Wednesday, 7 Dec 2016

Written Answers Nos. 118-137

Schools Building Projects Status

Questions (118)

Willie Penrose

Question:

118. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills when construction of a school (details supplied) is expected to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39136/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The project was recently retendered and my Department is currently awaiting receipt of the tender report from the school and its design team. Subject to no issues arising it is envisaged construction will commence in the first quarter of 2017 and take approximately 24 months to complete.

Special Educational Needs Staff

Questions (119)

Willie Penrose

Question:

119. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistant posts approved nationally for September 2016; the number approved in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39150/16]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that 12,900 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) have been made available for allocation to primary and secondary schools to the end of 2016, at a total gross annual cost of €425 million.

This represents 860 more posts, or a 7% increase, in the number of posts over which were available last year.

It also represents an increase of 22% since 2011/12 when 10,575 SNA posts were available for allocation.

Of the total 12,900 posts available for allocation this year, 12,634.59 SNA post were approved nationally for schools at September 2016.

The total number of SNAs allocated in Kildare amounts to 547.42, which consists of 348.47 in Primary Schools, 92.95 in Post Primary Schools and 106 in Special Schools.

The NCSE has published details of SNA allocations for all schools which are available to view on a per county basis, including Kildare. Details can be accessed on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie or by using the following link http://ncse.ie/statistics.

Traveller Accommodation

Questions (120)

Maurice Quinlivan

Question:

120. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will visit the Long Pavement halting site in Limerick city. [38928/16]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

I have not received an invitation to visit the site mentioned and there are no plans to visit it in the immediate future. Should an invitation be received, it will be considered in the context of my official engagements and other diary commitments.

House Sales

Questions (121)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

121. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will clarify the process of a sale of a house when the person has not registered with Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38965/16]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Section 23(A) of the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 (inserted by Section 47 the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 ) requires the owner of a dwelling to either register with Irish Water as a customer or to notify Irish Water that they are not the occupier of the dwelling. Where the owner is not the occupier of the dwelling, the owner is required to notify Irish Water of the name of each person with whom he or she has an agreement to occupy the dwelling and the date of the commencement of any such agreement.

Under Section 3(A) of the Water Services Act 2014 (inserted by Section 48 of the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015) an owner of a dwelling who proposes to sell that dwelling shall before completion of the sale pay to Irish Water any charge in respect of the dwelling which is payable by the owner. The owner must also provide to his or her solicitor either a certificate of discharge from Irish Water confirming that any charge in respect of the dwelling owed to Irish Water has been paid or a statement from Irish Water that any charge in respect of the dwelling is not the liability of the owner.

Where the owner fails to provide either the certificate or the statement from Irish Water, the owner’s solicitor can request a statement from Irish Water setting out the amount of the charge payable by the owner to Irish Water in respect of the dwelling. This amount shall be withheld by the solicitor from the net proceeds of sale, if any, after the discharge of all mortgages and other liabilities relating to the sale and must be remitted to Irish Water within 20 working days of the completion of the sale of the dwelling.

Local Authority Housing Data

Questions (122)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

122. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the approximate number of vacant council properties within Cork city. [38985/16]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

General statistics on local authority housing stock, including units that may be empty in all local authorities, including Cork City , are published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC). The most recent statistics are in respect of 2015 and are available at the following link:

http://noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2015-PI-Report.pdf.

Private Rented Accommodation Evictions

Questions (123)

Dessie Ellis

Question:

123. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider immediately introducing a moratorium on evictions leading to homelessness for the duration of the housing crisis as recommended by organisations (details supplied). [39017/16]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. Security of tenure under the Act is based on rolling four-year tenancy cycles. Where a tenant has been in occupation of a dwelling for a continuous period of 6 months and no notice of termination has been served in respect of that tenancy before the expiry of the period of 6 months, the tenancy is established for the remainder of the four year period. This is referred to in the Act as a ‘Part 4’ tenancy.

A landlord may not terminate a Part 4 tenancy except on clearly defined grounds which are set out in the Table to section 34 of the Act. These grounds include that the landlord intends to sell the dwelling, that the landlord wishes to change the use of the dwelling, and that the landlord requires the dwelling for a family member.

