Written Answers Nos. 308 - 330
308. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm the conditions under which a person currently in receipt of the transition pension may take up employment or be involved in the setting up of a company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16554/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provides that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. State pension (transition) available at 65 was abolished in January 2014, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years. State pension age will increase further to 67 in 2021, and to 68 in 2028.
The State pension (transition) was introduced in 1970 when it was known as the retirement pension. It was designed to bridge the gap between the standard social welfare pension age, which at that time was 70 years of age, and retirement age. Over time, the age for State pension (contributory) was reduced to 66 years and State pension transition was payable for one year.
Generally, in order to qualify for a State pension transition a person had to be over the age of 65, and be retired from the workforce. For the purposes of this pension, a person is still regarded as retired if he/she is –
- in employment that is insurable at class J PRSI, with weekly earnings of less than €38.00, or
- self-employed with earnings of less than €5,000 per year.
This condition ends at age of 66 with transfer to the State Pension contributory, which has no criteria related to employment status.
309. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the costs to her Department to process and respond to a priority, an oral and a written parliamentary question. [16597/14]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection (DSP) has always been committed to being as transparent and helpful as possible to all members of the Oireachtas. In this regard the Department has set up dedicated enquiry telephone lines and specific email addresses for each section in the Department specifically for the purpose of dealing with queries from members of the Oireachtas in relation to individual social welfare cases/claims. This also helps reduce the costs of answering pqs.
DSP receives the highest number of Parliamentary Questions (PQs) of all Government departments. In 2013, approximately 10,500 PQs were tabled to the department. Over 1900 pqs were transferred to other Government Departments leaving approximately 8,550 actually finally tabled to DSP. Of these approximately 4,460 were withdrawn and 4,089 were answered. Of the pqs answered, approximately 3,700 were written and 350 were Priority/Oral PQs.
The vast majority of PQs, some 70% of those tabled to the Department refer to the status of claims by individuals in relation to the variety of schemes administered by the Department.
A practice of withdrawing PQs has been in place for over 20 years and has assisted the Department to cope with the large volume of PQs it receives annually. This practice is in place, generally, in relation to PQs on individual social welfare claims and not policy matters. The Department provides the Deputy with the relevant information in relation to the individual query and in a majority of cases subsequently confirms this information in writing. In general, Deputies find this service helpful as they are still receiving a written response to the query.
There are approximately 600 staff members of varying grades involved at some level in distributing, answering and submitting PQs for approval across the Department. The length of time spent on dealing with PQs can vary from a few minutes to a number of hours per week. As the processing of answering PQs is undertaken as part of the normal day to day work of the individual sections within the Department it is not possible to readily isolate the costs of processing PQs from the overall administrative costs of the Department.
In 2008, a Government Department estimated that the cost of answering a PQ was approximately €200 per PQ. However, there is still an amount of work involved in withdrawing a PQ i.e. contact with the Deputy and Oireachtas Questions’ Office, provision of a written response etc. This can be quite time-consuming on both the part of the DSP staff member and the TD’s office if telephone contact cannot be made easily either with the TD or the Oireachtas Questions Office. Thus it is assumed that the cost of answering a written PQ is marginally more expensive than the cost of withdrawing a written PQ. Based on the €200 estimate the cost to DSP of handling the approximate 3,700 written PQs tabled in 2013 would be approximately €740,000. The cost of priority/oral PQs would exceed the cost of written PQs as the level of information required for the response far exceeds the information required for a written PQ but even at a cost of €200 per PQ this would equate to some €70,000 for 2013.
310. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an invalidity pension appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [16626/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 28 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.
313. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection when a reply will issue to a representation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16643/14]
View answerThe representation made by the Deputy was received in the Department on 6 February, 2014 and acknowledged. In the normal course, a reply would issue within two weeks of receipt. However, it was necessary to investigate the technical feasibility of his suggestion before making a reply. I understand that this investigation is now complete and that a reply will issue in the next few days.
314. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the centralisation of the community welfare service to new main centres, as it is resulting in the removal of community welfare officers from the their local communities, creating further difficulty and hardship for already vulnerable families and persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16667/14]
View answerOne of the primary aims in the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department on 1 October 2011 was to provide a streamlined and consistent service to customers. As part of this process and to support the Department’s activation commitments under the Pathways to Work Programme and the development of Intreo services nationally, it has been necessary to review the administration of all its services across its remit including the CWS.
