Written Answers Nos. 470-483
470. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to each local authority in 2017 under the rural recreational scheme, the CLÁR programme, the town and village renewal scheme and the rural economic development zone; the drawdown to date in 2017 by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51766/17]
View answerMy Department delivers a variety of schemes that support the sustainable development of rural communities in line with commitments in the Programme for Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development. These include the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, and the CLÁR Programme.
The table details the budget allocations and drawdown to date for each local authority for the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, the CLÁR programme and the town and village renewal scheme. This is the latest expenditure information available at this time. Other organisations also receive funding under some of these programmes.
The REDZ scheme was not delivered as a stand-alone-scheme in 2017; however, the 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme includes components of the REDZ approach, to encourage cooperation between towns and their outlying areas, or between towns in close proximity.
My Department is continuing to work closely with all relevant Local Authorities to ensure that any remaining funding allocated to them is spent promptly and in accordance with the original project proposals.
|
Town and Village 2017 |
CLÁR 2017 |
Rural Recreation 2017 |
Overall Totals |
|||||
|
County |
Amount Approved |
Funding Drawn Down by LA |
Amount Approved |
Funding Drawn Down by LA |
Amount Approved |
Funding Drawn Down by LA |
Total Approved |
Total Drawn Down |
|
Carlow |
€884,488 |
€178,760 |
€63,597 |
€32,500 |
€1,095,748 |
€63,597 |
||
|
Cavan |
€929,728 |
€288,731 |
€250,439 |
€617,310 |
€1,835,769 |
€250,439 |
||
|
Clare |
€944,000 |
€323,132 |
€160,470 |
€55,917 |
€1,323,049 |
€160,470 |
||
|
Cork |
€1,347,827 |
€195,600 |
€1,109,520 |
€2,652,947 |
€0 |
|||
|
Donegal |
€1,159,000 |
€70,590 |
€66,200 |
€35,500 |
€1,295,790 |
€35,500 |
||
|
South Dublin |
€20,000 |
€780,000 |
€800,000 |
€0 |
||||
|
Fingal |
€252,000 |
€12,000.00 |
€34,096 |
€13,096 |
€286,096 |
€25,096 |
||
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
€80,000 |
€80,000 |
€0 |
|||||
|
Galway |
€1,004,231 |
€519,792 |
€235,362 |
€43,500 |
€1,567,523 |
€235,362 |
||
|
Kerry |
€868,472 |
€71,440.00 |
€134,188 |
€114,277 |
€1,116,937 |
€71,440 |
||
|
Kildare |
€416,403 |
€0 |
€0 |
€416,403 |
€0 |
|||
|
Kilkenny |
€873,364 |
€161,932 |
€107,030 |
€36,610 |
€11,948 |
€1,071,906 |
€118,978 |
|
|
Laois |
€983,407 |
€51,395 |
€39,209 |
€51,860 |
€25,931 |
€1,086,662 |
€65,139 |
|
|
Leitrim |
€1,098,538 |
€457,552 |
€333,858 |
€1,050,153 |
€2,606,243 |
€333,858 |
||
|
Limerick |
€1,087,943 |
€358,680.00 |
€161,730 |
€64,075 |
€135,270 |
€67,635 |
€1,384,943 |
€490,390 |
|
Longford |
€637,400 |
€238,417 |
€97,001 |
€445,159 |
€175,000 |
€1,320,976 |
€272,001 |
|
|
Louth |
€775,726 |
€245,869 |
€30,676 |
€8,500 |
€4,250 |
€1,030,095 |
€34,926 |
|
|
Mayo |
€1,348,178 |
€628,230 |
€353,107 |
€1,125,430 |
€3,101,838 |
€353,107 |
||
|
Meath |
€905,546 |
€104,000 |
€67,000 |
€52,000 |
€12,554 |
€1,061,546 |
€79,554 |
|
|
Monaghan |
€580,000 |
€536,784 |
€138,394 |
€84,800 |
€61,284 |
€1,201,584 |
€199,678 |
|
|
Offaly |
€300,000 |
€186,954 |
€185,665 |
€1,040,115 |
€1,527,069 |
€185,665 |
||
|
Roscommon |
€575,508 |
€325,555 |
€192,346 |
€118,041 |
€63,351 |
€1,019,104 |
€255,697 |
|
|
Sligo |
€1,063,968 |
€274,650 |
€120,386 |
€970,275 |
€64,995 |
€2,308,893 |
€185,381 |
|
|
Tipperary, |
€857,384 |
€191,258 |
€84,215 |
€33,200 |
€8,800 |
€1,081,842 |
€93,015 |
|
|
Waterford |
€625,800 |
€313,365 |
€215,108 |
€70,600 |
€1,009,765 |
€215,108 |
||
|
Westmeath |
€596,000 |
€77,096 |
€30,000 |
€933,634 |
€74,655 |
€1,606,730 |
€104,655 |
|
|
Wexford |
€1,157,525 |
€0 |
€351,250 |
€1,508,775 |
€0 |
|||
|
Wicklow |
€265,000 |
€33,300 |
€25,266 |
€12,633 |
€323,566 |
€12,633 |
||
|
€0 |
€0 |
|||||||
|
Totals |
€21,637,435 |
€442,120 |
€5,698,880 |
€2,767,935 |
€9,385,483 |
€631,631 |
€36,721,798 |
€3,841,686 |
471. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department to date in 2017; the number of these that were fully or partially granted; and the number of such requests that were refused. [51858/17]
