Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:390. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of rent supplement awarded to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18915/13]
View answerRent Supplement Scheme Payments
Questions (390)
Written answers
The person concerned has been awarded €92.65 per calendar month in Rent Supplement. It takes into account the income of the person concerned and the income of family members living in the accommodation. If the family circumstances have changed recently the person concerned should submit up to date information and the entitlement will be reassessed.
Question No. 391 answered with Question No. 338.
Jobseeker's Allowance Appeals
Questions (392)
Bernard Durkan
Question:392. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal has been received in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 in respect of their application for jobseeker's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18928/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15 April April 2013. 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. When received, the appeal in question will be referred in 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.
Youth Guarantee
Questions (393)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:393. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the way that she intends to generate employment as an option under any youth guarantee scheme. [18614/13]
View answerWritten answers
The EU Council Recommendation on a Youth Guarantee received political agreement at the EPSCO Council meeting on February 28th. Following some small changes required by the Council’s Jurist/Linguists, it is anticipated that the final text will be formally adopted by the Council this month.
The Recommendation is that Member States should ensure that all young people under the age of 25 years receive a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education. While it is recommended that the guarantee should be implemented as soon as possible, it is recognised that implementation will be more gradual in the Member States experiencing the most severe budgetary difficulties and higher rates of youth unemployment. The government will now review the current range of youth employment policies in Ireland to assess what measures will need to be taken to commence the gradual implementation of the guarantee.
With regard to job creation for youth in support of the guarantee, the Government’s primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth. Past experience suggests that youth unemployment, which tends to rise relatively rapidly in a downturn, can be expected to fall relatively rapidly during the recovery. The government’s job-creation policies are outlined in the Action Plan for Jobs, which sets out a target for 100,000 net new jobs to be created by 2016, many of which will be filled by young people. Under the updated Action Plan for 2013, a new recruitment incentive – JobsPlus – has also been developed by my Department and was approved by the Government. This incentive will cover the cost of c. €1 in every €4 of an employer’s wage costs and will be launched for availability by July 2013. Young people are likely to be major beneficiaries of this initiative as employers tend to hire young people when there is a recovery in employment. This incentive will be launched for availability by July 2013.
The scale and nature of any additional measures required will depend on the trend in youth unemployment, and in particular the number of young people likely to experience periods of unemployment of more than four months under current policies. In this context, it is a welcome development that the official labour market figures published by the CSO recently indicated that the number of young unemployed at the end of 2012, at 59,000, a reduction of almost 9,000 on the same time a year earlier. It is to be hoped that this is the beginning of a sustained downward movement in youth unemployment as the economy recovers. Even so, the implementation of a guarantee will, almost certainly require an expansion in the range of opportunities currently on offer to young people in the form of further education and training, internships, subsidised private-sector recruitment, and supports for self-employment.
In this regard the State already provides a significant number of initiatives which are of relevance to young people and the Department of Social Protection took steps in Budget 2013 to increase funding and places for schemes such as JobBridge, Community Employment, TÚS and a new state employment scheme in the local Government sector. In total an additional 10,000 places will be provided. The size and the timescale for any additional provision, over and above that outlined above that is both desirable and feasible will be established over the coming months.
Job Initiatives
Questions (394)
John Halligan
Question:394. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is monitoring possible job displacement and job losses as part of the Tús and JobsBridge schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18603/13]
View answerWritten answers
Tús - the community work placement initiative - came into operation in mid-2011 and to date some 7,824 people have completed or are currently serving in work placements provided by community organisations. Tús has been able to harness the skills and talents of participants and apply these to the benefit of the local community while they continue to receive a payment based on the value of the prior jobseeker’s payment. While the types of work that are undertaken are determined locally, the works that are undertaken must be consistent with the terms and conditions of the scheme, are undertaken by eligible organisations and that particular consideration is given to displacement of existing jobs. It is a matter for the Board of each implementing body and the selection processes they operate to seek sufficient information and make enquiries to enable an assessment of displacement or deadweight to be determined.
Since it commenced on 1st July, 2011, JobBridge has made good progress. As at 18th April, 2013, 16,545 jobseekers had commenced internships since the scheme was launched.
The Department takes very seriously any allegations of failure to comply with the conditions of Tús and JobBridge and investigates all such complaints notified to the Department. The Department’s own control measures with respect to JobBridge are based on a combination of randomised monitoring visits/inspections with host organisations and on investigation of complaints received from interns. As of 18th April, 2013, 15 host organisations have been excluded from further participation in JobBridge as a consequence of these control activities. No reports of displacement has been made with respect to Tús.
Question No. 395 withdrawn.
