Written Answers Nos. 261-282
261. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the revenue collected from the payment of development levies, by county council, in each of the years 2014 to 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15735/16]
View answerDevelopment contributions allow local authorities to recoup some of the costs to public funds of servicing land for private development. They provide a mechanism by which developers can contribute to the cost of providing public infrastructure and facilities that benefit development in the area.
The payment of development contributions is a long-standing part of the planning system, dating back to the first Local Government (Planning and Development) Act in 1963. Since the Planning and Development Act 2000, each planning authority is required to have a development contribution scheme in place, setting out how development contributions are to be applied in their area and outlining the major infrastructure projects to be funded by contributions received.
While information on the revenue collected by county councils from the payment of development levies is not available in my Department and is not separately recorded in the Annual Financial Statements of the local authorities, the majority of income and expenditure, including data on current and long-term development contribution debtors, is reported on an accruals basis in their Annual Financial Statements.
262. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff recruited by local authorities to deliver more social housing units under the social housing strategy 2020 in each of the years 2014 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15739/16]
View answerUnder section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, recruitment of staff is a matter for each Chief Executive.
The following table lists the posts sanctioned by my Department in response to requests from local authorities since 2014. These posts are made up of staff both directly funded by my Department to deliver on the goals of the Social Housing Strategy as well as staff funded through the local authorities own resources who work in or closely to the housing area.
|
- |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
Total |
|
Housing related posts sanctioned |
18 |
401 |
22 |
441 |
263. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will remain responsible for Leader, the social inclusion and community activation programme and the scheme to support national organisations; and if not, the Minister who will assume primary responsibility. [15748/16]
View answerResponsibility for the LEADER programme has transferred to the Minister for Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht.
Responsibility for the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and other community-related functions, including the scheme to support national organisations, remains with my Department.
264. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the affordable housing schemes in place; if an affordable purchase price will be a significant part of the policy soon to be announced; and his advice to persons (details supplied). [15883/16]
View answerI recognise the difficulty faced by households in accessing the housing market. The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a commitment for the introduction of a new model of affordable rental to provide more housing options for low income households and to relieve pressure on the social housing sector.
€10 million is being made available from the proceeds of the sale of Bord Gáis Éireann to fund a pilot scheme in 2016. The details of the Scheme are currently being finalised in my Department for roll-out in the coming months. The Scheme will be an ongoing annual commitment to secure a long term increase in the supply of affordable properties to meet the needs of those households that would struggle to make rental payments under present market conditions.
The pilot Scheme is expected to work on the basis of tenants paying the majority of the rental cost from their own resources, with the State helping to meet the shortfall. It is intended that the scheme would be made available to employed households on low to moderate incomes, as well as being a possible support option for some households who qualify for social housing support. A State policy intervention - such as a subsidy - would be applied to bridge the gap between what people can afford, and what the housing market charges. Such a scheme would also be expected to facilitate and incentivise private investment into this sector.
The inadequate level of housing supply is at the heart of the difficulties in the housing sector and, in that regard, measures have already been taken to boost new housing construction and enhance supply at more affordable prices. The “Stabilising Rents – Boosting Supply” package announced by Government in November 2015 included:
- A targeted rebate of development contributions in Dublin and Cork for housing supplied under certain price levels to enhance supply of more affordable starter homes in key locations;
- New National Apartment Planning Guidelines to reduce the cost of apartment building in Dublin City,
- Changes to aspects of the operation of Strategic Development Zones to enable swifter adjustments to meet market requirements; and,
- The Government’s Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) to examine funding for housing infrastructure on a case-by-case basis.
The package also included a number of measures to support rent stability in the rented sector, pending additional housing supply coming on stream in the coming years.
Further actions aimed at increasing the supply of housing at more affordable prices are being examined in the context of drafting the Government’s new ‘Action Plan for Housing,’ which is to be published within the Government’s first 100 days.
265. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the status of an application by Leitrim County Council for funding for a sewerage scheme for Drumshanbo, County Leitrim, including when he will provide this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15903/16]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
266. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures he will take to ensure the needs of persons with disabilities are incorporated into future housing policies, as per the programme for Government; and when he will implement this commitment. [15915/16]
View answerAddressing the needs of persons with a disability are already well established in housing policies. The commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government provides a platform to consolidate and build on the significant work to date, and will ensure that momentum is sustained in future housing policy development.
The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability (NHSPWD) 2011-2016 and the associated National Implementation Framework are joint publications by my Department and the Department of Health, and set out the Government’s broad framework for the delivery of housing for people with disabilities. They were developed as part of a coherent framework in conjunction with the Government’s mental health policy and Congregated Settings Report. It is intended that the current Strategy will be extended beyond its original timeframe of 2016 to continue to deliver on its aims.
A dedicated Housing Subgroup, chaired by the Housing Agency, was established in 2012 to progress implementation and includes representatives from my Department, the HSE, the Department of Health, local authorities, the Irish Council for Social Housing and various disability representative organisations. The Housing Agency sub-group is progressing a range of priority actions within an agreed work plan. Much work has been done to deliver on various initiatives and this will continue.
An Implementation Monitoring Group (IMG) was established to monitor and report on progress. The IMG is chaired by a senior official of my Department and comprises representatives from the HSE, the National Disability Authority, National Service Users Executive and disability representative organisations. The first progress report of the IMG was published in 2014 and is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/Housing/FileDownLoad,37210,en.doc.
The Monitoring Group is preparing a second progress report for the period 2014/2015 which will be published on my Department’s website when finalised this Autumn.
National Guidelines for the Assessment and Allocation Process for Housing Provision for People with a Disability were developed and adopted for implementation by housing authorities with effect from November 2014. Also, housing authorities have established Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs), chaired by each authority and including the HSE and disability representative organisations, to achieve a coordinated and integrated approach to meeting the housing needs of people with disabilities at a local level. A Strategic Plan for each county/city area has been drawn up by the HDSGs to develop specific local strategies to meet identified and emerging needs. The local Strategic Plans are currently being collated by the Housing Agency into a draft National Plan.
Implementation of the Congregated Settings Report, led by the HSE, is supported by my Department through the NHSPWD. My Department is represented on the HSE Working Group and is supporting the ongoing work to progress the transitioning of individuals from congregated settings, including the provision of €10 million ring-fenced funding in 2016 under the Capital Assistance Scheme to assist the Department of Health and the HSE in accelerating the Government’s deinstitutionalisation programme. This is additional to capital funding which is being provided separately by the Minister for Health.
Funding is also provided by my Department to local authorities towards the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. The funding allocation of €56.25 million in 2016 for the Housing Adaptation Grant Scheme represents an increase of some 10% in funding provided in 2015 under this Scheme and comprises €45 million exchequer funding and €11.25 million local authority funding. Under this Scheme, people with a disability can have necessary repairs or improvement works carried out to their homes in order to facilitate the continued independent occupancy of their homes. I am conscious of the social benefit accruing from this Scheme in terms of facilitating the continued independent living by people with a disability in their own homes and therefore, in line with the Programme for a Partnership Government , further consideration will be given to increasing this funding over the coming years.
The concept of Universal Design centres on achieving a built environment that can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of their age, size or disability. All new buildings, including social housing units, must comply with the legally enforceable minimum performance standards set out in the Building Regulations 1997 - 2014. In this context, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use (2010), which came into effect on 1 January 2012, set out the minimum statutory requirements applicable to new buildings, and to existing buildings where new works, a material alteration or a material change of use is proposed.
