Written Answers Nos 397-421
397. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in determining an appeal against disallowance of illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [8062/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 15 October 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 appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 24 January 2014 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal 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.
398. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in determining an appeal against disallowance of carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8063/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21 August 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 appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 5 February 2014 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal 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.
399. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in determining an appeal for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [8064/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 17 January 2014. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal 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.
400. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a decision has not yet issued on a farm assist appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8131/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an Oral Hearing took place in respect of a Farm Assistance appeal by the person concerned on 6 December 2013.
At this Oral Hearing, the Appeals Officer gave the person concerned an opportunity through his accountant to furnish a number of statements including documentation in respect of the purchase of livestock. The Appeals Officer was advised by the person concerned at the oral hearing that the purchase of livestock and the type of livestock purchased could be verified.
I am advised that documentary evidence of the relevant transactions has been received by the Appeals Officer and that this additional evidence was returned to the Social Welfare Inspector who represented the Department at the oral hearing for her consideration and for any comments she may have to offer in response. The Social Welfare Inspector has advised me that she is still working on the appellant’s means assessment but was nearing the completion of a revised report and hoped to be in position to return the file to the Appeals Officer in the next few days. When the comments of the inspector have been received, the Appeals Officer will consider the matter and decide how to proceed to determine the appeal. I have been assured that every effort will be made to complete this process at the earliest possible time.
The Department have advised me that in the meantime the person concerned is in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance albeit at a reduced rate. If the person concerned feels his means are insufficient to meet his needs, it is open to him to contact his local Community Welfare Officer to explore his possible entitlement to supplementary welfare allowance pending the outcome of his appeal.
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.
401. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will appoint a sponsor to work in tandem with the Meath job club so that the job club can continue to provide this essential service, or failing that, allow it to self-administer the fund in order that its viability is guaranteed. [8149/14]
View answerThe contractor of Meath Job Club for 2013 did not wish to be considered for a contract in 2014.
A replacement contractor operated the service on an interim basis but subsequently decided not to proceed with a formal contract. The department has requested the replacement contractor to continue to operate the service until agreement is reached with a new contractor. The department is currently in the process of negotiating with a new contractor to undertake the operation of Meath Job Club.
402. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons may sign on for credits where they do not have a means tested social welfare payment as a result of their spouse's income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8160/14]
View answerCredited contributions are a feature of the contributory social insurance schemes. A credit is pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution awarded to an insured person under certain circumstances, such as proved unemployment. Credited contributions ensure that a person’s insurance record is maintained and can be helpful at a later stage to qualify for other social welfare benefits, such as pensions.
In order to be awarded credits a person must satisfy all relevant conditions, including those relating to having a minimum specified level of PRSI contributions.
Where a person loses employment and has no entitlement to payment due, in the case of jobseeker’s benefit, to having insufficient PRSI contributions and, in the case of jobseeker’s allowance, to the household means being in excess of the statutory limit, they may sign for jobseeker credits provided they continue to satisfy all applicable conditions, including PRSI contribution conditions and the requirement that they are available for full-time employment and can demonstrate that they are genuinely seeking such work.
403. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the amounts in tabular form that her Department has paid in jobseeker's allowance and benefit in 2011, 2012 and 2013; the anticipated expenditure for these payments in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8171/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the tabular statement.
Jobseeker's allowance and benefit expenditure 2011 to 2014
|
- |
2011 - €000 |
2012 - €000 |
2013 - €000 (Estimate) |
2014 - €000 (Estimate) |
|
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
2,974,987 |
3,054,741 |
3,098,210 |
2,820,000 |
|
Jobseeker’s Benefit |
926,900 |
736,881 |
564,200 |
456,600 |
404. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she anticipates a budgetary surplus in her Department in 2014 as a result of rising employment and falling unemployment; the anticipated and actual spend in 2011, 2012 and 2013 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8172/14]
View answerThe table below details the total expenditure allocation provided for the Department of Social Protection in the relevant Revised Estimates Volumes over the period from 2011 to 2014 inclusive, as well as the out-turn up to and including 2013. The outturn for 2013 is provisional and subject to reconciliation and audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
|
- |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
‘€000 |
‘€000 |
‘€000 |
‘€000 |
|
|
Revised Estimates Volume |
20,668,200 |
20,546,724 |
20,243,447 |
19,603,500 |
|
Out-Turn |
20,917,160 |
20,734,549 |
20,228,116 |
n/a |
The 2014 estimate already takes into account a projected reduction in the Live Register in 2014, down from an average of 419,800 in 2013 to 390,000 this year.
405. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the efforts she is making to tackle high replacement rates; if she can point to circumstances where departmental changes since March 2011 have reduced replacement rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8176/14]
View answerThe replacement rate for given income levels is a tool used to measure the degree to which out-of-work benefits when unemployed replace take home income from work. While there is no predetermined level of replacement rate, which would influence every individual’s decision to work, higher replacement rates may indicate lower incentives to take up employment. In this regard a replacement rate in excess of 70% may be considered to be excessive.
Replacement rate analysis, as supported by research by the ESRI, demonstrates that the great majority of people on the Live Register have a strong financial incentive to work and significant numbers leave the Register each year. In this regard it may be noted that almost three-quarters of the people on the Live Register are only claiming a personal rate for themselves. They are either single or may have a spouse or partner who is working. In addition, 53% of the people on the Live Register receive less than the maximum personal weekly rate.
High replacement rates are generally associated with a relatively high number of dependent children and/or receipt of rent or mortgage supplement. However, it is important to note that, as the following table demonstrates, only a very small and decreasing proportion of persons on the Live Register are in receipt of these additional supports.
|
Year |
Rent Supplement |
Mortgage Interest Supplement |
Local Authority Mortgage Allowance |
% of Live Register availing of these supports |
Total Live Register |
|
2011 |
44,247 |
10,880 |
152 |
12.7% |
434,784 |
|
2012 |
39,377 |
8,078 |
90 |
11.2% |
423,733 |
|
2013 |
34,531 |
4,766 |
39 |
9.9% |
395,411 |
Reductions in the numbers of people in receipt of housing support has been the major factor in achieving reductions in instances of high replacement rates. In addition, changes such as basing entitlement under the jobseeker’s benefit scheme on a five rather than a six day week and the recognition of Sunday as a day of employment under the jobseeker schemes, also having a positive effect on reducing replacement rates for some jobseeker recipients.
In the area of housing, significant moves have been taken to address the impact of housing entitlements upon replacement rates. Arising out of commitments in the Programme for Government to review the operation of the rent supplement scheme, proposals to integrate the systems for providing rent supplement and social housing support have been advanced. It is intended to transfer responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to persons with a long term housing need from the Department of Social Protection (currently provided through rent supplement) to housing authorities using a new housing assistance payment.
The effect of this transfer and the introduction of a new form of housing assistance payment will be to address one of the significant disincentives to accessing full-time employment that exists under the rent supplement scheme. This will have a further positive impact on replacement rates.
406. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the efforts she is making to ensure her Department has a detailed breakdown of the skill sets of jobseekers; the way she is measuring the success of activation measures in this context; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8177/14]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection keeps a detailed breakdown of the skillsets of jobseekers. Data on each client’s past occupation, and his/her education, is collected at the point of registration for job-seekers’ payment; these and other relevant data are processed and the probability of leaving the live register is calculated (PEX). At a later stage the jobseeker is interviewed and the relevant information is updated to assist in the clients’ job search (including through collection of additional details on past work history, education, and any barriers to employability such as numeracy or literacy issues). Summary statistical information on the clients’ last held occupation as well as demographic and regional information is published on the Central Statistics Office website.
With regard to measuring the success of activation measures the main measure used is the extent to which participants go on to take up employment or further education/training.
In this regard, the Department has compiled a longitudinal database to track outcomes of participants on the Department’s schemes/programmes, which can also be used to monitor outcomes for programmes operated by other Departments. The database includes information on the skillsets of participants, and provides a basis for more systematic programme evaluation. The Department has commissioned the ESRI to conduct an initial “pathfinder” evaluation of the Back to Education Allowance Scheme using this database. It is planned to tender for a broader econometric evaluation of activation schemes in the near future.
In addition, an evaluation of the DSP Contact Centre service for employers is carried out every six months. Based on the results of these evaluations, measures are taken to ensure that job placement rates for Live Registrants are maximised.
407. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection the follow-up there has been on a case of reported alleged social welfare fraud since the report was first submitted (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8199/14]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection is committed to ensuring that social welfare payments are available to those who are entitled to them and that abuse of the system is prevented and dealt with effectively when detected.
It is the policy of the Department to examine all reports of possible fraud and abuse concerning the Department's schemes.
However under the Data Protection Act, information regarding action taken on specific reports cannot be provided.
408. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will carry out an immediate poverty impact assessment with respect to the changes from a unit based approach to a monetary value based approach in the home benefit package's support for recipients of ESB heating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8205/14]
View answerMy Department will spend over €380 million in 2014 on the electricity and gas elements of the household benefits package and the fuel allowance scheme to assist customers with their energy costs. Help will also continue to be available for people with special or additional heating needs through the heating supplement and exceptional needs payment scheme under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
The electricity allowance has a monthly value of €35 for both electricity and gas customers. The value of the allowance was protected in Budget 2014. Electric Ireland and Bord Gáis gas customers receive this amount as a credit on their bills. Customers who have switched to other companies receive a direct monthly cash payment.
A poverty impact assessment was carried out in late 2011 in the context of developing a range of options for the administration of the household benefits package in a de-regulated domestic energy market. The assessment focused on the potential impact of changing the electricity allowance from a unit base to a cash base to avail of cheaper rates available. It also examined the issue of the vulnerability of older people who are the main recipients of the household benefits package.
Before January 2013, the free electricity allowance was based on Electric Ireland standard units even though it was possible to avail of cheaper rates from other companies. The poverty impact assessment noted that there was little incentive for customers to switch to other cheaper companies. Only 16% of social welfare customers had switched companies to avail of cheaper rates, compared to 42% nationally. With the units based approach it was not possible for customers to carry over any saved units from Electric Ireland to other companies; this acted as a disincentive for customers wishing to obtain better value. Under the new cash credit system, it is now possible for a customer with Electric Ireland to transfer to other companies while maintaining their cash credit.
Current data shows that Ireland’s pensioners have the lowest consistent poverty rate and as a group compared to the rest of the population are least likely to be at risk of poverty - pointing to the adequacy and importance of the State pension and other benefits. Between 2004 and 2011, consistent poverty for older people (those over 65) fell from 3.9% to 1.9%. The ‘at risk of poverty’ rate for people in that age group also fell, from 27.1% to 16% over the same period.
409. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the situation whereby a person is only permitted on a Tús scheme for a maximum period of 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8209/14]
View answerTús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was initially set up to provide up to 5,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. The purpose of Tús is the provision of quality work for those who are unemployed in order to break the cycle of unemployment and to improve a person’s opportunities in returning to the labour market. I consider the existing 12-month period on Tús to be adequate to meet the objectives of the initiative whilst also ensuring that as many unemployed people as possible are able to benefit from it. There are no circumstances under which a person’s term on Tús will be extended beyond 12 months and I believe it is not in the interest of any participant that work placements of this nature extend for prolonged periods of time.
411. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to allow for the registration of the death of an unborn child in certain circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8220/14]
View answerThe loss of a child in any circumstances is an extremely tragic event for a family and I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to those families who have lost children.
The procedures governing the registration of deaths are provided for under Part 5 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004. When a death occurs it is registered on foot of a certificate of cause of death supplied by a registered medical practitioner. Where a death is referred to a coroner, the death is registered by a registrar on foot of a coroner's certificate. These are the only circumstances under which a death can be registered.
Section 28 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 provides for the registration of stillbirths. A still born child is defined under the Act as “a child who, at birth, weighs not less than 500 grams or has a gestational age of not less than 24 weeks and shows no sign of life and ‘‘stillbirth’’ shall be construed accordingly”. Section 28(7) of the Act provides that, if a coroner ascertains that a body is that of a stillborn child, he or she shall notify a registrar in the functional area of the authority in which the body is located of the stillbirth and shall give to the registrar, in as far as he or she can ascertain them, the required particulars in relation to the stillbirth, and the registrar shall register the stillbirth in such manner as an tArd-Chlaraitheoir may direct.
It is not intended to amend the Civil Registration Act, 2004 to allow for the registration of deaths without a medical certificate or a coroner’s certificate stating the cause of death.
412. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter relating to a freedom of information request received by her Department (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8228/14]
View answerThe current Freedom of Information (FOI) procedure in the Department is that a FOI request by persons seeking a copy of their carer's allowance file is dealt with by two separate areas of the Department. Carer's allowance section deal with the general file for the carer. The medical review and assessment section, as owners of the data, deals with the medical records of the care recipient. The medical details of the care recipient may be released to the carer only if there is specific written authorisation from the care recipient.
For reporting purposes to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, this type of request is counted as one FOI request.
The Department's decisions advisory office and FOI unit has developed a new IT application that will enable the coordination of multi-component FOI requests. This will ensure that, in the future, all of the elements of the FOI request will be co-ordinated and responded to as one request. The planned implementation of the new FOI application is early March 2014.
413. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to an article in The Irish Times on 3 February 2014, which stated that detailed studies were carried out on core benefits prior to budget 2014, if she will publish these studies in full; and her views on whether the budgetary process and debate on proposed budgetary measures would be improved by publishing such detailed studies pre-budget. [8315/14]
View answerThe social impact of a range of potential welfare and tax measures were assessed by the Department of Social Protection as part of the deliberative process for Budget 2014. This included some measures suggested at the department’s Pre Budget Forum by community and voluntary groups. This pre-Budget analysis of options for 2014 has already been released under FOI (with one very limited redaction) and I will arrange for my officials to send the Deputy a copy.
Social impact assessment is an evidence-based methodology which uses a tax/welfare simulation model developed by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) to estimate the likely distributive effects of budgetary measures on income and social inequalities.
The Department is currently preparing an analysis of the main tax and welfare measures being introduced in 2014. The Social Impact Assessment will include an analysis of the distributive and poverty impacts of these changes on different family types as well as the impact on at risk of poverty levels. The ESRI published their analysis of the distributional impact of Budget 2014 in December last. This analysis is innovative in that it captures for the first time tax changes relating to DIRT, pensions’ reliefs, health insurance reliefs and capital gains taxes and will inform the social impact assessment being undertaken in the Department. I will be examining the social impact assessment when it is finalised and I will publish it in due course.
414. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to increasing the fuel allowance payment and introducing other measures to guard against the risk of fuel poverty presented by the increase in the carbon tax in May 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8325/14]
View answerSome 410,000 customers will receive the fuel allowance of €20 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, at an estimated cost of €208 million in 2014. The fuel allowance is paid to those in receipt of long-term jobseekers allowance, one-parent family payment, disability allowance, invalidity pension and the State pension. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted people.
The allowance is intended as a contribution to a person’s heating costs. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance as part of the household benefits package to 410,000 customers at an estimated cost of €230 million in 2014.
The best way to tackle fuel poverty in the long term is to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling. My Department is currently working closely with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on these issues and in moving forward the actions agreed in the Energy Affordability Strategy.
The Better Energy Homes and the Better Energy Warmer Homes schemes are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland under the Better Energy Programme. The Better Energy Homes scheme provides support towards the installation of attic and wall insulation, and heating system upgrades including solar thermal with the works being undertaken by privately appointed contractors.
The Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households vulnerable to energy poverty. Measures available include; draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation and are free of charge to the customer.
415. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding pension trustees (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8328/14]
View answerEmployers who sponsor a pension scheme are required from February 2010 to arrange for the trustees of the scheme to receive appropriate training within six months of their appointment and at least every two years thereafter. Trustees must confirm in their scheme’s annual report which is distributed to scheme members that the training has taken place.
The Board does not collect data directly in relation to the numbers of pension scheme trustees who have completed the training requirements through a third party. However, the Board monitors compliance with the trustee training obligation on an ongoing basis through audits on a randomly selected range of schemes. As part of these audits the trustees are obliged to submit a copy of trustee training confirmation records to the Board.
The Pensions Board launched its free e-learning system for pension scheme trustees on 14 January 2010. Since it was launched 1,594 trustees have completed the online course and have been issued with their certificates confirming same.
Further information on trustee training and a list of self-certified trustee trainers is available on the Boards website at www.pensionsboard.ie. Currently there are some 56 trainers listed.
416. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the current waiting lists for the Money Advice and Budgeting Service by area; if any area is significantly out of line with the average; if he will explain in each case the reason it is out of line; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8357/14]
View answerThe Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, provides a high quality personal service to assist people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes and people living on social welfare payments.
Information and immediate support on all aspects of money management and personal debt is available from the MABS Helpline. In many cases the Helpline can provide the help and support people need. However, if a caller needs to avail of the face-to-face service provided by a MABS Money Adviser, they will be directed to a local MABS office.
There is ongoing contact with clients who are awaiting face-to-face appointment, including call-back and helpline support and the use of self-help material. In 2013, MABS also dealt with approx. 4,000 emergency clients who were seen immediately without any waiting period. Altogether, the number of new clients presenting to MABS in 2013 was 20,552.
While statistics for 2014 have not yet been compiled, initial indications are that waiting times for those services with above average waiting times in 2013 are reducing, e.g. Leitrim MABS waiting time is down to 4 weeks at end of January and Roscommon MABS is down to just over 5 weeks.
