Written Answers Nos. 109 - 129
109. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number and names of all Deputies in Dáil Éireann who receive the independent leader's allowance; the amount they receive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33990/13]
View answerThe Party Leaders Allowance is provided for in the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) Act, 1938, as amended by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act, 2001. The legislation also provides that payments may be made to a member of Dáil Éireann, who at the last preceding general election or at a subsequent bye-election was elected as a member other than as a member of a qualifying party. Such qualifying independent TDs are currently entitled to an annual rate of €41,152. A similar provision in the Act provides for an annual payment, currently amounting to €23,383, for independent Senators.
There are currently 15 Deputies in receipt of the allowance – Catherine Murphy, Finian McGrath, John Halligan, Luke Flanagan, Mattie McGrath, Maureen O’Sullivan, Michael Healy Rae, Michael Lowry, Michael Wallace, Noel Grealish, Shane Ross, Seamus Healy, Stephen Donnelly, Thomas Pringle and Tom Fleming.
In the context of the Expenditure Estimates for 2013, I announced that a 10% reduction will be applied to the Party Leaders Allowance rates payable to qualifying leaders of political parties and to qualifying independent Members. I also announced my intention to amend the legislation to improve the transparency of the Allowance by providing for auditing provisions to apply to independent Members in receipt of such payments. I have taken the opportunity to conduct a review of the Allowance and a consultation process has been undertaken with leaders of qualifying parties, qualifying independent members and with the Standards in Public Office Commission. On foot of that review, I intend to bring proposals to Government very shortly on necessary amendments to the legislation underpinning the Allowance, including amendments to implement the measures I have already announced.
110. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a civil servant can be sacked or sent home if they have a mental illness; and the procedures that are in place to safeguard persons with a mental disability in the Civil Service [33992/13]
View answerThe civil service is strongly committed to the development and implementation of measures to promote and support the employment of individuals with disabilities. All Departments/ Offices must adhere to the Code of Practice for the Employment of People with a Disability in the Irish Civil Service (http://hr.per.gov.ie/files/2011/09/Code-of-Practice-2007.pdf). The civil service endeavours to meet the requirements of persons with disabilities so as to maximise access to employment and enable these individuals to make the fullest possible contribution to the work of their Department/Office. As an equal opportunities employer, the Civil Service is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to staff with disabilities who require this in order to work.
All Departments and Offices are required to appoint a Disability Liaison Officer to assist and support staff with disabilities and their line managers by the provision of necessary information, appropriate contacts, guidance, suggestions and advice. The Civil Service Employee Assistance Service may also be in a position to provide support to individuals and/or their managers, as appropriate. The civil service procedures on the management of sick leave provide that no employee who appears to require medical attention should remain on duty in the workplace. As is the case with employees generally, civil servants cannot be dismissed without being afforded due process.
112. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he expects a flood relief project (details supplied) in County Cork to be approved and a contract awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34037/13]
View answerDiscussions have been on-going with Cork County Council in relation to this matter. The Council submitted a revised application for works to the Office of Public Works in September 2012, which OPW found necessary to refer back to the Council on technical and cost grounds. In March of this year, Cork County Council submitted a new application under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme for funding to carry out a flood risk assessment and to produce an outline design of flood relief proposals for Ballinhassig Village and the surrounding area. This application which replaces the earlier one is now being assessed by OPW and it is expected that a decision will be made shortly on it.
113. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of State owned properties in the Dublin City Council area that are currently vacant; and if any of these properties are to sold off by the council. [34001/13]
View answerThe following State owned properties in the Dublin City Council area that are managed by the Office Of Public are vacant. Any queries regarding properties that are owned by Dublin City Council is a matter for that Authority.
17 Harcourt Terrace - This property has recently become vacant and the OPW is currently evaluating options. (261 sq. metres).
91 – 93 Merrion Square - This property is being prepared for State usage in 2014.
21 Fizwilliam Square - This property has been examined by a number of potential State clients. (537 sq metres).
Former Whitehall Garda Station - This property has been allocated for other State usage. (935 sq metres).
Coláiste Mhuire - OPW is allocating this property to Dublin City Council for the new City Library.
114. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the financial services regulatory measures he would envisage or hope to see contained within the transatlantic trade and investment partnership deal negotiations that got underway this week; his views on whether any such deal will negatively impact on the financial services industry here that employs thousands of people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34069/13]
View answerThe EU’s decision to start negotiations with the US on a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Agreement followed the report of the EU-US High Level Working Group on Jobs and Growth which recommended significantly closer trade relations between the two economies of the EU and the US. Assessments made by the EU Commission and other studies show that a comprehensive agreement could over time boost EU GDP by 0.5% per annum.
