Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:261. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance to the 2012 rate. [30246/14]
View answerBack to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme Application Numbers
Questions (261)
Written answers
The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme (BSCFA) provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €46.3 million for the scheme in 2014.
In 2013, approximately 176,000 families, in respect of approximately 324,000 children were assisted under the scheme. It is estimated that the cost to restore the 2012 rates for the current year would be approximately €15.5 million in respect of qualifying children aged 4 to 18 years or over attending secondary school.
Household Benefits Scheme
Questions (262)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:262. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost of introducing funding to cover the leasing of a land-line as part of the household benefits package. [30247/14]
View answerWritten answers
The overall concern of Government in Budget 2014 and previous Budgets has been to protect the primary social welfare rates. To allow the Department to protect core payments, we have had to look very carefully at other additional payments such as the household benefits package.
In Budget 2014, I regretfully had to make the decision to abolish the telephone allowance, which was €9.50 per month, for all recipients. I am not in a position to reverse this decision or provide an alternative payment.
The cost of line-rental varies between providers and is difficult to isolate, given the prevalence of bundled packages in the market. To reinstate the allowance and restore it to 2012 levels when the telephone allowance package covered line-rental and a small monthly call allowance would cost Department in the region of €115 million based on recipient numbers at the end of 2013.
The decision to discontinue the telephone allowance at a rate of €9.50 per month provided annual savings of €48 million and meant that the Department was able to retain the other elements of the household benefits package such as the electricity and gas allowance and the television licence. These are valuable supports for recipients. The Department will spend €230 million this year on these elements of the household benefits package for over 410,000 customers. The fuel allowance scheme and the free travel pass were also protected for older people and people with disabilities. The living alone allowance was maintained at €7.70 per week.
The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government operates the seniors alert scheme which provides grant support for the supply of equipment such as personal alarms, smoke detectors and security lighting to enable older people without sufficient means to continue to live securely in their homes. The budget allocation for 2013 was €2.35 million. There has been no reduction in this funding in Budget 2014.
Questions Nos. 263 and 264 answered with Question No. 243.
Community Employment Schemes Data
Questions (265)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:265. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown by FETAC level attained of the number of persons who completed community employment schemes last year; and the average materials and training budget associated with each FETAC level. [30252/14]
View answerWritten answers
In the twelve month period January to December 2013, 13,118 components of learning accredited by FETAC were started and completed by CE participants.
Table 1 shows the award level of these components of learning accredited by FETAC. Fifty eight per cent (7,622) minor awards were at FETAC Level 5, a further 22 per cent (2,849) minor awards were at Level 4 and 12 per cent (1,578) were at Level 3. There were 5% minor awards at Level 6. The remaining 1 per cent of awards are at FETAC Level 1, 2. There were 215 Special Awards achieved in the same period. Overall, there were 82 Major Awards achieved by participants during 2013.
Table 1: FETAC Award Level started and completed by CE participants, 2013
|
- |
- |
Award Type |
Award Type |
Award Type |
|
Accrediting Body |
Award Level |
Major |
Minor |
Special Purpose |
|
FETAC |
Level 1 (FETAC) |
20 |
||
|
Level 2 (FETAC) |
2 |
85 |
||
|
Level 3 (FETAC) |
10 |
1,578 |
1 |
|
|
Level 4 (FETAC) |
2,849 |
|||
|
Level 5 (FETAC) |
60 |
7,622 |
176 |
|
|
Level 6 (FETAC) |
10 |
667 |
38 |
|
|
FETAC Total |
82 |
12,821 |
215 |
The Deputy should note that every learner on CE completes an Individual Learner Plan (ILP) which allows learning needs to be identified, approved, delivered and reported on. This plan is jointly agreed between the supervisor and learner. Using the ILP, learners can pace their own learning and record and recognise their own achievements, including accredited learning.
The total amount spent on FETAC Awards in this period was €1.9 million. Of the 13,118 FETAC Awards achieved in 2013, 1,792 were provided at no cost to the Department by local Educational and Training Boards. Training materials are included in the overall fee charged on a receipted expenditure basis. A breakdown of expenditure for individual minor and major awards is not readily available due to the variation in fees and type of award and the fact that a proportion of these awards incur no costs to the Department.
