Written Answers Nos 290-312
290. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the transfer of information between local authorities and Irish Water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24299/17]
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. Customer communications and information are matters for the utility and ones in which I have no function.
Section 26 of the Water Services Act 2013 provided powers to Ervia and Irish Water to request information from a number of parties, including local authorities, to enable it to perform its functions. Within this context, the collection of data to enable Irish Water to carry out its functions is a matter for the utility.
Irish Water is required to manage all personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003. Irish Water has an on-going engagement with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner which has worked closely with Irish Water to agree the process for the capture, storage and usage of customer data.
Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. They may be contacted via email at oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on 1890 578 578.
291. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the estimated cost of introducing a scheme that would make central funding available to local authorities for the purposes of installing, via adaptation or otherwise, fully accessible public toilets including a hoist and a changing bench with the objective of delivering 50 such facilities across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24305/17]
View answerI have no direct role in this matter. The provision of public toilet facilities is an operational matter for local authorities. My Department has, therefore, not costed such a scheme as that proposed.
292. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the position regarding the reimbursement of Irish Water customers who are solely connected to a sewerage system and do not utilise mains water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24404/17]
View answerDomestic water charges are currently suspended. Under the ‘Confidence and Supply’ arrangement agreed in the context of Fianna Fáil supporting a minority government, the Oireachtas established a Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services. It was tasked with examining the recommendations of the Expert Commission on Domestic Public Water Services and making its own recommendations.
The report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee was published on 12 April 2017, and was subsequently approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas. The Committee's recommendations included the following:
“In respect of the most cost efficient mechanism of adhering to the principle of equity of treatment for those who have paid and have not paid water charges, the Committee recommends that, following consideration of payments made by the State to date through the water conservation grant and the most effective refund methods, such households should be compensated in an equitable manner.”
A general scheme of a Bill to implement the key recommendations of the Report is currently being prepared.
293. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of family hubs per local authority; the number of units in each hub; the time each family is expected to be accommodated in the hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24438/17]
View answer301. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of family hubs which have been set up; the locations where hubs have been set up; the number of families that have been facilitated in each hub; the criteria for allocations; and the facilities that are provided in these hubs. [24618/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 301 together.
The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness provides for early solutions to address the high number of households in emergency accommodation. These include the delivery of increased social housing supply through new-build, acquisition and refurbishment schemes and independent tenancies for homeless households in the private rented sector through housing supports such as the enhanced Housing Assistance Payment. Good progress is being made in this regard with over 3,000 sustainable exits from homelessness achieved during 2016, a record level of exits in a calendar year.
Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless accommodation and related services rests with individual housing authorities. Accordingly, the specific information sought is a matter for the relevant housing authorities.
I understand, however, that the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive is working with each of the four Dublin local authorities to support the delivery of a number of family facilities, which will provide homeless families with more appropriate and supported temporary accommodation as an alternative to hotel accommodation. The facilities in question will provide a suite of children's services, laundry facilities and cooking facilities and will provide space for families to engage with their key workers and with local authorities in relation to finding more permanent housing solutions.
It should be noted that similar family facilities are being delivered in counties Limerick, Cork and Kildare.
294. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of landlords rejecting HAP tenancies per local authority in 2016 and to date in 2017 in circumstances in which a tenant was previously in receipt of rent supplement or in a private tenancy at that location; the circumstances in which a landlord can legally reject a HAP tenancy in view of the fact that discrimination of tenants in receipt of social welfare is not allowed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24439/17]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. There are currently more than 21,500 households in receipt of HAP, including 7,000 households that were previously supported by Rent Supplement. There are currently more than 17,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the HAP scheme. More that 300 new households are being supported by HAP each week, with a similar number of landlords and agents providing the supported accommodation.
My Department does not hold information in relation to the length of individual tenancies or the reason for the termination of tenancies. HAP supported tenancies are agreed between the landlord and the tenant; the local authority is not a party to the tenancy and has no role in the agreement.
A landlord or an agent acting on behalf of a landlord is not legally obliged to enter into a tenancy agreement with a HAP recipient. However, since 1 January 2016, a person cannot be discriminated against when renting because they are in receipt of certain payments, which includes HAP, so landlords can no longer state when advertising accommodation that HAP is not accepted. If a person feels that they have been discriminated against by a landlord or their agent, they can make a complaint under the Equal Status Acts to the Workplace Relations Commission. Further information is available on the Commission's website, https://www.workplacerelations.ie .
295. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to enact the relevant section of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 to begin the tenancy deposit retention scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24440/17]
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, much 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.
