Written Answers Nos. 267-291
267. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way the procurement and tendering process for the new mortgage-to-rent scheme using private investors is intended to work. [8511/17]
View answer268. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he expects the new mortgage-to-rent scheme involving private investors to be finalised and full details of the new scheme to be announced; and his plans to run a pilot or demonstration project of the scheme prior to a full scale launch. [8512/17]
View answer282. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to commitments made publicly by the Minister of State, Deputy English, that credit unions would be able to invest in the proposed new mortgage-to-rent scheme, the consultation that took place specifically with them regarding this scheme; the legislative amendments which will be required to give effect to their participation; and when this is expected to be put before the Houses of the Oireachtas. [8680/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 267, 268 and 282 together.
The Review of the Mortgage to Rent Scheme for borrowers of commercial private lending institutions published on 8 February 2017, concludes that the current financial model of the scheme may not be capable of delivering the scale of successful cases that could benefit from the scheme over time. Currently, the MTR scheme relies on AHBs to purchase from lenders properties that have been voluntarily surrendered by eligible borrowers.
The Government has been actively exploring potential mechanisms that would facilitate investment in social housing, including the off-balance sheet potential of private institutional investment. A number of private equity firms have expressed an interest in purchasing mortgage debt portfolios from commercial banks with a view to exploring the potential for them to access the MTR scheme model for the borrowers in occupation of the mortgaged property.
One of the outcomes of the Review is that in order to test the operability of alternative funding models for the scheme, the Housing Agency will work with a number of financial entities who have come forward with an interest in working with the MTR scheme to progress a number of pilot alternative lease arrangements. In advance of these pilots, a targeted market testing exercise is currently underway by the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA), on behalf of my Department, to test the suitability of the proposed enhanced leasing arrangements to ascertain if they would be viable for a mortgage to rent cohort.
The agreed Programme for a Partnership Government recognises the potential role that credit unions can play in housing finance and supports the efforts of the Registrar of Credit Unions at the Central Bank to gradually lift current lending restrictions as appropriate, including for housing. The Programme further provides that we will investigate with all stakeholders how credit unions can support the delivery of social housing.
Conscious of the independence of the Central Bank in its regulatory role in respect of credit unions, bilateral engagement has taken place between my Department and the Department of Finance to consider the potential regulatory and legislative implications of credit union involvement in the social housing sector. I acknowledge the willingness of credit unions to actively seek a role in financing the delivery of social housing. I and my Department have had ongoing contact with the credit union movement to contribute to this process by providing necessary technical advice and support.
In the context of the expressed interest of credit unions in providing finance for the delivery of social housing, the potential scope for credit union involvement in the planned new MTR pilot projects is being examined. My colleague, Minister of State Damien English and my Department are currently consulting with credit union representatives in this regard.
Overall, these pilot projects are in a developmental stage and my Department is working with the Housing Agency to scope out the necessary terms and conditions that should apply. It is my intention that this scoping, together with the market testing being undertaken by the NDFA and consultation with other Government Departments responsible for policy and regulation relevant to the operation of the scheme, will be concluded in the coming weeks. At that point, I will be in a better position to set-out in more detail how the pilots will operate and how the private investors will be selected.
The Review of the MTR scheme also included a commitment to undertaking a detailed financial assessment of the structure of the funding of the MTR scheme in advance of the budgetary process for 2018. The assessment will be informed by the early impact of the other actions proposed by the review, as well as the outcome of the experience with the pilot lease arrangements, and the availability of financial resources overall.
269. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the nature and detail of the relationship between existing regional planning frameworks and guidelines and the new national planning framework; and if existing regional plans will have to have regard to the national planning framework and thus could be altered by the Office of the Planning Regulator if they are not deemed to be in line with the new national plan if the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 is passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas. [8513/17]
View answerThe National Planning Framework, titled Ireland 2040 - Our Plan, will set a new strategic planning and development framework for the co-ordination of a range of national, regional and local authority policies and activities, planning and investment including new Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES) to be prepared by the three Regional Assemblies established under the Local Government Act 2014 and which strategies will succeed the current Regional Planning Guidelines prepared by the now defunct Regional Authorities which the Assemblies have replaced. Until such time as both the NPF and the RSESs are adopted later in 2017 and 2018, respectively, the existing National Spatial Strategy and existing Regional Planning Guidelines will remain in place.
