Written Answers Nos. 354-378
354. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form details of increments paid since 2008 in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30533/14]
View answerThe number of staff in my Department who were awarded increments in each year in question is set out in tabular form below.
|
Year |
Number of Increments Paid |
|
2008 |
499 |
|
2009 |
612 |
|
2010 |
530 |
|
2011 |
383 |
|
2012 |
368 |
|
2013 |
325 |
355. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of retired civil and public servants that have been rehired on temporary contracts or as consultants under his remit; if he will provide a breakdown of those figures in tabular form, providing associated costs of such rehiring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30558/14]
View answerI have set out in tabular format the information requested by the Deputy in relation to my Department. Costs to the Exchequer are minimised as appropriate through abatement of pensions to the individuals concerned.
Staffing of the Agencies under the auspices of my Department is a day to day matter for the Agencies concerned. I have asked the Agencies to respond directly to the Deputy.
|
Grade |
Retention/ Rehire |
Remuneration |
|
Assistant Principal |
01/10/12 - 31/07/13. Departmental issues associated with Ireland’s Presidency of the EU |
€61,966 per annum pro rata (abatement of pension in payment). The total cost to DJEI for the period of the reappointment was €51,856.69. |
|
Accountant Grade 1 (Assistant Principal equivalent) |
From 13/11/13 to 20/12/13. Retained to complete outstanding work in the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) |
AP equivalent €80,140 per annum pro rata. Pension deferred for the period of retention. |
|
Principal Officer |
Irish Government representative and Deputy Chair of the Board of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) based in Helsinki, Finland. Engaged as an expert and paid on a fee per day basis in respect of each Board meeting attended and also for attending meetings of the Board Sub-Committee as Chair. |
Total cost: €11,881.30 in 2011. €10,117.81 in 2012. €8,447.50 in 2013. €4,829.88 in 2014. [Note: After refunds were received from ECHA by DJEI, the net cost to DJEI for each year respectively was: €8426.51, €7,350.81, €7,043.50, and €3,879.88.] |
|
Principal Officer |
From 1 March 2012 to February 2013 (i.e. to completion of Interdepartmental Committee Report). To establish facts of State involvement with the Magdalen Laundries |
€1,889.03 fee for 2012. €8,678.15 fee for 2013. |
|
Director of Corporate Enforcement |
29/2/12 – 27/8/12 Temporary Acting Director of ODCE, to complete outstanding work of the ODCE. |
€146,191 per annum pro rata. Abatement of pension for period of retention as Temporary Director. |
|
Secretary General, Department of Transport |
From 16/6/2010 to Quarter 2 2014. Chair of DJEI Audit Committee |
In line with centrally agreed procedures for external audit committee members in the Civil Service, a fee is paid of €450 per meeting, subject to a maximum of €1,800 per annum. Payments to date: €3,150 in 2011 (in respect of 2010 and 2011), and €1,800 in 2012 and 2013 respectively (gross of €1,800 less PAYE, PRSI, USC). €450 paid in 2014 and this appointment has now ended in 2014. |
356. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to limit the use of bus passes for older persons on any of the bus routes which are being considered for privatisation; if she will provide assurances that passes will still be valid on all routes and times as is currently the case, post-privatisation of any routes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29014/14]
View answer403. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that the travel pass for senior citizens will not be withdrawn in budget 2015. [29549/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 356 and 403 together.
The current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by almost 90 private transport operators. At the end of May this year there were over 790,000 customers in receipt of free travel.
Funding for the free travel scheme was capped by the previous Government as outlined in the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014. To implement this funding cap during a time in which passenger numbers have been increasing each year the Department has had to impose a freeze on the amounts paid to companies and a complete restriction on the admittance of new companies or routes to the scheme. This has included new companies taking over previously extant routes.
Given the increasing number of recipients, the funding pressures and the changes to the transport system such as the privatisation of some routes, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I established a working group with representatives from the two Departments, as well as the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the National Transport Authority to review the free travel scheme. The purpose of this review is to examine and report on the current operation and future development of the free travel scheme.
I appreciate the importance of the scheme and the value it provides to the hundreds of thousands of mostly elderly people who use it. I have no plans to take passes away from pensioners nor to limit the use of passes for older persons on any of the bus routes which are being considered for privatisation. It is important, however, to ensure that the scheme, which has been in operation for almost fifty years, can continue to operate in an efficient and sustainable way into the future.
357. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the need for an apostille stamp on a birth certificate for persons born in Northern Ireland when notifying intent to marry here despite the fact that other countries, namely, Denmark, Italy and France are exempted from this requirement in the same circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29343/14]
View answerIn order to properly identify the parties to a marriage, the requirements under section 46 (7) of the Civil Registration Act, 2004, include, inter alia, the authentication of birth certificates.
This step is necessary to help ensure that the intended marriage is not for unlawful purposes. In this regard, it is not possible to discriminate between persons born outside this jurisdiction, either by exempting or targeting persons born in specific jurisdictions.
There are two international conventions which govern the authentication of documents – The Hague Convention, 1961 which relates to the use of an apostille and the Brussels Convention, 1987 between member states of the EU. Generally, birth certificates issued by authorities outside this jurisdiction must bear an apostille or, in the case of a country that is not a signatory of the Hague Convention 1961, be attested by the relevant Embassy.
All countries of the European Union are signatories of the Hague Convention.
Certificates issued in a country which has signed and ratified the Brussels Convention are not required to bear an apostille when produced in another country which has ratified the convention. The countries which have signed and ratified the Brussels Convention are - Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland and Italy. The United Kingdom has signed, but not ratified, the Brussels Convention and certificates issued in that jurisdiction are dealt with under the Hague Convention and are therefore required to bear an apostille.
The birth records of persons born in this jurisdiction must also be fully checked before a marriage registration form can be issued. However, there is no requirement for these records to be authenticated further, as the registrar taking the notice of intention to marry is in a position to do this.
358. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of registered solemnisers here, categorised by county and religious or secular group, currently and in each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29353/14]
View answerPart 6 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 which provides for the law relating to marriages was commenced in 2007. Prior to 2007 religious bodies were responsible for the registration of their own solemnisers. The tables below reflect this as figures prior to 2008 are not available.
Table 1 contains details, broken down by county, of religious solemnisers. The ‘other’ figure in Table 1 refers to solemnisers whose address is outside the State and Northern Ireland.
Table 2 contains details, broken down by county, of secular solemnisers. Secular marriage was introduced by the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2012 which was commenced in 2013.
Table 1 - Number of religious solemnisers by county
|
County |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Antrim |
88 |
116 |
109 |
109 |
118 |
119 |
116 |
|
Armagh |
47 |
65 |
68 |
72 |
73 |
74 |
80 |
|
Carlow |
49 |
50 |
53 |
57 |
58 |
57 |
59 |
|
Cavan |
95 |
98 |
101 |
100 |
101 |
105 |
104 |
|
Clare |
111 |
121 |
121 |
126 |
126 |
124 |
127 |
|
Cork |
510 |
533 |
548 |
559 |
570 |
578 |
592 |
|
Derry |
88 |
91 |
97 |
99 |
99 |
106 |
107 |
|
Donegal |
166 |
180 |
181 |
190 |
194 |
202 |
204 |
|
Down |
64 |
99 |
101 |
102 |
103 |
110 |
113 |
|
Dublin |
1238 |
1296 |
1375 |
1455 |
1540 |
1613 |
1678 |
|
Fermanagh |
62 |
60 |
62 |
65 |
67 |
66 |
70 |
|
Galway |
279 |
292 |
300 |
301 |
312 |
321 |
336 |
|
Kerry |
130 |
141 |
139 |
147 |
150 |
150 |
152 |
|
Kildare |
149 |
156 |
162 |
170 |
180 |
195 |
205 |
|
Kilkenny |
92 |
97 |
99 |
100 |
103 |
104 |
109 |
|
Laois |
48 |
53 |
55 |
54 |
58 |
58 |
61 |
|
Leitrim |
39 |
38 |
41 |
42 |
43 |
44 |
45 |
|
Limerick |
245 |
249 |
252 |
258 |
262 |
267 |
272 |
|
Longford |
40 |
43 |
44 |
46 |
43 |
43 |
45 |
|
Louth |
117 |
129 |
135 |
137 |
144 |
146 |
157 |
|
Mayo |
146 |
153 |
150 |
153 |
157 |
157 |
164 |
|
Meath |
162 |
179 |
190 |
202 |
221 |
227 |
235 |
|
Monaghan |
62 |
68 |
70 |
70 |
70 |
73 |
69 |
|
Offaly |
52 |
52 |
53 |
53 |
53 |
56 |
58 |
|
Roscommon |
66 |
69 |
73 |
79 |
82 |
86 |
84 |
|
Sligo |
83 |
89 |
97 |
98 |
97 |
100 |
102 |
|
Tipperary |
188 |
198 |
199 |
202 |
204 |
208 |
215 |
|
Tyrone |
107 |
103 |
104 |
103 |
102 |
106 |
110 |
|
Waterford |
99 |
99 |
104 |
107 |
109 |
109 |
90 |
|
Westmeath |
78 |
82 |
83 |
86 |
84 |
89 |
92 |
|
Wexford |
133 |
145 |
146 |
151 |
158 |
167 |
168 |
|
Wicklow |
150 |
165 |
174 |
177 |
174 |
178 |
190 |
|
Other |
66 |
135 |
124 |
135 |
154 |
150 |
164 |
|
Total |
5049 |
5444 |
5610 |
5805 |
6009 |
6188 |
6373 |
Table 2 – Number of secular solemnisers by county
|
County |
2014 |
|
Clare |
1 |
|
Cork |
2 |
|
Dublin |
6 |
|
Galway |
1 |
|
Limerick |
1 |
|
Meath |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
2 |
|
Total |
14 |
359. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the rural social scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29645/14]