CIB continues to work with services to ensure clients are issued with notification of their first appointment immediately following an assessment stage or within five working days.
CIB is also working with those services with above average waiting times to put in place processes and practices to manage and reduce the waiting periods. This includes in some cases the temporary allocation of additional resource money advice staff to deal with waiting lists.
North Donegal MABS has experienced an increased demand for services and client waiting times at end December 2013 was an average of 26.2 weeks. CIB is working closely with the three Donegal based MABS companies to address client demand in North Donegal with a view to re-balancing of clients attending each of the services, particularly in the light of very low demand in Donegal South and West.
In addition, staff have been redeployed from outreach services to the main Letterkenny office, the full approved staffing level has been restored following a long term absence and provision for additional capacity has recently been made.
MABS operate an appointment scheduling system and this means that in some cases clients may have to wait a number of weeks for the next available appointment. While waiting for an appointment, clients can use MABS free self-help materials to take holding action and to begin the process of assessing their situation. The MABS Helpline can also support clients while they are awaiting their first appointment with a MABS money adviser.
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service is made up of a network of 53 companies which includes 51 local companies and 2 national companies, MABS ndl and National Traveller MABS. In addition, the MABS National Telephone Helpline is available from 9 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday and the MABS website can be accessed 24 hours a day at www.mabs.ie. In 2014 funding of some €18.6 million has been provided to MABS.
The Citizens Information Board (CIB), which has responsibility for MABS, compiles information on the waiting times in each MABS office on a quarterly basis and posts it to the www.mabs.ie website. The most recent statistics available, compiled to end of December 2013, record that the average waiting time from first point of contact to first appointment with a money adviser is some 4.5 weeks. This is a national average and can are vary greatly between offices. Details are provided by county/office area in the table below.
Sixty percent of MABS services (31 out of 51) have waiting times of 4 weeks or less and three quarters of services (39 out of 51) have waiting times of 6 weeks or less. 12 MABS services have longer waiting times.
I am satisfied that the ongoing monitoring of MABS services and the deployment of available resources to meet demand will continue to contribute to the reduction of waiting times across the MABS network of offices.
MABS Client Waiting Times & Numbers at 31 December 2013
|
Company |
Contact Phone |
Waiting time - Average Weeks |
Number awaiting first appointment |
|
Arklow & District |
0761 07 2390 |
2.4 |
6 |
|
Athlone |
0761 07 2400 |
1.6 |
5 |
|
Ballymun |
0761 07 2150 |
4.2 |
17 |
|
Blanchardstown |
0761 07 2330 |
9.4 |
68 |
|
Bray |
0761 07 2250 |
1.0 |
2 |
|
Carlow |
0761 07 2070 |
0.6 |
1 |
|
Cavan |
0761 07 2410 |
3.4 |
9 |
|
Charleville |
0761 07 2420 |
8.8 |
22 |
|
Clare |
0761 07 2430 Ennis 0761 07 2790 Shannon |
2.2 |
9 |
|
Clondalkin |
0761 07 2270 |
3.8 |
13 |
|
Cork City |
0761 07 2090 |
6.4 |
63 |
|
Cork North |
0761 07 2440 |
4.0 |
7 |
|
Cork West |
0761 07 2450 Dunmanway |
1.6 |
3 |
|
Donegal North |
0761 07 2460 0761 07 2470 Inishowen |
26.2 |
121 |
|
Donegal South |
0761 07 2480 |
4.0 |
2 |
|
Donegal West |
0761 07 2650 |
1.6 |
2 |
|
Drogheda |
0761 07 2490 |
9.0 |
92 |
|
Dublin 10 + 20 |
0761 07 2110 Cherry Orchard 0761 07 2800 Ballyfermot |
2.6 |
11 |
|
Dublin 12 Area |
0761 07 2500 |
5.4 |
10 |
|
Dublin North City |
0761 07 2510 |
7.8 |
12 |
|
Dublin North East |
0761 07 2290 |
4.0 |
2 |
|
Dublin South East |
0761 07 2520 |
2.8 |
13 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
0761 07 2530 |
5.2 |
9 |
|
Dundalk |
0761 07 2540 |
1.0 |
- |
|
Dundrum/Rathfarnham |
0761 07 2310 |
3.4 |
5 |
|
Fingal |
0761 07 2550 |
8.2 |
27 |
|
Finglas Cabra |
0761 07 2170 |
1.0 |
3 |
|
Galway North |
0761 07 2560 |
3.8 |
11 |
|
Galway South |
0761 07 2570 0761 07 2580 Loughrea |
6.0 |
41 |
|
Kerry |
0761 07 2190 |
4.6 |
20 |
|
Kildare |
0761 07 2590 Kilcock 0761 07 2600 Newbridge |
4.0 |
25 |
|
Kilkenny |
0761 07 2610 |
1.8 |
4 |
|
Laois |
0761 07 2620 |
1.6 |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
0761 07 2630 |
6.8 |
13 |
|
Liffey South West |
0761 07 2350 |
3.2 |
8 |
|
Limerick |
0761 07 2210 |
8.2 |
48 |
|
Longford |
0761 07 2640 |
2.2 |
6 |
|
Mayo North |
0761 07 2660 |
6.0 |
10 |
|
Mayo South |
0761 07 2670 |
14.4 |
47 |
|
Meath |
0761 07 2680 |
10.2 |
43 |
|
Monaghan |
0761 07 2690 |
3.0 |
5 |
|
Mullingar |