The negotiating mandate given to the EU Commission to negotiate on behalf of the EU is a broadly based one, which includes financial services. The objective is to ensure that in financial services we remove existing Non-Tariff Barriers, prevent the adoption of new Non-Tariff Barriers and allow greater market access. Negotiations should also aim at common frameworks for prudential co-operation. The EU has a very strong interest in ensuring that financial services are included in the negotiations given the potential opportunities. The market for trade in financial services between the EU and the US is substantial. The scale of business from our financial services sector, and indeed its growth, is already characterised by a high degree of integration. The Irish financial services sector has played a significant part in the development of a transatlantic market in financial services. As formal negotiations between the EU and the US have only just begun this week, it is far too early to anticipate the eventual negotiated outcome of the Agreement.
115. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of inspectors that are employed by the National Employment Rights Authority to carry out workplace inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34051/13]
View answerNERA currently has in place a team of fifty six inspectors, including seven managers. Two of these inspectors are currently assigned to other duties and during the course of this year one inspector passed away, may she rest in peace. There are no inspectors currently in training. The moratorium on recruitment and promotions in the Public Service, introduced by the Minister for Finance on 27th March 2009, has had an impact on NERA in common with all other public bodies.
116. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection further to the 19% cut to the respite care grant in 2012, the measures she will take to ensure that there are no more cuts; the reforms that will be taken to help restore the grant and ensure those affected by the cuts must no longer endure the hardship of budget cuts to the respite care grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33971/13]
View answerThe contribution that people provide in caring for members of their own family is critical for society. It was for that reason that the Government last year adopted the National Carers’ Strategy with a view to giving greater public recognition to carers and their work. Carers receive significant income supports from the Department of Social Protection so that people can continue living at home as long as possible. Expenditure on carers has increased significantly in recent years. In 2013 it is estimated to be €776 million compared with an estimated outturn of €771 million in 2012. The expenditure on carers in 2012 included: €509 million on carer’s allowance; €24 million on carer’s benefit; €135 million on the respite care grant and €103 million on domiciliary care allowance. Carers also receive a free travel pass at an annual cost of €6 million and carers who reside with the care recipient are eligible for the household benefits package at an annual cost of approximately €30 million.
The respite care grant is available to all full-time carers regardless of their means while the income disregard and means test for carers allowance is the most generous in the social welfare system. Carers are entitled to an extra half-rate carer’s allowance if they care for more than one person and a respite care grant for each care recipient. A person in receipt of certain qualifying payments and also providing full-time care and attention to another person may qualify for a half-rate carer’s allowance while retaining their main social welfare payment.
Regrettably, I am not in a position to reverse last year’s cut in the respite care grant. It should be noted that the supports available to carers in Ireland are among the highest rates of income support in Europe.
117. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average waiting periods for the social welfare appeals office in respect of carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33972/13]
View answer128. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the actions being taken to address the backlog in the social welfare appeals office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34029/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 128 together.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the current average time taken to process carer's allowance appeals decided by summary decision is 28.2 weeks and 34.7 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing. The current average time taken to process carer's benefit appeals decided by summary decision is 24 weeks and 28 weeks for those requiring an oral hearing.
These processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation. They include all activities during this period including time spent awaiting any clarification from the appellant, time in the Department for comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal put forward by the appellant, and any further investigation, examination or assessment by the Department’s Inspectors and Medical Assessors that is deemed necessary. A considerable period of time is added to the process when an oral hearing is required because of the logistics involved in this process. While this process carries an inherent delay in terms of finalising an appeal, it also crystallises the flexibility and accessibility of the appeals system.
There has been a rapid and sustained increase in the number of appeals received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office since 2009 which has placed extraordinary pressure on the office. Up to 2009, the average number of appeals received was 15,000 per annum whereas in 2012, the office received 35,484 appeals. In order to manage this increasing workload, significant resources and efforts have been put into reducing backlogs and improving appeals processing times for appellants, including the assignment of 15 additional Appeals Officers, in addition to 10 former Community Welfare Service Appeals Officers who joined the appeals office in 2011, bringing the total number of serving Appeals Officers to 41; reviewing and improving business processes; and implementing a new operating model within the appeals office.
In addition, a major programme of process redesign and modernisation is currently underway in the Department in relation to many of its scheme areas, aimed at reducing backlogs and reducing the time taken by the Department to respond to requests from the appeals office for submissions in relation to appeals.
These measures have led to improvements in processing times and a significant increase in the number of appeals finalised from 17,787 in 2009 to 32,558 in 2012. The Chief Appeals Officer expects to finalise 6,000 more cases in 2013 than in 2012. Good progress is also now being made in reducing the number of appeals on hand from 20,414 at 1 January 2013 to 16,542 at 1 July 2013.
