Written Answers Nos. 231 - 240
231. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to include mortgage brokers/financial brokers as part of a new advisory service for mortgage holders in difficulty which was announced last September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21448/13]
View answerThe Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service was established to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to assist people in mortgage distress.
The approach differentiates between mortgage information and mortgage advice. The first two elements involve the enhancement of the website www.keepingyourhome.ie and the establishment of a Mortgage Arrears Information Helpline within the Citizens Information Board both of which focus on the provision of comprehensive mortgage arrears information in particular to people in arrears or pre-arrears.
The third element of the service is the provision of independent financial advice to mortgage holders who are being presented with long term mortgage resolution proposals by their lenders. This advice is provided by a panel of accountants drawn from members of the main accountancy institutes in Ireland who have agreed to participate and support this independent service. This panel is available on a county by county basis on the website www.keepingyourhome.ie.
When a lender is proposing longer-term mortgage resolutions, the lender advises the borrower to obtain independent financial advice on the proposed arrangement and that, if the borrower wishes to avail of this option, that the lender will pay €250 to an accountant of the borrower’s choosing for the provision of this advice.
The advisory framework has commenced with practicing accountants because they already operate within a regulatory regime which includes qualitative oversight by their regulating bodies and in these circumstances it was possible to establish the advisory framework for people with mortgage distress within a relatively short timeframe.
There is nothing to inhibit other financial intermediaries from continuing to give advice on mortgages as required by borrowers. The advisory framework is being monitored on an on-going basis and a full review of the service will be undertaken in June 2013. The review will be undertaken to ensure that it is meeting its objectives and will encompass all aspects of the service including if participation is extended to other interested parties, the criteria that would be required in terms of relevant qualifications, experience, independence, professional indemnity insurance etc. All relevant stakeholders will have an opportunity to input to the review.
232. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for mortgage interest supplement for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will be expedited; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21455/13]
View answerThe person concerned applied for a mortgage interest supplement on 29th November 2012; however his application was incomplete at the time. An effort was made to contact him via telephone but this proved unsuccessful. A letter has since been sent to him apologising for the long delay in bringing this matter to a conclusion. A contact number has been made available to him should he wish to discuss this delay in person and to make an appointment to meet with a relevant officer to process his claim. In advance of this he can also attend the local clinic at Roselawn Health Centre any Tuesday or Thursday morning between 10am and 11am he can be interviewed by a member of staff and have his application fully completed and made ready for a decision.
233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 312 of 20 March 2013, when arrears will issue in respect of application for jobseeker's allowance which is now closed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21518/13]
View answerThe person concerned made an application for jobseekers allowance on 14th December 2012. He applied for supplementary welfare allowance while his jobseeker’s application was being processed. He collected his first supplementary payment on 21st December 2012 but he did not collect the following four payments covering the period 3rd January 2013 to 30th January 2013.
When the jobseeker’s application was awarded on 30th January 2013 arrears were withheld as the person concerned failed to contact the office to explain why he did not collect the supplementary payments. His jobseeker’s application was closed with effect from 6th February 2013 as he failed to sign.
The person concerned made a fresh application for jobseeker’s allowance on 10th April 2013. He has been requested to submit documentation regarding his residency in the country since 3rd of January 2013. When the documentation is received a decision will be made regarding any arrears that may be due to him.
Questions Nos. 234 and 235 withdrawn.
236. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a break down of the number of returning Irish emigrants who have applied for a social welfare payment during each of the past three years broken down by each social welfare office; and the number of returning Irish emigrants who applied for but were refused a social welfare payment on the basis of not fulfilling the habitual residency condition during each of the past three years broken down by each social welfare office. [21561/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not available. Information relating to disallowances of returning Irish emigrants is not captured during the claim decision making process. However, information pertaining to overall disallowances on the grounds of the habitual residency condition including those disallowances relating specifically to Irish nationals is contained in the tabular statement.
Table: Claims disallowed under Habitual Residence Condition, 2010 – 2013
|
Year: |
2010* |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 to date |
|
Irish Disallowances |
650 |
455 |
428 |
107 |
|
Total Disallowances |
5,906 |
4,494 |
2,817 |
985 |
*Please note that figures for 2010 are incomplete due to industrial action.
237. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Social Protection if, the position regarding jobbridge in respect of a person in (details supplied) in County Kildare will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21575/13]
View answerThe Department has been in direct contact with the individual referred to by the Deputy since February 2013. The individual has completed one internship and is currently undertaking a second. The intern is seeking to finish a second internship and be permitted to undertake a third.
In the first instance, the intern was dissatisfied with the activities assigned to him but withdrew his complaint the following day. A monitoring visit has been conducted and the Department is satisfied that the host organisation is abiding by the scheme criteria. In the second instance, the intern wishes to finish the internship because he deems it not to be related to his academic qualifications.
Under current guidelines, JobBridge interns may avail of no more than two internships to maximum cumulative period of nine months. The Department is not in a position to make exceptions in this regard. The individual was advised by the Department to consider participating in other schemes such as the Work Placement Programme and referred to the National Contact Centre for further assistance in this respect.
238. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé chun éisteacht leis na 63 eagraíocht, idir eagraíochtaí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta, mac léinn, cultúrtha agus eile, a scríobh chuige ar an 19 Márta 2013 á mholadh go n-aithneofaí pobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta mar gheallsealbhóirí ar chur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge, agus an struchtúr riachtanach ardleibhéil a chur ar bun idir na húdaráis agus na heagraíochtaí pobail Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta chun na fadhbanna le cur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise go dtí seo a réiteach, lena chinntiú go ndéanfaidh an pobal agus na húdaráis le chéile a gcuid féin den Straitéis, agus lena chinntiú go mbeidh pleanáil chomhtháite éifeachtach éifeachtúil ann ón mbun aníos; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [21280/13]
View answer239. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cad go díreach, go praiticiúil, a chuirfear i bhfeidhm sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010 - 2030; cé atá i bhfeighil ar chur chuige na straitéise i Roinn an Taoisigh agus i Roinn na Gaeltachta; an bhfuil rannóg faoi leith ann i Roinn na Gaeltachta atá ag plé leis an straitéis amháin; má tá, cé mhéid duine atá ag obair ansin; cé a bheidh ag déanamh athbhreithniú ar an Straitéis; cad é an creat ama don athbhreithniú sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [21281/13]
View answerTógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh 238 agus 239 le chéile.
Is sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 a leagtar amach polasaí an Rialtais maidir le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge. Sa chomhthéacs seo, tá sé ráite i gClár an Rialtais 2011-2016 go dtabharfaidh an Rialtas tacaíocht don Straitéis agus go ndéanfaidh sé na spriocanna indéanta atá luaite inti a sheachadadh.
Aithnítear sa Straitéis go bhfuil gá le cur chuige céimneach chun bearta éagsúla na Straitéise a chur i gcrích. I gcomhréir leis an gcur chuige seo, tá obair leanúnach ar siúl ag mo Roinn le páirtithe leasmhara éagsúla chun raon leathan gníomhaíochtaí faoin Straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm. Ós rud é go bhfuil an Straitéis fite fuaite le hobair mo Roinne sna réimsí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta agus Oileán trí chéile, tá na rannóga sin i mo Roinn ag plé le cur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise sna réimsí sin.
Thug mo Roinn faoi chéim an bhunaithe den Straitéis a chur i gcrích in 2011 nuair a díríodh ar dhaoine a chur ar an eolas faoin Straitéis agus ar bhunú na struchtúr eagraíochtúil agus oibríochtúil. Tugadh tús áite do ghnóthaí reachtaíochta in 2012 le hAcht na Gaeltachta a thugann bunús reachtúil do chóras pleanála teanga, taobh istigh agus taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht, agus a thugann ról lárnach sa phleanáil teanga d’Údarás na Gaeltachta agus d’Fhoras na Gaeilge.
Mar thoradh ar an obair atá ar siúl ag mo Roinn le páirtithe leasmhara na Straitéise, táthar ag súil go mbeidh na páirtithe sin ag foilsiú a gcuid pleananna forfheidhmithe faoin Straitéis níos moille i mbliana. Ina theannta sin, tá sé i gceist tuarascáil a fhoilsiú níos moille i mbliana maidir leis an dul chun cinn atá déanta faoin Straitéis go dáta. Tá an Coiste Rialtais ar an nGaeilge agus ar an nGaeltacht, a bhfuil an Taoiseach ina chathaoirleach air, ag déanamh maoirseachta ar an dul chun cinn faoin Straitéis.
Mar thoradh ar Acht na Gaeltachta, beidh ról níos lárnaí ná riamh ag pobal na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta agus ag na heagraíochtaí pobail i gcur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise tríd an bpróiseas pleanála teanga ar an talamh. Tá tosaíocht á tabhairt ag mo Roinn d’ullmhú na reachtaíochta tánaistí faoi Acht na Gaeltachta. Is faoin reachtaíocht seo a shonrófar na critéir pleanála teanga a bheidh mar bhunús chun pleananna teanga a aithint sna Limistéir Pleanála Teanga Ghaeltachta, sna Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta agus sna Líonraí Gaeilge. Tá obair ullmhúcháin ar bun ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus ag Foras na Gaeilge chun cabhrú le heagraíochtaí pobail ar an talamh pleananna teanga a fhorbairt sna ceantair éagsúla.
Maidir leis an éileamh atá déanta ag an earnáil dheonach go mbeidh ról níos lárnaí acu i gcur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise, tá sé i gceist seimineár a reáchtáil leis na heagraíochtaí seo ó am go chéile. Beidh sé de bhuntáiste ag a leithéid de chur chuige go mbeadh bealach ann chun an próiseas maidir le malartú eolais faoin Straitéis a éascú idir an Roinn agus na heagraíochtaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta. Ina theannta sin, tabharfaidh seimineáir dá leithéid deis an próiseas pleanála teanga a phlé leis na heagraíochtaí seo freisin. Táim ag súil go mbeidh an chéad seimineár á reáchtáil leis na heagraíochtaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta níos moille i mbliana.
240. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Charlie McConalogue den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta mar gheall ar an chúnamh caipitil a chuireann an Rannóg Áiseanna Pobail agus Teanga ina Roinn ar fáil, cad é luach na ndeontas a ceadaíodh in 2011, agus é miondealaithe contae ar chontae; agus cad é luach na ndeontas a ceadaíodh in 2012, agus é miondealaithe contae ar chontae. [21084/13]
View answerSeo a leanas sonraí na ndeontas caipitil a cheadaigh mo Roinn in 2011 agus in 2012 i leith áiseanna pobail, teanga agus caitheamh aimsire sa Ghaeltacht:
|
Contae |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Dún na nGall |
€132,400.00 |
€123,637.00 |
|
Maigh Eo |
€0.00 |
€41,753.00 |
|
Gaillimh |
€85,501.00 |
€981,992.30 |
|
Ciarraí |
€0.00 |
€91,757.00 |
|
Corcaigh |
€0.00 |
€147,244.00 |
|
Port Láirge |
€0.00 |
€10,169.00 |
|
An Mhí |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Iomlán |
€217,901.00 |
€1,396,552.30 |
