Written Answers Nos. 121 - 140
121. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for a community employment scheme in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40205/16]
View answerDetails of Community Employment (CE) eligibility criteria are published on the Department’s website (welfare.ie) and on the Citzens Information website (citizensinformation.ie).
Current eligibility to participate on CE is linked to a person’s social welfare status (duration of payment) and age.
The CE Programme has two options:
- Part Time Integration Option (PTI) provides for 1 year on CE for those who have been in receipt of qualifying social welfare payments for 12 months or more.
- Part Time Job Option (PTJ), 3-years on CE for those who have been in receipt of qualifying social welfare payments for 3 years or more. Certain categories of participants can have extended time on CE up to a maximum of 6 years for those aged over 55 years and 7 years for people with a disability.
The person in question appears to be in receipt of Invalidity Pension and would, therefore, appear to be eligible to participate on CE for up to 7 years in his lifetime. He can establish his eligibility by calling into his local Intreo Office.
122. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the average waiting time for a decision on appeal for social protection payments paid on a weekly basis in cases where there is no oral hearing and in cases where there is an oral hearing in 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40221/16]
View answerThe average appeal processing time for all appeals determined to date in 2016 broken down by all social welfare scheme types is outlined in the following table.
Significant effort and resources have been devoted to reforming the appeals process in recent years resulting in a marked improvement in overall appeal processing times. The average time taken to determine an appeal requiring an oral hearing reduced from 52.5 weeks in 2011 to 25.5 weeks in 2015 and the average time taken to finalise an appeal decided by way of a summary decision dropped from 25.1 weeks in 2011 to 18.1 weeks in 2015. This downward trend in overall appeal processing times has continued to date in 2016 to 24.2 weeks for an oral hearing and 17.6 weeks for a summary decision.
Notwithstanding these improvements, the Chief Appeals Officer has advised me that appeal processing times will continue to be a priority for her office and will continue to be monitored on an ongoing basis.
The quasi-judicial nature of the appeals system means that there are inevitable time-lags involved. However the system is designed to be flexible and fair and allows for review and submission of further information at all stages. The time taken is proportionate to the complexity of many of the issues under appeal which require a high level of judgement, and the need to ensure due process and natural justice.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Appeal processing times by scheme 01/01/2016 - 30/11/2016
|
- |
Average processing times (weeks) Summary Decisions |
Average processing times (weeks) Oral Hearings |
|
Blind Person’s Pension |
18.8 |
33.8 |
|
Carers Allowance |
17.7 |
21.7 |
|
Carers Benefit |
24.0 |
22.4 |
|
Child Benefit |
22.2 |
39.4 |
|
Disability Allowance |
14.6 |
20.2 |
|
Illness Benefit |
27.5 |
34.6 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
28.4 |
29.8 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
24.4 |
30.4 |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
13.0 |
33.9 |
|
Farm Assist |
20.0 |
25.2 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
23.1 |
- |
|
Death Benefit (Pension) |
19.7 |
- |
|
Liable Relatives |
14.2 |
16.9 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
19.1 |
26.6 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
22.0 |
28.3 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
18.8 |
21.6 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
20.9 |
32.4 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
25.8 |
46.3 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
22.8 |
33.2 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
67.7 |
61.3 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
25.2 |
29.6 |
|
Disablement Pension |
22.7 |
26.6 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
27.7 |
50.9 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Con) |
15.9 |
23.6 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Con) |
18.4 |
22.1 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) |
16.5 |
25.0 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
15.8 |
21.0 |
|
BTW Family Dividend |
21.0 |
- |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional |
19.0 |
21.1 |
|
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance |
33.1 |
31.6 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
15.4 |
27.1 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
17.1 |
- |
|
Carer’s Support Grant * |
18.5 |
23.3 |
|
Insurability of Employment |
36.8 |
85.7 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
15.1 |
24.6 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Con) |
16.7 |
28.8 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Non-con) |
18.5 |
23.4 |
|
Widows Parent Grant |
23.5 |
63.8 |
|
All Appeals |
17.6 |
24.2 |
* Previously called Respite Care Grant
123. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the external consultant reports commissioned by his Department since he came into office, in tabular form; the cost per report; the company involved; the title of the report; the publication date or estimated publication date if not already published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40222/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
External consultant reports commissioned by Department of Social Protection since 6 May, 2016.
