Written Answers Nos. 204-223
204. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the funding for the local transport sector will be increased in order to enhance services in rural areas of counties Cavan and Monaghan. [48278/17]
View answerIn Budget 2018 I secured an additional €500,000 in funding for the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) which brings next years current funding allocation to €14.2 million. This builds on the increased funding in the last two years, which enabled the improvement of existing services and development of new routes.
This funding is provided to the National Transport Authority (NTA) which has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the RTP which now operates under the "Local Link" brand. In light of the NTA's responsibilities regarding the development of Local Link services, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
205. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase the funding allocation to Cavan and Monaghan County Councils for the community involvement scheme for the restoration and upgrading of local roads and lanes in view of its positive uptake. [48285/17]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
The Community Involvement Scheme (CIS) remains in place in 2017 on the basis that local authorities may set aside 7.5% of their Restoration Improvement and Restoration Maintenance grants for CIS schemes if they so wish.
It is expected that regional and local road allocations for 2018 will be notified to local authorities in January 2018.
206. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the budget allocated to the access and inclusion model of early education and childcare provision under each of the levels 4 to 7 of this scheme annually since its introduction to date; the amounts allocated under these levels and the total amounts drawn down for 2016 and 2017, respectively, in each of the four levels, in tabular form; the number of children in each county that have benefitted from funding under each of these four levels each year to date; the areas of support in which this funding under each of the four headings have been applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48333/17]
View answerAIM supports children with disabilities to reap the full benefits of free pre-school education. Its goal is to empower pre-school providers to deliver an inclusive pre-school experience. AIM is a child-centred and evidence-based model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, based on the needs of the child and the pre-school setting.
Where a pre-school provider, in conjunction with a parent, considers that some additional support is needed in order to meet the needs of a child with a disability in an inclusive way, an application can be made for a suite of targeted supports, namely:
Level 4: Expert Early Years Educational Advice and Support
This level provides access to mentoring for early years practitioners from a team of dedicated Early Years Specialists. To avail of this support, pre-school providers and parents are requested to complete an online Access and Inclusion Profile. This looks at the strengths, abilities and needs of the child, as well as the strengths and needs of the pre-school setting.
Level 5: Equipment, Appliances and Minor Alterations Capital Grants
This level provides for access to specialised equipment, appliances, assistive technology and/or minor alterations capital grants for early years settings to ensure children with a disability can participate in the ECCE programme. A short report from a designated professional is required confirming that the specialised equipment or minor building alterations are necessary.
Level 6: Therapeutic Intervention
This level provides access to therapeutic services where they are critical to enable the child to be enrolled and to fully participate in the ECCE Programme. To avail of this support, pre-school providers and parents are requested to complete the online Access and Inclusion Profile. The Early Years Specialist will review the profile and, where therapeutic input is likely to be required; the Specialist will initiate contact with the HSE. The HSE decides on the appropriate level of therapeutic intervention.
Level 7: Additional Assistance in the Pre-School Room
This level provides additional assistance in the pre-school room where this is critical to ensuring a child’s participation in the ECCE Programme. It is estimated that pre-school providers may need Level 7 in the case of approximately 1% to 1.5% of all children. In line with emerging best practice to support the integration and independence of children with a disability, AIM does not fund Special Needs Assistants (SNAs). Rather, it provides financial support to the pre-school provider, which can be used either to reduce the adult to child ratio in the pre-school room or to buy in additional assistance to the pre-school room. Accordingly, Level 7 assistance is a shared resource for the pre-school setting.
AIM was launched in June 2016. The total funding allocated and outturn in 2016 and 2017 to levels 4, 5 and 7 of AIM by my Department is set out below. Funding for AIM Level 6 comes from the Department of Health Vote.
The Inter-Department Group, which developed AIM recognised that it would take approximately three years to fully develop and implement the Model. It is expected that demand for all levels of support under AIM will increase in years 2 and 3 and the budget available for AIM makes provision for this.
|
Level |
Element of model |
- |
2016 (m*) |
- |
2017 (m*) |
|
- |
- |
Allocation |
Outturn |
Allocation |
Outturn (to date) |
|
4. |
Expert Early Years Educational Advice and Support |
5.40 |
4.23 |
10.10 |
4.42 |
|
5. |
Equipment, Appliances and Minor Alterations Grants and application process |
1.61 |
0.12 |
2.50 |
0.61 |
|
6. |
Therapeutic Intervention |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
7. |
Additional Assistance in the Pre-School Room and Application Process |
5.43 |
1.83 |
14.10 |
7.70 |
*Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.
