Written Answers Nos. 1554-1575
1554. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he expects to become involved with offering support to local community groups involved in the arts or recreation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2037/18]
View answerThe Action Plan for Rural Development contains 276 action for delivery across a range of Government Departments, State Agencies and other organisations to support the economic and social progress of rural Ireland.
Pillar 3 of the Action Plan for Rural Development includes a series of actions to maximise Ireland’s rural tourism and recreation potential in recognition of the contribution that tourism makes to the rural economy. Actions under this Pillar are implemented across a number of Government Departments and will support sustainable jobs through targeted tourism initiatives, promoting Activity Tourism, and developing and promoting our natural and built heritage.
My Department delivers a number of initiatives that support the development of recreational infrastructure, including the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the Walks Scheme. My Department will continue to deliver these initiatives into 2018. While these schemes are delivered mainly through the Local Authorities, they involve local communities and groups as part of the project development and implementation process.
Pillar 4 of the Action Plan commits to Fostering Culture and Creativity in Rural Communities and sets the objectives of increasing access to the arts, further developing and enhancing culture and creativity in rural Ireland through the Creative Ireland programme, and promoting the Irish language as a key resource. The Action Plan outlines 29 specific actions to be progressed to achieve these objectives. The relevant actions are led by a range of Government Departments and agencies including the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Arts Council and Local Authorities.
Progress Reports on the Action Plan for Rural Development are published on a six-monthly basis and published on my Department's website. The second Progress Report, covering the second half of 2017, is currently being compiled and will be published shortly.
1555. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he has received applications for assistance from various groups throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2038/18]
View answerMy Department operates a number of funding programmes and schemes, ranging from the Seniors Alert Scheme and LEADER programme to other rural and community initiatives. All schemes are open to applications from relevant parties during the application timeframes set for each scheme/programme.
Further information on funding programmes and schemes is available on my Department's website www.drcd.gov.ie.
1556. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he has had discussions with voluntary or statutory bodies throughout the country with particular reference to the need to identify the best way in which he will tackle the issues relevant to his Department. [2039/18]
View answerMy Department is in ongoing contact with voluntary and statutory bodies under its aegis to identify the most appropriate actions in regard to all issues relevant to the work of the Department. All such bodies were also consulted with, in recent months, as part of the process of drafting my Department's Statement of Strategy.
1557. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps he will take to address issues of rural isolation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2040/18]
View answerThe Government's Action Plan for Rural Development includes a range of measures which will contribute significantly to addressing isolation and social inclusion in rural areas. Specific examples of actions in the Plan which will help those who feel isolated or vulnerable in rural areas include:
- Significant investment in the Seniors Alert Scheme, which facilitates valuable community-based support for vulnerable older people living alone. I allocated €2.7 million to this scheme in 2017.
- Investment of €46 million in Garda fleet to ensure that Gardaí are mobile, visible and responsive to prevent and tackle crime.
- Support for 450 Men’s Sheds across rural Ireland which provide a safe space where men can gather and participate in their communities, develop social networks and potentially gain new skills and access information. I recently provided a small grant to the Irish Men's Sheds Association to support them with the expansion of their network.
- Maintaining the network of senior helplines in operation throughout the country, which offer a listening service for older people to help address issues such as loneliness and isolation in rural areas.
- Continued support and prioritisation of community crime prevention through schemes such as Neighbourhood Watch and Text Alert.
Implementation of the Action Plan for Rural Development is now well under way and the first 6 monthly progress report which was published in August 2017 showed that 220 actions out of 227 due to be reported on were either completed or ongoing.
The second progress report on the Action Plan is currently in preparation and will be published shortly.
1558. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for the disbursement of funds through the Leader programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2043/18]
View answerLEADER is a multi-annual programme for the period 2014-2020 which has a total budget of €250 million over the programming period. LEADER is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area.
