Written Answers Nos. 177 - 188
177. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of plans and the timeline for the delivery of a fire station (details supplied); if there are other similar projects proposed in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20938/17]
View answerThe provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Service 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.
Cavan County Council submitted a revised cost plan for a new station at Virginia to my Department in August 2016, and permission to proceed to tender was granted in November 2016. With this permission in place, Cavan County Council are progressing this project. A fire station works project in Ballyjamesduff is also included in the Capital Programme under the list of priority projects to be progressed for 2018.
Monaghan County Council prioritised a new fire station for Castleblayney and provision has been made in the programme for its construction, with an indicative date of 2019. The projects in the capital programme 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 the projects.
178. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when it is proposed to roll out the successor to the SICAP programme; his plans to have new tenders for the provision of this programme; his further plans to tender for the provision of this programme in one, two or three lots in County Galway; his plans to have a special provision that the programme will be delivered on all islands by the one service provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20985/17]
View answerIn relation to the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), there are a number of actions being undertaken which will lead to a better understanding of SICAP and its impacts, and which will inform my Department in reshaping the next iteration of SICAP, due to roll out in 2018.
Firstly, my Department is leading a targeted national consultation process involving national and regional sessions and a number of focus groups in which feedback is being sought from the key stakeholders involved. The consultation process offers a platform to consider how the programme can be refined and for solutions to be put forward in order to strengthen the programme from 2018.
Secondly, the ESRI has begun a qualitative study looking at SICAP goals and its governance structure as part of a wider evaluation project.
There is also a qualitative research project underway looking at a cohort of SICAP participants - young people not in employment, education or training (NEETs). This research will examine how SICAP’s Programme Implementers identify and engage with this target group, it will look at the types of outcomes being achieved for them and it will put forward good practice examples to inform the next iteration of the programme.
The method for establishing contracts for the next SICAP programme is currently under consideration in my Department, commensurate with, inter alia, legal requirements, compliance with the Public Spending Code and value for money considerations.
179. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to commence section 28(1) of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016. [21043/17]
View answer180. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when he expects section 28 of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 to be commenced; if he will notify this Deputy when this occurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21075/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.
I am proposing to make certain amendments to section 28 of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 relating to the extension of duration of certain planning permissions within the Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016 which is currently progressing through the Oireachtas. It is intended that this Bill will be enacted before the Oireachtas Summer recess, which will enable me to consider commencing section 28 of the 2016 Act, as amended.
181. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the proposed timescale for the consultation, design, tendering, planning and construction of a proposed major housing development (details supplied). [21100/17]
View answerThe Government's Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness (July 2016), which is available at the following link www.rebuildingireland.ie, is focused on increasing supply, across all tenures, to achieve total housing output of at least 25,000 homes per year by 2021 and beyond.
An important policy intervention in the delivery of new housing supply under Pillar 3 of Rebuilding Ireland is the development of State-owned lands for mixed-tenure housing, particularly in the major urban areas, where demand is greatest. Last week, I published details of some 2,000 hectares of land in public ownership, which has the potential to deliver up to 50,000 homes nationally. Some 350 hectares of this land is located in the Dublin region. Full details of these sites can be accessed on the Rebuilding Ireland Housing Land Map at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/.
In this regard, Dublin City Council is well advanced in bringing large-scale projects forward for mixed-tenure housing, under its Housing Land Initiative, on sites at Oscar Traynor Road, Emmet Road and Infirmary Road. Collectively, these 3 sites have the potential to deliver 2,000 mixed-tenure homes.
The final model for each site, including the site at Oscar Traynor Road, will be the subject of careful consideration by the local authority concerned, including the elected members who are best placed to know and provide for the housing need in their area. I understand that consultation on the Oscar Traynor project will be via Dublin City Council's Consultative Forum, which held its inaugural meeting on 30th March 2017, and will be in place until such time as the development is complete.
Dublin City Council has recently published notice of its intent to proceed with procurement for the development of a number of sites, including the Oscar Traynor Road site. Taking account of the time required to complete the statutory procurement process, complete the design and obtain planning approval, in accordance with any Development Agreement that may be agreed with Dublin City Council, it is estimated that construction could commence in the latter half of 2018.
182. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason for introducing an affordable rental scheme rather than an affordable housing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21133/17]
View answerA range of measures are being taken under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness to increase housing supply overall, with the aim of creating a functioning and sustainable housing system which can meet housing demand at more affordable prices.
The plan is divided into five pillars, with each targeting a specific area of the housing system. Pillar 3, entitled Build More Homes, has a key objective of increasing the output of private housing to meet demand at affordable prices.
