Written Answers Nos. 196-215
196. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if it is a condition of approval for funding for new and refurbished libraries that the relevant local authority must accept that the facility will be an out-of-hours staffless library. [33439/16]
View answerIn January 2016 my Department announced some €22m as part of a new Libraries Capital Development Programme for the period 2016-2021. Funding was allocated to 16 projects under the programme. The projects range from small refurbishment works to larger-scale developments and new builds.
It is intended that projects funded under the programme will operate the ‘My Open Library’ service when they are completed. However, this will depend on a number of factors including the scale of the development, the suitability of the library branch for the service and the outcome of the extended pilot phase due to commence in 22 libraries from January 2017. Ultimately, the matter will be progressed with the relevant local authorities as part of the capital project approval process.
197. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the operating and maintenance costs per annum of the equipment and utilities that accrue in the libraries piloted for the staffless scheme. [33441/16]
View answerUnder section 78 of the Local Government Act 2001, the provision and management of library services is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority. This includes expenditure on operating, maintenance and utility costs. My Department has no direct role in these matters.
198. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide copies of the environmental appropriate assessment and the environmental impact assessment reports for the original ten year foreshore lease granted to the Marine Institute in 2006 for the wave energy test site in Spiddal, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33470/16]
View answerIn 2006, the then Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources was responsible for the regulation of the foreshore under the 1933 Foreshore Act. The application for the original 10 year lease was processed by that Department.
Following a search of the foreshore records, my Department has not been able to locate the environmental assessment reports requested in respect of the granting of the 2006 lease. Therefore at this point in time, it is not possible to provide the information requested.
My Department will make further enquires to include the Departments who held responsibility for the foreshore function at the time of the original application in 2005 and will subsequently contact the Deputy on the outcome of these further searches.
199. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason the UNESCO world heritage Burren and Cliffs of Moher site was excluded from the environmental impact assessment screening process in relation to a foreshore lease application (details supplied) to construct an offshore electricity generating station on Galway Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33471/16]
View answerMy Department is currently awaiting comments from the applicant in respect of the 555 public submissions received by my Department during the public consultation period before undertaking any such assessment.
The next stage in the process is that the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC), an ad hoc multi-disciplinary advisory body, will undertake a technical evaluation of the application and the accompanying supporting documentation. All aspects of the application and its supporting documentation together with any issues raised by the public, prescribed bodies or other interests will be carefully considered by the MLVC within the context of the applicable legislative framework (including EIA and Appropriate Assessment legislation).
200. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of local authority residential units sold to private buyers in each of the years from 1960 to date in 2016, in tabular form. [33474/16]
View answerThe information requested is not available in my Department. Information on the number of local authority dwellings sold under tenant purchase schemes is available on my Department’s website at: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.
201. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when the last value for money review into the relative cost effectiveness of rent supplement and other private rented social housing schemes versus direct public provision of social housing was completed; the outcome of that review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33478/16]
View answerIt is a clear priority of the Government to maximise delivery of social housing to cater for the greatest level of need, while also achieving value for money. The provision of social housing is carried out by local authorities and Approved Housing bodies (AHBs) through a range of delivery methods, including construction, acquisition, leasing and other approaches, which allow local authorities, as housing authorities, to respond flexibly to meet local demand and operate within local property circumstances. The operation of the rent supplement scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.
The Government’s Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan For Housing and Homelessness published in July 2016 recognises the need to significantly increase the level and scale of supports available to those whose circumstances mean they need State help in meeting their housing needs. The Action Plan allows for a broad range of flexible delivery mechanisms including an accelerated and expanded social housing construction programme. The Action Plan sets an ambitious target to deliver 47,000 units of social housing in the period to 2021, while at the same time making the best use of the existing housing stock and laying the foundations for a more vibrant and responsive private rented sector. Of the 47,000 units-
- 26,000 will be exclusively built as social housing;
- 11,000 will be acquired by Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies from the market or the Housing Agency; and
- 10,000 will be leased by Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies.
I have secured €5.35 billion exchequer investment to deliver these 47,000 new social housing units over the period of the Action Plan. This €5.35 billion investment comprises some €4.5 billion in capital funding and €844 million in support of programmes funded from current expenditure, specifically the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP). This significant capital investment will assist local authorities and AHBs to continue their re-engagement in substantial social housing construction activity.
