Written Answers Nos. 347 -371
347. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide an update on plans that have been put in place for lands in County Limerick which are owned by Shannon Development; the expected legal position of those lands into the future; the safeguards and protective measures he envisages to ensure that the lands are put to the best possible use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8147/14]
View answerShannon Development is in the process of transferring land at a number of specific locations in the Limerick Region to IDA Ireland for Industrial Development purposes. The remaining land and property portfolio of Shannon Development will remain in the ownership of Shannon Development and continue to be managed by Shannon Development on the same basis as previously.
The wider land and property assets of Shannon Development will be used as a development and promotional tool and, within Shannon Group, there can now be a greater focus on maximising the efficiency and effectiveness of the property management function. Shannon Group will seek to maximise the use of all of Shannon Development’s portfolio of land, industrial and building infrastructure and the network of business parks.
By combining a strong independent Shannon Airport with the extensive property holdings, experience and expertise of Shannon Development we will create a strong new State company which will work with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland on developing an International Aviation Services Centre in the region. I am convinced that with strong implementation we can create a world-class cluster in this region and help create the growth and jobs to drive the economy of the Shannon-Limerick area.
The Government also decided as part of the restructuring of Shannon Development to rationalise the tourism and enterprise support agencies in the region. Shannon Development's tourism support functions have been transferred to Fáilte Ireland and its enterprise support functions have transferred to the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. These initiatives will serve to eliminate the historical duplication of resources and to deliver a better service to the region.
348. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he proposes to transpose the EU Sharps Directive under the Health and Safety Act; if he will provide a timeframe for its transposition; the practical measures that have been put in place to ensure speedy implementation of the directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8155/14]
View answerThe transposition of the provisions of Directive 2010/32/EU (known as the ‘Sharps’ directive) on the basis of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, had originally been recommended in the Regulatory Impact Assessment undertaken in 2011 by the Health and Safety Authority. In line with the public consultation procedures conducted under Section 57 of the Act of 2005, a draft of proposed regulations was published on the Health and Safety Authority’s website for a period of one month in early 2012, along with a Regulatory Impact Assessment and a copy of the Directive. Draft regulations providing for transposition of the Directive in line with the principles contained in the Act of 2005 were subsequently transmitted by my Department to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) at the end of 2012.
However, legal advice received from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) in early 2013 required a reversal of this approach, as concerns were raised about the suitability of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, as a vehicle for transposing this Directive. My Department was subsequently advised that transposition should instead be effected using the Ministerial regulation making powers contained in section 3 of the European Communities Act 1972.
Officials from my Department and the Health and Safety Authority have been working together with the OPC on the framing of draft regulations, so as to expedite the transposition arrangements in a manner that is true to the spirit of the Directive, while also ensuring appropriate and proportionate enforcement measures attuned to our existing national regulatory framework. The European Commission has been informed in the meantime of the legal issues that have given rise to the delayed transposition.
Notwithstanding the delay in the transposition of the Sharps directive, the Health and Safety Authority has produced a very clear guidance document, available on their website since last year, that outlines the procedures that must be followed in order to comply with the provisions of the Directive. The requirements of the Directive have been brought to the attention of the health care sector, throughout the transposition period and since the date on which the Directive came into effect, in communications and presentations made by the HSA presentations at seminars including events held by the Institute of Occupational Health and Safety, Nursing Homes Ireland and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. The HSA has also communicated on the ‘Sharps Directive’ and its implementation at different times with a number of other interested parties in the health care sector, including those involved in the dental profession and HSE Office of Health Protection.
The transposition deadline for this Directive was 11 May 2013. On 23 January 2014 the EU Commission issued a Letter of Formal Notice of Infringement against Ireland (Ref. 2013-0274) requesting Ireland to submit a response within two months i.e. by 21 March 2014. It is anticipated that the transposing measures will be submitted before that deadline and that any escalation of the infringement proceedings would accordingly be averted.
349. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if, in the context of the development of the new local enterprise offices which will provide directed and targeted supports for businesses and entrepreneurs, the specific needs of Gaeltacht and businesses and potential businesses operating through the Irish language will be addressed by LEOs, particularly by LEOs with jurisdiction over areas with Gaeltacht areas. [8326/14]
View answerThe purpose of the CEB Dissolution Bill 2013, which is going through its final stages in the Oireachtas, is to give effect to the Government Decision to create an enhanced national micro enterprise support model, delivered through the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) which will be established in each Local Authority area.
