Written Answers Nos. 47-58
48. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to end child poverty as committed to by the Government under the national social target for poverty reduction now that the target has been revised by the Government from lifting 70,000 children out of poverty to 97,000 children by 2020. [18758/16]
View answerTackling poverty continues to be a priority for Government. The updated National Action Plan for Social Inclusion identifies a wide range of targeted actions and interventions to achieve the overall objective of reducing poverty. The goals include a focus on early childhood development, youth exclusion, access to the labour market, migrant integration, social housing and affordable energy.
The national social target, set in 2010, is to reduce consistent poverty to 4% by 2016 and to 2% or less by 2020. The target is to lift over 70,000 children out of consistent poverty by 2020. Ireland’s contribution to the Europe 2020 poverty target is to lift a minimum of 200,000 people out of ‘combined poverty’ (i.e. at-risk-of-poverty and/or basic deprivation) by 2020.
These targets are now more challenging than when they were set, because poverty rates rose substantially during the recession from 2009 to 2013. However, the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) shows that for the first time since the crisis poverty levels stabilised in 2014. Consistent poverty decreased marginally to 8% while consistent poverty among children was 11.2%.
The full impact of the recovery is not yet reflected in these 2014 figures. Ireland has returned to strong economic and employment growth. The unemployment rate in May 2016 was 7.8%, down from a peak of 15% in 2012. As unemployment is strongly linked to poverty, we can expect further decreases in poverty as the figures for 2015 and 2016 become available. It is envisaged that 2015 data will be released in November next.
Social transfers play a crucial role in alleviating poverty and inequality. In 2014, social transfers (excluding pensions) reduced the at-risk-of-poverty rate in Ireland from 37.2% to 15.6%, thereby lifting over a fifth of the population out of income poverty. Ireland is the best performing EU member state in reducing poverty through social transfers.
Continued economic recovery, together with government action to sustain and develop the social welfare system, will support further reductions in poverty over the coming years.
49. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to address the high cost of insurance for companies delivering community employment schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18797/16]
View answerThe Department has become aware in recent times of an increase in insurance premiums for community employment (CE) schemes. The main reasons cited for this is an increase in claims frequency over recent years by such schemes. In the first instance, the Department recommends that schemes seek alternative quotes to ensure they get value for money. In this context, schemes are asked to be especially mindful of their obligations under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005.
Insurance premium costs are reimbursed from the CE materials budget for the scheme. While the Department is not in a position to allocate additional monies to the materials budget in 2016, if there is a scheme experiencing particular difficulties, the sponsor should contact their local DSP office and the matter will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
50. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will restore social protection payments to pre-austerity levels adjusted for inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18804/16]
View answerMy Department’s allocation for 2016, at over €19.625 billion, is almost €1.9 billion higher or 10.4% than expenditure in 2008. The cost of increasing all working age weekly payments to their 2009 equivalent rates is of the order of €0.9 billion.
After a series of challenging years, improvements for people in receipt of social welfare payments began in Budget 2015 and continued in Budget 2016. This included increases in the weekly rates of payment for pensioners and in the living alone allowance. In addition, new initiatives aimed at helping families were introduced, such as the back to work family dividend, and a paternity benefit scheme which will commence payment later this year.
Looking ahead, the new Programme for a Partnership Government contains a number of significant commitments to enhance the welfare system in the years ahead. This includes increasing rent supplement limits as well as above-inflation increases for pensioners and in the living alone allowance. The Programme also supports rate increases for people with disabilities and carers. I was pleased to announce on Tuesday a range of increased limits for the Rent Supplement Scheme and these come into effect tomorrow, 1st July, 2016.
I also plan to extend social insurance benefits for the self-employed and to improve the treatment benefit scheme.
I want to make progress on these commitments in the forthcoming Budget and will seek to do this within the additional resources which will be available. I also look forward to engagement and input from my colleagues in the Oireachtas in the matter.
