Written Answers Nos. 248-269
248. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the funding that was allocated by his Department and Irish Water to each group water scheme in County Meath in 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25806/17]
View answer249. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the additional funding each group water scheme in County Meath received from his Department and Irish Water in monetary terms as was agreed in the confidence and supply arrangement in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25807/17]
View answer250. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the percentage increase or decrease in funding for each group water scheme in County Meath since the formation of the Government in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25808/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 248 to 250, inclusive, together.
My Department’s new Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2016-2018 provides enhanced funding certainty for priority investment needs in order to support the implementation of proper planning and sustainable development in rural areas, to meet the requirements of the Drinking Water Directive in relation to rural water supplies and to support the delivery of measures identified in River Basin Management Plans to meet the objectives of the Water Framework Directive. The programme will also allow for appropriate synergies to be developed between the Irish Water capital programme and the Rural Water Programme.
The new multi-annual funding framework marks a move to scheme/project specific allocations, rather than reliance on block grants, the object of which is to provide enhanced funding certainty for priority investment needs in the rural water sector.
Table A sets out the capital amounts allocated to and recouped by Meath County Council under the rural water programme since 2015 for Group Water Schemes. The allocations to Meath County Council for 2015 and 2016 were in the form of block grants which were not specific to any Group Water Scheme. Interim capital allocations for 2017 will be made by my Department shortly.
Table A – Grants for Group Water Scheme to Meath County Council
|
Year |
Grant Allocation |
Grant Drawdown |
|
2015 |
€202,550.00 |
€206,406.85 |
|
2016 |
€208,000.00 |
€212,761.57 |
|
2017 |
- |
- |
My Department also recoups subsidies paid by local authorities as a contribution towards the annual operational cost of the domestic element of Group Water Schemes.
Table B sets out the amounts recouped by my Department to Meath County Council in respect of the three Group Water Schemes that claim subsidy. No claims have been made by the Council to date in 2017.
Table B - Subsidies for Group Water Scheme to Meath County Council
|
Name of Group Water Scheme (GWS) |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Lionsden GWS |
€674.69 |
€475.00 |
|
Kiltale GWS |
€64,492.80 |
€51,662.00 |
|
Meath Hill GWS |
€32,116.00 |
€28,604.50 |
|
Total |
€97, 283.49 |
€80,741.50 |
My Department restored subsidies to Group Water Schemes to the pre-2015 levels in line with the ‘Confidence and Supply Arrangement’, agreed in the context of facilitating a minority government, to reflect the suspension of domestic water charges provided for under the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2016.
My Department will be giving wider consideration to the Report of the Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services as it relates to the Rural Water Programme.
251. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the reason for requiring each person on a local authority housing list to fill out a housing needs assessment on an annual basis and at such short notice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25816/17]
View answerUnder Section 21 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, the Minister may direct each housing authority to prepare a summary (in the form prescribed by the Minister), of the social housing assessments carried out in its administrative area.
The undertaking of the Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA), formerly referred to as the Housing Needs Assessment, assists in providing a more strategic picture of the dynamics of the numbers applying for social housing supports and emerging trends. The purpose of the SSHA is to capture the total number of households qualified for social housing support across the country whose social housing need is not being met, in order to better understand the level of need for such support.
From 2016, in line with a commitment given under the Social Housing Strategy 2020 published in November 2014, the SSHA will be carried out an annual basis. Previous Summaries were carried out every three years and it is considered that moving to an annual basis is essential in order to better target the significant investment being made in social housing in the coming years. The SSHA is an important exercise that provides essential information about the profile of applicants for social housing support, in order to better inform policy and the delivery of appropriate social housing supports.
Under the annual SSHA process, all housing authorities are required to review certain households who are on their housing list but who are not in receipt of housing support. This is to ensure that the details of the applicant households are up to date and accurate and that they remain eligible for, and in need of, social housing support in accordance with the criteria set down in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 as amended by the Social Housing Assessment (Amendment) Regulations 2016.
It is acknowledged that there is a workload involved in assessing households for the purposes of the SSHA. However, while each housing authority is required to make a return in relation to the assessments carried out in its administrative area, it is not a requirement that a full assessment is carried out for all households. Rather each authority is required only to review those applications for support that have not been reviewed in the previous 12 month period.
It should also be noted that all applicants for social housing support have an ongoing responsibility to ensure that the relevant housing authority is kept reasonably up to date as regard changes in their circumstances (e.g. income, employment status, additional children, etc.) that may effect their eligibility for support.
252. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the financial supports that are available to a person who wants to develop a housing complex to house older persons and persons with disabilities in order that they can live independently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25859/17]
View answerMy Department provides funding to Approved Housing Bodies, via the Capital Assistance Scheme, towards the provision of social housing for priority groups including the elderly. Applications to deliver new social housing under the Scheme are made to the local authorities, in the first place. As with all social housing projects, it is a matter for the local authorities to prioritise eligible projects on the basis of how they meet the housing needs of their areas.
253. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to the ongoing investigation into complaints regarding irregularities in the administration of planning in County Donegal, the reason he will not permit the senior counsel undertaking the exercise to investigate the matter relating to An Bord Pleanála and Donegal County Council which has been documented to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25910/17]
View answer254. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to the ongoing investigation into complaints regarding irregularities in the administration of planning in County Donegal, the reason he will not permit the senior counsel undertaking the exercise to investigate the matters relating to the CEO of Donegal County Council which have been documented to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25911/17]
View answer255. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to the ongoing investigation into complaints regarding irregularities in the administration of planning in County Donegal, the reason he will not permit the senior counsel undertaking the exercise to investigate the matters relating to the civil servants that advised on the discredited report put before Dáil Éireann regarding these matters in 2012 and which has been documented to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25912/17]
View answer256. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to the ongoing investigation into complaints regarding irregularities in the administration of planning in County Donegal, the reason he will not permit the senior counsel undertaking the exercise to investigate the matters relating to the acting director of planning and senior planner in Donegal County Council which has been documented to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25913/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 253 to 256, inclusive, together.
My Department appointed a Senior Counsel on a non-statutory basis to prepare a report in relation to planning matters in Donegal in 2015. The terms of reference for this scoping review relate to allegations furnished by a complainant to a previous Minister in respect of planning matters in Donegal.
The complainant sought to have additional matters added to the terms of reference in 2015. However, as the original terms of reference already involve a very large volume of allegations by the complainant, it was decided that it was not appropriate to add in these later issues, having regard to the scope of the original terms of reference which were focused on planning matters in Donegal. The complainant has had direct communication with my office on the remaining four matters and is fully aware of the position on those.
I am eager now to see that this review is brought to a speedy conclusion to enable consideration of what further steps, if any, may be appropriate. I understand that Senior Counsel's independent review is at an advanced stage and I will await the findings of this report, which is to be submitted to me by mid-June.
257. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the status of all investigations into planning matters initiated by him or his ministerial predecessors under section 255 of the Planning and Development Acts since 2011; the current status of each investigation; the details of the findings made and actions taken in cases in which these investigations have concluded; the reason for the delay in those investigations not being concluded; and if he will lay before Dail Éireann the completed or ongoing investigations when they are concluded. [25965/17]
View answerSince 2011, there has been one investigation initiated under section 255 of the Planning and Development Acts and that investigation concluded in 2015.
The investigation referred to is the Independent Planning Review of The Performance of Planning Functions having regard to Specific Issues raised in respect of Six Planning Authorities. This investigation was undertaken by MacCabe Durney Barnes Consultants, who were appointed in February 2014 under section 255 to carry out an independent review of the performance of planning functions in respect of six planning authorities (Carlow, Cork, Galway and Meath County Councils and Cork and Dublin City Councils).
The Final Report by MacCabe Durney Barnes was submitted on 2 July 2015 and is published on my Department's website (http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/declg_response_to_independent_planning_review_report_december_2015.pdf). The Report outlines 29 recommendations in total, of which 21 recommendations relate to future planning practices across the planning system and a further 8 advisory recommendations in relation to specific issues in the six local authorities concerned. Following consideration of those recommendations by my Department, a response report was published on my Department's website in December 2015, responding to each of the recommendations including planned implementation.
There are no outstanding investigations under section 255 at this time.
258. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when the overdue report on mica will be published; the reason for the current delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26023/17]
View answerAn expert panel on concrete blocks was established by my Department in April 2016 to investigate the problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Donegal and Mayo. The panel have the following terms of reference:
(i) To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by defects in the blockwork in the Counties of Donegal and Mayo;
(ii) To carry out a desktop study, which would include a consultation process with affected homeowners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, testing laboratories, industry stakeholders and other relevant parties, to establish the nature of the problem in the affected dwellings;
(iii) To outline a range of technical options for remediation and the means by which those technical options could be applied; and
(iv) To submit a report within six months.
