Frank Feighan
Question:177. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the Student Universal Support Ireland reckonable income includes student's income (details supplied). [46707/14]
View answerStudent Grant Scheme Eligibility
Questions (177)
Written answers
Assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources of the applicant and his/her parent(s)/legal guardian, where applicable, with certain social welfare and health service executive payments being exempt. It is necessary, therefore, that information regarding all income, including that from after school/weekend employment, is accounted for when completing the grant application form. However, in the assessment of means, allowance is made for "holiday earnings" on the part of the applicant and accordingly a deduction is allowed for reasonable holiday earnings i.e. income earned by the applicant from employment outside of term time but within the reference period. A maximum deduction of €3,809 may be applied to student earnings outside of term time but within the reference period.
Student Grant Scheme Eligibility
Questions (178)
Frank Feighan
Question:178. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the fact that the Student Universal Support Ireland grant threshold for fewer than four children is €39,875 and that the higher education access route scheme thresholds for fewer than four children is €48,811, the reason there is a difference of €8,936 in income level. [46708/14]
View answerWritten answers
The income threshold of €48,811 referred to by the Deputy was the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) income threshold for students applying for entry in 2014.
For 2015 the income thresholds for HEAR applicants have changed to match the higher threshold of the current Student Grant Scheme, for the award of 25% part maintenance.
The income limits for HEAR and the Student Grant Scheme are shown on the table. The income threshold for HEAR for students applying for entry 2015.
|
Number of dependent children in your family |
HEAR Income Limit |
|
Less than 4 |
45,790 |
|
4-7 |
50,325 |
|
More than 8 |
54,630 |
Add €4,670 to the total income for every sibling/parent enrolled in a full time college, university or post leaving certificate further education course.
Income limits for maintenance grants under the Student Grant Scheme 2014.
|
- |
To qualify for: |
To qualify for: |
To qualify for: |
To qualify for: |
To qualify for: |
|
No. dependent children |
Special Rate* |
Standard rate Full maintenance 100% |
Standard rate Part maintenance 75% |
Standard rate Part maintenance 50% |
Standard rate Part maintenance 25% |
|
Less than 4 |
22,703 |
39,875 |
40,970 |
43,380 |
45,790 |
|
4 to 7 |
22,703 |
43,810 |
45,025 |
47,670 |
50,325 |
|
8 or more |
22,703 |
47,575 |
48,890 |
51,760 |
54,630 |
Additional increments that may be applied to the income limits in Table B for Maintenance Grants**
|
Additional Increments |
|||||
|
+ increment for each additional relevant person |
0 |
4,830 |
4,670 |
4,670 |
4,670 |
*To be eligible for the special rate of maintenance the reckonable income on 31 December 2013 must include an eligible payment listed in Schedule 2.
**Increments which may be added to the relevant income limits.
Any maintenance grant awarded under the income limits in this table will also include an award for the full student contribution grant, where the student contribution is chargeable.
Schools Building Projects Status
Questions (179)
Martin Heydon
Question:179. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding expansion plans in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46727/14]
View answerWritten answers
The project to which the Deputy refers was recently authorised to proceed to tender. Subject to no issues arising during the tender process a contractor will be appointed as soon as the tender process is complete.
Leader Programmes Applications
Questions (180)
Michelle Mulherin
Question:180. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will expedite a stage payment of a Leader grant approved by his Department through Mayo North East Leader Partnership to a company (details supplied) in county Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46568/14]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that the group in question submitted a claim to Mayo North East Leader Partnership for payment which has now been processed and paid by my Department.
Local Authority Housing Data
Questions (181, 185)
Róisín Shortall
Question:181. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of vacant local authority housing units that are in each local authority; the number in each case that will be refurbished under the 2014 funding that has been allocated; the schedule for the refurbishment and bringing into use of all remaining local authority units in each local authority. [46586/14]
View answer
Joan Collins
Question:185. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of voids there were in each local authority in 2013 and to date in 2014; the number that have been allocated to tenants in 2013 and to date in 2014; the number of voids that will be made available for tenants in 2015 and 2016. [46627/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 185 together.
Under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock is the responsibility of the relevant housing authority. Statistics on local authority housing stock, including units that may be empty, are published annually by the Local Government Management Agency. The most recent statistics are in respect of 2012 and are available at the following link: http://www.lgma.ie/sites/default/files/service_indicators_2012_report_for_website_0.pdf.