The LEOs will have primary responsibility for the delivery of State support to the micro and small business sector.
The Bill provides for the dissolution of the CEBs and the transfer of the functions, assets, liabilities and staff to Enterprise Ireland. The operation of the new LEOs will be under an agreed Service Level Agreement (SLA) between Enterprise Ireland and each Local Authority. This SLA also provides for engagement and collaboration with a range of other State bodies, including Údarás na Gaeltachta, in order to maximise State support to the micro and small business sector. The Centre of Excellence within Enterprise Ireland is charged with developing the relevant protocols with the other State bodies.
350. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total spending by Enterprise Ireland, broken down by Enterprise Ireland and its subsidiary organisations, each county enterprise board, Dublin Business Innovation Centre, Cork Business Innovation Centre, Galway Business Innovation Centre and so on, on external consultants in the years 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8355/14]
View answerIt should be noted that Enterprise Ireland has no subsidiary organisations. Also, due to the volume and detail of the information sought by the Deputy, it is not possible to collate the information required within the timeframe given. I will endeavour to have the information required provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.
351. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide the names of each consultant-consultancy paid over €25,000, the EU public tender threshold limit, by Enterprise Ireland and its subsidiary organisations in 2012 and 2013; if the tenders for these jobs were ever published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8356/14]
View answerIt should be noted that Enterprise Ireland has no subsidiary organisations. Also, due to the volume and detail of the information sought by the Deputy, it is not possible to collate the information required within the timeframe given. I will endeavour to have the information required provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.
352. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will clarify if all branches of the Civil Service within his Department are applying Department policy that staff progress on incremental salary scales on the basis of a single point per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8685/14]
View answerPay and incremental progression within my Department is operated in line with Government policy and the payment of increments is subject to satisfactory performance under the Performance Management Development System (PMDS) and compliance with sick leave regulations.
It should be noted that the process of progression by one incremental step per annum has been modified in line with the application of pay adjustments and related measures in accordance with the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, 2013 and the Haddington Road Agreement. The incremental progression interval has been extended from 12 months to between 15 and 18 months depending on pay scale as set out in the Haddington Road Agreement.
353. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation as far as he is aware if any official body under the aegis of his Department subscribes to the daily inflation data for Ireland collected by a company (details supplied); if so, the cost of this service; if the data will be made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8702/14]
View answerNeither my Department nor the Offices under the aegis of my Department subscribe to Pricestats for daily inflation data for Ireland.
Subscriptions to database services by the Agencies under my remit is a day-to-day matter for the individual Agencies concerned, for which I have no direct function.
I have asked all Agencies under the aegis of my Department to advise me of any such subscriptions, and I will communicate that information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
354. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the terms of reference of the ad hoc group that she is chairing in relation to pensions in the State sector. [7465/14]
View answerPensions policy is a topic with potentially broad and cross-cutting implications. An ad hoc group on pensions, involving relevant Ministers and chaired by the Taoiseach, meets as necessary to ensure a coherent and consistent approach. As this is an ad hoc group there are no formal terms of reference.
355. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason an application for the back to school grant was denied in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7876/14]
View answerTo receive the back to education allowance (BTEA), a person must satisfy a number of conditions such as being a certain age; in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a specified time period; pursuing a full time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college; and progressing in the level of education currently held with reference to the national framework of qualifications, among others.
Budget 2013 introduced some changes to the BTEA scheme with effect from 1st January 2013.
A person who defers a year is defined as a new entrant to the scheme rather than being linked to a previous entitlement unless there are exceptional circumstances such as illness or other force majeure circumstances. This is in line with the Department of Education and Skills policy.
The person concerned was in receipt of jobseekers benefit prior to making an application for BTEA for the 2011/12 academic year. Her application was approved.
She did not pass all of her exams at the end of the 2011/12 academic year and she decided to repeat at the end of the 2012/13 academic year. As she was not a full-time student during this period she applied for jobseekers allowance but did not qualify as she had means in excess of the limit for receipt of the payment. She signed for jobseekers credits instead. A person signing for jobseekers credits does not receive any payment from the department.
She re-sat and passed her examinations and returned to college for the 2013/14 academic year. She made an application for BTEA on 1st September, 2013. The BTEA replaces the existing payment for a customer. As the person concerned was not receiving a payment – she was signing for jobseekers credits, there was no payment to replace. She was notified of this decision on 11th November, 2013.
356. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of residents and tenants of certain locations in Cork city and county (details supplied) which were flooded in June 2012 have since received any funding out of the flood relief fund established. [8036/14]
View answerThe humanitarian assistance scheme was approved by Government in November 2009. The scheme, which is means tested, is available to assist people whose homes are damaged by flooding and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and in some instances structural repair. Levels of payment depend on the relative severity of damage experienced and the household’s ability to meet these costs ensuring that the funding is appropriately targeted. Humanitarian assistance does not include risks that are covered by insurance policies or cover business or commercial losses.
In dealing with events of this nature the Department generally adopts a three stage approach as follows:
- Stage 1 is to provide emergency income support payments for food, clothing, personal items and temporary accommodation in the immediate aftermath of the event. A relatively small amount of financial assistance is generally provided initially but this will increase as the extent of the problems become clearer.
- Stage 2 generally involves the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items. It is not until the flood water abates and houses dry out that the full extent of the damage to homes will become known.
- Stage 3 is to identify what longer term financial support or works are required. It could take several months before this stage of response commences and this involves a cross Departmental/Agency response. Works carried out can include plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting.
Following the June 2012 flooding, approximately 120 payments were made to affected householders in the Cork area to the value of some €150,000. Of these, 27 payments totalling €16,000 were made to persons living in the Blackpool area. There were no payments made in respect of tenants of Douglas Village Shopping Centre as the humanitarian assistance scheme does not cover business or commercial losses.
Any person experiencing hardship as a result of the severe weather conditions, should contact the Department’s local representative administering the supplementary welfare allowance scheme who may be able to offer assistance.
357. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale and the basis on which the allocation from Pobal to an organisation (details supplied) for 2014 was determined; if Pobal has taken into consideration the limitations that these reductions will place on the organisation to effectively deliver its service commitments; the scope for the matter to be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8103/14]
View answerThe community services programme (CSP) is designed to address gaps in service delivery and disadvantage and to ensure that community facilities are utilised. The programme is funded by the Department of Social Protection with day-to-day management of contracts undertaken by Pobal. Some 425 not-for-profit companies and co-operatives shared annual funding of €46m from the programme in 2013. Contract holders must deliver tangible services that are capable of generating non-public revenues from their operations by way of charging fees, sales and/or fundraising and other public funds. The programme is not intended to represent full-funding for any operation.
Each contract holder is responsible for their own budgets, income, financial and other liabilities. Contracts are generally offered on a three-year cycle based on a business plan or similar submitted by the company. Continued funding is subject to satisfactory compliance with the programme’s operational requirements, financial position of the company, continued eligibility of the company and service, progress on delivery of the stated objectives in the business plan, and an assessment of a business plan for the following three year contact cycle. A regular review process is undertaken to ensure compliance with contract obligations, audit issues, continuing capacity of the organisation to manage public funds, the need for and quality of service delivery, sustainability, and value for money.
A re-contracting process for the period 2014-16 for organisations operating under the Community Services Strand of the programme was undertaken in 2013. This involved the submission of business plans by contracted organisations. These business plans and past performance were reviewed by Pobal and the conclusions submitted to the Department for consideration and decision. The business plan and operations of the company referred to by the Deputy was reviewed under this process. The company in question was approved for a funding contribution for one full time manager post and eight full-time equivalent posts (FTE) plus €25,000 operational funding per annum up to end of 2013 with a total value of €209,264 pa. The business plan submitted by the company as part of the 2014-16 review process was considered to have limitations including the demonstrated level of activity for the level of funds granted. The level of output delivered by the company was considered low when compared with similar services. While the continued need for programme support was recognised, both Pobal and the Department are concerned about the value for money being delivered for the high level of public funds provided to the company. In particular, the level of output delivered by the company was less than that delivered by similar operations.
The programme’s contribution to the company’s turnover has increased in recent years and is significantly above the level generally accepted for companies supported by the programme. In light of these conclusions, approval for a reduced level of funding was given. The phased reduction in funding over 2014 to 2016 will ensure value for money is delivered and should stimulate the company into diversifying its income sources and increase productivity to underpin its ongoing sustainability and decrease its dependence on CSP funding to more satisfactory levels. The company has been offered an opportunity to seek a review of the decisions made.
358. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the current rent caps for rent allowance for each council area in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8151/14]
View answerThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are currently approximately 79,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
The Department completed a review of the maximum rent limits which came into effect on 17 June 2013 and will remain in place until 31 December 2014. The emphasis of the review was to ensure that value for money is achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market. The current maximum rent limits are prescribed on a county basis with Dublin divided into Fingal and non-Fingal areas. Separate to the county limits, higher rent limits have been provided for in North Kildare and Bray areas.
The following tabular statement provides details of the current maximum rent limits.
|
County: |
Single Shared |
Couple Shared |
Single |
Couple |
Couple/One Parent Family - 1 Child |
Couple/One Parent Family - 2 Children |
Couple/One Parent Family - 3 Children |
|
Dublin - Fingal |
300 |
350 |
520 |
700 |
850 |
900 |
950 |
|
Dublin - Not Fingal |
350 |
400 |
520 |
750 |
950 |
975 |
1,000 |
|
Carlow |
230 |
250 |
375 |
433 |
520 |
560 |
590 |
|
Cavan |
160 |
190 |
325 |
350 |
400 |
415 |
433 |
|
Clare |
190 |
210 |
320 |
350 |
400 |
450 |
500 |
|
Cork |
250 |
270 |
485 |
575 |
700 |
725 |
750 |
|
Donegal |
175 |
200 |
300 |
325 |
350 |
400 |
450 |
|
Galway |
280 |
300 |
475 |
540 |
700 |
725 |
750 |
|
Kerry |
190 |
220 |
365 |
390 |
500 |
520 |
540 |
|
Kildare |
250 |
300 |
433 |
500 |
650 |
700 |
750 |
|
Kilkenny |
200 |
230 |
390 |
430 |
540 |
565 |
590 |
|
Laois |
200 |
230 |
340 |
350 |
450 |
480 |
520 |
|
Leitrim |
175 |
195 |
300 |
325 |
350 |
375 |
400 |
|
Limerick |
200 |
240 |
375 |
400 |
500 |
550 |
600 |
|
Longford |
160 |
175 |
290 |
300 |
325 |
340 |
350 |
|
Louth |
215 |
250 |
390 |
400 |
550 |
575 |
600 |
|
Mayo |
195 |
215 |
375 |
390 |
433 |
465 |
500 |
|
Meath |
200 |
260 |
390 |
420 |
550 |
600 |
650 |
|
Monaghan |
180 |
190 |
300 |
350 |
400 |
433 |
450 |
|
Offaly |
200 |
220 |
360 |
400 |
450 |
475 |
500 |
|
Roscommon |
200 |
220 |
300 |
325 |
400 |
410 |
425 |
|
Sligo |
195 |
220 |
400 |
425 |
520 |
540 |
550 |
|
Tipperary |
195 |
220 |
370 |
400 |
485 |
500 |
525 |
|
Waterford |
220 |
240 |
375 |
390 |
475 |
500 |
525 |
|
Westmeath |
190 |
210 |
390 |
400 |
500 |
520 |
530 |
|
Wexford |
250 |
270 |
375 |
390 |
500 |
540 |
575 |
|
Wicklow |
240 |
290 |
425 |
450 |
600 |
610 |
625 |
|
North Kildare |
270 |
290 |
500 |
575 |
750 |
800 |
850 |
|
Bray |
275 |
300 |
520 |
680 |
850 |
925 |
1,000 |
359. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the hardship the decision to discontinue the telephone allowance is causing to the persons affected, particularly those who have had to disconnect their landlines because of this cut and accordingly have to cancel their home alarm systems which require a telephone line; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7513/14]
View answerThe overall concern of the Government in recent budgets has been to protect the primary weekly social welfare rates. Maintaining the rate of the State pension and other core payments is critical in relation to protecting people from poverty. To allow us to protect these core payments, we have had to look very carefully at other additional payments including the household benefits package.
The cost of the telephone allowance scheme had risen each year with the number of eligible customers also increasing significantly. In 2007 there were some 316,000 people receiving the telephone allowance compared to almost 396,000 at the end of September 2013, an increase of 25%. Each year almost 10,000 extra customers became eligible for the allowance because of the increased number of pension recipients.