The expert panel on concrete blocks met on twelve occasions since it was first established and a similar number of meetings have taken place with key stakeholders, including affected homeowners, the elected members of Donegal and Mayo County Councils, local authority officials, industry bodies, academics, public representatives and other interested parties. A substantial volume of information has been provided by affected homeowners in both counties, as well as from Donegal and Mayo County Councils; additional information was also provided through the consultation process.
The panel has now concluded its meetings and is in the process of finalising its report which is undergoing legal proofing by the Attorney General's Office, which will be completed shortly. In this regard, I await the outcome of the panel’s report before considering what further actions may be required to assist the parties directly involved in reaching a satisfactory resolution to the problems that have emerged in the two counties.
259. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons employed by his Department in each of the years 2011 to 2016; the details of the current staffing levels and vacancies in all locations in tabular form; his views on the way the effective delivery of services in his Department has been affected by the restrictions on staffing levels imposed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25273/17]
View answerThe following table shows the staffing levels in my Department at 31 December for each year requested. The increase in staffing in 2011 and 2012 is primarily as a result of the integration of staff and functions from the former FAS and the Community Welfare Service of the HSE.
|
Year |
Posts |
People |
|
2011 |
5,965.57 |
6394 |
|
2012 |
6,732.34 |
7154 |
|
2013 |
6,569.86 |
6997 |
|
2014 |
6,555.20 |
6962 |
|
2015 |
6,497.79 |
6898 |
|
2016 |
6,436.37 |
6823 |
The following table provides a breakdown of current posts and staffing numbers by county as of 1 May 2017.
|
County |
Posts |
Staff |
|
Carlow |
56.30 |
60 |
|
Cavan |
51.24 |
57 |
|
Clare |
85.88 |
92 |
|
Cork |
388.49 |
418 |
|
Donegal |
484.40 |
510 |
|
Dublin |
2183.20 |
2320 |
|
Galway |
196.71 |
209 |
|
Kerry |
144.87 |
155 |
|
Kildare |
94.24 |
98 |
|
Kilkenny |
62.20 |
66 |
|
Laois |
36.76 |
39 |
|
Leitrim |
208.42 |
218 |
|
Limerick |
201.13 |
205 |
|
Longford |
430.62 |
449 |
|
Louth |
241.51 |
263 |
|
Mayo |
121.22 |
128 |
|
Meath |
59.60 |
61 |
|
Monaghan |
46.83 |
50 |
|
Offaly |
77.06 |
80 |
|
Roscommon |
86.16 |
93 |
|
Sligo |
564.57 |
606 |
|
Tipperary |
112.80 |
118 |
|
Waterford |
166.62 |
180 |
|
Westmeath |
103.80 |
114 |
|
Wexford |
92.70 |
98 |
|
Wicklow |
84.75 |
88 |
|
Grand Total |
6382.09 |
6775 |
My Department, like all Government departments and agencies, is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative budget which for this Department has involved reductions in staff numbers. It is in that context and on the basis of business needs that critical posts are filled. At any given time the most critical posts can change depending on business needs and on opportunities that arise to restructure or rationalise posts. It is therefore not possible to provide a list of vacancies.
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the ongoing need to respond to new and increasing demands in a wide range of services. This is to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department. This is managed through a programme of Workforce Planning to include training & development and internal redeployment of staff.
260. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to recruit permanent staff to deal with current delays in all areas of his Department's services in view of difficulties in the processing of maternity benefit claims in County Donegal. [25274/17]
View answerMy Department, like all Government departments and agencies, is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget, which for this Department has involved reductions in staff numbers. Within these constraints, the Department is focusing on prioritising the filling of critical posts.
My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible. The staffing needs for all areas within the Department, including Maternity Benefit, are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the competing demands arising, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that additional staff have been assigned to this Department’s Buncrana office and that further additional staff are being assigned over the coming weeks. These measures should enable the section continue to meet the Departmental standard processing times for the Maternity Benefit scheme once the claims that have been delayed are processed.
261. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for a domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25283/17]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from this lady on 7 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.
263. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a family income supplement application by a person (details supplied). [25312/17]
View answerThe person concerned applied for Family Income Supplement (FIS) and the application was registered on 28 February 2017. At the time of application, the person concerned had been in receipt of Illness Benefit (IB) which was in suspension at the time of the FIS application.
FIS Section wrote to the person concerned on 8 March 2017 advising that IB should be closed before FIS could proceed with the application.
IB Section notified FIS Section on 17 May 2017 advising that IB claim had now been closed so FIS could determine entitlement. On further inspection of the FIS application, it was noted that the person concerned supplied a payslip dated 9 December 2016.
