Written Answers Nos. 600-621
601. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the potential cost to the State of extending child benefit payments to children for an additional year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31304/17]
View answer602. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to change the provisions in order that child benefit is payable until such a time as a child finishes secondary education, rather than determining it by age (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31305/17]
View answerIt is proposed to take Questions Nos. 601 and 602 together.
Child 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 626,525 families in respect of over 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.
The current estimated annual cost of extending the upper age limit for payment for an additional year, i.e. for those persons who are 18 years and under 19 years of age and in secondary school, based on figures from the Department of Education and Skills, is over €62 million.
Families on low incomes can already avail of a number of provisions to 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).
These schemes provide targeted assistance that is directly linked with household income and thereby support low-income families with older children participating in full-time education.
Given the universal nature of Child Benefit extending child benefit payments to children for an additional year would not be a targeted approach. The adoption of such a proposal would also have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
603. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of participants on the rural social scheme to date in 2017; the reason the extra 500 participants promised by her predecessor have not been recruited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31306/17]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the rural social scheme (RSS) provides employment opportunities for low income farmers and fishermen who are currently in receipt of specified social welfare payments. While communities benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fishermen, participants have the opportunity to improve existing skills, or develop new skills.
In recognition of the significant work undertaken in rural communities under the Scheme, the Government announced, as part of the social welfare budget package for 2017, an additional 500 places for the scheme. These places became available with effect from 1st February 2017 and bring the total number of available participant places to 3,100.
As of 30 June 2017, there were 2,683 participants on RSS. While the overall responsibility for the operation of the RSS rests with the Department, it is implemented at a local level by 35 Local Development Companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta in the Gaeltacht areas (known as the Implementing Bodies). While the Implementing Bodies have responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the scheme, including recruitment, I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is working closely with them to ensure that all the places are rolled out as quickly as possibly over the coming months.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
604. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a farm assist application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31330/17]
View answer605. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection when a jobseeker's benefit application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31331/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 605 together.
To remain eligible for Farm Assist, an individual must continue to satisfy the qualifying criteria for the scheme including a means test. In April 2017 a review of the means in this case was conducted. The person concerned was found to have weekly means in excess of that allowable under the scheme and a decision was taken to terminate the payment.
The person concerned made an application for Jobseekers Benefit (JB) in April 2017. A decision to refuse this application was taken because the person concerned was not considered unemployed. The basis for this decision is that they were engaged in two forms of self-employment, namely farming and the provision of agricultural services and neither of these two self-employments were considered subsidiary employments.
The Donegal Intreo office has written to the person concerned advising him of his right to appeal both of these decisions.
I trust that this clarifies the matter.
606. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing carer's allowance to be classed as a recordable contribution for the purpose of eligibility for contributory pensions in view of the expense that is spared to the State through persons taking on caring roles themselves as opposed to having to engage residential or other care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31389/17]
View answer607. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of allowing for carer's allowance to be classed as a recordable contribution for the purpose of calculating eligibility for contributory pensions. [31390/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 606 and 607 together.
The social insurance system currently provides recognition of the contribution of recipients of carer’s allowance and full-time carers generally, through the system of credited contributions and the homemaker’s scheme.
Credited contributions (credits) are awarded to recipients of carer’s allowance where they have an underlying entitlement to credits. Recipients of this payment qualify for credits where they have at least one paid contribution in the two years prior to commencement of caring or have had credited contributions in that period. Credits are also awarded to workers who take unpaid carer’s leave from work.
Credits protect social insurance entitlements by bridging gaps in an employee’s social insurance record, where they are not in a position to pay PRSI, such as during periods spent caring. In combination with paid PRSI contributions, credits can assist employees in qualifying for short-term schemes such as jobseeker’s benefit and enhance the level of benefit for long-term schemes such as the State pension contributory (SPC). In the latter case, once someone has 520 paid contributions over the course of their working life – the first condition for eligibility for the SPC, credits have the same value as paid contributions when the calculation to determine the yearly average number of contributions paid or credited. The year average determines the rate of pension payable.