The requirements of Part M aim to ensure that regardless of age, size or disability:
(a) new buildings other than dwellings (including multi-unit developments) are accessible and usable;
(b) extensions to existing buildings other than dwellings are, where practicable, accessible and useable;
(c) material alterations to existing buildings other than dwellings increase the accessibility and usability of existing buildings, where practicable;
(d) certain changes of use to existing buildings other than dwellings increase the accessibility and usability of existing buildings, where practicable; and
(e) new dwellings are visitable.
Part M of the Building Regulations aims to foster an inclusive approach to the design and construction of the built environment. While the Part M requirements may be regarded as a statutory minimum level of provision, the accompanying technical guidance encourages building owners and designers to have regard to the design philosophy of universal design and to consider making additional provisions where practicable and appropriate. While the latest iteration of Part M of the Building Regulations initially coincided with the general downturn in economic and construction activity, its positive effects on access and use in the built environment will now be seen more widely as economic recovery takes hold and construction activity begins to gather momentum and moves onto a sustainable footing. Building Regulations, including Part M requirements, are subject to on-going review in the interests of safety and well-being of persons in the built environment and to ensure that due regard is taken of technological progress and innovation.
269. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will offer compensation from the local government fund in 2017, as was offered in 2016; the amount he will offer, by local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15962/16]
View answerI have not yet made any decisions concerning 2017 allocations from the Local Government Fund. Such decisions will be taken in the context of Budget 2017 and the Estimates process.
270. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the measures he has or will put in place to tackle excessive lime levels in residential water supplies which can damage household appliances such as kettles, washing machines and dishwashers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15995/16]
View answer271. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he, the consumer, the local authority or Irish Water is responsible for alleviating the problem of hard water in residential water supplies caused by excessive lime levels in areas of limestone bedrock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15996/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together.
Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of public water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. I have no responsibility for, or role in relation to, the management, operation or maintenance of water services infrastructure.
Under the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied is wholesome and clean. Water which is wholesome and clean is defined as water which is free from any micro-organisms and parasites and from any substances which in numbers or concentrations constitute a potential danger to human health, and which meets the quality standards specified in the Schedule to the Regulations. Hard water and the minerals associated with hard water are not included as parameters in the quality standards specified in the Regulations as they do not pose a threat to human health. Even though hard water is safe to drink and meets the required drinking water standards, some households may choose to soften their supply but this is a matter of personal choice.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as the water quality regulator, is the supervisory authority for public supplies under the Regulations and local authorities are the supervisory authority for relevant private supplies, including group water schemes.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
272. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that the executive of Sligo County Council, in a report to councillors dated 1 June 2016, stated that payments for works carried out under the special resolution fund by Sligo County Council were made without deduction of relevant contract tax; and that when the Revenue Commissioners contacted the council querying the tax treatment that had been applied to payments made from the fund, the council advised the Revenue Commissioners that payments were made without deducting the relevant contract tax in line with the guidance issued by his Department. [16023/16]
View answerMy Department has not received a copy of the report referred to and has no function in this matter, which is an operational matter for Sligo County Council.
273. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware that a revenue audit held on 30 March 2016 at the offices of Sligo County Council resulted in a liability of €256,521.51 for relevant contracts tax, value added tax and related penalties; if he issued misleading guidelines to the council and other local authorities in respect of payments for works carried out under the special resolution fund; if he will compensate the council to cover the cost of the said tax liability and penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16024/16]
View answerIt is a matter for local authorities, as individual corporate bodies, to ensure that they have adequately met their tax obligations in all cases and, if doubt arises, to seek appropriate clarification from the Revenue Commissioners. My Department does not direct or advise local authorities in relation to specific taxation matters. My Department issued a note for information following a workshop on the Special Resolution Fund with local authorities held in May 2014. Local authorities have been advised that the note does not in any way constitute a direction or advice in relation to specific taxation matters.
274. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of houses Galway City Council approved for construction and approved for persons with a disability in the past year; the details of applications from Galway City Council for approval to construct local authority housing that he has not yet decided on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16082/16]
View answerArising from the Social Housing Strategy 2020, targets and provisional funding allocations have been notified to each local authority, including Galway City Council, and are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/minsters-kelly-coffey-announce-eu15-billion-social-housing-targets-local. Galway City Council has a target to deliver 518 social housing units for the period out to 2017, supported by an allocation of €28.3 million, to be invested in a combination of building, buying and leasing schemes. My Department does not have a role in directly determining the number of social housing units that Galway City Council, or any other local authority, prioritises or allocates to different categories of tenant. Depending on the needs of those on the housing waiting list, it is a matter for the Council to make housing proposals and to allocate housing to, inter alia, persons with a disability. Through funding programmes such as the Capital Assistance Scheme, my Department supports local authorities and approved housing bodies in their work to provide such housing.
Following the notification of targets to local authorities last year, approvals for a substantial number of new social housing projects were announced in May 2015, July 2015 and January 2016. Between these three announcements, almost €680 million has been allocated for over 3,900 social housing units. These are mainly new builds, but also include some turnkey developments and approvals under the Capital Assistance Scheme. Details of these project approvals, including those for Galway City Council, are available on my Department’s website at the following links:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,41340,en.htm ; http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/News/MainBody,42225,en.htm
http://www.environ.ie/housing/social-housing/ministers-kelly-coffey-announce-further-1000-social-housing-units.
My Department also supported local authorities in delivering over 1,000 social housing units in 2015 through the acquisition of new and previously owned houses and apartments. This activity is continuing in 2016 on the part of all local authorities, including Galway City Council.
The Deputy can be assured that my Department will be supporting all local authorities, including Galway City Council, to advance projects as soon as possible and I have confirmed to local authorities that funding is available to fully support their efforts in this regard. There are currently no applications to construct local authority housing from Galway City Council awaiting approval from my Department.
276. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to recommend the restoration of mortgage interest supplement to the Department of Finance or to the budget oversight committee in the Houses of the Oireachtas. [15684/16]
View answer278. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to restore mortgage interest supplement in budget 2017. [15686/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 278 together.
There are currently approximately 2,700 people in receipt of the mortgage interest supplement scheme for which the Government has provided over €7 million for in 2016. The scheme was discontinued for new applicants from 1 January 2014, with customers availing of this support prior to 1st January 2014 retaining entitlement until the closure of the scheme on 1st January 2018.
The continued payment of mortgage interest supplement does little to assist families in improving the long term difficulty in addressing their mortgage problem. The most appropriate way in which families experiencing mortgage difficulties can be supported is through on-going engagement with their lender to explore sustainable solutions.
It is expected that over the remaining period existing customers will exit the scheme through sustainable solutions being put in place with their lenders; securing employment; or exit strategies sponsored by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, such as the Mortgage to Rent Scheme. My Department is also considering referral of cases to the Dedicated Mortgage Arrears MABS (DMA MABS) service. This service is focused on post-MARP cases and has been established across 26 locations assisting mortgage holders to assess the extent to which the option on offer from the lender is the best and most sustainable option, and where required, negotiating with the lender on the client’s behalf.
Together with the Insolvency Service of Ireland, MABS has established a national network of Court Mentors to attend relevant Courts nationwide, where repossessions hearings are listed, to provide support to distressed borrowers and direct them to the appropriate services which can provide them with the necessary help and assistance.
It is my view that these are appropriate measures to assist people experiencing mortgage arrears on their homes and guidance has recently issued to the Department’s staff in the Community Welfare Service to inform persons experiencing financial difficulty of these additional supports.
277. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to recommend the restoration of rent supplement to the Minister for Finance or to the budget oversight committee in the Houses of the Oireachtas. [15685/16]
View answer279. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to restore rent supplement in budget 2017. [15687/16]
View answer308. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount his Department has saved since 2014 by transferring those persons in receipt of payments under the rent supplement scheme to the housing assistance payment scheme; and the amount he will save in 2016 and 2017. [15694/16]
View answer317. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of new recipients under the rent supplement scheme, by county, in 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15876/16]
View answer331. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has had a sufficient input into the development of the strategy to deal with the housing crisis since 2011 to date. [15997/16]
View answer332. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the limits under the rent supplement scheme by 10%. [16017/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 277, 279, 308, 317, 331 and 332 together.