In order to assess a more accurate FIS entitlement, FIS Section wrote to the person concerned on 24 May 2017 requesting more recent payslips. When these payslips are received, FIS will process this customer’s FIS application without delay.
264. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection when section 13 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 is due to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25322/17]
View answerSection 13 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 provides for a record of deaths abroad.
I have been in contact with my colleague, the Minister for Health in relation to the commencement of this provision and others which had been delayed due to industrial action in the HSE. At this point, I am not in a position to provide a date for commencement but I would like to reassure the Deputy that officials from both Departments are working to bring about a resolution to this matter at the earliest possible date.
265. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when backdated maternity benefit arrears will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25326/17]
View answerThe person concerned has been awarded maternity benefit at a weekly rate of €235.00 commencing from 10 April 2017. As her claim was processed late she was due arrears of maternity benefit payment, from which the amount paid under the illness benefit scheme had to be deducted. This arises as maternity benefit and illness benefit cannot be paid simultaneously. Accordingly, a net arrears balance of €246.70 issued to her along with her first payment of maternity benefit.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
266. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will expedite the processing of an invalidity pension for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25330/17]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for the lady concerned on 8 September 2016. She was refused IP on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme were not satisfied and she was notified on 5 October 2016 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The lady concerned requested a review of this decision and following update of her contribution record with Illness Benefit credits, it was established that she satisfied the contribution conditions for IP. Her medical eligibility for IP was then examined and the lady in question was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on 25 May 2017 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
267. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in a person (details supplied) moving from JobPath to a Tús placement; if he will expedite the transfer onto the Tús scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25339/17]
View answerThe aim of the JobPath service, which is provided for jobseekers only, is to assist them in finding sustainable full time paid employment. Each person referred to the JobPath service is allocated a personal advisor who provides intensive individual support and assistance. When a jobseeker with JobPath finds employment, they will be supported by the JobPath Company for at least the first 13 weeks and up to a year until they are settled in the job.
This is in contrast to the TÚS and Community Employment (CE) schemes that provide part-time employment and training opportunities in local communities as a stepping stone back to employment for people on a range of Social Welfare payments including those on long term unemployment payments. I should emphasise that TÚS and CE do not, nor are they intended to, provide full-time sustainable employment.
Jobseekers can only participate with one activation scheme or service at a time; this is to allow the scheme and service providers time to work with the participants to achieve the best outcome for the person. It also ensures that all places available on activation supports are managed efficiently. However, people who on the date of their referral to JobPath have a written offer with a start date within four weeks for CE or TÚS will be facilitated to take up their placement and that is a matter for the officials in my Department, the JobPath companies have no role.
The person concerned has been engaged with the JobPath service since March 2017 and has agreed a Personal Progression Plan with their personal advisor, which includes a schedule of activities, actions and job-focused targets.
The referral period for the JobPath service is typically for a year. At the end of the 52 weeks, if the customer has not been successful in finding suitable employment they may, subject to an assessment by an Intreo case officer, may apply for other activation supports such as CE or TÚS.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
268. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if, when calculating the average contributions of persons for accessing their contributory pension, there is a provision to include contributions made for the years spent working in Britain or another EU member state; if these years are included in the final calculation when deciding the reckonable amount paid and credited contribution; and if this can be discounted in the overall calculation of the years at work. [25342/17]
View answerWhere a person applying for a State pension (contributory) was, in addition to having been employed in Ireland, employed in another EU Member State, or in a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, their insured periods in those countries may be combined with their Irish insurance to assess their entitlement to a pro-rata State pension (contributory). In addition to the general provisions under EU legislation (which apply to all EU Member States, EEA states Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, and to Switzerland), Ireland has bilateral agreements with the UK (which also covers the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man), USA, Australia, Canada, Quebec (which has a separate system from the rest of Canada), New Zealand, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.
EU legislation and bilateral agreements provide that comparative pension assessments (for standard-rate State pension (contributory) under Irish legislation alone, and for pro-rata State pension (contributory) under EU or bilateral agreement provisions) be undertaken, and whichever is the most financially beneficial pension entitlement for that pensioner is awarded to them.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
269. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a disability allowance review for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25353/17]
View answerThe application for disability allowance (DA) from this lady was disallowed by a deciding officer (DO) who decided that she did not satisfy the medical conditions for the scheme. Notification of this decision issued on 9 March 2017.
The person in question has lodged an appeal with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). All the relevant papers requested by that Office recently were submitted by my department and the SWAO will be in touch with the person in due course in relation to the progress of the appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