Amendments introduced in the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 strengthen the protections around tenancy terminations by providing for measures that will guard against, for example, landlords falsely declaring that the property is needed for a family member, or that it is going to be sold. In addition, the Act provides for graduated increases in the notice periods that must be given to tenants of the termination of a tenancy so that a landlord must now give a tenant up to a maximum of 224 days’ notice for tenancies of 8 years or more.

The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 has completed all stages in the Seanad and second stage is scheduled to resume in the Dáil on 7 December 2016. It is expected that the Bill will be enacted by the end of the year. The Bill includes two significant provisions in relation to security of tenure. Section 30 contains a provision to deal with terminations in very specific circumstances, that is, where a number of tenants in a single development are served with termination notices at the same time. In addition, section 31 of the Bill provides for the repeal of section 42 of the Act of 2004, thereby extinguishing the landlord’s right to terminate a further Part 4 tenancy in the first 6 months of that tenancy for no stated ground.

It is acknowledged that the number of families and individuals currently entering homeless services is unacceptable and that the period of time spent in emergency accommodation should be minimised for those that do enter homeless services. Rebuilding Ireland, the Government’s Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, provides for early solutions to address the unacceptable levels of homelessness, including the commitment that, by mid-2017, commercial hotels will only be used in limited circumstances for emergency accommodation for families.  The Action Plan outlines that the housing needs of homeless households will be met through the enhanced Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme and general housing allocations, and by providing new supply to be delivered through an expanded Rapid Delivery Housing Programme and a Housing Agency initiative to acquire vacant houses.

Pillar 4 of the Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness commits to developing a comprehensive strategy for the rental sector. The strategy will include measures to address immediate issues affecting the supply, cost and accessibility of accommodation. In addition, the strategy will consider measures to increase security of tenure and, in particular, the potential of new mechanisms for both setting and reviewing rents. There will also be a focus on maintaining existing levels of rental stock and encouraging investment in additional supply. It is expected that the Strategy will be published before the end of the year.

State Investments

Questions (124)

Jack Chambers

Question:

124. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if investments, either directly or indirectly through pension or other investment funds, are held in tobacco companies by his Department, any agency within the remit of his Department, or any agency or entity in receipt of departmental funding; if his Department has any guideline on such investment; if his Department intends to introduce any policies or guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39030/16]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

My Department’s Income and Expenditure is processed through Voted expenditure (Vote 34), which is managed by the Paymaster General’s Office. Guidelines on Exchequer investments are a matter for the Department of Finance.

My Department has responsibility for the Local Government Fund (LGF). The LGF comprises of two bank accounts and an investment account. The investment account is interest bearing and is invested in the Exchequer through the NTMA Exchequer Note Programme. I can confirm that this is not invested in tobacco companies.

Investments made by agencies under my Department’s remit are a matter for the agencies themselves. Pension investment funds are managed by the Trustees of the pension schemes operating in these agencies. There is no obligation on the agencies to report to my Department on the matter and investment funding policy generally is a matter for the Department of Finance.

Arrangements have been put in place by each Agency to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact email address for each agency is as follows:

Agency	Email address
An Bord Pleanála	[e-mail]
Ervia, Gas Networks Ireland	[e-mail]
Housing Sustainable Communities Agency	[e-mail]
Housing Finance Agency	[e-mail]
Irish Water	[e-mail]
Irish Water Safety	[e-mail]
Local Government Management Agency	[e-mail]
Residential Tenancies Board	[e-mail]
Pobal	[e-mail]

Statutory Instruments

Questions (125)

Seán Fleming

Question:

125. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when a statutory instrument will be signed outlining the details of rents acceptable under the housing assistance programme for County Laois and other counties that are scheduled to come into the scheme at the beginning of December 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39064/16]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme became operational on a statutory basis in nine further local authority areas, including Laois County Council, on 1 December 2016, meeting the Government’s commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government and Rebuilding Ireland. This brings to 28 the number of local authorities in which the HAP scheme is operational. The statutory instruments concerned, the Housing Assistance Payment (Section 50) (No.2) Regulations 2016 and the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment) (No.4) Regulations 2016, which provide for the commencement of the HAP scheme and the related rent limits in these additional local authority areas, are available on the Irish Statute Book website at www.irishstatutebook.ie.