Action 4.6 of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan provided for the introduction of an affordable rental scheme to enhance the capacity of the private rented sector to provide quality and affordable accommodation for households currently paying a disproportionate amount of disposable income on rent. As set out in the Strategy for the Rental Sector published in December 2016, the commitment on affordable rental is to be progressed through kick-starting supply in rent pressure zones. Lands held by local authorities in rent pressure zones are to be brought to market on a competitive tendering basis, with a view to leveraging the value of the land to deliver the optimum number of units for rent, targeting middle income households, in mixed tenure developments. The cost of providing rental units is to be permanently reduced by lowering the initial investment and development costs for providers - AHB or private - allowing the rental units to be made available at below market prices without the need for ongoing rental subsidies.
In this regard, an important policy intervention in the delivery of new housing supply under Pillar 3 of Rebuilding Ireland is the development of State-owned lands for mixed-tenure housing, particularly in the major urban areas, where demand is greatest. On 27 April 2017, I published details of some 2,000 hectares of land in public ownership, which has the potential to deliver up to 50,000 homes nationally. Full details of these sites can be accessed on the Rebuilding Ireland Housing Land Map at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/rebuilding-ireland-land-map/.
I have asked all local authorities to be innovative and proactive in developing these sites. The final model for each site will be the subject of careful consideration by the local authority concerned, the elected members included, who are best placed to know and provide for the housing need in their area. Indeed, the Dublin local authorities are well advanced in bringing large-scale sites forward for mixed tenure housing, with projects advertised that can deliver circa 3,000 mixed-tenure homes in the Dublin City Council and South Dublin County Council areas alone.
183. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20884/17]
View answerThe person concerned is in receipt of a jobseeker’s transition payment which comprises a full personal rate and an increase in respect of 2 dependent children who qualify for payment under the provision of the scheme.
It is open to the person concerned to contact her Intreo Centre in Newbridge if her circumstances have changed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
184. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 117 of 23 March 2017, the number of journeys the €80 million allocation for the free travel pass accounted for annually in each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [20905/17]
View answer185. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage per fare covered by the free travel pass as an average of fares taken under the free travel scheme in CIÉ companies. [20906/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together.
It is not possible to quantify the specific number of journeys undertaken annually under the free travel scheme. All transport companies participating in the free travel scheme are paid on the basis of fares foregone and payments are not made on a specific per journey basis. This method of payment to travel operators for participation in the free travel scheme is designed to take account of the guarantee of regular and predictable cash flow and the utilisation of spare capacity in transport infrastructure which might otherwise be underutilised.
My Department currently makes a block payment to the CIÉ Group. The apportionment of that payment between the three constituent companies, Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnród Éireann is a matter for determination by CIÉ. A discount of 40% is applied to that payment to reflect fares foregone.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
186. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for a partial capacity payment by a person (details supplied) in County Cork can be expedited. [20920/17]
View answerPartial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a 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 person concerned currently has a claim for illness benefit and has made an application for PCB. This application was received on 25 April 2017. The application has been referred to a medical assessor for an opinion on the level of work restriction and, on receipt of this opinion, a decision will be made on the case and the person concerned will be notified of the position. Every effort is being made to expedite the matter.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
187. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for a domiciliary allowance will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20943/17]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from this lady on the 22nd February 2017. The application will be examined by a Deciding Officer and the decision notified as soon as possible. Applications are processed in date of receipt order; it can currently take 15 weeks to process an application for DCA.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
188. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on extending the cut-off for entitlement to children's allowance to allow children who turn 18 years of age who are still in secondary education to continue to receive the children's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20951/17]
View answerChild Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child Benefit is currently paid to around 623,000 families in respect of some 1.2 million children, with an estimated expenditure of over €2 billion in 2017.
Budget 2009 reduced the age for eligibility for Child Benefit from 19 years to less than 18 years. A value for money review of child income supports, published by the Department of Social Protection in 2010, found that the participation pattern of children in education supports the current age limit for Child Benefit.
Extending the cut off for entitlement to allow Child Benefit to be paid in respect of those children who turn 18 year old and are still in secondary education would not be a targeted approach given the universality of Child Benefit. The adoption of such a proposal would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
Families on low incomes can avail of a number of social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including:
- qualified child increases (IQCs) with primary social welfare payments;
- family income supplement (FIS) for low-paid employees with children;
- the back to school clothing and footwear allowance for low income families (paid at the full-time second level education rate).
I am satisfied these schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked with household income and thereby supports low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
