Written Answers Nos. 266-286
266. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when a project (details supplied) will proceed to the next stage; if this project will be given urgent consideration with a view to progressing it to construction stage in view of the fact much of the necessary preparatory work and procurement of site has been finalised for some time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3146/17]
View answerThe provision of fire services in local authority areas, including the establishment and maintenance of fire brigades, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of premises, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act, 1981. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for priority infrastructural projects.
In February 2016, my Department announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme with an allocation of €40 million, based on an annual €8 million allocation, to be used for the purchase of fire appliances and specialist equipment, building or upgrading of prioritised Fire Stations, an upgrade of the Communications and Mobilisation system and improvements to Training Centres.
Monaghan County Council has prioritised a fire station project in Castleblayney and this is included as part of this programme under the list of priority projects to be progressed for 2019. While a new fire station for Ballybay is not provided for in the current five-year Fire Services Capital Programme, projects are reassessed on an annual basis and priority may be adjusted to bring forward projects offering best value-for-money and to take account of the state of readiness of projects.
267. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the organisations and groups supported by the scheme to support national organisations; the funding each receives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3164/17]
View answerThe Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community & Voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services.
A new round of funding under the Scheme commenced on 1 July 2016, for a period of three years. I approved 71 organisations for funding, with a total envelope of €16.7 million over three years. This level of funding was well in excess of the indicated amount initially advertised and was an effort to fund as many organisations as possible under the Scheme. The following table provides details of the allocations to each organisation under the Scheme.
|
Organisation |
Allocation over 3 year period |
|
Active Retirement Network Ireland |
€262,951 |
|
Age Action Ireland Limited |
€216,265 |
|
Amen Support Services Limited |
€181,707 |
|
Anam Cara Parental and Sibling Bereavement Support Limited |
€269,920 |
|
Arthritis Ireland |
€184,502 |
|
Asthma Society of Ireland |
€208,028 |
|
Autism Spectrum Information Advice And Meeting Point Limited |
€200,707 |
|
Barnardos - Republic of Ireland Limited |
€261,818 |
|
Belong To Youth Services |
€269,990 |
|
Breaking Through Limited |
€214,440 |
|
Care Alliance Ireland |
€253,036 |
|
Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups Limited |
€266,126 |
|
Cherish Limited |
€270,000 |
|
Children In Hospital Ireland |
€269,952 |
|
Children's Rights Alliance-Republic Of Ireland Limited |
€269,844 |
|
Chronic Pain Ireland Limited |
€110,635 |
|
Community Action Network Limited |
€266,224 |
|
Community Creations Limited |
€172,500 |
|
Community Workers Limited |
€269,648 |
|
Co-operative Housing Ireland Society Limited |
€219,426 |
|
Disability Equality Specialist Support Agency Limited |
€270,000 |
|
Disability Federation of Ireland |
€232,338 |
|
Down Syndrome Ireland |
€260,124 |
|
Dyslexia Association of Ireland |
€204,970 |
|
Educate Together Ag Foghlaim le Chéile |
€268,994 |
|
European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland Limited |
€260,503 |
|
European Network Against Racism (ENAR) Ireland Limited |
€225,780 |
|
Family Carers Ireland |
€270,000 |
|
Focus Ireland Limited |
€174,358 |
|
Free Legal Advice Centres Limited |
€270,000 |
|
G.L.E.N. Limited |
€265,788 |
|
Grow in Ireland |
€153,576 |
|
Immigrant Council of Ireland Limited |
€250,358 |
