Written Answers Nos. 37-47
37. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regards to the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme, GLAS, the reason the presence of heather on a plot has meant that the plot is ineligible for the low input permanent pasture option of the scheme; if this decision will be changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18674/15]
View answerOne of the main actions for grazing land under GLAS is ‘Low Input Permanent Pasture’, which is designed to preserve and enhance old permanent pasture-lands. It is an attractive option for extensive farmers who may choose up to 10 hectares at a payment rate of €314 per hectare. As with all options under GLAS, farmers are required to respect the management requirements set out in the detailed GLAS specifications accompanying the Scheme, and any other instructions or clarifications issued by the Department.
In the case of Low Input Permanent Pasture this means that heather cannot be present in the area selected for the delivery of this action. The Low Input Permanent Pasture specification is quite detailed in terms of a restriction in chemical Nitrogen application to 40kg per hectare per annum, the selection of suitable pasture(s) which contain less than 30% ryegrass, along with at least four other grass species that are dispersed throughout the parcel. Heather is not a grass species.
In addition, the parcels must also have been declared as forage for the last 8 years on the GLAS applicants SPS. There are also other restrictions in terms of cutting hay/silage and specific topping dates. These conditions are aimed at ensuring suitable Low Input Permanent Pastures receive payment in GLAS based on income foregone and costs incurred in accordance with EU Regulation 1305/2013.
38. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18917/15]
View answerRent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 69,000 people this year at a cost of €298 million.
Rent supplement is not generally payable where a person or their spouse/partner is in full time employment i.e. 30 hours or more per week. A person on rent supplement who is deemed by a local authority to be Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) eligible may engage in full-time employment and retain their entitlement subject to satisfying the means test.
The Department’s strategic policy direction is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of being a short term income support by transferring responsibility for persons with long term housing needs to the local authorities under the new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Payments under the HAP scheme will be based on the local authority differential rent means test under which the full-time employment restriction does not apply and therefore will remove a key barrier to persons on social welfare in getting back to work. HAP is currently in operation in seven local authority areas in which there are approximately 1,800 HAP tenancies already in place. There are plans to roll out HAP to 12 further local authorities during 2015, commencing in Donegal at the end of May. There is a target to achieve 8,400 HAP cases in 2015 as set out in the ‘Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform’.
Officials in the Department continue to work closely with those in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and housing authorities to ensure the success of the HAP scheme.
39. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) who was declined disability allowance, and requires support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18920/15]
View answerThe disability allowance application from the person in question was refused on medical grounds and notification of this decision issued on 27 November 2014. The person concerned submitted an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. However, his appeal was disallowed on 29 April 2015 and he was notified of this decision in writing by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the same date.
An Appeals Officer’s decision is final and conclusive in absence of any fresh facts of evidence. It is, however, open to the person in question to submit a new application for DA if he wishes.
40. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an appeal for back payment of jobseeker's benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18947/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 8 May 2015. 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.
41. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total expenditure on consultancy by her Department; the numbers of consultants engaged by her Department in the years 2011 to 2014; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; the steps which have been taken to reduce the expenditure on consultancy, and the reliance on consultants by her Department, in these years, and for the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18961/15]
View answerThe Department engages consultants (individuals or organisations) to provide intellectual or knowledge based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice) including the delivery of reports, studies, assessments, recommendations and proposals that contribute to decision making or policy making. The Department procures consultancy services only where specialised knowledge and/or skills are not available within the Department or where a particular need arises that cannot be addressed within the resources available.
The procurement of these services is essential to support the Department in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner and is governed by a comprehensive regulatory, legal and procedural framework. The Department implements strict governance procedures in the procurement of such services.
The majority of expenditure on consultancy expertise is to support the Department in implementing a multi-annual service delivery modernisation and transformation programme involving business process, organisational and technological change. These programmes are supported by the procurement of separate external development services (IT external service provision) as well as engagement of consultants to provide strategic technical advice. Further technical consultancies relate to the on-going development of the Department’s extensive information technology systems. A breakdown of the annual expenditure on consultancy and also IT external service provision for previous years is available on the Department’s website at http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Procurement-Policy.aspx.