|
Title of Report |
Company |
Publication Date/Estimated Publication Date |
Cost |
|
Jobseeker and JobPath Customer Satisfaction Survey 2016 – (this is the next annual round of Jobseeker Customer Satisfaction Survey which was originally commissioned in Aug 2015.) |
W5 Marketing Intelligence Ltd. |
Q1 2017 |
€124,549.80 (includes €71,463 expenditure on report commissioned Aug 2015 and published Q1 2016) |
|
Review of the Predictive Analytic Modelling Solutions for the Dept. of Social Protection. |
The Analytics Store Ltd. |
Internal management report. |
€9,471 |
|
Back to Education Allowance Qualitative Study |
BMG Research |
Q1 2017 |
€50,670 |
|
Review of the Local Employment Services and Job Club services |
Indecon International Economic Consultants |
To be determined following completion of the review. |
Est. €87,232 |
124. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of young persons not in education, training or employment; the current percentage of youth unemployment; the way this number compares to the EU average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40223/16]
View answerIt is estimated by the Department of Social Protection based on micro-data from the CSO Quarterly National Household Survey that in the four quarters to Q2 2016 the average number of young persons not in employment, education or training (NEETs) was approximately 72,000 or 13.8% of the population aged 15-24. It should be noted that the way in which the EU-defined NEET concept is measured means that, in Ireland, it includes a significant number of young people who are in fact full-time students on short breaks from their studies. Excluding this group, the number of “non-student” NEETs averaged 50,000 over the last year, or 9.6% of the young adult population.
The current rate of youth unemployment as reported by the CSO is 15.5% (November 2016). The most recent comparable data at the EU level are for October 2016, when the youth unemployment rate was 18.4% in the EU overall and 20.7% in the Eurozone.
125. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of commitments made in the programme for partnership Government that fall within the remit of his Department; the commitments which specified an action to be taken by the end of 2016; if this target date has been met in respect of such commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40224/16]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government includes a wide range of commitments which fall directly within the remit of my Department. While none of these commitments included a specific deadline of end-2016 for action to be taken, a substantial number of commitments are already being delivered upon. Budget 2017, for example, provided for €5 increases in the maximum weekly rates of all social insurance and social assistance payments, for the extension of entitlement to invalidity pension and treatment benefit to the self-employed, and for enhanced supports to low-income farm families and one-parent families.
The status of the commitments within the remit of my Department is set out in the following table.
