Written Answers Nos 101-120
101. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the rent support level offered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6477/13]
View answerA review of the rent supplement claim of the person concerned was undertaken in September 2012. The Department have no plans to undertake a further review.
102. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will approve payment of child benefit in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6478/13]
View answerThe entitlement to child benefit of the daughter of the person concerned (the children’s mother) is currently under review, as advised in my reply to PQ Ref. No. 5030-13.
While the children reside with their mother, it is not possible under Social Welfare legislation to award child benefit to any other person.
103. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the procedure to be followed in respect of giving notice of their intention to travel abroad for a specific medical treatment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6479/13]
View answerIt is possible, subject to certain conditions, for a person to be absent from the state for the purpose of receiving medical treatment and retain eligibility to receive a social welfare payment. In order to be considered for this option, the Department must be notified in advance of the intention to leave the state and the purpose for which the absence is sought.
104. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the decision to offer a reduced level of jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6480/13]
View answerThe person concerned appealed the decision to award jobseekers allowance at a reduced rate and his appeal was disallowed by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 14th January 2013. If his circumstances change in the future, the person concerned should contact his local Social Welfare Office to seek a review of his means.
106. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if jobseeker's benefit or other unemployment entitlement is payable while an applicant is in receipt of one parent family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6548/13]
View answerPrior to February 2012 a person may have qualified for half-rate jobseeker’s benefit while in receipt of one parent family payment. From 2nd February 2012 a person cannot qualify for a new jobseeker’s benefit payment and a one parent family payment concurrently.
People who were in receipt of the two payments at that time, and people who made a post-February 2012 jobseeker’s benefit claim which was linked to a pre-February 2012 half rate jobseeker’s claim, continued to be entitled to both payments up to the expiry of the jobseeker’s benefit claim.
In addition, where a customer is in receipt of a reduced rate one parent family payment (e.g. due to a means assessment), jobseeker’s benefit (JB) may also be payable. However in such cases the JB payment combined with the one parent family payment must not exceed the maximum rate which would be payable on JB in respect of the customer’s family circumstances.
There are no other circumstances where a person may be entitled to any jobseeker’s payment while in receipt of one parent family payment.
108. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of retired public sector workers on pensions within her Department or any Office/Body under her aegis that have been re-instated in other positions within the public sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6763/13]
View answerOne member of staff in my Department, the Chief Medical Advisor, has been rehired on a temporary contract on a payscale of €93,197 to €113,503. Payment of his pension is abated pending the termination of his temporary contract.
The decision to re-employ the Chief Medical Advisor was taken due to his specific skills and his involvement in the policy reform of the illness related schemes, the difficulty and long lead-in time for replacing his skills, and the critical importance of ensuring continuity and a high level of service to customers of the Department.
As an exception to the current moratorium on recruitment, my department has limited sanction to recruit temporary clerical officers to cover critical staff absences and to assist with the roll-out of the new Public Service Card. Three of these temporary staff are retired civil servants. They are on a payscale of €22,016 to €35,515 and were recruited on foot of open competitions run by the Public Appointments Service. Abatement of pension applies, if applicable, pending the termination of their temporary contracts.
Following an open competition for staff with investigative skills, the Pensions Board, which is under the aegis of my Department, employed two people on temporary contracts who were previously employed by An Garda Síochana and who are in receipt of Garda pensions.
109. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he intends to make an announcement and place advertisements to inform the public that the environmental impact statement on the future development of Moore Street, Dublin, is now available for public examination and that interested parties have five weeks to make submissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6423/13]
View answerThe applicant in this case has published notice of the submission of the Environmental Impact Statement in a national newspaper in conformance with the relevant statutory requirement for the notice to appear “in at least one newspaper circulating in the district in which the relevant national monument is situated”. The published notice has also set out the arrangements for public access to and comment on the Environmental Impact Statement. These details have also been posted on my Department’s website since the date of submission of the Environmental Impact Statement on 25 January 2013. My Department also issued this information as a press release to national media.
The Environmental Impact Statement is available for consultation or purchase in my Department’s offices in the Custom House, Dublin, and in Dublin City Council’s Civic Offices. Interested parties have until Friday, I March 2013, to provide me, as Minister, with their comments on it.
110. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide, in a tabular form, a breakdown of the fees and expenses paid to each member of each State board under the aegis of his Department. [6439/13]
View answerBoard fees are payable in four bodies operating under the aegis of my Department viz. the Arts Council, the Irish Film Board, Údarás na Gaeltachta and in the case of the Chair of the National Concert Hall. Applicable fees are listed in the table below:
|
State Board |
Annual remuneration payable to chairs and board members. |
|
Arts Council |
Chair - €8,978 Member - €5,985 |
|
National Concert Hall |
Chair - €8,978 No fees payable to board members. |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
Chair: €20,520 Board members: €11,970 |
|
Irish Film Board |
Chair: €8,978 Board members: €5,985 |
For completeness, the table below sets out details of the boards of Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency, which comprise An Foras Teanga, a North South Implementation Body.
|
North-South Implementation Body |
Annual remuneration payable to chairs and board members. |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
Chair: €12,600 Vice-Chair: of €10,350 Board members: €8,100 (south); £5,510 (north) |
|
Ulster-Scots Agency |
Chair: £8,570 Board members: €8,100 (south); £5,510 (north). |
Following a Government Decision of October 31st 2012, no fees are payable in respect of the following bodies operating under the aegis of my Department:
- The Heritage Council
- Culture Ireland
- Chester Beatty Library
- National Library of Ireland
- National Museum of Ireland
- Irish Manuscripts Commission
- National Archives of Ireland
- Irish Museum of Modern Art
- National Gallery of Ireland
- Crawford Gallery.
In some of the above cases, payment of fees never applied and in a number of other cases applicable fees were waived. I have written to the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board to notify them of my instructions to the organisations listed above to no longer pay a fee for board membership and to ask both of these organisations to also consider this matter.
In relation to expense arrangements that may apply in the bodies/agencies, I am advised that any such expenses are paid in accordance with the guidelines and rules set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
111. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an gcuirfidh sé na sonraí ar fáil maidir le gach conradh farantóireachta agus aeir atá ag a Roinn le seirbhísí a chur ar fáil chuig na hoileáin amach ón gcósta, maidir le hainm an oileáin, leis an gcuideachta a chuireann an tseirbhís ar fáil, leis an dáta a thiocfaidh an conradh chun deiridh agus leis an gcostas a bhaineann leis an gconradh sa bhliain 2013, agus na conarthaí a chur san áireamh a bhaineann le hoibriú na n-aerstráicí oileánda. [6487/13]
View answerTá an t-eolas atá á lorg ag an Teachta ar fáil ar shuíomh idirlín mo Roinne ag: http://www.ahg.gov.ie/ie/NahOileain/SeirbhisiIompairFoirdheonaithe/Seirbhísí%20Iompair%20Fóirdheonaithe%20do%20na%20hOileáin.pdf .
112. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of retired public sector workers on pensions within his Department or any Office/Body under his aegis that have been re-instated in other positions within the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6758/13]
View answerRetired public sector workers are engaged from time to time by my Department in areas where specific expertise is required for a short fixed period, and these persons provide a level of knowledge, experience and background compatible with such requirements. The abatement principle, which ensures that the fee paid plus pension does not exceed the rate of pay the pensioner would receive if he/she had continued service in their former post, applies to payments as appropriate.
I can confirm that a former retired member of the Garda Síochána is currently employed by me as a Civilian Driver.
There are also two retired public servants who, whilst not on the payroll of my Department, are currently engaged in specific projects under the aegis of my Department; one as Chairman of the VFM Review Group and the other as a Process Auditor for the procurement of a National Postcode System. In addition to the above there is one retired public servant sitting on an Audit Committee for the Department on a pro bono basis.
In addition, last year, three retired civil servants were taken back for very short periods of time in order to provide a service, which required their previous expertise and experience.
My Department does not have information in respect of staff who have retired from the Department and who may currently be in positions in other areas of the Public Sector. I have asked the Agencies under the aegis of my Department to supply the requested information, where relevant, in respect of those Agencies directly to the Deputy.
113. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he expects the main contractor for water metering to be appointed; if he will confirm if the tender process has commenced; the criteria being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6395/13]
View answerThe Government has decided that Irish Water, a new State-owned water company to be established as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group, will be responsible for the domestic water metering programme and for the collection of water charges from households.
Bord Gáis Éireann/Irish Water will procure a number (up to 8) of regional management contractors (RMCs) who will be responsible for managing the installation of boundary boxes and water meters drawing on sub-contractor resources from the framework panel of sub-contractors. The pre-qualification process for the RMCs closed on 11 January 2013. It is expected that tenders will shortly be invited from the pre-qualified candidates and contracts will begin to be awarded from April.
As the procurement process is currently underway it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.
114. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his policy in relation to the aid of an interpreter for those who do not have the English language when dealing with local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6447/13]
View answerThe provision of an interpreter for those who do not have the English language when dealing with local authorities is a matter for each individual local authority.
115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department contacted Kildare County Council in the matter of issues that arose in respect of the operation of the company operating in a voluntary housing capacitiy under the capital allowance scheme; if funds were transferred by his Department to the company in question in the interim if an examination was carried out of the modus operandi of the company with particular reference to the return of such properities to the ownership of the local authority where such companies have been struck off or have otherwise become dysfuctional due to a non observance of operational requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6481/13]
View answer116. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the continued issues raised by the tenants at the Leim an Bhradain Housing Association in Leixlip, County Kildare; if he intends to have these matters investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6482/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together.
704 housing associations were approved by my Department under Section 6 of the Housing (scellaneous Provisions) Act, 1992 for the provision and management of housing. In 2012 my Department identified 86 Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) that neither produced housing stock nor applied for any funding from my Department. These companies were no longer registered with the Companies Registration Office and their approved status with my Department was rescinded. My Department is now proceeding to examine the status of more than 100 additional bodies that also appear to be inactive , and I expect to de-list further bodies in 2013 in order to present a more accurate picture of the size of the sector operating in Ireland.
My Department’s role in relation to the voluntary housing capital funding schemes relates primarily to the provision of funds to support the annual construction and housing acquisitions programmes by the sector. It is a matter for the relevant housing authority to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the schemes and to have appropriate oversight and liaison arrangements in place for the effective administration of the schemes and for ensuring that past investment in voluntary housing is safeguarded.
In this instance, I understand that Kildare County Council has been engaging closely with the Léim an Bhradáin housing association and has sought information on a range of issues around the management and operation of the housing scheme, including details of the most recent AGM, copies of last audited accounts and details with regard to current rent policy. The Council has undertaken to keep my Department informed of progress on these issues. My Department has not provided any funding towards the management and maintenance of the housing scheme in question.
117. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is intended to renew the contracts on the permissive walks; if the payment will remain at the same rate as present; if it is intended to develop further permissive walks under the rural recreational strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6502/13]
View answerThe Walks Scheme is currently in place on 40 trails nationally, with 1,811 landholder participants. These participants receive modest payments for the development, enhancement and maintenance of those sections of trail that traverse their lands. In 2012 payments to landowners amounted to €1.91 m. It is intended to renew existing contracts with landholders as they fall due for renewal, subject to the availability of funding. The contracts for three walks, affecting 305 participants, fall due for renewal in 2013. It is intended that revised contracts will be offered to these participants at a revised rate of payment.
The terms and conditions of the Walks Scheme specify that the hourly rate of payment will be at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine farm improvement “own labour” rate. At the establishment of the Walks Scheme in 2008 the rate was €14.50 per hour. The maximum payment to any individual landholder cannot exceed 200 hours. In June 2010, that Department introduced a revised rate of €12.40 per hour, in conjunction with two new on-farm investment schemes . Consequently, payment rates for new contracts under the Walks Scheme were also reduced. Existing 5 year contracts in place with landholders continued to be paid at the contracted amount of €14.50 per hour. However, as these contracts fall due for renewal, participant landholders will be offered contracts at the revised rate.
