Written Answers Nos. 164-184
164. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason an application (details supplied) under the measure three outdoor and rural recreation scheme was not successful; the score achieved by the project; the lowest score achieved by successful projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43267/17]
View answerThe Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme was launched in April 2017 to provide funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure or the necessary maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in Ireland. In total, 219 projects to the value of €11.4 million were approved under the scheme, to be implemented over a period of 15 months.
As the number of applications seeking support exceeded the funding available it was not possible to fund all qualifying applications. The lowest score achieved by successful projects under Measure 3 of the scheme was 76 out of a maximum available 100 marks. The score achieved by the project referred to by the Deputy was 65.
A full listing of the successful projects under the 2017 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme can be found on my Department’s website at:
http://drcd.gov.ie/about/rural/rural-development/rural-recreation/approved-schemes-2017/.
165. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an illness benefit payment for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [43207/17]
View answerI confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this gentleman on 18 August 2017. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
166. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of rural social scheme participants to date in 2017, by county; the number that have been called for review or reassessment to date in 2017, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43211/17]
View answer167. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of rural social scheme participants in County Kerry to date in 2017; the number that have been called for review in County Kerry to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43212/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the rural social scheme (RSS) provides opportunities for farmers and fishermen/women who are currently in receipt of specified social welfare payments to work to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. Communities benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fishermen and participants have the opportunity to improve existing skills, or develop new skills, while performing this valuable work in their local communities. As part of the social welfare budget package for 2018, I am pleased to announce an additional 250 RSS places are being provided, increasing the total number of RSS participants from 3,100 to 3,350.
To be eligible to participate on the RSS, an individual must satisfy the qualifying criteria for the scheme and maintain an underlying entitlement to Farm/Fish Assist while participating on the scheme. This ensures that only those in need of income support for their farming/fishing enterprise benefit from the scheme. In addition, the rate of payment to the participant can be reviewed at any stage to ensure that participants continue to receive their correct entitlement. This practice has been in place since the commencement of the scheme and applies to all participants on the scheme regardless of their location.
Table 1 is a breakdown by county of the number of RSS participants at the 30th September, 2017 and a breakdown of the RSS reviews to date in 2017.
|
County |
No. RSS participants at end Sept 2017 |
No. of Reviews in 2017 (Jan –30th Sept) |
|
Carlow |
18 |
1 |
|
Cavan |
80 |
2 |
|
Clare |
140 |
10 |
|
Cork |
179 |
8 |
|
Donegal |
244 |
8 |
|
Galway |
317 |
27 |
|
Kerry |
293 |
19 |
|
Kildare |
24 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
14 |
1 |
|
Laois |
21 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
105 |
3 |
|
Limerick |
87 |
8 |
|
Longford |
57 |
5 |
|
Louth |
12 |
1 |
|
Mayo |
583 |
47 |
|
Meath |
20 |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
41 |
3 |
|
Offaly |
49 |
2 |
|
Roscommon |
149 |
8 |
|
Tipperary |
67 |
4 |
|
Waterford |
13 |
1 |
|
Westmeath |
42 |
3 |
|
Sligo |
136 |
5 |
|
Wexford |
39 |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
22 |
1 |
|
Grand Total |
2752 |
169 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
168. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the eligibility for an exceptional needs payment in the case of a person (details supplied); if the relevant forms will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43214/17]
View answerThe purpose of the Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) is to assist people with once-off expenditure which is exceptional and unforeseen and cannot be met from any other source, and given the circumstances of the case, they could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their normal weekly income.
According to the records of this Department, the person concerned has not recently submitted an application for an exceptional needs payment. The designated person will contact the person concerned to ascertain her current circumstances and forward the relevant application form should a need for financial assistance be established.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
169. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who already has a Level 8 qualification has qualifid for the back-to-education allowance to pursue a further Level 8 qualification in each of the past five years. [43215/17]
View answerThe Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is a scheme that allows persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments the opportunity to pursue a course of study, while still maintaining their income support, subject to satisfying a number of conditions. The conditions include progressing in the level of education held by the client with reference to the national framework of qualifications.
