Thursday, 14 Dec 2017

Written Answers Nos. 681-693

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (681)

Shane Cassells

Question:

681. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the photography costs for his Department in each year since March 2011 inclusive of costs incurred from the use of the ministerial allowance; the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used, in tabular form; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54234/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017. Any information relating to the functions transferred to this Department, for the requested period prior to that date, will be reported by the relevant previous parent Departments in their responses.

My Department is currently in the process of tendering for a photography service through the framework provided by the Office of Government Procurement, which is available to all Departments.

The information on photography costs relevant to my Department, since its establishment, is set out in the following table:.

Date	Event	Photographer	Cost
23/08/2017	Launch of Action Plan for Rural Development 6 month review, The Virginia Show, Virginia, Co Cavan	Barry Cronin	€ 676.50
21/09/2017	Launch of LIS Scheme, National Plouging Championship, Screggan, Co Offaly	Barry Cronin	€ 512.40
04/10/2017	Town and Village funding launch, Granard, Co Longford	Barry Cronin	€ 430.50
19/10/2017	Launch of Seniors Alert Scheme Summerhill, County Meath	Julien Behal	€ 676.50
09/11/2017	Launch of Library funding, Pearse St, Dublin 2	Julien Behal	€ 522.75
06/12/2017	Announcing the 400th Men’s Shed, Kilcock, Co Kildare	Barry Cronin	€ 430.50

Public Relations Contracts Expenditure

Questions (682)

Shane Cassells

Question:

682. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department in each year since March 2011; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54250/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017. Any information relating to the functions transferred to this Department, for the requested period, will be reported by the relevant previous parent Departments in their responses. My Department has not used these services since its establishment. There is no specific internal departmental policy with regard to employing such external public relations firms. All proposed procurement of services is subject to an assessment of business needs and the application of internal financial procedures on public procurement rules in compliance with relevant EU, national legislation and best practice.

Consultancy Contracts Data

Questions (683)

Shane Cassells

Question:

683. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the external consultant reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report; and the publication date in tabular form. [54266/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017. Any information relating to the functions transferred to this Department, for the requested period, will be reported by the relevant previous parent Departments in their responses, with the exception of the information provided below.

The table contains details of an external consultant report which was commissioned in February 2017 by the then Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and may not be reported by that Department as the relevant documentation has now transferred to my Department.

Title	Company	Cost	Date published
An assessment of international best practice of State support for organisations charged with promotion/development of social innovation In Ireland and other relevant jurisdictions.	Elevate Strategies Ltd	€15,000	To be published in 2018

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (684)

Niall Collins

Question:

684. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of expenditure by his Department from 1 January 2017 to date in 2017 on advertising of Government information campaigns published specifically in national and regional newspapers in addition to all online advertising for all such Government information campaigns; the name for each such information campaign to which this expenditure related; the cost of each, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54282/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017. Any information relating to the functions transferred to this Department, for the requested period prior to that date, will be reported by the relevant previous parent Departments in their responses.

My Department has no expenditure on advertising of Government information campaigns to date.

However, at my request, Pobal commissioned a media campaign to increase awareness of the Seniors Alert Scheme which has been successful in increasing the number of applications significantly in recent weeks.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (685)

Niall Collins

Question:

685. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of expenditure by his Department or organisations under the aegis of his Department from 1 January 2017 to date in 2017 on photography, advertising, communications advice, public relations, website development, media interview training and preparation; the events, campaigns or policies to which this expenditure related; the company or person to which such payments were made, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54298/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not available within the timeframe to respond to this question. However I have asked my officials, and the organisations under the aegis of my Department, to provide me with the information requested and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

Employment Data

Questions (686)

Niall Collins

Question:

686. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of if-and-when contracts in the labour market as defined by the UL study into low-hours contracts; and the number of zero-hour contracts, as defined under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, in operation. [53692/17]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The University of Limerick (UL), in their study on zero hour contracts and low hour contracts, were not able to quantify the numbers of people on zero hour contracts or “if and when” contracts. However, based on their stakeholder interviews, UL found that zero hour contracts within the meaning of Section 18 of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 are not extensively used in Ireland. Through the stakeholder interviews, UL also found evidence of “if and when” contracts and variations of such contracts, e.g. some contracts where all hours are on an “if and when” basis, while other hybrid contracts provide a minimum number of guaranteed hours with any additional hours provided on an “if and when” basis. However, UL could not quantify the numbers of people employed on such contracts from existing data sources. UL found that “if and when” arrangements are likely to be found where working hours are unpredictable and variable.

