Written Answers Nos. 300-319
300. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost in 2016 of increasing the entitlement under the back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme for the age groups specified by €10; €15; €20; €25; €30; €35; €40; €50; €60; €70; €80; €90; and €100, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18486/16]
View answerThe back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when children start school each autumn. The Government has provided €38.8 million for this scheme in 2016.
I recently announced that the 2016 BSCFA scheme is open for applications. In 2016, similar to arrangements in previous years, a large proportion of BSCFA payments (approximately 109,000 families in respect of approximately 193,000 children) are being fully automated with no application form required. Letters issued in early June informing families of their entitlement and notifying them that payment would issue during the week ending 15th July. The rate of payment is €100 in respect of children aged 4 to 11 and €200 for children over 12 years in second level education. The total amount to be paid to these customers will be circa €29 million.
Customers who did not receive notification of an automated payment are required to make a written application for the payment. Application forms are available in all Departmental offices, via SMS (text Form BTSCFA followed by name and address to 51909), from the website www.welfare.ie or by email to the Department at BSCFA@welfare.ie.
Using the total number of children, 281,000, covered by the scheme in 2015 as a basis, the additional cost to increase the BSCFA rates by the amounts listed per age group is set out in the tabular statement. Changes to increase the rate of payment to any scheme administered by the Department would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
Tabular Statement
Full-Year Additional Cost to Increase BSCFA rates by amounts listed:
|
Age Group 4-11 years (161,000 Children) |
Age Group Over 12 years (120,000 Children) |
||
|
Increased Payment Amount |
Cost of Increase |
Increased Payment Amount |
Cost of Increase |
|
€10 |
€1.61 million |
€10 |
€1.2 million |
|
€15 |
€2.42 million |
€15 |
€1.8 million |
|
€20 |
€3.22 million |
€20 |
€2.4 million |
|
€25 |
€4.03 million |
€25 |
€3.0 million |
|
€30 |
€4.83 million |
€30 |
€3.6 million |
|
€35 |
€5.64 million |
€35 |
€4.2 million |
|
€40 |
€6.44 million |
€40 |
€4.8 million |
|
€50 |
€8.05 million |
€50 |
€6.0 million |
|
€60 |
€9.66 million |
€60 |
€7.2 million |
|
€70 |
€11.27 million |
€70 |
€8.4 million |
|
€80 |
€12.88 million |
€80 |
€9.6 million |
|
€90 |
€14.49 million |
€90 |
€10.8 million |
|
€100 |
€16.1 million |
€100 |
€12.0 million |
304. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the benefits that have been withdrawn under the treatment benefits package since 2010; the full-year cost in 2016 of restoring each of these benefits based on contracts agreed with dental and medical practitioners at the time they were withdrawn and based on a 5%, 10% and 15% increase on the rates agreed at the time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18492/16]
View answerThe dental and optical benefit schemes were restricted to a free annual dental exam and a free two yearly optical examination from January 2010.
The potential cost of restoring the scheme in 2016 to its 2009 format (assuming the same level of customer applications as in 2009), would be as set out in the following table, allowing for the potential % increase in fees as suggested by the Deputy (shown in €millions):
|
Scheme |
2009* |
+5% |
+10% |
+15% |
|
Dental |
62.3 |
65.4 |
68.5 |
71.6 |
|
Optical |
17 |
17.9 |
18.7 |
19.6 |
|
Total |
79.3 |
83.3 |
87.2 |
91.2 |
* (These figures represent payments for claims paid by the Department only, and do not include the annual reimbursements to the HSE in respect of dual-qualified PRSI/medical card customers, which added another €13M to the cost of these benefits in 2009).
While the increases suggested by the Deputy have been applied in the table of costings above, it should be noted that any increase in fees would be a matter for Government as part of an overall budget process.
These figures represent the potential cost of the schemes (based on 2009 application levels), including examinations, which have continued to be provided to customers and for which the fee payable has not increased since 2009.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
307. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full-year cost in 2016 of restoring the entitlement under the telephone allowance scheme to the rate it was at in 2010 and in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18496/16]
View answerThe savings arising from the initial reduction and subsequent discontinuance of the telephone allowance meant that my Department was able to retain the other valuable elements of the household benefits package such as the electricity and gas allowance and the television licence. My Department will spend approximately €228 million this year on these elements of the household benefits package for over 419,000 customers. The cost of the telephone allowance scheme had risen significantly each year, as the number of eligible customers grew. In 2007 there were some 316,000 people receiving the telephone allowance compared to almost 396,000 at the end of September 2013. This was an increase of 25%, or an average increase of nearly 4% per annum.
