Wednesday, 7 Dec 2016

Written Answers Nos. 158-177

Water Conservation Grant Applications

Questions (158)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

158. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a payment of the water grant was not awarded to a person (details supplied). [39054/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The eligibility criteria for the Water Conservation Grant are set out in the Water Services Act 2014 (Water Conservation Grant) Regulations 2015. Under regulation 5(1) a person who registers with Irish Water, as required under section 5(2)(a) of the Water Services Act 2014, on or before 30 June 2015 shall be eligible to receive the grant in 2015 if they were normally resident at the principal private residence on that date.

To date Irish Water has transferred details of over 1.3 million registered households to this Department including the details of the person concerned. A letter issued to the person concerned inviting them to apply for the grant before the deadline of 8th October 2015 and advising them that they could make this application either online or with the assistance of the Water Grant Support Team by telephone. Statutory Instrument 434 of 2015 provided for the extension of the deadline for the submission of a completed application for the Water Conservation Grant to the Department of Social Protection from 8th October 2015 to 22nd October 2015. However, there is no record of the person having applied for the grant prior to the closing date.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pension Provisions

Questions (159)

Bobby Aylward

Question:

159. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in the issuance of a second lump sum payment of a pension scheme into the estate of a deceased person (details supplied); if he will ensure that procedural difficulties in respect of this specific payment are promptly resolved in order that it can be issued without further delay; the timeframe in respect of the time it will take to resolve such procedural difficulties and issue the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39062/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I am glad to confirm that the payment to the estate of the named person will be paid this Thursday 8th December 2016.

Where a scheme member dies prior to reaching pension age a once-off actuarial value of monies in respect of the member’s pensionable service to the date of death, in accordance with guidance issued by the Society of Actuaries in Ireland and the Pensions Authority, is discharged through the personal representatives of the deceased. Processing of these payments takes time as the calculations are complex and must be done by an actuary to ensure that the correct amount is paid.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (160)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

160. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will establish the circumstances whereby a family (details supplied) in which a person was previously in receipt of a jobseeker's allowance is now worse off with the person in part-time employment in view of the fact fuel allowance for another family member has ceased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39063/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I can confirm that this lady was in receipt of free fuel allowance while her son was in receipt of jobseekers allowance. However, she no longer satisfies the criteria for receipt of this allowance.

Free fuel allowance is a payment under the National Fuel Scheme to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter months. It is paid to people who are dependent on long-term social welfare payments and who are unable to provide for their own heating needs.

A person may qualify for this allowance if they are getting disability allowance and they live alone or only with other people getting one of the qualifying payments who would also be eligible for a fuel allowance in their own right.

As this lady is not living alone and is no longer living with someone who is getting one of the qualifying payments, she does not qualify for a fuel allowance.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Non-Disclosure Agreements

Questions (161, 162, 163)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

161. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements his Department holds with the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal. [39094/16]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

162. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 351 of 29 November 2016, the legislative and legal basis for his statement (details supplied) in reply to the question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39095/16]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

163. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in reply to a question on non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements, the Minister for Health was able to furnish the information (details supplied); the way in which the Department of Health can furnish such information while his Department contends that to provide such information is not appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39096/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 to 163, inclusive, together.

There are no non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements held between my Department and any of the agencies operating under the aegis of the Department.

The point made in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 351 of 29th November 2016 reflects the normal practice in relation to contracts of agreement between parties to a settlement. I understand that, in normal course, the terms of individual settlement agreements in respect of discrete court actions may be subject to confidentiality agreements as to their terms.

Insofar as my Department is concerned, such settlements are not collated and information in relation to any or all such agreements is not, therefore, available. As I advised also in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 351 of 29th November 2016 it would not be feasible to analyse all of the legal cases in which my Department (or its agencies) have engaged to determine whether any non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements have been entered into with any organisation due to court action or a threatened court action.

Social Welfare Appeals Status

Questions (164)

Willie Penrose

Question:

164. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a social protection appeal by a person (details supplied) for a claim for a family income supplement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39127/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 20th September 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 7th November 2016 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on 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.

