Written Answers Nos. 80-105
80. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that changes in recent years to the State pension (contributory) scheme have not disproportionately penalised those with gaps in their pension contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40150/15]
View answerThe State pension (contributory) is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Since 1961, when contributory pensions were first introduced, the average contributions test has been used in calculating pension entitlement. Once over 16 years of age, the date a person enters into insurable employment is the date used for averaging purposes.
A number of changes have been made to the State Pension Contributory in recent years in the context of State pension reform and to provide for sustainable pensions. As provided for in Budget 2012, from September 2012, new rate bands for State pension were introduced. These additional payment rate bands more accurately reflect the social insurance history of a person and ensure that those who contribute more during a working life benefit more in retirement than those with lesser contributions, if they are paid under the State pension (contributory) scheme.
The social protection system provides alternative methods of supporting such pensioners who have been less attached to the workforce. The homemaker’s scheme makes qualification for State pension (contributory) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme, which was introduced in and took effect from 1994, may allow up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age (or caring for incapacitated people over that age) to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes.
Where someone does not qualify for a full rate contributory pension, they may qualify for an alternative payment. If their spouse has a contributory pension, they may qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult amounting up to 90% of a full rate pension, which by default is paid directly to them. Alternatively, they may qualify for a means-tested State Pension (non-contributory), amounting to 95% of the maximum contributory pension rate.
Work is under way to replace the ‘yearly average’ system with a ‘total contributions approach’. Under this approach, the rate of pension paid will more closely reflect the number of contributions recorded over a working life. It is expected that this will replace the current system for new pensioners from 2020, although that date is subject to change, as this is a very significant reform with considerable legal, administrative, and technical challenges to be overcome in its implementation. When proposals are agreed, legislation will be brought forward to underpin the necessary changes.
81. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her Department has factored in the increase in the cost of fuel due to the national ban on smoky coal in the increases to the fuel allowance in the 2016 budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40142/15]
View answerThe fuel allowance scheme assists householders on long-term welfare with meeting the costs of their heating needs during the winter season. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. In order to qualify for the scheme a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment from the Department, live alone or only with one of a list of exempted persons and satisfy a means test.
In budget 2016 I announced an increase of €2.50 per week on the fuel allowance, increasing the payment to €22.50 per week from January 2016, an increase of 12.5%. This increase is expected to benefit 381,000 households who are in receipt of a long-term Social Protection payment including pensioners, people with disabilities, lone parents and jobseekers.
When deciding to increase the weekly rate of fuel allowance, consideration was given to the fact that the criteria for fuel allowance are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department to those who are more vulnerable to energy poverty, including those reliant on Social Protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of their own.
With regards to the national ban on smokey coal, I am informed that research indicates that smokeless fuel is in fact significantly more energy efficient than such coal.
82. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the situations where unemployed persons who do not qualify for jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit can sign on for credits. [40098/15]
View answerIn order to qualify for jobseeker credits, a person must have entered insurable employment, have paid at least one PRSI contribution at Class A, H or P and be available for and genuinely seeking work. Legislation provides that, where a person has a gap in their insurance record with no paid or credited contributions for a period of two consecutive years, credits will not be awarded until they have a further 26 weeks of paid PRSI contributions.
Where a person does not qualify for a jobseeker’s allowance or jobseeker’s benefit payment, they may sign-on for credits provided they qualify for the award of credits.
83. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has analysed the impact the changes to income disregard in the farm assist scheme have had on farmers; if she will reconsider these changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40147/15]
View answerThe farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. Farm assist recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance scheme such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2015 Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure of almost €89 million on the farm assist scheme.
Changes introduced in Budgets 2012 and 2013 have brought farm assist into closer alignment with the jobseeker’s allowance scheme’s treatment of self-employed persons. Farm families with the lowest income were least affected by these changes as the headline rates of farm assist were maintained.
In Budget 2016, I am in a position to provide a 75% Christmas Bonus payment for all long term welfare recipients, including recipients of farm assist. Recipients of farm assist with children are benefiting from the increase in child benefit rate of €5 per month announced in the Budget. In addition farm assist recipients eligible for the fuel allowance will gain from the increase of €2.50 per week over the fuel season.
The Department has published a social impact assessment of Budget 2016, which includes both the social welfare and income tax measures. This estimates the likely distributive effects of the budgetary measures using a tax-welfare simulation model known as SWITCH, including the impact on household income, families, poverty and access to employment. The social impact assessment shows that average household incomes increase by 1.6 per cent (equivalent of €14 per week) as a result of Budget 2016. Furthermore, there are higher than average gains for the poorest households, which contain mainly social welfare recipients.
Farm assist is kept under ongoing review from a policy and an administrative point of view by my officials, including regular discussions with the IFA. There are no plans to change the current scheme criteria.
84. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection given the proposals for restrictions on rent increases, if she will implement an increase to rent supplement levels in order that those requiring the supplement are able to secure accommodation in the current rental market. [40145/15]
View answerRent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 63,000 people at a cost of over €298 million in 2015.
Over 17, 200 rent supplement tenancies have been awarded this year, of which approximately 5,600 are in Dublin, showing that people are securing accommodation under the scheme.
A review of the rent limits undertaken earlier this year found that the impact of increasing limits at a time of constrained supply will increase costs disproportionately for the Exchequer with little or no new housing available to recipients.
Rather than increasing limits at this time, rent supplement policy will continue to allow for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of current limits. Flexibility is provided under the National Framework for Tenancy Sustainment for both existing customers of the scheme and new applicants. Under this measure, the circumstances of tenants are considered on a case-by-case basis, and rents are being increased above prescribed limits, as appropriate.
This flexible approach has already assisted approximately 4,700 households throughout the country to retain their rented accommodation. In addition, the Department, in conjunction with Threshold, operates a special protocol in the Dublin and Cork areas where supply issues are particularly acute, with plans underway to extend this arrangement to Galway City.
I believe that these measures, and the recently announced reforms to the private rental sector, will provide increased certainty for both tenants and landlords in the current market.
I am continuing to keep this matter under close review.
85. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to facilitate the sharing of information with the Department of Education and Skills, and with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40018/15]
View answerClient data is transferred from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to the Department of Education and Skills (DES) in order to meet with EU regulations governing the programmes under the European Globalisation Fund (EGF), for which DES is the Management Authority.