View answer395. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will apply any derogations to assist community groups (details supplied) in County Kerry with problems that will potentially lead to the loss of vital community services in a socially disadvantaged area [29486/14]
View answer420. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will give immediate consideration to the provision of additional RSS spaces to the Implementing body operating in the locality Udaras na Gaeltachta (details supplied) and allow for the work being carried out historically, to continue long into the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29753/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 359, 395 and 420 together.
The purpose of the rural social scheme is to provide income support for farmers and those engaged in the fishing sector who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. Údarás na Gaeltachta has an RSS allocation of 437 participants and 21 supervisors. I do not propose allocating additional places to Údarás given its own capacity to locate the existing level of placements to meet identified community needs across the Gaeltacht area. The Deputies should also note that Údarás is also engaged by the Department of Social Protection to deliver Tús and community employment in Gaeltacht areas and has considerable resources at its disposal to manage the situation identified with local community organisations. The funds allocated for the RSS for 2014 amount to €45m which should enable the scheme to continue as in previous years.
360. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has ever examined or had costed or conducted a feasibility study for a school meals programme for every school. [29728/14]
View answer361. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of the school meals programme during the 2013/2014 academic year; and the number of schools it covers. [29729/14]
View answer362. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the number of schools that may avail of the school meals programme. [29730/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 360 to 362, inclusive, together.
The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations which benefits approximately 205,000 children through two schemes for the current academic year, at a total cost of €37 million. The first is the statutory urban school meals scheme, operated by local authorities and part-financed by the Department. The second is the school meals local projects scheme through which funding is provided directly to participating schools and local and voluntary community groups who run their own school meals projects.
Despite pressure on the social protection budget, the Government allocated an additional €2 million for the school meals programme in 2013, increasing the total allocation to €37 million. The additional €2 million was used to extend the school meals local projects scheme to some 100 additional DEIS and special schools benefiting over 9,700 children.
The school meals scheme is in place to provide support to disadvantaged children and priority is given to schools which are part of the Department of Education and Skills’ initiative for disadvantaged schools, ‘Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools’ (DEIS). Analysis undertaken with the Department of Education and Skills shows that there are currently 850 DEIS schools of which 715 are participating in the school meals programme. Applications from DEIS schools not currently participating in the scheme will continue to be accepted by the Department.
Budget 2014 announced the provision of breakfast clubs to support school going children in disadvantaged areas. Correspondence has issued to 12 DEIS schools currently participating in the scheme which have applied for funding towards a breakfast club for the forthcoming academic year.
The Department has not examined or conducted a feasibility study to extend the school meals programme to every school. Any further extension of the scheme could only be considered in a budgetary context.
363. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason persons who are in receipt of one parent family as opposed to other payments are being denied the chance to participate on JobsPlus, having successfully completed JobsBridge, in view of the fact that they are the best candidates for the positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28987/14]
View answerJobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long term on the live register. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer term unemployed. It provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 over two years where a jobseeker who is 12-24 months on the live register is recruited and €10,000 for each person recruited who has been unemployed for more than 24 months. The subsidy is paid in monthly instalments over a two year period provided the employment is maintained.
To qualify as an eligible employee for the €7,500 incentive, a jobseeker must be at least 12 months (312 days) on the Live Register in the previous 18 months. To qualify as an eligible employee for the higher incentive of €10,000, a jobseeker must be at least 24 months (624 days) on the Live Register in the previous 30 months. Periods spent on an internship under JobBridge are counted towards eligibility and interns can be supported directly from JobBridge once the eligibility criteria are satisfied.