The number of children in each county who have benefitted from supports under AIM Levels 4, 5 and 7 for the 2016 and 2017 ECCE programme years is shown in the tables below.
Number of Children receiving AIM support in ECCE 2016
|
County |
Level 4 |
Level 5 equipment |
Level 5 alterations |
Level 7 |
|
Carlow |
31 |
3 |
14 |
|
|
Cavan |
54 |
12 |
31 |
|
|
Clare |
104 |
7 |
1 |
71 |
|
Cork |
343 |
36 |
2 |
217 |
|
Donegal |
113 |
12 |
6 |
71 |
|
Dublin |
505 |
33 |
5 |
246 |
|
Galway |
121 |
13 |
2 |
82 |
|
Kerry |
93 |
19 |
7 |
63 |
|
Kildare |
111 |
14 |
2 |
59 |
|
Kilkenny |
35 |
7 |
1 |
20 |
|
Laois |
59 |
9 |
1 |
36 |
|
Leitrim |
15 |
4 |
2 |
8 |
|
Limerick |
134 |
10 |
3 |
91 |
|
Longford |
29 |
2 |
13 |
|
|
Louth |
79 |
9 |
1 |
41 |
|
Mayo |
53 |
7 |
31 |
|
|
Meath |
96 |
17 |
2 |
46 |
|
Monaghan |
28 |
5 |
23 |
|
|
Offaly |
41 |
7 |
31 |
|
|
Roscommon |
32 |
2 |
18 |
|
|
Sligo |
21 |
8 |
16 |
|
|
Tipperary |
91 |
11 |
2 |
58 |
|
Waterford |
53 |
7 |
1 |
31 |
|
Westmeath |
44 |
5 |
19 |
|
|
Wexford |
88 |
2 |
1 |
51 |
|
Wicklow |
50 |
5 |
1 |
26 |
|
county not known |
18 |
Number of Children receiving AIM support in ECCE 2017 as at 14 Nov 2017
|
County |
level 4 |
level 5 equipment |
level 5 alterations |
level 7 |
|
Carlow |
19 |
16 |
||
|
Cavan |
22 |
3 |
1 |
24 |
|
Clare |
60 |
4 |
2 |
50 |
|
Cork |
183 |
24 |
6 |
170 |
|
Donegal |
54 |
8 |
1 |
47 |
|
Dublin |
260 |
13 |
200 |
|
|
Galway |
67 |
4 |
56 |
|
|
Kerry |
65 |
3 |
44 |
|
|
Kildare |
67 |
6 |
44 |
|
|
Kilkenny |
23 |
4 |
18 |
|
|
Laois |
36 |
5 |
1 |
22 |
|
Leitrim |
6 |
1 |
1 |
8 |
|
Limerick |
78 |
9 |
1 |
71 |
|
Longford |
10 |
9 |
||
|
Louth |
47 |
2 |
34 |
|
|
Mayo |
38 |
2 |
35 |
|
|
Meath |
75 |
11 |
3 |
61 |
|
Monaghan |
15 |
1 |
17 |
|
|
Offaly |
25 |
2 |
24 |
|
|
Roscommon |
28 |
2 |
17 |
|
|
Sligo |
16 |
5 |
1 |
14 |
|
Tipperary |
54 |
1 |
1 |
47 |
|
Waterford |
32 |
1 |
27 |
|
|
Westmeath |
21 |
14 |
||
|
Wexford |
52 |
1 |
1 |
32 |
|
Wicklow |
32 |
4 |
29 |
207. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funds or funding streams that are available for after school homework clubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48356/17]
View answerThe School Completion Programme (SCP) is a core element of the Educational Welfare Service of Tusla the Child and Family Agency.
