Written Answers Nos. 133-147
133. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider relaxing the rent caps in situations where families are facing homelessness (details supplied) in County Kildare; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that rent assistance payments are being refused by many landlords; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11423/14]
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. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 80,000 persons in receipt of rent supplement for which the Government has provided €403 million in 2013.
Revised rent limits under the rent supplement scheme have come into force with effect from Monday 17 June 2013 and will be in place until 31 December 2014. The new rent limits have been determined following an extensive review of the private rental market based on the most up-to-date data available. The Department currently funds up to 30% of the private rented sector so it is essential that the rent limits are kept under review. The new rent limits have been set using the 35th percentile ensuring that sufficient housing is available for recipients of the scheme.
Under the revised rent limits, there have been increases in the maximum rent limits in Dublin while there have been some reductions across a number of rural counties reflecting the conditions in the rental markets in those counties. Separate to the county limits, higher rent limits have also been provided for in the commuter areas of North Kildare and Bray.
Recently released figures from the Private Residential Tenancies Board, shows that current rent limits are providing adequate supply levels for both North Kildare and County. The rent limits in place reflect Kildare’s current rental levels agreed between landlord and tenant. It is recognised that there is a general shortage of rental property available for North Kildare, and to a lesser degree the rest of the County, however, this is in line with national trends and has been factored into the current rent limits in place.
A key goal of the most recent review was to continue to ensure that rent limits do not distort local market conditions and allow natural levels of supply and demand to set realistic rental values. This is an especially important for low income working families, that is, to ensure that these families are not priced out of an area of their choice due to unrealistic, too high rental limits. The Department continues to monitor rent levels throughout the county. I have no plans to further revise rent limits at this time.
The rent supplement claim for the client concerned has been awarded at the appropriate rate given the family circumstances.
134. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care allowance claim in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11435/14]
View answerThere is no record in the Department of an application for domiciliary care allowance having been received from the person concerned.
136. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to set up Intreo offices in west Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11453/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the Pathways to Work document states that the introduction of the new Intreo service is a multi-annual project. The first 44 Intreo offices are now open and the remaining offices will be rolled out to all of the Department’s existing Local Offices by the end of 2014.
The Department of Social Protection provides income support services to unemployed customers in the West Cork area through branch offices in Bandon, Bantry, Clonakilty, Kinsale and Skibbereen; through control offices in Bantry and Carrigaline and on a clinic basis in Castletownbere.
Activation supports are provided through an employment services office in Bantry, and via employment services clinics in Bandon, Castletownbere, Clonakilty, Dunmanway, Kinsale and Skibbereen. The Department also operates Inspector and Community Welfare clinics throughout these areas.
In addition, as part of its Employer Engagement activities, officers of the Department liaise wherever possible with employers in the West Cork area who may have job opportunities accessible to our jobseeker clients.
137. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the information regarding the profile of jobseekers that is currently available to employers in the west Cork area; the way they can access this information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11454/14]
View answerI would advise any employer who wishes to engage with my Department’s services in west Cork, including using those services to match jobseekers to possible employment opportunities, to contact Bantry Employment Services Office on 027 50 464. The address of this office is
Bantry Employment Services Office
Warner Centre
Barrack Street
Bantry
Co. Cork
My Department has also produced an Employer Pack with information about the range of supports and services provided by the Department at no cost to employers. The Employer Pack is available to download at http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Employer-Pack.aspx.
138. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to upgrade the social welfare office in Bandon, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11491/14]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection delivers services to customers in Bandon via a Social Welfare Branch Office. Branch Offices are run by Branch Managers who are contracted by the Department to deliver its services in locations where the Department does not have a local office.
We are aware of previous representations made in connection with this office and changes in operational procedures were introduced by local management to good effect. The Department maintains continuous liaison with the manager of the Branch Office in Bandon to maintain facilities and to review procedures in order to ensure delivery of appropriate levels of service to the Department’s customers.
140. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on the proposed development and restoration of the 1916 national monument. [10846/14]
View answerI refer to the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 429, 434, 435, 445, 446 and 447 on 18th February 2014.
141. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to subhead A7 capital allocations 2013 of his Department's Revised Estimates, and in particular in relation to the access II scheme, the date on which the scheme commenced; the date on which the first grant was given; the number of, the name of and the amounts awarded under the scheme in 2012; if the scheme is still open, the names of the persons on the independent selection committee and if others not on the committee now have served previously; if records are available of the meetings of the selection committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11229/14]
View answer142. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to grants awarded in 2012 under subheads A6 and A7 of his Department's Vote for which he is stated to be the decision maker, the administrative process that supports his decision making; if he will confirm that as the decision maker he has personally read and assessed the applications himself; the type and nature of records held by his Department involved in or related to this decision making process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11230/14]
View answer143. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to subhead A7 capital allocations 2012 and in particular in relation to small capital grants, the date on which the application process was commenced; the date on which the first grant was given; the number of, the name of and the amounts awarded under the grant in 2012; if the application process is still open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11231/14]
View answer144. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the philanthropy scheme operated under subhead A7 of his Departments Vote, the date on which the application process was commenced; the date on which the first grant was given; the number of, the name of and the amounts awarded under the scheme in 2012; if the scheme is still open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11232/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos 141 to 144, inclusive, together.