Disability Allowance Payments

Questions (165)

Willie Penrose

Question:

165. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a disability payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39138/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

I can confirm that this lady is in receipt of disability allowance (DA) from my Department. We received a request from her to review her claim due to the fact that her financial circumstances had changed.

On 11 October 2016 the claim was referred by a deciding officer (DO) to a social welfare investigative officer (SWI) for a review of her means and circumstances. Once the social welfare inspector has submitted his/her report to the deciding officer, a decision will be made on the claim and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Human Rights Cases

Questions (166)

Clare Daly

Question:

166. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will endorse a recent and concise proposal for the pardon of a person (details supplied) sent to the US President, Barack Obama; and if he will obtain Cabinet approval to express to the outgoing US President Ireland's backing of the proposal on humanitarian grounds. [38964/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I am aware of this case. As the individual concerned is a citizen of the United States, this case is a matter for the US authorities and the US judicial system.

As the Government has no locus standi on this case, I do not propose to make representations to the U.S. Federal Government in relation to this matter.

State Investments

Questions (167)

Jack Chambers

Question:

167. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 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. [39032/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

No investments, either directly, or indirectly through pension or other investment funds, are held in tobacco companies by my Department. As there are no agencies under the aegis of my Department the issue raised by the Deputy does not arise. My Department administers a number of funding programmes, including Ireland's official overseas development programme, Irish Aid. Information on development funding is available on the Irish Aid website www.irishaid.ie. Smaller funding programmes administered by my Department include the Reconciliation Fund, the Emigrant Support Fund and from time to time my Department also funds a small number of other projects.

Through the Reconciliation Fund, my Department awards funding to organisations and projects aimed at advancing peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, on a cross-border basis and between Ireland and Britain. Information on Reconciliation Fund grants awarded is available at www.dfa.ie/reconciliation.

The Department’s Emigrant Support Programme supports Irish communities overseas by funding non-profit organisations and projects overseas which foster more strategic links with the global Irish and to support frontline welfare services that help the most vulnerable members of our overseas communities.

In relation to organisations in receipt of funding, through careful evaluation and auditing of such organisations, the Department ensures the money spent is accounted for, represents good value for the taxpayer’s money and minimises potential exposure to reputational risk. While my Department has no guidelines in relation to tobacco investments, given the nature of the organisations in receipt of funding, I am satisfied with my Department’s approach to date but will keep the matter under review.

Public Sector Staff Data

Questions (168)

John Deasy

Question:

168. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public servants employed in each county; and if he will provide comparison figures for 2006 and 2011. [38938/16]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The following table provided with this reply provides information on civil servants employed on a country-by-county basis up to the end of September 2016, and for each year from 2006 through to 2011, on a full time equivalent basis.   

For the public service as a whole, individual level data - such as relating to location - is not held centrally by Department rather it resides as part of the individual employee data record held and maintained in different sectors of the public service.  The Deputy may wish to follow-up with the main sectorial Departments, such as Health, Education, Defence and Justice to ascertain the availability of this information in each case.

I also refer the Deputy to my Department's online resource http://databank.per.gov.ie/, which provides further information on public service staffing levels.

Serving Civil Servants by County on full-time equivalent basis

#	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	#
#	Dec	Dec	Dec	Dec	Dec	Dec	Q3 2016
Location	35,471	36,320	37,421	35,670	34,823	35,085	36,223
Carlow	98	159	162	184	182	189	195
Cavan	298	312	356	362	369	366	385
Clare	485	521	530	491	495	504	518
Cork	1,851	2,020	2,124	2,035	1,926	1,983	2,277
Donegal	677	679	713	656	748	776	768
Dublin	18,045	17,902	17,720	15,826	14,999	14,782	17,201
Galway	789	794	788	744	749	816	867
Kerry	578	644	665	651	659	699	749
Kildare	526	581	614	753	866	933	926
Kilkenny	365	360	370	359	354	370	382
Laois	450	478	517	548	562	565	1,290
Leitrim	52	162	186	201	220	238	269
Limerick	1,165	1,159	1,198	1,224	1,202	1,284	1,545
Longford	485	496	615	605	612	573	610
Louth	508	514	513	492	498	519	550
Mayo	936	762	789	753	747	764	797
Meath	193	191	347	518	562	589	670
Monaghan	165	168	170	172	173	163	154
Offaly	429	467	456	446	434	431	460
Roscommon	197	234	237	235	240	255	434
Sligo	826	836	844	800	779	825	809
Tipperary	724	744	815	866	919	1,040	1,069
Waterford	641	642	658	627	632	645	602
West Meath	795	822	930	898	861	840	942
Wexford	637	669	675	742	766	758	702
Wicklow	111	117	119	127	123	133	209
Abroad	113	385	670	683	693	628	681
Other	3,332	3,503	3,642	3,668	3,454	3,416	159