The Pathways to Work Programme represents a significant reform in the social welfare system and highlighted the need for the Department to focus its resources on the provision of opportunities, supports and assistance to people on the live register by intensifying the Department’s level of engagement with people who are unemployed and in particular those who are, or become, long term unemployed. The new Intreo service offers practical, tailored employment services and supports for jobseekers, a model which is currently being rolled out across the country.
Overall, this is resulting in a rebalancing of resources across the Department’s range of activities including the relocation of some staff to main centres, primarily Intreo offices, which will provide a full range of services, including the CWS and these will, in general, be available in one location. Where the community welfare service has been re-structured, I am satisfied that alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure that customers are provided with on-going access to the supports provided by the service. In general, the frequency and staffing levels of public clinics has increased providing customers improved access to services.
Customers are being informed of the new arrangements including details of times and days of the relocated clinics and phone contacts. If a person is unable to travel to a new clinic, for example due to illness, alternative arrangements are in place including arranging a visit to the client’s home if necessary.
People claiming supports under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme generally only interact with the Department on an occasional basis, for example, when seeking an exceptional needs payment or in claiming additional supports such as rent supplement, which are usually reviewed once to twice yearly.
The Department is continuously reviewing the staffing needs for all areas of its business, to ensure that the best possible use is made of available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department and that the services provided are reconstituted, where necessary, to meet the changing needs of Irish society.
315. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will respond to a query (details supplied) regarding correspondence issued by her Department which in effect encourages a post office customer to move the processing of social welfare payments to a bank or building society; if this is the policy of her Department; the number of such letters that have been issued; her plans to incorporate a similar once-a-year signing on procedure for such payments in the post office network; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16668/14]
View answerNo attachment was received and the Deputy has not referred to any particular scheme in his question but I assume that he is referring to recent communication from Department officials to job seeking customers aged 62 years and older.
Prior to Budget 2014 older jobseekers were required to comply with the Department’s activation measures when requested to so do, as is the case with other jobseekers. Legislation provides that non-compliance with such activation measures, without good cause, would give rise to the imposition of penalties in the form of payment reductions.
Revised arrangements were announced as part of Budget 2014 to apply to older persons who seek the support of jobseekers schemes in advance of reaching pension age. The measures provide for these clients to sign on an annual basis while continuing to avail of Department supports on a voluntary basis should they wish to return to work, training or education. In addition, provision is made for these clients to receive their payments directly into an account in a financial institution if they so wish.
Communication has been received by some older clients from the Department’s Intreo/Local offices advising them of these changes. It is important to note, however, that the letter neither prevents nor discourages these clients from receiving their payments in the post office but rather it simply informs them of the option to change their payment method.
The Department utilises a number of signing frequencies, ranging from weekly to yearly, based on operational need. There is no correlation between payment method and frequency of signing and jobseeker clients over 62 years of age are required to sign on an annual basis regardless of whether they choose to receive their payments in the Post Office or directly into an account.
Statistics are not available on the total number of letters that have issued in relation to this matter as they are issued by individual Intreo Centres and Local Offices on an ongoing basis in advance of the jobseeker’s 62nd birthday.
316. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the term of eligibility for Tús workers from the current position of one year as this is extremely restrictive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16689/14]
View answerTús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was set up to provide short-term, 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. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness thereby improving a person’s opportunities in returning to the labour market.
The duration of the Tús contract was set to reflect a number of inter-related elements. These include the need to ensure that limited numbers of placements available are opened to those on the live register, that weaknesses identified in other work programmes resulting from longer duration placements are not replicated in Tús, optimisation of the resources available, and how Tús fits with the objectives set out in the Government’s activation policies in Pathways to Work.
It also ensures that as many people unemployed for over 12 months are able to benefit from the initiative. As of the week ending 30 March 2014, 7,233 participants were working and in receipt of a payment on Tús. An additional 368 full-time supervisory/team leader personnel had been engaged by the implementing bodies for Tús. Since its inception in July 2011, some 16,314 participants have been engaged on Tús.
There are no circumstances under which a person’s term on Tús will be extended beyond 12 months and I consider the existing 12-month period on Tús to be adequate to meet the programme’s objectives.
317. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review her response to Parliamentary Question No. 297 of 15 November 2011 in view of the fact that the Labour Court did in fact consider submissions made to it by FÁS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16705/14]
View answerThis matter concerns a recommendation of the Labour Court in July 2008 that a pension scheme should be introduced for community employment (CE) scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors, and that such a scheme should be adequately funded by FÁS. The position in respect of this matter has been outlined on a number of occasions and has not changed since that outlined in the response to the parliamentary questions referenced by the Deputy.
321. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection the training that staff, such as case officers, receive regarding labour activation and jobseeking activities; if additional training opportunities have been provided for staff on account of the increased volume of clients and the welcome introduction of new support programmes and measures to assist job-seekers, and the steps open to a customer should they feel dissatisfied or uncomfortable on account of the customer service from their existing case officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16763/14]
View answerThe Pathways to Work strategy, launched in February 2012 and renewed in July 2013, has introduced a new, locally delivered, fully integrated public employment and benefits service, Intreo, involving the transformation of local social welfare offices and former employment services offices. Significant progress has been made with 44 Intreo centres now operating across the country. The remaining 16 offices are expected to be delivering this full Intreo service by the end of 2014.
Key elements of the new service include activation measures such as client profiling, early group engagement and one-to-one meetings leading to a personal progression plan, agreed between the client and his/her case officer involving detailed actions and periodic one-to-one reviews, based on the client’s profile.
Case officers are a key element of this service and the Department has redeployed staff to this function throughout the country. To support this, the Department developed and delivered a new case officer training programme in 2013. This programme includes training in the Intreo process, activation measures with exercises and case studies, jobseeking supports, employer engagement, communication skills, adult guidance and IT systems training. Training materials are continuously updated to reflect new programmes and changes to existing initiatives. Training programmes are also provided for Intreo office staff in the areas of claims decision making, customer service, non-violent crisis intervention, change management and the community welfare service. In addition, the Department funds external programmes directly related to the role of case officer including third level courses in the areas of adult guidance and career counselling currently provided by NUI Maynooth and University College Cork.
In parallel, the Department has begun, in conjunction with an external partner, a process to review and redesign its functional training programmes, focusing on the business skills required for key frontline roles in the organisation, including case officers, with a view to preparing these programmes for future accreditation.
With regard to the issue of dissatisfaction with the service provided by their existing case officer, we will facilitate a client’s request to be reassigned to a different member of staff. Any client is welcome to discuss issues of this nature in confidence with the Area Manager of their local Intreo Centre. In addition, the Department has a well-established, formal comments and complaints procedure in place to allow clients give feedback on the quality of services they receive. This is available on the Department’s website: www.welfare.ie.
322. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will consider introducing a more flexible approach to defining the annual period when hedge cutting along roads is prohibited which would allow the period to commence earlier and to cease at the end of July each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16408/14]
View answerThe Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 prohibit the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. Vegetation such as hedgerows and scrub is important as wildlife habitat and needs to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity. I have initiated a review of the current legislation to ensure that it remains both effective and balanced. As part of that review, the potential for setting the relevant dates by statutory instrument, rather than in primary legislation, as is the position currently, will be examined.
323. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide the details of any compensation fund available to land owners in 2014 who have had land designated under an SAC, SPA or NHA; the amount of compensation paid in tabular form in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15960/14]
View answerUnder the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, compensation is payable from my Department where a person has been refused consent by me for a prescribed activity within a designated site that he or she has been undertaking in the five year period prior to the refusal. Relevant compensation schemes include the following:
- A comprehensive compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog habitat nominated for designation as special areas of conservation under the EU Habitats Directive. This scheme provides for annual payments of €1,500, index linked, for 15 years or, where feasible, relocation to a non-designated bog to continue turf cutting, together with a once-off incentive payment of €500, upon completion of a legal agreement with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
- The Review of Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) provides for the effective cessation of turf cutting on 36 natural heritage areas by 1 January 2017, in order to preserve their conservation value. Any turf-cutter required to cease turf cutting on one of these natural heritage areas is being offered compensatory measures similar to those available to turf-cutters from raised bog special areas of conservation. Such compensation will be available to qualifying persons with effect from 2014.
- A voluntary bog purchase scheme. Under this scheme, individuals with a legal interest in special areas of conservation or natural heritage areas could apply to sell their interest in these sites to my Department at set rates. The voluntary bog purchase scheme is closed to new applicants.
- A small-scale voluntary farm plan scheme, which supports farmers to take actions in order to benefit particular habitats and species for which special areas of conservation and special protection areas have been designated. Due to budgetary constraints, the scheme has been curtailed but existing contracts are being honoured.
While my Department has the lead role in relation to the implementation of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, significant funding is also provided through the rural development programme, operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which provides for a range of supports for farmers, including payments in respect of sites nominated for designation under the Directives.