The RSESs will support the implementation of the NPF and the economic policies and objectives of the Government by providing a long-term planning and economic development framework to guide action at local government level such as the statutory development plan process and the Local Economic and Community Plans also provided for under the Local Government Act 2014.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 (currently at Committee Stage) provides for the establishment of the Office of the Planning Regulator, which will be a prescribed body for the purposes of the preparation of future Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies. Under the proposed legislation above, the OPR, in addition to making observations on the RSES preparation process to the Assembly concerned, would also be empowered, where breaches of legislative and national policy requirements arise, to make recommendations to the Minister in relation to the use of the Minister’s existing powers under Section 31 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 to direct the relevant Assembly on the content of its Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy, thereby ensuring policy alignment between all tiers of the statutory plan making processes at national, regional and local levels. As the power to issue a direction would continue to be vested with the Minister, any decision on whether or not to issue would ultimately remain with him.
270. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the national planning framework consultations will feed into the mid-term review of the 2016-20 capital plan; if the mid-term review of the plan will wait until the new national planning framework is finalised to be undertaken; if not, his views on whether large infrastructure projects, such as the M20 motorway or proposed metro north, will be planned for progression without regard to the master national planning framework; and his further views on whether this would mean that the national planning framework and the existing capital plan will not be joined up and will suffer from the same mistake as has been levelled at the national spatial strategy and the national development plans in previous periods. [8514/17]
View answerThe initial public consultation phase of the National Planning Framework process is underway until 16 March next. The NPF will be a high level, long term spatial framework that will cover the period to 2040. The output of the consultation phase, together with consideration of the full Census 2016 results in April, will feed into a draft National Planning Framework document, to be published prior to the Summer.
As the Deputy will be aware, the current NPF consultation phase is running in tandem with the commencement of a mid-term review of the Government’s Capital Plan to 2021. On the basis of the initial public consultation, a draft NPF will be prepared and it is my Department’s intention to develop this draft in sufficient time that it will be available to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to input into the mid-term review of the Capital Plan. My Department is liaising closely with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in co-ordinating the preparations for both the National Planning Framework and the Capital Review.
In relation to specific individual projects for consideration under the Capital Plan review, it also needs to be borne in mind that many of these projects have been proposed for some years and can be considered by reference to the existing planning frameworks such as the National Spatial Strategy and Regional Planning Guidelines.
However, recognising the long lead-in times for major infrastructure delivery, my Department understands that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform intends to develop a longer term perspective on infrastructure requirements beyond the mid-term review of the Capital Plan to 2021 and the development of both the National Planning Framework and Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies will put in place planning and economic development frameworks as a very clear context for such long-run capital investment decision making.
In this context, the Taoiseach, in his recent address to the Institute of European Affairs, 'Ireland at the heart of a changing European Union,' reaffirmed that the new National Planning Framework for spatial planning due to be finalised later this year will be complemented with a long-term (i.e. 10 year) capital plan.
Therefore, I am confident that the Government is well positioned to ensure an effective plan-led approach to infrastructure delivery that will meet our country’s needs over the decades ahead.
271. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he expects the national audit of construction costs to be completed; and his views on whether there is a need for a regularised quarterly review of construction costs by his Department or another body under its aegis. [8515/17]
View answerUnder the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Government is committed to a broad range of measures to tackle, among other things, some of the costs associated with the provision of housing in the interests of reducing construction overheads. A working group, chaired by my Department, has been established to undertake a detailed analysis, in conjunction with the construction sector, to benchmark housing delivery input costs in Ireland in order to identify potential economies and facilitate an increased level of housing output into the future. While it is intended that the working group will concentrate on the domestic market, the Housing Agency is currently advancing an independent review and analysis of delivery costs and international comparisons.
Both studies are expected to be complete in the first half of 2017. In respect of reviews of the findings arising, it would be premature to dictate the validity or timing of such reviews and any such decision can be informed by the recommendations of the working groups on completion of their work.
272. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on whether mixed tenure and sustainable community planning principles that are in use throughout local authorities are impeding the development of social and affordable housing construction developments of scale; and his further views on whether there is a trade-off between scale and speed of delivery of social housing and these planning guidelines. [8516/17]
View answerThe policy of Sustainable Communities, that is encouraging the provision of a choice of house type, size and tenure within a single neighbourhood - referred to as the “sustainable neighbourhood” - has been Government policy since 2007. Its objective is to avoid the significant effects of social isolation and limiting of opportunities that can occur with large mono - tenure estates, frequently necessitating the irregeneration and remediation at a later stage with consider able cost exposure to the State. This policy approach was reaffirmed in the Social Housing Strategy 2020 published in November 2014 which further defined sustainable neighbourhoods as “areas where an efficient use of land, high quality urban design and effective integration in the provision of physical and social infrastructure such as public transport, schools, amenities and other facilities combine to create places people want to live”.
My Department has produced considerable planning guidance, including Sustainable Residential Development in Urban Areas (2010) and the Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (2013) to assist local authorities to promote Sustainable Communities. In addition, the Department guidance document Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities seeks to promote quality and value for money in publicly funded housing.
While delivering on this policy approach may add to the challenge of housing delivery in certain circumstances, I believe that sustainable neighbourhood housing can be delivered on in a timely manner. Rebuilding Ireland is predicated on that objective and, with respect to social housing, €5.35 billion will be invested over the period of the Action Plan, delivering some 47,000 social housing units.
This is an ambitious target but there is now a significant pipeline of projects in place, as set out in my Department’s recently published Social Housing Construction Projects Report, that will address housing need while still respecting the important goal of creating sustainable neighbourhoods. The report outlines details of some 8,430 social housing units in more than 500 developments nationwide, backed by a €1.3 billion budget for 2017 alone. The units concerned are at various stages in the development process, from initial capital investment approval to on-site development stage.
It should be noted that these developments do not include projects which are being progressed through public private partnerships, vacant units which are being brought back into use or acquisitions.
273. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if legislative changes will be required for new affordable rental models that have been proposed; and if the affordable units proposed as part of a development (details supplied) will be affordable rental or owner occupier units. [8517/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I announced stage 1 funding approval of €17,859,976 for Dublin City Council to progress the delivery of 56 Social Housing dwellings at the site concerned last December. These dwellings benefit from an existing approval under the Planning Acts for 110 social and affordable units on a portion of the site. This is the first phase of a mixed tenure re-development of the entire site to deliver approximately 600 dwellings in total, with a mix of 30% social, 20% affordable and 50% private housing. In this regard, I am advised by Dublin City Council that the site will be developed jointly with a private developer under a development agreement, to deliver a total of approximately 300 private, 120 affordable and the remaining 124 social dwellings to achieve the 600 dwellings, at the agreed tenure ratio for the site.
The question of legislative changes and affordable rental or owner occupier units will be considered in the context of the specific proposals from Dublin City Council.
274. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department provides grants to support the installation of back boiler heating systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8558/17]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including heating systems and the achievement of energy efficiency, is a matter for each relevant local authority, and it is open to each authority to address maintenance or improvements to their housing stock from within their own resources. My Department operates certain funding programmes to support local authorities in the development and improvement of social housing, including improving energy efficiency. Over the years 2004 to 2009, this included support for local authorities to carry out an extensive central heating upgrade programme in social housing, which saw the installation of central heating, and associated energy efficiency measures, in 27,750 such dwellings, at a cost to the exchequer of €140 million. My Department is not currently operating any programme to install heating systems in existing social houses.
Local authorities are currently undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting, with the support of my Department, on the least energy efficient social homes. Funding of some € 107 million has been provided from 2013 to end-2016 to improve energy efficiency and comfort levels in over 57,000 local authority homes, benefitting those at risk of fuel poverty and making a significant contribution to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction targets and energy reduction targets for 2020.
The insulation retrofitting programme is being implemented in a number of phases: Phase 1 commenced in 2013 and is focused on providing attic/roof insulation and the less intrusive cavity wall insulation in all relevant properties while Phase 2 of the programme, which has been piloted in both Fingal and Westmeath County Councils, will focus on the external fabric upgrade of those social housing units with solid/hollow block wall construction. Heating upgrades will be considered in future phases of the Programme.
276. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the timeframe involved for a revision of shared ownership; and if retrospective issues are being considered. [8591/17]
View answer277. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of repossessed shared ownership houses in County Kildare, including details of any which have been sold by local authorities since 2013; and the amount of moneys recouped by these sales, in tabular form. [8592/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together.
My Department, together with the Housing Agency, the Housing Finance Agency and local authorities, has considered the affordability issues facing some borrowers who purchased properties under the Shared Ownership (SO) schemes and devised a more affordable long-term path towards full home ownership. Indeed, a range of measures have already been taken to reduce the monthly repayments of these borrowers.
An innovative Shared Ownership Restructuring Option has been available to Shared Ownership borrowers from 1 April 2016. This new restructuring option for SO borrowers involves rolling up all outstanding debt under a SO arrangement into a single annuity loan-i.e. the new restructured loan principal will comprise any outstanding annuity loan balance, rental equity balance, plus any arrears - with an all-sums-owing mortgage charge applying to the property. The term of the annuity loan will be determined by the amount of the monthly repayment deemed to be affordable and sustainable for each SO borrower. This restructuring option allows the borrower to have a regularised, restructured repayment solution which is more easily understood. The restructuring option can lead to full home ownership for the borrower and as such allows for up/down sizing to suit household needs. This arrangement may be of particular benefit to those SO borrowers who are nearing the end of their annuity term but who have not made sufficient provision for the repayment of their rental equity balance. The option may not be appropriate in all cases. For example, in some instances, continuing with the current SO arrangement may be the best option for both the SO borrower and the local authority, or in other cases where the outstanding debt may not be sustainable for the borrower in the long-term, the Local Authority Mortgage to Rent (LAMTR) option might ultimately be the appropriate solution.
Details on the measures available to borrowers with Shared Ownership arrangements are available from their local authority.
Overall, local authority borrowers are encouraged to engage with their local authority at the earliest opportunity if they are having difficulty making the repayments on their Shared Ownership arrangement. Information in relation to local authority mortgage arrears, the local authority mortgage arrears resolution process (MARP) and the help available to borrowers is also available on my Department’s website at the following link: -
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/home-ownership/mortgage-arrears/local-authority-mortgage-arrears-help-available.
Information in relation to local authority repossessions is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity
under the heading “Local authority repossessions”. This data is not broken down by loan type.
My Department provides capital funding to support local authorities in transferring into permanent social housing stock, house/apartments that were financed using a local authority home loan and which are now either repossessed, voluntarily surrendered or abandoned. It is a matter for local authorities to validate the suitability of these units for social housing in terms of unit type, location and meeting local need. Where the local authority determines any of these units as being not suitable for social housing, the local authority may offer these units for sale on the open market. My Department does not currently hold information on the units that fall into this category.
278. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the way in which a legal case (details supplied) may affect wind energy guidelines here; if it may mean that local authorities are allowed to fill any legal gap in line with health values given by the WHO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8599/17]
View answerI understand that the legal case referred to is still before the Courts in relation to the determination of costs and damages and therefore it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the matter, including in relation to any possible implications for the review of the 2006 Wind Energy Guidelines. Pending the finalisation of the review of the 2006 Guidelines, the existing Guidelines continue to apply. With regard to the recent ECJ Judgement in Case C-290/15 on the Belgian/Wallonian wind energy guidelines, as referred to, it is proposed to undertake a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of the proposed revisions to the 2006 Guidelines - in accordance with the requirements of Directive 2001/24/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment - before they are finalised.
279. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of efforts to prevent raw sewage being pumped into rivers across the State and to address the associated public health risks; his views on the fact that the State has failed to provide wastewater treatment facilities in 38 areas across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8601/17]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the environmental regulator responsible for the licensing, authorisation and enforcement of urban waste water discharges consistent with the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive which sets out requirements for the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water, with the objective of protecting the environment from the adverse effects of waste water discharges. Since 1 January 2014 Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels, including the management of urban waste water collection and treatment infrastructure, and is responsible for compliance with the requirements of authorisations issued by the EPA.