I am keenly aware of the impact on the Department’s customers and particularly those who are living alone. In Budget 2014, I was able to maintain the rate of the living alone allowance at €7.70 per week. While the decision to the telephone allowance was a difficult one it allowed my Department to maintain at the same rates the other elements of the household benefits package, such as the free electricity/gas allowance and the free television licence. These are very valuable supports for customers. We have also maintained the value of the fuel allowance and free travel.
The monthly allowances under the household benefits package are a contribution towards the cost of services; they are not intended to meet those costs in full. The telephone allowance was introduced at a time when telephones were expensive and uncommon and a landline service was the only option available to the customer. The market has changed enormously since the introduction of the allowance, with several companies providing a range of services and rates with bundled services including television, telephone and broadband and pay-as-you-go mobiles.
The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government operates the seniors alert scheme which provides grant support for the supply of equipment such as personal alarms, smoke detectors and security lighting to enable older people without sufficient means to continue to live securely in their homes. The budget allocation for 2013 was €2.35 million. There has been no reduction in this funding in Budget 2014.
360. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a disability allowance will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow in view of the fact the person is waiting for an operation and unable to work; if further assistance will be given to the person relative to the person's mortgage difficulties; if she will expedite a response. [7530/14]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the disability allowance appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
With regard to the Mortgage Interest Supplement application of the person concerned, I understand that this was refused by the Community Welfare Service in January 2014 but that, as of this point in time, the Appeals Office has no record of any appeal having been received.
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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
361. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding social welfare payments due to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if correspondence relating to benefits submitted by the person has been considered; and if the person is due an increase in benefit and arrears. [7531/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that appeals by the persons concerned were registered in that office on 10 December 2013. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeals be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 5 February 2013 and 6 February 2013 respectively. However, I understand that the person concerned has submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Department and that the files have been temporarily returned to the Department to deal with that request. On their return the files will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeals based on 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
362. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if domiciliary care allowance has been approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [7541/14]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on 18 September 2013. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors, who provided an opinion that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on 7 October 2013 advising of the decision to disallow the application.
The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision. As part of the appeal process, the case was reviewed by a second Medical Assessor on 10 February 2014. Their opinion was that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. As the deciding officer does not consider that a revision of the original decision is warranted, the file will now be forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for the appeal to be processed.
364. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider correspondence dated 18 January 2014 submitted to her office in the names of persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if she will approve the request based on the decision already issued and the plans they have made based on that decision from her Department. [7568/14]
View answerA reply issued to the Deputy to his correspondence dated 18 January, 2014 detailing the position. As a result of budget changes introduced in 2013, the practice of uprating those on means reduced payments to the maximum personal rate on back to education allowance (BTEA) was discontinued from 1st January, 2013. From that date, new entrants to the BTEA scheme aged over 25 years will get their existing social welfare rate entitlement only.
In the case of the above named, an incorrect decision was made on the rate of BTEA payable in respect of the persons in question when they commenced full-time study. Both customers were awarded the maximum rate of €188 instead of a reduced rate of BTEA, due to household means. To ensure a consistent approach, the rate of BTEA was corrected. The weekly rate of BTEA has therefore been revised to reflect the customers’ current household means. It should be noted that if a customer’s circumstances change while participating on a BTEA supported course, a revised decision should be made by the relevant Local Social Welfare Office.
365. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review a decision to refuse an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7575/14]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on 10 October 2013. This application was referred to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors whose opinion was that the child was not medically eligible for the allowance. A letter issued on the 8th January 2014 advising of the decision to disallow the application.
The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision. As part of the appeal process, the case has been forwarded to another of the Department’s Medical Assessors for further consideration, including a review of any new information supplied.
Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor’s opinion, the case will be further examined by a deciding officer, who will revise the original decision if warranted or forward the case for consideration by the Appeals Office.
366. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if supplementary welfare allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, who has no income and has two dependent children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7584/14]
View answerThe person concerned presented to Leixlip Health Centre on 14 February 2014. She was issued an application form for supplementary welfare allowance which she was requested to complete and return to this Department. Upon receipt of the completed application from the person concerned, her entitlement to a payment will be examined and a decision will be made on her claim.
367. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department will be obliged to put the provision of local employment services and jobs clubs, currently provided by a range of community and voluntary organisations, out to public tender from 2015 onwards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7587/14]
View answerThe Department has sought advice from the Chief State Solicitor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office regarding the procurement and contractual arrangements of Local Employment and Job Clubs services. The matter requires further exploration and consideration before it can be determined whether or not any obligation exists to procure such services by public tender. Contracts for 2014 are being awarded on the same basis as in previous years.
369. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form, the number of staff in her Department currently on a sabbatical or career break broken down by zero to six months, six to 12 months, one year to two years, two to three years, four to five years and five years plus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7634/14]
View answerDetails of the number of staff from my Department currently on career breaks are provided as follows. The duration for which a career break is sanctioned is not recorded as staff can extend the duration during the course of the career break. All career breaks are sanctioned for a minimum period of six months.
The details provided indicate the duration since the career break commenced.
|
Career Break |
Number |
|
On Career Break for less than 6 months |
5 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 6 months and 1 year |
18 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 1 and 2 years |
26 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 2 and 3 years |
12 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 3 and 4 years |
5 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 4 and 5 years |
2 |
|
On Career Break for a period over 5 years |
5 |
370. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form, the total number of uncertified sick days taken by employees in her Department and the average uncertified sick days per employee taken; the total certified sick days taken by employees; the average certified sick days per employee; the total sick days taken by employees; the average total sick days and median overall sick days per employee in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [7650/14]
View answerDetails of the number of sick days taken by staff in my Department in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 are provided as follows.
The table provides details of the total numbers of staff and number of staff who took sick leave in each of the specified areas as follows: the total number of uncertified sick days taken by employees and the average uncertified sick days per employee; the total certified sick days taken by employees and the average certified sick days per employee; the total number of sick days taken by employees and the average total sick days taken by employees. The median figures requested are not available.
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Number of staff in the Department on 31st December |
5,105 |
5,207 |
5,315 |
7,079 |
|
Number of employees who took sick leave |
3,982 (78.00%) |
3,757 (72.15%) |
3,591 (74.34%) |
4,238 (59.86%) |
|
Total number of uncertified (self-certified) sick leave days |
5,722 |
5,412 |
5,501 |
6,162 |
|
Average number of uncertified (self-certified) sick leave days per employee |
1.12 |
1.03 |
1.04 |
0.87 |
|
Total number of certified sick leave days |
63,601 |
58,965 |
66,179 |
82,851 |
|
Average number of certified sick leave days per employee |
12.46 |
11.33 |
12.45 |
11.7 |
|
Total number of sick days |
69,323 |
64,377 |
71,680 |
89,013 |
|
Average number of sick day (working days) per employee |
13.58 |
12.36 |
13.49 |
12.57 |
371. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department is taking to prevent food poverty; if she will provide national data on food poverty based on the survey on income and living conditions; and if she will provide these data for the Finglas area of Dublin. [7665/14]
View answerFood poverty can be defined as 'the inability to have an adequate and nutritious diet due to issues of affordability and accessibility.' Food poverty is a complex multidimensional issue and impacts on a range of policy areas. There are many factors which can impact on food poverty: level of income, the cost of food, the availability of healthy food, access to food outlets and education and culture.
There is no official measure of food poverty in Ireland. In 2011, the Department published a technical paper on the construction of a food poverty indicator based on the analysis of food-related deprivation items in the Central Statistics Office Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC), developed in conjunction with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). Using this methodology, the latest (2011) figure for food poverty is 11 per cent of the population, as calculated by the ESRI. It is not possible to provide local level data on this food poverty indicator because of the sample size in SILC.
The Department of Social Protection’s primary role is to provide income supports to sustain an adequate standard of living and to prevent poverty. Welfare payments and other social transfers are very effective in reducing the at-risk-of-poverty rate. Recently published ESRI research shows that welfare payments and other social transfers lifted almost 40 per cent of the population out of at-risk-of-poverty in 2011, which equates to a reduction of 71 per cent in the pre-social transfer poverty rate. As a result, Ireland is among the best performing countries in the EU in reducing poverty through social transfers. This reflects the continuation of substantial State investment in the social protection system, despite the challenges and constraints of the economic and fiscal crisis.
In addition, my Department administers the school meals programme as a targeted intervention for children at risk of food poverty and educational disadvantage. In 2013, the Department provided €37 million for food provision to almost 205,000 children, in over 1,600 schools and organisations. The Department also supports Healthy Food for All, a national charitable organisation, which works to improve access, availability and affordability of healthy food for low-income groups, by developing community and school food initiatives.