The average waiting time for appeals peaked in 2011 when the average time for an oral hearing was 52.5 weeks and for a summary decision was 25.1 weeks. In 2012 these times improved by 10.3 weeks when the average time for an oral hearing dropped to 39.5 weeks while the time for a summary decision increased slightly to 27.8 weeks. This improvement has continued with the average processing time up to June 2013 reducing to 36.2 weeks for an oral hearing and 27.6 weeks for a summary decision. By its nature and because it is a quasi-judicial function, the processing of appeals takes time and reflects the fact that, by definition, the appeal process cannot be a quick one.
118. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the continuation of Granard social welfare office, County Longford; if figures are available on the number of persons attending the office's Monday information and claim taking service; if the office will continue to operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33985/13]
View answerMy Department is continually monitoring and reviewing service delivery to ensure that services are delivered in the most effective and efficient manner to customers. In Granard, an information and claim-taking service has been provided by staff from Longford Social Welfare Local Office at the Social Welfare Inspector's office, Moxham St, Granard every Monday morning. On average 10 to 12 customers use this service. On average 4-6 customers avail of the claim-taking service in Granard each week.
The Department also delivers a community welfare service from the Health Centre in Granard every Wednesday morning and the Social Welfare Inspector holds an office morning every Tuesday. Customers seeking information can have their queries dealt with by the Department’s staff at these times. In addition to those services, the Citizen's Information Board, which is funded by the Department and provides information on public services, holds an outreach service at the Granard Information Centre, Main Street, Granard every Thursday morning. Having reviewed the provision of services and the level of demand in Granard, it has been decided to temporarily suspend the Monday service for the summer months, after which it will be reviewed.
119. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to domiciliary care allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33991/13]
View answerAn application for Domiciliary Care Allowance was received from the person concerned on the 28th May 2013. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors who found the child to be medically eligible for the allowance. The person concerned was notified on the 8th July 2013 that her claim is awarded. The first payment will issue to her on the 16th July 2013.
120. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 154 of 3 July 2013, if she will provide comparable figures for the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33997/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not readily available.
121. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that carers are adequately protected so that they may continue to provide care rather than placing their loved ones in full-time care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34009/13]
View answerThe contribution that people provide in caring for members of their own family is critical for society. It was for that reason that the Government last year adopted the National Carers’ Strategy with a view to giving greater public recognition to carers and their work.
Carers receive significant income supports from the Department of Social Protection - indeed it should be noted that the supports available to carers in Ireland are among the highest rates of income support in Europe - so that people can continue living at home as long as possible. Expenditure on carers has increased significantly in recent years. In 2013 it is estimated to be €776 million compared with an estimated outturn of €771 million in 2012. The expenditure on carers in 2012 included: €509 million on carer’s allowance; €24 million on carer’s benefit; €135 million on the respite care grant and €103 million on domiciliary care allowance. Carers also receive a free travel pass at an annual cost of €6 million and carers who reside with the care recipient are eligible for the household benefits package at an annual cost of approximately €30 million.
The respite care grant is also available to all full-time carers regardless of their means while the income disregard and means test for carers allowance is the most generous in the social welfare system. Carers are entitled to an extra half-rate carer’s allowance if they care for more than one person and a respite care grant for each care recipient. A person in receipt of certain qualifying payments and also providing full-time care and attention to another person may qualify for a half-rate carer’s allowance while retaining their main social welfare payment.
122. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is considering amending the eligibility criteria for the treatment benefit scheme (details supplied). [34023/13]
View answerTo qualify for the Treatment Benefit Scheme an individual must satisfy certain PRSI conditions. One such condition requires a claimant to have 39 PRSI contributions paid at the appropriate class (either A, E, H or P) in the relevant tax year or years on which their application is based. The relevant tax years for this claim are 1985, 1991 and 1992. In each of these years PRSI was paid at either class S or class V, neither of which are reckonable for the purposes of qualifying for Treatment Benefit, as a result a grant towards the purchase of hearing aids is not payable. PRSI classes S and V are paid at a reduced contribution rate and have reduced entitlements attaching to them. There are no plans to amend the eligibility criteria for treatment benefit at this time, any proposals in this regard would have to be considered in the context of available resources and competing demands.
123. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if income supports will be protected for family carers in budget 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34024/13]
View answerThe Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure of €776 million in 2013 on the various carers schemes (carer’s allowance, domiciliary care allowance, respite care grant and carer’s benefit).
The Deputy will be aware that the Expenditure Report 2013 published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform last December provides for additional new expenditure reduction measures of €440 million to be achieved in 2014 in the Department of Social Protection budget. The Government have not made any decisions in relation to measures to be introduced in Budget 2014. The Government will finalise its consideration of the Budget in the coming months having regard to all of its commitments, including the commitment in the Programme for Government to maintain welfare rates. The outcome of this process will be announced on Budget Day.
124. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider reversing the cuts to the respite grants or offer an alternative as a redress to compensate for these cuts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34025/13]
View answerThe contribution that people provide in caring for members of their own family is critical for society. It was for that reason that the Government last year adopted the National Carers’ Strategy with a view to giving greater public recognition to carers and their work.
Carers receive significant income supports from the Department of Social Protection so that people can continue living at home as long as possible. Expenditure on carers has increased significantly in recent years. In 2013 it is estimated to be €776 million compared with an estimated outturn of €771 million in 2012. The expenditure on carers in 2012 included: €509 million on carer’s allowance; €24 million on carer’s benefit; €135 million on the respite care grant and €103 million on domiciliary care allowance. Carers also receive a free travel pass at an annual cost of €6 million and carers who reside with the care recipient are eligible for the household benefits package at an annual cost of approximately €30 million.
The respite care grant is available to all full-time carers regardless of their means while the income disregard and means test for carers allowance is the most generous in the social welfare system. Carers are entitled to an extra half-rate carer’s allowance if they care for more than one person and a respite care grant for each care recipient. A person in receipt of certain qualifying payments and also providing full-time care and attention to another person may qualify for a half-rate carer’s allowance while retaining their main social welfare payment. Regrettably, I am not in a position to reverse last year’s cut in the respite care grant. It should be noted that the supports available to carers in Ireland are among the highest rates of income support in Europe.
125. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the household benefit package will be reviewed to take into consideration the costs involved with running medical devices from homes such as nebulisers and ventilators and the impact such equipment has on energy costs, also the costs of operating washing machines especially for persons who suffer from incontinence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34026/13]
View answer126. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the provision of a direct telephone line will be included in the household benefits package which is essential for emergency and security reasons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34027/13]
View answer127. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the new household broadcasting charge will be included in the household benefit package for family carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34028/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 125 to 127, inclusive, together.
The household benefits package comprises the electricity/gas allowance, the telephone allowance and the free television licence. In 2013, my Department will spend an estimated €284 million on this scheme, providing some 410,000 customers with a package worth almost €700 per year. Under my Department’s supplementary welfare allowance scheme, a special heating supplement may be paid to assist people who have special heating needs. A person may qualify for a heating supplement, if they can show that they have extra heating needs and increased energy costs because of their age, medical condition or disability, are living alone or only with a dependent adult or dependent children and satisfy a means test. Approximately 3,200 people are currently in receipt of this supplement.
In addition, exceptional needs payments (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet out of his or her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is decided on the particular circumstances of the case. The provision for exceptional needs payments in 2013 is €47.6 million, with an additional €11.4 million for supplements.
Other than that already outlined above, the Department of Social Protection is not in a position to provide any additional supports, including through increases in existing social welfare schemes.
The telephone allowance is a component of the household benefits package. The allocation for the telephone allowance scheme has been reduced in 2013 as a cost saving measure. The estimated expenditure outturn on the telephone allowance in 2012 is €113 million compared with projected expenditure for 2013 of €48 million. As a result the monthly allowance was reduced from €22.60 to €9.50. In response to the reduction to the telephone allowance Eircom have launched a voice product aimed at Department of Social Protection (DSP) customers only. This package, called Talktime Control, gives eligible welfare customers the option of retaining their fixed line for €19.50 per month (before DSP credit). The plan includes line rental and a €5 call allowance for this price.
The introduction of a household broadcasting charge in place of the current television licence funding regime is being considered by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. No decisions have been made at this time in relation to the household benefits package.
129. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider removing the habitual residence clause as a requirement of eligibility for carer's allowance for persons returning here to provide full-time care. [34030/13]
View answerThe requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes and child benefit with effect from 1 May 2004. This qualifying condition is applied to all applicants, regardless of their nationality. The effect of the condition is that a person whose habitual residence is elsewhere would not normally be entitled to social welfare assistance or child benefit payments on arrival in Ireland. The habitual residence condition (HRC), as provided for in section 246 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 2005 (as amended), applies to claims for jobseeker’s allowance, non-contributory State pension, blind pension, non-contributory widow’s and widower’s pensions and guardian’s payment, one-parent family payment, carer’s allowance, disability allowance, supplementary welfare allowance including rent supplement, and child benefit. A person who does not have a right to reside in the State shall not be regarded as being habitually resident in the State. HRC does not apply to exceptional needs or urgent needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
Each case received for a determination on HRC is dealt with in its own right and a decision is based on application of the legislation and guidelines to the particular individual circumstances of each case. I have no plans to make any changes in relation to the habitual residence condition in relation to carer’s allowance.