Applicants holding a qualification at tertiary education level (certificate, diploma, primary degree or post graduate qualification) are not eligible under the BTEA to pursue a course at a similar or lower qualification level. However, the BTEA may be approved if a person holds a level 8 Honours degree and wishes to pursue a Higher Diploma at Level 8 as this is considered progression.
There are a small number of situations where the progression rule is not applied. For instance, where a person holds a Level 5 or Level 6, the progression rule can be waived if their previous qualification was obtained three years prior to re-entry into education. The course must also be deemed to enhance a person’s job prospects and the participant must satisfy all other eligibility criteria.
Additionally, Springboard is an initiative to enable jobseekers to upskill or reskill in areas where there are employment opportunities. The BTEA can be approved for a person who holds a qualification equivalent to, or higher than, the qualification for which the BTEA application has been received for Springboard full-time courses. For example, if a participant already holds a level 8 qualification, they may pursue a level 8 Springboard course.
Overall, it is important to note that the purpose of the BTEA is to raise educational and skill levels so as to improve a welfare recipient’s employment prospects. Progression in education is an important condition of the support provided.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
170. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) will receive back pay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43258/17]
View answerFollowing a review of this gentleman’s entitlement to disability allowance (DA), it was found that he had an increase in his means from his previous assessment. Based on the information provided to my department, a reduced rate of disability allowance was awarded. The reduced rate became effective from 20 September 2017. Notification of this decision issued on 11 September 2017. He was also notified of his right to a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
171. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to increase the number of places on Tús, the rural social scheme and community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43290/17]
View answerMy Department offers a wide range of employment initiatives including Community Employment (CE), Tús and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) which provide income support and activation supports catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. As the economic recovery takes hold and the overall level of unemployment continues to fall, numbers on the schemes are being kept under on-going review by my Department.
However, the Deputy will be aware that an additional 250 RSS places were announced earlier this week in Budget 2018. This will bring the total number of places available on the RSS to 3,350. The RSS is an important support to rural communities and provides part-time employment opportunities in local community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishermen in receipt of certain social welfare payments and underemployed in their primary occupation. The work undertaken is primarily to support local service provision via community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations. The additional places will be allocated over the coming weeks with a view to getting them rolled out as quickly as possible.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
172. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated annual cost of increasing the living-alone allowance from €9 per week to €15 per week; her views on whether persons living alone have higher costs than couples; if the living alone allowance will be increased following budget 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43305/17]
View answerThe living alone increase is an additional payment of €9 per week made to people aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, including State pensions, and who are living alone. It is also available to people who are less than 66 years of age, living alone and in receipt of disability allowance, invalidity pension, incapacity supplement or blind pension. The objective of the payment is to compensate for the additional individual costs of living alone when compared to a couple or family. The cost of raising the living alone increase from €9 to €15 per week is estimated to be €62.8 million in 2018.
I was pleased to announce on Budget Day earlier this week that the maximum weekly rates of payment of all pension and working age social welfare schemes will increase by €5 per week from the week beginning 26th March at a cost of €264 million in 2018. In this regard, the primary social welfare payment for all recipients of the living alone increase will rise by €5 per week.
In addition, a new Telephone Support Allowance is being introduced from June 2018. This payment of €2.50 per week will automatically be paid to people who are in receipt of both the living alone increase and the fuel allowance, with an annual value of €130. This payment will help support over 124,000 pensioners and people with disabilities that live alone and have limited means.
People in receipt of the living alone increase may also benefit from the extension of an additional week to the fuel allowance. Furthermore, I have provided an additional €10 million to the Free Travel scheme to fully protect this valuable scheme, which is available to pensioners and people with disabilities.
173. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) is receiving a reduced rate of illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43308/17]
View answerIllness benefit is a payment for persons who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. For illness benefit claims made in 2017 the governing contribution year is 2015.
The rate of payment depends on the person's level of earnings in the governing PRSI contribution year. Where the average weekly earnings are €300 or more, the personal rate of payment is €193 weekly (€188 prior to 13 March 2017). A graduated rate applies where the average weekly earnings are less than €300.