The prescribed rent limits for Cavan, Kerry, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath and Wexford County Councils have be en introduced at the same limits as those currently prescribed in these areas under the Rent Supplement scheme, which were reviewed in July of this year.

Where necessary to secure suitable accommodation for a household that is qualified for social housing support that cannot find accommodation within the maximum rent limits, HAP local authorities, including those commencing HAP on 1 December 2016, have the discretion to exceed those maximum HAP rent limits prescribed for their administrative area by up to 20%, where they determine it is justified.

Mortgage to Rent Scheme Administration

Questions (126)

Bobby Aylward

Question:

126. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will investigate the current level of engagement among housing agencies with the mortgage to rent scheme; if he is satisfied with same; if he will consider implementing legislation or amending the principal legislation to ensure that there is a higher level of engagement between housing agencies and applicants of the mortgage to rent scheme to ensure that they are not forced out of their home and onto the housing list which represents a failure in the current system and very poor utilisation of State funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39073/16]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Up to the end of Quarter 3 2016, a total of 3,498 cases has been submitted under the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme which was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of private commercial lending institutions. Of the 3,498 cases submitted, 2,642 were ineligible or terminated during the process for a variety of reasons. Of the remaining cases submitted, 669 are being actively progressed and 187 have been completed.

The MTR scheme is part of the overall suite of social housing options and an important part of the mortgage arrears resolution process. A number of amendments were made to the scheme in July 2015 to enable more properties to qualify and to make the scheme more flexible and accessible to borrowers. Despite these amendments, the rate of uptake on the scheme remains low. The reasons for this are varied and can depend on the lender, the property, the household and the ability of the Approved Housing Body sector to increase their involvement in the scheme.

Notwithstanding the amendments made to the scheme in 2015, the Government has included a review of the MTR scheme as an action in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. The review, currently underway, is examining what further amendments can be made to the scheme to make it work better for borrowers and my Department is consulting with key stakeholders in this regard. The review is to be completed by the end of the year.

In addition, the Government has established a new scheme to help people who are insolvent and in serious mortgage arrears on their home to access free, independent expert advice. The Scheme of Aid and Advice for People in Mortgage Arrears provides financial and / or legal advice and assistance to people in this situation. The aim of the scheme is to help mortgage holders in arrears to find the best solutions and keep them, wherever possible, in their own homes.

Ministerial Correspondence

Questions (127)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

127. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason he has not replied to e-mails of 3 October 2016, 17 October 2016, 11 November 2016 in respect of persons (details supplied) and a grant for a housing adaptation that requires approval of his Department. [39130/16]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

In 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. It is my Department’s policy to provide permanent accommodation insofar as is possible, while at the same time respecting the nomadic tradition of the Traveller community. In that regard, a scheme of loans and grants for the purchase of caravans by Travellers was established by Circular TAU1/2000, underpinned by Section 25 of the 1998 Traveller Accommodation Act. This provision gives local authorities discretionary powers to provide loans to Traveller families for the provision of Traveller-specific accommodation, i.e. loans for caravans or sites for caravans, subject to terms and conditions specified by the Minister with the consent of the Minister for Finance.

Cognisant of emergencies which arise from time to time which by their nature cannot be anticipated or planned for, my Department provides funding to local authorities of up to 50% of the cost of purchase of emergency replacement mobile homes.

With regard to the individual case referred to by the Deputy, due to the medical circumstances outlined in the Council’s proposals, my Department agreed, in this instance, to fund 50% of the purchase price of the mobile home for the family concerned on the condition that the Council pay the balance. The Council were notified of this decision by email on 6th October 2016. Any additional funding apart from what has already been approved is not a matter for my Department and the Council was advised that any additional financial requirement is a matter to be resolved between the Council and the tenant in question. A formal response to the Deputy’s representations on the matter will issue shortly from my Department.