€220 million of the available funding has already been allocated to the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas throughout the country. The table provided at Appendix 1 provides details of these allocations. The allocation for each sub-regional area is provided for the duration of the programme rather than on an annual basis. This provides greater flexibility to the LAGs in managing their resources.
Each LAG is responsible for deciding how their allocation is distributed to LEADER projects over the duration of the programme, based on the objectives in their Local Development Strategies. The allocation also includes a provision to cover the running costs of the LAGs.
The balance of €30 million in funding which has not yet been allocated under LEADER is available for schemes which will be selected at a national level based on submissions from the Local Action Groups. This includes a specific scheme to fund food projects which will be launched in the coming months, and funding to support LAGs that come together to jointly deliver a LEADER project.
As of 31 December 2017, 592 projects with a value of over €16 million had been approved for LEADER funding by the LAGs and €661,844 in project payments had been made. A further 372 projects requesting over €16 million in funding are at various stages in the approval process. This funding will be drawn down as projects start to incur expenditure and submit payment claims.
I anticipate that there will be a significant increase in project expenditure over the course of 2018 based on the progress which has been made by the LAGs in approving projects in recent months. My Department has also introduced a number of administrative improvements to the LEADER programme which will also assist LAGs and project promoters in their delivery of the programme.
Appendix 1
LEADER 2014-2020 Programme – Allocations
|
County |
Programme Allocation (€) |
|
Carlow |
6,416,803.43 |
|
Cavan |
8,522,285.84 |
|
Clare |
8,920,224.65 |
|
Cork North |
5,091,845.72 |
|
Cork South |
3,831,303.31 |
|
Cork West |
5,015,674.18 |
|
Donegal |
12,913,877.86 |
|
Dublin |
6,370,438.43 |
|
Galway East |
7,655,850.61 |
|
Galway West |
4,540,033.00 |
|
Kerry |
10,219,868.29 |
|
Kildare |
5,261,600.01 |
|
Kilkenny |
7,791,572.91 |
|
Laois |
7,124,586.86 |
|
Leitrim |
5,998,474.74 |
|
Limerick |
9,276,593.96 |
|
Longford |
7,597,623.07 |
|
Louth |
6,101,862.01 |
|
Mayo |
11,121,431.88 |
|
Meath |
6,903,123.57 |
|
Monaghan |
7,592,719.51 |
|
Offaly |
8,036,763.90 |
|
Roscommon |
8,852,659.22 |
|
Sligo |
7,655,647.81 |
|
Tipperary |
10,103,443.28 |
|
Waterford |
7,522,796.18 |
|
Westmeath |
7,384,206.22 |
|
Wexford |
9,840,140.56 |
|
Wicklow |
6,336,549.00 |
|
TOTAL |
€220,000,000 |
1559. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which the Dormant Accounts Fund has fluctuated over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2044/18]
View answerThe Dormant Accounts Act 2001, together with the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003 and the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Acts 2005-2012, provide a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions (i.e. banks, building societies and An Post) and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance undertakings. The Dormant Accounts Fund is managed by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA).
The Dormant Accounts Fund legislation also provides for the disbursement of monies from the Fund for programmes and projects which benefit specific disadvantaged groups. The Disbursement Scheme for these projects is coordinated across Government by my Department.
The most recent information available with regard to the value of the Dormant Accounts Fund is for the end of September 2017, when the total value of the Fund stood at €291.9 million. This has increased from a total value of €185.5 million in 2013.
While the total value of the Fund stood at €291.9 million at the end of September 2017, the net value of uncommitted Dormant Accounts funds stood at €124.8 million when account is taken of a reserve of €80.6 million for future reclaims by account holders, and a provision of €86.5 million for funds which remain to be disbursed by the NTMA on foot of cumulative approvals made through Disbursement Schemes.
Further information on balances in the Dormant Accounts Fund since 2003 are available on my Department's website at: http://drcd.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Value-of-Dormant-Accounts-Fund-at-30-Sept-2017.pdf.
