Written Answers Nos. 145-157
145. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when child benefit will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40358/13]
View answerChild Benefit is paid up to and including the month of a child’s 16th birthday, and continues to the month of the 18th birthday provided the child is in full-time education. In order for payment to continue after the age of sixteen, it is necessary for the school to certify that the child is in full time education and will be until the age of eighteen.
In the case of the person concerned, a completed application form has been received and child benefit has been restored. A payment notification has issued her and payment for the months from July 2013 to October 2013 will be lodged to her nominated bank account on Tuesday, 1 October 2013.
146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when back to school allowance will be granted in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40359/13]
View answerAccording to the Department’s records there is no trace of receipt of an application for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance from the person concerned. An application form has issued to her. On receipt of the completed form, her entitlement to the allowance will be established.
147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when jobseeker's allowance will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40360/13]
View answerA review of this case will be undertaken when all requested documentation has been submitted by the person concerned.
148. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when payment in respect of guardianship will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40361/13]
View answerA claim for Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) was received from the person concerned on 22nd July 2013 and is being processed. Further information has been requested from the claimant and when this is received, the person’s entitlement will be decided and he will be notified of the outcome without delay.
149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when child benefit will be restored to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40362/13]
View answerChild Benefit is paid up to and including the month of a child’s 16th birthday and continues to the month of the 18th birthday provided the child is in full-time education. In order for payment to continue after the age of sixteen, it is necessary for the school to certify that the child is in full time education and will be until the age of eighteen.
In this case, payment of Child Benefit was made up to and including June 2013, the end of the academic year, when the child completed the Leaving Certificate.
An application form issued to the person concerned in August to confirm that the child is returning to full time education. This form has not yet been returned and should now be completed if the child has returned to full-time education. Arrears due from July 2013 will then be paid and payment will continue to October 2013, the month of the child’s 18th birthday.
150. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when rent support will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40363/13]
View answerThere is no record of a rent supplement application in respect of the person concerned. If the person concerned wishes to make an application for rent supplement she should submit same to the Mid Leinster Rents Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24.
152. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of advisors, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by her Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40708/13]
View answerThe following table shows the position in the Department for the years 2011 and 2013.
|
Position |
2011 |
2013 |
|
Special Advisor |
1 |
1 |
|
Press Advisor |
1 |
1 |
|
Personal Assistant |
1 |
1 |
|
Personal Secretary |
1 |
1 |
|
Civilian Driver |
2 |
2 |
|
Press Office staff |
4* |
4* |
|
Programme Manager |
Nil |
Nil |
* The staff serving in the Press Office are Departmental staff.
Details sought in respect of the specific posts identified by the Deputy are not available for 1981.
153. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to reintroduce the bothair aise scheme for residents in the Gaeltacht area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40130/13]
View answerIn view of the very limited budget available and in the context of the priorities outlined in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 , there are currently no plans to re-open this scheme in the short to medium-term.
154. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will ensure that the Heritage Councils grant scheme is restored to enable funding to continue to the Irish Wildlife Trust which operates on a shoestring budget and plays a huge role in protecting Ireland's wildlife [40191/13]
View answerThe level of funding allocated from my Department’s Vote to the Heritage Council is €4,496,000 in 2013. In addition, the Heritage Council has been allocated €1.6million from my Department's share of the Environment Fund. It is a matter for the Council, within certain parameters, to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports in 2013 and future years, having regard to competing priorities for limited resources.
The scope to provide additional funding for the protection, conservation and development of the State’s heritage is constrained by the current national economic difficulties and the significant reduction in the public finances. However, my Department will continue to provide funding for the protection, conservation and development of our built and natural heritage, in so far as resources allow. The allocation to the Heritage Council in 2014 will be subject to the normal budgetary processes.
156. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisors, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40697/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was established on 2 June 2011. Accordingly, the details requested by the Deputy in respect of certain categories of staff employed by my Department are set out, for 2011 and 2013 only, in the table below.
|
- |
Minister |
Minister |
Minister of State |
Minister of State |
|
- |
2011 |
2013 |
2011 |
2013 |
|
Special Adviser |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
Programme Manager |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Media Adviser |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Personal Secretary |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Personal Assistant |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
157. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the level of funding which householders applied for under the better energy homes scheme and the better energy warmer homes scheme in 2012 and the amount available to the schemes in 2013. [40157/13]
View answerThe Better Energy Homes and the Better Energy Warmer Homes schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme.
The Better Energy Homes scheme provides financial support to homeowners towards the installation of energy efficiency measures, whereas Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme delivers energy efficiency measures to low-income households vulnerable to energy poverty.
It is not possible to provide details on the value of applications made under the Better Energy Homes scheme as data is not retained for applications that do not proceed to the grant draw-down stage. However, the value of grants provided to householders under the scheme in 2012 was €24,577,211. While the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme is not a grant scheme, the amount spent on energy efficiency measures for low-income households in 2012 was €20,538,101.
The amount currently allocated to the Better Energy Homes scheme in 2013 is €13 million, while €24 million has been allocated to the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme. These allocations are kept under constant review to ensure the available allocations are expended.