Total expenditure on the engagement of consultants by my Department for the years 2011 to 2014 is set out as follows and details of providers involved are included in the following tables.
|
Year |
Number of Providers Engaged |
Total |
|
2014 (provisional) |
14 |
€1,327,125 |
|
2013 |
14 |
€1,119,061 |
|
2012 |
15 |
€1,084,659 |
|
2011 |
16 |
€893,056 |
It is the Department’s policy to develop and sustain in house expertise, insofar as practicable and that skills transfer from consultants to Departmental staff takes place as an integral part of consultancy engagements. The purpose of this is to increase the knowledge and expertise of Departmental staff and to reduce and, if possible, eliminate further dependence on consultants in the areas concerned. The Department’s information systems division has also put in place training and mentoring programmes that build on the internal capacity and capability to deliver and support solutions on the Department’s information technology platform.
I am satisfied that the engagement of consultants contributes to decision making and policy formulation, and provides valuable support for the Department’s service delivery modernisation and reform programmes, and that procurement of consultants is compliant with best practice in realising value for money.
Year 2014 (provisional)
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
ESRI |
SWITCH Research Programme |
€250,000 |
|
Analysis & Measurement of Deprivation & Poverty |
€55,978 |
|
|
Profiling of “Stock” Live Registrants |
€16,873 |
|
|
Evaluation Research (BTEA) |
€9,809 |
|
|
Action Learning, Behavioural Economics & Payments Migration |
€2,000 |
|
|
Accenture |
Review and redesign of front-line learning and development programmes |
€237,636 |
|
Haywood Associates |
Business Object Model - Technical Development Advice |
€224,340 |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€200,857 |
|
Premier Support for Developers |
€36,720 |
|
|
Microsoft |
Support to Technical Architecture Group |
€19,590 |
|
IS Internal Audit Services |
€23,616 |
|
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Provision of Security Partner Services |
€28,246 |
|
Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion |
Advice in relation to External Service Delivery - Employment Services |
€50,978 |
|
OECD |
Youth Guarantee Advice |
€50,000 |
|
Axiom Consulting |
Culture & Values Report on Organisation Development |
€47,880 |
|
Irish Research Council |
Social Inclusion Research Innovation Awards |
€40,101 |
|
Mel Cousins & Associates |
Evaluation of Fund for EU Aid for the Most Deprived (FEAD) |
€16,000 |
|
Geary Institute |
Social Inclusion Research Innovation Awards |
€7,960 |
|
Rits |
Confidential Forensic Investigation Services |
€6,541 |
|
Mike Byrne |
Tender Evaluation - Contracting of External Employment Services |
€2,000 |
Year 2013
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€234,463 |
|
Business Object Model - Technical Development Advice |
€168,181 |
|
|
SWITCH Research Programme |
€150,000 |
|
|
Analysis & Measurement of Deprivation & Poverty |
€69,979 |
|
|
Profiling of “Stock” Live Registrants |
€16,873 |
|
|
ESRI |
Evaluation Research (BTEA) |
€9,809 |
|
Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion |
Advice in relation to External Service Delivery - Employment Services |
€140,989 |
|
Haywood Associates |
Business Object Model - Technical Development Advice |
€87,871 |
|
Axiom Consulting |
Culture & Values Report on Organisation |
€74,812 |
|
IS Internal Audit Services |
€48,688 |
|
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Provision of Security Partner Services |
€6,540 |
|
Accenture |
Mobile Opportunity Exploration |
€33,388 |
|
Mercer Ireland Ltd |
Long-term Pensions Policy Research |
€18,450 |
|
Review of Best International Practice regarding In-Work Supports |
€10,000 |
|
|
GRO Legislation Review |
€4,720 |
|
|
Mel Cousins & Associates |
Guidance documentation for deciding & appeals officers |
€2,400 |
|
Microsoft |
Support to Technical Architecture Group |
€11,515 |
|
Irish Research Council |
Social Inclusion Research Innovation Awards |
€11,103 |
|
TOR Financial |
Models of National Employment Based Pension Systems |
€9,900 |
|
PricewaterhouseCoopers |
Provision of Financial Advisory Services (for Payment Services Evaluation) |
€7,380 |
|
Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute |
Update of the Diet Supplement Diet Cost Report |
€4,000 |
Year 2012
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
Business Object Model - Technical Development Advice |
€199,260 |
|
Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€108,486 |
|
|
SWITCH Research Programme |
€150,000 |
|
|
ESRI |
Analysis & Measurement of Deprivation & Poverty |
€81,494 |
|
KPMG |
Actuarial Review of Social Insurance Fund |
€153,750 |
|
OECD |
OECD Review of Long Term Pension Policy |
€130,000 |
|
IS Internal Audit Services |
