Written Answers Nos. 171-83
171. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the options available to persons who do not have utility bills to prove their address when applying for housing; the acceptable ways to prove a persons address; if an affidavit, letter from Gardaí of politician will be accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40183/13]
View answerThe inclusion of a household by a housing authority on its list of qualified households is a matter for the housing authority concerned under the provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous) Provisions Act 2009, the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 and having regard to the particular circumstances of each case.
To qualify for social housing support, a household must generally submit a properly completed application form to the housing authority, including providing the supporting documents specified in the application form checklist. Proof of current address is a requirement and may be shown by using, for example, a lease or a rental agreement. It is a matter for the local authority to determine what is required in individual cases. The Department would expect that any such requests by a local authority would be appropriate having regard to the particular circumstances of the applicant.
172. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1692 on 18 September 2013, if there is legislation regarding signs and signage based on lands adjacent to different categories of roads throughout Ireland, in view of his Department's responsibility for such under the Planning and Development Act 2013 as amended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40193/13]
View answerUnless otherwise exempt, signs and signage on lands adja cent to roads throughout Ireland are subject to the submission of a planning application in accordance with the provisions of Section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Decisions in this regard are a matter for the relevant planning authority.
173. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department, local authorities or agencies under his control has privatised or outsourced any part or all, of the selection process for potential recruits to the fire services, including psychological or behavioural testing; the parts or processes and the companies or persons that have received contracts and the value of same; the reason for doing this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40214/13]
View answerThe provision of fire services in a local authority area is a statutory function of the local authority. Under Section 10 of the Fire Services Act 1981, a fire authority is required to make provision for the delivery of fire services in its functional area, including the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises. Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each City and County Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible.
174. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the extent to which LEADER funding has been made available to an organisation (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40253/13]
View answerIn the context of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme (RDP), projects that request funding of in excess of €150,000 require final approval from my Department after Local Development Company (LDC) Board approval. The assessment of these higher value projects usually involves detailed consultations between my Department and the relevant LDC. The project referred to in the question is one such project and the request for approval was received on 12 August 2013. My Department expects to have assessed all these projects by the end of October 2013.
175. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of recent figures that almost 1 in 10 persons aged 65 and over are at risk of poverty and that almost half of older people living alone are in the bottom 40% of the income bracket in CSO 2013 if he will reverse the cuts imposed on the housing adaptation grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40257/13]
View answerThe requirement to reduce public expenditure to sustainable levels is impacting on capital programmes all across the public service, including my Department’s housing capital programme. The level of capital funding available has declined significantly in recent years along the lines highlighted in the Medium Term Exchequer Framework for Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016. As a result capital spending on housing programmes is subject to constraint over the short-term. On 22 February 2013 I announced capital allocations to local authorities under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability amounting to €42.750 million. Through active management of the overall housing budget for 2013, I allocated further funding across all local authorities on 19 July bringing the overall funding for these grants to €45.607 million. My Department is closely monitoring expenditure across all the measures under the housing programme. I will consider allocating further funds to the grants measure in the event of any saving arising elsewhere.
I am currently reviewing the operation of the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability with the objective of targeting those in most need and ensuring that the maximum numbers of households can benefit from these schemes. I intend to announce revised terms and conditions for the grant schemes later this year. Capital allocations to local authorities for next year are currently being considered in the context of the Estimates for 2014.
176. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if additional funding will be provided to Cavan County Council in respect of housing adaptation grant for people with a disability, mobility aids housing grant and housing aid for older people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40320/13]
View answerOn 22 February 2013 I announced capital allocations to local authorities under the suite of Grants for Older People and People with a Disability amounting to €42.750 million. Through active management of my Department’s overall housing budget for 2013, I allocated further funding across all local authorities on 19 July bringing the overall funding for these grants to €45.607 million.
In the case of Cavan County Council, the initial allocation for the grant schemes in 2013 amounted to €1,038,155. I approved a subsequent supplementary allocation in July, bringing the Council’s overall allocation to €1,101,059. My Department is closely monitoring expenditure across all the measures under the housing programme. I will consider allocating further funds to the grants measure in the event of any saving arising elsewhere.
178. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government 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. [40702/13]
View answerInformation in relation to ministerial appointments and staffing levels in the Department’s Press/Communications Office are not readily available for 1981 and would take an inordinate amount of time to retrieve and compile. Staffing levels for 2011 and currently in 2013 are set out in the following tables.
|
Minister |
Staffing Pre March 2011 (30th Dáil) |
|
Minister Gormley |
1 Programme Manager for the Green Party (see note below) |
|
- |
3 Special Advisers (1 Adviser assigned to press and media matters)* |
|
- |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
- |
1 Personal Secretary |
|
Minister of State Finneran |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
- |
1 Personal Secretary |
|
Minister |
2013 Current Staffing |
|
Minister Hogan |
2 Special Advisers |
|
- |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
- |
1 Personal Secretary |
|
Minister of State O’Sullivan |
2 Special Advisers |
|
- |
1 Personal Assistant |
|
- |
1 Personal Secretary |
|
Staffing of the Press/Information Office |
Staffing Pre March 2011 (30th Dáil) |
Current Staffing 2013 |
|
1 HEO |
1 Special Adviser* (See above) |
1 EO |
|
1 EO |
1 HEO |
1 CO |
|
- |
1 CO |
- |
Minister Gormley resigned his position in January 2011 and Minister of State Finneran left office on 10 March 2011. The Programme Manager for the Green Party was based in the Office of the Taoiseach but the cost of his salary was borne by my Department. Under the Guidelines on ministerial Appointments, Ministers of State who regularly attend Cabinet are permitted to appoint two special advisers.
179. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to speed up the Garda vetting process, in view of the fact that the delays are causing severe hardship for persons wishing to take up positions of employment with vulnerable groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40150/13]
View answerBy way of background to the Deputy's question, I wish to advise that the number of vetting applications received by the Garda Central Vetting Unit (GCVU) each year has risen from 187,864 in 2007 to 327,903 in 2012 and it is expected that there will be upwards of 350,000 applications this year.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current average processing time for applications is approximately 9 weeks from date of receipt. However, seasonal fluctuations and the necessity to seek additional information on particular applications can result in this processing time being exceeded on occasion. In the interest of fairness and equity, Garda vetting applications are processed in chronological order based on the date of receipt in the GCVU and all organisations registered for Garda Vetting are aware of the processing time-frames for the receipt of Garda vetting and have been advised to factor this into their recruitment and selection process.
It is essential that the GCVU has the resources required to perform this most critical of roles effectively and I have given this matter particular priority. In that regard I have been actively engaged with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. As a result of that engagement, I am pleased to say that the Commissioner has confirmed to me that there are now 134 whole-time equivalent staff (130 civilians and 4 members of the Garda Síochána) assigned to the GCVU, some 41 of whom have been redeployed from elsewhere in the public service since the end of March 2013. Some of these redeployed staff have only recently completed their training in the vetting process, and the full impact of their work will be seen in the coming weeks. Furthermore, I have also recently received sanction for the redeployment of 40 additional staff to the GCVU. This brings the total number of staff in that service to over 170 which, when compared to the average staff allocation of 78 at the Unit over the past two and a half years, represents an increase of 117%.
Development of an e-Vetting solution is underway. This will facilitate the processing of all applications in an e-format, thus removing the time-consuming current process of manually managing all applications received. The initial phase of testing this e-vetting system will take place in the fourth quarter of 2013. When this is achieved, this system will streamline the overall vetting process in this jurisdiction, and further contribute to reductions in processing times for all vetting applications.
180. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 459 of 25 June 2013, if he will forward all outstanding responses to the question submitted at the time. [40153/13]
View answerThe outstanding statistics sought as well as updated ones already provided in my answer on 25 June, 2013 will be provided to the Deputy by the end of next week. The delay in collating this is regretted.
181. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of asylum seekers currently awaiting a decision; the average waiting time associated with applications for asylum; the number of residential establishments currently housing asylum seekers in the State; the weekly cost to the State to provide residential accommodation for each asylum seeker; during these placement's the attempts made at preparing these persons for future integration into the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40165/13]
View answerApplications for refugee status in the State are assessed at first instance by the statutory independent Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) and on appeal by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal (RAT). At the end of August 2013 there were 239 asylum applications pending in ORAC and 533 appeals pending in RAT.
