Written Answers Nos. 98 - 107
98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for disability allowance or benefit in their own right; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30176/16]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged between 16 and 66 years. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical examination, a means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
An application form for disability allowance has been issued to the person concerned. On its return and on the completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made on his claim. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of jobseeker's payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30177/16]
View answerThe person referred to has been in receipt of a jobseekers allowance payment since December 2015 at the rate of €217.80 per week. This is the maximum rate of jobseekers allowance payment for a person with one qualified child dependent. A fuel allowance of €22.50 is also in payment since the commencement of the current fuel season on 3 October 2016. The person referred to should notify the Department of Social Protection branch office in Portlaoise of any change in their circumstances.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if partial rent support will be awarded in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30178/16]
View answerThe Department has not, to date, received an application for Rent Supplement from the client concerned. The client should forward an application to be assessed for entitlement to Rent Supplement to the Mid-Leinster Rent Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
101. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30197/16]
View answerAn application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 5 February 2016.
It is a condition for receipt of a CA that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 13 July 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. The person concerned has requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of her application. The review is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
102. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála cad é an líon daoine a bhfuil cumas feidhmeach acu sa Ghaeilge agus atá ag obair ina Roinn. [30073/16]
View answer103. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála an bhfuil sprioc leagtha amach maidir le líon daoine a bhfuil cumas feidhmeach acu sa Ghaeilge a bheith ag obair sa Roinn de réir reachtaíochta agus an bhfuil an sprioc sin bainte amach go fóill. [30088/16]
View answer104. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála an bhfuil beartas earcaíochta faoi leith i bhfeidhm chun aon chuóta maidir le líon daoine a bhfuil cumas feidhmeach acu sa Ghaeilge, má tá a leithéid ann, a bhaint amach. [30103/16]
View answerMolaim Ceisteanna Uimh. 102 go 104, cuimsitheach, a fhreagairt le chéile.
Tá mo Roinn tiomanta go hiomlán le seirbhísí a sholáthar agus comhfhreagras a fhreagairt trí Ghaeilge nuair is gá. Léirigh iniúchadh den fhoireann in 2012 go raibh Gaeilge líofa nó ag ard-leibhéal ag 55 baill foirne i mo Roinn, agus d’fhógair 160 baill eile go raibh Gaeilge ag meán-leibhéal acu.
Tá beartas earcaíochta mo Roinne mar gheall ar an líon daoine a bhfuil cumas feidhmeach acu sa Ghaeilge agus atá ag obair sa Roinn leagtha amach inár Scéim Teanga. Faoin Scéim sin, rinne mo Roinn gealltanas le triúr Oifigeach le scileanna líofa Gaeilge a earcú roimh dheireadh 2017.
Tá áthas orm a rá go bhfuil ár sprioc de thriúr Oifigeach le líofacht sa Ghaeilge a earcú bainte amach againn cheana féin. Tá duine amháin ceaptha mar Oifigeach Gaeilge na Roinne agus beirt eile inár seirbhísí saoránach bunlíne in Oifig na bPasanna.
105. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30025/16]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has maintenance responsibility only for those Catchment Drainage Schemes and Flood Relief Schemes completed by the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995.
Neither Lough Lane nor the River Laune form part of an arterial drainage scheme under the auspices of this Office and as such we have no responsibility for its maintenance. Any cleaning of the rivers flowing into Lough Lane was not carried out by OPW as they do not form part of an arterial drainage scheme.
Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and Kerry County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources.
The Office of Public Works operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This administrative Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, are published on the OPW website at http://www.opw.ie. It is open to Kerry County Council to submit a funding application under the Scheme. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the overall availability of resources for flood risk management and the scheme's eligibility criteria, available on the OPW website.
106. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe cad é an líon daoine a bhfuil cumas feidhmeach acu sa Ghaeilge agus atá ag obair ina Roinn. [30077/16]
View answer107. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe an bhfuil sprioc leagtha amach maidir le líon daoine a bhfuil cumas feidhmeach acu sa Ghaeilge a bheith ag obair sa Roinn de réir reachtaíochta agus an bhfuil an sprioc sin bainte amach go fóill. [30092/16]
View answerTógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 106 agus 107 le chéile.
Tá seachtar ball foirne a bhfuil cumas feidhmeach acu obair na Roinne a dhéanamh sa Ghaeilge, coibhéiseach le tuairim 1% den fhoireann uile. Cé go bhfuil cuma ar an líon seo a bheith beag, is leor é le riachtanais na Roinne, nach mbíonn i dteagmháil dhíreach le hardleibhéal agus nach gcuireann seirbhísí agus scéimeanna díreacha ar fáil le daoine den phobal i gcoitinne, a bhaint amach ag féachaint do chineál a cuid feidhmeanna agus a cuid oibre.