Water and Sewerage Schemes Grants

Questions (128)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

128. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the details of all grant payment schemes for group water schemes; the total number of such schemes which are grant aided; and the total cost of these for each of the past three years. [39145/16]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

The information requested is being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A

Responsibility for the administration of my Department’s Rural Water Programme, under which funding is provided for group water schemes, had been devolved to local authorities since 1997. The selection, prioritisation and approval of individual group scheme proposals for advancement and funding under this programme, within the overall priorities set by my Department and subject to the block grant allocations provided, was therefore a matter for the local authorities.

During 2015, my Department established a working group, involving key stakeholders in the rural water sector, which includes group water schemes, to address the development of the sector within the overall water reform programme to ensure that the programme responds effectively to current and future needs. Local authorities, the Water Services Transition Office, Irish Water, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes and my Department are represented on the working group.

The tasks of the working group included the development of a multi-annual approach to targeting funding to meet priority needs of the sector and to ensure that there is appropriate integration of the Department's Rural Water Programme and Irish Water's Capital Investment Programme so as to fully support rural development and address any environmental issues that may arise.

In January 2016, my Department wrote to local authorities, advising them of the new multi-annual approach to the funding of group water schemes for 2016 and beyond under the rural water programme. Details of the new grant scheme under my Department’s new Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016 – 2018 is available on my Department’s website at the following link:

http://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/rural-water-programme/group-water-schemes-and-rural-water-issues.

Consequently, 2016 is a transition year where a mixture of block grants and scheme specific funding was made to local authorities. All proposals from local authorities for scheme specific funding were examined by an Expert Panel convened for this purpose. In August 2016, my Department notified local authorities of the final overall allocations for funding in 2016. Under scheme specific allocations, 83 group water schemes were allocated funding in 2016. A copy of the Expert Panel's report and consideration of all proposals under the Programme is also available at the above link. The transition to the more scheme specific approach will continue in 2017.

The following table sets out the amounts recouped by county under the programme over the period 2014-2016 as grants for group water schemes. The amounts in the table do not include the administration and overhead costs of local authorities in administering the Rural Water Programme (approx. €1.8m per annum) which are also recouped to local authorities by my Department.

County	Grant for Group Water Schemes 2014	Grant for Group Water Schemes 2015	Grant for Group Water Schemes 2016 (Provisional)
Carlow	€423,863.27	€150,645.84	€0.00
Cavan	€588,673.47	€1,083,439.65	€5,375.74
Clare	€33,651.00	€260,892.41	€1,500.00
Cork	€167,174.79	€550,320.64	€0.00
Donegal	€144,037.81	€82,486.26	€0.00
Galway	€1,218,616.71	€2,352,061.21	€1,114,394.32
Kerry	€497,639.63	€212,033.90	€155,511.20
Kildare	€3,448.99	€113,859.98	€62,833.45
Kilkenny	€335,378.29	€431,200.79	€0.00
Laois	€488,573.93	€435,704.87	€0.00
Leitrim	€153,470.38	€64,185.92	€103,434.65
Limerick	€907,368.93	€724,003.71	€35,855.75
Longford	€153,335.88	€36,663.71	€14,883.36
Louth	€218,498.04	€182,896.24	€232,926.32
Mayo	€1,588,696.45	€1,573,866.06	€4,820,632.31
Meath	€37,065.25	€206,406.85	€212,761.57
Monaghan	€611,821.09	€737,499.43	€45,778.05
Offaly	€454,621.92	€407,519.00	€0.00
Roscommon	€1,530,873.38	€647,856.47	€400,566.98
Sligo	€609,863.19	€305,707.35	€0.00
Tipperary	€586,841.43	€459,146.75	€391,092.60
Waterford	€55,889.36	€55,099.90	€0.00
Westmeath	€89,966.62	€25,798.55	€0.00
Wexford	€24,476.93	€305,497.50	€178,615.98
Wicklow	€159,742.52	€33,525.70	€0.00
Total	€11,083,589.26	€11,438,318.69	€7,776,162.28

Water and Sewerage Schemes Grants

Questions (129)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

129. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the details of all grant payment schemes available for private wells; the total number of such wells which are grant aided; and the total cost of these for each of the past three years. [39139/16]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

The information requested is being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A

My Department recoups funding under the Rural Water Programme to local authorities who administer the programme on behalf of my Department. Funding is available under the programme towards the provision or necessary improvement of individual domestic water supplies (more commonly known as private wells).