|
Commitment |
Status |
|
“ [to] increase Rent Supplement … by up to 15% taking account of geographic variations in market rents…. “ |
Increased rent limits under the Rent Supplement scheme were implemented effective from 1 July 2016. |
|
“ To protect low-income families in private rented accommodation and avoid further market rental inflation.. [to] expand access to the Tenancy Sustainment Protocol throughout the country. “ |
The Tenancy Sustainment Service was extended to Galway city in June 2016 and is also operational in Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow - the urban areas where the housing pressures are most acute. |
|
“to introduce a PRSI scheme for the self-employed” |
Budget 2017 provides for the extension of entitlement to the Treatment Benefit (from March 2017) and Invalidity Pension (from December 2017) schemes to the self-employed. |
|
“ to introduce a new ‘Working Family Payment’, targeted at low-income families.” |
Work underway – extensive analysis is required in order to design this new payment. It is intended that this work will be completed in advance of Budget 2018. |
|
“… [to] publish a dedicated ‘Pathways to Work for Jobless Households’ to support jobless households into employment.” |
Inter-Departmental Group established. Labour Market Council has been consulted and drafting work ongoing. |
|
“…actively encourage payments at Post Offices. “ |
All DSP staff were advised of the PfG commitment and reminded that customer wishes should be facilitated where appropriate when they wish to receive their payment at the Post Office. |
|
“the rollout and extension of the Personal Microcredit Scheme, which is providing simple microloans to members and helping to combat the use of moneylenders” |
The It Makes Sense loan scheme, which provides low-cost loans to low-income families as an alternative to money-lenders, has been made available to credit unions across Ireland. |
|
… invest in new services and caseworkers to support jobseekers through the network of local Intreo offices..… support a regional approach to Intreo offices … review work activation and social welfare schemes to ensure that schemes do not contain anomalies that may impact unfairly on people in rural areas, including farmers.” |
Work ongoing. |
|
“… extend the Dental Treatment Benefit under the Social Insurance Fund to reimburse the cost of some routine dental treatments.” |
Budget 2017 provided for the expansion of Dental and Optical Benefits under the Treatment Benefit scheme with effect from October 2017. |
|
…” the Departments of Health and Social Protection [to] work together to pursue a “Fit for Work Programme” to support more people to get back to work if they have an illness or disability. |
Extensive work has been carried out and a consultation event on the proposed initiative ‘Healthy You’ will be held next week. |
|
“ …to introduce flexibility and support in the social welfare system for people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties to transition into employment by ensuring a seamless return of their entitlements should a particular employment opportunity prove unsuitable. …. [and] …address concerns surrounding the loss of secondary benefits, so that people are always better off in work.” |
The INTREO service has been rolled out to people with disabilities who wish to avail of the service on a voluntary basis. In addition, four pilot best practice Individual Placement and Support (IPS) projects have been established in conjunction with the HSE, Genio and Mental Health Reform. Options are being considered by the Make Work Pay interdepartmental group established under the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities. |
|
… consolidate all means testing under a single national body ensuring a single application process for services or entitlements across all government agencies.” |
No specific developments to date. |
|
“… an increase in the Disability Benefit and Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and Allowance, and Blind Person's Pension“ …. “increase the State Pension and the Living Alone Allowance above the rate of inflation.” |
Budget 2017 provided for a €5 increase in the maximum weekly rate of all social insurance and social assistance payments, from March 2017. |
|
“… support and expand supported employment opportunities and work with stakeholders to make supported employment more attractive to both prospective employers and employees.” |
Work ongoing, in particular relating to the implementation of operational recommendations contained in an evaluation of the Employability Service. |
|
“… highlight incentives for employers to employ a person with a disability, roll out a national awareness campaign” |
Work ongoing. DSP Employer Engagement promotes workplace supports for people with disabilities on an ongoing basis. |
|
“… fully protect the Free Travel pass for all pensioners.” |
The Free Travel scheme is fully protected. |
|
“…in recognition of the vital role of schemes such as the Rural Social Scheme, Community Employment Schemes, BTEA and Farm Assist in rural communities and in activating the unemployed, …to make suitable recommendations to strengthen provision in this area…” |
Budget 2017 provided for an additional 500 places under the Rural Social Scheme and these will be put in place in the New Year. |
|
“ Review … the Farm Assist Scheme, recognising the challenges facing farmers on low income.” |