1560. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he plans to engage with Irish Water Safety in order to deliver an improved quality of service to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2045/18]
View answerIrish Water Safety is the statutory body established to promote water safety in Ireland. Its role is to educate people in water safety best practices. It develops public awareness campaigns to promote necessary attitudes, rescue skills and behaviour to prevent drownings and water related accidents. I will continue to support the vital work of Irish Water Safety.
1561. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he plans to develop the town and village renewal scheme in order to improve and enhance the standard of living for persons in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2046/18]
View answerRevitalising our rural towns and villages is a key objective of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development. The Action Plan contains a number of measures which have the objective of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched in 2016 and provided €10 million that year through the former Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to support 170 projects throughout the country.
Building on the 2016 scheme, an enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched in 2017, with a focus on projects which could stimulate and encourage economic activity in our towns and villages. Following a competitive process, in October 2017 I announced the allocation of €21.6 million to 281 projects in towns and villages across rural Ireland. These projects cover many initiatives which will support economic development and employment creation, including through the establishment of enterprise centres and digital hubs.
I plan to launch another round of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2018, with a continued focus on projects that can make the best impact on supporting local economies and job creation, and improving the quality of life for people who live in rural towns, villages and their surrounding areas.
1562. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department uses anti-profanity software on its email systems and online contact forms; if so, the level of human oversight that is applied to the monitoring of this software and its effectiveness; his views on whether persons' legitimate right to petition Government may be blocked unintentionally by errors in the use of such software in determining that which qualifies as profanity being communicated in email or online contact forms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2092/18]
View answerThe Department was established on 19 July 2017, bringing together functions from the Department of Culture, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, and the Department of Housing, Community and Local Government. In advance of moving the Department's HQ to its permanent location, IT services are currently being provided by the two Departments on our behalf. As a consequence, the Department does not maintain any email systems. In addition, the Department's website is maintained by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer as part of the 'Build to Share' suite of IT tools.
1563. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the Government's initiatives in his Department in 2017 that promoted State services or welfare payments, public awareness of regulatory changes and public consultations that involved advertising and promotion on television, radio, newspapers and online, in tabular form; and the level of expenditure for each such initiative. [2267/18]
View answerThe following table contains the relevant information regarding any Government initiatives promoting State services and public consultations run by my Department in 2017, that involved advertising and promotion:
|
Service/Initiative |
Expenditure |
|
Launch of Seniors Alert Scheme |
€ 676.50 |
|
Notifying nationwide public consultation on new Public Library Strategy 2018-2022 |
€ 11,024.00 |
|
Call for submissions for Department Statement of Strategy |
€ 1,687.82 |
1564. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the main areas of policy-making and policy programmes for which the three poverty measures contained in the CSO's SILC are used, that is, the at risk-of-poverty rate, deprivation rate and consistent poverty rate; and the main areas of policy-making and policy. [54433/17]
View answerThe most up to date data on poverty in Ireland is contained in the CSO’s annual Survey on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) results. The latest statistical data available from the CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions (and from Eurostat) are used to analyse trends in official poverty measures and other supporting indicators. The official Government approved poverty measure used in Ireland is 'consistent poverty'. This indicator is the overlap of two component indicators, at-risk-of-poverty and basic deprivation.
The Government’s strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion is set out in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. The plan prioritises 14 high level goals in relation to children, people of working age, older people and communities across Departments and agencies with a remit in social policy. The overall poverty reduction goal in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion is the National Social Target for Poverty Reduction (NSTPR). The NSTPR aims to reduce consistent poverty to 2% or less by 2020, from a baseline rate of 6.3% in 2010 with an interim target of to 4% by 2016.
Two components of the NSTPR are:
- The Irish contribution to the Europe 2020 poverty target is to reduce by a minimum of 200,000 the population in 'combined poverty' (i.e. consistent poverty, at-risk-of-poverty or basic deprivation) between 2010 and 2020.
