Written Answers Nos. 55 - 65
55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if and when rent allowance will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 whose rent allowance has been suspended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26858/15]
View answerThe person concerned has been in receipt of rent supplement from this Department since March 2014. All claims for rent supplement are subject to periodic review, and as part of the review process the Department carries out visits to a person’s residence in order to confirm continued eligibility for this payment.
In the case of the person concerned a Rents Officer visited his address on 16 June 2015. As the person concerned was not at home a note was left for him asking to contact the Rents Unit. To date he has not done so and as a consequence his most recent payment was not issued. However, he is being written to and certain additional information is being sought in relation to his circumstances. In the meantime the suspension of rent supplement is being lifted pending finalisation of this correspondence.
56. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which a person (details supplied) in County Kildare's further employment details have been recorded in the context of entitlement to a contributory State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26863/15]
View answerThe person concerned is in receipt of a reduced State pension (contributory) entitlement based on the social insurance record available, which indicates he does not have any contributions recorded for the period 1969 to 1997.
In order to check completeness of his insurance record, the person concerned has been requested on a number of occasions to forward any details they may hold of employment(s) engaged in during this period. To date, the person concerned has not provided the Department with information on further employment(s).
58. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if persons (details supplied) in County Kildare qualify for the back to school allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26866/15]
View answerThe Department will make automatic payments of back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) to approximately 106,000 people week ending 17 July 2015.
The person referred to by the Deputy is not among the group of customers selected for automatic payment so they will have to complete an application form. An application form has been sent to the person concerned that should be completed and returned to the Social Welfare Services office in Sligo along with the necessary supporting documentation. On receipt of the application, the person’s entitlement to BSCFA will be examined.
59. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if rent support will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26869/15]
View answerDue to the clients change in circumstances, a new Rent Supplement application should be sent to the Mid Leinster Rents Unit so that the client’s entitlement can be re-assessed. An application has been issued by post to the client.
60. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26870/15]
View answerAccording to the records of this Department the person concerned has not made a recent application for an exceptional needs payment. It is open to the person concerned to submit such an application to her local Community Welfare Service.
61. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide, in tabular form, the expenses incurred by her between 2011 and to date in 2015 to include the date, expense type, description and amount; if each expense was vouched; her plans to introduce changes to the expenses system to ensure all expenses are fully vouched for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27000/15]
View answerSince I became Minister for Social Protection in 2011 I have published and regularly updated the expenses I have incurred in the performance of my functions as Minister for Social Protection and Tánaiste. Likewise the expenses incurred by the Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection are published and regularly updated on the Department’s website.
The information requested is set out in tabular format in the following tables.
Summary of Travel, Accommodation, Catering Expenses incurred by Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, TD, since 9 March 2011.