A number of financial and economic studies carried out support the rationale for the provision of social housing through mechanisms such as the leasing and renting of privately owned accommodation. In 2010, the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) published a specific chapter (Chapter 23 of the C&AG's 2009 Annual Report) relating to the leasing of social housing. In addition, a financial appraisal of the long-term costs of leasing in comparison with other social housing delivery options, commissioned by my Department was carried out by the Housing Agency in 2011. Both the C&AG findings and the study commissioned by my Department broadly indicated that leasing represents good value for money in social housing provision when compared to direct market acquisition or construction of units. A copy of the Housing Agency report entitled Comparative Financial Appraisal of the Projected Long-Term Costs of Social Housing Delivery Mechanisms is available on the Housing Agency’s website at: https://www.housingagency.ie/Housing/meia/Media/PDFs/11-11-15-Comparative-Financial-Appraisal-of-Long-Term-Costs_Social-housing.pdf.
The introduction of the new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) was underpinned by an economic assessment which was submitted to Government in 2013 and informed the Government’s decision to initiate the HAP scheme at that time.
I continue to keep all of the social housing delivery mechanisms under review to ensure that they remain relevant and are meeting the needs of citizens in a cost effective way.
202. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will report on the drawdown of funds to local authorities designated for accommodation for the Travelling community; if he has made contact with local authorities that have not used their full allocation; if he will take action to ensure accommodation needs for the Travelling community are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33583/16]
View answerIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
The capital allocation in respect of Traveller-specific accommodation for 2016 is €5.5 million, of which almost €1.73 million has been recouped to date. Typically, the bulk of expenditure occurs in the last quarter of the year, having regard to lead in times for planning, design and construction of capital projects. To ensure maximum expenditure and delivery of accommodation, local authorities submit quarterly profiles of expenditure to my Department. These are monitored against actual expenditure and if a difficulty is identified in drawing down funding allocated for a particular scheme during the year, it is reallocated to another scheme. Expenditure during 2016 is being closely monitored and my Department is currently contacting every relevant local authority in order to ensure that drawdown is maximised.
My Department also provides current funding for accommodation-related supports to operate in tandem with the capital programme. Current funding of €4.3m is being provided in 2016. Over €3.2m has been recouped to local authorities in 2016 to date, of which €0.943m was self-funded by local authorities from surplus Local Property Tax receipts. A similar level of current funding will be provided in 2017.
Capital funding of €9m is being provided for Traveller-specific accommodation in 2017, an increase of €3.5m (64%) on the 2016 allocation. This is the second consecutive year that the Traveller Accommodation capital budget has been increased. Included in this is provision to assist local authorities with the costs of capital works arising from the fire safety review of Traveller-specific accommodation.
As regards the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation and associated funding, the Programme for a Partnership Government commits to establishing a special working group to audit the current delivery and implementation of local authorities’ Traveller Accommodation Plans and consult with stakeholders on key areas of concern. This commitment has been underpinned in Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, which provides for the commissioning by the Housing Agency of an expert, independent review of Traveller accommodation expenditure and delivery of units, having regard to the targets contained in the local authority Traveller Accommodation Programmes. The review has commenced and is due to be completed in quarter two of 2017. The review will provide factual information and a key platform for the special working group to progress its work effectively. The working group will be established as soon as possible after completion of the review.
203. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the allocations of funding of service providers under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988 per year and per organisation for each of the years 2012 to date in 2016, in tabular form. [33616/16]
View answerMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. In accordance with section 37(2) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including accommodation, rests with individual housing authorities. While my Department provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless services and accommodation under Section 10 of the Housing Act, 1988, it does not contract or fund any services directly and the details requested in the Question would, therefore, be a matter for individual housing authorities.
204. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has produced a new statement of strategy since May 2016; and if so, the measures in it to support persons with disabilities. [33634/16]
View answerIn accordance with the Public Service Management Act 1997, each Department or Office must prepare and submit a Statement of Strategy to their Minister within six months of the appointment of a new Minister. My Department has prepared a new draft Statement of Strategy which I expect will be published later this month, subject to my approval.
The draft strategy statement has been drawn up in accordance with guidelines issued by the Department of the Taoiseach which note that each statement should have particular regard to the Programme for a Partnership Government (PPG). In so far as my Department is concerned, the PPG makes specific reference to the housing needs of people with disabilities and you can expect to see that commitment reflected in the new Statement of Strategy.
Once approved, the strategy will be published in Irish and English and a copy will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
205. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has received the additional funding necessary to ensure the long-term funding of local authorities in respect of the increased demands being imposed upon them consequent to the Department of Health's combined policies of decongregation and implementation of the social care model for adults with a learning disability; if his Department completed projections as to the extent of the extra costs involved for local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33667/16]
View answerThe 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.
