Written Answers Nos. 177-198
177. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is still considering a form of combined income support payment to all low income families including lone parents, similar to that referred to in her Department's report Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents which examined various options regarding one parent family payment, family income supplement and child dependent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4043/13]
View answerThe number of one-parent family payment (OFP) recipients stood at 87,918 in December, 2012. The cost of the OFP scheme in 2012 was €1.06 billion. The reforms introduced in recent Budgets of the OFP scheme build on my Department’s report Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents. While there are no current plans to introduce the Parental Allowance the reform of the scheme is ongoing. Two significant changes are in the process of being introduced. The maximum age limit of the youngest child for receipt of the OFP is being reduced to 7 years by 2015 and the earnings disregard is being reduced on a phased basis to €60 per week in 2016. The Department is also examining a proposal to create a single social welfare payment that would cover all people of working age, including those who would currently be classified as unemployed, with a disability, or parenting alone.
The single payment would be an opportunity to streamline a number of different payments for people of working age. A prerequisite to the introduction of the single payment is the enhancement of the range of supports and services that recipients of the single payment would require in order to progress into employment. However, no decisions have been made on whether to proceed with the single payment. In addition to the reforms of OFP, I established an Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare in 2011, which has been tasked with recommending cost-effective options as to how employment disincentives can be improved and better poverty outcomes achieved. The Advisory Group prioritised the area of family and child income supports and has completed its work on this area. Their report is currently receiving my consideration and will be published in the near future.
178. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline the number of staff in her Department and the number who have transferred to other Departments excluding former FÁS and community welfare officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4089/13]
View answerIn the period May 2008 to 31st December 2012, a total 1,084.42 posts (1,111 people) have been transferred or redeployed into the Department from other government departments and public sector organisations, excluding FÁS Employment Services and Community Welfare Services staff. I understand that the Deputy is specifically looking for the total number of staff in the Department as at 31st December 2012 and also figures on the numbers of staff who transferred or were redeployed into the Department in 2011 and 2012, excluding the staff from FÁS and the Community Welfare Service.
On 31st December 2012, there were 6,413.56 permanent posts (6,821 people) serving in the Department. The following table outlines the numbers of transfers and redeployments into the Department in 2011 and 2012, from other government departments and public sector organisations, excluding the transfer of staff from FÁS Employment Services and the Community Welfare Staff of the HSE.
Table A: Transfers and redeployments into the Department of Social Protection
|
Year |
Posts |
People |
|
2011 |
106.9 |
108 |
|
2012 |
181.8 |
186 |
179. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will report on the waiting time for the processing of a family income supplement, FIS, application; the number of applicants currently waiting to have their FIS application assessed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3921/13]
View answerThe Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. FIS claims, both new and renewals received on or after the 5th November 2012 are currently being processed on receipt. On 2 November 2012 there was a backlog of approximately 7,390 new FIS applications and approximately 7,810 renewal applications awaiting processing and decision. Today, there are currently approximately 6,760 new FIS applications still awaiting approval. All the renewal applications have been processed. The backlog of new claims will be fully eliminated by the end of March 2013.
An in-depth Business Process Improvement project was recently completed for the FIS scheme. This project focused on optimising output, improving customer service and the elimination of backlogs. The outcome of this review is a detailed plan outlining the process required to manage both the continuous weekly intake and backlog claims clearance. This plan sees the current weekly new claim and renewal intake processed by one team, while the backlog is ring-fenced and a focused team assigned to this work with a clear plan for its elimination. The team including additional temporary resources for the elimination of backlog FIS claims has been in place since November 2012. Claims which are approved by the backlog team will be backdated to the date of claim and all arrears due will be paid.
181. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures or criteria she intends to use to ensure that basic living standards of social welfare are protected from any deductions in relation to the new property tax. [3914/13]
View answerThe Government has decided that the Revenue Commissioners will have responsibility for the collection of the local property tax. For easy pay purposes, a person in receipt of certain scheme payments from the Department of Social Protection can choose to select the deduction at source facility in relation to their payment of local property tax. The Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 provides that any deductions at source from social protection scheme payments in relation to the local property tax will not breach the statutory minimum income guarantee embedded in the social welfare code, i.e. Supplementary Welfare Allowance (which is currently set at €186 per week).
The Department expects that this facility will be utilised in a reduced number of cases as the person must be a property owner and liable for the tax. Most liable Social Protection customers will be able to avail of deferral arrangements as their income would not exceed the deferral thresholds of €15,000, or €25,000 in the case of a couple. Other Social Protection customers in accommodation provided by local authorities and social housing organisations will not be liable for the property tax. For those liable persons with other income sources the Department expects that these income sources would be prioritized in the first instance by both the customer and the Revenue Commissioners. This will limit the number of Social Protection customers who are liable for the local property tax and where a deduction at source will apply.
182. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 13 November 2012, in which she stated that other staff left or retired as normal, if these positions were filled; and the number of positions vacant in her Department as of 31 December 2012. [4072/13]
View answerThe staffing levels and vacancies in the Department are continuously reviewed, having regard to the Employment Control Framework target, which is determined by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. At 31st December 2012, 220 positions remained unfilled of which 68 were prioritised as critical. However, the Department is required to lose a further 191 posts in order to meet its 2013 Employment Control Framework target and, therefore, all unfilled positions will be considered and reprioritised in this context.
184. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department completed a poverty impact assessment of the effects of the recent budget on those dependent on social welfare; and if she intends to equality proof her social welfare cuts. [4075/13]
View answer428. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the implementation of the measures in Budget 2013 will result in more children falling into poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56702/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 428 together. My Department is currently finalising a Social Impact Assessment of the main taxation and welfare changes announced in Budget 2013. This SIA will include an analysis of the distributive and poverty impacts of these changes on different family types including those with children as well as the impact on at risk of poverty levels. I will be examining the analysis when it is finalised and I will give consideration to its publication at that stage.
185. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the number and duties of jobbridge participants which Government Departments availed of since the scheme commenced; and the number who subsequently got full-time employment in the civil service. [4063/13]
View answerThe JobBridge Scheme has made significant progress since it came into operation on the 1st July 2011. 13,960 internships have commenced as at the 24th January 2013 with 5,563 participants currently on an internship and 1,888 internship opportunities advertised on www.jobbridge.ie as at that date. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the issue of placements and progression has been comprehensively addressed in the recent interim independent evaluation report compiled by Indecon Economic Consultants (published on 5th October 2012 and available on www.welfare.ie). The Report found that 21% of all placements to date have been in public sector organisations including 188 placements in Government Departments. It is not feasible to list the duties of all such placements as you may appreciate within this response. However, by way of example internships included working as part of a team with IT applications, general office administration, coordination of event organisation, planning and logistics, communication skills, research and policy development processes not to mention Digital Media development.
The breadth of experience to be gained from these diverse opportunities is of invaluable benefit to participating interns. This is further supported by the recent Indecon interim report on the scheme which found that 89% of interns stated that JobBridge allowed them to develop new skills. These internships are clearly providing skills enhancement to participating interns. This is further reflected in the Indecon analysis which found that 49% of all those who completed placements in the public sector (24% in the case of Government Departments) are currently in paid employment.
As the Deputy will appreciate, given the current moratorium, Government Departments cannot offer full-time employment at the end of an internship period, in a way that Host Organisations in other sectors can. This does not mean that Government Departments should be excluded from assisting the jobs strategy. They are still providing significant and in some cases challenging job experience opportunities to persons in need of such opportunities and better prepare them for either ere-entry to the jobs market or a change in job direction. I am delighted to advise that other reported benefits included that the scheme helps boost participant’s self-confidence, assists in identifying job opportunities suitable to their abilities, keeps them close to the job market, and helps participants to establish contacts/networks. The Programme has had positive effects on subsequent employment chances for participants who in the absence of the Programme would not have secured employment. The findings of the Indecon study recently completed suggest that the Programme has been an effective labour market intervention in achieving movement off the Live Register.
187. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the practice of top up, undeclared, payments which landlords are demanding of rent supplement tenants, in order that they will officially reduce the demanded rent to satisfy the community welfare officer; and the steps she will take to prevent this practice. [4068/13]
View answer375. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will commit to the eradication of the extensive practice of landlords preying on tenants trying to secure, or remain in, accommodation, of demanding cash payments on top of the amount declared for the purposes of rent supplement, a top up payment over and above that which the community welfare officer determined would be the individual's contribution. [4453/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 375 together.
There are currently approximately 88,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €403 million for 2013. The 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. 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. 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.
Any instance of false declarations should be reported to the relevant Department representatives who have specific legislative powers to deal with such offences. The Department, in June 2012, introduced powers of enquiry (Section 14 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012 refers) for staff to formally request and oblige landlords to provide information in respect of rent supplement tenants, principally to verify the agreed rent and existence of the tenancy. This measure improves both the governance and oversight arrangements in place.
188. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Taoiseach if he or any of his officials have met any representatives of the tobacco industry in the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3708/13]
View answerNeither I nor any of my officials have met any representatives of the tobacco industry in the last six months.
189. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach the number of occasions in 2012, on which the Cabinet subcommittee on Economic Recovery and Jobs met. [3949/13]
View answerThe Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Jobs met 8 times in 2012.
190. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the total number of persons employed in the economy as of the 31 of December 2012, in each of the past seven years to date; the total number of jobs lost and or created in respect of the period in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3669/13]
View answer191. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the total number of manufacturing jobs lost and or created in each of the past seven years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3670/13]
View answer192. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the total number of jobs lost or created in the services sectors in each of the past seven years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3671/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 190 to 192, inclusive, together.
The answers to these questions come from two different sources. The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is used to provide the official estimates of employment while administrative data sources (P35L returns to Revenue Commissioners) are combined with the CSO business register to provide estimates of job creation and job destruction. The two sets of estimates are not directly comparable as QNHS provides estimates below for those employed at a point in time (i.e., Quarter 3) while estimates from administrative sources count each employment record in a given year as a job regardless of duration or nature of employment, (i.e. an employment record is counted as a one job whether the person worked for one week or for one year or whether they worked on a part-time basis, say one hour a week or a full-time basis).
The QNHS is the official source of employment statistics in the State. The most recent figures available for employment levels are for the third quarter of 2012. The following table 1 includes the estimated level of employment in the third quarter of each year from 2005 to 2012. These estimates show that employment initially grew peaking at 2,169,600 in the third quarter of 2007. From 2007 on the level of employment fell, with the greatest reductions recorded in 2009 and 2010. The rate of decline has moderated since 2010 and as of the third quarter of 2012 the annual rate of decline had fallen off to 4,300 or 0.2%, the slowest rate of annual decline since 2008. Estimates of the level of employment by NACE Rev. 2 economic sector up to and including the third quarter of 2012 are also presented in the following table.
Table 1 - Employment by NACE Rev. 2 economic sector, Q3 2005 to Q3 2012
|
-- |
Economic sector (NACE Rev.2) |
Q3 05 |
Q3 06 |
Q3 07 |
Q3 08 |
Q3 09 |
Q3 10 |
Q3 11 |
Q3 12 |
|
A |
Agriculture, forestry and fishing |
112.7 |
113.6 |
112.2 |
112.5 |
96.2 |
89.9 |
82.4 |
85.6 |
|
B-F |
Total Industry |
533.5 |
573.0 |
578.2 |
532.3 |
409.0 |
361.8 |
347.4 |
332.1 |
|
B-E |
Industry |
297.5 |
303.7 |
307.4 |
296.5 |
255.6 |
245.9 |
238.9 |
231.1 |
|
F |
Construction |
236.0 |
269.3 |
270.8 |
235.8 |
153.4 |
115.9 |
108.5 |
101.1 |
|
G-U |
Total Services |
1,335.9 |
1,387.8 |
1,474.0 |
1,484.0 |
1,440.8 |
1,426.9 |
1,412.1 |
1,420.8 |
|
G |
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
284.8 |
290.2 |
310.9 |
309.9 |
279.0 |
278.1 |
276.5 |
272.7 |
|
H |
Transportation and storage |
93.9 |
92.5 |
92.8 |
95.9 |
97.3 |
92.8 |
96.7 |
90.3 |
|
I |
Accommodation and food service activities |
120.1 |
123.3 |
139.0 |
135.5 |
130.5 |
128.9 |
121.1 |
123.1 |
|
J |
Information and communication |
67.8 |
65.6 |
67.4 |
71.7 |
73.9 |
75.8 |
77.1 |
78.2 |
|
K-L |
Financial, insurance and real estate activities |
94.3 |
97.8 |
106.6 |
106.2 |
110.6 |
100.6 |
99.1 |
102.3 |
|
M |
Professional, scientific and technical activities |
100.1 |
104.8 |
115.4 |
112.6 |
101.3 |
97.4 |
96.6 |
100.4 |
|
N |
Administrative and support service activities |
70.7 |
72.5 |
83.6 |
77.9 |
69.5 |
62.3 |
69.4 |
66.6 |
|
O |
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security |
100.9 |
104.0 |
107.9 |
107.4 |
104.8 |
104.0 |
99.3 |
99.8 |
|
P |
Education |
122.2 |
128.8 |
133.7 |
139.6 |
139.4 |
149.0 |
137.2 |
140.6 |
|
Q |
Human health and social work activities |
188.8 |
208.8 |
218.9 |
221.9 |
235.9 |
240.3 |
243.5 |
245.0 |
|
R-U |
Other NACE activities |
92.2 |
99.4 |
97.7 |
105.4 |
98.5 |
97.7 |
95.5 |
101.9 |
|
-- |
Other/Not stated |
11.8 |
3.9 |
5.2 |
7.6 |
7.6 |
7.5 |
3.8 |
2.8 |
|
-- |
Total employed persons |
1,994.0 |
2,078.4 |
2,169.6 |
2,136.4 |
1,953.6 |
1,886.1 |
1,845.6 |
1,841.3 |
Information on jobs created and jobs destroyed is only available for the business economy for the years 2006 - 2010. The information supplied relates to all employing enterprises from key sectors of the business economy as classified by the standard European classification of economic activity i.e. NACE Rev2 B-N excluding activities of holding companies; K 64.20. The data source used for this analysis is based on linking the P35L returns from employers to the Revenue Commissioners with the CSO business register.