In addition, all carers, including those who are not on a welfare payment or who do not qualify for credits, may qualify for the homemaker’s scheme. The homemaker’s scheme is designed to help homemakers and carers qualify for the SPC and applies to homemaking periods since 6 April 1994. It equally applies to both men and women.
The scheme provides that years spent working in the home while caring on a full-time basis for a child up to 12 years of age or an incapacitated person age 12 or over will be disregarded in calculating a person's yearly average number of contributions.
It is not possible to cost, even on a tentative basis, the granting of contributions for periods spent on carer’s allowance or on other homemaking periods as the impact on the rate of State pension which would be payable (and associated costs) would be largely dependent on periods spent in the paid workforce in the past and potential future periods in similar employment.
608. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the policy response which occurs further to the publication of the census of population; the section or sections of her Department involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31407/17]
View answerMy Department is highly committed to evidence-based policymaking. To inform our policy and operations across all our business areas, we make extensive use of this full range of Irish and European official statistics, including the Census of Population. Alongside this, we regularly conduct research surveys (see www.welfare.ie/en/surveys) and make analytical use of our own detailed administrative data sources.
The Census is a cornerstone of the national statistical system. It is important not only as a point-in-time five-yearly snapshot but also as a key reference point for statistics based on surveys such as the Quarterly National Household Survey, Survey on Income and Living Conditions, and Earnings Hours and Employment Costs Survey. Together, these statistics ensure that we have access to high-quality policy-relevant information not just when each Census is published but at all times in between.
As such, there is not a specific ‘policy response which occurs further to the publication of the census of population’ – rather, it informs all the policy priorities of my Department, together with the wider statistical system of which the Census forms part.
609. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the long delays for processing applications, reviews and appeals within the domiciliary care allowance and disability allowance sections of her Department; her plans to rectify the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31423/17]
View answerProcessing times for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) applications are currently not meeting the target of having 70% of applications processed within 15 weeks. At present it is taking 20 weeks on average to finalise an application. There are a number of factors that have contributed to the extended time required to process claims.
Firstly, there is a significant increase in the volume of applications being received. The numbers applying for DCA have increased significantly since 2009, when the Department took over administration of the scheme from the HSE. The year on year increase in volumes over recent years has consistently been in the 15-20% range due to an increase in population and more awareness of the scheme. Over 1,000 claims were received in May, whereas the average would have been 400 per month a few years ago.
Secondly, following a High Court ruling in 2016, there is now a need for the Department’s medical assessors to provide the deciding officer with a more detailed opinion on the child’s eligibility for the scheme and for the deciding officer in turn to provide more detailed reasons for their decision when communicating this to the customer. These factors have resulted in the time taken to finalise applications increasing significantly and as a result the numbers being processed have reduced and the timescale to finalise each application has increased.
Due to the priority being given to new applications, processing times for decision review requests and appeals are also affected at this time . However, the number of both review requests and appeals received has fallen in recent years due to the increase in applications awarded at initial decision stage, which is currently 75% of first time applications.
In response to the current situation, additional deciding officers have been assigned to the scheme and the extra processing capacity should allow for an improvement in processing times. The position continues to be monitored closely.
In relation to disability allowance (DA), the average time taken to process a new application in May 2017 was 12 weeks. The processing times target for the DA scheme is to have 75% of new applications decided within 12 weeks and processing times have been consistent so far in 2017. The number of new applications awaiting a decision has decreased slightly since the start of the year from 5,947 to 5,863 currently. The number of DA appeals awaiting decision has also decreased, with 1,367 awaiting decision at the end of 2016, compared to 1,637 at the start of the year.
When deciding entitlement to disability allowance, a deciding officer is required to consider the medical conditionality and the habitual residence condition, in addition to the means condition. The failure of applicants to fully complete the application form and/or provide relevant supporting documentation, in respect of either their medical condition or their means, can contribute to delay in the processing of their application.
610. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for domiciliary allowance by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31488/17]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 10th February 2017. Due to the increased volume of applications currently being received, it can currently take in excess of 20 weeks to process an application for DCA. The application will be examined by a Deciding Officer shortly and the decision notified as soon as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
611. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the average wait times in processing domiciliary care allowance applications; if she has satisfied herself with the length of time it is taking for a decision to be made; and if she will allocate extra resources to the section in order to process the applications in a more timely manner. [31530/17]
View answerProcessing times for Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) are currently not meeting the target of having 70% of applications processed within 15 weeks. At present it is taking 20 weeks on average to finalise an application. There are a number of factors that have contributed to the extended time required to process claims.
Firstly, there is a significant increase in the volume of applications being received. The numbers applying for DCA have increased significantly since 2009, when the Department took over administration of the scheme from the HSE. The increase in volume year on year has been between 15% and 20% in recent years, due to an increase in population and more awareness of the scheme. Over 1,000 claims were received in May, whereas the average would have been 400 per month a few years ago.
Secondly, following a High Court ruling in 2016, there is now a need for the Department’s medical assessors to provide the deciding officer with a more detailed opinion on the child’s eligibility for the scheme and for the deciding officer in turn to provide more detailed reasons for their decision when communicating this to the customer. These factors have resulted in the time taken to finalise applications increasing significantly and as a result the numbers being processed have reduced and the timescale to finalise each application has increased.
In response to the current situation, additional deciding officers have been assigned to the scheme. This extra processing capacity should allow for an improvement in processing times. The position will continue to be closely monitored.
612. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a report on the appeal by a company (details supplied) of the Scope findings regarding alleged abuse of RTC1s; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31550/17]
View answerThe role of Scope insurability section in the Department of Social Protection is to make statutory decisions on insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Act. Employers, employees and the self-employed may apply to Scope for an investigation of an employment status and a determination of the correct class of PRSI. Scope insurability decisions are based on all available evidence, including a report from a social welfare inspector where appropriate, and the case law from previous court judgements.
Scope insurability decisions may be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office by the employer, employee or self-employee. The office provides an independent, accessible and fair appeals service in a prompt and courteous manner.
Fourteen cases relating to the company referred to by the Deputy were registered in Scope insurability section in March 2015. These cases pertained to the time period from the end of May to September 2014.
Decisions issued from Scope insurability section in August 2015. The company referred to appealed the decisions for 13 of the 14 workers. Appeal decisions were issued in these cases in May 2017. The following is a summary of the decisions:
- 8 workers were deemed not to be employees of the company referred to;
- 2 workers were deemed to be self-employed;
- 1 worker was deemed to be an employee of the company for periods up to 24 July 2014 but not thereafter;
- 2 workers were deemed to be employees of the company for periods up to 24 July 2014 and employees of a different employer thereafter.
One worker lodged an appeal and an appeal decision issued in June 2016. He was deemed to be an employee, not of the company referred to, but of a different employer.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office operates independently of the Minister. Therefore, it would not be appropriate to comment on the outcome of individual appeals.
Finally, the deputy should note that the administration of RTC1s is a matter for Revenue.
613. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of civil servants in her Department that have requested a transfer to a location outside County Dublin; the number of civil servants in her Department that have requested a transfer from a location outside of Dublin into County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31782/17]
View answerThe manner in which transfer lists are currently held does not allow for the provision of the specific details being sought by the Deputy.
Formal transfer protocols exist only in respect of the Clerical Officer grade. As advised in response to Parliamentary Question No. 2114 which I answered for the Deputy on Tuesday 20 June 2017, each Department maintains transfer lists in respect of its own locations. I provided a table which detailed the number of applications for transfer to the Department’s office outside Dublin. While it is open to any Clerical Officer in my Department to apply for a transfer to a location outside Dublin in another Department, details of the number of staff seeking such transfers are not available within the Department.
As you may be aware, Action 15 of the Civil Service Renewal Plan has a commitment to develop a new transfer/mobility scheme within the Civil Service. Work on this scheme is ongoing with the Civil Service Management Board, Departments and staff interests.