The European Commission announced on 15 February 2017 that it is taking Ireland to the Court of Justice of the EU for its failure to ensure that urban waste water in 38 agglomerations across the country is adequately collected and treated to prevent serious risks to human health and the environment.
Since taking over responsibility for water services, Irish Water has put in place a prioritised range of projects to deal with historic deficits and lack of investment in waste water treatment across the country. The utility has identified key projects in both their current and their recently approved future capital investment plans to address all non-compliances in their treatment plants by 2021 in each of the areas identified by the EU as part of this ECJ case. Irish water estimates that the cost of this element of their investment programme will exceed €1billion. However, further significant and sustained investment will be required to ensure ongoing compliance.
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.
280. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the cost of upgrading information technology systems and-or databases to incorporate the use of Eircode; if the use of Eircode is mandatory in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8631/17]
View answerMy Department’s Geographic Information Systems use An Post’s GeoDirectory address database which now contains Eircodes. Modifying the existing address search software to include Eircodes incurs a cost of €2,240.00 (ex Vat) per annum. This functionality is intended to be available in the next release of the MyPlan.ie GIS due by April 2017. Other than MyPlan.ie, there is no requirement for the use of address information in any information technology systems or databases directly under the responsibility of my Department.
281. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has received a protected disclosure (details supplied); the action he proposes to take arising from this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8670/17]
View answerI can confirm that I received the correspondence referred to last week and that it is currently being carefully examined, informed by the provisions of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. My Department’s Protected Disclosure Policy, which sets out the general process followed when a confirmed protected disclosure is received, is available online at:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/migrated-files/en/Publications/CorporateServices/ProtectedDisclosures/FileDownLoad%2C43451%2Cen.pdf.
283. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total funding available from his Department in 2017 for new group sewerage and water schemes respectively; the maximum grants available for each type of scheme per connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8781/17]
View answerUnder my Department’s new Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016 - 2018 there are six different funding measures. New group water schemes and new group sewerage schemes are addressed by two of the measures, namely:
- Measure 3 - Rural development (group water sector): This measure supports social and economic development in rural towns and villages and their hinterlands by providing new group water schemes where public water supply schemes or private wells are not an option.
Grants under this heading are 85% of necessary works costs, subject to a maximum of €7,650 per house. A supplemental grant is available in exceptional circumstances.
- Measure 4 - Transition of schemes to Public Water and Waste Water Sector (Irish Water): This measure enables group water and sewerage schemes, where they wish to do so and with agreement of Irish Water, transition to the public water and waste water sector. Grants of 100% of the cost of works for takeovers of group water schemes and grants of up to 75% of cost subject to a maximum grant of €6,750 per house are available for new group sewerage schemes. Group sewerage schemes are normally extensions of existing public sewerage (Irish Water) schemes and are taken-over immediately upon their completion. A supplemental grant is available in exceptional circumstances.
In January 2016, my Department wrote to local authorities, advising them of the new multi-annual approach to the funding of both group water and sewerage schemes under the programme for 2016 and beyond. In August 2016, my Department notified local authorities of the schemes being included in the programme for its three year period as well as final overall allocations of funding in 2016 (interim allocations were made earlier in the year in order to maintain momentum in the programme). The notification included new group sewerage and group water schemes.
It is intended to make interim funding allocations across the six measures, including Measures 3 and 4, before the end of March 2017.
284. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason a deposit protection scheme has not been introduced, given the fact it was promised five years ago; the level of progress being made to put in place a structure to enable such a scheme to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8784/17]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 provides for, among other things, the establishment of a tenancy deposit protection scheme to be operated by the Residential Tenancies Board. Indecon Consultants were originally appointed to carry out the research on the development of a deposit retention scheme and they reported in November 2012. The provisions in the 2015 Act were developed subsequently, informed by their analysis. However, a lot has changed in the rental market since the scheme was first envisaged. The scheme was originally intended to be financed by the interest payable on deposits lodged; this is no longer viable given the current financial market conditions. Furthermore, disputes relating to deposits are no longer the most common dispute type referred to the RTB. In 2015, deposit retention, at 22%, was the third most common dispute type referred to the Board, behind invalid notice of termination at 23% and rent arrears and over-holding at 32%.