Supports in relation to housing and the provision of financial supports, such as the rent supplement scheme currently supporting in excess of 55,500 recipients at a cost of €267 million in 2016, are a key priority for Government and are being considered by the Cabinet Committee on Housing in the context of the Programme for Government housing commitments. Given the urgency of the housing crisis, this Cabinet Committee is meeting on a weekly basis which I attend. Officials from my Department are also represented on the Homelessness Policy Implementation Team led by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG) to oversee the implementation of the Homelessness Action Plan. Department officials at local level are actively engaged with relevant local authorities, Homeless Action Teams, Regional teams and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the necessary supports are provided. Overall the response to the current extremely difficult housing situation has to be multifaceted and I am satisfied with the input that my Department is providing to the overall housing strategy. This level of inter-agency participation ensures greater integration between the key agencies involved in the area of homelessness and related services.
The strategic policy direction of the Department is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of being a short-term income support scheme. Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to those with a long-term housing need transfers to local authorities, under the auspices of DHPLG. HAP is currently operational in 19 local authority areas with payments being made in respect of some 10,180 tenancies. The funding for the rent supplement scheme in 2015 and 2016 represents a transfer of funding to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government for HAP scheme of over €20 million in 2015 and €24 million in 2016 (cumulative transfer of over €64 million during the last 2 years). Funding arrangements for 2017 will be considered having regard to the costs of rent supplement, rate of roll out of HAP and projected transfers. Where HAP is in operation this Department will continue to provide rental support, under the rent supplement scheme, to those with a short term need, generally because of a temporary loss of employment.
My Department is currently examining the rent limits in the context of the Government commitment to provide for an increase taking account of geographic variations in market rents. It is my intention that increased rent limits will be implemented over the summer months, ahead of budget 2017, subject to agreement by Government. Analysis shows that increasing rent limits by 10% would result in a full year cost of approximately €32 million.
At this time of constrained supply, the Department continues to implement a targeted, flexible, case-by-case approach where rents exceed limits. This ensures that people at risk of homelessness or loss of their tenancy are supported under the rent supplement scheme where increased rental payments are required. Currently, over 8,540 households are supported through this flexible approach. A county breakdown of this information is provided in the tabular statement below.
The Department, in conjunction with Threshold, operates a protocol in the Dublin and Cork areas where supply issues are particularly acute. Following engagement with the relevant agencies this protocol was recently extended to the commuter counties of Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, and to Galway City. The Programme for a Partnership Government has identified expanding this Protocol nationwide, and the Department will continue to work with colleagues in DHPLG, local authorities and Threshold to support this extension.
Landlords are continuing to provide accommodation to persons under the rent supplement scheme with over 5,800 tenancies awarded this year. A breakdown of this information on a county basis is also provided in the following tabular statements.
I would urge that any person experiencing increased rents or facing the threat of the loss of their tenancy under rent supplement to contact my Department’s Community Welfare Service or the Threshold Tenancy Protection service without delay.