A person on a one parent family payment is not considered eligible given the focus of JobsPlus on recruitment from those longer term unemployed and receiving a jobseekers payment. The Department is currently finalising a review of the initial phase of implementing JobsPlus. The review will consider eligibility criteria currently in place and if these continue to be appropriate to meet the objectives set for JobsPlus. The Deputy will appreciate that any broadening of eligibility will have cost implications and these will require consideration in the context of the forthcoming budget.
Since its launch in July 2013 to the end of May 2014, JobsPlus has supported 2,385 jobseekers in full-time employment with 1,811 employers nationally. Around 60% of jobseekers being supported had been on the Live Register for over 24 months at the time of recruitment.
364. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the current number of citizens who are signing for credited contributions with her Department and are not in receipt of a social protection payment; and the cost of providing access to activation schemes for a cohort of 3,000, 5,000 and 7,000, respectively, of these citizens who are currently ineligible for schemes such as community employment, Tús, Gateway and JobBridge. [28989/14]
View answerAs of June 2014, 36,013 citizens were signing for credited contributions with the Department. None of these citizens were in receipt of a payment from the Department. The Deputy should note that JobBridge internships are open to those signing for social insurance credits for 3 months or more.
The average annual cost of a placement on Community Employment (CE), Tús and Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is in the range €14,500 to €15,946 per annum depending on the scheme. These costs are inclusive of the participant wage costs (the equivalence of their prior social protection payment plus €20 per week); employer PRSI; training grants to sponsor bodies (if appropriate); service fees; materials and supervisory costs.
The total net average additional cost to the Exchequer of employing a qualifying person on work placement/training schemes is estimated at approximately €4,500 per annum. The gross costs of additional participants on CE, Tús and RSS who are not currently receiving a social protection payment is estimated to be in the range €43.5m to €46.5m for 3,000 participants, €72.5m to €77.3m for 5,000 participants and €101.5m to €108.2m for 7,000 additional participants depending on the scheme.
365. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of reversing reductions in the earnings disregard for the one parent family payment introduced in Budget 2012. [28998/14]
View answerThe one-parent family payment (OFP) has played an important role in providing income support to lone parents since its introduction in 1997. The number of OFP recipients stood at 74,426 in June, 2014, and an estimated €863 million is expected to be spent on the scheme during 2014.
The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2012, contains provisions to reduce, on a phased basis, the income disregard of the OFP scheme for both new and existing recipients of the payment. The income disregard was reduced from €146.50 per week to €130 per week in January, 2012, from €130 per week to €110 per week in January, 2013, and from €110 per week to its current limit of €90 per week in January, 2014. It will be further reduced from €90 per week to €75 per week in January, 2015, and from €75 per week to €60 per week in January, 2016.
The savings arising from the full implementation of the reduction of the OFP income disregard as outlined in Budget 2012 are estimated to be approximately €76 million in a full year.
366. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the budget allocation in her Department for family income supplement in the years 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. [28999/14]
View answerThe table below details the allocations for family income supplement contained in the Revised Estimates Volumes for the period 2012 to 2014, inclusive, as well as the out-turns for 2012 and 2013. Expenditure on the scheme to end May of this year was €118.6 million (provisional) or €2.1 million ahead of profile.
|
- |
2012 €000 |
2013 €000 |
2014 €000 |
|
REV Estimate |
223,800 |
229,600 |
281,700 |
|
Outturn |
223,608 |
261,758 |
367. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the rate of back to education allowance to recipients of the payment aged under 26 years to €188 per week. [29000/14]
View answer368. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring child benefit to families with children who are in full-time second level education but who have reached 18 years of age. [29002/14]
View answer427. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will refrain from further reducing or altering the household benefits and free travel pass facilities in Budget 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29897/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 367, 368 and 427 together.
The estimated cost, based on recipient data at end April last, of increasing the maximum personal rate of back to education allowance for all under 26 year olds to €188 is estimated at €3 million in a full year.
The estimated cost, based on Department of Education and Skills data in relation to full time second level participation at the beginning of 2013, of paying child benefit to families in respect of their 18 year old children in full-time second-level education is €42.5 million in a full year.
I and my colleagues in Cabinet appreciate the importance of the free travel scheme and the value it provides to the hundreds of thousands of mostly elderly people who use it. The scheme has been fully protected in each of the three Budgets introduced by this Government, and I do not envisage any changes in the forthcoming Budget.
