Written Answers Nos. 175-185
175. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of raising the cut-off age of the one-parent family payment to 12 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12435/17]
View answerThe information that the Deputy has requested is currently not available in my Department. Given the complex nature of the request, my Department will provide the information directly to the Deputy in due course.
176. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of all working-age payments and the estimated full-year cost of increasing the payments by €5, €10, €15 and €20, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12436/17]
View answer177. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the different rates of jobseeker's payments for those under 25 years of age; the estimated full-year cost of increasing the respective payments by €2.50, €5, €7, €10; €15 and €20, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12437/17]
View answer178. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the current expenditure on the school meals programme; the estimated full-year cost of increasing expenditure by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12438/17]
View answer179. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing the carer's support grant by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12439/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 179, inclusive, together.
The costings sought by the Deputy are detailed in the following series of tables.
Table 1: Cost of increasing all working age payments (i.e. weekly payments for those under 66 years of age) by varying amounts
|
Scheme |
Full year cost of a €5 increase €m |
Full year cost of a €10 increase €m |
Full year cost of a €15 increase €m |
Full year cost of a €20 increase €m |
|
Social Insurance Schemes |
||||
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension |
8.0 |
15.9 |
23.9 |
31.8 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
1.1 |
2.2 |
3.2 |
4.3 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
15.9 |
31.8 |
47.8 |
63.7 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
0.3 |
0.6 |
0.9 |
1.2 |
|
Disablement Pension |
1.5 |
3.1 |
4.6 |
6.2 |
|
Illness Benefit |
14.5 |
29.0 |
43.4 |
57.9 |
|
Injury Benefit |
0.35 |
0.7 |
1.05 |
1.4 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
0.3 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
1.1 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
9.1 |
18.2 |
27.4 |
36.5 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
0.7 |
1.4 |
2.1 |
2.8 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
0.01 |
0.02 |
0.03 |
0.04 |
|
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit |
5.4 |
10.9 |
16.3 |
21.8 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
0.3 |
0.6 |
0.9 |
1.2 |
|
Total Social Insurance Schemes |
57.5 |
115.0 |
172.4 |
229.9 |
|
Social Assistance Schemes |
||||
|
Blind Person's Pension |
0.35 |
0.7 |
1.05 |
1.4 |
|
Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension |
0.4 |
0.8 |
1.1 |
1.5 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
0.05 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
10.6 |
21.2 |
31.9 |
42.5 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
9.2 |
18.4 |
27.6 |
36.8 |
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance |
2.5 |
5.0 |
7.6 |
10.1 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
0.1 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
54.8 |
109.6 |
164.5 |
219.3 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (€100 rate) |
3.2 |
6.4 |
9.6 |
12.8 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (€144 rate) |
0.8 |
1.6 |
2.4 |
3.2 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
0.1 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
|
Disability Allowance |
35.1 |
70.1 |
105.2 |
140.2 |
|
Farm Assist |
2.7 |
5.5 |
8.2 |
10.9 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
2.85 |
5.7 |
8.55 |
11.4 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
3.4 |
6.8 |
10.1 |
13.5 |
|
Community Employment Programme |
6.8 |
13.7 |
20.5 |
27.4 |
|
TÚS - Community Work Placement Initiative |
2.6 |
5.2 |
7.9 |
10.5 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
0.9 |
1.8 |
2.7 |
3.6 |
|
Gateway |
0.4 |
0.9 |
1.3 |
1.8 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
4.6 |
9.2 |
13.8 |
18.4 |
|
Total Social Assistance Schemes |
141.5 |
283.2 |
424.7 |
566.3 |
|
OVERALL TOTAL |
198.9 |
398.2 |
597.1 |
796.2 |
Table 2: Cost of increasing the reduced rates payable to Jobseeker’s Allowance recipients aged under 26
|
Scheme |
Full year cost of a €2.50 increase €m |
Full year cost of a €5 increase €m |
Full year cost of a €7 increase €m |
Full year cost of a €10 increase €m |
Full year cost of a €15 increase €m |
Full year cost of a €20 increase €m |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (€100 rate) – claimants under 25 (aged 18 to 24 years of age) |
1.6 |
3.2 |
4.5 |
6.4 |
9.6 |
12.8 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (€144 rate) – claimants aged 25 |
0.4 |
0.8 |
1.1 |
1.6 |
2.4 |
3.2 |
It should be noted that the costings listed above include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant. It should also be noted that these costings are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2018.
Table 3: Cost of increasing the School Meals Programme and Carer’s Support Grant by varying percentages
|
Scheme |
Full year cost of a 5% increase €m |
Full year cost of a 10% increase €m |
Full year cost of a 15% increase €m |
Full year cost of a 20% increase €m |
|
School Meals Programme – based on increasing the 2017 allocation of €47.5 million |
2.4 |
4.75 |
7.1 |
9.5 |
|
Carer’s Support Grant – based on increasing the 2017 estimated expenditure €180.9 million |
9.05 |
18.1 |
27.1 |
36.2 |
180. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised at the Foreign Affairs Council, the need to provide additional humanitarian assistance to areas such as South Sudan and Yemen in which there is an imminent threat of famine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12283/17]
View answerI am extremely concerned about the worsening humanitarian crises in South Sudan and Yemen. Famine was declared in parts of South Sudan in recent weeks and the UN is now calling for urgent action to avoid famine in Yemen. Conflict is having a severe impact on the populations in both countries, leading to acute hunger and increased displacement. We use every opportunity we have internationally to focus on the unprecedented level of humanitarian need globally, including at the Foreign Affairs Council.