De-congregation is a policy matter for the Department of Health who, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive (HSE), decide which institutions close and which clients are appropriate to community living with required supports. The ongoing health, home care and other supports for individuals, under the remit of the HSE, are essential components that facilitate this objective. The provision of appropriate housing is another component of the wider strategy, and this element is supported by my Department in accordance with the NHSPWD.
Since 2013, €1 million has been provided by my Department to support the on-going transition of people with disabilities from congregated settings and I have secured equivalent funding for 2017. In addition, to help accelerate progress, my Department has provided ring-fenced funding of €10 million in 2016 under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS), specifically for the provision of housing for people with disabilities who are moving out of congregated settings into community based living arrangements. CAS funding will also be available to provide housing for people with disabilities in the community more generally that is not specifically targeted at deinstitutionalisation. The CAS provides funding of up to 100% to Approved Housing Bodies for the provision of independent living accommodation to meet the needs of people requiring specific categories of needs, including those with disabilities. Further capital will be available in 2017 for housing provision for people with disabilities. This is additional to capital funding which is being provided separately by the Minister for Health.
206. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of developments at a housing scheme (details supplied) in County Monaghan; if funding has been allocated for this community facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33696/16]
View answerMy Department has already provided €2.3 million through the Capital Assistance Scheme to Monaghan County Council for the construction of 18 units of accommodation by an approved housing body in County Monaghan. This is the first phase of the scheme concerned and is made up of 10 two bed units and an 8 unit group home. I understand that this phase is largely complete and 10 of the 18 units have tenants allocated to them. A final account and post project review for this phase is awaited from Monaghan County Council.
A request has also been submitted by Monaghan County Council on behalf of the approved housing body in question for capital funding for the construction of two additional units of accommodation and a communal facility on the site. I am keen to support the project and I look forward to receiving further details in respect of Phase 2 of the scheme.
207. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the costings for the open library pilot project in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33700/16]
View answerThe ‘My Open Library’ service is an initiative under Opportunities for All, the national public library strategy 2013-2017. It forms part of the overall strategy to address customer demand and grants members the freedom and flexibility to use the library at the hours that suit them best.
The initial ‘My Open Library’ pilot was introduced in three branches, namely, Tullamore and Banagher Libraries in Offaly and Tubbercurry Library in Sligo. The cost of introducing the service in Offaly was €80,950. My Department provided a contribution of €56,000 towards these costs. A breakdown of the costs is provided in the following table.
|
Description of costs |
Costs |
|
Self Service Access/hardware management software to control access control/lights/CCTV/alarms |
€ 40,000 |
|
RFID/Self service kiosk/Security gates |
€ 19,000 |
|
Staff/Project Management/Security |
€ 8,000 |
|
ICT staff costs /firewall and SIP works/Security, Wifi |
€ 7,050 |
|
Self service/mobile print/PC reservation |
€ 6,900 |
|
€ 80,950 |
208. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 81 of 26 October 2016, if there are regulations for the storage of sludge in respect of possible dangers to neighbours of the storage facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33702/16]
View answerProvisions for the management and storage of organic fertiliser are contained in water protection and waste management legislation.
Ireland's third National Nitrates Action Programme is given legal effect by the consolidated European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014. The objective of the Regulations is to protect ground and surface waters, including drinking water sources, primarily through the management of livestock manures and other fertilisers. The Regulations set out the legal requirement for farmers to comply with good agricultural practice in the management of all fertilisers on their farms, including manures, slurries and sludge, and to ensure that they are stored in a manner that prevents run-off or seepage.
Furthermore, under the Waste Management (Registration of Sewage Sludge Facility) Regulations 2010, a local authority can issue certificates of registration for sewage sludge facilities registered in its functional area. Among the conditions that can be attached to such a certificate of registration is a requirement concerning the integrity of all storage tanks or storage bays and their maintenance and checking by a certified expert at reasonable intervals.
209. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the situation with regard to the categorisation of houses for pyrite remediation by the NSAI; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a contention among home owners that their homes will fall short of these new guidelines and remain not remediated while their neighbours may have been remediated; if his attention has further been drawn to the distress that home owners are suffering as a result of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33779/16]
View answerThe Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides for the making of a pyrite remediation scheme by the Pyrite Resolution Board for certain dwellings affected by significant pyrite damage. The pyrite remediation scheme is a scheme of “last resort” and is limited in its application and scope. The full conditions for eligibility under the scheme are set out in the scheme, which is available on the Board’s website www.pyriteboard.ie.