Disability Allowance Eligibility
Questions (396)
Terence Flanagan
Question:396. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter regarding means testing (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19094/13]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to people with disabilities, my Department provides both income and employment supports. For those who do not qualify for a disability-related social insurance payment, the disability allowance scheme is in place. In order to maintain equity and fairness and ensure income supports are correctly targeted to those most in need of them, eligibility for disability allowance is based on a means-test. I have no plans to make any changes in this area.
Pension Provisions
Questions (397)
Simon Harris
Question:397. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any plans in place whereby individuals who are due to retire in 2014 can avail of some social welfare payment to bridge the gap between their retirement date and their 66th birthday now that the option of applying for the transition pension is no longer open to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19098/13]
View answerWritten answers
The recently published OECD report on the Review of the Irish Pension System confirms that reforms are necessary if we are to continue to put pension provision on a sustainable footing given the changes in demographics, the deficit in the Social Insurance Fund, and the difficult fiscal situation. The standardisation of State pension age to 66 is one of the reform measures planned which aims to increase the sustainability of the Irish pension system and this was provided for in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011. The State pension (transition) which applies for one year for persons of age 65 will cease from 1st January 2014 and thereafter, will increase to 67 in 2021and 68 in 2028. People who are affected by the upcoming changes may be able to remain in work until age 66 while others may be able to avail of a social welfare payment where there is an income need.
Existing legislation provides that, social welfare supports, such as job seekers benefits, will continue to be available to those who meet the qualifying conditions of the schemes available. Furthermore, the legislation also provides that for those whose job seekers benefit expires in their 65th year, the payment will continue to be paid up until the age of 66 when State pension becomes payable for those who satisfy the qualifying conditions. The State pension is the bedrock of the Irish pension system and these reforms are essential to address the challenges of increasing life expectancy and to ensure its sustainability
Youth Guarantee
Questions (398, 399)
Pat Deering
Question:398. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider supporting with a full rate payment the youth guarantee proposal as put forward by Focus Ireland in view of the fact that there are only approximately 100 young persons in this situation and the fact that these young persons are almost forced into homelessness but because of their age can only claim a part payment with no access to any rent or accommodation allowance. [19103/13]
View answer
Thomas Pringle
Question:399. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to implement the proposal from Focus Ireland for a tailored youth guarantee for homelessness young persons in receipt of the reduced rate of jobseeker's allowance;; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19104/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together.
The €100 rate of jobseeker’s allowance was introduced for claimants aged under 20 in April 2009, and this rate was applied to claimants aged up to 21 from December 2009. A rate of €144 applies to claimants aged 22-24. The measures encourage young jobseekers to improve their skills and remain active in the labour market in order to avoid the risk of becoming long-term unemployed and will help them to progress into sustainable employment on a long-term basis. Where a person is in receipt of a rate of jobseeker's allowance described above and he or she participates in a course of education, training, Community Employment, Rural Social Scheme or Tús, a higher rate of €160 applies.
I understand that the Deputy has been contacted with regard to these measures by Focus Ireland. My officials are in contact with Focus Ireland in relation to their concerns. While the primary issue in this regard is a housing issue rather than one of income support, my Department will continue to engage with Focus Ireland.
In relation to a Youth Guarantee, under my chairmanship, the Council of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Ministers (EPSCO) last month agreed a recommendation on an EU-wide Youth Guarantee. The EPSCO Recommendation is that each Member State should ensure that young people receive a quality offer of employment or of continued education, an apprenticeship or traineeship within four months of becoming unemployed. The Recommendation will now move to be considered for formal adoption by the Council at a later stage in Ireland's Presidency - most likely in May.
The scale and nature of the measures required will depend on the trend in youth unemployment, and in particular the number of young people likely to experience periods of unemployment of more than four months under current policies. In this context, it is a welcome development that the official labour market figures published by the CSO recently indicated that the number of young unemployed at the end of 2012, at 59,000, a reduction of almost 9,000 on the same time a year earlier. It is to be hoped that this is the beginning of a sustained downward movement in youth unemployment as the economy recovers. Even so, the implementation of a guarantee will, almost certainly require an expansion in the range of opportunities currently on offer to young people in the form of further education, training, internships, subsidised private-sector recruitment, and supports for self-employment.
Invalidity Pension Appeals
Questions (400)
Pearse Doherty
Question:400. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; if she will provide details on the number of applications for invalidity pension that are currently awaiting medical assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19116/13]
View answerWritten answers
There are currently (on 22/04/13) 1,015 invalidity pension claim applications awaiting assessment. Some backlogs have arisen for assessment of invalidity claims due to increased work load and to a shortage of Medical Assessors due to retirements. The Department is committed to ensuring that the claims are examined as expeditiously as possible. It is hoped that an additional four medical Assessors will be recruited in the near future.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22 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 on 10 April 2013 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.