DSP carries out data matching exercises for the purpose of validating PPS Numbers requested by DES for third level college registration purposes.
Information on the enrolment of students is sent from DES to DSP for the purpose of the control of social welfare schemes and for the purpose of confirming eligibility to social welfare schemes.
Periodically DSP provides statistical information to facilitate DES in their future school planning process.
DSP has data sharing arrangements in place with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) for the provision of parent and child details to confirm eligibility for, and to support that Department in the financial management of, the after-school childcare scheme and to monitor the take-up of available places. DSP also provides summary information to DCYA on the national and divisional take-up of community employment childcare places.
86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which a review of the methodology used in the calculation of contributions to determine eligibility for the State pension (contributory) is in place, with particular reference to the number of women who find themselves disqualified, due to having below-average annual contributions over their working lives, specifically in respect of those women who went back to work after rearing their families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40125/15]
View answerThe State pension contributory is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their working life from when they first enter insurable employment until pension age are taken into account when assessing their entitlement and the level of that entitlement. Since 1961, when contributory pensions were introduced, the average contributions test has been used in calculating pension entitlement. Once over 16 years of age, the date a person enters into insurable employment is the date used for averaging purposes.
The homemaker’s scheme makes qualification for State pension (contributory) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme, which was introduced in and took effect from 1994, allows up to 20 years spent caring for children under 12 years of age (or caring for incapacitated people over that age) to be disregarded when a person’s social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes, subject to the standard qualifying conditions for SPC also being satisfied.
For those with insufficient contributions to meet the requirements for a State pension (contributory), the State pension system provides alternative methods of support. If their spouse has a contributory pension, they may qualify for an Increase for a Qualified Adult amounting up to 90% of a full rate pension, which by default is paid directly to them. Alternatively, they may qualify for a means-tested State Pension (non-contributory), amounting to 95% of the maximum contributory pension rate.
Work is underway to replace the ‘yearly average’ system with a ‘total contributions approach’. Under this approach, the number of contributions recorded over a working life will be more closely reflected in the rate of pension payment received. It is expected that the total contributions approach to pension qualification will replace the current average contributions test for State pension (contributory) for new pensioners from 2020, although that date is subject to change, as this is a very significant reform with considerable legal, administrative, and technical challenges to be overcome in its implementation. The position of women who were homemakers will be considered very carefully in developing this reform.
87. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she and her Department continue to address the issue of youth unemployment, with particular reference to utilising all available resources, including funding from Europe; the extent to which such efforts have been successful to date; the future expectations in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40126/15]
View answerThe Government’s primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity. Economic recovery will underpin jobs growth and the availability of productive employment for young people.
However, the Government recognises that as the recovery takes hold, there is a need for additional measures to ensure that as many as possible of the jobs created are taken up by jobseekers and young jobseekers in particular. This is the rationale behind the Government’s Pathways to Work strategy and the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan.
Within this framework, the Youth Guarantee sets a medium-term objective of ensuring that young people receive an offer of employment within four months of becoming unemployed. The main plank of the guarantee is assistance to young people in finding and securing sustainable jobs. For those who do not find employment, additional offers are provided for. Most such offers (over 70%) are in further education or training. Others are in community-based employment programmes such as CE, Gateway and Tus, or through the JobsPlus employment subsidy for private employment.
The Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan provided for over 28,000 programme opportunities for unemployed young people in 2014 and the same in 2015. This figure excludes some 24,000 places provided for young people through PLC courses and apprenticeships. These PLC and apprenticeship places, together with the wide range of vocational third-level courses provided for the young, although not reserved for unemployed jobseekers, nevertheless contribute to the spirit of the guarantee. The Plan also details how the Youth Guarantee is to be funded through the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) and European Social Fund (ESF).
The YEI is being managed as part of Ireland’s relationship with the ESF under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020, for which the Irish Managing Authority is the Department of Education and Skills.
I am informed that he total amount of YEI funding for which Ireland is applying in relation to the years 2014-2018 is €68,145,419 in respect of overall relevant programme expenditure of €204,436,537. It is anticipated that the YEI funding will be matched by a similar amount of ESF funding, with the balance coming from matching domestic expenditure.
In the normal course of events, this amount of YEI funding will be drawn down as final claims are made in respect of these years. However, I understand that an advance payment of €21,465,806.99 was made to Ireland under the YEI earlier this year.
YEI funding has been applied for in relation to only some of the programmes that go to make up Ireland’s response to the EU Recommendation on a Youth Guarantee. The overall range of such programmes is set out in the government’s Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan, which estimated annual expenditure on the core programmes involved of approximately €336 million, with a further expenditure on other relevant programmes (Apprenticeship and PLC courses) of €192 million. Actual expenditure on participation by young people on this range of programmes in 2015 will depend on the take-up of places, and can be estimated only after the end of the financial year.
88. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that current rent supplement limits are realistic in order to meet the needs of recipients in today's rental market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40149/15]
View answerRent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 63,000 people at a cost of over €298 million in 2015. Over 17, 200 rent supplement tenancies have been awarded this year showing that landlords are accommodating significant numbers under the scheme.
A review of the rent limits undertaken earlier this year found that the impact of increasing limits at a time of constrained supply will increase costs disproportionately for the Exchequer with little or no new housing available to recipients.
Rather than increasing limits at this time, rent supplement policy will continue to allow for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of current limits. Flexibility is provided under the National Framework for Tenancy Sustainment for both existing customers of the scheme and new applicants. Under this measure, the circumstances of tenants are considered on a case-by-case basis and rents are being increased above prescribed limits as appropriate. This flexible approach has already assisted approximately 4,700 households throughout the country to retain their rented accommodation. In addition, the Department, in conjunction with Threshold, operates a special protocol in the Dublin and Cork areas where supply issues are particularly acute, with plans underway to extend this arrangement to Galway City.
I believe that these measures, and the recently announced reforms to the private rental sector, will provide increased certainty for both tenants and landlords in the current market. I am continuing to keep this matter under close review.
89. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection how she will ensure that a private-for-profit company, that financially incentivises job placement, will remain free of corruption and fraud; and if she is aware of the fraudulent activities of some companies in the United Kingdom, including some who were awarded JobPath contracts here [40096/15]
View answerJobPath is a new approach to employment activation that will support people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment.
Following the completion of a rigorous public procurement process, two companies were selected to provide the JobPath service - Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited.
JobPath was designed having regard to international and Irish experiences of such provision and significant safeguards have been built into JobPath. These include a service guarantee to ensure that all participants receive a baseline level of service as well as penalties for the companies if service performance or service quality does not meet standards. Both companies will be subject to regular on-site inspections and audits to ensure that JobPath is delivered in accordance with contractual obligations. It is also the case that decisions regarding a person’s welfare entitlements while on JobPath will be taken only by Department officials and not by the JobPath companies.
Turas Nua is a new joint venture between FRS recruitment, based in Roscrea, and Working Links, a not for profit UK service provider. It has been acknowledged by Working Links that some members of its staff incorrectly recorded employment and training placement for jobseekers under the 'New Deal', the precursor programme in the UK to the Work Programme. However the Department of Work and Pension (DWP) has publicly stated that the errors occurred in 2008 as a consequence of its heavy reliance on paper-based transactions and that it is satisfied that these cases were investigated thoroughly by Working Links (the amount involved represented less than 0.05% of the payments at the time) and that appropriate actions were taken, with the associated amounts being repaid. DWP has subsequently awarded additional contracts to Working Links.
Seetec was accused of fraudulent activity by former staff members in 2013. This alleged fraud related to claims that Seetec inflated employment outcomes for people with disabilities under the 'Work Choices' programme in the UK. The DWP has publicly refuted these claims and advised the UK’s Public Accounts Committee that it has investigated the claims and found no wrongdoing.
It is important to note, that neither of the above companies has been sanctioned by the DWP for any fraudulent activity.
The potential for inflating figures has been taken into consideration in the design of JobPath. The Department is satisfied that artificial inflation of employment outcomes will be controlled in Ireland though the use of data matching with Revenue Commissioners Commencement of Employment records and the Department’s own welfare payment systems.
90. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to redeploy her departmental staff, at varying levels and grades, who are engaged in the national rents units, due to the phased coming onstream of the housing assistance payment nationally; her plans to redeploy staff to front-line services which have been seriously cut back in recent years, including with the closure of community welfare officer clinics; how she plans to make optimal use of the variety of experience and skillsets available to enhance customer services and access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40104/15]
View answerThe Department is engaging with officials in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG) regarding the ongoing roll-out and transfer of long-term rent supplement recipients to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). To date, HAP is being rolled out in 18 local authority areas with some 4,800 tenancies in place, including Kildare, where HAP was recently introduced from 2 November 2015.
At this time, rent supplement continues to play a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 63,000 people at a cost of €298 million in 2015, which represents a transfer of funding in excess of €20 million to DECLG to support HAP.
The Department continues to examine the operation of all its services, including the administration of the Community Welfare Service (CWS), in the context of the efficient delivery of services nationally. Where the CWS has been re-structured, alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure that customers are provided with on-going access to the supports provided by the Department. In the event that a customer has difficulty attending a clinic, for example due to illness, there is the facility to phone the CWS and, if required, a visit to the client’s residence may be arranged.
The Department has developed a comprehensive Workforce Plan, in which the staffing needs for all business areas are reviewed regularly, including those administering rent supplement. As part of this process, account is taken of workloads, management priorities, competing demands arising and the capacity to redeploy staff within areas, in order to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources.
91. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the implications of the Economic and Social Research Institute’s report evaluating the back to education allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40070/15]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection has a track record of commissioning independent evaluations of its schemes and programmes (e.g. NEAP, JobBridge) and using them to inform reviews of policy. The evaluation of the Back To Education Allowance (BTEA) has been performed to best international standards and is the first, pathfinder study to use the Department’s Jobseekers Longitudinal Database (JLD). My Department is already acting on recommendations made by the Labour Market Council with respect to its findings. These and the current position are set out in Table 1 below.
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Labour Market Council Recommendation |
Current Position |
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1. Detailed evaluations of all other Labour Market Programmes should be expedited utilising the Department’s new innovative longitudinal database and other evidence. The evaluation of PLC courses by SOLAS is also a priority, as a significant component of the courses undertaken by BTEA recipients. |
The Department has developed a detailed evaluation plan in association with the LMC. Evaluations of the Intreo activation process and the JobBridge scheme are about to commence. These will be followed with evaluations of the BTWEA, CE and TÚS. An evaluation of PLC courses by the ESRI is currently underway under commission to SOLAS. |
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2. Research should be undertaken as a priority to establish the drivers behind the poor employment outcomes of BTEA when account is taken of potential factors such as ‘the lock in effect’ of the programme. Towards this end the DES/DSP should undertake complementary qualitative evaluation(s) to help inform why the BTEA is failing to meet its employment objective and provide guidance on the future of the scheme. In this regard, course completion rates, the quality of the qualifications received, the earnings of those who do progress to employment and the employment outcomes over a longer duration (e.g. at 2016) are all factors that warrant assessment in a more comprehensive analysis. |
1. The Department will commission a qualitative evaluation of the BTEA scheme as recommended. It expects to issue an RFT for such an evaluation before the end of this year. |
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3. The DSP should consider using existing models and databases to update the BTEA evaluation to establish if there are any changes in reported impacts since the evidence was compiled and whether recent changes to the scheme have led to improved outcomes or not. |
This work is currently underway. |
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4. Data sharing should be implemented between DSP and DES to support improved oversight and monitoring of BTEA participants. In particular this should be done to establish if the course completion rates and the level of educational attainment achieved by participants had an impact on the post-completion employment rates. |
Both DSP and SOLAS are in the process of developing new systems which will share data and which will, when completed (end 2016), facilitate tracking of participation and completion. |
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5. Increased supportive interaction should take place between DSP and participants on BTEA so that participants are clear on what is expected of them; and that the operational guidelines, for example, continued participation dependent on educational achievements, are clearly understood by both sides. At least one mid-term meeting with each participants on BTEA programmes of more than 6 months should be undertaken by case officers to advise participants on the appropriateness for them of continuing with the programme. |
Since 2014 DSP case officers review and assess all BTEA applications for labour market relevance. The implementation of a mid-term case review is being considered as part of the drafting of Pathways to Work 2016 – 2020. |
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6. In the short-term, new approval processes introduced in 2014 should, together with all monitoring and control mechanisms, continue to be applied to ensure labour market relevance of programmes approved for BTEA purposes. In the medium-term, consideration should be given to restricting access to new entrants onto BTEA until there is an understanding of reasons for negative employment impacts (recommendations 2 and 3 above). In the longer-term, consideration should be given to increasing provision on specific programmes for which there is evidence that they enhance job prospects of participants (this action will be informed by the outcome of recommendation 1 above). |
This recommendation will be considered in the context of the results of the qualitative evaluation (1. And 2 Above). The current review of the National Skills Strategy by DES will also take account of the findings of the BTEA evaluation. |
I am satisfied that these measures initiated or already in place will address the implications of the BTEA evaluation, in terms of improving effectiveness for employment outcomes as well as its important role in providing second-chance educational opportunities.
92. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 78 of 5 November 2015, if she will provide, copies of the detailed service statements which the contracted JobPath companies are required to abide by, in delivering specifically tailored job search assistance activation services to customers, under contract with her Department; the full detail of the minimum elements of customer service that were stipulated by her Department, as part of the said contracts; if customers availing of JobPath are made aware of the minimum levels of service they can expect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40105/15]
View answerJobPath is a new approach to employment activation that will support people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. Following the completion of a public procurement process, two companies were selected to provide the JobPath service - Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited.
The minimum elements of customer service that the JobPath companies are required to provide are as follows:
- A one-to-one meeting with a personal advisor within twenty (20) working days of the jobseeker being referred to JobPath.
- A Personal Progression Plan (PPP) to be agreed between the jobseeker and a personal advisor to identify the supports and actions needed to help the client access employment.
- Ongoing one-to-one review meetings between the jobseeker and a personal advisor at least every twenty (20) working days where the Jobseeker has not entered employment.
- If the jobseeker is still unemployed at thirteen (13) weeks, twenty-six (26) weeks and thirty-nine (39) weeks from their commencement on JobPath, an in-depth review should be held and the PPP updated accordingly.
- In-employment support to be provided for at least the first thirteen (13) weeks of employment.
- An end of programme review meeting to be held with the jobseeker.
- A mechanism for clients to provide feedback on the service other than via the personal advisor.
- An effective mechanism for clients to submit complaints and receive reports on the outcome of the investigation of any complaints submitted.
- At a minimum the services shall be available to clients during the hours of 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday inclusive but excluding public holidays.
- Meetings between personal advisors and jobseekers must be held at locations that are accessible to by public or private transport with a normal journey time of no more than sixty (60) minutes.
- JobPath contractors are required to publish a “service statement” detailing the service that will be provided and a copy of the service statement must be given to each client who engages with JobPath.
Upon referral to JobPath, each jobseeker is invited to attend a group information session that is hosted jointly by an official from the department and a representative of the JobPath company at which details of the service are provided. A copy of the company’s service statement is given to each person. Copies of the service statement of both companies will be forwarded to the Deputy.
93. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the current waiting times for appeals regarding payments of allowances and benefits to be processed and decided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40103/15]
View answerThe average appeal processing time for 2014 and to date in 2015 broken down by all social welfare scheme types as outlined in the tables below.
Appeal processing times generally peaked in 2011 when the overall average time for an oral hearing was 52.5 weeks and 25.1 weeks for a summary decision. In 2014 average appeal processing times for an oral hearing had almost halved to 28.6 weeks and the average time taken to process appeals involving summary decisions had also significantly reduced to 21.1 weeks. This downward trend in overall appeal processing times has continued to date in 2015 to 25.9 weeks for an oral hearing and 18.3 weeks for a summary decision. Appeal processing times are closely monitored on an ongoing basis.
The reduction in processing times reflects the significant resources which have been invested in the Social Welfare Appeals Office over the last number of years.
In addition the Department has undertaken a process of reform in many of its scheme areas aimed at reducing the time taken to respond to requests for submissions in relation to appeals. Appeal processing times are kept under continual review in the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
In addition to the improvement in processing times, these measures have also led to a significant reduction in the number of appeals on hand from 20,414 at 1 January 2013 to 9,454 at 9 November 2015.
Appeal processing times are calculated from the registration date of the appeal to the date of its finalisation. They include all activities during this period including time spent awaiting any clarification from the appellant, time in the Department for comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal put forward by the appellant, and any further investigation, examination or assessment by the Department’s Inspectors and Medical Assessors that is deemed necessary. The system is flexible and accessible and allows multiple reviews and submissions of fresh evidence at all stages. For logistical reasons the process takes longer when an oral hearing is required.
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.