Budget 2017 provided for the full restoration of the Farm Assist scheme to the position which applied prior to Budget 2013, with effect from March 2017. |
|
“… review the Fish Assist scheme in recognition of the irregular earning patterns of fishermen, in an effort to respond to difficult financial circumstances.” |
The changes provided for in Budget 2017 in relation to the Farm Assist scheme will apply equally to certain categories of self-employed fishermen. |
|
“…. develop a system that fosters independence through retraining and employment …provide the resources to invest in services that protect the weakest and most vulnerable in our society from poverty and exclusion.” |
Work ongoing, notably through the implementation of Pathways to Work 2016-2020 and the promotion, monitoring and reporting on the implementation of the National Action Plan on Social Inclusion. |
|
“…carry out an immediate review of the financial supports available to the unemployed or those returning to the education system to ensure the greatest possible uptake of continuing education by eliminating current barriers.” |
A study has been commissioned to explore the drivers of negative employment outcomes of participants on the Back to Education Allowance Scheme with a view to informing the scheme direction. Changes were made in Budget 2017 so that from next September where a young jobseeker under the age of 26 participates in the Back to Education scheme, he or she will be entitled to receive the full maximum rate of jobseeker’s payment which will then be €193 per week, as against the €160 which they are currently on. This 21% increase represents an extra €33 a week, and demonstrates the State’s support for young jobseekers who seek to enhance their skills. A new €500 annual Cost of Education Allowance will also be made available to Back to Education Allowance participants with children from the next academic year in September. This will help parents, including lone parents, to return to education. |
126. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the rate of severe material deprivation for lone parent households here as measured by EUROSTAT, in tabular form; the way in which this rate compares to the EU average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40225/16]
View answerThe Eurostat Statistics on Income and Living Conditions 2014 show that the severe material deprivation rate for lone parent households in Ireland was 25.1% in 2014, reflecting a 7.2 percentage point decrease on the 2013 rate. This compares to an EU average of 19.2% in 2014. (See the following table)
My Department estimates spending €500 million on the one-parent family payment (OFP) scheme in 2016. The scheme supports over 40,000 recipients and almost 73,000 children. The OFP means test is more generous than that of the jobseeker’s allowance, with an income disregard of €90 per week in 2016 and the balance assessed at 50%. In addition OFP can be paid concurrently with the family income supplement (FIS). These supports encourage lone parents to take-up employment thereby helping to tackle poverty rates among these customers.
The Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment is available to lone parents (both former OFP recipients and new lone parents), who have a youngest child aged 7 to 13 years inclusive. These customers are exempt from the Jobseeker’s Allowance conditions that require them to be available for, and genuinely seeking, full-time work. As such, no lone parent with a youngest child aged under 14 years is required to take-up employment in order to receive income support from the Department. They can also move into education and/or employment, including into part-time employment, and still receive payment, subject to a means test.
All Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment recipients receive a one to one meeting with a Case Officer from the Department who assists them to produce a personal development plan and guides them towards appropriate education, training and employment opportunities.
Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment recipients who are in education and who qualify for the SUSI maintenance grant will not have this grant assessed as means for their payment.
The Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment is therefore a crucial support for lone parents that allows these customers to balance their work and caring responsibilities and, significantly, reduces their requirement for child care. The payment also offers a tapered support to these customers as their children get older.
In Budget 2017 all lone parents on the one-parent family payment, the jobseeker’s transitional payment and jobseeker’s allowance will benefit from the €5 increase in the weekly rates of payment from March. A new €500 annual Cost of Education Allowance will be made available to Back to Education Allowance participants with children from the next academic year in September. In addition, the income disregards for the one-parent family payment and the jobseeker’s transitional payment will rise by €20 from January, from €90 to €110 per week, reversing in part previous reductions, to encourage one parent families to stay in, and return to, work.
The Department of Social Protection’s social impact assessment of Budget 2017 showed that average household incomes increase by 1%. Non-earning lone parents were the biggest beneficiary of Budget 2017 with gains of 4.5%. Working lone parents also experienced above average gains at almost 1.2%.