The amount of compensation paid under the various schemes operated by my own Department from 2010 to 2013 is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Farm Plan Scheme |
Commercial Turf Cutting |
Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme |
Interim Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme |
Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme |
|
2010 |
€4,119,349 |
€886,233 |
€865,110 |
€165,000 |
Nil |
|
2011 |
€5,262,587 |
€3,450,038 |
€405,766 |
€6,000 |
€51,000 |
|
2012 |
€4,507,248 |
€150,000 |
€422,701 |
Nil |
€3,175,500 |
|
2013 |
€3,750,420 |
Nil |
€760,870 |
Nil |
€3,093,698 |
324. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the current list of bogs in County Sligo on which turf may be cut; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15978/14]
View answerThe bog referred to in the Deputy's question is part of the River Moy Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). The draft National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan, available to view at www.npws.ie, sets out the situation in regard to turf cutting on this and other raised bog SACs. In short, turf cutting may not be undertaken on this bog without explicit consent. If sought, it is unlikely that consent could be given due to the likely damage it would cause to the protected habitat on the bog. Affected turf-cutters can avail of the compensation and relocation schemes that have been made available. If the Deputy wishes to enquire about specific bogs in County Sligo, I will be glad to make enquiries for him.
325. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of motor vehicles in the possession of his Department or agencies of his Department for which motor tax is not required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16022/14]
View answer326. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of motor vehicles in the possession of his Department or agencies of his Department for which an insurance policy is not held; the manner in which insurance claims arising in respect of vehicles in the possession of his Department or its agencies are handled; the amount of insurance claims paid on behalf of his Department in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16038/14]
View answer
327. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding a boundary fence (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16069/14]
View answerMy officials have confirmed that the boundary fence, which had been damaged during the storms earlier in the year and through which sheep had strayed onto National Park and adjoining lands, has now been repaired. The situation will be monitored to safeguard against a recurrence.
328. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén méid airgid a caitheadh in 2013 ar aistriú doiciméad ó Bhéarla go Gaeilge nó ó Ghaeilge go Béarla, agus ó theangacha eile go Béarla agus ó Bhéarla go teangacha eile, faoi seach; cad ba chaiteachas iomlán riaracháin na Roinne sa bhliain 2013; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [16130/14]
View answerTá aistritheoir amháin fostaithe sa Roinn. Cé gurb í aistritheoir inmheánach na Roinne i dtosach báire a dhéanann an obair aistriúcháin ó Bhéarla go Gaeilge, bíonn gá ó am go chéile leas a bhaint as seirbhís aistriúcháin sheachtrach mar gheall ar shrianta ama nó ualach na hoibre. Tá caiteachas mo Roinne ar chostais aistriúcháin sheachtrach don bhliain 2013 leagtha amach sa tábla thíos. Ba é €35.561 milliún caiteachas iomlán na Roinne ar riarachán i rith 2013.
|
Caiteachas na Roinne Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta ar aistriúchán in 2013 |
Teanga(cha) |
|
€37,285 |
Aistriúcháin ó Bhéarla go Gaeilge |
|
€1,473 |
Aistriúcháin ó Bhéarla go teangacha eile (Fraincis, Gearmáinis srl.) |
329. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason for the delay in releasing funding for the restoration of the gymnasium in Richmond Barracks, Dublin 8 as part of the Decade of Commemorations projects. [16410/14]
View answerSite works have commenced on the first three of the capital projects brought forward in the context of the Centenary commemorations programme, i.e. the Military Service Pensions Archive at Rathmines, the courthouse at Kilmainham and the development of visitor facilities at the General Post Office in O’Connell Street, Dublin. Other initiatives, including works at Richmond Barracks, Dublin 8, are being actively progressed. The Richmond Barracks project is being advanced in partnership with Dublin City Council who hold title to the property and the community based regeneration group. I am aware of the need to ensure rapid progress if this project is to be brought to fruition in advance of 2016 so that the significant role of the Barracks in the history of the Rising will be reflected in the commemorative programme.
330. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cé mhéad paisinéir a d’iompair Aer Árann go dtí Oileáin Árann anuraidh faoin gcóras OSP; cé mhéad paisinéir a d’iompair sé ar fad i rith na bliana, á chur san áireamh go bhfuil fóirdheontas á íoc i leith na n-aerstráicí ar na hoileáin; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [16433/14]
View answerDe réir na dtaifead a chuir an chuideachta ar fáil do mo Roinn, iompraíodh 40,494 paisinéir in 2013. Iompraíodh 26,200 dóibh sin ar eitiltí OSP.