Appeals processing times by scheme 01/01/2014 – 31/12/14
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- |
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
17.1 |
- |
|
Blind Pension |
20.5 |
24.9 |
|
Carers Allowance |
30.1 |
34.4 |
|
Carers Benefit |
22.9 |
23.1 |
|
Child Benefit |
23.8 |
32.9 |
|
Disability Allowance |
20.8 |
26.7 |
|
Illness Benefit |
29.5 |
34.8 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
22.6 |
29.1 |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
- |
64.7 |
|
Deserted Wives Allowance |
- |
41.8 |
|
Farm Assist |
23.2 |
28.3 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
25.6 |
31.9 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
26.0 |
32.6 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
25.9 |
31.2 |
|
Liable Relatives |
21.5 |
33.2 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
24.4 |
33.5 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
22.4 |
44.7 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
48.5 |
48.5 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
25.2 |
41.9 |
|
State Pension (Non-Cont) |
20.3 |
29.4 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
27.0 |
35.1 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
33.6 |
33.7 |
|
Disablement Pension |
23.6 |
30.6 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit (Medical) |
- |
53.9 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
21.5 |
59.6 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Con) |
25.9 |
24.9 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-con) |
19.7 |
30.3 |
|
Pre Retirement Allowance |
17.3 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) |
18.1 |
27.5 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
16.2 |
21.1 |
|
JA/JB Fraud Control |
12.1 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
16.7 |
21.1 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
20.8 |
- |
|
Respite Care Grant |
24.9 |
27.1 |
|
Insurability of Employment |
45.0 |
62.3 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
14.4 |
22.1 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Con) |
20.2 |
32.5 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Non-Con) |
24.7 |
24.6 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
22.2 |
- |
|
All Appeals |
21.1 |
28.6 |
Appeals processing times by scheme 01/01/2015 – 31/10/2015
|
- |
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
Blind Pension |
21.1 |
35.2 |
|
Carers Allowance |
20.9 |
26.9 |
|
Carers Benefit |
20.0 |
22.4 |
|
Child Benefit |
24.9 |
35.5 |
|
Disability Allowance |
15.9 |
21.6 |
|
Illness Benefit |
25.9 |
33.6 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
27.0 |
43.4 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
21.2 |
28.1 |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
19.7 |
24.9 |
|
Deserted Wives Allowance |
- |
16.2 |
|
Farm Assist |
19.3 |
29.7 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
65.7 |
26.0 |
|
Death Benefit (Pension) |
- |
22.6 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
20.3 |
27.3 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
25.8 |
28.3 |
|
Liable Relatives |
22.5 |
31.2 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
20.6 |
17.5 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
23.5 |
34.8 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
25.9 |
48.2 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
20.0 |
29.7 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
80.1 |
53.4 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
21.6 |
38.8 |
|
Disablement Pension |
23.8 |
33.2 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
37.7 |
51.5 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Con) |
18.6 |
27.8 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Con) |
18.9 |
31.0 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) |
16.3 |
26.2 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
15.6 |
21.7 |
|
JA/JB Fraud Control |
- |
46.1 |
|
BTW Family Dividend |
11.4 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional |
10.7 |
- |
|
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance |
12.7 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
14.8 |
21.9 |
|
Pre Retirement Allowance |
15.0 |
- |
|
Treatment Benefit |
17.9 |
- |
|
Respite Care Grant |
20.6 |
25.3 |
|
Insurability of Employment |
41.1 |
67.6 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
13.2 |
24.2 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Con) |
29.9 |
25.9 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Non-con) |
23.7 |
38.3 |
|
Widows Parent Grant |
20.4 |
- |
|
All Appeals |
18.3 |
25.9 |
94. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to allow for an increase in payments under the jobseeker's allowance scheme for those under 25 years of age who may be at risk of homelessness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40141/15]
View answerThe jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The Revised 2015 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €3.01 billion.
In line with other EU and OECD jurisdictions reduced rates for jobseeker’s allowance recipients were first introduced in 2009 and further extended in 2014.
Reduced rates for those under 26 years of age is a targeted measure aimed at protecting young people from welfare dependency. If a young person does not improve their skills, it will be much more difficult for them to avail of job opportunities as the economy recovers and they are at risk of becoming long term unemployed from a young age. The measure aims to incentivise young jobseeker’s allowance recipients to avail of education and training opportunities. If a jobseeker in receipt of the reduced jobseeker’s allowance rate participates on an education or training programme they will receive a higher weekly payment of €160.
The reduced rates do not apply to persons aged under 25 who were in the care of the State during the year prior to their 18th birthday. The Department actively engages with Tusla and non-Government organisations in providing the necessary support to vulnerable young people leaving care who are experiencing homelessness or are in insecure situations. These cases are managed on a case by case basis and the payment of deposits and rent in advance is considered. This form of assistance is very important to those on low incomes who are at risk of, or who are homeless, or who rely on the private rented market to meet their housing needs.
Any change to the reduced rates of jobseeker’s allowance for people under 26 would involve a significant cost and as such is a matter for Government to consider in a budgetary context.
95. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of the operation of the JobPath scheme in assisting persons access employment. [40007/15]
View answerJobPath is a new approach to employment activation that will support people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment.
Participants on JobPath will receive intensive individual support to help them address barriers to employment and to assist them in finding jobs. Each person is assigned to a personal advisor who will assess a person’s skills, experience, challenges and work goals. A “personal progression plan” will be drawn up that will include a schedule of activities, actions and job focused targets. Participants are also provided with a range of training and development supports including online modules, career advice, CV preparation and interview skills. They may also be referred for further education and training opportunities. They will spend a year on JobPath and if they are placed into a job they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to twelve months while in employment.
An important feature of JobPath is that it is a payment by results contract. In other words contractors are paid if and when they place clients into sustained employment. In this regard employment is defined as work of at least thirty (30) hours per week lasting for at least thirteen (13) weeks. Contractors are paid a fee, in arrears, for each thirteen week period of employment up to a maximum of four payments or one year’s work. This payment approach incentivises the contractors not just to place find work for people but to strive to ensure that the work is full-time and sustained.
The roll-out of JobPath began on 20 July 2015. Jobseekers from the following offices are currently being referred to JobPath: Arklow, Ballina, Bray, Carlow, Carrigaline, Castlebar, Cavan, Clonmel, Cobh, Cork Abbey Court, Cork Hanover Street, Dundalk, Ennis, Galway, Kilkenny, Limerick, Longford, Mullingar, Navan, Newbridge, Thurles, Tullamore, Waterford, Westport and Wexford.
The following offices are planned to go live before the end of the year: Achill, Belmullet, Bishop Square, Buncrana, Cahirciveen, Drogheda, Dungloe, Finglas, Letterkenny, Listowel, Newcastlewest, Swords, Tallaght and Tralee. The remaining offices are expected to go live in early 2016.
96. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the operation of the habitual residence condition in relation to returning immigrants who had been resident in the common travel area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40139/15]
View answerThe general principles underpinning the application of the habitual residence condition which applies, amongst other criteria, in determining entitlement to certain social welfare payments centre on the overall assessment of a person’s situation, including consideration of the following factors:
- the length and continuity of residence in Ireland or in any other particular country,
- the length and purpose of any absence from Ireland,
- the nature and pattern of employment,
- the person’s main centre of interest, and
- the future intentions of the person as they appear from all of the circumstances.