The 2015 Budget will be considered by Government in the forthcoming months and will be announced on October 14. Changes to the back to education allowance, child benefit, and household benefits schemes would have to be considered in that context.
369. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of staff in her Department currently on a sabbatical/career break broken down by 0-6 months; 6-12 months; 1-2 years; 2-3 years; 4-5 years; 5 years plus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29091/14]
View answerDetails of the number of staff from my Department currently on career breaks are provided below indicating the duration since the career break commenced. All career breaks are sanctioned for a minimum period of six months.
|
Career Breaks |
Number of staff |
|
On Career Break for less than 6 months |
2 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 6 months and 1 year |
3 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 1 and 2 years |
21 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 2 and 3 years |
14 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 3 and 4 years |
8 |
|
On Career Break for a period between 4 and 5 years |
1 |
|
On Career Break for a period over 5 years |
4 |
370. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form, the total photography costs for her Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29108/14]
View answerPhotography services are used, in conjunction with some press releases and conferences, to communicate the Department’s initiatives, schemes and services to customers and to the regional and national media. Since March 2011, photography services were used for the occasions as set out in the table below. The total cost from that date is €11,477.
The procurement of these photography services is carried out in accordance with national and EU procurement procedures and since March 2012, the Department has been procuring photography services under the Framework Agreement established by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in February 2012.
Full details of the Framework are available online via the National Procurement Services contract list at www.procurement.ie.
I do not use my ministerial allowance for this purpose.
|
Year: 2011 |
Details |
Photographer |
Cost (€) |
|
29 July 2011 |
Launch of JobBridge |
Maxwells |
1,035.16 |
|
16 Aug 2011 |
Departmental Summer School, Maynooth |
Kevin Morris Photography |
950.00 |
|
07 Nov 2011 |
Mortgage Arrears Seminar |
Ark Photography |
254.10 |
|
09 Nov 2011 |
Social Inclusion Forum |
Ark Photography and Dragana Jurisic |
547.50 |
|
21 Nov 2011 |
2 Social Inclusion Projects |
Ark Photography |
326.70 |
|
Total 2011: |
€3,113.46 |
||
|
Year: 2012 |
Details |
Photographer |
Cost (€) |
|
13 Feb 2012 |
Launch of ‘Partial Capacity’ and ‘Employability’ |
Maxwells |
338.25 |
|
23 Feb 2012 |
Launch of Pathways to Work |
Maxwells |
536.28 |
|
27 Apr 2012 |
Opening of Community Campus in Phibblestown |
Lensmen |
280.44 |
|
06 Sep 2012 |
Launch of Mortgage Information Helpline |
Ark Photography |
258.30 |
|
13 Sep 2012 |
Launch of Good Practice Guide for Breakfast Clubs |
Ark Photography |
184.50 |
|
17 Sep 2012 |
Presentation of Report of the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund |
Ark Photography |
184.50 |
|
15 Oct 2012 |
Launch of Intreo, Sligo |
Joe Travers |
300.00 |
|
19 Oct 2012 |
Intreo roadshow in Limerick |
Picsure Ltd (Kieran Clancy) |
233.70 |
|
26 Oct 2012 |
Employer roadshow in Galway |
Joe Travers |
125.00 |
|
01 Nov 2012 |
Employer roadshow in Cork |
Tony O’Connell Photography |
227.00 |
|
16 Nov 2012 |
Employer roadshow in Dublin |
Ark Photography |
258.30 |
|
Total 2012: |
€2,926.27 |
||
|
Year: 2013 |
Details |
Photographer |
Cost (€) |
|
22 Mar 2013 |
Launch of Intreo in Tallaght |
Lensmen |
323.48 |
|
16 Apr 2013 |
Launch of JobBridge Arts in Killarney |
MacMonagle Photography |
338.25 |
|
19 Apr 2013 |
Briefing for Employers in Blanchardstown and Launch of Intreo in Blanchardstown) |
Lensmen |
851.25 |
|
1 May 2013 |
Publication of Indecon Report on JobBridge |
Lensmen |
589.79 |
|
2 May 2013 |
EU Presidency Conference, Leuven |
Peter Cavanagh |
707.25 |
|
10 May 2013 |
Kilkenny Local Office |
Vicky Comerford |
123.00 |
|