Social Welfare Appeals Status
Questions (401)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:401. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in assessing the appeal of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; when their file will be assessed; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that dealy in assessing the file has meant that the local office are powerless in dealing with the person until the file is returned and the person is suffering financially; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19127/13]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence, including that adduced at oral hearing, disallowed the appeal of the person concerned. In light of representations, the case was referred back to the Appeals Officer for review. The Appeals Officer has decided a revision of his original decision is not warranted in this case and has requested the Department to review the means of the person concerned in light of any changed circumstances. 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.
Carer's Allowance Appeals
Questions (402)
John McGuinness
Question:402. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for carer's allowance now under appeal will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [19145/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15 April 2013. 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. When received, the appeal in question will be referred in 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.
National Monuments
Questions (403)
Pearse Doherty
Question:403. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he wil lay before the Dáíl Éireann the recent special report by Dublin City Council on the need to protect the National Monument site at 14-17 Moore Street, Dublin 1. [18405/13]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, my Department is currently considering an application for consent under section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930, as amended, for proposals that include the provision of a commemorative centre to the 1916 Rising and its Leaders in the national monument at nos. 14-17 Moore Street. The report of Dublin City Council’s Moore Street Advisory Committee has been submitted to my Department as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment associated with the consent application. The report is available on the City Council’s website at http://www.dublincity.ie/YourCouncil/CouncilPublications/Pages/ReportoftheMooreStreetAdvisoryCommittee.aspx.
Departmental Bodies Reports
Questions (404, 405)
Pearse Doherty
Question:404. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will lay before the Dáil Éireann the latest report and accounts for the Irish Film Board / Bord Scannán na hÉireann. [18406/13]
View answerPearse Doherty
Question:405. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will confirm for each of 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 the State funding and headcount of the Irish Film Board/ Bord Scannán na hÉireann. [18407/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 405 together.
The 2011 Annual Report and Accounts for Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board (the latest one available) were laid before each House of the Oireachtas on 15 April, 2013. Details of the grant aid provided to Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board by my Department are available in the Revised Estimates for Public Services for each of the years 2008 to 2012. Details of the average number of employees of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board are available in the Annual Report and Accounts of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board for the years 2008 to 2011. Copies of the Annual Report and Accounts are available in the Oireachtas Library and on the website of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board at www.irishfilmboard.ie. The average number of employees of Bord Scannán na hÉireann/Irish Film Board in 2012 was 14.
National Monuments
Questions (406)
Tom Hayes
Question:406. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of visitors to the Rock of Cashel, Swiss Cottage and Cahir Castle to date in 2013; and if he will provide the figures for the same period last year. [18588/13]
View answerWritten answers
Visitor services at these sites are provided by the Office of Public Works. I am arranging to have the information requested forwarded to the Deputy by that Office.
Departmental Staff Remuneration
Questions (407)
Finian McGrath
Question:407. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in tabular form the number of civil/public servants under the remit of his Department who earn more than €500,000, between €400,000-€500,00, €300,000 - €250,000, €250,000 - €200,000, €200,000 - €150,000, €150,000 - €100,000, €100,000 - €80,000, €80,000 - €60,000, €60,000 - €40,000 and less than €30,000. [18863/13]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular form hereunder.
|
Salary Band € |
Department of Arts Heritage and Gaeltacht Number of staff within salary band |
Bodies under the aegis of the Department Number of staff within salary band. |
|
0 - 30,000 |
97 |
335 |
|
30,001 - 40,000 |
202 |
344 |
|
40,001 - 60,000 |
196 |
288 |
|
60,001 - 80,000 |
79 |
117 |
|
80,001 - 100,000 |
28 |
33 |
|
100,001 - 150,000 |
8 |
15 |
|
150,000 - 200,000 |
1 |
0 |
|
Above 200,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
611 |
1,132 |
The above figures exclude approximately 60 temporary seasonal staff employed by my Department on an annual basis. The total salary of each temporary seasonal staff member is less than €30,000.
Offshore Islands
Questions (408)
Noel Grealish
Question:408. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will indicate the amount spent on the two airports, Cleggan and Inishbofin, County Galway, by the Exchequer since they were created; if he has plans to provide funding to finish these two airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19083/13]
View answerWritten answers
I can inform the Deputy that the total expenditure to date on the development of airstrips at Cleggan and Inishbofin is €8.6m. The consultants retained by my Department are currently undertaking a detailed design, costing and preparation of tender documents for the construction phase of the project. A decision on the funding will be made when this phase has been completed and in the context of the budget available.