Written Answers Nos. 431-443
431. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 402 of 13 November 2012, if she will accept this Parliamentary Question as a written request for a review in respect of an application for jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52954/12]
View answerA review of this case is being undertaken at present and the person concerned will be informed of the outcome once the review is completed.
433. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52986/12]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on 15 October 2012. Once all the necessary investigations have been carried out, a decision will issue directly with the outcome to the person in question.
434. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal against the decision to refuse an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53033/12]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 20 July 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 on 5 November 2012 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.
435. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on an introduction of a vouched scheme or smart card for redemption of the winter fuel allowance to ensure the purchase of legitimate and tax compliant coal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53052/12]
View answerThe current fuel allowance season commenced in October this year and will run for 26 weeks until April 2013. My Department will spend almost €215 million in 2012 on the scheme benefitting almost 400,000 people.
The purpose of the fuel allowance scheme is to assist pensioners and householders on long-term social welfare payments with meeting the cost of their heating needs during the winter season. The allowance represents a contribution towards a person's normal heating expenses. It is not intended to meet those costs in full.
The allowance is €20 per week and is paid with the person’s weekly social welfare payment. This allows the recipient to purchase whatever type of fuel they wish, be that oil, coal or natural gas. Vouchers have been used in the past but such schemes, by their nature, introduce stigma to a scheme. It is also the experience of the Department that voucher systems are administratively complex, inordinately costly and raise fraud and control issues.
Given that the face value of any vouchers issued would be relatively small, the administration would significantly add to the cost of the scheme. Such a system would have to operate across a wide diversity of fuel suppliers, given the range and type of home heating products available, including suppliers based outside the jurisdiction. It would also require the putting in place of a separate administrative arrangement, adding further complexity to service provision for customers. Issues would arise with the distribution, reconciliation and control of vouchers. In addition, vouchers are easily lost and there would be much greater fraud potential, requiring more involved control procedures to minimise risks.
Given the Department’s previous experience with vouchers and the Department’s current e-payment strategy, it is not intended that a voucher system will be introduced in connection with any aspect of the payments made at this time. I am satisfied that the scheme as it is currently administered allows the greatest flexibility and meets the needs of the customers of my Department.
The regulation of coal standards is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
436. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the number of new State agencies, forums and task forces that have been established in 2012; the number of new employees there are as a result of this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53702/12]
View answerNo new State agency or task force has been set up under the aegis of the Department in 2012. I established the Migrant Consultative Forum on 3 October 2012 to examine issues of particular concern to migrant workers. The administrative support required to facilitate the work of the Forum is being provided from within the Department’s existing resources. No new employees were engaged.
437. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the terms of the roll-over lease for Drummin Mountain, Laragh, County Wicklow will be made public. [52317/12]
View answerThe lands referred to in the Deputy's Question are subject to grazing licences which are renewed on an annual basis. In acquiring this land for Wicklow National Park, it was agreed at the time of the transfer to the State that the Department would continue to renew these licences to existing holders as tenants of good standing. Should the leases no longer be required by the current holders, they may become available in the future by way of public tender. I am advised that it has not been the practice to release the details of individual leases.
438. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 326 of 2 October 2012 when payment of bog compensation will issue to persons (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52220/12]
View answerAs outlined in my reply to Question No. 326 of 2 October last, the individuals referred to in the Deputy’s Question sold their interest in land in a raised bog special area of conservation under the voluntary bog purchase scheme, administered by my Department. An incentive bonus of €5,400, available under the scheme, was also paid to the applicants at the time of purchase on the condition that they were selling all plots of bog land in their possession and registered or unregistered turbary rights within a designated area.
The individuals have applied for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme. The qualifying criteria for this scheme are that:
- The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation – ownership or turbary right;
- The claimant must have been the owner or entitled to exercise turbary rights on the land in question on 25 May 2010;
- The turbary on the site must not be exhausted;
- The claimant must have been cutting turf on the lands in question during the relevant five year period; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
The application is being assessed within my Department. My officials expect be in contact with the applicants shortly to seek clarification in relation to outstanding issues.
439. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dessie Ellis den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén maoiniú atá curtha ar fáil don áisíneacht trasteorann, Foras na Gaeilge, don bhliain 2012 [52299/12]
View answerIs í an Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas a shocraíonn buiséad Fhoras na Gaeilge, atá mar ghníomhaireacht den Chomhlacht Forfheidhmithe Thuaidh-Theas, An Foras Teanga. Táthar ag súil go gceadófar buiséid 2012 don Fhoras Teanga go foirmiúil ag an gcéad chruinniú eile den Chomhairle ar 12 Nollaig 2012.
Is é €15.438 milliún an tsuim airgid atá ar fáil i Vóta mo Roinne féin i leith an Fhorais Teanga i mbliana. Áirítear sa soláthar seo na buiséid a cheadóidh an Chomhairle d’Fhoras na Gaeilge agus do Ghníomhaireacht na hUltaise, mar aon le nithe imfhálaithe i ndáil le Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge agus Colmcille. San idirlinn, tá Foras na Gaeilge ag obair ar bhonn buiséid táscaigh.
440. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dessie Ellis den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén céatadán de mhaoiniú Fhoras na Gaeilge a caitheadh ar thuarastail gach bliain ó 2008 [52300/12]
View answer441. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dessie Ellis den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil fostaithe Fhoras na Gaeilge atá lonnaithe ó dheas ag feidhmiú faoi ráta tuarastail atá bunaithe ar an gciorclán is déanaí de chuid na Státseirbhíse, Ciorclán 28/2009 [52301/12]
View answer442. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dessie Ellis den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta ar íocadh incrimintí le foireann Fhoras na Gaeilge ó 2008 [52302/12]
View answer443. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dessie Ellis den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén céatadán de mhaoiniú Fhoras na Gaeilge a caitheadh ar phinsin iarfhostaithe gach bliain ó 2008 [52303/12]
View answerTógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 440, 441, 442 agus 443 le chéile.
Leagtar amach sa tábla seo a leanas na céatadáin de mhaoiniú Fhoras na Gaeilge a caitheadh ar thuarastail agus ar phinsin d'iarfhostaithe gach bliain ó 2008 go dáta:
|
Bliain |
% Tuarastal |
% Pinsean d'iarfhostaithe |
|
2008 |
11% |
1% |
|
2009 |
11% |
2% |
|
2010 |
13% |
2% |
|
2011 |
16% |
2% |
|
2012 (go 31.10.12) |
15% |
2% |
Comhairlítear dom go bhfuil Foras na Gaeilge ag feidhmiú faoi rátaí tuarastail atá leagtha síos i gCiorclán 28/2009 agus go bhfuil incrimintí á n-íoc le foireann Fhoras na Gaeilge ó 2008.
