Written Answers Nos. 135-149
135. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Taoiseach the dates on which the interdepartmental working group on alcohol sponsorship has met since its establishment; the issues which it has addressed; and when he expects it to complete its work. [44768/14]
View answerThe Interdepartmental Working Group on Regulating Sponsorship by Alcohol Companies of Major Sporting Events met on 10 December 2013, 28 February, 3 September, and 2 October 2014.
The Group has been asked to consider the value, evidence, feasibility and implications (including the public health consequences for children and young people) of regulating sponsorship by alcohol companies of major sporting events, and to consider alternative sources of funding for sporting organisations to replace potential lost revenue arising from any such regulation.
The Group will report its findings to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy by the end of the year.
136. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details from the Central Statistics Office in tabular form by county of the numbers of persons in full time employment on 30 June 2008 and 30 June 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44769/14]
View answerThe exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State.
Tables 1a and 1b below show the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by full-time/part-time employment and NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions in Quarter 2 2008 and Quarter 2 2014.
Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable county level estimates from the QNHS.
Table 1a Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by full-time and part-time employment and NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions, Q2 2008
'000
|
Q2 2008 |
Full-time employment |
Part-time employment |
Total employment |
|
Border, Midland and Western |
443.4 |
103.1 |
546.5 |
|
Border |
175.4 |
42.3 |
217.8 |
|
Midland |
99.5 |
21.8 |
121.3 |
|
West |
168.4 |
39.0 |
207.4 |
|
Southern and Eastern |
1,306.5 |
294.3 |
1,600.9 |
|
Dublin |
520.5 |
117.2 |
637.7 |
|
Mid-East |
209.2 |
43.7 |
252.9 |
|
Mid-West |
142.1 |
32.1 |
174.2 |
|
South-East |
185.3 |
41.7 |
227.0 |
|
South-West |
249.4 |
59.7 |
309.1 |
|
State |
1,749.9 |
397.5 |
2,147.3 |
Table 1b Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by full-time and part-time employment and NUTS2 and NUTS3 regions, Q2 2014
'000
|
Q2 2014 |
Full-time employment |
Part-time employment |
Total employment |
|
Border, Midland and Western |
351.0 |
125.8 |
476.8 |
|
Border |
131.8 |
53.2 |
185.0 |
|
Midland |
83.6 |
29.9 |
113.5 |
|
West |
135.6 |
42.7 |
178.3 |
|
Southern and Eastern |
1,100.3 |
324.5 |
1,424.8 |
|
Dublin |
456.4 |
120.0 |
576.4 |
|
Mid-East |
177.8 |
50.8 |
228.5 |
|
Mid-West |
113.1 |
35.0 |
148.0 |
|
South-East |
148.0 |
50.5 |
198.5 |
|
South-West |
205.0 |
68.3 |
273.3 |
|
State |
1,451.3 |
450.3 |
1,901.6 |
Source: Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.
Data may be subject to future revision.
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.
Reference period: Q2=Apr-Jun.
137. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the number of staff in his data protection office; if he has a specified data protection officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44771/14]
View answerMy Department does not have a specific office for data protection but has a nominated official who deals with the application of the Data Protection Acts within the Department.
138. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Taoiseach the Ministerial transport costs for the years 2010 to 2013, inclusive, for each Minister of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44898/14]
View answerThe total expenditure on Ministerial transport by my Department for the period March 2011 to end December 2013 was €42,633. This relates to Government Chief Whip and Minister of State Paul Kehoe.
Prior to March 2011, the Government Chief Whip was supplied with a State car and two Garda drivers.
This facility was removed in 2011.
139. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach the reason the Central Statistics Office has included a minimum turnover requirement of €1 million in respect of a request for tenders for the provision of the collection and archival storage of census 2011 forms in archival boxes published on 17 October 2014; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such a stipulation excludes a number of indigenous businesses from competing for the contract; if the CSO will accept and consider submissions from indigenous companies whose turnover is less than €1 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44760/14]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office (CSO) published an open tender on 17 October 2014 on the eTenders website. The tender relates to the archival storage of completed 2011 Census forms with a possible extension to cover the archival storage of 2016 Census forms up to the end of 2034. Under the National Archives Act, 1986, all census forms must be stored for a period of 100 years. Under the Statistics Act, 1993, Census of Population records are open to public inspection after 100 years. In order to be usable in 100 years, census records require storage to archival standards which must be maintained over the period.
The assessment of a tenderer’s financial and economic standing is a key part of any procurement process. Establishing the appropriate suitability criteria that are relevant and appropriate to a particular contract is, of course, a matter for the contracting authority concerned. This is because the contracting authority is in the best position to gauge the appropriate levels of financial capacity that are appropriate to the needs of that specific contract. Therefore, there are no centrally imposed requirements for a minimum turnover. Such requirements would logically be developed on a case by case basis with reference to the specific needs of the contract.
The Government recognises that the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector is very important to the economy and that public procurement can be a source of business for SMEs. In this regard, the Office of Government Procurement has issued public procurement guidelines to public bodies which are aimed at facilitating greater participation of SMEs in public procurement opportunities. In relation to suitability criteria, the guidelines stress that public bodies must ensure that any criteria/turnover levels set by them must be both justifiable and proportionate to the needs of the contract.
In the case of the CSO tender, the qualification criteria in terms of a tenderer’s financial and economic standing was set at an annual average turnover of €1 million over the past 3 years. €1 million is in line with guidelines issued by the Chief Procurement Officer in April 2014 given the expected contract value and given that the tender is for the secure storage of confidential census forms (a valuable source for genealogical researchers) for a period of up to 20 years. Because this is a live tender it would not be in line with EU procurement law to comment further on the tender qualification criteria at this stage.
140. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Taoiseach if his Department, or any agency of his Department, has awarded any contracts to a company (details supplied) since 9 March 2011. [45353/14]
View answerNo contract has been awarded to Northgate Public Services by my Department, or any agency of my Department, since 9th March 2011.
142. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on a cessation of job activation schemes such as JobBridge, if so, when she expects these schemes to wind up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44788/14]
View answerIn response to the major increases in unemployment in the fallout of the crisis, an unprecedented programme of policy reform in the social welfare system and of organisational change was undertaken by the Department of Social Protection. Through consecutive iterations of the Pathways to Work Strategy and the Youth Guarantee, labour market activation policies have been radically overhauled and the Department of Social Protection has been transformed from the passive benefits provider of old to a public employment service that is actively assisting people back to work, training or education.
Given the number of unemployed people, it is not surprising that the numbers making use of the suite of job activation schemes have increased dramatically since this Government entered office in 2011. To meet the needs of the unemployed, the scale and funding of these schemes has been increased substantially.
However, in the interest of ensuring cost effectiveness and value for money for the taxpayer, all job activation schemes, including JobBridge, are kept under annual review in the context of the budgetary cycle.
In the longer term, as unemployment levels are reduced, the continuation of the current suite of job activation schemes will be evaluated and any changes that are appropriate to the changing circumstances will be considered.
143. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44793/14]
View answerI confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 15th September 2014. The application is with a deciding officer for a decision. Once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
144. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will review the rent supplement levels in place given the rise in market rents across the country, and the reality that persons cannot secure accommodation within the current limits, thereby driving many families and individuals into homelessness. [44795/14]
View answer174. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will consider extending the services of the tenancy protection unit to the areas surrounding Dublin which are suffering a severe housing and homelessness crisis but who have far less resources to deal with the problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45138/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 174 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 72,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
The Department is undertaking a review of the maximum rent limits. I am fully aware of the difficulties people are experiencing in maintaining affordable rented accommodation, including those in receipt of rent supplement, in the current market particularly in areas of high demand. However, I am concerned that the impact of increasing limits at a time of constrained supply will yield only a very marginal increase in available supply for rent supplement recipients, with the only certainty that raising limits will increase costs disproportionately for the Exchequer with little or no new housing available to new recipients. Raising rent limits may not be the solution to the problem as it is likely to add to further rental inflation and impact, not alone on rent supplement recipients, but also on many lower income workers, their families and students. I plan to keep this matter under close review.
