Written Answers Nos. 50-55
50. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of children in consistent poverty at the start of each of the past five years to 2015 to date; the target for reduction in each year; and the actual number at the end of each year. [39775/15]
View answerThe consistent poverty rates for children for the latest five-year period for which data are available are set out in the table. As well as year to year trends, it is also important to look at trends over the medium term. The average rate of child poverty in the period since the economic crisis commenced (2009-201) was 9.7 per cent, as compared with an average rate of 8.7 per cent in the years preceding the crisis (2005-2008).
The Government adopted a child poverty target in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The national policy framework for children and young people 2014-2020. This aims to lift 70,000 children out of consistent poverty by 2020, equivalent to a reduction of two-thirds on the 2011 rate. This is a medium term target and is not broken down into annual components.
Progress towards the child poverty is monitored in the Social Inclusion Monitor. The 2013 Monitor indicates that c 100,000 children have to be lifted out of consistent poverty to meet the target by 2020.
In support of the target, the Government is implementing a whole-of-government approach to tackling child poverty, building on the life-cycle approach in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion, 2007-2016 and informed by the European Commission Recommendation on ‘Investing in children: Breaking the cycle of disadvantage ’. A range of government departments and other stakeholders are involved in implementing this approach.
In Budget 2016, the Government committed over €200 million to support families with children through higher income supports and increased provision of early childhood care and education and other forms of childcare. The social impact assessment of Budget 2016 shows that households with children are the biggest beneficiaries, in particular working lone parents. The published data does not yet go beyond 2013 so it does not reflect these measures.
Consistent poverty rates for children, 2009 to 2013
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
Percentage (%) |
8.7 |
8.8 |
9.3 |
9.9 |
11.7 |
|
Number (‘000s) |
97 |
99 |
107 |
115 |
138 |
Source: CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions, 2009-2013
51. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if persons in receipt of the one parent family payment on the jobseeker's transitional allowance are ineligible for the Christmas bonus and/or the fuel allowance; and the position regarding same if a lone parent is in receipt of the working family dividend. [39781/15]
View answerRecipients of the jobseeker’s transitional payment are eligible for both the Christmas bonus and the fuel allowance.
Recipients of the back to work family dividend are not eligible for the fuel allowance but will receive the Christmas bonus.
52. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39782/15]
View answerIn order to determine the circumstances of the person in question, his disability allowance (DA) file was forwarded to his local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI). I am informed that the SWI has interviewed the person in question and his report is in transit back to DA section.
A decision on his entitlement to DA will be made immediately on receipt of the SWI's report.
53. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on whether the staff in the Intreo offices are fully trained and updated on all payments and allowances available to persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39784/15]
View answerThe primary objective of the Department’s information policy is to ensure that all citizens are made aware of the wide range of schemes and services available and that they are kept informed of changes as they occur. This includes giving timely and accurate advice to people who contact any of the department’s offices.
The Department operates a network of some 122 Intreo, local and branch offices throughout the country. Each office provides information to customers and department staff are available to explain the various supports and services. They have access to the various scheme guidelines, staff circulars, information leaflets and application forms and where necessary will contact the relevant scheme area.
It is regretted that in this instance incorrect information may have been communicated to the customer.
54. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a review of a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39785/15]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
55. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he remains in contact with the stakeholders in the hotel sector with a view to ensuring the availability of adequate working capital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39734/15]
View answerThe Government recognises that small businesses, including those in the hotel sector, play a central role in the sustainable recovery of the Irish economy. To facilitate this, Government policy since 2011 has been focused on ensuring that all viable SMEs have access to an appropriate supply of credit from a diverse range of bank and non-bank sources. Officials from my Department regularly meet representatives from the SFA, ISME and Chambers Ireland, whose membership encompasses the hotel sector, to discuss issues around access to finance.
The Central Statistics Office release "Overseas Travel July-September 2015"(http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/ot/overseastraveljuly-september2015/) shows that in the period January to September 2015, there were over 6.64 million visits to Ireland. Overall trips to Ireland were up 12.5% in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. For the three-month period from July to September 2015, overseas trips to Ireland increased by 13.5%.
Tourism delivers income and jobs in every town and city in the country. The reduction in VAT to 9% in the tourism sector and the abolition of the air travel tax improved Ireland's competitiveness. The 9% VAT rate is a major benefit to the tourism sector and is much sought after by other sectors in the economy. I announced changes to the Employment and Investment Incentive scheme last year subject to compliance with European State Aid provisions. With specific regard to the hospitality sector, I extended the inclusion of hotels, guest houses and self-catering accommodation in the scheme by a further 3 years. The benefit of these policies can be seen in tourist numbers, new businesses, the survival of established businesses and, most of all, in employment.
Turning to the banking sector, AIB and Bank of Ireland are concentrating on growing their balance sheets. In this context, both banks recognise the need to increase business lending and have put on record their commitment to the SME sector.
My Department has been involved in a range of initiatives to encourage access to credit for small and medium sized businesses. The SME State Bodies Group provides a forum for the development and implementation of policy measures to enhance SMEs' access to a stable and appropriate supply of finance, and includes representation from Fáilte Ireland.
Some of the main policies introduced by this Government to encourage access to credit for small and medium businesses include:
- The Supporting SMEs Online Tool, a cross-government initiative, was launched in May 2014. On answering 8 simple questions, the small business will receive a list of available Government supports. The Supporting SMEs Online Tool is available at www.supportingsmes.ie
- The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland has been established as a means of ensuring that SMEs are provided with sufficient finance for growth. In the last number of weeks the SBCI announced the first non-bank finance partnership with Finance Ireland worth €50 million and the second non-bank partnership with Merrion Fleet providing an additional €25 million in funding to SMEs. Non-bank finance is a vital source of funding to a growing economy. The SBCI has reached a significant milestone as €110 million has now been drawn down by 3,200 SMEs. More information on the SBCI can be found on www.sbci.gov.ie.
- The Credit Guarantee Scheme encourages additional lending to small businesses by offering a partial Government guarantee to banks against losses on qualifying loans to eligible SMEs. My colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, has recently brought legislation to the Oireachtas which will enable the development of a more flexible Credit Guarantee Scheme with longer duration and more products and providers included.
- The Microenterprise Loan Fund, administered by Microfinance Ireland, provides support in the form of loans for up to €25,000, available to start-up, newly established, or growing micro enterprises employing less than 10 people, with viable business propositions. Microfinance Ireland works in partnership with the Local Enterprise Offices nationally to administer this fund(www.microfinanceireland.ie)
- The Credit Review Office helps SME or Farm borrowers who have had an application for credit of up to €3 million declined or reduced by the main banks, and who feel that they have a viable business proposition. They also examine cases where borrowers feel that the terms and conditions of their existing loan, or a new loan offer, are unfairly onerous or have been unreasonably changed to their detriment. This is a strictly confidential process between the business, the Credit Review Office and the bank. The Credit Reviewer John Trethowan and his team have overturned 55% of the refusals that have been appealed to the Office. Further details are available at www.creditreview.ie
My Department, working with the other relevant Departments and Agencies, will continue to monitor the availability of both bank and non-bank credit on both a macro and sectoral basis in order to ensure that sufficient access to finance is available to facilitate participants in the SME sector to reach their full potential in terms of growth and employment generation. In this context, it is expected that the forthcoming Action Plan for Jobs 2016 will include a dedicated chapter and associated integrated set of actions to support financing for growth in the SME sector.