|
Inclusion Ireland - National Association For People With an Intellectual Disability |
€270,000 |
|
INOU Limited |
€268,500 |
|
Irish Association for Palliative Care |
€150,428 |
|
Irish Athletic Boxing Association |
€172,514 |
|
Irish Council For Social Housing |
€84,445 |
|
Irish Deaf Society The National Association of the Deaf Limited |
€269,700 |
|
Irish Foster Care Association Limited |
€166,213 |
|
Irish Penal Reform Trust |
€268,874 |
|
Irish Refugee Council Limited |
€268,752 |
|
Irish Rural Link Co-Operative Society Limited |
€267,058 |
|
Irish Senior Citizens National Parliament Limited |
€265,066 |
|
Irish Stammering Association |
€118,010 |
|
M.O.V.E. Ireland |
€236,500 |
|
Medical Research Charities Limited |
€242,344 |
|
Mental Health Reform |
€269,085 |
|
Migraine Association of Ireland Limited |
€102,996 |
|
Migrant Information Centre Limited |
€267,926 |
|
National Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Ireland Limited |
€204,806 |
|
National Women's Council of Ireland |
€270,000 |
|
National Youth Council of Ireland |
€253,122 |
|
New Communities Partnership (NCP) Limited |
€194,186 |
|
Parents Plus Limited |
€179,609 |
|
Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) Limited |
€269,960 |
|
Rotha Teoranta |
€269,768 |
|
Simon Communities of Ireland |
€269,602 |
|
Social Analysis and Action for Justice Ireland Limited |
€269,870 |
|
Special Olympics Ireland |
€270,000 |
|
Spinal Injuries Ireland |
€265,800 |
|
The Irish Environmental Conservation Organisation for Youth-UNESCO Clubs Limited |
€210,894 |
|
The Irish Hospice Foundation |
€265,926 |
|
The Irish Local Development Network Limited |
€262,000 |
|
The Men's Development Network Limited |
€264,784 |
|
The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland |
€270,000 |
|
The National Network of Women's Refuges And Support Services Limited |
€266,528 |
|
The Neurological Alliance of Ireland |
€269,402 |
|
Threshold |
€251,799 |
|
Volunteering Ireland Ltd |
€210,354 |
|
Women's Aid Ireland |
€239,584 |
|
Total |
€16,660,913 |
268. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost to the Exchequer if the existing subsidy to domestic group and private water users were to cover the full cost of those schemes to their users. [3166/17]
View answerTo ensure parity of treatment between domestic consumers in the public water system and the group water sector, a subsidy grant was introduced by my Department for group water schemes in 1997. The subsidy is payable to a group water scheme towards their operating costs of providing water for domestic use. The subsidy is payable annually and paid on a per house basis once the scheme qualifies. The subsidy is intended for, on the basis of supply for consumption by an average household, a scheme meeting its operating costs in providing water for domestic use. The subsidy is paid to schemes by local authorities, who are recouped the expenditure in full through my Department's Rural Water Programme.
To ensure equity of treatment with households on public water supplies the subsidy rates were adjusted down in 2015 to reflect the new domestic water charging regime introduced on 1 January 2015. Subsequently in 2016 the subsidy rates were adjusted up to the pre-2015 levels to reflect the suspension of charges. The subsidy amounts recouped to local authorities by my Department for 2014 – 2016 are set out in the table (the adjustments to the subsidy rates are reflected in the variations in amount recouped over the 2014 – 2016 period).
|
Year |
Subsidy Amount Recouped to Local Authorities |
|
2014 |
€21.05 million |
|
2015 |
€18.89 million |
|
2016 |
€15.76 million |
My Department will give further consideration to the subsidies available for the operation of group water schemes following Oireachtas decisions on the enduring funding model for public domestic water services so as to ensure continued parity of treatment between households connected to the public network and those on group water schemes. However, should domestic water charges not be restored, an estimate of the ongoing annual cost of the subsidy scheme to my Department (and in turn the Exchequer), is €24 million.
269. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the current process for Irish Water when a leak or issue with a water supply occurs in an area (details supplied); if Irish Water deals with the issue and repairs it or if the local authority is issued with a job number and it carries out the repairs; and if each leak in one area requires the local authority to get a different job number or, if when issues have been notified to a local authority, it can work on resolving all issues that arise until solved. [3167/17]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. Water supply issues are operational matters for the utility and one in which I have no function.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
270. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if Irish Water or the local authority in question is responsible for providing a water tankard for an area if residents in the area are left without a water supply for more than 24 hours. [3168/17]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. The provision of water tankers is an operational matter for the utility and one in which I have no function.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
271. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to local concerns regarding the lack of any local area plan in respect of the proposed substantial additional housing units proposed by his Department and Dublin City Council for the Finglas area; his views on the need to provide corresponding additional services in respect of schools, health, policing and so on in order that sustainability can be ensured; and if he will arrange the commissioning of such a development plan as a matter of urgency. [3178/17]
View answerThe City Council approved the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022 in October 2016. The development plan includes a schedule of local area plans, which the Dublin City Councillors agreed should be prepared in the lifetime of the development plan. These are local area plans for: Ballymun; Harold's Cross; Moore Street and Environs; Park West/Cherry Orchard; Phibsborough; Poolbeg West; and Stoneybatter, Manor Street and O'Devaney Gardens.
The Council has also approved the making of a number of Local Environmental Improvement Plans insofar as resources permit. The Local Environmental Improvement Plans schedule contained in the City Development Plan includes Finglas.
It is considered that the new City Development Plan provides the core strategy and framework to provide for much needed housing in all parts of the city with associated social and physical infrastructure.
272. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of former local authority housing that is now in the private rented sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3179/17]
View answer273. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount of former local authority housing now in the private rented sector that is being subsidised through the payment of rent subsidies through RAS, HAP, RS and so on, ultimately paid to private landlords; his views on the rationality from the State's perspective of this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3180/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 273 together.
The 2015 Annual Report of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) reported 319,609 registered tenancies with 170,282 landlords and 693,314 occupants in the private rental sector. The NESC Report, Ireland's Rental Sector: Pathways to Secure Occupancy and Affordable Supply, published in May 2015, estimates that over one-third of all households in the private rented sector are in receipt of social housing support.
In relation to the amount of former local authority housing that is now in the private rented sector, and the amount of former local authority housing now in the private rented sector that is occupied by tenants under the Rental Accommodation Scheme, the Housing Assistance Payment and Rent Supplement, my Department does not hold or collate this information.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 came into operation on 1 January 2016, replacing the 1995 Tenant Purchase Scheme. Tenant purchase schemes are an important way to help people who would otherwise struggle to buy a home, to realise their home ownership ambitions, while at the same time supporting long-term commitment to a location by residents. The current scheme, through a claw-back mechanism, discourages the early re-sale of properties at a profit, thereby encouraging people to only buy houses they intend to live in. The new scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme.
Incremental purchase protects the State's investment in the sale of the house to the tenant by giving the housing authority a share of any profits made on the resale of the house within a reasonable period after purchase. This was not the case under the 1995 scheme. The local authority will use these funds to provide new housing or refurbish existing stock. Incremental purchase promotes sustainable communities as it encourages purchasers to stay in their homes for a reasonable period after the purchase. As part of the terms of the scheme purchasers must live in the house as their normal place of residence and get agreement from their local authority if they want to sell, let or sub-let the house. Purchasers are able to sell their house; however, within the incremental charge period they will have to pay back the value of the outstanding charge on the house to the local authority.
274. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way in which the national planning framework will deal with surpluses of planned capacities for growth that exists in the strategic planning areas of the planning regions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3194/17]
View answerSignificant progress has been made in recent years in addressing the issue of excessive zoning of lands within the planning process, particularly for housing, through the introduction of Core Strategies now required for all local authority development plans under Section 10(2A) of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended by the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010. In 2011, my Department received a report from the then Regional Authorities on Regional Planning Guidelines implementation which indicated that, prior to the introduction of the above amendment, 41,788 hectares of land in total had been zoned for housing, sufficient for the provision of 1.1 million new homes or an additional population of 2.64 million people, including in certain in appropriate and poorly serviced locations.
This level of over-zoning was unwarranted, was too often based on aspirational planning, without regard for wider implications as to if or how all these lands could be developed over time and would have presented huge difficulties in terms of the co-ordination of future development and the associated services and infrastructure provision.