€39,541 |
|
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Security Partner to provide ongoing Information Security Support |
€27,675 |
|
Indecon |
Evaluation of the JobBridge National Internship Scheme |
€59,557 |
|
Accenture |
FÁS ICT Applications Systems Review |
€44,772 |
|
Creative Inc. |
Design Work for Intreo |
€24,777 |
|
PricewaterhouseCoopers |
Review of Pension Charges |
€24,600 |
|
Language |
Intreo Corporate Identity |
€21,990 |
|
Ernst & Young |
Security Partner to provide ongoing Information Security Support |
€7,623 |
|
Rits |
Confidential Forensic Services |
€4,654 |
|
Compass Point |
Developing architecture for Intreo |
€4,600 |
|
Technical Guidance Ltd |
Review of Pension Charges |
€1,230 |
|
Daniel Finn |
Pathways to Work – Consultation |
€650 |
Year 2011
|
Contractor |
Purpose |
€ |
|
Naked Objects Group Ltd |
Business Object Model - Technical Development Advice |
€144,644 |
|
Business Objects Modelling Advice & Expertise |
€92,104 |
|
|
SWITCH Research Programme |
€150,000 |
|
|
ESRI |
Analysis & Measurement of Deprivation & Poverty |
€48,001 |
|
Accenture |
Business Process Improvement |
€186,563 |
|
PA Consulting Group |
Payments Strategy |
€111,142 |
|
Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences |
Social Inclusion Research Innovation Awards |
€50,000 |
|
Price Waterhouse Cooper |
National Pensions Framework Implementation |
€36,300 |
|
IS Audit Consultancy/Computer Audit Assistance |
€14,792 |
|
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Confidential Forensic Investigation Services |
€7,109 |
|
Dept. of Enterprise, Trade & Employment |
Administrative Burden Review |
€14,000 |
|
Trinity College |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€9,788 |
|
Patrick Oliver Ryan |
Gender Recognition Advisor Group |
€7,000 |
|
UCD |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€6,650 |
|
NUI Maynooth |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€6,500 |
|
NUI Galway |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€5,000 |
|
Eleanor Ashe |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€1,750 |
|
Dr. Mary Mulcahy |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€1,422 |
|
Net Affinity Ltd |
Poverty Research Initiative Awards |
€291 |
43. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress, to date, in the determination of eligibility for a disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18977/15]
View answerThe application from the person in question was disallowed on 18 February 2015 on the basis that he is deemed unsuitable on medical grounds for disability allowance purposes.
The person concerned was advised of the option to submit further medical evidence or lodge an appeal directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. To date neither option has been exercised.
44. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a disability 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. [18988/15]
View answerThe person in question has been awarded a disability allowance payment with effect from 7 January 2015. First payment will be on 20 May 2015 and any arrears due will follow shortly.
45. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress, to date, in determining an application for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18995/15]
View answerThe person in question has been awarded a disability allowance payment with effect from 18 February 2015. First payment was on 6 May 2015 and any arrears due will follow shortly.
46. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the progress, to date, in determining an application for a disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18996/15]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 29 April 2015, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
47. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide consideration to restoring the previous optimum rate of respite carer's grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19023/15]
View answerIn considering measures for Budget 2013, and the government commitment to protect core weekly social welfare payments, it was necessary to look carefully at other additional payments, including the respite care grant. It was in this context that the decision was taken to reduce the amount of the grant, and any decision regarding the future rate of the grant would have to be taken in the context of overall Budget considerations.
However, it is worth making the point that the rate of the respite care grant at €1,375 is still more than twice what it was in 2002 when it was €635, and higher than it was in 2006 at the height of the economic boom, when it was €1,200.
It should also be noted that such an annual payment - in a single lump sum with no requirement to satisfy a means test - is not available for any other group nor indeed is there an equivalent payment for carers in any other country in Europe.