18 July 2013 |
Launch of Pathways to Work |
Maxwells |
482.16 |
|
25 Sept 2013 |
Inaugural Meeting of the Labour Market Advisory Council |
Maxwells |
424.35 |
|
22 Nov 2013 |
Launch of Intreo in Loughrea |
Joe Travers |
225.00 |
|
Total 2013: |
€4,064.53 |
||
|
Year: 2014 |
Details |
Photographer |
Cost (€) |
|
15 Jan 2014 |
Launch of Benefit of Work ready reckoner and official opening of Intreo in Ballyfermot office |
Ark Photography |
322.88 |
|
20 Jan 2014 |
Official opening of Intreo in Limerick |
Kieran Clancy |
221.40 |
|
21 Feb 2014 |
Official opening of Intreo in Castlebar |
Joe Travers |
300.00 |
|
3 April 2014 |
Medical Assessor Admin Conference |
Bobby Studios Photography |
270.60 |
|
06 June 2014 |
Launch of Interim Report of Labour Market Council |
Ark Photography |
258.30 |
|
Total 2014 to date: |
€1,373.18 |
||
|
Overall Total: |
€11,477.44 |
Photography Costs 2008, 2009 and 2010
|
Year: 2008 |
Details |
Photographer |
Cost (€) |
|
08.05.2007 |
Telephone Allowance Scheme (paid in 2008) |
Maxwells |
611 |
|
04.01.2008 |
Promotion of MABS helpline |
Maxwells |
583 |
|
28.02.2008 |
Launch of ‘Work it Out’ |
Maxwells |
619 |
|
04.03.2008 |
Launch of Green Paper for Pensions |
Leo Murphy |
250 |
|
01.04.2008 |
All Ireland Free Travel |
Maxwells |
669 |
|
08.04.2008 |
One Family new futures project |
Maxwells |
220 |
|
18.04.2008 |
Public Service Awards |
Maxwells |
561 |
|
18.04.2008 |
Family Forum |
John Power |
216 |
|
15.05.2008 |
Public Service awards |
Maxwells |
64 |
|
22.05.2008 |
Mobile phone assistance for pensioners |
Maxwells |
953 |
|
26.05.2008 |
Minister officiating at event in Dun Laoghaire |
Maxwells |
220 |
|
29.05.2008 |
Pensions Green Paper |
Maxwells |
607 |
|
25.06.2008 |
Working with spouses Event |
Maxwells |
1,610 |
|
18.07.2008 |
MABS & Citizens Information Centre |
Dave Meehan |
944 |
|
21.07.2008 |
Prints |
Maxwells |
83 |
|
25.07.2008 |
Opening of new SW office in Tullamore |
Maxwells |
1,469 |
|
16.09.2008 |
Opening of SW office in Bray |
Maxwells |
830 |
|
16.09.2008 |
Working for Work publication |
Maxwells |
621 |
|
17.09.2008 |
Launch of Pension Stamp |
Maxwells |
966 |
|
23.09.2008 |
Pre Budget Forum |
Maxwells |
682 |
|
15.10.2008 |
Launch of Transition Pack |
Mac Innes |
99 |
|
15.10.2008 |
Jpeg image |
Maxwells |
30 |
|
23.10.2008 |
Pensioners group |
Maxwells |
678 |
|
31.10.2008 |
MABS Office in Blanchardstown |
Maxwells |
962 |
|
21.11.2008 |
OECD Report on Sickness and Disability |
Fennell |
744 |
|
26.11.2008 |
Social Inclusion Forum |
Maxwells |
470 |
|
2008 Total |
15,761 |
||
|
29.11.2008 |
Families in Ireland event (paid in 2009) |
SKP & Associates |
528 |
|
30.01.2009 |
Opening of new Social Welfare Office in Ballymun |
Maxwells |
784 |
|
30.01.2009 |
Jpeg Opening of new SW office in Ballymun |
Maxwells |
91 |
|
29.10.2009 |
Bilateral Social Security Agreement with Japan |
Maxwells |
525 |
|
30.10.2009 |
Opening of Social Welfare Office in Kings Inn’s Street, Dublin |
Maxwells |
502 |
|
2009 Total |
2,430 |
||
|
05.02.2010 |
Irish Programme for EU Year for combatting poverty and social exclusion |
Maxwells |
781 |
|
05.02.2010 |
Jpeg Irish Prog. for EU Year for combatting poverty & social exclusion |
Maxwells |
212 |
|
04.03.2010 |
Provision for new Auto Enrolment Pension Scheme |
Maxwells |
811 |
|
23.04.2010 |
Promotion of EU Year for Combatting Poverty & Social Exclusion |
Maxwells |
621 |
|
13.05.2010 |
Photograph of former Secretary Generals of the Department |
Dave G Kelly |
100 |
|
22.06.2010 |
Launch of Employer Job PRSI Incentive Scheme |
Maxwells |
579 |
|
2010 Total |
3,104 |
371. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the use of external public relations firms employed by her Department since coming to office; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29125/14]
View answerIn line with Department of Social Protection policy, the press office deals with all media queries and public relations matters. It is the Department’s policy to use in-house resources as much as possible and to restrict the use of external firms to a minimum. During this period, the Department has used the services of one external public relations firm for training purposes, details of which are outlined in the following table.