In the light of the foregoing, and following an examination of the operation of the habitual residence condition, a number of legislative changes in the application of the provision were made in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2014. These changes included the removal of the presumption that, unless the contrary was shown, persons were not habitually resident in the State if they had not been present for a continuous period of two years in the Common Travel Area (consisting of this State, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) at the date of making the application for the particular scheme. The continued inclusion of this provision was considered unnecessary as it was no longer a consideration in the decision making process relating to the habitual residence condition.
Returning emigrants who had previously been habitually resident in the State and who moved to live and work in another country, including other parts of the Common Travel Area, and then resume their long-term residence in the State may be regarded as being habitually resident in the State immediately on their return to the State. In addition, arrangements are in place with Safe-Home Ltd, a registered charity, to assist with the difficulty experienced by a minority of returning emigrants in demonstrating their intention to live in the State permanently for the purposes of satisfying the habitual residence condition.
It is open to anyone who is dissatisfied with a decision on the application of the habitual residence condition in relation to entitlement to a social welfare payment to appeal that decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
While I have no plans to further change its operation at this stage, the operation of the habitual residence condition is kept under continual review.
97. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views regarding the potential supply of labour statistics being a measure of the real extent of unemployment and underemployment. [40099/15]
View answerThe Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for defining, and publishing data series for, both ‘unemployment’ and the ‘potential labour supply’ in strict compliance with standards set down by the International Labour Organisation (LIO) and the EU. The definitions used by CSO are fully in line with International Labour Organization (ILO) standards and the national and European statistical legislative frameworks, and the data series are based on the results of the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). The Government and the Department takes its lead on these matters from the CSO and accordingly uses the QNHS data as the official, and standard, measure of unemployment.
The differences between the two concepts are clearly outlined in the note attached to CSO’s Potential Labour Supply data series
(http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=QNQ32). The concept of ‘Potential Additional Labour Force’, mentioned in the CSO note, is further explored in a recent Eurostat ‘Statistics Explained’ article
(http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Underemployment_and_potential_additional_labour_force_statistics).
Meanwhile, as the Deputy is aware, an updated Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy is under development within my Department, and following extensive stakeholder consultation it is intended to bring this strategy to Government for approval as soon as possible. I expect that this strategy will reflect the hugely positive increases in job creation under this Government by focussing not just on helping people move from unemployment into work but also, more broadly, on offering those who are not currently part of the labour market the training and activation supports they need to achieve their employment goals.
98. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the uptake of the back to work family dividend scheme, by county; and if the scheme is subject to review to ascertain its effectiveness. [40101/15]
View answerThe back to work family dividend (BTWFD) aims to help families to move from a weekly social welfare payment into employment. It gives financial support to people with children who were in receipt of a jobseeker or one-parent family payment and who take up employment, increase their hours of employment or become self-employed.
There were just over 10,000 applicants with approximately 9,700 of these in receipt of the back to work family dividend by the end of October 2015. The dividend is providing support in respect of over 16,000 children. A breakdown by county is appended below.
The back to work family dividend provides support for up to two years after a person moves from a weekly social welfare payment into employment. If a person qualifies for the dividend for their first year in employment they will get a weekly payment equivalent to the increases for qualified children they were being paid on their jobseeker or one-parent family payment. This is up to a maximum of 4 children.
Half that weekly amount will be paid for the second year in employment. This means that over the two years, a family with one child will receive additional support of €2,324 to supplement wages. A family with two children will receive €4,649; those with three children will get €6,973, while those with four or more will get €9,298.
The ESRI in their June 2015 report “Making Work Pay More: Recent Initiatives” found that in the first year of the dividend the proportion of families with children facing a replacement rate of over 70% fell from 39% to 32%. They also found that the dividend results in the proportion of jobseekers that would be financially better off not working decreases from 1 in 15 to 1 in 20.
As the dividend is additional to any entitlement the family may have under the family income supplement (FIS) scheme it is very effective in further improving the work incentives for people with children.
My officials are constantly monitoring take up of the scheme and seeking ways to improve awareness of the dividend among jobseekers. My Department has given an undertaking to formally review the operation and effectiveness of the dividend by the end of 2017.
BTWFD Claimants by County at end October 2015
|
County |
Claimants |
|
Carlow |
198 |
|
Cavan |
142 |
|
Clare |
187 |
|
Cork |
1027 |
|
Donegal |
473 |
|
Dublin |
2769 |
|
Galway |
412 |
|
Kerry |
324 |
|
Kildare |
373 |
|
Kilkenny |
110 |
|
Laois |
162 |
|
Leitrim |
78 |
|
Limerick |
447 |
|
Longford |
146 |
|
Louth |
409 |
|
Mayo |
228 |
|
Meath |
225 |
|
Monaghan |
130 |
|
Offaly |
196 |
|
Roscommon |
103 |
|
Sligo |
129 |
|
Tipperary |
422 |
|
Waterford |
410 |
|
Westmeath |
207 |
|
Wexford |
436 |
|
Wicklow |
269 |
|
- |
10,012 |
*Please note the table above is based on the County of the Local Office rather than the customer address.
99. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection given recently released figures from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government showing that the number of homeless families has risen by 76% since the beginning of 2015, the steps she will take to combat homelessness by increasing the rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40009/15]
View answerThe primary responsibility for provision of accommodation for homeless persons rests with local authorities. The Department’s role with regard to people who are homeless is mainly income maintenance.
Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 63,000 people at a cost of over €298 million in 2015. Over 17, 200 rent supplement tenancies have been awarded this year, of which approximately 5,600 are in Dublin, showing that people are securing accommodation under the scheme.
A review of the rent limits undertaken earlier this year found that the impact of increasing limits at a time of constrained supply will increase costs disproportionately for the Exchequer with little or no new housing available to recipients. Rather than increasing limits at this time, rent supplement policy will continue to allow for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of current limits. Under this measure, the circumstances of tenants are considered on a case-by-case basis and rents are being increased above prescribed limits, as appropriate. This flexible approach has already assisted approximately 4,700 households throughout the country to retain their rented accommodation.
The Department, including through its Homeless Persons and Asylum Seekers & New Communities Units in Dublin, works closely with local authorities, Government agencies and the voluntary sector in assisting homeless persons to access private rented accommodation. This ensures that, where possible, people are diverted away from homeless services and towards community-based supports.
100. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her assessment of child inequality and poverty; the action her Department is taking to address this problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35324/15]
View answerThe CSO Survey on Income and living Conditions for 2013 shows that 11.7 per cent of children were in consistent poverty, a slight but not statistically significant increase on the 2012 rate. The Survey also found that the at-risk-of-poverty for children decreased from 18.8 per cent in 2012 to 17.9 per cent in 2013.
Social transfers, such as welfare payments and child benefit, play a key role in reducing income poverty among children. In 2013, social transfers lifted a quarter of all children out of at-risk-of-poverty. This equates to a poverty reduction effect of 60.7 per cent. Ireland is amongst the best performing member states in the EU in this regard.
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.
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.
In addition, a key way to tackle child poverty is to create more jobs and to reduce unemployment. Through Pathways to Work and the Action Plan on Jobs, and with the support of schemes such as the family income supplement, the back to work family dividend, and the jobseeker’s transition payment, the Government is helping families to take-up work and to improve the rewards from work.
101. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the number of refusals of applications for a carer's allowance has increased due to the changes in the Social Welfare Act 2014 which allowed deciding officers to overrule medical evidence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40140/15]
View answerThe table below shows the numbers of CA refusals from 2010 to 2014 and since the introduction of the Act in May 2015:
|
Year: |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015* |
|
Refusals: |
6,972 |
5,227 |
6,827 |
9,881 |
7,078 |
3,513 |
|
As a % of processed applications: |
42% |
38% |
37% |
35% |
33% |
36% |
*6/5/2015 to 31/10/2015, Change in the act only became effective from May 2015.
Carer's allowance (CA) is a social assistance payment, payable to a person who satisfies a means test and who is providing full-time care and attention to a relevant person (care recipient) who has a disability such that they require that level of care.
Under the Social Welfare Acts every question concerning entitlement to CA, including questions relating to the requirement of a care recipient for full-time care, is decided by a deciding officer (DO). The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015, inter-alia, changed the provision that the nature and extent of the person’s disability be certified by a registered medical practitioner. The reason for this was to remove any doubt as to the statutory role of the DO as deciding officer in relation to the requirement of a care recipient for full-time care.
In order to determine the requirement of a care recipient for full time care, the opinion of a medical assessor (MA) may be sought by the DO. Where such an opinion is sought by the DO, then s/he shall have regard to that opinion in making their decision. The DO weighs up all the evidence available, including the opinion of the MA where sought, in order to reach their decision.
It should be noted that where CA applications are refused, it can be as a result of the applicant not satisfying any one of the relevant criteria and not solely where it is decided that the care recipient does not require full-time care. As can be seen from the statistics provided above, there has been no change in the percentages of refusals of CA since the changes introduced in the 2015 Act, it remains consistent with that of other years.
102. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Taoiseach the value of capital investment projects and grants under way and approved for funding by his Department, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39664/15]
View answerMy Department has no capital expenditure.
The table below details the grants awarded by my Department in 2015 in respect of the Local Diaspora Engagement Fund, Communicating Europe Initiative and Blue Star Programme. In each case, these grants were made following a competitive and transparent applications process.
Details of Grant payments made or approved in 2015 by the Department of the Taoiseach
|
Name |
County |
Amount |
|
Communicating Europe Initiative Grant |
- |
- |
|
IRD Duhallow |
Cork |
€ 1,000 |
|
Irish Association for Contemporary European Studies |
Cork |
€ 5,000 |
|
European Youth Parliament |
Dublin |
€ 10,000 |
|
Young Social Innovators |
Dublin |
€ 4,000 |
|
Catholic Institute for Deaf People |
Dublin |
€ 3,000 |
|
Near Media |
Dublin |
€ 2,500 |
|
Irish Centre for European Law |
Dublin |
€ 2,000 |
|
Michael Sweetman Educational Trust |
Dublin |
€ 2,000 |
|
Dublin Chamber of Commerce |
Dublin |
€ 2,000 |
|
Eco Unesco |
Dublin |
€ 2,000 |
|
Junior Achievement Ireland |
Galway |
€ 1,000 |
|
St. Laurence's School |
Wicklow |
€ 500 |
|
- |
- |
€ 29,000 |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
Local Diaspora Engagement Fund |
- |
- |
|
Myshall Muintir Na Tíre |
Carlow |
€500 |
|
Carlow Community Action Plan |
Carlow |
€3,000 |
|
SMART ltd |
Carlow |
€4,000 |
|
Cavan Chamber of Commerce |
Cavan |
€3,000 |
|
Clare Community Action Plan |
Clare |
€3,000 |
|
Tulla Clare Reaching Out |
Clare |
€2,500 |
|
Clarecastle & Ballyyea Heritage & Wildlife Group |
Clare |
€500 |
|
Doolin Heritage, Killilagh Church Project |
Clare |
€500 |
|
Kilrush & District Historical Society |
Clare |
€500 |
|
Ludgate |
Cork |
€5,000 |
|
Cork Community Action Plan Group |
Cork |
€3,000 |
|
Avondhu Blackwater Partnership Ltd. |
Cork |
€5,000 |
|
Cobh Carillon Committee |
Cork |
€2,000 |
|
ACR Heritage |
Cork |
€500 |
|
Ballymacoda/Ladysbridge Cemetery Committee |
Cork |
€500 |
|
Killeagh Inch Historical Group |
Cork |
€500 |
|
Kilmurry Historical & Archaeological Association Ltd |
Cork |
€500 |
|
Sheila O'Sullivan Clonfert Historic Graveyard Group |
Cork |
€500 |
|
A Taste of West Cork Food Festival |
Cork |
€2,500 |
|
Monreagh Ulster Scots Heritage & Education Centre |
Donegal |
€5,000 |
|
Inishowen Tourism Ltd. |
Donegal |
€4,500 |
|
Western Waves Community Radio |