View answer472. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department to date in 2017; the number of these for which the period of consideration was completed within four weeks of the receipt of the request; and the number of these for which the period of consideration was extended by up to four weeks in view of the fact that the necessary resources to complete the request within the original timeframe were not available, in tabular form. [51875/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 471 and 472 together.
The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017 and since then has received a total of ten Freedom of Information requests, four of which are currently being dealt with by officials in my Department.
The remaining six requests were all considered and completed within 20 working days of receipt of the request, no extensions were granted. Two of these requests were subsequently withdrawn. Regarding the remaining four requests, one was granted in full, two were partially granted and one request was refused.
Please see table.
|
Number of Requests |
Granted |
Partially Granted |
Withdrawn |
Refused |
In Progress |
Completed within 20 working days |
|
10 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
473. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a school (details supplied) was not accepted for the school lunch scheme, in view of the fact that its sister school has been accepted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51525/17]
View answerThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations at a total cost of some €47.5 million in 2017.
In recent years priority for new applications for funding had been given to schools which are part of the DEIS programme, designed to give tailored support to schools which have high concentration of disadvantage. For the first time in many years, breakfasts are also now available to some schools outside DEIS that have been identified in consultation with the Department of Education and Skills, which has developed a more robust and responsive framework for assessing individual schools levels of concentrated disadvantage. This policy ensures that the school meals scheme targets those children most in need of this support.
The school referred to by the Deputy, is not a DEIS school and is not one of those schools identified for school meals support at this time.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
474. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the funding provided by her Department to each member of a group (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51436/17]
View answerThe information is not immediately available in my Department but is being compiled at present. My officials will write to the Deputy when it is available.
475. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for carer's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51470/17]
View answerAn application for carer’s allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 27 October 2017. CA was awarded to the person concerned on 28 November 2017, with effect from 12 October 2017 and the first payment will issue to the person’s nominated bank account on 7 December 2017.
Arrears of allowance due from 12 October 2017 to 6 December 2017 will also issue to the bank on 7 December 2017.
The person concerned was notified of this on 28 November 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
476. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a request by a person (details supplied) to backdate a payment will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51474/17]
View answerThis customer is on a means tested pension and requested a review in April 2016 of the rate of pension paid to her. Having regard to the information provided by her, the case was referred to an inspector for investigation. On foot of this investigation and the information provided by the customer to the inspector, the rate of pension payable was actually reduced and the customer was given the right to have the decision reviewed and/or appealed if they wished. On foot of further information provided by the Deputy, which included farm accounts, it was agreed to immediately give the customer the benefit of the maximum rate of pension from a current date pending a review by the inspector of their earlier assessment and the farm accounts actually provided.