Job creation for an enterprise in a given year, say 2010, is measured as the difference in the number of paid employees recorded with non-zero reckonable pay in 2010 compared to 2009, if that difference is positive (otherwise, job creation is taken to be zero). Job creation in the business economy is then calculated by summing job creation for each enterprise in the business economy.
Job destruction for an enterprise in a given year, say 2010, is measured as the difference in the number of paid employees recorded with non-zero reckonable pay in 2010 compared to 2009, if that difference is negative (otherwise, job destruction is taken to be zero). Job destruction in the business economy is then calculated by summing job destruction for each enterprise in the business economy. Note when interpreting figures, job destruction in 2010 means that these jobs were identified in 2009 but not in 2010, as such, the jobs disappeared sometime during 2009.
Using this source job creation figures for the business economy were at there lowest in 2009 at 169,000 before recovering slightly in 2010 to 184,000. Job destruction figures peaked at 512,000 when 2009 was compared with 2008 before dropping back sharply in 2010. Job destruction figures for Manufacturing and Services show similar patterns with big peaks in the figures when 2009 is compared with 2008. While job creation for services showed a similar pattern to the business economy as a whole with a small recovery, job creation figures for manufacturing showed a small decline.
Table 2 Job creation and job destruction figures for the business economy, manufacturing and the services sectors 2006 -2010
|
- |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
|
Business economy excluding activities of holding companies (NACE Rev. 2 Sectors B to N, excluding code 642) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Job creation (Number) |
353,614 |
375,167 |
217,819 |
168,725 |
184,176 |
|
Job destruction (Number) |
198,209 |
228,356 |
349,745 |
511,855 |
290,785 |
|
Manufacturing(NACE Rev. 2 Sector C) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Job creation (Number) |
31,375 |
31,976 |
18,136 |
17,020 |
16,977 |
|
Job destruction (Number) |
20,496 |
25,951 |
34,688 |
54,998 |
29,992 |
|
Business economy services excluding activities of holding companies(NACE Rev. 2 Sectors G to N, excluding code 642) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Job creation (Number) |
248,919 |
280,460 |
167,094 |
135,706 |
149,023 |
|
Job destruction (Number) |
139,528 |
148,406 |
227,482 |
358,296 |
206,309 |
Source: Job Churn statistics, Central Statistics Office
Detailed breakdowns are available at: http://cso.ie/shorturl.aspx/102
Methodological notes are available at:http://cso.ie/shorturl.aspx/101
193. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Taoiseach with reference to the public service reform document published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on 17 November 2011, Appendix IIa, Bodies to be rationalised, Amalgamated or Abolished in 2012, the progress that has been made on those bodies; the changes that require legislation; the expected timeframe for conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4295/13]
View answerMy Department has no responsibility for any of the Bodies listed in Appendix IIa of the public service reform document published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on 17 November 2011.
194. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has any update on reports of increased fighting in Northern Burma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3775/13]
View answerThe Government follows closely reports of the escalation of violence in the northern Kachin State of Burma/Myanmar and is concerned about the situation. Ireland’s diplomatic relations with Burma/Myanmar are maintained by secondary accreditation via our Embassy in Vietnam, and through the Embassy of Burma/Myanmar in London. The Irish Ambassador presented his credentials yesterday and became the first Ambassador of Ireland accredited to Burma/Myanmar. Following accreditation, the Ambassador met with both the President and Foreign Minister of Burma/Myanmar and discussed a range of issues, including the northern Kachin State.
In December 2012, violence in Kachin State escalated, exacerbating the humanitarian situation there. The latest reports from the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) state that at least 2000 people have been displaced since December in addition to the 75,000 people displaced since the conflict started in September 2011.