Permissive access walking routes and trails have continued to be developed as part of the implementation of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy. While there are 40 trails comprehended by the Walks Scheme, there are now over 800 walking, cycling, and equestrian trails listed on the Irish Trails Register. Further strategic walking trails will continue to be developed where appropriate, but it is now critical that the optimum number of viable trails on a national and regional basis be identified. The cost of maintaining a major trail network to international standards is significant. Accordingly, future investment in the walking trail network will be targeted on those trails that deliver appropriate user numbers, ensure value for money and, where relevant, are capable of being developed to international standards.
118. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households who have registered their private waste water systems to date broken down county by county; the percentage who have registered in each county; and if he intends extending the deadline for registration for the purposes of being eligible for the upgrade grants to incentivise further householders to register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6503/13]
View answerAs of 6 February 2013, applications in respect of the on-site wastewater treatment systems of 376,451 owners, who have registered on-line, by post or in person at their local authority offices, had been processed and approximately 25,000 additional registration applications were awaiting processing by the bureau operated by the Local Government Management Agency on that date. Details of the number of processed registrations for each County and City Council up to 6 February are set out in the table below . Registration facilities have been available since 26 June 2012 and have been comprehensively publicised. The deadline for householders to register was 1 February. My Department will be discussing with the local authorities the approach to be taken in respect of unregistered systems in the coming weeks.
Registrations processed as of 6 February 2013
|
Water Services Authority |
Estimated total number of on-site waste water treatment systems1 |
Number of on-site waste water treatment systems registered |
Number of on-site waste water treatment systems registered as a percentage of the estimated total number |
|
Carlow County Council |
7190 |
5,373 |
74.0 |
|
Cavan County Council |
14477 |
12,091 |
83.0 |
|
Clare County Council |
19769 |
17,624 |
89.0 |
|
Cork City Council |
586 |
499 |
85.0 |
|
Cork County Council |
57993 |
39,757 |
68.0 |
|
Donegal County Council |
32955 |
20,585 |
62.0 |
|
Dublin City Council |
2718 |
101 |
3.0 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council |
1928 |
991 |
51.0 |
|
Fingal County Council |
5213 |
2,836 |
54.0 |
|
Galway City Council |
1145 |
649 |
56.0 |
|
Galway County Council |
42161 |
31,322 |
74.0 |
|
Kerry County Council |
28277 |
28,185 |
99.0 |
|
Kildare County Council |
16795 |
12,197 |
72.0 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
15368 |
11,729 |
76.0 |
|
Laois County Council |
11309 |
8,576 |
75.0 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
7005 |
6,162 |
87.0 |
|
Limerick City Council |
420 |
235 |
55.0 |
|
Limerick County Council |
24207 |
18,032 |
74.0 |
|
Longford County Council |
7556 |
5,857 |
77.0 |
|
Louth County Council |
11633 |
7,763 |
66.0 |
|
Mayo County Council |
26659 |
22,703 |
85.0 |
|
Meath County Council |
21687 |
16,235 |
74.0 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
12065 |
7,581 |
62.0 |
|
North Tipperary County Council |
12342 |
9,950 |
80.0 |
|
Offaly County Council |
11170 |
8,295 |
74.0 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
14297 |
12,048 |
84.0 |
|
Sligo County Council |
11192 |
9,253 |
82.0 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
2266 |
1,092 |
48.0 |
|
South Tipperary County Council |
14442 |
10,991 |
76.0 |
|
Waterford City Council |
488 |
344 |
70.0 |
|
Waterford County Council |
11466 |
7,684 |
67.0 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
12165 |
9,567 |
78.0 |
|
Wexford County Council |
26267 |
20,352 |
77.0 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
12070 |
9,792 |
81.0 |
1Based on CENSUS 2011
119. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if any funds from his Department, or funds from an agency or authority working under the remit of his Department, are used in promotion campaigns for a cleaner environment, responsible waste disposal, or anti-littering; the way such funding is spent, by whom, the campaigns undertaken in 2011 and 2012, their cost, and the funding allocated in this area for 2013; and whether or not this includes money spent by local authorities in this area. [6516/13]
View answerMy Department provides funding to Local Authorities under the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme. The Department has co-funded these grants for local authority anti-litter awareness and education initiatives since 1997. Local Authorities are responsible for selecting suitable projects for funding and deciding on individual grant allocations. The scheme requires that projects selected should promote greater public awareness and education in relation to litter, and since 2008, graffiti. They should also, where possible, focus on voluntary initiatives by community and environmental groups and involve schools and young people in anti-litter and anti-graffiti action. Typically, eligible projects include local media campaigns, clean-ups, primary/secondary school competitions, exhibitions and the production of videos, posters and leaflets. The maximum grant for a project may be up to 70% of the cost, with the balance being met by local contributions.