SCP work focuses on targeting and providing supports to young people identified to be most at risk of early school leaving. This work includes the identification and support of children at risk of not reaching their potential in the educational system because of poor attendance, participation and retention via initiatives such as breakfast clubs; homework clubs; afterschool supports; mentoring programmes; and therapeutic interventions. SCP's also work to ensure that schools have in place the appropriate procedures to monitor, identify and respond to attendance, participation and retention issues;
I can confirm that the SCP budget for 124 SCP projects for the school years 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/17 was €23.3m per annum.
For the school year 2015-16, the total level of spend for SCP projects on Interventions was €7.4m. Homework clubs fall within this element of the SCP budget and feature prominently in the returns. Interventions are split between In-School Interventions, After School Supports and Summer Supports. Figures for the 2016-2017 school year will become available in due course.
My Department also offers childcare subsidies to families eligible under the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS), Community Childcare Subvention Plus (CCSP) and Training and Employment (TEC) programmes. This childcare funding may be used towards a place in an afterschool setting. The subsidies are paid to childcare providers for eligible families. The rates of subsidy vary according to certain eligibility criteria including social welfare and/or medical card entitlement or participating in a Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection employment programme. While the childcare funding is not specifically for homework clubs, the childcare place may involve homework supports.
208. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the family and community services resource centre programme; the number of applications received; the funding being made available; when decisions will be made in respect of those applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48357/17]
View answerThere are 109 Family Resource Centres currently in receipt of funding from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Tusla provides funding to the centres under an annual agreement. This funding is provided by way of a contribution towards the running costs of the centres. The financial allocation to support this programme amounts to €13.51m in 2017. I was pleased to announce recently that additional funding of approximately €5.0m is being allocated to existing centres and to support the expansion of the programme with the inclusion of an additional 11 centres next year.
In relation to the additional information which the Deputy has requested, I have asked Tusla to provide the information requested directly to the Deputy.
209. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will re-establish the local road improvement scheme in 2018 and continue to do so until all roads not repaired in decades are complete; if funding will be increased to deal with the backlog in applications with Cavan and Monaghan County Councils; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48279/17]
View answerMy Department wrote to Local Authorities last August to establish the level of demand for an LIS scheme this year. This is a nation-wide scheme which supports improvement works on private and non-public roads. The Local Authorities were advised that any requests for funds would be subject to their capacity to complete any proposed works in 2017, and funding availability.
On 21st September, I announced the provision of €10 million for a Local Improvement Scheme. Within the budget available for 2017, it was not possible to fully support the level of demand which the Local Authorities stated they could deliver this year. However, all eligible Local Authorities received a minimum of €250,000, with the exception of three Authorities who requested less than that amount.
A total of €295,000 was approved under the scheme for Cavan County Council, and €250,000 for Monaghan County Council. It is now a matter for the Local Authorities, including Cavan and Monaghan, to determine which roads they wish to prioritise from the funding allocated to them.
I recognise that there is an underlying demand for further LIS funding, as no dedicated funding stream was available for these type of works for a number of year. I have therefore secured a further allocation of €10 million for LIS in my Department's Estimate for 2018. Details of the 2018 scheme will be announced early in the New Year.
210. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the list of roads to be repaired in each county under the local improvement scheme announced by him will be published; the latest date for county councils to submit claims to his Department in order to receive payment for these road works in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48286/17]
View answerMy Department wrote to Local Authorities in August to establish the level of demand for an LIS scheme this year. The Local Authorities were advised that any requests for funds would be subject to their capacity to complete any proposed works in 2017, and funding availability. On 21st September, I announced the provision of €10 million for a Local Improvement Scheme which supports improvement works on private and non-public roads.
Within the budget available for 2017, it was not possible to fully support the level of demand which the Local Authorities stated they could deliver in 2017. However, all eligible Local Authorities received a minimum of €250,000, with the exception of three Authorities who requested less than that amount. The allocations generally had regard to the geographical area of the counties and the level of demand indicated by the Local Authorities.
Each Local Authority has been requested to submit a revised list of works based on their actual funding allocation and my Department is currently collating this information. Once all revised lists are finalised they will be published on my Department's website.
Local Authorities are required to submit claims for drawdown of the approved funding by 17th November 2017, on the basis that all of the requirements for drawdown under the scheme have been met.
211. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of capital allocated to his Department for 2017 at its creation; the amount spent by subhead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48386/17]
View answerThe total amount of capital funding allocated to my Department upon its creation was approximately €77 million. To date payments totalling €19.6 million have been made, as shown in the table below. It has been impressed upon Local Authorities the need to accelerate spending on their 2017 projects as a matter of urgency, and capital spend in the final quarter typically accelerates as projects come to fruition.
In addition, €10 million has been allocated to the Local Authorities under the Local Improvement Scheme. It is a condition of this scheme that all works must be completed by the end of 2017.
|
Subhead |
Spend to date (€'000s) |
|
Dormant Accounts |
1.6 |
|
National Rural Development Schemes |
1.4 |
|
LEADER |
11 |
|
RAPID |
2.1 |
|
Programme for Peace & Reconciliation |
0.6 |
|
Library Development and Archive Service |
0.8 |
|
Community Facilities Fund |
2 |
212. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications received from within the Connemara electoral area of Galway County Council during this SICAP programme period under the tenure of a company (details supplied); the funding allocated to programmes in the Connemara electoral area during the current SICAP programme period under the company's tenure; the expenditure on the SICAP programme in the Connemara electoral area during this SICAP programme period under the company's tenure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48430/17]
View answerThe Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is a key intervention for disadvantaged communities, the delivery of which is overseen and managed by the relevant Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) in each Local Authority area. Whilst complying with the programme’s aims, objectives and requirements, Programme Implementers are expected to ensure that actions set out under SICAP reflect the priorities and needs identified in the relevant Local Authority's Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP).
In accordance with the Public Spending Code, legal advice and good practice internationally, and in order to ensure the optimum delivery of services to clients, SICAP is subject to a public procurement process. The process is a competitive one that is open to Local Development Companies, other not-for-profit community groups, commercial firms and national organisations that could provide the services to be tendered for to deliver the Programme. A procurement process for the next SICAP Programme covering 2018-2022 is currently underway.
SICAP in County Galway is managed by Galway County LCDC, which is the SICAP contracting authority for the area. The Lot allocation for Galway - which covers the entire county - is €1,601,582 on an annual basis. My Department does not have access to the funding breakdown for the Lot area. However, I have asked my officials to arrange for the relevant information regarding the Connemara Electoral Area, to be requested from the LCDC, and the information will then be forwarded to the Deputy.
213. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a reply will issue to correspondence from a person (details supplied) in relation to disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48271/17]
View answerThe correspondence to which the Deputy refers was sent to my office and relates to a proposal for the use of funding to assist employers willing to take on young people with a disability.
A reply will be issued shortly.
214. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding a form requirement that the figures in the final form must be audited (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48352/17]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) scheme sponsors receive funding based on agreed annual contracts. The funding is provided to cover the costs associated with running the CE scheme, such as wages for the supervisor and participants and other direct costs such as insurance, materials, and training costs.
At the end of each annual contract, the sponsor must have a record of all financial transactions of the project presented in a coherent manner. These records must be supported by the submission of an independent, professionally certified, audited Statement of Income and Expenditure.
The requirement under the CE Procedures for an annual audit of projects reflects the fact that funding for CE comes from the Exchequer, therefore it is important to maintain control of the finances, and the Department is answerable to the Government, the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee for the administration of this funding.
There is a separate legal requirement under the Companies Acts for an annual audit of the registered company, as the organisation running a CE project may have other business interests or activities outside of the CE funding. In the majority of cases the work carried out for the CE audit can be used to assist with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) audit.
My Department seeks to maximise the value for money to be achieved from the CE programme, while maintaining transparency and good public financial governance, and in that context the current audit requirements will be reviewed in the coming months.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
215. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to change the criteria whereby a person that has means included in their social welfare calculation payment does not qualify for the Christmas bonus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48264/17]
View answerI was pleased to announce on Budget Day that an 85% Christmas Bonus will be paid this year to over 1.2 million long-term social welfare recipients, such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents and long-term jobseekers at a cost of €219 million.
The bonus is paid as an increase to a recipient’s weekly payment in the relevant week. The bonus is not a payment in its own right. Rather, it forms an integral part of the relevant social welfare payment during the particular week in which the bonus is paid, in the same way as, for instance, increases in certain weekly social welfare payments where the person is living alone or has attained the age of 80 years.