Severe Material Deprivation Rates for Single Person Households with Dependent Children
|
2013 |
2014 |
|
|
EU-28 |
20.7% |
19.2% |
|
Sweden |
6.9% |
0.9% |
|
Luxembourg |
8.9% |
6.5% |
|
Finland |
5.4% |
7.6% |
|
Denmark |
12.4% |
9.0% |
|
Germany |
14.8% |
12.4% |
|
Netherlands |
10.2% |
13.9% |
|
Austria |
10.9% |
13.9% |
|
Spain |
11.9% |
14.7% |
|
Croatia |
22.0% |
14.8% |
|
Slovenia |
16.5% |
15.4% |
|
Estonia |
16.3% |
15.7% |
|
Belgium |
16.1% |
17.1% |
|
Slovakia |
25.5% |
17.2% |
|
France |
15.8% |
17.7% |
|
Portugal |
22.9% |
17.9% |
|
Italy |
17.7% |
19.2% |
|
Poland |
27.3% |
21.5% |
|
Czech Republic |
13.9% |
24.1% |
|
Ireland |
32.3% |
25.1% |
|
Lithuania |
27.2% |
25.1% |
|
United Kingdom |
31.5% |
25.3% |
|
Cyprus |
28.1% |
33.1% |
|
Latvia |
44.3% |
34.3% |
|
Greece |
30.9% |
35.5% |
|
Malta |
28.1% |
42.2% |
|
Romania |
44.6% |
42.4% |
|
Hungary |
44.3% |
47.1% |
|
Bulgaria |
60.3% |
59.4% |
Extracted 2013 and 2014 figures from Eurostat EU-SILC on 12 December 2016
127. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of exceptional needs payments paid in 2016 to date; the cost of such payments; the reason, if available, such payments are made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40226/16]
View answerUnder the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. The Government has provided €30.3 million for the ENP scheme in 2016.
There is no automatic entitlement to a payment. The ENP scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
In 2016 to date, some 84,000 payments have issued in respect of ENPs at a cost of €29 million. Examples of the main types of needs that are met under the scheme include assistance towards new accommodation kit-outs, the purchase of household appliances, rent deposits, funeral and burial expenses, assistance with travel costs, clothing & child related items such as cots and prams.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
128. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons receiving illness benefit will not receive a Christmas bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40228/16]
View answerThe payment of the 85% Christmas bonus, at an estimated cost of over €220 million, will benefit approximately 1.2 million recipients including domiciliary care allowance recipients, social welfare pensioners, the long term unemployed, carers, people with disabilities and lone parents. It is intended that the bonus, payment of which commenced in the first week of December, will benefit those who rely either wholly or mainly on their social welfare payments for financial support.
Illness benefit (IB), is primarily a short-term scheme and as such has never been a qualifying payment for the purpose of the Christmas bonus; recipients of long-term disability payments are eligible.
I hope this answers the Deputy’s question.
129. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied). [40231/16]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from this lady on the 16th July 2015. This application satisfied the qualifying conditions for the allowance and a letter issued on the 16th October 2015 advising of the decision to award the allowance from 1st August 2015, the month following receipt of the application, as per the relevant legislation.
A review of the decision to award from 1st August 2015 was requested on 18th November 2015. In order for backdating to be considered, it is required that good cause for the delay in submitting the application is shown. Where good cause is demonstrated, the application can be backdated by a maximum of 6 months. Following this review the lady was notified on the 22nd December 2015 that the original decision was upheld.
A further review of the decision to award from 1st August 2015 was requested on 13th October 2016. Following this review the lady was notified on the 16th November 2016 that the original decision was upheld. If she considers that there is good cause for the delay in making her claim and wishes to have the backdating of payment further considered, she should submit additional information and ask to have the decision reviewed, and/or she may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. There is currently no appeal registered with the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determination of an application for the domiciliary care allowance in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40232/16]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from this lady on the 30th September 2016. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Following receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and notified to the applicant. Applications are processed in date of receipt order. It can currently take 14 weeks to process an application for DCA.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
131. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) is entitled to the Christmas bonus in view of the fact their long-term social protection payment was recently changed to a temporary payment due to unforeseen ill health issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40263/16]
View answerThe Christmas bonus is payable to persons who are in receipt of long term social welfare payments. Illness Benefit is primarily a short term scheme and, as such, has never been a qualifying payment for the purpose of the Christmas bonus; recipients of long term disability payments are eligible.