The Deputy will be aware that the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017was published on 7th December. The Bill delivers on the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to tackle the problems caused by the increased casualisation of work and to strengthen the regulation of precarious work. The key objective of the Bill is to improve the security and predictability of working hours for employees on insecure contracts and those working variable hours.

I hope that the Bill will be taken at Second Stage at an early date in the New Year.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (687)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

687. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of progress towards the programme for Government commitment to review the fish assist scheme in recognition of the irregular earning patterns of fishermen. [53985/17]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The farm/fish assist schemes provide support for farmers and fishermen on low incomes and are similar to jobseeker’s allowance. Recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance scheme such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2017 Revised Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure of €82.8 million on the farm/fish assist scheme.

The Programme for Government contained a commitment to undertake a review of “the Fish Assist scheme in recognition of the irregular earning patterns of fishermen, in an effort to respond to difficult financial circumstances.”

This review was completed in 2016 and informed the measures introduced for the Farm and Fish Assist Schemes in Budget 2017.

Budget 2017 introduced measures in relation to the assessment of means for farm/fish assist which reversed all changes introduced in Budgets 2012 and 2013. These measures included that farm/fish income would be assessed at 70% (down from 100%) with an additional annual means disregard of €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and subsequent children. These improvements came into effect in March 2017.

Farm/fish assist recipients will also benefit from the following measures which I provided for in Budget 2018; the €5 per week increase in the maximum weekly rates of payment, proportionate increases in weekly payments for qualified adults, a €2 per week increase for each qualified child; the 85% Christmas Bonus. These changes are being introduced by the Social Welfare (Budget) Bill 2017 and will take effect from 26 March 2018. In addition, farm/fish assist recipients are eligible to avail of the 250 additional places on the Rural Social Scheme which I announced as part of the Budget 2018 package.

Social Welfare Benefits

Questions (688)

John Brady

Question:

688. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons in receipt of farm assist payments are eligible to pay PRSI; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53511/17]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

In general PRSI is payable on income which is subject to income tax. One of the exceptions to this is that PRSI is not chargeable on any social welfare payment. Farm assist is a means tested social assistance payment available to farmers on low income. Accordingly it is not subject to PRSI.

Farmers on low income may be required to pay PRSI on their self-employed income from farming. Self-employed farmers in receipt of farm assist are liable to pay PRSI at the class S rate of 4% on their self-employed income from farming, provided that income exceeds €5,000 in a contribution year.

Self-employed Class S contributors have access to the following benefits: State pension (contributory), widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory), guardian’s payment (contributory), maternity benefit, adoptive benefit, paternity benefit treatment benefits and, from December 2017, invalidity pension.

If income from self-employment, including income from farming, falls below €5,000 in a contribution year, he or she may opt to pay voluntary contributions. To become a voluntary contributor a person must:

- have paid at least 520 weeks PRSI in either employment or self-employment;

- apply within 60 months (5 years) after the end of the contribution year during which they last paid compulsory insurance or during which they were last awarded a credited contribution. In very exceptional circumstances this period may be extended at the discretion of the Minister.

The annual voluntary contribution charge for the self-employed is a special flat rate payment of €500. The payment of voluntary contributions allows the self-employed to maintain their PRSI record for the purposes of State pension (contributory), widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s contributory pension and guardian’s payment (contributory).

Question No. 689 withdrawn.

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (690)

Imelda Munster

Question:

690. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of departmental staff, by departmental premises, and within statutory bodies under her remit, and their grades, who are employed in Drogheda. [53532/17]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The total number of Departmental staff, by premises and grade, working for my Department in Drogheda are summarised in the table as follows:

Department Premises	Assistant Principal	Higher Executive Officer	Executive Officer	Clerical  Officer	Temporary Clerical  Officer	Service  Officer	TOTAL
Intreo Custom House Quay, Drogheda	1	9.8	14.1	21.2	1	1	48.1
Intreo Dyer St, Drogheda	0	6	2	4.8	2	0	14.8
Total	1	15.8	16.1	26	3	1	62.9

Invalidity Pension Data

Questions (691)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

691. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason self-employed persons who became disabled and as a result were unable to work in the past number of years are not entitled to invalidity pensions, even if they worked for many years prior to becoming disabled and for a few years were not in a position to make PRSI contributions, and are now being penalised for this; her plans to amend the legislation to ensure that all self-employed persons who have become disabled will be entitled to an invalidity pension; if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53538/17]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Self-employed people who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable for PRSI at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. This provides them with access to the following benefits: State pension (contributory), widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s pension (contributory), guardian’s payment (contributory), maternity benefit, adoptive benefit and paternity benefit.