The person concerned made a claim to illness benefit and this claim was registered in my Department on 30 March 2017. The person concerned qualifies for a graduated rate of illness benefit of €86.70 weekly (€84.50 prior to 13 March) based on their earnings in the governing year 2015. Payment has been made to the date of the latest medical certification received.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
174. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of disability allowance has been refused fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43310/17]
View answerFuel allowance is a means tested payment, payable to people who either live alone or only with certain other qualified people. Based on the information provided to the department, this gentleman does not qualify for the allowance, as his household consists of people who are not in a qualifying category.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
175. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of disability allowance has been refused fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43311/17]
View answerFuel allowance is a means tested payment, payable to people who either live alone or only with certain other qualified people. Based on the information provided to the department, this lady does not qualify for the allowance as her household consists of people who are not in a qualifying category.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
176. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a jobseeker's payment will be restored in the case of persons (details supplied); if a disability allowance in the case of a person will be restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43313/17]
View answerIn the case of the first person concerned, she is currently in receipt of a half rate carer’s allowance payment for the care of her daughter. She was also in receipt of a qualified adult allowance by means of a separate payment on the jobseeker’s allowance claim of her spouse. This claim is currently suspended as a number of uncollected payments expired and were returned to the Department. Payment cannot be reinstated until the claim holder contacts the Department regarding their current circumstances.
In the case of the second person concerned, she is currently in receipt of a disability allowance which was awarded with effect from 15/6/16.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
177. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the travel and diet supplement will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43317/17]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 24th July 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 Employment Affairs and Social Protection. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 14th September 2017 and the case has been 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.
178. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an entitlement to FIS exists in the case of persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43319/17]
View answerMr Ramtano’s FIS renewal claim was processed and he was awarded a supplement of €124.00 a week from 7th September 2017 to 5th September 2018. This payment is lodged weekly into his bank account.
179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the procedure to be followed to enable a person (details supplied) to obtain a PPS number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43322/17]
View answerWhere a child is born in the State, and the birth is registered within three months, a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number is allocated automatically. If the birth is not registered within three months, then the child should attend a PPS Number allocation centre with a parent and an application may be made there. Evidence of identity and address should be provided along with evidence as to why a PPS Number is required.
More information may be found at: http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/PPSN.aspx.
180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if further assistance is available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43324/17]
View answerMs. Kennedy’s FIS claim is due to expire on 11th October 2017. A FIS renewal form was issued to Ms. Kennedy on 3rd August 2017 but has not yet been returned. Another FIS Renewal form issued to Ms. Kennedy today 10th October 2017.
On receipt of the FIS Renewal form Ms. Kennedy’s entitlement to FIS will be decided.
181. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding local property tax exemptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43292/17]
View answerLocal Property Tax (LPT) exemptions in respect of certain unfinished housing developments were restricted to those developments listed in the schedule to the Finance (Local Property Tax) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 91 of 2013). These developments were identified on the basis of a 2012 survey to identify developments that were in a seriously problematic condition.
On the basis of nationally determined criteria, the housing development identified by the Deputy was not deemed eligible for inclusion in the 2013 list of seriously problematic developments and therefore houses in the development are liable for LPT.
The list of estates in the 2013 Regulations is a subset of the wider cohort of unfinished housing developments which also included developments without occupants and developments with some completion issues but that were not in a seriously problematic condition.
In addition, the specific development referred to was found to be substantially complete in the context of the 2014 National Housing Development Survey conducted jointly between my Department and the local authority and therefore has been removed from the overall Unfinished Housing Developments database.
182. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures being taken by his Department to address the disturbing levels of commercial property vacancies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42757/17]
View answerThe economic downturn had a significant negative impact on many urban centres, including towns and villages, with many commercial businesses having been forced to cease operations due to the decline in economic activity. This has impacted on our urban streetscape, resulting in increased rates of commercial property vacancies.
In recognition of this, the Programme for a Partnership Government, published in May 2016, set out the ambitious priority now attached to the area of urban renewal generally with a view to breathing life back into urban centres and helping to make them more attractive places in which to live and work.