Ireland remains engaged at both European Union and international levels in monitoring the situation in Burma/Myanmar, including events in Kachin State. Human rights have been a priority of successive Irish governments and are a key dimension of our foreign policy. Ireland, as an elected member of the Human Rights Council, will work closely with partners at the Council to ensure the continuation of international scrutiny of the human rights situation in Kachin and in Burma/Myanmar as a whole. At the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly Ireland along with our international partners expressed deep concern about the continuing armed conflict in Kachin; called upon the government and all parties to the armed conflict to take measures to protect the civilian population; and called for safe, timely, full and unhindered humanitarian access.
Burma/Myanmar is in the process of undergoing an important and long-awaited transformation as the country re-engages with the International community. Ireland stands ready to share its experiences and to assist the process of democratisation in Burma/Myanmar. We want recent, positive, developments to bring lasting change for the people of Burma/Myanmar, including the people of Kachin State.
195. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Croatian accession into the European Union will mean a revision of the number of seats in the European Parliament; if it will mean a reduction in the number of seats that Ireland will have in the next European Parliament; if there has been any negotiations or discussions on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3805/13]
View answerArticle 14.2 of the Lisbon Treaty sets an overall ceiling of 750 seats, plus the President, for the European Parliament. It also provides that representation of citizens shall be degressively proportional, with a minimum threshold of six members per Member State, and that no Member State shall be allocated more than ninety-six seats. There is a need therefore to adjust the distribution of seats in the Parliament before the 2014 elections to take account of the accession of Croatia in 2013.
Under Article 14.2, the composition of the European Parliament is decided by the European Council by unanimity on the initiative of the Parliament and with its consent. Therefore the right of initiative in relation to this issue is for the European Parliament. The Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament (AFCO) had its first consideration of a draft report on 22 January 2013. AFCO will further consider the draft report over the coming weeks and a vote in the European Parliament is planned for the March plenary session. Only when Parliament has agreed on its proposal will the matter come to the European Council. The Parliament must also give its consent to the decision reached by the European Council.
196. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will outline his involvement in negotiating the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 and the mid-term review thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3818/13]
View answer197. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position on the renegotiation of the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015; if renegotiation has commenced; if so, the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3819/13]
View answer198. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 has altered the response of Irish Aid to disasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3820/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 196 to 198, inclusive, together.
The World Conference on Disaster Reduction was held in Kobe, Japan in January 2005. The tangible outcome from the conference was a commitment by 168 UN Member States, including Ireland, to strengthen preparedness and minimise vulnerability to disasters through the agreement of a ten-year action plan called the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015. Ireland, through the participation of officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade contributed to the negotiations and outcome of the Conference.
The Mid-Term Review of the Hyogo Framework for Action was facilitated by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) secretariat over a twelve-month period from 2010 – 2011. The Review process sought inputs from relevant stakeholders, including Ireland. It was guided by the 2009 Global Platform, which concluded that it should "address strategic and fundamental matters concerning its implementation to 2015 and beyond". Through involvement in the 2009 Global Platform meetings and membership of the UNISDR donor support group over the 2009 – 2011 period, Ireland contributed to the mid-term review process of the Hyogo Framework.
On the international front, the Rio+20 Summit in June 2012 was the first major event to demonstrate why disasters and reducing their risks are so fundamental to sustainable development. The outcome document `The Future We Want` specifically refers to the value of a post-2015 framework as part of the sustainable development agenda. UNISDR facilitated a number of consultation conferences in 2012 and established a series of on-line dialogues which will continue intermittently throughout the consultation period. One clear message emerging from the first phase of consultations is the need for much stronger political commitment to tackle disaster risks, including more extreme events stemming from climate change. 2013 will be a critical year for the consultation process and in particular the Fourth Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction scheduled for 19-23 May 2013 in Geneva will be a pivotal event. Ireland will participate at this event.
The Government recognises that poor people and countries are especially threatened by natural disasters and environmental hazards, including climate change. Ireland is therefore very supportive of global responses to disaster management and promotes the need to put in place a post-2015 framework for a more systematic approach to Disaster Risk Reduction in disaster-prone developing countries. At a bilateral level the Government through Irish Aid provides financial support to programmes having disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation objectives in Ethiopia, Lesotho, Vietnam, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Uganda and Zambia. At a multilateral level Irish Aid supports the work of a number of leading global environment and development agencies including the UNISDR and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). In addition, funding is provided to the Red Cross Movement and NGO partners recognising the important role these partners play in reducing risk and building local capacity to respond to disasters. Ireland has prioritised Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in our EU Presidency.