Given the particular circumstances, the inspector was keen to interview further the person concerned in relation to the information which they had originally provided in order that a definitive decision could be made. The customer was written to in this regard at the end of October but has not responded to date. Further efforts will be made to contact the customer this week in order that a definitive decision can be made as soon as possible.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
477. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) to move from partial capacity benefit back to invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51479/17]
View answerPartial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a scheme which allows a person return to employment, if they have a reduced capacity for work, and to continue to receive a payment from my Department. A person who claims PCB will, in the first instance, be assessed by a Medical Assessor from my Department who advises on the degree of partial capacity. Persons in receipt of Invalidity Pension are eligible to apply for PCB. Following the most recent assessment the person concerned was assessed with a moderate capacity for work. The corresponding rate of PCB is therefore 50% of the personal rate of Invalidity Pension which the person concerned was receiving. The level of work capacity has been appealed and the matter is at present with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
It is understood from this question that the person concerned may wish to revert to Invalidity Pension. The necessary form to enable this to be done has been issued to them for completion and, on its return, the matter will be considered further and the person concerned will be notified of the position.
478. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if disability allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied). [51503/17]
View answerI can confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this gentleman on 8 September 2017. On 9 November 2017 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on his eligibility, which included a request for original Divorce Papers.
The deciding officer received a letter from this gentleman on 21 November 2017 stating that he had requested a copy of his Divorce Papers from Canada and would submit them and all other information when he has it. If this gentleman does not have the means to obtain the said Divorce Papers we can request that a social welfare inspector establish means and current household composition.
On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
479. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in determination of a family income supplement application by persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51516/17]
View answerI confirm that my Department received an application for Family Income Supplement (FIS) from the person concerned on 14th November 2017. FIS is not payable while an applicant is a Qualified Adult (QA) on Jobseekers Allowance (JA).
The local INTREO office has now adjusted the above allowance and the person concerned has been awarded FIS with effect from 16 November 2017 to 14 November 2018.
The first payment will issue to the nominated bank account on Thursday 7 December 2017 and any arrears owing will issue on this date.
The person concerned was notified on 4 December 2017 of the decision and of the right of review and appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
480. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in determination of application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51517/17]
View answerThis gentleman has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 20 September 2017. The first payment will be made by his chosen payment method on 20 December 2017. Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of any outstanding overpayments (if applicable).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
481. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the full advertising, print, broadcast media and other associated costs in 2017 for her Department's fraud campaign. [51519/17]
View answerThe full cost of the Department’s 2017 fraud and control awareness campaign came to €163,922 excluding VAT. This includes all design and advertising costs associated with the campaign (print advertising, national and regional radio advertising, outdoor and online/digital advertising). No additional costs arose in staff resources, website development or in the provision of the telephone reporting facility.
482. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) has been in receipt of disability allowance for a number of years; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that following a review of the claim the person was advised by post on 22 September 2017 that they had been overpaid and on 19 October 2017 they were advised by post of the proposed weekly deductions in regard to repaying the overpayment; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a submission was then made to her Department in respect of the proposed level of deductions; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that following that submission her Department without warning or correspondence to the person ceased payment of disability allowance on 22 November 2017; the reason her Department ceased payment of the disability allowance; the reason a letter or explanation was not issued to the person by her Department following the decision to stop payment of the allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51522/17]
View answerThis gentleman was awarded disability allowance (DA) in 2002. A review of his entitlement was carried out on 22 September 2017 and it was established that the person concerned had means not previously disclosed to this Department. These means were derived from employment and private pension.
A deciding officer decided that the person concerned had a reduced entitlement to DA. This resulted in an overpayment. The person concerned was given the right to appeal this decision within 21 days to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. No appeal was received in this case.
My Department is obliged to recoup any debt owed to it in an appropriate and timely manner. On 19 October 2017, a letter issued regarding proposals for recovery, including the setting off of arrears due against the debt and the commencement of weekly deductions to cover the remaining balance of the debt. To date there has been no response to this correspondence.
At that time, this gentleman’s spouse was in receipt of half rate carers allowance (CA) as he was claiming a qualified adult increase in respect of her. Following on from this review it transpired that the household would be financially better off if she were to receive full rate CA and therefore DA would no longer be payable in respect of her. Notification of this issued from CA section on 8 November 2017.
On 22 November 2017, this gentleman’s DA payment was stopped in error and letter of apology has issued. He has since been reinstated at the correct rate of payment for his family circumstances and a letter has issued informing him of his new rate of payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
483. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of applications for disability allowance and supplementary welfare allowance by a person (details supplied). [51537/17]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to disallow the supplementary welfare allowance appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
With regard to the disability allowance appeal, I am also advised that the Appeals Officer has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 11 December 2017. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the 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 trust this clarifies the matte for the Deputy.