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, as provided for under the Strategy for the Rental Sector.
296. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has directed or will direct the Housing Agency to monitor tenancies ended through eviction when the landlord signs a statutory declaration that they are selling the property and that these sales take place and tenancies are not readvertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24441/17]
View answerThe Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the private rented sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. The Housing Agency has no statutory role in relation to termination of tenancies in the private rented sector.
Section 56 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides for situations where there is an abuse of the termination procedure in Section 34 of the Act. For example, where a landlord serves a notice of termination, accompanied by a statutory declaration, on the grounds that they intend to sell the property and subsequently does not do this within the specified time, a tenant may bring a complaint to the RTB that they have been unjustly deprived of possession of a dwelling by their landlord. On the hearing of the complaint the RTB, if it considers it proper to do so, may make a direction that damages are paid to the tenant; that the tenant be permitted to resume possession of the dwelling, or both of the foregoing directions. There are no plans to amend these provisions at this time.
297. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a grant scheme to assist those on low income and in receipt of Department of Social Protection payments in view of the fact that numerous households in County Tipperary have been transferred to a hard water supply with the associated cost of installing and the upkeep of water softeners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24516/17]
View answerUnder the European Union (Drinking Water) Regulations 2014, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, suppliers of drinking water are required to ensure that the water supplied is wholesome and clean. Water which is wholesome and clean is defined as water which is free from any micro-organisms and parasites and from any substances which, in numbers or concentrations, constitute a potential danger to human health and which meets the quality standards specified in the Schedule to the Regulations. Hard water is not included as a parameter in the quality standard tables included in the Schedule to the Regulations as neither it, nor associated substances such as lime, calcium and magnesium, pose a threat to human health.
Even though hard water is safe to drink and meets the required drinking water standards, some households may choose to soften their supply but this is a matter of personal choice. There are no plans to introduce any scheme of financial support in respect of the installation of water softeners.
298. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 126 of 9 February 2017, the specific actions taken and progress since he indicated that his Department is reviewing its role in respect of the aspects of legislation relating to regulation of fairground equipment and funfairs and specific legislative provisions relating to fairground equipment. [24560/17]
View answerMy Department commenced an internal review process on the issue of safety at funfairs/ fairground equipment earlier this year.
Section 239 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 places a statutory duty on organisers of funfairs and owners of fairground equipment to take such care as is reasonable for ensuring that persons at a funfair do not suffer injury or damage by reason of dangers arising from the funfair or associated activities. This legislation also requires that the owner of fairground equipment shall not make it available to the public unless such equipment has a valid certificate of safety. The organiser of a funfair is required to give notice of the event to the relevant local authority and such notice is to be accompanied by a valid certificate of safety.
One of the issues raised was that the planning legislation does not assign responsibility to a specific body to investigate accidents at funfairs; however, it was noted at that time that provisions in criminal justice and safety, health and welfare at work legislation provide a range of responsibilities and roles for investigation of accidents.
My Department’s review of the aspects of legislation relating to regulation of fairground equipment and funfairs in section 239 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, particularly in respect of the specific legislative provisions relating to fairground equipment, is on-going and includes an examination of international practice in the area of regulating public safety.
This preliminary work has facilitated an initial round of meetings with relevant stakeholders in which my Department has met with persons engaged in the current regulatory process as well as with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Health and Safety Authority. This stage has clarified some issues and the process of drafting the review report has commenced; however, further engagement with relevant stakeholders is envisaged as part of the process of clarifying issues and drafting conclusions and recommendations for the review report.
299. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24570/17]
View answerThere is an important obligation under section 16 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 to protect the identity of individuals who make disclosures of information with reference to the Act.
In this instance, I can however confirm that I recently received a copy of a submission made with reference to the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 to the Chief Executive of a local authority, who is the disclosure recipient.
An acknowledgement, which set out my Department's position, issued on 11 May 2017.
300. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when funding will be provided to Galway County Council by his Department to enable it to process applications under the housing aid for older people, housing adaptation and mobility aids grant schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24585/17]
View answerAll local authorities were notified earlier this year to continue the funding of projects under the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability up to the level of their 2016 allocation. This has allowed local authorities to continue the seamless implementation of this programme of grants.
In relation to 2017 funding, I have secured a further 6% increase for these grants, bringing the available funding to €59.8m. I will be shortly issuing the individual allocations for the full year to each local authority, including Galway County Council.
302. Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of proceedings for possession that were undertaken by local authorities in each of the years 2010 to 2016, respectively, relating to local authority tenancies; the number of local authority low cost home ownership schemes; and the number of evictions that were executed for each category in each of the years 2010 to 2016, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24650/17]
View answerInformation in relation to evictions of local authority tenants, as supplied by local authorities for my Department’s Housing Statistics, 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.
Information in relation to local authority loans is also available at the link above.
Information on tenant purchase is available at the link below:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/social-and-affordble/other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics.
Information on Affordable Housing Schemes can be accessed at the link below:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/affordable-housing/affordable-housing-and-part-v-statistics.
303. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to increase the number of landlords which accept HAP tenancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24683/17]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. There are currently more than 22,000 households in receipt of HAP, including 7,000 households that were previously supported by Rent Supplement. In excess of 17,000 separate agents and landlords are providing accommodation to HAP supported households.
To date in 2017, an average of 325 additional households a week are having their housing need met by finding private rental accommodation and landlords willing to enter into a tenancy agreement on the basis of HAP support. In order to provide access to information on the scheme to interested parties, a new HAP website, www.hap.ie, was recently launched and provides prospective HAP tenants and landlords with the information that they need to understand how the HAP scheme works. Local authorities are also promoting the scheme to landlords who might be interested in entering into a HAP tenancy. HAP provides landlords with many advantages including that the landlord does not have to collect the rent; payments are made electronically directly to the landlord on the tenant's behalf; landlords who rent to tenants in receipt of HAP may avail of increased tax relief; and changes in a tenant's employment circumstances do not affect the rental payments made to the landlord.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the scheme under review. In general, I am satisfied with the operation of the HAP scheme and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme outlined under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
304. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the rationale used by Irish Water to set connection fees for water and sewerage in the case of new builds for both domestic and commercial buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24684/17]
View answerWith effect from 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for public water services. Connection fees are a matter for the utility and the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). I have no function in the matter.
Section 22(5) of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 provides that a water charges plan may provide for charges in respect of the provision of a service connection (within the meaning of the Water Services Act 2007) to, or in respect of, a premises. Since assuming responsibility for water and wastewater connection charging on 1 January 2014, Irish Water has continued to implement the connection charging policies and related charges applied by each local authority prior to that date.
I understand that the CER has commenced work on a project in relation to Irish Water’s connection charging policy and that it expects to commence the public consultation later this year on the development of an enduring policy for domestic and non-domestic connections to Irish Water’s network.
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.
305. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to expand the grant application process to individual property owners where it has been identified that there is a need to upgrade or repair a property's septic tank and the property owner is ineligible for the home renovation incentive scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24717/17]
View answerThe Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (Financial Assistance) Regulations 2013, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas library, brought into operation a grant scheme to assist with the cost of remediation of septic tanks and domestic waste water treatment systems which are deemed, following inspection under the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Inspection Plan, to require repair or upgrading. The grant scheme ensures that the limited financial resources available are targeted towards householders, particularly those on lower incomes, who incur expenditure directly as a result of the implementation of the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2012.;
The Regulations provide that, subject to the applicant meeting all qualification criteria, a local authority may pay a grant to a person who is required, following an inspection, to undertake repairs or upgrades to, or replacement of, a septic tank or other domestic waste water treatment system. Applications for grant aid are administered by the local authorities in whose functional area the particular domestic waste water treatment system requiring remediation is situated. Where a local authority pays a grant under the scheme, my Department will recoup 100% of the amount paid by the local authority. Full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, are set out in the explanatory leaflet and application form published on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-quality/domestic-waste-water-systemsseptic-tanks/domestic-waste-water-treatment-0.
It is not proposed to make any changes to the grant scheme at this time.
306. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a person's (details supplied) appeal of the decision not to award them a disability allowance. [24032/17]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 16 February 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.
These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 26 April 2017 and the case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 11 May 2017. The Appeals Officer will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral 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.
307. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a social welfare appeal regarding an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24769/17]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 21 March 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. These papers have been received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 12 May 2017 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral 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.
308. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied) regarding a domiciliary care allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24004/17]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from this lady on 10 February 2017. The application will be considered by a Deciding Officer and the decision notified as soon as possible. Applications are processed in date of receipt order, it can currently take 16 weeks to process an application for DCA.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
309. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a carer's benefit claim by a person (details supplied). [24038/17]
View answerAn application for carer's benefit (CARB) was received from the person concerned on 3 April 2017.
The application is currently being examined and once processed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
310. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of appeals against decisions made for various payments and entitlements which have been allowed; the number of cases in which the original decision of the appeals officer has been overturned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24062/17]
View answerThe tables provide the details which have been requested by the Deputy in respect of 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017.
