Written Answers Nos. 131-142
131. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider the possible introduction of the illness payment as business are just about surviving and this extra cost could cause them to have to make staff redundant only adding to the numbers on the live register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53543/12]
View answerThe Government is aware of the concerns expressed by employers regarding the possible introduction of a scheme of statutory sick pay, and such concerns are central to our consideration of the matter.
The position remains that the range of complex issues associated with the introduction of such a scheme - including such matters as the provision of compensatory mechanisms for particularly vulnerable employers, the extent of coverage of such a scheme, the appropriate rate of payment involved and how a scheme would be enforced - continue to be examined in the Department.
As I have indicated previously, all of these issues need to be addressed to the satisfaction of the Government before any decision could be taken on the possible introduction of a statutory sick pay scheme.
132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the decision in respect of application for dietary allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53602/12]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision.
Social Welfare legislation provides for statutory conditions for entitlements to social welfare payments and Appeals Officers must have regard to these statutory conditions in making their decisions.
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.
133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of back to education allowance payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53603/12]
View answerAccording to the records of this Department, the person concerned is in receipt of the correct level of back to education allowance for a person of her circumstances.
134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will arrange for the further assessment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53604/12]
View answerA further medical appointment is being arranged for 31st December 2012 for the person named above and arrangements are being made by the Department to have a Polish translator present at the assessment. A notification will be issued to the customer at his new address shortly.
135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if child dependent allowance is payable in respect of jobseeker's benefit in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53605/12]
View answerAn application form for a child dependant allowance issued to the person concerned and should be returned once completed to the Department for processing.
136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare receives a reduced level of jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53608/12]
View answerThe person concerned had means of €33.00 per week assessed in relation to her recent jobseeker's allowance application. The person concerned has appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
138. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on their application for carer's allowance; the reason for the delay in making a decision on this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53633/12]
View answerI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 20th April 2012. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
140. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a claim for benefit and supplementary allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [53652/12]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence allowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officers decision.
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.
141. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to recognise the Irish speaking community as stakeholders in the implementation of the 20 years Strategy for the Irish Language which would include a structure for dialogue between the stakeholders and his Department throughout the implementation of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53483/12]
View answerThe Deputy may be aware that under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the Gaeltacht will in future be based on linguistic criteria instead of on geographic areas which has been the position to date. The Act provides for a statutory language planning process under which language plans will be prepared at community level in areas seeking to achieve statutory recognition. This approach puts communities at the centre of the language planning process since it gives them the opportunity to take ownership of their own plan in their own community.
In addition to Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, areas located outside the Gaeltacht may achieve statutory recognition as Gaeltacht Service Towns or as Irish Language Networks, subject to fulfilling language planning criteria. Gaeltacht Service Towns are defined as towns in, or adjacent to, Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas which play a significant role in the delivery of services to those areas. Irish Language Networks are defined as areas, located outside Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas, in which there is a basic critical mass of community and State support for the Irish language.
Since Údarás na Gaeltachta is central to community development in the Gaeltacht and provides funding to various community-based organisations, it will assist communities in preparing and implementing language plans in the 19 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas. Údarás na Gaeltachta, or Foras na Gaeilge, as appropriate, will assist organisations in towns seeking statutory recognition as Gaeltacht Service Towns with the preparation and implementation of language plans, depending on whether the town is located inside or outside the Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas. In addition, Foras na Gaeilge will assist organisations in areas seeking statutory recognition as Irish Language Networks with the preparation and implementation of language plans in those areas.
All of these communities will be central to the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030. Under the Gaeltacht Act, it is envisaged that language plans will be prepared and implemented by these communities with the support of Údarás na Gaeltachta or Foras na Gaeilge, as appropriate.
142. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if any person or agency working on behalf of his Department had any meetings with personnel from a company (details supplied); if they have, the nature and outcomes of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53501/12]
View answerMy Department has met with representatives from Tamboran Resources on a number of occasions, one of which such meetings I attended. These meetings are normal practice in the on-going engagement between my Department as regulator and the holders of exploration authorisations. The most recent meeting took place earlier this month when the company provided my Department with a detailed update on its technical assessment of the petroleum resource potential of the area, as required under the terms of its Licensing Option.