The person concerned is in receipt of Illness Benefit since 31 October 2016. As this is a short term benefit, the person concerned is not eligible for payment of the Christmas bonus.
A person who finds that their means are insufficient to meet their needs may be eligible for assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowances Scheme. Application may be made to the Community Welfare Services at the local Intreo Office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason just €100 per week is being paid to a person (details supplied); if the level of weekly payment will be revised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40267/16]
View answerThe person concerned is currently in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance, fuel allowance and a top up supplementary welfare allowance. Her jobseeker’s allowance entitlement is currently being reviewed so that her payment rate will correspond with the change in her circumstances and any arrears due will issue to the person concerned promptly.
The person concerned has submitted an application for a guardian’s payment and has also been advised to submit an application for child benefit in respect of a dependent child.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40269/16]
View answerThe person concerned does not have a pending application for an Exceptional Needs Payment. A Designated Officer from the Department will make contact with the person concerned to discuss the matter.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
134. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the jobseeker's allowance of a person (details supplied) was reduced. [40270/16]
View answerThe Back to Education Allowance scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments, wishing to pursue second or third level courses of education, subject to meeting the qualifying conditions.
In this case, the person concerned was in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance which is a means tested payment. The person concerned notified his local office, that he had started employment on a part-time basis, working three days per week, with effect from 19/10/2016. The means from this employment has resulted in his Jobseekers Allowance payment being reduced accordingly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
135. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for illness benefit or an invalidity pension. [40468/16]
View answerIllness benefit and Invalidity pension are payments to persons who are unable to work due to illness and who satisfy certain statutory PRSI contribution conditions. The person concerned does not qualify for either of these benefits on her PRSI record.
Disability Allowance is a means tested payment for persons who have a disability which is expected to last for at least twelve months. Further details are on my department’s website, www.welfare.ie.
If the person concerned finds that their means are insufficient to meet their needs they may be eligible for assistance under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme. Application may be made to the Community Welfare Services at the local Intreo office.
I hope that this explains the matter for the Deputy.
136. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the conflict in Syria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40258/16]
View answerI have repeatedly made clear my concern at the failure of the UN Security Council to uphold international law in Syria. Ireland has co-sponsored a number of proposed resolutions which were all vetoed by Russia and sometimes by China. The disunity of the Council has undermined the rights of the Syrian people to the protections under international law, giving the Assad regime impunity for its atrocities. Last week, Ireland co-sponsored a resolution adopted overwhelmingly by the General Assembly, setting out a clear basis for the ending of the systematic violations of the rights of the Syrian people and for a resolution of the conflict. I believe that all member of the United Nations have an interest and a responsibility to support a peaceful resolution to the Syrian conflict.
The decision of the Joint Committee for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence to invite any group is solely a matter for the members of the Joint Committee. I do not propose to comment on their execution of their responsibilities. I do wish to condemn the Grand Mufti’s threat of the use of terrorism. His views are unacceptable in any democracy.
Matters on immigration are for decision by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality.
137. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 778 of 26 May 2015 and 313 of 21 June 2016, and notwithstanding the ongoing democratic transition, the action that has been taken by his Department to condemn the recent violence in northern Rakhine; the status of his Department's efforts to highlight the continued human rights abuses taking place against the Rohingya in Myanmar; if the recent attacks in northern Rakhine have been raised with the government of Myanmar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40293/16]
View answerAs I noted in Parliamentary Question 313 on June 21 2016, the Government welcomes the democratic transition which is currently underway in Myanmar/Burma following elections in November 2015, and the positive steps that the new Government of Myanmar/Burma has taken in pursuit of peace and reconciliation, democratic reforms and economic growth.
However we are deeply concerned about the recent violence in Rakhine State. The Government is of the view that there is a pressing need for an impartial, independent investigation into allegations of human rights violations in this region, as well as the full restoration of access for humanitarian aid.
The Government regularly highlights its concerns regarding conflict in Rakhine State and the minority Rohingya people at bilateral level and in the context of our membership of the EU and the UN.