Overall, 58.8% of the 25,406 appeals which were finalised in 2015 had a favourable outcome for the appellant, i.e. were either allowed in full or in part, or resolved by way of a revised decision by a Deciding Officer/Designated Person. 59.2% of the 23,220 appeals finalised in 2016 and 57.2% of the 6,346 appeals finalised to date in 2017 had a favourable outcome for the appellant.
There are a number of reasons why a decision which was refused at first instance might be successful on appeal and it is not necessarily the case that the first decision was wrong.
Where new evidence is provided with an appeal, the original decision may be revised by the Deciding Officer or Designated Person. This was the case in some 35% of favourable appeal outcomes in 2015, some 37% of favourable appeal outcomes in 2016 and some 39% to date in 2017. Where the decision is not revised in the Department in light of the appeal contentions, further evidence is often provided by the appellant as the appeal process proceeds. In addition, the Appeals Officer may gain insights when they meet the appellant in person at oral hearing which may also influence the outcome of the appeal.
Statistics are not maintained separately in respect of those appeals where the decision of an Appeals Officer to disallow an appeal is subsequently revised by an Appeals Officer under Section 317 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 where new facts or evidence have been provided which were not before the Appeals Officer when the original decision was made. These cases are captured under the headings of ‘allowed’ or ‘partially allowed’ in the tables below.
The Deputy will be aware that the Chief Appeals Officer may revise a decision of an Appeals Officer under Section 318 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 where it has been established that in making the decision the Appeals Officer made an error in relation to the law or the facts. A table detailing the outcome of reviews by the Chief Appeals Officer under Section 318 is also included below. The following tables detailing favourable appeal outcomes also reflect those decisions which were revised by the Chief Appeals Officer in favour of an appellant under Section 318.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
|
Favourable Appeal Outcomes 2015 |
||||
|
Revised Deciding Officers Decisions |
Allowed by Appeals Officer |
Partly Allowed by Appeals Officer |
Total Favourable Decisions |
|
|
Blind Person’s Pension |
1 |
6 |
- |
7 |
|
Carers Allowance |
579 |
1,352 |
155 |
2,086 |
|
Carers Benefit |
52 |
25 |
5 |
82 |
|
Child Benefit |
172 |
83 |
35 |
290 |
|
Disability Allowance |
1,443 |
3,384 |
85 |
4,912 |
|
Illness Benefit |
508 |
199 |
16 |
723 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
7 |
13 |
- |
20 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
313 |
571 |
40 |
924 |
|
Deserted Wives Allowance |
1 |
1 |
- |
2 |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
1 |
7 |
7 |
15 |
|
Farm Assist |
29 |
30 |
15 |
74 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
3 |
1 |
- |
4 |
|
Liable Relatives |
4 |
- |
- |
4 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
167 |
88 |
8 |
263 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
511 |
1,135 |
17 |
1,663 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
19 |
3 |
1 |
23 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
84 |
112 |
18 |
214 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
48 |
36 |
5 |
89 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
54 |
61 |
27 |
142 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
9 |
11 |
- |
20 |
|
Disablement Pension |
43 |
105 |
20 |
168 |
|
Occupational Injury Med. Care |
3 |
- |
- |
3 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
6 |
7 |
- |
13 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Con) |
11 |
15 |
3 |
29 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Con) |
4 |
10 |
1 |
15 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) |
299 |
284 |
108 |
691 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
260 |
536 |
116 |
912 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance AllownceETIREMENT |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
BTW Family Dividend |
9 |
1 |
- |
10 |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional |
8 |
1 |
1 |
10 |
|
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance |
2 |
4 |
2 |
8 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
120 |
160 |
38 |
318 |
|
Carer’s Support Grant * |
43 |
33 |
2 |
78 |
|
Insurability of Employment |
5 |
20 |
- |
25 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
373 |
634 |
77 |
1,084 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Con) |
1 |
7 |
1 |
9 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Non-con) |
8 |
4 |
1 |
13 |
|
All Appeals |
5,200 |
8,939 |
807 |
14,946 |
|
Favourable Appeal Outcomes 2016 |
||||
|
Revised Deciding Officers Decisions |
Allowed by Appeals Officer |
Partly Allowed by Appeals Officer |
Total Favourable Decisions |
|
|
Blind Person’s Pension |
2 |
5 |
1 |
8 |
|
Carers Allowance |
815 |
1,375 |
145 |
2,335 |
|
Carers Benefit |
32 |
11 |
3 |
46 |
|
Child Benefit |
190 |
68 |
29 |
287 |
|
Disability Allowance |
815 |
2,830 |
88 |
3733 |
|
Illness Benefit |
341 |
136 |
5 |