0761 07 2700 |
1.8 |
2 |
|
Offaly |
0761 07 2710 |
6.0 |
19 |
|
Roscommon |
0761 07 2720 |
7.8 |
8 |
|
Sligo |
0761 07 2730 |
4.2 |
7 |
|
Tallaght |
0761 07 2370 |
3.8 |
25 |
|
Tipperary North |
0761 07 2740 Thurles 0761 07 2760 Nenagh |
2.6 |
6 |
|
Tipperary South |
0761 07 2130 0761 07 2750 Clonmel |
2.0 |
10 |
|
Waterford |
0761 07 2050 Waterford |
0.8 |
1 |
|
Waterford West |
0761 07 2770 Waterford West |
0.4 |
- |
|
Wexford |
0761 07 2780 Wexford |
1.2 |
4 |
417. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8361/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 6 February 2014, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the 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.
418. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify if all branches of the Civil Service within her Department are applying departmental policy whereby staff progress or incremental salary scales on the basis of a single point per annum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8687/14]
View answerAll increments awarded in my Department are on a single point per annum basis.
419. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Social Protection as far as she is aware if any official bodies under the aegis of her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [8705/14]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
These bodies do not subscribe to the daily inflation data for Ireland collected by the company specified by the Deputy.
420. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide from Waterways Ireland details of the public consultation held on the new draft by-laws for the Grand Canal, Royal Canal and Barrow Navigation; the number of submissions made; the types of organisations making submissions; and the next phases of the consultation. [7955/14]
View answer427. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will amend the proposed draft canal by-laws to reflect the huge number of submissions from the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland. [7662/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 420 and 427 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, the public consultation process on the draft bye-laws referred to concluded on 3 February last. I am informed by Waterways Ireland that a general synopsis reveals that in excess of two thousand submissions were received from a wide variety of interests, including, but not exclusively, individual citizens, businesses, boat owners, organisations affiliated to the waterways such as the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, Councils, communities and local representatives.
I am advised that Waterways Ireland is currently conducting an analysis of all submissions received during the consultation process, including those received in support of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland’s position in regards to the draft bye-laws.
Once the analysis has been completed, all submissions will be given due consideration by Waterways Ireland and a report on the outcome of the process will be prepared. The report will be forwarded to my Department and will be then be referred to me with recommendations for consideration and final decision.
421. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on a seal cull, which is badly needed off our coast at the moment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8190/14]
View answerThere are two species of seals in Irish waters - the Harbour or Common Seal and the more numerous Grey Seal. Both are included in a list of species protected under the EU Habitats Directive. Consequently, Ireland is obliged to monitor and report on their status, including in relation to their population, every six years. The most recent six year report submitted to the European Commission in June 2013 is available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department at www.npws.ie. Management of seal populations will also require careful consideration of recently published studies from Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Marine Institute concerning seal depredation (fish eaten by seals during fisheries operations) and bycatch of seals in set nets. I understand further work is under way to enhance our understanding of this complex area. The assessment of risk from inshore sea fisheries in relation to the Natura 2000 network by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Marine Institute later in 2014 will also need to carefully consider seal-fisheries interactions. All these studies will continue to inform policy in relation to seal protection.
While seals are protected under the Wildlife Acts, licences may be obtained under section 42 of the Wildlife Act to hunt seals where damage is being caused. Licences are issued in response to specific applications and each application is considered on its merits. This redress is available to individual fishermen to control damage to fisheries by seals at particular locations.