On December 9, Ireland’s Embassy in Bangkok, which is accredited to Myanmar/Burma, joined a number of likeminded diplomatic missions there in a statement which expressed serious concerns about humanitarian aid access to the region. The statement welcomed the Government of Myanmar’s agreement to allow a resumption of humanitarian assistance and initial deliveries to some villages, but expressed serious concerns about delays and urged Myanmar’s authorities to overcome the obstacles that have so far prevented a full resumption.
In relation to recent attacks against security personnel in Rakhine State and allegations of abuse in the subsequent security operations, the statement said that security forces must ensure protection of all civilians, and that the creation of an Investigation Commission offers an opportunity to investigate these incidents and allegations objectively and transparently, as well as expose acts of violence and abuse.
The third EU-Myanmar Human Rights Dialogue took place on November 22. At the meeting, the EU similarly expressed concerns about the recent security and human rights situation in northern Rakhine state, reiterating calls for an independent, credible investigation into both initial attacks and subsequent actions, as well as for the urgent re-opening of humanitarian access to the populations in need.
Ireland also supported the EU-led resolution on the situation of human rights in Myanmar/Burma at the 31st session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in March, which conveyed the HRC’s serious concerns over human rights violations in the country, including the situation in Rakhine State and particularly with respect to religious and ethnic minorities, including the Rohingya minority. Ireland also raised this issue during the review of Myanmar’s human rights record at the HRC’s Universal Periodic Review in November 2015.
In addition to these efforts, Ireland has provided development assistance and humanitarian aid to address the needs of people in Rakhine State, including the Rohingya community. Since 2014 Ireland has provided €284,000 to Plan International for interventions in the region.
The Irish Government is of the view that the underlying root causes of tensions in Rakhine State must be addressed with long-term solutions led by the Government of Myanmar/Burma. The need to guarantee respect for human rights and the rule of law for all people in Myanmar/Burma remains central to achieving this. Ireland has also called for more investment in early recovery and support for livelihood opportunities for both the Rohingya and Buddhist communities in Rakhine State.
138. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider extending the scope of works along the Dunkellin River for a further three kilometres towards Kilconeiron (details supplied). [40260/16]
View answerGalway County Council (GCC) is the Contracting Authority with overall responsibility for the management and implementation of the Dunkellin River and Aggard Stream Flood Relief Scheme. The works will be carried out primarily by OPW direct labour but with some of the main structural elements being contracted out by GCC.
An Bord Pleanala (ABP) approved the scheme in March 2016 subject to compliance with a number of conditions. Works proposed under the Scheme will include flood alleviation measures from 200 metres upstream of Craughwell Road Bridge to Kilcolgan on the Dunkellin River and also include maintenance of channels from Cregaclare to the outfall into the Dunkellin River including culvert replacement works where existing blocked and undersized piped crossings currently exist. I am advised that it would not be appropriate for works elsewhere on the Dunkellin Catchment to be considered until the works approved under the existing scheme have been completed.
139. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of times the NPWS has been present at the release of hares after coursing meetings so far this season; and if there are plans to increase that presence to protect hares from recapture. [40212/16]
View answer140. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the recapture of hares in the vicinity of a recent hare coursing meeting is prohibited with regard to the granting of licences; and if not, if she will make it a condition. [40213/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together.
Officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department have supervised the release of hares following six coursing meetings this season to date. My Department will continue to endeavour to attend as many meetings as possible, having regard to the resources available and other priority work on hands.
26 conditions in total, which have been developed and refined over the years, are associated with the licences issued to the Irish Coursing Club. These conditions cover such items as
- not coursing hares more than once a day;
- not coursing sick or injured hares; and
- releasing hares in daylight hours after meetings.
There is no condition on licences preventing the recapture of hares in the vicinity of their release location following a coursing meeting.
The various conditions associated with the licences will be reviewed at the end of the current 2016/17 coursing season.