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (169)

John Deasy

Question:

169. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of civil servants in his Department currently on career breaks or leaves of absence. [38939/16]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I wish to inform the Deputy that career breaks are available in the civil service and in the state sector generally.  The scheme is promoted as being one of a number of facilities that help staff to combine work and family responsibilities.  A career break consists of special leave without pay for a period of not less than six months and not more than five years. A career break may be extended in six monthly periods or in periods in excess of six months provided the total period of special leave without pay does not exceed five years in all.  Subject to certain conditions eligible staff may, in general avail of three career breaks during their career provided the total period does not exceed twelve years.

Further to this, there are a number of other types of paid and unpaid leave which would constitute a leave of absence. Please see the following table of the breakdown of staff in my Department who are currently on either career break or other forms paid or unpaid leave.

#	Department of Public Expenditure & Reform	Office of Government Procurement	National Shared Services Office
Career Break	15		7
Unpaid Maternity Leave		2	2
Unpaid Carers Leave			1
Unpaid Shorter Working Year			2
Unpaid Domestic Leave			1

Commission for Public Service Appointments

Questions (170)

David Cullinane

Question:

170. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); if his attention has been further drawn to the concerns of this person; if he has had any further engagement with the person on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39016/16]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I can confirm that no further engagement has taken place with the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) and the individual concerned since my response of 12th October 2016 to Parliamentary Question 29928.

As stated then, the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) is an independent statutory body and it is a matter for the Commission to deal with complaints under its various codes of practice.

State Investments

Questions (171)

Jack Chambers

Question:

171. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform 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. [39036/16]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

In response to the Deputy's question, neither my Department nor the bodies under its aegis have any investments either directly or indirectly through pension or other investment funds in tobacco companies.

Public Sector Expenditure

Questions (172)

David Cullinane

Question:

172. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total public sector gross pay, net pay, Government income and the total public sector net pay as a percentage of general government revenue, with general government revenue as defined by EUROSTAT in ESA 2010 in each of the years 1995 to 2004 in tabular form. [39078/16]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The following table sets out compensation of employees across the general government sector and general government revenue figures as reported on the Eurostat database in line with the European System of Accounts 2010 (ESA 2010).

(€bn)	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Compensation of employees, payable	5.6	6.1	7.1	7.2	7.9	8.9	10.4	12.0	13.3	14.5
General Government Revenue	20.5	23.2	27.7	29.5	33.7	38.7	40.8	44.5	48.6	53.9
(% General Government Revenue)
Compensation of employees, payable	27%	26%	26%	24%	23%	23%	26%	27%	27%	27%

The Deputy may wish to note that net pay is a term applied to the Gross Exchequer Pay Bill minus the Pension Related Deduction. Both these figures are subsets of the 'Compensation of Employees' definition used within the European System of National Account reported in the table which includes compensation for employees within the wider general government sector.

Public Sector Staff

Questions (173)

Willie Penrose

Question:

173. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there was legislation passed in 2004 which permits personnel employed in the public service or local authorities subsequent to the year 2004 to continue on working beyond the normal age of retirement as currently being provided for persons in the public service of 65 years of age; if so, the provision of legislation under which this is permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39140/16]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I believe, the Deputy is referring to the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004. Under that Act, new entrants into the Public Service on or after 1 Jan 2004, except where otherwise provided for by that Act, are not obliged to retire on age grounds. This provision applied to new entrants until 1 January 2013, when the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (Single Scheme) was introduced for almost all new entrants recruited to the public service from that date. The Single Scheme provides a maximum retirement age of 70 for the vast majority of its members.