|
From |
To |
Expense Type |
Description |
Amount (€) |
Reason for Expense |
|
16/03/2011Dublin to London & London to Dublin(**See Note 2) |
20/03/2011 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare |
468.66 |
Represented the Government in London for St. Patrick's Day 2011 |
|
20/04/2011 |
Official Entertainment |
Lunch |
33.84 |
Lunch with John Martin OECD |
|
|
28/04/2011 (**See Note 2) |
03/05/2011 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare Taxis |
332.30 45.25 |
OECD Social Policy Conference - Paris |
|
16/06/2011 Hotel Le Royal, Luxembourg(*See Note 1) |
18/06/2011 |
Foreign Travel |
Accommodation |
417.20 |
June Council for Ministers of Employment and Social Policy |
|
20/06/2011Houses of the Oireachtas |
Official Entertainment |
Lunch |
43.55 |
Minister hosted lunch for Australian Minister |
|
|
07/07/2011 Dublin to Frankfurt to Gdansk & Gdansk to Frankfurt to Dublin(***See Note 3) |
08/07/2011 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare |
777.40 |
Informal meeting of Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs |
|
27/07/2011 |
28/07/2011 |
Home Travel |
Miscellaneous |
239.70 |
Magill Summer School |
|
07/09/2011 |
Home Travel |
Tea & Sandwiches x 3 |
16.00 |
Meeting |
|
|
13/09/2011 |
14/09/2011 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
79.00 |
Internship Roadshow |
|
27/09/2011 |
28/09/2011 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
75.00 |
Internship Roadshow |
|
29/09/2011 |
30/09/2011 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
99.00 |
Internship Roadshow |
|
05/10/2011 Regent Catering - in house |
Official Entertainment |
Tea & Scones x 8 |
30.52 |
Meeting |
|
|
06/10/2011 Regent Catering - in house |
Official Entertainment |
Tea & Scones x 10 |
38.15 |
Meeting |
|
|
12/10/2011 Regent Catering - in house |
Official Entertainment |
Tea & Scones x 10 |
38.15 |
Meeting |
|
|
24/10/2011 Regent Catering - in house |
Official Entertainment |
Tea & Sandwiches x 7 |
26.71 |
Meeting |
|
|
27/10/2011 |
27/10/2011 |
Official Entertainment |
Lunch |
58.50 |
Lunch with Latvian Ambassador |
|
12/01/2012 |
12/01/2012 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
70.00 |
Senior Management Team in Carrick-on-Shannon |
|
17/02/2012 Aloft Hotel, Brussels(*See Note 1) |
18/02/2012 |
Foreign Travel |
Accommodation |
119.00 |
EPSCO |
|
12/03/2012 |
Gift |
Business Card Holder |
30.00 |
Gift for Mayor Bloomberg on Ministerial visit to New York for St. Patrick's Day |
|
|
13/03/2012 Fitzpatrick’s Hotel |
19/03/2012 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare Accommodation |
867.00 1157.87 |
Ministerial visit to New York for St. Patrick's Day |
|
22/03/2012 |
23/03/2012 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
65.00 |
Minister meeting DSP HQ and LO staff and CIS/MABs offices |
|
29/03/2012 |
30/03//2012 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
55.00 |
Minister meeting DSP, Employability, MABs, CIS offices and local CE schemes. |
|
10/05/2012 Hotel Berlaymont, Brussels |
11/05/2012 |
Foreign Travel |
Accommodation Airfare |
257.00 20.00 |
Minister attending Conference, Brussels. For seat assignment only (ticket booked by conference organisers) |
|
18/06/2012 |
18/06/2012 |
Subsistence |
Breakfast |
5.50 |
Minister opens IRCHSS Summer School, Cork |
|
29/06/2012 |
30/06/2012 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
95.00 |
Minister opens Jobs Fair in Galway |
|
05/07/2012 |
06/07/2012 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare Accommodation |
319.80 209.67 |
Ministerial Conference, London |
|
11/07/2012 Hilton Hotel, Cyprus |
14/07/2012 |
Foreign Travel |
Accommodation Airfare |
160.00 640.36 |
Informal EPSCO, Cyprus |
|
27/09/2012 |
28/09/2012 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
75.00 |
Minister opens MABs offices in Tuam and An Cheathrú Rua |
|
03/10/2012 Hotel Royal, Luxembourg (*See Note 1) |
04/10/2012 |
Foreign Travel |
Accommodation |
182.00 |
EPSCO |
|
09/10/2012 (**See Note 2) |
11/10/2012 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare |
1048.87 |
Ministerial Visit to Sweden |
|
18/10/2012 |
19/10/2012 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
89.00 |
Employer Roadshow, Limerick |
|
25/10/2012 |
26/10/2012 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
95.00 |
Employer Roadshow, Galway & Athlone |
|
31/10/2012 |
01/11/2012 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
110.00 |
Employer Roadshow, Waterford & Cork |
|
10/01/2013 |
11/01/2013 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
55.00 |
Ministerial Visit to Cork |
|
22/01/2013 Radisson Hotel |
23/01/2013 |
Foreign Travel |
AccommodationAirfare |
160.00118.98 |
Visit to EU Parliament |
|
27/02/2013 Hotel Thon, Brussels |
28/02/2013 |
Foreign Travel |
Accommodation Airfare |
172.58 105.99 |
EPSCO Formal, Brussels |
|
13/03/2013 Hilton Hotel, Chicago |
19/03/2013 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare Accommodation Transport |
589.11 1126.19 363.14 |
Minster representing Irish Govt. in Chicago for St. Patrick's Day |
|
07/04/2013 (**See Note 2) |
10/04/2013 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare |
345.41 |
Minister attending ILO Conference, Oslo. |
|
10/04/2013 |
12/04/2013 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
170.00 |
Ministerial Visit to Kerry |
|
01/05/2013Hotel Mercure, Lueven |
03/05/2013 |
Foreign Travel |
AirfareAccommodation |
183.02231.80 |
SIP Conference, Lueven |
|
09/05/2013 |
10/05/2013 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
65.00 |
Minister visit to Carlow CIB and Kilkenny MABs, Jobs Club and Local Office |
|
19/06/2013 Novotel, Luxembourg (*See Note 1) |
21/06/2013 |
Foreign Travel |
Accommodation |
310.00 |
EPSCO, Luxembourg |
|
03/07/2013 |
03/07/2013 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare |
192.99 |
Round Table Promoting Youth Employment |
|
07/07/2013 Tower Hotel, Waterford |
08/07/2013 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
65.00 |
Launch of JobsPlus, Waterford |
|
11/11/2013 Montfleuri Hotel, Paris |
12/11/2013 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare Accommodation & Meals |
297.10 236.50 |
Minster attended 2nd Conference on Youth Employment in Europe - Paris. |
|
08/12/13 Hotel Thon, Brussels |
09/12/2013 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare Accommodation |
292.98 157.58 |
EPSCO, Brussels |
|
07/02/2014 Absolute Hotel |
08/02/2014 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
79.00 |
Minister visiting flooding victims in Limerick |
|
13/02/2014 Landmark Hotel |
14/02/2014 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
70.00 |
Minister attending SMT and visiting local employment and CE schemes |
|
20/02/2014 Harlequin Hotel |
21/02/2014 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
59.00 |
Minister speaking at Employer Roadshow and opening INTREO office |
|
09/03/2014 Hotel Aloft (*See Note 1) |
10/03/2014 |
Foreign Travel |
Accommodation |
149.00 |
EPSCO, Brussels |
|
11/03/2014 Fitzpatrick's Hotel |
20/03/2014 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare Accommodation Transport |
590.73 1081.40 148.29 |
Ministerial visit to New York and Washington for St. Patrick's Day |
|
05/02/2015 Brandon Hotel |
06/02/2015 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
55.00 |
Official Opening of INTREO office Tralee |
|
12/03/2015 Fitzpatrick's Hotel |
20/03/2015 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare Airfare Accommodation Transport Gifts |
696.00 $758.54 $1,154 $8,205.09 56.89 |
Ministerial visit to US for St. Patrick's Day |
|
24/03/2015 Granville Hotel |
25/03/2015 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation |
80.00 |
Meeting ad Official opening of Sun Life Financial - Waterford |
|
27/03/2015 |
28/03/2015 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare |
427.14 |
Meetings with German Government |
|
18/05/2015 Brandon Hotel |
19/05/2015 |
Home Travel |
84.00 |
Accompanying HRH Prince of Wales |
Mileage claimed by Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton, TD, under the Ministerial Travel Scheme.