While the current median processing time from date of initial application at ORAC through the appeal stage at RAT, to a final Ministerial decision is 8 months, some cases can take longer to complete due to, for example, delays arising from medical issues, or because of judicial review proceedings. A person who is refused a declaration of refugee status is, in addition to other options, notified of their entitlement under the leave to remain process, to apply for subsidiary protection in the State. This is separate to the refugee status determination process. The Deputy may be aware that I am intending to introduce new arrangements in the near future in regard to the processing of subsidiary protection applications.
The Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers while their application for protection in the State is being processed. Currently, RIA provides accommodation to 4,414 persons in 34 centres located in 16 counties throughout the State. Details on where these centres are located as well as other detailed information and statistics about RIA's functions are on RIA's website: www.ria.gov.ie.
The Deputy's attention is drawn to the Value for Money Report and Policy Review - Asylum Seeker Accommodation Programme (also available on RIA'a website), which provides an in-depth analysis of the accommodation provided and its costs. Currently, the weekly average cost per person in commercial direct provision centres is €206.25. This figure includes all expenditure on food, school lunch packs, heating, maintenance and housekeeping, water and sewerage, bed linen and towels, toiletries, staffing security, etc. It does not include the cost of medical, educational, and welfare costs for RIA residents.
In relation to the issue of integration, it should be borne in mind that, unlike Programme Refugees for instance, to whom a formal integration process applies, it is not a matter of certainty that an international protection applicant will require 'future integration into the community'. Specific measures to promote the integration of asylum seekers into the community are not taken pending clarification as to their status in the State. In reality, a level of integration takes place anyway given that asylum accommodation centres are not closed, children of residents attend local schools and residents avail of medical services in the same way as Irish citizens living in the same locality.
Although not intended as a formal integration process, RIA's contracts for accommodation encourages all contractors to facilitate the provision of any classes or courses provided by any bona fide organisation willing to offer services to residents. Some centres facilitate the provision of a variety of classes such as IT skills, parenting classes, sewing. etc. Projects providing reception supports to asylum seekers are eligible for grants from the European Refugee Fund eg. actions that address social, medical, and information needs of the target group. There is also an added focus on certain vulnerable groups among asylum seekers.
182. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current guidelines covering the correct and appropriate use of pepper spray by An Garda Síochána; his views that the recent use of this agent against Irish citizens outside Dáil Éireann was both warranted or necessary; if he will make a commitment to review the use of pepper spray in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40168/13]
View answerA detailed manual on Garda policy and procedures in relation to the use of incapacitant spray has been developed by the Garda Commissioner and is published on the Garda website. The manual sets out the detailed considerations which must always be taken into account by a member of the Garda Síochána before using incapacitant spray. Any use of incapacitant spray, as with any use of force in general, must be in accordance with law, in particular the law on the use of force set out in the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. In effect, the use of incapacitant spray must be necessary and must be reasonable in the circumstances.
Garda members are trained in the lawful use of incapacitant spray and, as the manual makes clear, are individually responsible and answerable for their actions in its use. It is also the case that every incident where incapacitant spray is deployed is notified to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, which can investigate any question of misuse. The fundamental principle underpinning Garda policy on the use of force is that any action taken must comply with the fundamental principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and accountability and be applied in a non-discriminatory manner in accordance with the principles of the European Convention of Human Rights. In carrying out their duties, members of An Garda Síochána shall, as far as practicable and in so far as the circumstances dictate, consider non-physical means prior to resorting to the use of force. I believe, therefore, that comprehensive policy and procedures in relation to the use of incapacitant spray, and appropriate safeguards to ensure compliance with those standards, have been put in place. I have been informed that the use of Incapacitant Spray on the 18th September, 2013 during a policing operation in the vicinity of Government Buildings was in accordance with the above policy.
183. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40186/13]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that applications for a certificate of naturalisation have been received from the persons referred to by the Deputy. The applications are being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicants meet the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. In this regard, further information has been requested from the first person referred to by the Deputy in a letter issued to his legal representative on 23 September, 2013.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