The scheme is applicable to dwellings which are subject to significant damage attributable to pyritic heave established in accordance with I.S. 398-1:2013 - Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material – Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol. It is a condition of eligibility under the scheme that an application to the Board must be accompanied by a Building Condition Assessment with a Damage Condition Rating of 2. Dwellings which do not have a Damage Condition Rating of 2 are not eligible to apply under the scheme. There are no proposals to amend eligibility criteria.
In late 2015, the National Standards Authority of Ireland commenced a review of I.S. 398-1:2013 in the light of practical experience since the standard was first introduced in January 2013. This standard sets out the national procedures for the assessment of pyritic damage and for the testing of pyrite in the subfloor hardcore material of dwellings and is a key document in both the operation of the Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 and the pyrite remediation scheme. My Department understands that a draft of the revision of I.S. 398-1:2013 was recently announced for public consultation by the National Standards Authority of Ireland. It is open to any interested party to register and submit their comments on the draft document through the Your Standards Your Say weblink at http://www.nsainep.ie/Home/DocComment/7716.
210. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason his Department has an underspend of €90 million in capital expenditure at end of October 2016; the way he proposes to ensure that money allocated primarily to address housing need is spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33852/16]
View answerThe Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services 2016, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in December 2015, provided for gross capital expenditure of €545 million in respect of my Department in 2016. Following the transfer of functions from my Department in 2016 to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the gross capital allocation to my Department in 2016 stands at €473m. In addition, €32m is available for capital spending in my Department in 2016 following a carryover of unspent funding from 2015 giving a total available capital of €505m in 2016.
Spending at the end of last week in respect of capital programmes in my Department stood at €217m. I expect significant further expenditure to take place by end 2016; traditionally, a very significant proportion of the Department’s capital spend takes place in the final months of the year when projects and initiatives come to a conclusion. If any savings emerge in the finalisation of Department spending in 2016, consideration will be given, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to the appropriate use of the resources concerned.
211. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Coimirce Sóisialaí an ndéanfar breithniú ar iarratas atá fós le cur isteach ag scoil i gContae Dhún na nGall (sonraí tugtha) chun bheith páirteach i Scéim na mBéilí Scoile; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [33264/16]
View answerCuireann clár na mbéilí scoile maoiniú ar fáil chun seirbhísí bia a sholáthar do scoileanna agus d’eagraíochtaí, rud a théann chun tairbhe do bhreis agus 200,000 leanbh ar chostas iomlán €42 mhilliún sa bhliain 2016. D’fhógair mé, mar chuid de Cháinaisnéis na Bliana 2017, €5.7 milliún sa bhreis i dtaca leis na béilí scoile, rud a mhéadaigh an maoiniú go dtí €47.7 milliún.
Is é is cuspóir leis an scéim ná bia cothaitheach rialta a chur ar fáil do leanaí nach mbíonn in ann leas iomlán a bhaint as an oideachas a sholáthraítear dóibh, de dheasca easpa bia ardchaighdeáin. Tá tosaíocht ó thaobh na n-iarratas nua ar an maoiniú tugtha do scoileanna atá mar chuid de thionscnamh na Roinne Oideachais agus Scileanna do scoileanna faoi mhíbhuntáiste “An Comhionannas Deise sna Scoileanna a Sheachadadh” (DEIS) i gcomhréir le Creatlach an Pholasaí Náisiúnta do Leanaí agus do Dhaoine Óga, Torthaí Níos Fearr, Todhchaí Níos Gile. Cuireann an maoiniú breise a tugadh i gCáinaisnéis na Bliana 2017 soláthar áirithe ar fáil i leith shíneadh na scéime go dtí clubanna bricfeasta i scoileanna nach den DEIS iad ó Mheán Fómhair 2017.
Bainfidh breis agus 50,000 leanbh tairbhe as an maoiniú méadaithe i dtaca le clár na mbéilí scoile, ina gcuirfear bricfeastaí agus lónta ar fáil, agus a mhéadóidh de €5.7 milliún go dtí €47.7 milliún sa bhliain 2017. As an méid seo, cuirfear tuairim agus 35,000 bricfeasta scoile sa bhreis ar fáil i scoileanna nach den DEIS iad ó thús na scoilbhliana nua sa bhliain 2017.