Jobseeker's Allowance Payments
Questions (266)
Colm Keaveney
Question:266. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 240 of 1 July 2014, the number of jobseeker's assistance recipients aged 24 and under, who have not made any contribution to the PRSI system, with Class A, Class J and Class S contributions since 2005 who are currently on a job activation measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30274/14]
View answerWritten answers
There were 19,535 recipients aged 24 and under within the total of 34,521 recipients reported to the Deputy in Question No. 240. While the number of young people in this category can be related to activation measures that are also paid from the jobseeker's payment system, many activation measures are either not paid from this payment system or are provided by the Department of Education and Skills. A reply based on the available data would be partial and misleading. The Department is extending the range of data available for evaluating jobseeker’s supports at present via the jobseeker's longitudinal dataset, subject to all necessary data protection requirements.
Questions Nos. 267 and 268 withdrawn.
One-Parent Family Payment Appeals
Questions (269)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:269. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) may expect to be notified of the outcome of their one-parent payment appeal. [30326/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
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.
Community Services Programme
Questions (270)
Clare Daly
Question:270. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 3 July 2014, if she will publish the results of the audit so that the information is available to all. [30345/14]
View answerWritten answers
This community-based company is supported by funding from a variety of sources to provide a range of shared and specialised services to other community and voluntary bodies. The Department of Social Protection supports service provision under the Community Services Programme (CSP) and the company also acts as a scheme sponsors for the Community Employment (CE) Programme.
As indicated in my reply to the previous question, the Department has engaged with the company to ensure that appropriate practices are in place to manage the public funds granted. The annual financial statements and audit reports for the company are available through the Companies Registration Office, in line with statutory requirements. In respect of the CE scheme, the Department is responsible for the verification of payment claims and for ensuring that the company exercises good governance practices.
Pobal is engaged by the Department to manage the day-to-day contracting arrangements for the CSP. A key requirement of this arrangement is that Pobal undertake an annual programme of audit and verification work to ensure companies have appropriate governance and oversight structures in place, operate good practices with respect to the management of public funds and have, inter alia, effective management structures and processes in place. The outcome of each audit is shared with the Board of the company being audited before it is finalised. Given the nature of the audit process, it has not been the practice for Pobal to publish the results. However, the key outputs from such audits are shared by Pobal with the Department and other agencies for appropriate follow-up action, as required.
The annual audit programme is a key element of the processes in place to provide assurances that the funds granted by the Oireachtas have been properly applied and managed.
Departmental Staff Data
Questions (271)
Joe Higgins
Question:271. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of public sector workers who are on temporary contracts or other non-permanent contracts of employment in her Department. [30405/14]
View answerWritten answers
One member of staff in the Department, the Chief Medical Advisor, has been rehired on a temporary contract on a pay scale of €87,741 to €106,423. Payment of his pension is abated pending the termination of his temporary contract.
The Department held a competition to recruit a new Chief Medical Advisor in late 2013, however, no candidate was deemed suitable at interview. The decision to re-employ the Chief Medical Advisor was taken due to his specific skills and his involvement in the policy reform of the illness related schemes, the difficulty and long lead-in time for replacing his skills, and the critical importance of ensuring continuity and a high level of service to customers of the Department.
As an exception to the current moratorium on recruitment, the Department has limited sanction to recruit temporary clerical officers to cover critical staff absences, some staff availing of the Shorter Working Year Scheme, the roll-out of the new Public Services Card and the operation of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Scheme. There are currently 583 temporary clerical officers serving in the Department
Appointments to State Boards
Questions (272)
Seán Fleming
Question:272. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is concerned by the number of appointments to State boards under her remit that do not go through the Public Appointments Commission; her plans to review the manner in which State boards are appointed to ensure that the most suitably qualified persons fill vacancies that arise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30806/14]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Citizens Information Board
The legislative provisions governing appointments to the Citizens Information Board are contained in the Comhairle Act 2000, the Citizens Information Act 2007 and the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011.
The procedures followed when appointing members to the Citizens Information Board (CIB) are in accordance with the Revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies where Departments invite expressions of interest from members of the public for vacancies on the boards or bodies under their aegis.These arrangements involve using a centralised application service provided by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to manage the expressions of interest received.
In accordance with the legislation, I also appoint a representative from the CIB and from the Department to the Board.
Pensions Authority
I have used the Public Appointments Service to obtain appropriate and suitable nominees for the Pensions Council. People interested in serving as members (unpaid) of the Pensions Council were invited to make expressions of interest to the Public Appointments Service, and applications were received from 56 individuals last month. It is hoped to process these and to make appointments to the Council shortly. The Pensions Authority is a three person oversight board composed of a Chair (the outgoing Chair from the Pensions Board has continued in the role) and representatives from the Department of Finance and my Department. It was not appropriate to use the PAS process in this regard.
