so the amount in each case; if the appointment was made in accordance with new procedures whereby Departments has to invite expressions of interest from the public in vacancies on the boards under their aegis. [45800/12]
View answer393. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the number of chairs of State boards that have been appointed since the Government came into office; if there is a remuneration for the position and if so the amount of same; if the appointee was required to go before Oireachtas Committees to discuss what they have to offer to the particular Board or Committee to which they are being appointed. [45816/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 393 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that in line with the Government decision of April 2011, which put in place new arrangements for the making of appointments to State Boards and bodies, I invited Expressions of Interest on the 3rd of June 2011 from persons wishing to be considered for appointment to vacancies on State Boards under the aegis of my Department, which were expected to occur up to the end of 2011. On 9th February 2012 I invited further expressions of interest from persons wishing to serve on any of the Boards under the aegis of my Department. The Deputy will appreciate that appointments to State Boards are made in accordance with the relevant governing statute and I am not obliged to make appointments from tendered expressions of interest and have the discretion to do so if I consider it appropriate.
Since taking office on 9th March 2011 I have made 35 appointments to the boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department and the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has made 10 appointments. Details of the 45 appointments are set out below together with details of the remuneration which may be paid in respect of such appointments. Four of the appointments made have been to the position of Chairperson, two of these appointees have to date appeared before the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee in line with the Government decision. The two other appointees will appear before the Joint Oireachtas Committee at future dates to be agreed.
The Deputy will be aware that the One Person One Salary policy introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform provides that serving public sector employees are not eligible to receive remuneration in relation to their membership of boards of State bodies. The Deputy will also be aware that non-public sector board members may choose to voluntarily waive their fees as a matter of personal choice in recognition of the current difficult economic circumstances. Both of these policy initiatives of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have been brought to the attention of the bodies under the aegis of my Department. Consequently, the remuneration details in the table below refer to fees that may be payable and are not indicative of fees actually being received by board members. The payment of board members’ expenses is an operational matter for each State body.
In addition since these appointments were made one of the members of the board of SEAI, Michael Conlon, has resigned.
|
Body |
Appointee |
Date Appointed |
Fee Band |
|
An Post |
Mr Donal Connell Mr James Wrynn Mr Paul Henry |
14/08/2011 15/09/2011 15/09/2011 |
Category 1 Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
|
Bord na Móna |
Ms Denise Cronin Mr. John Horgan (Chairperson) Ms Elaine Treacy |
15/09/2011 24/04/2012 (as a Director) 27/09/2012 (as Chairperson) 17/07/2012 |
Category 2 Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
|
EirGrid |
Dr Gary Healy Ms Regina Moran Mr Liam O’Halloran Ms Bride Rosney Ms Doireann Barry* |
15/09/2011 15/09/2011 15/09/2011 15/09/2011 22/12/2011 |
Category 2 Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
|
ESB |
Ms Noreen Wright Mr Seamus Mallon |
28/06/2011 03/05/2011 |
Category 1 Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
|
Irish National Petroleum Corporation (INPC) |
Mr Sean Fitzgerald Mr Vincent Caffrey Ms Aoife MacEvilly Mr Aidan Donnelly |
01/06/2011 01/06/2011 18/07/2012 18/07/2012 |
Category 2 Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
|
National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) |
Ms Aoife MacEvilly |
11/04/2011 |
Category 4 Chair: €8,978 Director: €5,985 |
|
TG4 |
Mr. Micheál Seoighe Ms. Mairad Ní Cheoinín Mr. Joe Connolly Mr. Des Geraghty Ms. Andra Ní alaithe Ms Mairead Nic Suibhne Ms. Michelle Ní Chróinín Siún Ní Raghallaigh (Chairperson) |
17/04/2012 17/04/2012 17/04/2012 17/04/2012 17/04/2012 17/04/2012 17/04/2012 17/04/2012 |
Category 2 Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
|
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) |
Ms Julie O’Neill Mr. Edgar Morgenroth Mr. Michael Conlon Ms. Anne Farrell Mr. Declan Waugh Ms. Michelle Green Mr. Brian Carroll Mr. Brendan Halligan (Chairperson) |
15/09/2011 24/04/2012 15/09/2011 (but resigned on 21/08/2012) 24/04/2012 29/05/2012 29/05/2012 26/06/2012 01/10/2012 (re-appointed) |
Category 3 Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
|
Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) |
Mr. Paul Holden Mr. Seamus Ratigan |
29/05/2012 29/05/2012 |
Category 3 Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) |
Mr. Ronan O’Reilly (Chairperson) Ms. Anne Butler Mr. Robin Simpson Dr. Enda Howley Dr. Denis Keliher Ms. Marion Coy Mr. Justin Gleeson Ms Sandra Ryan Mr. Padraic Jordan Mr. Oliver Hickey |
22/05/2012 22/05/2012 22/05/2012 22/05/2012 22/05/2012 22/05/2012 22/05/2012 22/05/2012 22/05/2012 19/06/2012 |
Category 3 Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
*No fee applicable
395. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the auction and bidding for 4G spectrum will take place; the timeframe for that process and the persons likely to be in the bidding; and his views on the proposed 4G roll out. [46014/12]
View answerThe management of the radio spectrum is a statutory function of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) under the Communications Regulation Act, 2002 as amended. ComReg set out the process it has adopted for the award of rights of use for radio frequencies in the 800Mhz, 900Mhz and 1800Mhz bands in its information memorandum and associated documents (ComReg document 12/52). These documents also set out the reasons, analysis and other material relied upon by ComReg in support of its substantive decisions regarding the minimum coverage and rollout requirements for the rights of use to be granted in the award process. This award process is a vital step in allowing for the next generation of advance mobile services to be made available for Irish consumers and businesses from next year. The process of awarding of spectrum rights is entirely a matter for ComReg and in light of this and the extremely commercially sensitive nature of the process, I cannot comment further on its progress at this time.
396. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on a matter (details supplied) regrading broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46036/12]
View answerThe State is not a provider of telecommunication services, except in instances of clear market failure such as in the cases of both the National and Rural Broadband Schemes. Such interventions are always subject to EU State Aid clearance to ensure no unacceptable level of market distortion takes place. The Rural Broadband Scheme (RBS) was launched last year in recognition of the fact that despite the widespread availability of broadband throughout Ireland, there still remained individual premises that were unable to receive affordable basic broadband provision. The Scheme was designed to give commercial operators the opportunity to serve applicants on commercial terms in the first instance. Where a commercial connection could not be made the Scheme was designed to provide some subsidy towards the initial capital cost of providing a connection to an applicant’s premises. The provision of grants was not part of the design of the Scheme.
In total, there were 2011 applications from persons who consented to receive offers of service from Internet Service Providers participating in the Scheme. Offers of service were made to all of these applicants during the period from April to the end of July this year. The response to date by industry suggests that virtually all eligible applicants under the Scheme are capable of obtaining a broadband service from a supplier using one of the available technology platforms i.e. DSL, fixed or mobile wireless, cable or satellite. Obviously, where a commercial service is shown to be available, the State cannot intervene with a subvention for alternative services as to do so would be a breach of State Aid rules.
The combination of private investment and State interventions means that Ireland will meet the EU Commission’s “Digital Agenda for Europe” target of having a basic broadband service available to all areas by 2013.
The Government accepts that the widespread availability of high speed broadband is a key requirement in delivering future economic and social development. With basic broadband services now widely available across Ireland, the challenge is to accelerate the roll out of high speed services. The Government’s National Broadband Plan, which I published recently, aims to radically change the broadband landscape in Ireland by ensuring that high speed services of at least 30Mbps are available to all of our citizens and businesses, well in advance of the EU’s target date of 2020, and that significantly higher speeds are available to as many homes and businesses as possible.
The Plan commits to high speed broadband availability across the country – specifically: 70Mbps – 100Mbps will be available from the commercial market operators to more than half of the population by 2015; at least 40Mbps, and in many cases faster speeds, to at least a further 20% (and potentially as much as 35%) of the population during the lifetime of the Government; and a minimum of 30Mbps for every remaining home and business in the country, also during the lifetime of the Government.
During the preparation of the Plan, the commercial market operators indicated that they expect to provide 70Mbps to 100Mbps services to 50% of the population by 2015. The areas to be provided with those services will be determined by the commercial market operators.
One of the first steps in delivering on the 30Mbps and 40Mbps commitments will be the completion of a formal national mapping exercise to determine the exact position in relation to commercial service providers’ existing and planned broadband services throughout the country. Preparatory work has commenced within my Department to expedite this mapping exercise.
The mapping exercise will identify the areas of the country where there is market failure in the provision of high speed broadband services. It will also identify where the market is expected to succeed and fail in the delivery of high speed broadband over the coming years. Until that process is complete, the precise areas of the country which will require State intervention will not be known. I would reiterate however, that the Government remains committed to the delivery of the speeds referred to above, to ensure that all parts of Ireland, including areas such as Ballynacargy, will have at least 30Mbps connectivity.
397. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount owed in respect of television licences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46047/12]
View answerIn 2011, evasion was estimated to be over 15%, and thus costing upwards of €25 million. My Department is currently examining the latest projections for 2012 with a view to providing a revised estimate of evasion. While this work has yet to be completed, it is my understanding, however, that it is unlikely to show any decrease in what is already an unacceptably high level of TV licence evasion. In tackling this problem, every effort is made by An Post to bring evaders into the licensed pool and a considerable amount of its time and resources are spent in dealing with evasion.
As a first step, An Post concentrate their efforts on getting people to buy the licence when due. A series of reminder notices are sent out urging people to pay their TV Licence. Payment has been made easier with the introduction over the last couple of years of a dedicated website (www.tvlicence.ie), 24 hour automated call centre (1890-228528) and the option to pay by direct debit instalments. In addition, the older traditional methods of payment at the counter in a post office and with the TV licence stamps remain available.
Every effort is taken to identify unlicensed premises, from people whose licence has lapsed to people who have moved premises. This is done by a number of measures including additional reminders, inspector visits and eventually by court summons. The general public is currently being informed through advertisement that regardless of the digital switchover on October 24th 2012, there is a legal obligation to hold a TV licence. The digital switchover does not change this statutory fact.