A total of €1,100,000 was made available to fund suitable projects under the scheme in 2011, while €1,000,000 was made available during 2012. Allocations under the scheme for 2013 remain under consideration.
My Department also launched a national litter and illegal dumping awareness campaign in the print media in July 2012 which ran for approximately 3 months. The advertising campaign was a result of an initiative between the Department and the newspaper and magazine industry.
The print media, represented by National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI), NNI Local & Regional, the Regional Newspapers and Printers Association of Ireland (RNPAI) and Magazines Ireland, made available, free of charge, advertising space valued at €500,000 in order to raise awareness of the damaging effects that fly tipping and small scale illegal dumping have on our environment and our economy, particularly on the tourism and agriculture sectors. Advertisements under this campaign appeared in national, regional and local newspapers and magazines over the course of the peak summer period, also providing information on how to report illegal dumping activity to the Environmental Protection Agency’s lo-call number 1850 365 121. The total cost incurred by my Department in relation to this campaign was less than €1,000 - these costs were associated with the professional costs of producing and sizing the advertisements.
In addition, National Spring Clean (NSC), run by An Taisce and co-financed by my Department, is a multi-sectoral initiative that promotes public awareness and participation in local litter clean-ups and awareness actions to improve the local environment. The campaign, which includes a central role for local authorities to co-ordinate and assist events at local level, is traditionally run annually throughout the month of April. Volunteers are equipped with free materials donated by NSC sponsors and the collected litter is recycled or disposed of in partnership with local authorities. My Department provided funding of €250,000 and €225,000 in 2011 and 2012, respectively, for this initiative. Funding for 2013 has not yet been finalised.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as an independent public body under the aegis of my Department, has a role in providing guidance to the public and to industry on various environmental topics, including waste prevention and generating greater environmental awareness. Its expenditure is detailed in its Annual Reports and Accounts, the most recent being in respect of 2011, copies of which have been laid before the Oireachtas and are also available on the Agency’s website, www.epa.ie .
120. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason there is only a two week timeframe on submissions to be made towards the focused review of the Wind Energy Guidelines of 2006; and if he will extend the time allowed to at least six weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6518/13]
View answerThe Wind Energy Development Guidelines (June 2006) provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind energy through the development plan process. The guidelines are also intended to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind energy development and the treatment of planning applications for wind energy developments.
In order to ensure that Ireland continues to meet its renewable energy targets and, at the same time, that wind energy does not have negative impacts on local communities, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and other stakeholders, is undertaking a targeted review of certain aspects of the Wind Energy Guidelines 2006.
This focused review will examine the manner in which the Guidelines address key issues of community concern such as noise, proximity and visual amenity and any other potential impacts, as considered appropriate, as well as ways of building community support for wind energy development.
The press notice - issued on 30 January – marks only the initial stage in that review process. It is essentially a pre-draft consultation intended to inform the preparation of revised draft guidelines. This early consultation allows for the public and other stakeholders to input into the process at an early stage. Other stakeholders that will be consulted include the Environmental Protection Agency and Sustainable Energy Ireland.
All statutory planning guidelines issue first in draft form for a public consultation over a period of a couple of months. Once the consultation period is closed the submissions received on the draft guidelines are considered and taken into account in the final form of the guidelines. The draft guidelines will – like all other new or revised guidelines – go out for extensive public consultation for a period of 6 weeks to 2 months. The indicative timetable for the publication of the draft guidelines is Quarter 3 or Quarter 4 2013.