In August, I published the Report of the Interdepartmental Group on Fuller Working Lives which was agreed by Government. The Group, which was chaired by my Department, considered policy around retirement age in both the public and private sectors, examining implications arising from retirement ages now and in the future. The report made recommendations on a policy framework to address the issues identified and to support fuller working lives.

In accordance with one of its recommendations, my Department is currently carrying out the scoping process in relation to a review, with Public Service employers, of the current statutory and operational considerations giving rise to barriers to extended participation in the public service workforce up to and including the current and planned age of entitlement to the Contributory State Pension.

Departmental Funding

Questions (174)

John Curran

Question:

174. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will invest €2.5 million in Foras na Gaeilge to implement the first part of the investment plan for Gaeilge, which was agreed upon by 80 Gaeilge and Gaeltacht groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38930/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

As I indicated in my response to Parliamentary Question No 372 on 22 November 2016 in regard to the 2017 Estimate provisions, almost €60m has been provided in the Estimates for the Irish language, Gaeltacht and Islands programme, including funding for An Foras Teanga.

The budget for Foras na Gaeilge is subject to approval by the North South Ministerial Council, given its status as an agency of An Foras Teanga, which is a North South Implementation Body co-funded with the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.

An indicative provision of €13.239m has been provided within my Department’s Vote for An Foras Teanga in 2017. In regard to funding for specific programmes of work, the dispersal of the budget will be an operational matter for Foras na Gaeilge within the framework of the NSMC-approved business plan and budget.

The investment plan submitted by Conradh na Gaeilge on behalf of the Irish language and Gaeltacht groups is very ambitious in seeking additional funding in the region of €5m in 2017 and €30m over the period 2018-2019. However, the Deputy can rest assured that I will continue, insofar as I can, to seek additional funding for the Irish language, within the overall budgetary resources available to the Government.

Departmental Funding

Questions (175)

John Curran

Question:

175. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will renew the €1.4 million extra that was provided to Údarás na Gaeltachta in 2016 again in budget 2017 in order that a total of €8 million would be allocated to the Údarás in 2017 to create new employment opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38931/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

I refer the Deputy to previous replies given to Parliamentary Questions in relation to this matter. As I mentioned in these replies, an additional €1m in once-off capital funding was secured for an Údarás na Gaeltachta as part of the 2016 Revised Estimates. This has been retained for this year. This means the Budget 2017 baseline capital allocation for Údarás na Gaeltachta is €6.687m, which is €1m higher than the Budget 2016 allocation. Subsequent to that, I was delighted to announce that I succeeded in securing a further €2.4m in additional capital for an tÚdarás in 2016. I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to seek additional capital funding for an tÚdarás, within the available resources.

State Investments

Questions (176)

Jack Chambers

Question:

176. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if investments, either directly or indirectly through pension or other investment funds, are held in tobacco companies by her Department, any agency within the remit of her Department, or any agency or entity in receipt of departmental funding; if her Department has any guideline in relation to such investment; if her Department intends to introduce any policies or guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39025/16]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

I am advised that neither my Department, nor any of the bodies under its aegis, hold any investments of the type described by the Deputy.

My Department and those bodies under its aegis are subject to the Public Spending Code and all relevant Department of Public Expenditure circulars, financial and procurement regulations.

Motorised Transport Grant Closure

Questions (177)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

177. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if he plans to bring back the motorised transport grant following on from a review committee being set up in 2013; if so, when; and the conditions that will be attached to the grant. [39015/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman in 2011 and 2012 regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Scheme in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes in February 2013. As a result, the Motorised Transport Grant referred to by the Deputy, has not been in place for over three years. There are no plans for its restoration on the basis upon which it was previously operated.

However, the Government is aware of the continuing needs of people with a disability who rely on individual payments that support choice and independence. In this regard, monthly payments of up to €208.50 have continued to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance.

The Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new Transport Support Scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Programme for Partnership Government acknowledges the ongoing drafting of primary legislation for a new Transport Support Scheme.

The Department of Health is seeking a solution which will best meet the aim of supporting people with severe disabilities who require additional income to contribute towards the costs of their mobility needs, while keeping within the available budget and satisfying all legal and equality concerns. I can confirm that work on the policy proposals in this regard is at an advanced stage and I anticipate that this will be brought to Government shortly.