South Sudan, where 7.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, was last discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council in December 2016. The Council issued a strong political statement calling on all parties to end the violence, and to allow unhindered humanitarian access to those in need.
The EU is providing very significant humanitarian assistance to South Sudan. Since the outbreak of the conflict in December 2013, the Commission has provided over €420 million in humanitarian funding, including an emergency aid package of €82 million announced last month.
Ireland has provided over €31 million in humanitarian assistance to the South Sudan crisis since December 2013, including over €11 million in 2016.
The conflict and humanitarian crisis in Yemen was discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels this week. It is estimated that 70% of the Yemeni population of 27 million is now in need of assistance, with 2 million people on the brink of famine.
The EU Commission provided more than €70 million in humanitarian assistance to Yemen during 2016, focused on emergency programmes targeting 4 million people with nutrition and food assistance. Ireland has provided almost €6 million in humanitarian assistance to Yemen since the conflict began in early 2015. We provide support through our UN, Red Cross and NGO partners.
Together with our EU partners, we will continue to monitor the situation in South Sudan and Yemen closely. I expect that further humanitarian support to both crises will be provided by Ireland in the coming period.
181. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount it cost to run Ireland's liaison office to NATO and Partnership for Peace delegation in each of the years 2010 to 2016; and the amount it is expected to cost in 2017. [12321/17]
View answerIreland has been a member of the Partnership for Peace since 1999. Our engagement with the programme is carried out via a Liaison Office in Brussels.
Ireland’s participation in the Partnership aims to ensure that our Defence Forces have the necessary capabilities to continue to partner effectively and securely with other nations in UN-mandated peacekeeping operations.
The cost of running the Partnership for Peace Liaison Office in the years 2010 to 2016 is set out in the following table. This figure includes staff costs, office costs, building rental and maintenance and other overheads.
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2010 |
€481,285 |
|
2011 |
€546,290 |
|
2012 |
€460,051 |
|
2013 |
€439,475 |
|
2014 |
€405,892 |
|
2015 |
€419,767 |
|
2016 |
€520,570 (provisional outturn) |
It is obviously difficult at this stage to estimate accurately likely operating costs of the Office in 2017, but we estimate that total costs are likely to be similar to provisional operating costs for 2016.
182. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a licence and agreement has been obtained for an event (details supplied); the conditions attached to the licence to ensure minimal disruption to locals and tourists while the event is taking place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12234/17]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is not the body responsible for licensing such an event. However, the OPW has received a request to allow a small part of the running course for the event traverse part of the site in its care and is currently considering this request. Such consideration takes into account the protection of the Monument, the safety of participants and the safety and enjoyment of visitors to the site.
183. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the provision which has been made for section 39 organisations providing vital social care services to meet the various pay restoration requirements now falling due under the Lansdowne Road agreement. [12396/17]
View answerThe issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Health to consider in the first instance as the organisations in question come within the purview of the Department of Health in respect of the provision matters referred to.
184. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the Ulster Canal project; the funding which has been spent to date on this; the stage it is at; her further plans for this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12320/17]
View answerOne of my main priorities since taking Ministerial office has been the restoration of the Ulster Canal. I secured Government approval to restore a 2.5 km stretch of the Ulster Canal from the Shannon-Erne Waterway to the International Scout Centre at Castle Saunderson, Co Cavan on 24th February 2015.
The project, which comprises three work phases, is being undertaken by Waterways Ireland.
Waterways Ireland has issued the letter of award in respect of works to complete the 3rd and final phase, Phase 3, of the navigation to Castle Saunderson and, subject to the stand still period required by the EU Remedies Directive and no objections from other tenderers, the tender will be awarded by 20 March 2017. It is anticipated that a contractor will be on site towards the end of April 2017.
An amount of €2,000,574 has been spent on the project to date.
185. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of Leader funding; if it is expected that Brexit will have any implications on Leader funding and the way it is administered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12322/17]
View answerThe total amount of funding available for Ireland’s LEADER Programme 2014-2020 is €250 million. €220 million of this funding has been allocated to the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas in Ireland and will be delivered through the LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs) selected in each area. The remaining €30 million will be managed at a national level for targeted investment initiatives.
I do not anticipate that the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union will impact on the funding available to Ireland in the current programme, or to the way it is administered.
Part of the €30 million funding available for targeted initiatives at national level is for a Co-operation strand of LEADER. This strand is designed to encourage two or more LAGs to work in partnership on joint projects benefitting each participating area. These partners can be other Irish LAGs, or LAGs based in other EU Member States, including those in Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom.
€10 million has been allocated for Co-operation projects in Ireland during the lifetime of the 2014-2020 LEADER Programme. I announced the first €3 million tranche of funding for Co-operation projects in December 2016 and I expect that some of this funding will be used for projects between LAGs in Ireland and those in Northern Ireland and/or the rest of the United Kingdom.
My understanding at this stage is that it will still be possible for LEADER LAGs in Ireland to co-operate with their counterparts in the United Kingdom in the event of the United Kingdom leaving the EU, as the EU Regulations governing the programme allow for co-operation with groups in non-EU Member States.