In addition, I will be holding a Pre-Budget forum on July 22 next to which I have invited forty welfare representative organisations. I will listen carefully to the views of the organisations attending.
51. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will abolish means testing for the carer's allowance, increase the respite care grant and replace the mobility allowance that ceased in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18802/16]
View answerCarer's Allowance is a means-tested payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention on a full time basis. The means test for carers allowance has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse’s earnings. Since April 2008, the income disregard has been €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn in the region of €35,400 and qualify for the maximum rate of carers allowance as well as the associated free travel and where resident with the recipient of care, household benefits.
Removing the means test would involve changing the nature of the Carer’s Allowance scheme from a targeted income maintenance support for those most in need to a universal care support, in effect a payment for the provision of care rather than an income support payment for people on low incomes. The only eligibility criteria remaining would be that the care recipient required full-time care and that the carer was providing that care on a full time basis. Therefore, it is considered best that the Carer’s Allowance means test should remain to ensure the most effective use of resources.
The Carer’s Support Grant (CSG) (formerly known as the respite care grant) is a non-means tested, non-taxable annual payment paid to carers providing full-time care and attention to a care recipient. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that earlier this month, the grant increased to €1,700 in Budget 2016, issued automatically to carers in receipt of Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit, Domiciliary Care Allowance or Prescribed Relative's Allowance. The CSG is also payable, in certain circumstances, to other carers who may still apply through my Department’s stand-alone RCG section. It is expected that in excess of 90,000 grants will be paid in 2016 at an estimated cost of €157.6 million.
Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes. In addition the Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new Transport Support Scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by my colleague the Minister for Health.
Monthly payments continue to be made by the Health Service Executive to the 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance at the time the scheme closed in 2013. Work is ongoing on the policy proposals to be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme. The Programme for a Partnership Government acknowledges the ongoing drafting of primary legislation for a new Transport Support Scheme.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
52. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Protection to consider the possibility of introducing more flexibility to the Tús work placement initiative scheme, including considering extending the period of time a person can avail of the scheme on case-by-case basis, with particular consideration given to a person's age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18689/16]
View answerTús was set up to provide short-term, work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. It is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the labour market. In addition, as a community work placement scheme, Tús provides valuable services to local communities.
The twelve month duration of a Tús work placement was set to reflect a number of inter-related requirements. These include the need to ensure that the limited numbers of placements available are open to the maximum number of people on the live register, that weaknesses identified in other work programmes resulting from longer duration placements are not replicated and the need to ensure that the scheme fits with the objectives set out in the Government’s activation policies including Pathways to Work. The existing placement period on Tús ensures that as many unemployed people as possible are able to benefit from the scheme and it is considered to be optimal in meeting the scheme’s objectives.
With the welcome reductions in the live register, the eligibility criteria for work programmes, including Tús, will continue to be monitered.
I want to thank the Deputy for offering his views on this issue yesterday evening at our meeting. As stated at that meeting all of the issues raised will be kept under review to ensure that the schemes remains fit for purpose and that the eligibility conditions continue to be appropriate.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
53. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he will take to reform and improve pension governance, given several high profile pension scandals, including the abrupt winding up of the Central Remedial Clinic plan. [18698/16]
View answerThe issue of reform in the pension industry and improvements to pension governance is certainly a priority of my Department and will remain so going forward.
The Pensions Authority, under the Pensions Act 1990, is the regulator for occupational pension schemes in Ireland. The Authority provides a wide range of information and guidance to help and support trustees to comply with their regulatory obligations as set out under legislation. The Authority, in consultation with my Department, is continually assessing governance issues and making improvements in order to protect the members of pension schemes.
For example, the Authority has introduced trustee training obligations where trustees must receive training in governance matters to improve the quality of trusteeship. It further introduced a Pensions Data Register where since 2011 some one million data submissions have been processed through the system. The Authority has published a comprehensive series of model documents for trustees and administrators.