Tabular Statement: Rent supplement claims awarded by County January – May 2016
|
County |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
Total |
|
CARLOW |
5 |
13 |
14 |
27 |
23 |
82 |
|
CAVAN |
7 |
6 |
7 |
19 |
9 |
48 |
|
CLARE |
1 |
5 |
4 |
8 |
3 |
21 |
|
CORK |
112 |
173 |
165 |
186 |
162 |
798 |
|
DONEGAL |
4 |
8 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
36 |
|
DUBLIN |
303 |
413 |
412 |
473 |
427 |
2,028 |
|
GALWAY |
39 |
39 |
58 |
48 |
52 |
236 |
|
KERRY |
62 |
72 |
67 |
71 |
53 |
325 |
|
KILDARE |
55 |
66 |
43 |
65 |
57 |
286 |
|
KILKENNY |
7 |
18 |
13 |
12 |
9 |
59 |
|
LAOIS |
16 |
22 |
19 |
37 |
35 |
129 |
|
LEITRIM |
11 |
6 |
13 |
15 |
16 |
61 |
|
LIMERICK |
27 |
15 |
15 |
24 |
23 |
104 |
|
LONGFORD |
12 |
12 |
7 |
22 |
20 |
73 |
|
LOUTH |
27 |
32 |
20 |
20 |
21 |
120 |
|
MAYO |
10 |
28 |
11 |
28 |
27 |
104 |
|
MEATH |
23 |
24 |
23 |
29 |
33 |
132 |
|
MONAGHAN |
4 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
10 |
|
OFFALY |
6 |
6 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
26 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
21 |
21 |
22 |
31 |
23 |
118 |
|
SLIGO |
7 |
12 |
8 |
5 |
11 |
43 |
|
TIPPERARY |
37 |
34 |
21 |
36 |
28 |
156 |
|
WATERFORD |
5 |
3 |
14 |
12 |
17 |
51 |
|
WESTMEATH |
43 |
44 |
42 |
58 |
53 |
240 |
|
WEXFORD |
24 |
59 |
56 |
50 |
91 |
280 |
|
WICKLOW |
30 |
48 |
47 |
65 |
78 |
268 |
|
Total |
898 |
1,180 |
1,118 |
1,354 |
1,284 |
5,834 |
Tabular Statement: Total Increased Rental Payments by County as at 13 June 2016
|
County |
Awards under National Tenancy Sustainment Framework |
Awards under protocol with Threshold |
Total no. of increased payments by County |
|
CARLOW |
46 |
46 |
|
|
CAVAN |
29 |
29 |
|
|
CLARE |
60 |
60 |
|
|
CORK |
49 |
68 |
117 |
|
DONEGAL |
363 |
363 |
|
|
DUBLIN |
3421 |
2,025 |
5,446 |
|
GALWAY |
186 |
186 |
|
|
KERRY |
90 |
90 |
|
|
KILDARE |
411 |
411 |
|
|
KILKENNY |
131 |
131 |
|
|
LAOIS |
118 |
118 |
|
|
LEITRIM |
77 |
77 |
|
|
LIMERICK |
7 |
7 |
|
|
LONGFORD |
185 |
185 |
|
|
LOUTH |
136 |
136 |
|
|
MAYO |
3 |
3 |
|
|
MEATH |
334 |
334 |
|
|
MONAGHAN |
1 |
1 |
|
|
OFFALY |
62 |
62 |
|
|
ROSCOMMON |
39 |
39 |
|
|
SLIGO |
0 |
- |
|
|
TIPPERARY |
165 |
165 |
|
|
WATERFORD |
45 |
45 |
|
|
WESTMEATH |
232 |
232 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
16 |
16 |
|
|
WICKLOW |
242 |
2 |
244 |
|
Overall Total |
6,448 |
2,095 |
8,543 |
280. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to address the issue of the long-term unemployed, of which there now are 100,000 persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16036/16]
View answerThe Government’s primary strategy to tackle long-term unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity.
Reflecting the impact of government policy, and the overall improvement in the labour market, long term unemployment is falling. The long-term unemployment rate peaked at 9.5% in Q1 2012 before falling to 4.7% in Q1 2016. At the latter date, the long-term unemployed accounted for 56.1% of all those unemployed, down from almost 65% in early 2012. The number of long term unemployed in Q1 2016 was 100,600; this compares to 156,200 in Q1 2014.