- The child-specific poverty target is to lift over 70,000 children (aged 0-17 years) out of consistent poverty by 2020, a reduction of at least two-thirds on the 2011 level.
Progress towards the National Social Target for Poverty Reduction, including the sub-target on child poverty and Ireland’s contribution to the Europe 2020 poverty target is reported annually in the Social Inclusion Monitor.
1565. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if community employment workers and supervisors will be included in plans to extend the working age for public sector workers to 70 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54548/17]
View answerThe interim revised retirement arrangements announced recently by the Government affect public servants only and have been introduced to enable those reaching 65 years of age to remain in place, if they so wish, until they reach the age of eligibility for the contributory State Pension (age 66 at present).
Community Employment (CE) participants and supervisors are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector. My Department is not the employer of CE participants or supervisors and such employees are not public servants but are employees of the sponsoring organisations.
The age limit for participation on CE is linked to the age at which the State Pension becomes available to persons as follows:
- 66 for those born before 1 January 1955;
- 67 for those born on or after 1 January 1955; and
- 68 for those born on or after 1 January 1961
In general, participants, who meet the participation limits, can remain on CE until the working day before their birthday at which they reach State Pension age. In addition, a CE supervisor can remain on CE until the working day before their birthday at which they reach State Pension age.
Therefore, there are currently no plans to make any changes to the retirement of CE participants or supervisors as, in general, they are already allowed to remain until the current State Pension age i.e. 66 years at present.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1566. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter regarding a pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1405/18]
View answerSocial welfare legislation provides that where an applicant for state pension (contributory) who had previously been employed, became a self-employed contributor on 6 April 1988, the date on which the person first entered insurance, or the date of 6 April 1988, whichever is the more favourable, shall be regarded as their date of entry into insurance for pension eligibility purposes.
As the person concerned was not a self-employed contributor on 6 April 1988, the date of entry into insurance used is 19 February 1968. According to the current records of the Department, the person has a total of 1,288 reckonable paid and credited contributions from that date to the end of December 2016 (the last complete contribution year prior to reaching pension age). This gives the person a yearly average of 26, resulting in a reduced-rate state pension (contributory) entitlement with effect from 29 November 2017.
The person’s employment record for the period 1969 to 1973 is currently being examined. My Department’s Central Records Section has written to the person concerned on 2 January 2018, requesting documentary evidence of their employment during this period.
If the person’s insurance record is updated following the outcome of this examination, the pension entitlement of the person concerned will be re-assessed and they will be notified of the outcome without delay.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1567. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of departmental staff employed in Drogheda per departmental premises and in statutory bodies within her remit; and the grades of each. [54352/17]
View answerThe total number of Departmental staff, by premises and grade, working for my Department in Drogheda is summarised in the following table.
|
Department Premises |
Assistant Principal |
Higher Executive Officer |
Executive Officer |
Clerical Officer |
Temporary Clerical Officer |
Service Officer |
TOTAL |
Remarks |
|
Intreo Custom House Quay, Drogheda |
1 |
8.8 |
16.1 |
22.5 |
1 |
1 |
50.4 |
Includes 1 x EO vacancy |
|
Intreo Dyer St, Drogheda |
0 |
6 |
2 |
4.8 |
2 |
0 |
14.8 |
|
|
SIU |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
|
Total |
1 |
15.8 |
19.1 |
27.3 |
3 |
1 |
67.2 |
(Work-Sharing patterns included in the figures above)
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1568. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54390/17]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an oral hearing of the appeal of the person concerned took place on 21 November 2017. At the oral hearing, the appellant was asked to submit additional documentation which has been received. The Appeals Officer is now considering the appeal in the light of all of the evidence submitted, including that adduced at the oral hearing. The person concerned will be notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision when the appeal has been determined.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and 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.