Details of the grant for the provision of individual domestic water supplies are available from local authorities and on my Department’s website at the following link http://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/rural-water-programme/private-wells.

The following tables set out the number of such supplies that are grant aided and the amounts recouped by county over the period 2014 – 2016.

2014

County	Number of Individual Domestic Water Supplies (Private Wells)	Amount
Carlow	47	€75,106.08
Cavan	16	€29,339.81
Clare	20	€35,649.17
Cork	268	€434,142.11
Donegal	0	€0.00
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown	3	€4,722.13
Galway	18	€31,188.89
Kerry	15	€23,515.98
Kildare	20	€36,047.82
Kilkenny	90	€148,336.26
Laois	32	€62,255.00
Leitrim	7	€14,184.16
Limerick	84	€148,343.40
Longford	10	€17,800.95
Louth	68	€117,325.64
Mayo	11	€19,942.99
Meath	66	€123,677.03
Monaghan	4	€8,022.84
Offaly	5	€6,728.10
Roscommon	4	€6,787.85
Sligo	2	€4,063.16
South Dublin	8	€14,604.28
Tipperary	45	€81,467.75
Waterford	83	€133,810.42
Westmeath	19	€33,367.60
Wexford	174	€269,277.60
Wicklow	119	€179,614.90
Total	1,238	€2,059,321.92

2015

County	Number of Individual Domestic Water Supplies (Private Wells)	Amount
Carlow	46	€82,532.04
Cavan	15	€27,683.00
Clare	23	€37,603.82
Cork	416	€573,214.98
Donegal	18	€33,341.06
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown	5	€9,566.32
Galway	22	€40,957.43
Kerry	13	€21,425.33
Kildare	29	€55,738.32
Kilkenny	78	€125,009.60
Laois	28	€50,068.76
Leitrim	3	€5,949.60
Limerick	45	€76,158.25
Longford	5	€9,639.59
Louth	69	€116,822.56
Mayo	11	€20,447.94
Meath	97	€164,211.86
Monaghan	3	€4,089.58
Offaly	0	€0.00
Roscommon	8	€16,189.79
Sligo	1	€2,031.58
South Dublin	4	€8,013.23
Tipperary	51	€92,905.71
Waterford	91	€134,006.81
Westmeath	21	€38,366.17
Wexford	239	€369,002.39
Wicklow	53	€85,645.31
Total	1,394	€2,200,621.03

2016 (Provisional - up to and including 9th December 2016 only)

County	Number of Individual Domestic Water Supplies (Private Wells)	Amount
Carlow	55	€94,250.71
Cavan	12	€22,391.82
Clare	7	€12,960.22
Cork	256	€448,290.72
Donegal	8	€15,020.44
Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown	1	€1,095.00
Galway	16	€30,398.04
Kerry	17	€29,151.55
Kildare	38	€71,318.38
Kilkenny	19	€31,370.66
Laois	37	€69,069.83
Leitrim	0	€0.00
Limerick	81	€148,901.69
Longford	13	€21,270.76
Louth	62	€110,425.11
Mayo	4	€6,206.99
Meath	106	€195,714.73
Monaghan	9	€16,439.39
Offaly	17	€32,323.90
Roscommon	5	€10,157.90
Sligo	0	€0.00
South Dublin	6	€9,994.91
Tipperary	37	€71,407.00
Waterford	89	€142,463.84
Westmeath	29	€52,396.28
Wexford	156	€241,674.52
Wicklow	127	€192,888.18
Total	1,207	€2,077,582.57

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Questions (130)

James Lawless

Question:

130. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38897/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 5th December 2016, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Invalidity Pension Applications

Questions (131)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Question:

131. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an invalidity pension will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38898/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

A claim for IP was received from the gentleman concerned on the 08 November 2016. In order to establish medical eligibility two medical report forms have issued to him for completion. On receipt of the completed forms, the IP claim will be processed as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