Although the labour market situation is improving considerably as the recovery continues, the Government recognises the importance of a continued focus on measures to facilitate long-term unemployed people find and sustain employment. This is the rationale behind the Government’s Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy (published January 2016).
A range of measures were introduced under previous Pathways to Work strategies for long-term unemployed people. This included a structured process of engagement with long-term unemployed people being referred to the activation process (Group Engagement followed by regular one-to-one case officer contact); wage subsidies in JobsPlus; the roll-out of a payment-by-results contracted employment services in JobPath, to provide additional capacity in order to engage more systematically with long-term unemployed jobseekers; and reserved places for long-term unemployed jobseekers on a range of Further Education and Training (FET) and public employment programmes. A core focus of Pathways to Work 2016-2020 is on consolidating and improving the quality and consistency of reforms undertaken in previous strategies, with continued prioritisation of those long-term unemployed. I am satisfied these measures will continue to contribute to addressing long-term unemployment.
281. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he will take to address the issue of youth unemployment which now stands at 15%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16034/16]
View answerThe Government’s primary strategy to tackle youth unemployment is through policies to create the environment for a strong economic recovery by promoting competitiveness and productivity.
Reflecting the impact of government policy, and the overall improvement in the labour market, youth unemployment continues to fall with a rate of 15.0% (27,900) in May 2016 (as estimated by CSO), compared to 20.8% (39,100) in April 2015 and a peak of over 31.3% (70,900) in 2012.
Although the labour market situation is improving considerably as the recovery continues, the Government recognises the importance of a continued focus on measures to facilitate the young unemployed back into work. This is the rationale behind the Government’s Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy (published January 2016) and the Youth Guarantee plan (published January 2014).
As under services such as Intreo, Youthreach, VTOS, PLC programmes, and JobBridge, Ireland already had many of the recommended component parts of a Youth Guarantee as envisaged in the relevant EU Recommendation, the main approach in Ireland is to prioritise access to these existing supports for young people, who become unemployed. The objective is to ensure that they have an opportunity for employment, further education or work experience within the recommended period of four months as per the EU council recommendation.
The key objective is to help newly unemployed young people find and secure sustainable jobs. In this regard there is monthly engagement with young people by case officers to assist young people to prepare, review and, if appropriate, revise personal progression plans. As part of this process additional supports may be provided, both through reserved places on existing schemes and through youth-specific measures. Most such offers (over 70%) are in existing further education or training programmes. Others are in existing community-based employment programmes such as CE, Gateway and Tús. Overall, over 19,100 opportunities were taken up on the relevant programmes in 2015.
Pathways to Work 2016-2020 continues to prioritise these measures for the young unemployed and additionally commits to: increasing the share of workplace-based interventions for youth unemployed; ensuring that monthly engagement, at a minimum, is consistently applied and maintained; restructuring the First Steps programme; and implementing the Defence Forces Skills for Life programme.
I am satisfied these measures will help to address youth unemployment.
282. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of administering the 2015 water conservation grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15322/16]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection is administering the Water Conservation Grant on behalf of the Department of Environment, Community, and Local Government. As of 13th June 2016, a total of 890,036 grant applications had been submitted by householders and processed.
The administration and payment of this grant was a significant project requiring the development and implementation of ICT systems, ICT infrastructure and various customer support and communications services. The total administration costs for the 2015 Water Conservation Grant to date are €5,995,035.42. These include both the once-off setup costs and the operational costs. A small number of residual payments continue to be made to householders who have an entitlement to the 2015 Water Conservation Grant. As a result, some comparatively small operational costs continue to be incurred and the final administrative cost has yet to be finalised.
All costs connected with the set-up and administration of the Water Conservation Grant are being recouped from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in line with existing procedures. Every effort is being made to maximise efficiencies and keep costs to the absolute minimum. Where possible, the Department reused existing payment production systems to facilitate payment of the grant. It is also intended that the ICT infrastructure put in place for this project will be reused for the provision of online services in the future.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