482 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
7 |
9 |
- |
16 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
469 |
596 |
18 |
1,083 |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
- |
5 |
1 |
6 |
|
Farm Assist |
45 |
31 |
29 |
105 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
|
Liable Relatives |
12 |
- |
- |
12 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
177 |
125 |
18 |
320 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
642 |
682 |
10 |
1,334 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
12 |
17 |
1 |
30 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
59 |
89 |
27 |
175 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
56 |
33 |
13 |
102 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
81 |
76 |
30 |
187 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
- |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
13 |
13 |
1 |
27 |
|
Disablement Pension |
45 |
140 |
13 |
198 |
|
Occupational Injury Med. Care |
2 |
- |
- |
2 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
5 |
1 |
1 |
7 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Con) |
4 |
16 |
1 |
21 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Con) |
3 |
10 |
1 |
14 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) |
338 |
287 |
120 |
745 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
324 |
525 |
98 |
947 |
|
BTW Family Dividend |
12 |
1 |
- |
13 |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional |
6 |
12 |
1 |
19 |
|
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance |
6 |
9 |
1 |
16 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
155 |
151 |
40 |
346 |
|
Carer’s Support Grant * |
56 |
37 |
2 |
95 |
|
Insurability of Employment |
20 |
30 |
4 |
54 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
346 |
532 |
75 |
953 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Con) |
7 |
12 |
5 |
24 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Non-con) |
1 |
5 |
1 |
7 |
|
Widows Parent Grant |
2 |
- |
- |
2 |
|
All Appeals |
5,100 |
7,871 |
783 |
13,754 |
|
Favourable Appeal Outcomes 2017 (to 30/04/2017) |
||||
|
Revised Deciding Officers Decisions |
Allowed by Appeals Officer |
Partly Allowed by Appeals Officer |
Total Favourable Decisions |
|
|
Blind Person’s Pension |
- |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
Carers Allowance |
303 |
451 |
45 |
799 |
|
Carers Benefit |
13 |
11 |
1 |
25 |
|
Child Benefit |
48 |
31 |
6 |
85 |
|
Disability Allowance |
189 |
616 |
26 |
831 |
|
Illness Benefit |
44 |
74 |
2 |
120 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
3 |
6 |
- |
9 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
101 |
140 |
3 |
244 |
|
Deserted Wives Benefit |
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
|
Farm Assist |
4 |
9 |
8 |
21 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
- |
1 |
- |
1 |
|
Liable Relatives |
- |
- |
4 |
4 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
68 |
20 |
3 |
91 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
238 |
129 |
3 |
370 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
4 |
2 |
2 |
8 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
1 |
- |
- |
1 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
20 |
34 |
8 |
62 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
23 |
8 |
2 |
33 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
20 |
36 |
9 |
65 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
- |
2 |
- |
2 |
|
Disablement Pension |
11 |
25 |
3 |
39 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
3 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Con) |
1 |
6 |
1 |
8 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Con) |
- |
2 |
1 |
3 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance (Means) |
78 |
70 |
36 |
184 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
97 |
147 |
26 |
270 |
|
BTW Family Dividend |
2 |
5 |
- |
7 |
|
Jobseeker's Transitional |
3 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
|
Recoverable Benefits & Assistance |
2 |
1 |
- |
3 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
37 |
33 |
5 |
75 |
|
Carer’s Support Grant * |
12 |
14 |
- |
26 |
|
Insurability of Employment |
3 |
14 |
- |
17 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
84 |
109 |
12 |
205 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Con) |
2 |
1 |
- |
3 |
|
Survivor's Pension (Non-con) |
1 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
|
All Appeals |
1,415 |
2,002 |
212 |
3,629 |
|
Outcome of Section 318 reviews by the Chief Appeals Officer |
|||
|
Appeals Allowed by Chief Appeals Officer |
Appeals Disallowed by Chief Appeals Officer |
Appeals Re-opened for oral hearing |
|
|
2015 |
31 |
- |
8 |
|
2016 |
25 |
3 |
6 |
|
2017 (to 20/4/2017) |
8 |
2 |
2 |
311. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the deserted wife's benefit was terminated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24063/17]
View answerThe claim for Deserted Wife’s Benefit was disallowed by a Deciding Officer of the Department on the grounds that the person concerned was cohabiting.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
312. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24066/17]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on the 24 April 2017. The application 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.