In 2010 the value of the telephone allowance was €310.80 per annum. The cost of restoring the allowance at 2010 levels is estimated to be in the region of €125m to €131m per annum. In 2013 the value of the telephone allowance was €114.00 per annum. The cost of restoring the allowance at 2013 levels is estimated to be in the region of €46m to €48m per annum.
Any decision to restore the telephone allowance would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
308. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the full year cost in 2016 of extending the number of weeks the entitlement is paid under the fuel allowance scheme by one, two, three and four weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18497/16]
View answerThe fuel allowance is a payment of €22.50 per week for 26 weeks from October to April, to 391,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €224 million in 2016. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. 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. My Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance as part of the household benefits package to approximately 419,000 customers, at an estimated cost of €228 million in 2016.
Any decision to extend the fuel allowance season would have to be considered in the overall budgetary negotiations.
The estimated cost of increasing the fuel allowance duration by one, two, three and four weeks at the current rate would be as follows -
|
No. of weeks |
Cost increase per annum* |
|
1 |
€9m |
|
2 |
€18m |
|
3 |
€26m |
|
4 |
€35m |
*Figures are rounded to the nearest million.
The best way to tackle fuel poverty in the long term is to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling. My Department works closely with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on these issues and in moving forward the actions agreed in the Energy Affordability Strategy. In that regard, the Better Energy Homes scheme provides support towards the installation of attic and wall insulation, and heating system upgrades.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
311. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will issue a decision to a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18508/16]
View answerFollowing a review of the entitlement of the person in question, disability allowance (DA) was disallowed with effect from 22 June 2016 as a deciding officer (DO), having taken into account all the available evidence, decided that the person in question has means in excess of the statutory limit for his circumstances. Notification of this decision issued to the person in question on 15 June 2016.
The person in question has been advised of his right to have this decision reviewed by a DO or to appeal this decision to the social welfare appeals office.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
312. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; if he will expedite it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18544/16]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 8 April 2016. Unfortunately, there are currently delays in the processing of new applications. Additional resources have been provided to the CA section in order to improve the waiting times for new applications and they are working hard to make this happen.
Frequently, delays are outside the control of the Department and are caused by the customer failing to fully complete the claim form or failing to attach the supporting documentation that is requested on the application form.
This application will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. In the meantime, both the person concerned and his spouse are in receipt of a weekly social welfare support.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
313. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he will issue a response to the concerns raised by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in correspondence dated September 2015 on housing and water provision for homeless persons in County Cork; and his approach to the provision of water and sanitation services for the homeless. [17933/16]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade receives correspondence from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on a regular basis. Where such correspondence relates to domestic policies, Departments with lead responsibility for the relevant policy issues are asked to provide input for the reply to the United Nations.
The response to the correspondence from the UN Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living and on the rights to non-discrimination in this context, and the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, was submitted to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights by Ireland’s Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva. In a statement issued on 6 June 2016 the Special Rapporteurs acknowledged receipt of the response.
The content of the response and other issues relating to the provision of water and sanitation services for the homeless are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.
314. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if permission was sought and if he granted it for two four-engine military planes to land at Ireland West Regional Airport on 20 June 2016; his views regarding their presence at the airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17951/16]
View answer315. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if permission was sought and if he granted it for a military plane (details supplied) to be present at Ireland West Regional Airport on 20 June 2016; his views regarding its presence at the airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17954/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 315 together.
To facilitate arrangements for the US Vice President’s visit to the Mayo area, permission was sought for two unarmed US military transport aircraft, type C-17A, to land at Ireland West Airport Knock on 20 June 2016. The aircraft were carrying passenger vehicles in support of the visit.
The requests stated that the aircraft were unarmed, carried no arms, ammunition or explosives and that they would not engage in intelligence gathering. The requests also stated that the flights did not form part of any military operation or exercises. Permission for the landings was granted subject to these conditions.
The visit of Vice President Biden and other high level visits help to promote Ireland’s interests internationally and contribute to the development of strong economic, political and cultural links.
316. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will formally recognise the actions of the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq against the Yazidi people as genocide, given the United Nations report citing these actions as such; his proposals to encourage the international community to recognise the genocide and to request the United Nations Security Council to refer this ongoing barbarity to the International Criminal Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18043/16]
View answerWe have already welcomed the latest report by the UN Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry into the situation in Syria in a national statement delivered in the Council earlier this month.
I want to acknowledge the authoritative and comprehensive nature of the report. The report, based on direct testimony from survivors, makes clear the horrific crimes against the Yazidi population by Daesh and finds compelling evidence for the crime of genocide. I welcome the report and its findings.
I wholeheartedly agree with the Deputy that the international community has a duty to ensure that the victims of these crimes receive justice and accountability for their suffering and loss.
In 2014 Ireland and over 50 other members of the UN co-sponsored a proposed resolution calling for referral of the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court. I repeat my regret and disappointment that this proposed resolution was vetoed by Russia and China. I believe that this latest report underlines the urgency and importance of such a referral and will engage in renewed efforts with Ireland’s international partners to pursue this action.
317. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a person's (details supplied) citizenship has been revoked in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18110/16]
View answer325. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware that the ruling regime in Bahrain has revoked the citizenship and passport of a person (details supplied) and the person will then be considered stateless; and if he will raise this case and the continued human rights violations in Bahrain with his Bahraini counterpart. [18226/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 325 together.
I am aware of the decision by the Bahraini authorities to revoke the citizenship of this person.
The right to a nationality is a fundamental human right. I am aware that since 2014, Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of over 250 people. This is a worrying development, in particular in light of other recent moves in Bahrain to restrict freedom of expression, such as the dissolution of Al Wefaq, the largest opposition political grouping. I call on Bahrain to fully respect its international human rights obligations.
Actions like these increase sectarian divides, and only serve to stall Bahrain’s path towards national reconciliation. This decision has already triggered protests and demonstrations. Preventing people from expressing their views does not quash people’s grievances; it only reinforces them. I call on the protesters and the Bahraini authorities alike to exercise restraint, for the protesters to express their views peacefully and for the authorities to permit them to do this.
This decision also risks increasing regional tensions. I call on all leaders in the region, political and religious, to avoid actions and statements that would further increase these tensions. I urge Bahrain to recommit to an inclusive, peaceful and open dialogue for national reconciliation that will serve the interests of all Bahrainis, regardless of religious beliefs or political preferences.
I stand with our EU partners in continuing to support Bahrain, in promoting further reforms aimed at strengthening human rights and the rule of law in a context free of violence and where freedom of expression is respected.
318. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider reintroducing old age pension rates on passport applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18139/16]
View answerA decision was taken in the 2005 budget to exempt applicants aged 65 and over from the passport fee. In 2011 the Government decided in light of the budgetary situation to discontinue the exemption and to apply the same ten-year passport fee to all applicants aged 18 years or over.
The annualised fee for a standard ten year Irish passport compares favourably with many other jurisdictions. At €8 per year, the Irish passport fee compares with approximately €9.60 for a French passport, €9.40 per year for a British passport, €9.90 per year for an American passport and €16.70 per year for an Australian passport.
Given that the shortfall in revenue would have to be met by the taxpayer I do not have any plans at this time to reduce the fee charged to older applicants.
319. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide a report on his recent trip to Israel and Palestine; whom he met and the subjects discussed; his views on the current state of play in the Middle East peace process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18220/16]
View answerIn the course of my visit, I met with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel, Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu. I also met with the leader of the opposition in the Knesset, Mr. Isaac Herzog, and with the Chair of the Knesset’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Mr. Avi Dichter.
In Ramallah, I met with the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr. Rami Hamdallah, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Riad Malki.
I also met with the Deputy Commissioner of the UN Relief and Works Agency, Ms. Sandra Mitchell, and with the local office of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance.
My visit to the region was planned before the scheduling of the French-hosted conference on the Middle East Peace Process, which took place in Paris on 3 June and in which I participated, but it afforded a timely opportunity to follow up on that meeting.
In all of my political meetings, I made clear my support for the French initiative, which aims to inject new momentum into the stalled peace process through international support and engagement. I said this based on my own assessment of the situation and based also on the experience of the peace process on this island in which international support, from the US and elsewhere, proved invaluable at different times.
The Palestinian side has publicly welcomed this renewed international engagement and I discussed in some detail with Minister Malki his priorities for follow-up to the Paris conference. The Israeli Government have said clearly that they do not see value in this approach and repeated their wish to move to direct negotiations with the Palestinians, without wider international involvement.
In my meetings I made clear the interest of the members of this House and of the Irish public in the Middle East Peace Process.
In my meetings, I also discussed a range of more specific issues, including the expansion of settlements and the threat they pose to the peace process, the serious humanitarian situation in Gaza and the progress that has been made in reconstruction there as well as the limited improvements that have been made in access for goods, and the prospects for Palestinian reconciliation in the talks that have been taking place between Fatah and Hamas.
My visit came shortly after the 8 June terrorist attack in Tel Aviv and the security situation in Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territories was discussed.
The implications of developments in the wider region, in particular the ongoing conflict in Syria, were discussed in some detail. In this context, I also visited the Golan Heights and met with the Irish troops serving with the UN Disengagement Observation Force there. My visit reinforced once again the very urgent need to bring a political resolution to the horrific conflict in Syria which has cruelly ended and shattered so many innocent lives.
The Middle East Peace Process remains stalled. In explicit recognition of the view that the status quo is not sustainable, the French Government have been working to mobilise international engagement to help advance the prospects for peace. This is not an easy task but it deserves and will receive our full support.