|
Year |
Company |
Function |
Cost |
|
2012 |
Carr Communications, 5 Northumberland Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 |
Communications training for senior management |
€5,150 |
372. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an application for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; when a decision is expected in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29131/14]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 6th March 2014. The person concerned was refused carers allowance on the grounds that the care recipient is not so disabled as to require full time care and attention as prescribed in regulations. She was notified of this decision on the 2nd of July 2014, the reason for it and of her right of review or appeal.
373. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a determination will be made on an appeal for a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork [29134/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23rd May 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 appeal 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 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 on social welfare entitlements.
374. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department will immediately allocate funding support to the provider and licence holder of the Buncrana, County Donegal to Derry City bus route to reinstate the rights of the elderly and disabled free bus pass holders who avail of the service. [29143/14]
View answerThe current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by almost 90 private transport operators. There are currently over 780,000 people in receipt of free travel.
Funding for the free travel scheme was capped by the previous Government as outlined in the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014. To implement this funding cap during a time in which passenger numbers have been increasing each year the Department has had to impose a freeze on the amounts paid to companies and a complete restriction on the admittance of new companies or routes to the scheme. This has included new companies taking over previously extant routes.
Given the increasing number of recipients and the funding pressures, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I established a working group with representatives from the two Departments, as well as the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the National Transport Authority to review the free travel scheme. The purpose of this review is to examine and report on the current operation and future development of the free travel scheme.
I appreciate the importance of the scheme to customers, particularly pensioners, and am aware of the closure of Lough Swilly Bus Company and the implications for travel pass holders in that area. Department officials have had discussions with the National Transport Authority on this and other matters of concern to the scheme in the context of the review of the scheme. The work of this group is expected to conclude shortly.
375. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that have been given rent supplement in excess of the maximum amount by her Department after making contact with the Threshold phoneline. [29146/14]
View answer432. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if there is any bar on a private landlord registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board offering rental accommodation to a rent supplement eligible tenant who is also a family member. [29930/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 432 together.
The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. 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 76,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
There is no specific restriction on landlords renting to family members provided all of the qualifying criteria for the rent supplement scheme have been met. Under the rules governing entitlement to rent supplement, the Department must establish that the applicant is a bona fide tenant. In determining whether the applicant is a bona fide tenant the Department will generally require documentary evidence including: details of the lease agreement; proof of ownership of the property; documentation that the tenancy has been registered with the PRTB; and documentation detailing payments made to the landlord.
The Department has agreed a protocol with the Dublin local authorities, in conjunction with voluntary organisations, so that families in receipt of rent supplement and at risk of losing existing private rented accommodation can have more timely and appropriate interventions made on their behalf. The public awareness campaign “Preventing Families from becoming Homeless in the Dublin Region” was launched on 17th June 2014 to advertise this protocol. As of 4th July 2014, 20 cases have been referred to the Department of which 6 rent supplement recipients were provided with increased rental payments. The remaining 14 cases are being processed in line with the terms of the protocol.
I can assure the Deputies that Department officials have considerable experience in dealing with customers of the scheme and continue to make every effort to ensure that their accommodation needs are met.
376. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total amount spent on external IT consultants by her Department in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29160/14]
View answer377. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has re-negotiated external IT consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29179/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together.
The Department is engaged in a number of service delivery modernisation and transformation programmes involving business process, organisational and technological change. These programmes are supported by the procurement of external development services (IT external service provision) as well as engagement of external IT consultants to provide strategic technical advice. A breakdown of the annual expenditure on consultancy & IT external service provision for previous years is available on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie.
The procurement of external IT consultancy services is essential to support the Department in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner. External IT consultants are engaged for a fixed period following procurement exercises conducted in accordance with Department procedures that are compliant with EU and national legislation, and with guidelines set down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. IT consultancy contracts in place prior to March 2011 have now expired. New contracts have since been put in place as appropriate and in accordance with relevant guidelines.