Following the introduction of amending provisions in the 2010 Act and drawing from guidance in the National Spatial Strategy and Regional Planning Guidelines, local authorities rapidly reviewed their development plans and local area plans such that the level of lands zoned and prioritised for housing as Phase 1 lands within their statutory plans was scaled back to 11,113 hectares, or lands sufficient to provide for around 300,000 new dwellings, which would equate to approximately 12 years' supply, in the context of the Economic and Social Research Institute's estimate of the new housing requirement of 25,000 units per annum.
The excess lands were either de-zoned or changed zoning objective to another appropriate use such as employment and amenity lands, or were identified for later phases of development, pending the utilisation of all lands zoned for priority development.
My Department monitors all city and county development plans and local area plans to secure broad alignment between the National Spatial Strategy, which will be succeeded later this year with the new National Planning Framework, and Regional Planning Guidelines last published in 2010 and local authority statutory plans.
My Department is currently engaged in technical analysis of the 2016 Census in the context of providing medium-to longer- term national and regional population and housing requirement estimates for the National Planning Framework, which, in turn, will inform new Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES), succeeding the existing Planning Guidelines. I will give consideration to advancing interim guidance to planning authorities on the appropriate population estimates that their statutory plans should provide for, in advance of the publication of the RSESs later this year, and on foot of the publication of the National Planning Framework, so that statutory plans reflect the latest Census data and plan pro-actively for the future on a sound and integrated basis.
More generally, my Department is satisfied that as regards the major metropolitan areas, in particular, where new housing demand is most acute, the existing round of Regional Planning Guidelines continue to provide a reasonable basis for planning for growth and housing provision and for consideration of housing proposals by planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála, ahead of updated guidelines being finalised.
275. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when funding will be announced for a link road (details supplied). [3205/17]
View answerThe aim of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund is to relieve critical infrastructural blockages to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites and to improve the economic viability of new housing projects in Dublin and in urban areas with high demand for housing. The €200 m Fund will be composed of an Exchequer allocation of €150 million, matched by a €50 million contribution from participating local authorities.
A Call for Proposals under the Fund was issued to local authorities on 26 August 2016, with a closing date for receipt of proposals of 14 October. It was open to all local authorities to apply, with funding to be allocated on the basis of a competitive bid process. Twenty-one local authorities have submitted a total of 74 project applications relating to specific sites or development land areas. Dublin City Council submitted a proposal in relation to the area, referred to in the Question.
The overall total cost of the 74 funding bid applications is approximately €800 m, with funding of some €600 million being sought from the Exchequer and local authorities agreeing to fund approximately €200 million as part of their matching fund requirements. It will not be possible to approve all applications, given the scale and value of applications received.
The viability of the applications is currently being examined in detail against the assessment criteria set out in the Call for Proposals, with a focus on the level of funding required and what it might leverage, the number of housing units that could be delivered, their strategic location and speed of delivery, and affordability levels of a proportion of the homes. Following completion of this analysis, I intend to announce successful applications during the first quarter of this year.
276. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's benefit for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2533/17]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer's benefit from the person concerned on 20 October 2016. It is a condition for receipt of carer's benefit that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 1 December 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal.
The person concerned has requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of his 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.
277. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he taking to ensure that food and beverages being served in schools here avoid being calorie-dense fried foods and processed food items; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2864/17]
View answerThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of some €40 million in 2016. As part of Budget 2017, I announced an additional €5.7 million for school meals which will benefit over 50,000 children.
The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them. Applicants to the scheme are directed to the Department's website which clearly advises that funding is for healthy nutritious food only and examples of food items are provided. Access to various healthy eating documents and guidelines are available on the school meals site including a link to the recently launched 'Healthy Food for Life – the Healthy Eating Guidelines and Food Pyramid' by the Department of Health.
