Written Answers Nos. 110-116
110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of applications for invalidity pension currently on hand; the likely timescale within which it is expected that a decision will be made; the degree if any to which she can speed up the processing of such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11144/14]
View answerThere is no backlog in claim processing in Invalidity Pension. As at the end of February 2014 there were 2,050 Invalidity Pension (IP) claims registered, actioned and awaiting information to finalise a decision. This includes approximately 270 cases which are being investigated under EU regulations or bi-lateral agreements. These cases are more complex and take longer to decide. Approximately 210 new invalidity pension claims are received in the Department each week. These are examined on receipt and a decision is completed where all information is available. If a medical assessment and/or further information is required, it is requested without delay.
Once all the necessary information is received, the claim is processed. The current average time taken to provide a decision on a new invalidity pension claim is just under 9 weeks. Delays may occur while waiting for a medical assessment or if a person has not returned documentation requested. Where a claim is disallowed and the customer requests a review of the decision or appeals the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office, this requires an additional amount of time to finalise. Processes and procedures are continuously being reviewed with the objective of reducing processing times.
111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an appeal for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if an oral hearing will be arranged in this instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11182/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 13th 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.
112. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if in view of the Government's commitment to the youth guarantee implementation plan, she will consider putting a pilot programme in place for County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11183/14]
View answerThe Youth Guarantee will be run on a national basis. The Ballymun Pilot is being mainly funded by the European Commission. Such specific funding for other pilot programmes is not available. Moreover, it is unlikely that the Department will operate a specific scheme for each of its 60+ local offices. However there will be flexibility to tailor the implementation to local conditions (for example with regard to the cohorts of young people to be selected for engagement in the first instance etc.) and the specific approach to be followed in each area will be a matter for local DSP management in consultation with relevant stakeholders. It is intended that the approach in other areas will however benefit from the lessons learned during the Ballymun pilot. In particular, it is intended, that local employment initiatives will be driven by local employer groups, local DSP/Intreo staff, local community groups and local training providers working collaboratively, as in Ballymun, to tailor the approach to their local circumstances.
113. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a breakdown of his Department's expenditure in translating and printing Irish language publications, documents, advertisements, notices and bilingual signage in each of the past three years. [11043/14]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy regarding my Department's expenditure on Irish language translation costs for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 is set out in the table below.
The amount spent on translation services for each of the years below
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
€15,588 |
€8,850 |
€37, 285 |
114. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a comprehensive list of all the lands including land owner/user that have been removed from the Falcarragh to Meenlaragh special area of conservation designation since initial commencement of designation dates required; the reason they were removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11105/14]
View answer115. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide details of the total number of site visits that were undertaken by the National Parks Wildlife Service that met personally with land owner/user in the Falcarragh to Meenlaragh special area of conservation regarding the designation area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11106/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 115 together.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 330 and 331 of 11 February 2014.
116. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the fact that mapping of new NHA designation has not been finalised, if the land of a person (details supplied) will be omitted from the list as it is agricultural land and not bog land. [11169/14]
View answerI understand that the land belonging to the person referred to in the Deputy's Question is within or adjacent to the existing Ballynagrenia and Ballinderry raised bog Natural Heritage Area (NHA). The Deputy will be aware that the Review of Ireland’s Raised Bog Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs), which was published recently, has proposed a reconfiguration of the network of raised bog NHAs. The site in question is one of 7, listed in the Review, which will be divided with a view to phasing out turf-cutting and conserving one part and de-designating the other part of the site. In this regard, a letter has issued in the last few days from my Department to landowners in the site, including to the person referred to, which outlines the outcome of the Review and the implications for this site. In addition, a map which shows the part of the site which is to be retained as NHA and conserved, and the part proposed for de-designation was enclosed with that letter.