While the Government is fully committed to the principle of ensuring effective protection of deposits, it is now proposed that the current legislative provisions be reviewed to take account of the changed circumstances and determine what improvements should be made to ensure that the scheme, when introduced, can operate effectively.
The review of the scheme will take place this year with any necessary legislative changes to be included in the General Scheme of a new simplified and consolidated Residential Tenancies Bill which, under the Strategy for the Rental Sector, will be brought forward by end 2017.
285. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the EU funds his department accesses; the plans he is putting in place to access these funds to a greater degree in view of Brexit; if he will outline initiatives he is pursuing to establish access to new funds in view of the challenge of Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8805/17]
View answerMy Department currently accesses European Union funding from the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and Horizon 2020. There are plans to seek funding from the Connecting Europe Facility funding instrument and to seek additional funding from the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020 and from Horizon 2020.
Negotiations in relation to the next funding period will commence in 2018 and these will be informed, inter alia, by the circumstances arising out of Brexit.
286. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the public funding supplied to trade unions and representative bodies in 2015 and 2016 from his Department in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9098/17]
View answerThe following funding was made available to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions in the years 2015 and 2016, in its role as a member of the Community and Voluntary Pillar.
|
Trade Union/Representative Body |
Payments made in 2015 |
Payments made in 2016 |
|
ICTU |
€18,840 |
€18,840 |
287. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department has received a sum of £836.39 sterling from the UK Department for Work and Pensions in respect of a payment due to a person (details supplied); when his Department will pay that money to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8055/17]
View answerEU legislation provides that arrears of benefit due to a person payable by one Member State can be withheld or reduced, if required, by another Member State if that Member State had an assistance overpayment for the person concerned, relating to the same period.
In this case, the person concerned applied for an Irish state pension (contributory) and indicated that they had also worked in the UK. As the applicant was in receipt of Disability Allowance, which is a means tested assistance payment, the Department requested that the arrears were withheld, to allow time to establish whether or not an overpayment of Irish assistance existed for the same period.
It has since been confirmed that no Disability Allowance overpayment exists, and that it is in order for the UK arrears, in full, to be paid directly to the person concerned. A form requesting the financial institution account details of the person has been issued. On return, payment of the arrears will be made without delay.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
288. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a disability payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8119/17]
View answerI can confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this lady on 21 October 2016.
On 19 January 2017 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer (DO) in order to make a decision on her eligibility. The information received gave rise to further points that the DO requires clarification on in order to determine the correct eligibility for the person in question. Notification of information requested issued to the person concerned on 14th February 2017 and we await their response.
Persons awaiting a decision on a social welfare payment may apply for a means tested supplementary welfare allowance payment pending the outcome of their application.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
289. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason arrears due are being retained by his Department in respect of a person (details supplied) who was recently awarded carer's allowance. [8152/17]
View answerCarer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 26 January 2017 and she was notified on that date.
Arrears of allowance due from 27 October 2016 to 8 February 2017 have issued to the person’s nominated post office on 9 February 2017. The person concerned was notified of these details on 9 February 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
290. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on a carer's allowance application will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8177/17]
View answerI confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 7 December 2016. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. If you require any further assistance on this please do not hesitate to contact my office.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
291. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons, broken down by gender, who were awarded a contributory State pension in 2015 and 2016; the total number of lifetime social insurance contributions, paid and credited, made by those persons, by gender; the total number of lifetime credited contributions made by those persons, by gender; the quantity of each type of credited contribution for those persons, by gender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8246/17]
View answerThe following table shows the number of persons, by gender, who were awarded a state pension (contributory) in 2015 and 2016.
|
Year |
Male |
Female |
Total |
|
2015 |
18,392 |
12,061 |
30,453 |
|
2016 |
18,907 |
12,541 |
31,448 |
Entitlement to state pension (contributory) is decided having regard to an individual’s social insurance contribution history. It is not possible to quantify or aggregate the number of paid and/or credited social insurance contributions for the people who were awarded pensions during those years, or to provide a breakdown of the nature of credited contributions, where relevant, relied upon to establish entitlement.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