The tables below set out the expenditure details for IT consultancy for the years 2008 to 2013, and year to June for 2014.
I am satisfied that the engagement of external IT consultants provides valuable support for the Department’s service delivery modernisation and transformation programmes and that procurement of external IT consultants is compliant with best practice in realising value for money.
IT Consultancy Year 2008
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects |
SDM - Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€435,120 |
|
Ernst & Young |
Information Security Support |
€120,000 |
|
Deloitte |
IS Audit Consultancy |
€118,403 |
|
Hewlett Packard Ireland Limited |
Implementation of Centralised Infrastructural Management System |
€81,266 |
|
Lan Communications |
Network Security Consultancy |
€37,455 |
|
Rits Information Security |
Forensic Investigation Services |
€30,454 |
|
TOTAL |
€822,698 |
IT Consultancy Year 2009
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
SDM - Technical Development Advice |
€216,906 |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
SDM - Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€169,857 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Information Systems Audit Consultancy |
€99,731 |
|
Ernst & Young |
Provision of a Security Partner to provide ongoing Information Security Support |
€98,415 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Provision of Forensic Investigation Services |
€6,560 |
|
TOTAL |
€591,469 |
IT Consultancy Year 2010
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
SDM - Technical Development Advice |
€137,255 |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
SDM - Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€105,289 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Information Systems Audit Consultancy |
€67,175 |
|
Ernst & Young |
Provision of a Security Partner to provide ongoing Information Security Support |
€29,889 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Provision of Confidential Forensic Investigation Services |
€8,671 |
|
TOTAL |
€348,279 |
IT Consultancy Year 2011
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects |
Technical Development Advice |
€144,644 |
|
Naked Objects |
Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€92,104 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
IS Audit Consultancy/Computer Audit Assistance |
€14,792 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Confidential Forensic Investigation Services |
€7,109 |
|
TOTAL |
€258,649 |
IT Consultancy Year 2012
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
SDM - Technical Development Advice |
€199,260 |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
SDM - Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€108,486 |
|
Accenture |
FÁS ICT Applications Systems Review |
€44,772 |
|
Deloitte & Touché |
IS Internal Audit Services |
€39,541 |
|
Deloitte & Touché |
Security Partner to provide ongoing Information Security Support |
€27,675 |
|
Ernst & Young |
Security Partner to provide ongoing Information Security Support |
€7,623 |
|
Rits |
Confidential Forensic Services |
€4,654 |
|
TOTAL |
€432,011 |
IT Consultancy Year 2013
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
BOMi - Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€234,463 |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
BOMi- Technical Development Advice |
€168,181 |
|
Haywood Associates |
BOMi- Technical Development Advice |
€87,871 |
|
Deloitte & Touché |
IS Internal Audit Services |
€48,688 |
|
Accenture |
Mobile Opportunity Exploration |
€33,388 |
|
Microsoft |
Support to Technical Architecture Group |
€11,515 |
|
Deloitte & Touché |
Provision of Security Partner Services |
€6,540 |
|
TOTAL |
€590,646 |
IT Consultancy Year 2014
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
Spend to 13th June 2014 € |
|
Naked Objects Group |
Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€98,487 |
|
Haywood Associates |
Technical Development Advice |
€87,305 |
|
Microsoft |
Support to Technical Architecture Group |
€14,841 |
|
TOTAL |
€200,633 |
378. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the number of appointments to State boards under her Department's remit made since March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies in State boards under her Department's remit since March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies in State boards under her Department's remit publically advertised since March 2011 to date; and the number of appointments to State boards under her remit drawn directly from the public advertisement process. [29197/14]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
Details of appointments to the Boards since March 2011 are set out in the table below:
|
Agency/Board |
Number of Appointments to State Boards |
Number of Vacancies |
Number of vacancies Publically Advertised |
Number of appointments made from the Public Advertisement Process |
|
Citizens Information Board (CIB) |
4* |
6** |
3 |
1 |
|
Pensions Board |
Nil |
2 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Pensions Authority |
3 |
3 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Social Welfare Tribunal |
6 |
6 |
Nil |
Nil |
The Pensions Board was renamed the Pensions Authority on 7 March 2014.
* Three of the 4 appointments did not require public advertisement as they are CIB and Minister’s representatives.
**There are currently two vacancies on the Citizens Information Board.