Ós rud é nach scoil DEIS í an scoil ar thagair an Teachta di, ní féidir í a bhreithniú ó thaobh mhaoiniú na mbéilí scoile i leith na bliana acadúla reatha. Tá na roghanna ó thaobh maoiniú a chur ar fáil do scoileanna nach den DEIS iad i leith na chéad scoilbhliana eile á scrúdú ag oifigigh mo Roinne.
Tá súil agam go soiléiríonn sé seo an scéal don Teachta.
212. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if National Lottery funding is available at present through his Department to support the work of community groups; if so, if there are specific programmes eligible for grant assistance; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33278/16]
View answerNational lottery funding is not available through my Department.
Details of Government Departments that do consider applications for lottery funding are available on the National Lottery website (www.lottery.ie). Community groups seeking lottery funding should apply to the relevant Department.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
213. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that newly qualified teachers on casual temporary hours are required to take part in JobPath and Seetec training in areas not related to their chosen profession, in view of the fact that this would hinder their opportunity to accept short notice substitution or supervision hours; the number of JobPath and Seetec participants that are in this situation; the measures he is taking to ensure that appropriate discretion is used in processing such casual work social protection applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33288/16]
View answerThere is no restriction on unemployed teachers taking up short notice substitution or supervision hours while in receipt of employment support services under JobPath. Unemployed jobseekers who take up a short term work assignment are required to notify the Department of Social Protection of any such employment so that the appropriate adjustments can be made to their welfare payment. If they are being supported under the JobPath service they should, in addition, notify their JobPath provider so that it can take account of this work experience in identifying further employment opportunities for the person concerned.
All jobseekers are required to engage with the department’s activation service and this obligation applies irrespective of whether the service is provided by the department’s own case officers or those employed by the Local Employment Service or by JobPath companies. A jobseeker’s payment is conditional on a person seeking employment and being willing to take up suitable employment. This condition applies to both full-time and part-time jobseekers.
In the case of the employment support service provided under the JobPath contracts the JobPath providers are remunerated on the basis of supporting people into sustained employment of at least 30 hours per week. Fees are paid in respect of each period of 13 weeks of sustained employment up to a maximum of 4 payments or 52 weeks employment. The suitability of employment is a key factor in ensuring that jobs are sustainable. If people are not placed into suitable jobs they are less likely to remain in employment and the JobPath companies will get fewer fees.
In general, jobseekers who have particular training and skills such as teachers, will be assisted to find employment in their chosen area of work. However, where jobs in the chosen area of work are not available, jobseekers will be encouraged and assisted to find employment in other suitable areas of work where this is possible.
My department has been advised by Seetec that the company has already been successful in placing a number of unemployed teachers into full-time teaching jobs. My department does not have details of the number of newly qualified teachers who are engaging with the JobPath service.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
214. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is now costing the taxpayer more after the decision of the Government to withdraw 60% rebate from statutory redundancy payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33310/16]
View answerIt is the statutory responsibility of employers to make redundancy payments to employees when their jobs cease to exist. Where an employer cannot pay redundancy due to financial difficulty or insolvency, payments can be made from the Social Insurance Fund under the redundancy payments scheme.
Up to 2011, a rebate of up to 60 per cent was paid to all employers who made statutory redundancy payments. The rebate was initially reduced and then abolished with effect from January 2013. This decision was taken to reduce expenditure on the redundancy payments scheme for employers who otherwise could afford to make the payments.
Claims under the redundancy payments scheme fell by over 70 per cent after the rebate was abolished, with the result that expenditure from the Social Insurance Fund was reduced from over €300 million in 2011 and 2012 to €126 million in 2013. In 2014 and 2015, claims and expenditure have continued to decrease, mainly because job losses have fallen (see table attached).
It is clear that the decision to abolish the rebate has resulted in significant savings in expenditure and has helped to stabilise the Social Insurance Fund.
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1: Claims and Expenditure in the Redundancy Payments Scheme 2011 – 2015
|
Year |
Claims processed |
Expenditure |
|
2011 |
49,762 |
€311.96m |
|
2012 |
33,072 |
€301.76m |
|
2013 |
14,088 |
€126.10m |
|
2014 |
6,883 |
€ 64.6m |
|
2015 |
4,333 |
€ 34.9m |
(rebates and lump sums)
215. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the community employment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33317/16]
View answerThis case has been reviewed and it has been determined that the person concerned is eligible to apply for further participation on the community employment scheme. The person concerned has been contacted to inform him of the outcome of the review.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