In this regard, a Ministerial-led Urban Renewal Working Group, which I chaired, was established to bring forward proposals for new urban regeneration measures in respect of which initial funding was announced in this week's Budget. It is intended that the new scheme, details of which will be announced once finalised, will complement a range of other urban renewal related actions already underway including the existing regeneration programme under my Department's Social Housing Capital Programme.
The renewal of Ireland's towns and villages is also the subject of focused attention under the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development, launched in January 2017, including an enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme in respect of which my colleague the Minister for Rural and Community Development last week announced increased funding for 2018, with a particular emphasis on stimulating economic development in rural towns and villages.
In addition, the Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to examine reclassifying and incentivising the use of under-utilised or vacant premises in urban areas. Specifically, Action 5.9 of of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homlessness commits to reviewing planning legislation to allow the change of use of vacant commercial units in urban areas, including vacant or under-utilised areas over ground-floor premises, into residential units without having to go through the planning process. This proposal is also incorporated in Action 6 of the Action Plan for Rural Development. My Department is currently progressing the drafting of the necessary revisions to the Planning Regulations to give effect to this action and it is expected that draft Regulations will be submitted for Oireachtas approval by end-October 2017.
Furthermore, my Department has recently established a multi-disciplinary working group to prepare additional building control guidance for local authorities and the construction sector with a view to better facilitating the re-use or development of under-used or vacant buildings within the context of the existing building control regulatory requirements.
183. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of dwellings on which core tests were carried out under the pyrite remediation scheme for each of the past five years; the number of dwellings that were re-tested twice, three times, four and five times, respectively in each of the past five years; his plans to change the present system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43233/17]
View answer184. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason for the lengthy delays in the Housing Agency securing the results from core tests on random properties under the pyrite remediation scheme; the action taken by his Department to address the source of the delays, including requiring the use of a number of different geologists and ensuring that the proper core testing in compliance with the new standard is undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43234/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together.
The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides the statutory framework for the Pyrite Remediation Scheme. The Pyrite Resolution Board, with the support of the Housing Agency, is responsible for the implementation of the pyrite remediation scheme.
In accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Board is independent in the performance of its functions and, as Minister, I have no role in the operational matters (including sampling and testing) pertaining to the implementation of the scheme. The Board may be contacted by phone at Lo call 1890 252842 or by email to info@pyriteboard.ie or, alternatively, at publicreps@housingagency.ie.
In regard to the Testing and Categorisation Protocol, the Report of the Pyrite Panel (June 2012) recommended a categorisation system as a means of prioritising pyrite remediation works in recognition of the expensive and intrusive nature of pyrite remediation and the unpredictability of pyritic heave. The independent Pyrite Panel was clear in its view that only dwellings with significant damage due to pyritic heave should be remediated and that it would be unreaso nable to expect dwellings not exhibiting such damage to be remediated. Dwellings which have no significant damage but have reactive pyrite in the hardcore material should be monitored and only remediated if they display significant damage due to pyritic heave. This remains the position with regard to dwellings which do not display significant pyritic damage.
On foot of this recommendation of the Pyrite Panel, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) published I.S. 398-1:2013 Reactive pyrite in sub-floor hardcore material Part 1: Testing and categorisation protocol in 2013. The standard provides the means by which dwellings that may be affected by pyrite can be tested and categorised.
In late 2015, the National Standards Authority of Ireland commenced a review of I.S. 398-1:2013 in the light of practical experience since the standard was first introduced in January 2013.
The standard was updated and revised to reflect the on-site experiences and evidence gathered by technical experts, such as engineers, geologists, professionals providing sampling and testing services and other technical experts, who have been using the standard over the past four years and was published on 4 August 2017.
I welcome revised standards published by the NSAI. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I am currently in consultation with the Pyrite Resolution Board in relation to the revised standard.
My Department is in regular contact with the Pyrite Resolution Board and the Housing Agency with regard to the implementation of the scheme. Any amendments which the Board consider are required to the scheme as a result of the revised standard will be given full consideration should they be submitted to me in accordance with the requirements of the Act.