Schools and organisations must reapply for funding in advance of each school year and are required to submit detailed records at the end of each school year. Expenditure on unhealthy food items is deducted from the following year's funding allocation. In addition, the Department initiated an on-site inspection programme in 2012 in participating schools to ensure that the scheme rules are being adhered to. The inspection process is being rolled out across all schools and includes an assessment of the type of food provided.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
278. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the free school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3133/17]
View answerThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of some €40 million in 2016. As part of Budget 2017, I announced an additional €5.7 million for school meals which will benefit over 50,000 extra children.
Priority for new applications for funding has been given to schools which are part of the Department of Education and Skills initiative for disadvantaged schools “Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools” (DEIS) in line with the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, Better Outcomes Brighter Futures. From September 2016 additional funding is being provided to DEIS schools already participating in the scheme to provide breakfast and lunch to pupils. Also, some 17 new DEIS schools have joined the scheme for the current academic year and a further 8 have expressed an interest in joining.
The school referred to by the Deputy previously applied to join the scheme and was informed that no provision could be provided at that time as they were not designated DEIS status.
The additional funding allocated in Budget 2017 also provides for the inclusion in the scheme, from September 2017, of any additional schools not currently part of DEIS and deemed to be disadvantaged following the completion of the review under way in the Department of Education and Skills. There is also some provision towards the extension of the scheme to breakfast clubs in non-DEIS schools from September 2017 which is the first time in many years that increased payments will be provided to schools outside of DEIS. Priority will be provided to those schools where there is most need and they will be contacted by the Department inviting them to join the school meals scheme in due course.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
279. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a partial capacity benefit application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2537/17]
View answerPartial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a Social Welfare scheme which allows a person, who may not have full capacity for work, return to employment and continue to receive a payment from my Department. A person who applies for PCB will, in the first instance, be assessed by a medical assessor who will assess the restriction on their capacity for work.
The PCB application in respect of the person concerned has been received in my Department and has been referred for assessment to the Medical Advisor (MA) who has been asked to expedite this case. When the MA's opinion has been received, the matter will be considered further and the person concerned notified of the position.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
280. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a farm assist appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2565/17]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 8 February 2017. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the 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. If you require any further assistance with this case please do not hesitate to contact my office.
281. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the rate of youth unemployment here; how this figure compares with the European average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2566/17]
View answerThe rate of youth unemployment was 14.5% in December 2016. This compares with the most recent available EU figure (from Eurostat) of 18.8% as at November 2016.
Reflecting the impact of government policy, and the overall improvement in the labour market, the rate of youth unemployment has fallen sharply from a peak of over 31.1% in 2012. At that time, the EU youth unemployment rate was 23.1%. Irish youth unemployment has thus fallen from well above the EU average in 2012 to significantly below the average at the end of 2016.
While this improvement is welcome, the Government recognises the importance of a continued focus on measures to facilitate young unemployed people find and sustain employment.
The key objective of Ireland's policy response to the EU Recommendation on a Youth Guarantee is to help newly unemployed young people find and secure sustainable jobs. In this regard there is monthly engagement by case officers with young people to assist them to prepare, review and, if appropriate, revise personal progression plans. Where young people do not find work relatively quickly, additional supports may be offered, both through reserved places on existing employment and training schemes and through youth-specific measures. Most such offers (over 70%) are in existing further education or training programmes. Others are in existing community-based employment programmes such as CE, Gateway and Tús. Pathways to Work 2016-2020 continues to prioritise these measures for the young unemployed and further commits to a number of additional measures.
I am confident these measures, and continuing economic recovery, will support further reductions in youth unemployment and add to the substantial improvements that have already been seen over the last few years.
282. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households in receipt of FIS; the number of households in receipt of the back-to-work family dividend; the number of households in receipt of both payments in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2567/17]
View answerThe total number of Family Income Supplement (FIS) claimants and Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) recipients is as follows:
|
BTWFD |
12,920 |
|
FIS |
57,257 |
|
BTWFD and FIS |
9,799 |
Not all recipients of BTWFD would automatically qualify for FIS as there are differences in the specific qualifying conditions for each scheme.
283. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons to date who have applied for paternity benefit; the number of persons who have received paternity benefit in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2568/17]
View answerThe paternity benefit scheme became operational on 1st September 2016. The number of claims received and awarded in the period 1 September to 11 January 2017 is set out in the table:
|
01/09/2016 – 11/01/2017 |
Received |
Awarded |
|
Paternity Benefit |
7,403 |
5,545 |
Based on the number of applications received to date the Department expects to receive around 20,000 applications for paternity benefit during 2017. The budget allocation in respect of paternity benefit for 2017 is €16m.
284. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households by county in receipt of rent supplement; the number of households by county that have had rent supplement increased above the prescribed limit in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2569/17]
View answer319. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons currently in receipt of rent support on a county basis or in each local authority area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3230/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 319 together.
The rent supplement scheme is supporting approximately 48,000 tenants at a total cost of €253 million in 2017. A breakdown of rent supplement recipients by county is provided in the attached tabular statement, this information is not maintained by local authority area.
In recognition of the ongoing supply difficulties, my Department continues to implement a targeted case-by-case policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the limits. To date, approximately 10,900 persons at imminent risk of homelessness have been supported through increased rent supplement payments. There has been a significant reduction in these cases following the introduction of the increased rent limits from 1 July 2016. A county breakdown of these payments is provided in the tabular statement.
As the Deputies will be aware, the implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020 and the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness – Rebuilding Ireland – which has committed to an accelerated target of 15,000 HAP tenancies during 2017. Under HAP, responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to those with a long-term housing need transfers to local authorities, under the auspices of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
From 1st December 2016, the HAP scheme is now operational in 28 of the 31 local authority areas. It is expected that HAP will be fully rolled out to the remaining Dublin administrative areas from 1st March 2017.
The HAP was first piloted in the Limerick area in early 2014, and there are now some 1,540 HAP supported tenancies in Limerick City and County. The number of HAP recipients in Limerick has exceeded the number of rent supplement recipients (c. 950). In addition to the ongoing transfer of tenancies from rent supplement to HAP, the majority of new applicants in Limerick seeking State support towards their rent are being processed under HAP rather than rent supplement. This activity is reflected in the low number of increased payments provided under rent supplement in this area.
In tandem with the revised rental limits introduced in July 2016 and on-going transfers to HAP, my Department continues to implement a targeted, flexible, case-by-case approach where rents may exceed the appropriate maximum limit ensuring where possible the threat of homelessness for tenants can be avoided.
Table 1: Rent Supplement Recipients by County as at end December, 2016
|
County |
Recipients |
|
CARLOW |
593 |
|
CAVAN |
391 |
|
CLARE |
423 |
|
CORK |
4,958 |
|
DONEGAL |
415 |
|
DUBLIN |
20,561 |
|
GALWAY |
2,506 |
|
KERRY |
1,554 |
|
KILDARE |
2,579 |
|
KILKENNY |
319 |
|
LAOIS |
871 |
|
LEITRIM |
281 |
|
LIMERICK |
954 |
|
LONGFORD |
401 |
|
LOUTH |
859 |
|
MAYO |
1,074 |
|
MEATH |
1,001 |
|
MONAGHAN |
188 |
|
OFFALY |
563 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
566 |
|
SLIGO |
289 |
|
TIPPERARY |
901 |
|
WATERFORD |
590 |
|
WESTMEATH |
1,299 |
|
WEXFORD |
1,960 |
|
WICKLOW |
1,945 |
|
Grand Total |
48,041 |
Table 2: Total Cumulative Increased Rental Payments by County as at 16 January 2017
|
County |
Awards under National Tenancy Sustainment Framework |
Awards under protocol with Threshold |
Total no. of increased payments by County |
|
CARLOW |
74 |
74 |
|
|
CAVAN |
63 |
63 |
|
|
CLARE |
60 |
60 |
