Written Answers Nos. 202-212
202. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the proposal that income received by social welfare recipients from the rent-a-room scheme should be disregarded in view of the potential of this scheme to contribute to addressing the housing crisis. [21101/17]
View answerSocial welfare legislation provides that, for means testing purposes, rental income received by a claimant and his or her spouse/partner where it derived from a property other than the family home is not assessed. However, the yearly value of such a second property is assessed on a notional basis based on the market value of the property less any outstanding mortgage. This reflects the position that the individual(s) possesses a capital asset which can be realised to provide income support.
Where an individual is renting part of their family home, the cash value of the rental income is assessed. Such rental income is reduced by a range of deductions. These include:
i. a proportion of any mortgage interest paid by the claimant on the part of the property rented,
ii. a 15% deduction for voids (i.e. periods when the accommodation is vacant between lettings), and,
iii. if the rooms let are furnished, a 5% deduction for wear and tear.
These arrangements are outlined on the Department’s website at the following link: http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Means-Assessment.aspx.
In addition, a special provision exists for claimants of the State Pension (Non-Contributory) and Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension, whereby no assessment is made of any money received in respect of rent from a person who lives with the pensioner where, but for that person, the pensioner would be living alone.
Fully disregarding all rental income would run contrary to the policy of ensuring that social welfare expenditure is targeted to those who need it the most. It could also potentially negatively impact on the incentive to work for working age recipients. Any change to my Department’s means policies would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
203. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will give consideration to a request from a local authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21105/17]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I discussed this matter at the meeting with the local Oireachtas Members and Councillors from the Ballybay - Clones Municipal District on Wednesday 5th October 2016. It is not proposed to open an Intreo Centre or government building in Ballybay, or to relocate one of the Department’s agencies there. I continue, however, to be fully supportive of any initiatives that will boost employment opportunities - be they from public or private sector – for people in the Ballybay area in the future.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
204. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for carer's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21135/17]
View answerI confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 22 November 2016.
The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 23 January 2017 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
205. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the details of payments made by his Department, or a public body under the aegis of his Department, to a person (details supplied) in the past 36 months and to date in 2017. [21392/17]
View answerThere have been no payments made by my Department, or by any public body under the aegis of my Department, to the person during the period in question.
206. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent atrocities inflicted on gay men in Chechnya as outlined in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20903/17]
View answerI am aware of alarming reports by international human rights organisations and in the media of a campaign of abduction, abuse and ill-treatment of men in the Chechen Republic on the basis of their sexual orientation. If confirmed, these actions would amount to serious violations of fundamental human rights.
In a statement delivered to the Seanad on my behalf by Minister Helen McEntee on 12 April, I joined in the widespread calls for the Russian Government to urgently undertake a full and thorough investigation into these reports and to ensure that any individuals found to have committed crimes be brought to justice. I also emphasised Russia’s international obligations to ensure the safety of all persons who may be at risk of persecution. This call was reiterated by the Irish Ambassador to the Council of Europe at a meeting of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on 19 April.
The European Union is also pressing the Russian authorities to ensure that the allegations are fully investigated and that those fleeing persecution are given full protection. The EU High Representative Federica Mogherini raised the matter during a meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on 24 April. HR Mogherini highlighted the serious concerns of the European Union and its Member states over the allegations and urged the government to take the necessary steps to ensure that the rights of the gay community in Chechyna are respected, in line with Russia’s international human rights commitments.
207. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to recent developments concerning a person (details supplied) who has been detained by Bahraini authorities since June 2016; his plans to raise these issues with the Government of Bahrain; and if he will call for the release of the person to allow them get necessary medical care from international medical professionals. [20904/17]
View answerI am very familiar with the case of the person in question, with his work as a human rights defender, and with his treatment by the Bahraini authorities since June 2016, and indeed before this. My Department has also recently been made aware of his health issues, which have reportedly deteriorated seriously during his most recent incarceration.
Ireland attaches a high priority to safeguarding human rights defenders, and has continually advocated for freedom for civil society actors to operate in a safe and enabling environment, without repression. In August 2014, officials from my Department met with the individual who is the subject of this Question, and discussed the situation of human rights in Bahrain with him. In October 2015, the Bahrain National Institution for Human Rights (BNIHR) came to Ireland on a training visit, which included meetings with Irish human rights and civil society organisations. Officials from my Department also met with this group, and set out Ireland’s support for human rights promotion across the Middle East region. We also engage with a number of Irish and international NGOs on human rights issues in Bahrain.
Ireland’s concerns about human rights issues in Bahrain, in particular around civil liberties, are also regularly conveyed to the Bahraini authorities. In March, officials from my Department met with an official from the Bahraini Embassy in London to discuss the human rights situation in Bahrain, and this specific case was discussed. My officials also raised ongoing human rights issues with Bahrain in the context of Bahrain’s Universal Periodic Review, which took place in Geneva earlier this week. In advance of this review, the Irish Mission to the UN in Geneva supported an event by the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights in early February.
Further, Ireland’s (non-resident) Ambassador to Bahrain met with the Bahraini Deputy Minister for International Affairs, Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, at the beginning of this year and they discussed human rights. As such, my Department utilises all possible opportunities to express Ireland’s concerns about the human rights situation in Bahrain to the Bahraini authorities, and the case of this individual in particular has been raised where appropriate.
The Deputy puts this question to me at a time where we have witnessed some deterioration in the human rights situation in Bahrain, in particular in the targeting of those who express dissent or criticism of the Bahraini Government. My Department will continue to monitor the situation in Bahrain, and will also continue to call on the Bahraini Government to make good on their stated commitment to make progress in the area of human rights.
208. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of planned flood relief works (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20935/17]
View answerI am advised that an application for funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection scheme has been submitted by Cork County Council for a project at Ballintubber, Carrigtohill, Co Cork and is currently under consideration in the Office of Public Works (OPW). Cork County Council will be the implementing authority for the proposed works and the Council will be contacted by the OPW for any further information or clarification required. The Council will be notified when the assessment is completed.
209. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the completion date for construction works at the new Bailieborough Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20940/17]
View answer212. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the costings for a new Garda station (details supplied); the location of same; the stage the plans are at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20941/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 212 together.
The OPW continues to progress all legal matters relating to the acquisition of the site for the new station as a matter of high priority and has completed its role in the acquisition of the property.
Until the acquisition process is fully completed it is not possible to determine or advise on the exact details on costs, location, stage or completion as requested. In view of the Deputy’s repeated interest and questioning on the matter, I can advise that any change in circumstances could be made available to her or she may wish to contact my Office directly.
210. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will review the Phase 2 restoration works to Maynooth Castle, County Kildare, which included the provision of a roof on the keep of the castle and an auditorium, with a view to promoting Maynooth Castle as a tourist attraction and in view of the promotion of Ireland's Ancient East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20974/17]
View answerThere are no plans currently to do any works at Maynooth Castle such as are described in the Deputy’s Question. The building is in a good state of conservation and continues to be maintained in good order by the Office of Public Works, but no capital investment to create new visitor facilities is contemplated at this time.
Maynooth currently operates as a seasonal site, open to visitors with a Guide Service from mid May until the end of September. As a heritage asset therefore within the Ireland’s Ancient East area, it will, in tandem with all the other Heritage sites managed by the OPW, continue to be available for visitors and for suitable special events and will remain a contributor to the local tourism economy.
211. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of payments made by his Department, or a public body under the aegis of his Department, to a person (details supplied) in the past 36 months and to date in 2017. [20895/17]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question, neither my Department nor the bodies under its aegis have made any payments to the person in question in the past 36 months or to date in 2017.