I want to assure the Deputy that officers administering rent supplement throughout the country have considerable experience in dealing with customers and will continue to make every effort to ensure that their accommodation needs are met. Discretionary powers are available to staff to award a supplement for rental purposes or to increase a payment in exceptional cases where it appears that the circumstances of the case so warrant. A notice reminding staff of their statutory discretionary power to award a supplement for rental purposes in exceptional cases, for example, when dealing with applicants who are at risk of losing their tenancy was circulated earlier this year.
In light of a particular concentration of the homelessness problem in the Dublin area, the Department has agreed a tenancy sustainment protocol with the Dublin local authorities and voluntary organisations so that families on rent supplement who are at risk of losing their accommodation can have more timely and appropriate interventions made on their behalf. Since the launch of this initiative in mid-June 2014, over 220 families have had their rent supplement payments increased by the Department.
Staff outside Dublin, including those in the Kildare and Tipperary regions, continue to use their discretionary powers and are actively engaging with the various organisations involved in homelessness, including the local authorities and non-Government organisations. For example, in Kildare there are approximately 25 rent supplement recipients, where there was a risk of homelessness, being paid discretionary payments for rent and a total of 85 cases in county Tipperary. The further use of the tenancy sustainment protocol will continue to be kept under review as the needs of customers and as the current rental market continues to evolve.
Increasing housing supply and the reactivation of the construction activity is a critical issue for Government and key to restoring stability to the rental market. In this context, it should be noted that the Government has recently launched its Construction Strategy 2020.
As part of Budget 2015, Government also announced significant capital investment of over €2.2 billion for social housing for the next three years. In 2015, over €800 million will be invested in a range of housing programmes representing the first major investment in housing since 2009. An additional €10.5 million will be provided for accommodation and related services for homeless persons, increasing the annual expenditure for tackling homelessness to €55.5 million next year.
My colleague, Alan Kelly T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, is also due to publish a Social Housing Strategy shortly. This will propose a range of approaches and reforms that are innovative and challenging and will provide a basis for an improved and sustainable approach to the provision of social housing supports in Ireland.
147. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the options available to persons for financial support towards housing while they are waiting for a housing needs assessment in view of the fact that they are now not entitled to rent allowance since the introduction of the new housing assistance payment system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44816/14]
View answer156. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to address the gaps in the new housing assistance payment system where a person is not entitled to receive a payment until a housing need assessment has been completed (details supplied); the options available to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44909/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 156 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 72,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
It is a condition of rent supplement that a person must have been residing in private rented accommodation, or accommodation for homeless persons or an institution (or any combination of these) for a period of 183 days within the preceding 12 months of the date of claim for rent supplement. A person may also qualify for rent supplement where an assessment of housing need has been carried out and the person is deemed by a housing authority to be eligible for and in need of social housing support.
In all other cases, a person who wishes to apply for rent supplement is referred, in the first instance, for an assessment of eligibility for social housing support by the housing authority. Only when the person has been assessed as being eligible for and in need of social housing support does the person become eligible for consideration for rent supplement. There is no entitlement to rent supplement pending the completion of this assessment.
The conditions for rent supplement have changed following the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) which has been introduced in Cork County, Limerick City & County and Waterford City & County from 15th September and was further extended to South Dublin, Kilkenny, Monaghan and Louth from 1st October 2014. In these areas, new applicants assessed as requiring social housing support will be considered for HAP rather than rent supplement. The applicant’s eligibility for social housing support, including HAP, will be assessed by the relevant local authority. Policy in relation to HAP is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
148. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied). [44829/14]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all the evidence has allowed the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the decision.
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.
149. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a carer's allowance appeal will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44831/14]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21st October 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 case 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 appeal 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.