Capital grants for arts projects paid in 2012 and previous years under the A7 Cultural Infrastructure and Development subhead of my Department's Vote are published on my Department's website at www.ahg.gov.ie/en/arts/grantsandfunding This funding covered payments under a number of different schemes.
The majority of the payments listed were capital grants payments under ACCESS II (Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme II) in the 2006-2008 period and apply to major capital projects. Applications were made in 2006 following advertisements in the national media. The decision-making process occurred mainly in 2006 and was lead by an independent assessment committee under the chairmanship of Mr John Fitzgerald, former Dublin City Council Manager. The selection committee also included senior representatives of the Office of Public Works, the Arts Council and the then Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism. Grants were allocated in 2007 and again in 2008 based on the recommendations made by this committee. Capital projects usually involve multi-year drawdowns.
When availability of funds allow, smaller capital grants may also be made available. Details of the application process for this type of funding, along with the requirements and criteria for drawdown of these grants, is published on my Department's website at www.ahg.gov.ie/en/publications/artspublications
On 15 May 2012, I announced details of the Philanthropy Scheme and the application process was opened on that date. Full details of all awards made under the initiative in 2012 and 2013 are available on my Department’s website at the link above http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/arts/grantsandfunding
Applications, under current schemes are assessed by the professional staff of my Department against the published criteria and project proposals are submitted to me for final decision. It is standard practice that records are kept in my Department of all grant assessment processes.
145. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to all grants awarded in 2012 under subheads A6 of his Department's Vote for which he is stated to be the decision maker, if grants awarded under the scheme are funded by current or capital expenditure; the administrative process that supports his decision making; if he will confirm that as the decision maker he has personally read and assessed the applications himself; the type and nature of records held by his Department involved in or related to this decision making process; the individual amounts assigned to organisations, institutions and projects under the scheme; if there is a multi-year commitment to funding said organisations, institutions and projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11233/14]
View answer146. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to subhead A6 capital allocations 2012 and in particular in relation to cultural night funding, the date on which the application process commenced; the administrative process that supports his decision making; if he will confirm that as the decision maker he has personally read and assessed the applications himself; the type and nature of records held by his Department involved in or related to this decision making process; the individual amounts assigned to organisations, institutions and projects under the scheme; if the scheme is still open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11234/14]
View answer147. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to subhead A6 capital allocations 2013 and in particular in relation to the scheme to assist local and regional museums, the date on which the application process commenced; the administrative process that supports his decision making; if he will confirm that as the decision maker he has personally read and assessed the applications himself; the type and nature of records held by his Department involved in or related to this decision making process; the individual amounts assigned to institutions under the scheme; if the scheme is still open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11235/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 145 to 147, inclusive, together.
Organisations funded under the A.6 subhead meet a specific cultural need and support the high-level goal of my Department in relation to enhancing access to the arts, culture and film sectors and recognising the social and economic role of these sectors in Ireland. The organisations in question make an important contribution to the development and promotion of Ireland's cultural tourism offering, to the benefit of both the domestic and foreign tourist, and represent an important component of the delivery of the cultural tourism commitments in the Programme for Government. Grants awarded under this subhead are for current funding.
The application and evaluation process in relation to projects funded under subhead A.6 is determined by the specific objectives of the projects themselves vis-à-vis Government arts and culture policy. For example, my Department is committed under the A.6 subhead to providing annual funding to certain cultural institutions that hold collections of moveable cultural heritage of national importance, or collections that are unique in the country. Institutions such as Archbishop Marsh's Library, the James Joyce Centre, the Hunt Museum and Foynes Flying Boat Museum receive an annual allocation of funding accordingly. Funding from the A6 subhead for the institutions and schemes is approved by me, as Minister.
Details of the funding allocations under subhead A6 in both 2012 and 2013 are available on my Department's website at http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/Culture/Schemes/CulturalProjectsFunding/
In terms of Culture Night 2012, all allocations for funding relate to current expenditure only. The closing date for receipt of applications was March 23rd and 24 applications were received by that date. All applications underwent an assessment and evaluation process carried out within my Department in accordance with the terms of the Scheme, which are available on my Department's website at www.ahg.gov.ie/en/culture/schemes/. Decisions on the final awards were made by me, as Minister, in line with the published scheme criteria. The Scheme for Culture Night 2013 was dealt with in like manner with a closing date of April 10th 2013. The Culture Night Scheme for 2014 will shortly be announced.
In terms of the Local and Regional Museums Scheme 2013, all allocations of funding related to current expenditure only. The closing date for receipt of applications was March 28th and 37 applications were received by this date. All applications underwent an assessment and evaluation process carried out within my Department in accordance with the terms of the Scheme, which are available on my Department's website at www.ahg.gov.ie/en/culture/schemes/. Decisions on the final awards were made by me, as Minister, in line with the published scheme criteria.
Details of successful applicants and funding allocations were made available via press release on May 23rd 2013. The closing date for receipt of applications under the 2014 Local and Regional Museums Scheme is the 31st March 2014. Full details of the Scheme are available on my Department's website www.ahg.gov.ie/en/culture/schemes/ In addition to the details available on my Department's website, relevant groups and/or associations are advised of the availability of funding each year, e.g., the Irish Museums' Association, the Local Authority Museums' Network, the Local Arts Officers Network, etc. as the case may be.