The amount of the bonus in the case of recipients of long-term social welfare payments is 85% of the weekly payment (including payments where means have been assessed) in the relevant week in late November or early December 2017, depending on the scheme concerned, subject to a minimum payment of €20.
There are no plans to change the criteria for payment of the Christmas Bonus.
216. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rules that apply in relation to the eligibility of persons that are retained fire fighters for jobseeker's benefit and allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48290/17]
View answer217. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review correspondence from a person (details supplied); the measures in place to financially support retained fire fighters that cannot secure full time employment due to their commitments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48326/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together.
Retained (part-time) fire-fighters, provide services which are vitally important to their communities. Typically, these workers provide services in rural and less densely populated areas but larger urban centres may also have a cohort of part-time workers.
I note the information the Deputy has supplied in relation to a particular individual and the difficulty that person has had in finding full time employment.
Retained fire-fighters who are otherwise unemployed are entitled to a jobseeker’s payment in respect of days that they are engaged in fire-fighting or training, subject to the usual qualification conditions in relation to means or social insurance contributions. They are, also required to satisfy the statutory conditions for the receipt of a jobseeker’s payment of being available for and genuinely seeking full time work. Any person who fails to satisfy these conditions is not entitled to a jobseeker’s payment.
Taking account of the unusual circumstances of retained fire personnel the Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 carried amendments to both jobseeker’s benefit and jobseeker’s allowance that put the treatment of retained fire fighters on a legislative basis. These amendments were introduced with particular regard to the vital service provided by this group, particularly in rural communities where the fire service is almost exclusively staffed by retained personnel.
This legislation provided that when a retained fire fighter is on call this will not result in a disallowance for a jobseeker’s payment on grounds of availability. It also provides that retained fire fighters are exempt from suffering a loss of a day of jobseeker’s payment for any day of firefighting employment. Finally, the legislation also provides an exemption for retained fire fighters from having to satisfy the substantial loss of employment condition under jobseeker’s benefit.
The legislation and associated regulations outlined above allow retained fire-fighters a reasonable and fair level of access to the jobseeker schemes given the unique circumstances of the service they provide their communities.
218. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the laws or guidelines which exist for employers in relation to the safety of their staff during a status red weather warning. [48341/17]
View answerOccupational Health and Safety is the policy responsibility of my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
Policy responsibility for 12 pieces of employment legislation transferred to me pursuant to the Labour Affairs and Labour Law (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2017 (S.I. No. 361 of 2017) from 1st September last. However the Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and related legislation and the Health and Safety Authority, the regulatory body for the purposes of the legislation, remain under the aegis of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
219. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the guidance which was issued to employers, the self employed and public servants regarding whether employees should attend work on 16 October 2017, the day of Storm Ophelia. [48342/17]
View answerMy Department acted on foot of advice received from the National Emergency Co-ordination Group.
In the interests of customer and staff safety, all Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection offices closed on 16th October 2017. Staff and customers were advised of this using all available channels, including internal email, media and the Department’s website and Twitter account.
Customers who had appointments scheduled on that day were contacted subsequently to reschedule their appointments.
No payments were affected due to appointments being cancelled.
220. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for a carer's allowance will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48345/17]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 21 August 2017.
The matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 1 November 2017 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.
Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
221. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application for carer's allowance by person (details supplied) will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48407/17]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person concerned on 4 August 2017. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
222. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied) will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48408/17]
View answerThe application for disability allowance (DA), based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and this gentleman was notified in writing of this decision on 2 August 2017.
Following submission of further medical evidence and a review of his medical eligibility, the decision of a deciding officer (DO) to disallow DA has been revised and the gentleman has been awarded DA with effect from 31 May 2017. The first payment will be made on the 29 November 2017.
Arrears of payment due will issue in due course once any necessary adjustment is made in respect of other overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding payments.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
223. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application for carer's benefit by a person (details supplied) will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48409/17]
View answerI confirm that my department received applications for carer’s benefit from the person concerned in respect of her two daughters on 21 August 2017 and 6 September 2017. The applications are currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