Donegal |
€2,500 |
|
Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua |
Dublin |
€3,500 |
|
Irish Writers Centre |
Dublin |
€5,000 |
|
Larry Reynolds Irish Music, Heritage & Cultural Group |
Galway |
€3,500 |
|
Galway Community Action Plan Group |
Galway |
€3,000 |
|
Clarinbridge Arts Group |
Galway |
€500 |
|
Kinvara Community Council Heritage Group |
Galway |
€500 |
|
Listowel Writers' Week |
Kerry |
€5,000 |
|
Killorglin Archives Society |
Kerry |
€5,000 |
|
Ring of Kerry Charity Cycle Ltd |
Kerry |
€6,500 |
|
Killorglin Chamber Alliance |
Kerry |
€4,000 |
|
North Kerry Reaching Out Heritage Project |
Kerry |
€3,500 |
|
Kildare Community Action Plan Group |
Kildare |
€3,000 |
|
Kilkenny Community Action Plan Group |
Kilkenny |
€3,000 |
|
Laois Community Action Plan Group |
Laois |
€3,000 |
|
Abbeyleix Heritage Company |
Laois |
€500 |
|
Leitrim Community Action Plan Group |
Leitrim |
€3,000 |
|
Arroo Abú Theatre Company |
Leitrim |
€3,500 |
|
Leitrim Tourism |
Leitrim |
€4,000 |
|
O'Malley Clan Association |
Limerick |
€3,000 |
|
Music Generation Limerick City |
Limerick |
€2,500 |
|
Asquared |
Limerick |
€3,000 |
|
Irish Ancestry Research Centre |
Limerick |
€5,000 |
|
Feenagh/Kilmeedy Heritage Group |
Limerick |
€500 |
|
Croagh Community Council |
Limerick |
€375 |
|
Glin Historical Society |
Limerick |
€500 |
|
West Limerick Heritage |
Limerick |
€500 |
|
Longford Community Action Plan Group |
Longford |
€3,000 |
|
Omeath District Development Company |
Louth |
€5,000 |
|
Drogheda & District Chamber of Commerce |
Louth |
€1,500 |
|
Mayo Genealogy Group |
Mayo |
€1,500 |
|
Comharchumann Forbartha Ionad Deirbhile Eachléim Teo |
Mayo |
€1,500 |
|
Comhlacht Forbartha Aitiuil Acla & Ionad Deirbhile |
Mayo |
€4,500 |
|
Meath Community Action Plan Group |
Meath |
€3,000 |
|
Monaghan Community Action Plan Group |
Monaghan |
€3,000 |
|
Glaslough Development Association |
Monaghan |
€3,000 |
|
Offaly Community Action Plan Group |
Offaly |
€3,000 |
|
Roscommon Community Action Plan Group |
Roscommon |
€3,000 |
|
Roscommon Community Tourism Network Ltd. |
Roscommon |
€5,500 |
|
Boyle Arts Festival |
Roscommon |
€1,600 |
|
County Sligo Heritage & Genealogy Society |
Sligo |
€1,300 |
|
Clonmel Chamber of Commerce LTD |
Tipperary |
€2,500 |
|
Kilbarron Terryglass Reaching Out Team |
Tipperary |
€3,000 |
|
Tipperary IRD/Chamber |
Tipperary |
€3,000 |
|
Killea Cultural Group |
Tipperary |
€500 |
|
Ikerrin Heritage |
Tipperary |
€500 |
|
Sliabh Ardagh Rural Development |
Tipperary |
€500 |
|
Sliabh Ardagh Rural Development |
Tipperary |
€500 |
|
West Tipperary Genealogy Society |
Tipperary |
€500 |
|
Waterford Community Action Plan Group |
Waterford |
€3,000 |
|
Waterford Chamber of Commerce |
Waterford |
€1,000 |
|
Tramore Community Radio |
Waterford |
€4,000 |
|
Coláiste na Rinne |
Waterford |
€3,000 |
|
Central Arts Waterford/King Nail Films |
Waterford |
€3,600 |
|
Westmeath Community Action Plan Group |
Westmeath |
€3,000 |
|
Tang Muintir Community Council Ltd. |
Westmeath |
€500 |
|
Athlone Community Radio 88.4fm |
Westmeath |
€3,500 |
|
Wexford Community Action Plan Group |
Wexford |
€3,000 |
|
Wicklow Community Action Plan Group |
Wicklow |
€3,000 |
|
- |
- |
€203,875 |
|
- |
- |
- |
|
Blue Star Programme |
- |
- |
|
Total of 170 schools registered for 2014/15 programme and over 185 schools are already registered for 2015/16 |
All 26 counties represented |
€ 49,890 |
103. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the position regarding his meeting in Downing Street in London in England on 9 November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40023/15]
View answer104. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the status of comments he made on Raidió Teilifís Éireann News on 8 November 2015 regarding a deal being completed on the North; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40024/15]
View answer105. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the position regarding his attendance at the war memorial commemoration ceremony on 8 November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40025/15]
View answer108. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he discussed the impact on the North and the Border counties if Britain exits the European Union with the British Prime Minister, Mr David Cameron; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40029/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 103 to 105, inclusive, and 108 together.
At our recent meeting in London on 9 November, the Prime Minister and I discussed developments in Northern Ireland, the UK/EU negotiations and bilateral economic and policy issues of interest to both Governments.
With regard to Northern Ireland, we took stock of the situation regarding the talks in Stormont and the prospect of agreement being reached.
And indeed, today I am pleased to welcome the successful conclusion of the talks process in Northern Ireland.
During my discussions with PM Cameron on the EU/UK negotiations, our conversation focused on his letter to President Tusk and our desire to keep Britain in the EU. I reiterated my offer of support where possible in the forthcoming process. PM Cameron had attended the CBI Annual Conference that morning, where my speech had fully covered the implications for Ireland and Northern Ireland of a UK vote to withdraw from the EU as set out by the ESRI.
At our meeting, we also noted ongoing progress in key areas of the comprehensive work programme arising from the Joint Statement of 2012, including trade promotion and cooperation in relation to defence and security matters. We noted that work continues to be progressed through bilateral contacts between our respective Governments and officials.
On the previous day, I attended the Remembrance Day ceremony in Enniskillen on Sunday, 8 November. This was my fourth time to be in Enniskillen for Remembrance Sunday. I went to pay my respects to those from all traditions who gave their lives in the First World War, and in particular to remember those killed in the Enniskillen bombing.
I laid a wreath at the Cenotaph before attending the Rememberance Day Service in Saint Macartin's Cathedral. After the service I met with members of the British Legion and their families at the British Legion Hall.