|
From |
To |
Expense Type |
Description |
Amount (€) |
Reason for Expense |
|
01/05/2011 |
31/07/2011 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
3251.81 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/08/2011 |
31/10/2011 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
1493.73 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/11/2011 |
31/12/2011 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
1080.38 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/01/2012 |
31/03/2012 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
2516.00 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/04/2012 |
30/06/2012 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
1907.37 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/07/2012 |
30/09/2012 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
1118.88 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/10/2012 |
31/12/2012 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
1563.64 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/01/2013 |
31/01/2013 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
1823.18 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/02/2013 |
30/04/2013 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
2185.58 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/05/2013 |
30/06/2013 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
1235.73 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/07/2013 |
30/09/2013 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
1412.47 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/10/2013 |
31/12/2013 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
2124.54 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/01/2014 |
31/03/2014 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
3931.83 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/04/2014 |
30/06/2014 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial Mileage |
2427.92 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
* Note 1 : No Airfare costs - refunded by EU Council.
** Note 2: No accommodation costs. The Minister stayed in the Irish Embassy in London, Paris, Sweden, Oslo.
*** Note 3: No accommodation costs. This was a Polish Presidency event and they covered the accommodation costs.
Summary of Travel, Accommodation, Catering Expenses incurred by Minister of State Kevin Humphreys, TD, since 15 July 2014.
|
From |
To |
Expense Type |
Description |
Amount |
Reason for Expense |
|
03/09/2014 |
04/09/2014 |
Home travel |
Accommodation - West Cork Hotel, Skibereen |
€65.00 |
Minister meeting DSP officials, local Community Council, Development Partnership office and local CE schemes. |
|
15/10/2014 |
16/10/2014 |
EU Travel |
Accommodation - Novotel Luxembourg |
€170.00 |
EPSCO Luxembourg |
|
10/11/2014 |
11/11/2014 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation - Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee |
€65.00 |
Official visit to employers, Department of Social Protection schemes and service providers in Co. Kerry |
|
26/02/2015 |
26/02/2015 |
Home Travel |
Accommodation - Landmark Hotel |
€70.00 |
Meeting in Carrick on Shannon |
|
13/03/2015 |
17/03/2015 |
Foreign Travel |
Airfare Accommodation - Swissotel, Basel Zagreb Sheraton Transport |
€403.81 €797.10 €448.83 |
Ministerial travel to Switzerland and Croatia for St. Patrick's Day duties |
|
18/03/2015 |
19/03/2015 |
EU Travel |
Accommodation - Holiday Inn Express, Glasgow |
€82.02 |
Meeting in Working Links, Glasgow |
Mileage claimed by Minister of State Kevin Humphreys, TD, under the Ministerial Travel Scheme.
|
From |
To |
Expense Type |
Description |
Amount |
Reason for Expense |
|
01/08/2014 |
31/08/2014 |
Home travel |
Ministerial mileage |
€631.78 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/09/2014 |
30/09/2014 |
Home travel |
Ministerial mileage |
€1045.71 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/10/2014 |
31/10/2014 |
Home travel |
Ministerial mileage |
€952.29 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/11/2014 |
30/11/2014 |
Home travel |
Ministerial mileage |
€681.32 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/12/2014 |
31/12/2014 |
Home travel |
Ministerial mileage |
€241.63 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/01/2015 |
31/01/2015 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial mileage |
€499.96 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/02/2015 |
28/02/2015 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial mileage |
€799.66 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
|
01/03/2015 |
30/04/2015 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial mileage |
€1395.36 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme (for two months) |
|
01/05/2015 |
31/05/2015 |
Home Travel |
Ministerial mileage |
€513.84 |
Mileage claimed under the Ministerial Travel Scheme |
62. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of requests for meetings he has received from private, external, non-State-funded lobby groups; the number of meetings he has held with these groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26700/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, in view of the range of my remit as Minister of Finance I receive a large volume of representations, including requests for meetings from a broad range of sources, including members of the Oireachtas, local and voluntary groups and private individuals and companies.
