Written Answers Nos. 1749-1768
1752. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made with regard to the planned new model of community banking through post offices based on models (details supplied) as outlined in the programme for Government. [38501/17]
View answer1753. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made with regard to the post office network motion dated 16 November 2016 with regard to a new community banking service operated by An Post based on models (details supplied). [38502/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1752 and 1753 together.
The Programme for a Partnership Government envisaged that An Post, the Irish League of Credit Unions and other interested stakeholders would be asked to investigate and propose a new model of community banking, based on overseas models, which could potentially be delivered, inter alia, through the post office network.
My officials have been working actively with the Department of Finance over the last number of months to progress these commitments. In addition, a public consultation process, seeking views on the community banking model, was launched in early March and ran for four weeks. A total of 16 replies were received from a range of stakeholders and all submissions have been reviewed and considered.
My officials, along with Department of Finance officials, also met with the Sparkassen Foundation for International Co-operation in relation to the German Sparkassen model in particular, and obtained detailed information from that organisation.
The Departmental officials are currently finalising a report on the merits of establishing a local public banking model in Ireland. Their work is now nearing completion and a report will be submitted to me and to the Minister for Finance shortly for consideration.
1754. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding provided in his Department's Estimates for the Leader programme for 2017; the expenditure to date; the projected expenditure by the end of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38679/17]
View answerA total of €40 million has been provided in the Estimates process this year for the delivery of the LEADER programme.
LEADER is a multi-annual programme which runs to 2020. Following the signing in July 2016 of Funding Agreements with the Local Action Groups which deliver the programme, LEADER has continued to gain momentum this year.
Total expenditure on LEADER in 2017 to date amounts to €8.44 million. This includes administration and animation costs and approximately €50,000 related to commitments under the 2007-2013 programme.
The amount of funding approved by the Local Action Groups for projects has increased significantly in the last two months, with €6.2 million having been approved since July compared to €0.9 million in the first six months of the year. This funding will be drawn down as projects start to incur expenditure and submit payment claims.
Expenditure under the LEADER Programme is kept under constant review by my Department. In this regard, my officials have recently written to all Local Action Groups to ascertain their projected expenditure for the remainder of the year. My Department has also introduced a series of measures to improve administrative procedures in the delivery of LEADER.
I am confident that the significant increase in the funding approved by the Local Action Groups, along with the administrative improvements introduced by my Department, will have a positive impact on the number of projects maturing for payment over the coming months.
1766. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the expenditure savings that are earmarked for his Department for 2018 that are not accounted for in the mid-year expenditure report or are not included in the fiscal space calculations for 2018. [38908/17]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate my Department was formally established with the passing of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 2017 before the summer recess. The Department’s main focus since then has been to co-ordinate its various functions and budget lines that are transferring to the new Department from other Departments. My Department is currently undertaking a review of expenditure to date in the context of the estimates 2018 cycle.
1767. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to enable members of an organisation (details supplied) to act as solemnisers for marriage ceremonies in view of the fact that such persons have undergone the necessary training and achieved the competency to act as independent celebrants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36891/17]
View answerThe legal basis for the appointment of marriage solemnisers in Ireland may be found in Part 6 of the Civil Registration Act 2004, as amended.
Section 54 of the Act provides for the categories of bodies that may apply for registration of persons on the Register of Solemnisers maintained by an tÁrd-Chláraitheoir (the Registrar General).
These are:
(a) The Health Service Executive for the registration of a registrar employed by the HSE,
(b) A religious body (as defined) for the registration of a member of that body, and
(c) A secular body (as defined) for the registration of a member of that body.
I have made enquiries of the Registrar General, in relation to this, and have been informed that no application has been received from the organisation referred to by the deputy. If they wish to apply, under one of the categories provided for, they should contact the General Register Office at the following address:
General Register Office,
Government Offices,
Convent Road,
Roscommon,
Co. Roscommon,
F42 VX53.
1768. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was unable to obtain a death certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36990/17]
View answerThe registration of deaths is provided for in Part 5 of the Civil Registration Act 2004. Specifically, section 37 of the Act provides that when a death occurs in the State it is the duty of a relative of the deceased, who has knowledge of the required particulars in relation to the death, to provide these particulars, within three months of the death, to any registrar. The required particulars are set out in Part 5 of the First Schedule to the Act.
If no such relative can be found, or is incapable through ill health of complying with this obligation, the death may be registered by a qualified informant within the three month period. The definition of a qualified informant is set out in section 37(5) of the Act.
If, in the case referred to by the deputy, there exists a relative of the deceased with knowledge of the required particulars, then that relative is obliged, under the legislation, to register the death. If no such relative can be found, the partner of the deceased may register the death as a qualified informant.
New provisions governing the registration of deaths, which would allow, for example, a cohabitant to register the death of their partner, will be commenced later this year.