My Department has allocated €30 million in 2014 to local authorities to support their work in bringing 1,960 vacant and boarded up units back into productive use, and in an energy efficient condition. The number of such units in each Local Authority area is set out in the table. I anticipate that this target will be achieved and it is a matter for each individual local authority to allocate these units to those on their social housing waiting lists.
Budget 2015 has given a further impetus to this area, and I envisage a further 1,000 vacant properties being returned to productive use through this additional funding.
|
Vacant Units to be returned to productive use in 2014 |
Local Authority |
|
26 |
Carlow |
|
15 |
Cavan |
|
42 |
Clare |
|
186 |
Cork City |
|
155 |
Cork County |
|
115 |
Donegal |
|
371 |
Dublin City |
|
147 |
Fingal |
|
75 |
South Dublin |
|
3 |
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
|
42 |
Galway City |
|
62 |
Galway County |
|
45 |
Kerry |
|
67 |
Kildare |
|
25 |
Kilkenny |
|
27 |
Laois |
|
15 |
Leitrim |
|
86 |
Limerick |
|
15 |
Longford |
|
10 |
Louth |
|
81 |
Mayo |
|
53 |
Meath |
|
11 |
Monaghan |
|
31 |
Offaly |
|
21 |
Roscommon |
|
26 |
Sligo |
|
66 |
Tipperary |
|
48 |
Waterford |
|
46 |
Westmeath |
|
16 |
Wexford |
|
32 |
Wicklow |
|
1,960 |
Total |
Social and Affordable Housing Provision
Questions (182)
Michael P. Kitt
Question:182. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a breakdown of the total number of houses to be built per year under the social housing strategy 2020; if he will provide the figures for the breakdown of housing allocations per county as well as per local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46588/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform, approved by Government and published last week, builds on the provisions contained in Budget 2015 and sets out clear, measureable actions and targets to increase the supply of social housing, reform delivery arrangements and meet the housing needs of all households on the housing list. In committing to provide 35,000 new social housing units, at a projected cost of €3.8 billion, the strategy marks a fresh start for social housing in Ireland. It is estimated that this level of investment will create or sustain some 29,000 construction industry jobs. Importantly, the Strategy restores the State to a central role in the provision of social housing through a resumption of direct building on a significant scale, primarily by local authorities and approved housing bodies.
The strategy will be delivered in two phases. Phase 1 targets the delivery of 18,000 additional housing units and 32,400 Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme units by the end of 2017. In phase 2, spanning the years 2018 to 2020, the strategy targets the delivery of 17,000 additional units and 43,000 Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme units.
In the initial phase, increased Exchequer funding is necessary to underpin delivery. The Government has already committed this initial funding, through the €2.2 billion announced as part of Budget 2015. The provision of this funding will allow time for the work to be carried out to move towards more off-balance sheet funding, through the extension to the NAMA Special Purpose Vehicle, a large scale Public Private Partnership and the establishment of a 'Strategic Housing Fund'.
The strategy provides a clear governance structure which, as Minister, I will personally oversee to ensure delivery. Action 1 of the Strategy requires the agreement of targets for delivery of social housing next year and in subsequent years. These specific targets will be agreed through the governance structure, which is currently being put in place, in collaboration with local authorities and with input from the approved housing body sector. For 2015, I expect that some 7,400 new social housing units will be provided under the range of existing initiatives broken down as follows: 3,000 units through leasing initiative; 2,000 new Rental Accommodation Scheme units; 1,000 vacant local authority units will be refurbished and brought back to use; with a further 1,400 units to be built or acquired by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies through the Social Housing Investment Programme and Capital Assistance Scheme. A further 8,400 households will be assisted through the Housing Assistance Payment.
While local authorities are responsible for the detailed planning of social housing provision based on the needs of their areas, my Department is working with all authorities, within the context of the increased funding now available, to advance projects already in train and to plan for further developments directly by local authorities and by approved housing bodies to meet the Social Housing Strategy targets for 2015 and beyond.
Water Charges Administration
Questions (183)
Brendan Griffin
Question:183. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46623/14]
View answerWritten answers
I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 149, 152, 153, 136, 137 and 138 of 26 November 2014 which sets out the position in this matter.
Question No. 184 withdrawn.