|
|
CORK |
448 |
102 |
550 |
|
DONEGAL |
- |
- |
|
|
DUBLIN |
4,181 |
2,509 |
6,690 |
|
GALWAY |
204 |
2 |
206 |
|
KERRY |
193 |
193 |
|
|
KILDARE |
549 |
3 |
552 |
|
KILKENNY |
135 |
135 |
|
|
LAOIS |
119 |
119 |
|
|
LEITRIM |
99 |
99 |
|
|
LIMERICK |
16 |
16 |
|
|
LONGFORD |
310 |
310 |
|
|
LOUTH |
155 |
155 |
|
|
MAYO |
3 |
3 |
|
|
MEATH |
430 |
430 |
|
|
MONAGHAN |
1 |
1 |
|
|
OFFALY |
64 |
64 |
|
|
ROSCOMMON |
51 |
51 |
|
|
SLIGO |
1 |
1 |
|
|
TIPPERARY |
283 |
283 |
|
|
WATERFORD |
62 |
62 |
|
|
WESTMEATH |
369 |
369 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
22 |
22 |
|
|
WICKLOW |
389 |
3 |
392 |
|
Overall Total |
8,281 |
2,619 |
10,900 |
285. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to tackle welfare fraud; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2570/17]
View answerThe majority of people in receipt of a payment from the Department of Social Protection receive what they are entitled to be paid. Nevertheless, my Department recognises that abuse of the welfare system is an ongoing reality and must be tackled. Anti-fraud measures are set out in the Department's Compliance and Anti-Fraud Strategy 2014 – 2018 and are designed to prevent and detect fraud, to ensure effective oversight of schemes, to pursue prosecution of offenders and the recovery of any overpaid entitlements identified. I will be publishing the report on the implementation of the Strategy for the year 2016 before the end of March.
All Departmental staff exercise a control and compliance function in processing new applications and reviewing existing entitlements. The systems used to support schemes are designed to detect wrongful claiming and to highlight anomalies. In addition, the Department's inspectorate undertakes detailed examination of claims on a risk assessed and random basis. This is supplemented by at least three fraud and error surveys of Departmental schemes annually and by the use of data matching and data analytics techniques.
In addition, my Department's Special Investigation Unit, which comprises trained inspectors and Garda officers, is tasked with undertaking targeted and systematic examination of claims to tackle fraud and to work with other enforcement agencies to identify more serious breaches of the law.
Cross-functional and targeted actions are undertaken - both internally and in joint operations with other national and international agencies - to ensure a strategic response to high risk sectors or where fraud is considered to be most prevalent. In particular, actions are focused on sectors of the economy where there is a risk of concurrent working and claiming social welfare payments. New forms of fraud continue to be identified and the approach of the Department needs to be sufficiently flexible to combat all threats.
Overall, my Department conducts around one million claim reviews annually comprising customer entitlement enquiries, inspections and special investigations. Early indications for 2016 are that these activities have prevented incorrect expenditure of over half a billion euro, in what my Department refers to as control savings.
The continued roll-out of the Public Services Card has considerably reduced the potential for identity fraud and my Department has deployed identity and analytics software and other intelligence systems to reinforce its fraud prevention work. Members of the public also play an important role in supporting these anti-fraud activities and some 19,000 reports from concerned citizens have been received during 2016. To this end, I plan to launch a fraud awareness campaign over the coming months in recognition of the important role the public plays in this regard.
I am looking at a number of additional anti-fraud measures that I hope to introduce in 2017. These include publishing the names of persons who are convicted of social welfare fraud and applying surcharges on overpayments resulting from fraud.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
286. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in dealing with a carer's allowance review for a person (details supplied); when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2595/17]
View answerThe application for carer's allowance in respect of the person concerned was awarded on 19 January 2017 and the first payment is due to issue to the person's nominated post office on 9 February 2017.
Arrears of allowance due from 30 June 2016 to 8 February 2017 will issue shortly. The person concerned was notified of these details on 19 January 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