In the meantime, the gentleman is in receipt of a weekly illness benefit payment.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Questions (132)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Question:

132. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal on a carer's allowance decision in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38899/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 5th December 2016, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Offices

Questions (133)

Eugene Murphy

Question:

133. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of days per week a community welfare officer is available in Ballinasloe; the number of days per week a social welfare inspector is available in Ballinasloe; if both posts now being shared between Ballinasloe and Loughrea; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38900/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Following the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department in 2011, the Department has re-engineered its business model to support the provision of integrated services across all business streams involved in the delivery of localised services. As part of this strategy, the Department is engaged in the delivery of integrated Intreo centres, which provide a full range of services, including the CWS, generally available in one location.

Where the CWS has been restructured, alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure that customers are provided with on-going access to the supports provided by the service. In general, this means that the frequency of available public clinics has increased, appointment systems are generally in operation, an improved phone service is available and alternative arrangements are in place for those who cannot travel, for example due to illness, including arranging a visit to the client’s home.

People claiming supports under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme generally only interact with the Department on an occasional basis, for example, when seeking an exceptional needs payment or in claiming additional supports such as rent supplement.

The Department’s services in the east Galway area, including Ballinasloe, are based in the Intreo Centre in Loughrea, where a full range of the Department’s services (including the CWS) are available in one location.

Customers are encouraged to contact the service by phone, email or post in the first instance and in most cases their queries can be answered without them having to travel to the Intreo centre in person. However any customer who wishes to see an officer in Loughrea can make an appointment and they will typically be seen in a matter of a few days. Where the issue is urgent, they can be seen that day. If a person is unable to travel to Loughrea, for example due to illness, alternative arrangements are in place including arranging a house call, if necessary.

The Social Welfare Inspector covering Ballinasloe is based four days a week in Ballinasloe, and the one other day a week in Loughrea Intreo Centre.

The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Insurance

Questions (134)

Eugene Murphy

Question:

134. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the status on the commitment which was made to amend the insurance records of all contract meter readers employed in the ESB in the period 1 July 1994 to 31 August 2009 by changing the PRSI class S contributions to class A subject to earnings requirements; the reason this matter has not been fully resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38901/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Scope section in the Department of Social Protection makes statutory decisions on insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Act. Employers, employees and the self-employed may apply to Scope for an investigation of an employment status and a determination of the correct class of PRSI. Scope decisions are based on all available evidence, including a report from a social welfare inspector where appropriate, and the case law from previous court judgements.

A number of test cases in relation to the Electricity Supply Board (ESB) Contract Meter Readers were investigated by Scope in recent years. Although it was determined by Scope that the work of ESB Contract Meter Readers was insurable at PRSI class S during the period from 1994 to 2009, this decision was changed to class A following an appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The Office operates independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions of Scope section. The contribution records were amended to class A for this period.

A further Scope review in May 2015 concluded that the meter readers were insurable at class S from 1 September 2009. This decision has been appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office by a number of the meter readers. I am advised that counsel for the appellants has not yet provided a detailed submission to the Appeals Office and that a reminder has been issued to him.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Questions (135)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Question:

135. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a domiciliary allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38905/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

This lady was notified on the 1st December 2016 that her domiciliary care allowance has been awarded from 1st September 2016. The first payment of the allowance, along with arrears due, will issue on the 20th December 2016. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Questions (136)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Question:

136. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance review in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38906/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

An application for Carer's Allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 11 March 2016.

Carer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 21 November 2016 and the first payment issued to the nominated Post Office on 1 December 2016.

Arrears of allowance due from 17 March 2016 to 30 November 2016 will issue shortly.

The person concerned was notified of these details on 21 November 2016.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Questions (137)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Question:

137. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance review by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38908/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 29 March 2016.

CA is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.

My Department takes the view that full-time care and attention does not necessarily mean 24 hours in each day. Full-time care and attention can be considered to apply where there is an ongoing and daily commitment by the carer and which also generally results in the carer not being able to support him/herself through normal full-time employment.

The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence indicated that the carer was not providing full-time care and attention in this case.

The person concerned was notified on 12 July 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. She 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.