The Social Welfare Tribunal
The Social Welfare Tribunal consists of a Chairperson and four ordinary members, two on the nomination of Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and two nominated by Irish Business and Employers' Confederation (IBEC). Legislation provides that the four ordinary members of the Tribunal are appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the two relevant bodies. The Chairperson is sourced by my Department by way of a recommendation from the Labour Court with regard to a particular candidate’s suitability.
All positions are filled in line with the relevant governing legislation, which varies from body to body, and with the objective of providing the best possible advice and expertise for the bodies concerned. There are no plans to review the manner in which appointments are made to State Boards under the remit of my Department.
State Bodies Data
Questions (273)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:273. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in a tabular form a list of the annual salaries of the chief executive officers of all non-commercial State sponsored bodies under her remit. [30895/14]
View answerWritten answers
The non-commercial State sponsored bodies that operate under the aegis of the Department are the Pensions Authority and the Citizens Information Board. The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman also comes under the remit of the Department.
The annual salaries of each Chief Executive Officer are set out below in tabular format.
|
Agency |
Annual Salary |
|
CEO Citizens Information Board |
€ 112,577 |
|
Pensions Regulator The Pensions Authority |
€ 143,535 |
|
Pensions Ombudsman |
€ 112,924 |
Ministerial Advisers Remuneration
Questions (274)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:274. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the annual saving to the Exchequer if the pay of all ministerial special advisers was capped in her Department at the first point of the principal officer grade. [30913/14]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the salaries of my Special Advisors is set out in the tabular statement below.
|
Title |
Annual Salary Post Implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement |
Savings if the salary is Capped at the 1ST Point of PO Scale |
|
Press Advisor |
€78,670 (2nd point of PO scale) |
€ 3,023 |
|
Special Advisor |
€119,572 |
€43,925 |
As my special advisor was previously employed in the private sector on a salary package that was more than twice the highest point of the Principal Officer (standard) scale, I sought sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for remuneration in excess of the applicable pay scale grade. A single point salary of €127,796 was sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform effective from 29 July 2011 which represented a reduction of over one third in my Special Adviser’s previous salary in the private sector at that time. The salary was reduced in line with the Haddington Road Agreement as shown in the table above.
My Press Adviser was appointed in December 2012. He was placed on a salary of €80,051 per annum, the first point of the Principal Officer (standard) scale when he was appointed. However, his salary was also reduced in accordance with the Haddington Road Agreement. He progressed to the 2nd point on the pay scale in December 2013.
Government limits on salaries and numbers of advisors are not applicable to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.
Departmental Bodies Data
Questions (275)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:275. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in a tabular form a list of all non-commercial State sponsored bodies under her remit. [30925/14]
View answerWritten answers
There are two non-commercial State sponsored bodies that operate under the aegis of the Department the Citizen’s Information Board and the Pensions Authority. The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman also comes under the remit of the Department.
Architectural Heritage
Questions (276)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:276. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to put a scheme in place to meet the requirements of the Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29994/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (the Granada Convention) entered into force in 1987 and was ratified by Ireland in 1997. The main purpose of the Convention is to reinforce and promote policies for the conservation and enhancement of Europe's heritage. The following provisions are in place which ensure that Ireland meets its obligations under the Convention: - The establishment of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) under the Architectural Heritage (National Inventory) and Historic Monuments (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1999 allows for the completion of an inventory of Ireland’s architectural heritage. As Minister, I issue recommendations for inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures of each planning authority based on the NIAH survey compiled by my Department.
- Part IV of the Planning and Development Acts 2000, as amended, provides for the protection of the architectural heritage and places certain responsibilities on planning authorities in this regard, including the making of additions to or deletions from a Record of Protected Structures. Owners and occupiers of structures protected under the Act are obliged to protect such structures from endangerment.
- The Architectural Heritage Protection Guidelines for Planning Authorities were published in 2004 and re-issued in 2011 to further strengthen the protection of the architectural heritage. The aim of the guidelines is to assist planners and others in understanding the current guiding principles of conservation and restoration.
- My Department has also published an Advice Series of booklets relating to the care and conservation of historic structures.
- In order to support the owners and occupiers of protected structures, my Department provides financial support for the conservation and protection of such structures, administered either directly or by local authorities or heritage agencies.
My Department continues to implement supporting programmes and policies for the protection of the architectural heritage as provided for under the Granada Convention.