It is hoped that Phase 1 of the new scheme which will cater for the Clerical and Executive Officer grades will be launched later in the year. Phase 2 of the scheme will be developed following implementation of Phase 1 and will include the general service grades of Higher Executive Officer, Administrative Officer and Assistant Principal Officer.
The new scheme will be centralised and will have the facility to report on numbers on lists per Department and location following its successful launch.
614. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has taken account of recent cases with regard to future policy on wind turbine construction in view of the settlements made in recent court cases in regard to wind turbine construction and the effects of noise and shadow flicker; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30833/17]
View answerMy predecessor as Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, in conjunction with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment recently announced a "preferred draft approach" to the review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. A copy of the announcement is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/guidelines/wind-energy/coveney-and-naughten-announce-key-development-review-wind-energy-development-guidelines.
The “preferred draft approach” has been developed to address a number of key aspects of the targeted review which include: Sound/Noise, Visual Amenity and Setback Distances, Shadow Flicker, Consultation Obligations on Developers, Community Dividend and Grid Connections.
As part of the overall review, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) will be undertaken on the "proposed draft approach" to the revised Guidelines before they come into effect. This is in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 2001/24/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, the SEA Directive. SEA is a process by which environmental considerations are required to be fully integrated into the preparation of plans and programmes which act as frameworks for development consent, prior to their final adoption, with public consultation as part of that process.
It is envisaged that the SEA process will take approximately 9 months. In light of the SEA requirements, it is expected that the Guidelines will be finalised and come into effect in Q1 2018. In the meantime, the current Guidelines remain in force.
When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts.
I am aware of a number of newspaper articles reporting a recent court case relating to wind turbine noise. However, as this is a legal matter between the operators of a particular wind farm and a number of households living in close proximity to it, it would not be appropriate for me to make any comment on the matter.
615. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the situations in which an environmental assessment must be conducted as part of a planning permission to operate a quarry and or landfill site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30887/17]
View answerProjects requiring an environmental impact assessment (EIA) by a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála (the Board), as appropriate, in respect of an application for planning consent are listed in Schedule 5 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (the Regulations).
Part 1 of Schedule 5 of the Regulations includes projects such as waste disposal installations including landfills for hazardous waste (para 9) and quarries where the surface area exceeds 25 hectares (para 19). Part 2 includes such projects involving the extraction of stone, gravel, sand or clay where the extraction area exceeds 5 hectares (para 2(b)) and installations for disposal of waste with an annual in take greater than 25,000 tonnes (para 11(b)).
These thresholds also apply in the case of applications for a change or extension of such projects or where a change or extension would result in an increase in size greater than 25 per cent of the appropriate threshold. EIA is also required in the consideration of planning applications, other than in the circumstances referred to above, where a development project is likely to have significant effects on the environment, having regard to the criteria set out in Schedule 7 of the Regulations.
With specific reference to quarries, in response to the Judgment of the European Court of Justice in case C-215/06, section 261A was inserted into the Planning and Development Act 2000 (the Act) in 2010. Under this provision, each planning authority was required to examine all existing quarries in its functional area to determine whether EIA, a screening for EIA or an appropriate assessment (AA) should have been, but was not, carried out. Where a planning authority determined that a quarry came within this category, the authority was required to make a further decision in relation to the planning status of the quarry, including registration status. Following on from this, the planning authority had to either take enforcement action, requiring the quarry to cease operations, or direct the quarry operator to apply to the Board for substitute consent under Part XA of the Act, a process involving either EIA or AA, or both, as appropriate.
616. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the guidelines for the installation of solar farms on farmland which bounds residential areas and residential houses; if assessments or reports have been carried out as to possible health and wellbeing issues associated with solar farms close to residential areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30915/17]
View answer617. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce guidelines for solar farm developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30926/17]
View answer620. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the national guidelines in place to guide planning permission applications and An Bord Pleanála appeals for solar farm developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31374/17]
View answer621. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the various stages and indicative timelines to be undertaken in order to develop guidelines for solar energy planning applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31375/17]
View answer626. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has issued guidelines or directives to local authorities in relation to the rollout of solar farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30916/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 616, 617, 620, 621 and 626 together.