Since March 2017, the self-employed have access to the treatment benefit scheme which includes free eye and dental examinations, and contributions towards the cost of hearing aids. Treatment benefit entitlements were also extended from October 2017 so as to provide further dental and optical benefits.

Even more significantly, self-employed contributors are now eligible for the invalidity pension from December 2017. For the first time, this gives the self-employed access to the safety net of State income supports if they become permanently incapable of work as a result of an illness or disability without having to go through a means test.

Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.

The PRSI contribution conditions are that the person must have at least 260 (5 years) paid contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last 2 complete contribution years before the date of their claim. PRSI classes A, E H and, since December 2017, S contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.

To date there is no record of receipt of a claim for IP from the person in question. Entitlement to IP can only be definitively determined on receipt of a completed claim form.

Persons who have an insufficient employment/PRSI record to qualify for a social insurance benefit/pension may apply for the appropriate means-tested social assistance scheme. For example, persons between the ages of 16 and 66 who are suffering from an illness or disability may, subject to satisfying the qualifying conditions, qualify for disability allowance (DA).

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the deputy.

Long-Term Illness Scheme Eligibility

Questions (692)

Joan Burton

Question:

692. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the entitlements of persons qualifying for the long-term illness scheme; her plans to make provision for persons within this category who do not receive a social welfare payment in their own right to be included in vocational training opportunities and employment schemes; if persons qualifying under the long-term illness scheme can be deemed eligible for workplace programmes and training courses even if they do not receive a social welfare payment; her further plans to review this scheme with the objective of making other supports available for persons within this category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53555/17]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

This Government recognises the importance of increasing participation in employment for persons with a disability and is committed to removing any barriers that remain which prevent those persons with disabilities from participating in activation programmes and employment.

The long term illness (LTI) scheme is a Health Service Executive (HSE) scheme that allows people with certain conditions to obtain the drugs, medicines, and medical and surgical appliances directly related to the treatment of their illness, free of charge. In determining eligibility, no means test is involved.

For those who cannot earn a living because of sickness and/or disability, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) provides a range of income support payments. These schemes also provide access to supports that encourage and assist people on long-term illness and disability payments to identify and take up available employment, training, educational and other self-development opportunities, where this is appropriate to their circumstances and wishes.

People with disabilities who are not in receipt of an income support payment can voluntarily avail of the Department’s Intreo service, where they can obtain advice on job-search activities and the use of online job search tools. In addition, those who are not in receipt of qualifying payments may be eligible to avail of up-skilling opportunities, for example, through Education and Training Boards’ (ETBs) training courses. Moreover, Springboard and Skillnets courses for unemployed people, funded through the Department of Education and Skills, are also open to people regardless of their social welfare status. I understand that Solas also funds customised training for people with disabilities provided by a range of specialist training providers.

In addition to these options, the Department provides a range of supports to assist people with disabilities to get a job. These include a job coaching service provided through EmployAbility, employment subsidies through the Wage Subsidy Scheme, workplace adaptation grants and specialist training courses that are specially designed for people with disabilities through the Reasonable Accommodation Fund. People with disabilities do not need to be in receipt of a DEASP income support payment to avail of these supports but do require supporting evidence from a medical practitioner to determine eligibility.

In summary, the Government is committed to supporting as many people as possible to participate more fully in employment and to become more self-sufficient by providing supports that address barriers they may encounter in finding and sustaining employment.

Illness Benefit Applications

Questions (693)

John McGuinness

Question:

693. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if illness benefit will be paid to a person (details supplied). [53558/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Illness Benefit is payable in respect of incapacity for work due to illness to persons who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions.

The claim from the person concerned has been approved and payment has been made to 8 December 2017, the last date of medical certification.