The Authority has outlined plans for improved pension scheme governance in their Statement of Strategy 2016-2020 where it intends to further target areas such as governance and obligations of stakeholders by providing codes of conduct and models of best practice.
On the wider EU level Ireland has implemented the first EU Directive 2003/41/EC on the Activities and Supervision of Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision (IORPS). The IORPS Directive established the basic EU requirements for occupational pension funds and their supervision, including rules obliging schemes to invest their assets prudently. Ireland has also been centrally involved in discussions on the revision of the IORPS Directive - IORPS II. The IORPS II Directive is anticipated to be approved by member states shortly and Ireland will have a two year timescale to transpose the Directive into Irish law. It is anticipated that the proposed revisions, which Ireland supports, will provide for, and improve, minimum standards in the areas of scheme governance requirements, e.g., new structures for risk management and evaluation, internal audit, internal control and remuneration. It may also include new requirements regarding ‘fit and proper’ management standards in schemes and the safekeeping of assets. It is anticipated that final provisions will result in improvements in the areas of transparency, trustee competencies and scheme governance.
Specific issues in relation to the Central Remedial Clinic Plan may be more appropriate for my colleague, the Minister for Health, given that the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) is funded by the Health Service Executive under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
54. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will review policies regarding maternity leave in unique circumstances (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18939/16]
View answerThere is no provision under current legislation for additional Maternity Leave in either of the circumstances outlined in the details supplied. As the Deputy will be aware, a Family Leave Bill, the aim of which will be the consolidation into one piece of legislation the current provisions regarding maternity, adoptive, parental and carer’s leave, is being drafted. The Bill when published will provide an opportunity to consider further improvements in the operation of these types of leave.
55. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the possible impact on Ireland’s opt-out from the Schengen Agreement when Britain completes its departure from the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19013/16]
View answerThe Schengen 'acquis' is derived from the 1990 Schengen Convention to implement the 1985 Schengen Agreement. It allows for the abolition of internal border controls between the participating countries. It also includes provisions on a common policy on the temporary entry of persons, the harmonisation of external border controls, and cross-border police and judicial co-operation.
The relevant Protocol to the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997 recognised the fact that Ireland and the United Kingdom were not parties to the original Schengen Agreement and made provision to allow those Member States to accept some or all of its provisions.
Council Decision 2002/192/EC adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 28 February 2002, provided a basis for the partial implementation of the Schengen acquis in Ireland and remains in force.
Ireland has not applied to participate in those aspects of the Schengen acquis that provide for the abolition of internal border checks.
Ireland’s participation in and right to ‘opt-out’ from the Schengen acquis is explicitly guaranteed by the 2009 Treaty of Lisbon.
Article 5 to Protocol (No. 19) to the Lisbon Treaty provides that Ireland is deemed to be in any measures that builds on those parts of the Schengen acquis in which it already participates unless, within three months of the publication of the proposal or initiative, it notifies the Council that it does not wish to take part in the measure.
It is Government policy to maintain the Common Travel Area with the UK and there is no proposal by any party to change Ireland's opt-out of the Schengen border arrangements.
56. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the procedures to be followed to facilitate extended residency and preparation for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18887/16]
View answerI have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that we have no record of a De Facto Partner Permission application for the person concerned. For details on how to make an application for De Facto Partner Permission, please consult the INIS website at http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Pages/De%20Facto%20Relationships.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
57. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 16 June 2016, the extent to which a case (details supplied) can be progressed towards naturalisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18891/16]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is ongoing and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
58. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the determination of an application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18892/16]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned has made an application for a certificate of naturalisation. The processing of the application is ongoing with a view to establishing whether the conditions for naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, are satisfied. The records show that the person's permission to reside expired on 6 March 2016. All non-EEA nationals are required to keep their permission to remain in the State up to date at all times and failure to do so may adversely affect an application for a certificate of naturalisation.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