There are no specific planning guidelines in place in respect of solar farms. Proposals for individual solar farm developments are subject to the statutory requirements of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, in the same manner as other proposed developments. Planning applications are made to the relevant local planning authority with a right of appeal to An Bord Pleanála.
Under the Planning and Development Act, each planning authority's development plan must set out an overall strategy for the proper planning and sustainable development of the area concerned. Section 10 of the Act requires a development plan to include, inter alia, objectives for the provision or facilitation of the provision of infrastructure, including energy facilities, and many local authorities have developed renewable energy strategies for their areas in this context.
In making decisions on planning applications, planning authorities and the Board must consider the proper planning and sustainable development of the area, having regard to the provisions of the local development plan, any submissions or observations received and relevant Ministerial or Government policies, including any relevant guidelines issued by my Department. Planning authorities must then make their own decisions based on the specific merits or otherwise of individual planning applications.
I am satisfied that the planning code is sufficiently robust to facilitate the assessment of individual planning permission applications for solar farm developments. However, the matter will be kept under review, in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, and his Department - which leads on renewable energy policy - in the context of the Government's White Paper on Energy Policy, published in December 2015, the development of a Renewable Electricity Policy and Development Framework, as well as the finalisation of a new support scheme for renewable electricity by that Department. I understand that, subject to public consultation and the need to secure Government approval and state aid clearance from the European Commission, it is expected that the new scheme will become operational in 2018.
618. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending the development contribution rebate scheme to build to rent units by introducing a full rebate on all rental units built in developments of 50 units or more; and the estimated cost for extending the scheme for only units rented at affordable or below market rents. [31000/17]
View answerThe primary objective of the Development Contribution Rebate Scheme is to enhance the viability of the construction and sale of residential housing units at affordable prices in the locations of greatest need. The scheme is a supply-related measure, with the cost of the rebates being funded through my Department.
The rebate will be paid for those units that are completed and sold after 1st January 2016 and before 31 December 2017 and that meet the conditions of the scheme, details of which are set out in the Circular letter launching the scheme which issued from my Department, which is available at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/search/category/planning?query=circular+2015&=Apply.
The scheme already caters for residential units whether for occupation, lease or rent.
619. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the estimated cost of the development contribution rebate scheme to date in 2017; the number of projects and units availing of the scheme; and the primary reasons for the low take up of the scheme. [31001/17]
View answerA development contribution rebate scheme featured as part of the Government's housing package, entitled "Stabilising Rents, Boosting Supply", which was announced by the previous Government in November 2015. The primary objective of the scheme was to enhance the viability of the construction and sale of residential housing units at affordable prices in the locations of greatest need. Details of the scheme are available in Circular letter PL 13/2015, which issued from my Department to the relevant local authorities, and which is available on my Department's website at the following link: www.housing.gov.ie/search/category/planning/sub-type/circular/topic/development-management?query.
Returns to date from the local authorities concerned indicate that there has been limited uptake in relation to the scheme.
- Cork City Council, Cork County Council and Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have reported no uptake to date.
- Fingal County Council estimates overall costs for 2017 at €6.8 million to cover rebates on 798 units spread across 9 developments.
- South Dublin County Council estimate overall costs of approximately €3.5 million to €4 million to cover rebates on expressions of interest received for 485 units spread across 7 developments.
- Only one application has been received to date by Dublin City Council. It is for a part development and cannot be processed, until the total number of units exceeds 50.
A number of reasons are cited by the local authorities concerned for the low uptake, including -
- the low sale price threshold under the scheme, and
- the minimum scheme threshold of 50 units.
However, these are important design features of the scheme, in order to ensure delivery of homes at affordable prices and to encourage the delivery of housing on a larger scale.