As my Office does not maintain a central register of all such requests for meetings or invitations received I am not in a position to provide a response to this aspect of the request. Information, however, relating to meetings held could only be retrieved by way of a manual examination of diaries and file notes. Given the voluminous nature of this response and the significant amount of staff time and resources now dedicated to this retrieval, I would hope that the Deputy will agree that this information will follow by way of letter (and that my officials will contact the Deputy's Office to confirm the scope of this request).
The Deputy will be also be aware that the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 has recently been enacted by the Oireachtas and will commence on 1 September 2015. The Act provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission (the Standards Commission) will establish and maintain an online register of lobbying and oversee compliance with the legislative provisions. The purpose of the register will be to make information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with designated public officials. Persons lobbying will have to register with the Standards Commission and will be required to submit returns on their lobbying activities.
63. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if persons renting out a room or rooms in their home through AirBnB are eligible for the rent-a-room scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26744/15]
View answer64. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance his plans to extend the rent-a-room scheme to persons renting out a room or rooms in their home through AirBnB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26745/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 64 together.
I have no plans to extend the rent-a-room scheme to include guest accommodation lettings under AirBnB. This scheme is intended to increase the supply of rental accommodation by incentivising homeowners to rent out rooms in their principal primary residences to individuals on a residential basis.
A copy of an e-brief in relation to the interaction between AirBnB and rent-a-room relief was issued by the Revenue Commissioners on 03 February 2015. This e-Brief can be found on the Revenue website at http://www.revenue.ie/en/practitioner/ebrief/2015/no-212015.html.
65. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding a future bank bailout (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26752/15]
View answerIn recent years taxpayer funded bail outs of banks occurred all over Europe and indeed the world. A major problem facing governments was that authorities simply did not have the tools to manage their failure in an orderly manner.
To address this problem the European Commission proposed a common EU-wide framework for the recovery and resolution of banks facing difficulties. This piece of legislation, known as the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD) is currently being transposed by Member States. A key priority of the BRRD is to separate banks from the sovereign and ensure they are allowed to fail with minimal disruption to the financial system and without reliance on taxpayer funds.
There are three pillars to the BRRD framework to facilitate a range of appropriate actions by authorities:
- preparatory and preventative measures including reinforced supervision and robust recovery and resolution planning for major institutions;
- early intervention measures which would include supervisory powers and implementing recovery plans;
- resolution tools including appointing a special manager, sale of business, bridge bank, asset separation tools and the use of bail-in mechanisms.
The bail-in provisions are key as they will enable resolution authorities to write down or convert into equity the claims of shareholders and creditors of institutions that are failing or likely to fail. This is an important means of ensuring that a bank s losses are absorbed by those who fund its activities and not taxpayers. Where bail-in is not sufficient to cover a bank's losses additional funding can be accessed via a resolution fund. Resolution funds are financed by means of contributions from a Member State's banking sector, and will be built up over a number of years.
For Member States such as Ireland that are part of the banking union a Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM) will become operational from 1 January 2016 and will be backed by a Single Resolution Fund (SRF). This fund will replace the national BRRD resolution fund, and has a target level of 1% of covered deposits of all participating Member States to be reached within eight years (approx.€55 billion).
It is acknowledged however that in the early years of the SRM, situations may arise where the SRF is not sufficiently funded by the banking sector to face a particular resolution action. Consequently it was agreed by Eurogroup and Ecofin Ministers in December 2013 that there was a need to put in place a system by which bridge financing would be available as a last resort. It was agreed that during the transition period, bridge financing will be available from national resources, backed by bank levies or from the ESM in line with agreed procedures. It should be noted that bridge financing is still the subject of negotiation at EU level.
In conclusion, resolution tools such as bail-in were not available at the time of the Irish banking crisis and thus taxpayer funds were used to bail out bondholders. The fact that we now have the legal basis to apply losses directly to the creditors of the bank should go a long way to reducing the likelihood of taxpayers contributing to future bank resolutions.