1569. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54401/17]
View answerAn application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 2 November 2017.
The application was awarded to the person concerned on 9 January 2018 and the first payment will issue to her nominated post office on 18 January 2018.
Arrears of allowance due from 2 November 2017 to 8 January 2018 have also issued.
The person concerned was notified on 9 January 2018 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1570. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the funding both allocated and drawn down for the reasonable accommodation fund in each of the years 2010 to 2017, in tabular form. [54412/17]
View answer1634. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the expenditure on the reasonable accommodation fund in each of the years 2012 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1241/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1570 and 1634 together.
The reasonable accommodation fund for the employment of people with disabilities assists employers in the private sector to take appropriate measures to enable a person with a disability/impairment to have access to employment by providing a range of grants. These grants and supports include:
- the workplace equipment and adaptation grant,
- the personal reader grant,
- the job interview interpreter grant, and
- the employee retention grant.
The reasonable accommodation fund is a demand led scheme in that expenditure arises in response to applications received. Given the small scale of this programme, a separate estimate for each of these grants is not set out in the revised estimates volume and only actual expenditure data is available. The data available is set out in the following table. Data in respect of 2010 and 2011 is not available as this scheme transferred from FÁS into this Department in 2012. No expenditure has been recorded to date in respect of 2018.
Table: Expenditure on the Reasonable Accommodation Fund for People with Disabilities
|
Year |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Workplace equipment and adaptation grant |
€71,176 |
€81,724 |
€61,776 |
€58,108 |
€54,041 |
€69,254 |
|
Personal reader grant |
€27,274 |
€27,526 |
€14,499 |
€11,866 |
€16,537 |
€31,619 |
|
Job interview interpreter grant |
€6,355 |
€2,767 |
€1,589 |
€3,950 |
€7,244 |
€5,714 |
|
Employee retention grant |
€4,320 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Total |
€109,125 |
€112,017 |
€77,864 |
€73,925 |
€77,822 |
€106,587 |
1571. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing family allowances (details supplied) by 1%; and the percentage impact this would have on the at risk-of-poverty rate for persons living in households with children. [54443/17]
View answerThe cost of increasing the rates specified by the Deputy by 1% is €53.2 million in a full year. The breakdown of this cost is detailed in the following table:
|
Scheme |
Cost €m |
|
Maternity Benefit |
2.5 |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
0.0 |
|
Child Benefit |
20.45 |
|
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance |
0.5 |
|
Working Family Payment (formerly Family Income Supplement) |
14.1 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
1.6 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
6.9 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
0.3 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
4.0 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
0.7 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
0.01 |
|
OIB Orphan’s Payment |
0.0 |
|
Carer's Support Grant |
1.91 |
|
Diet Supplement |
0.02 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
0.0 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non Contributory) |
0.05 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
0.1 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
0.1 |
|
Overall Total |
53.2 |
It should be noted that there is no specific rate for Diet Supplement and, accordingly, the cost provided above reflects a 1% increase in overall expenditure in the scheme.
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2018. It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant. For the Working Family Payment, the cost is estimated by increasing each income threshold by 1%.
Using the tax/welfare microsimulation model SWITCH (which was developed by the ESRI and estimates the likely effects of policies on household incomes, families and poverty), there was no significant impact (less than 0.1%) on either the at-risk-of-poverty rate for the population overall or for children specifically.
There are a number of caveats which should be noted in relation to this finding. Firstly, the current SWITCH model is based on data from the Survey of Income and Living Conditions, where the income referenced is from January 2015 to December 2016. In addition, it was not possible to include all of the rate increases in the model, as the number of individuals nationally receiving payments under some schemes (such as Adoptive Benefit and Health & Safety Benefit) is quite small (and care is taken to ensure that the data are aggregated to avoid the indirect identification of respondents). Furthermore, the Paternity Benefit scheme had not yet been included in the model as this scheme came into effect in September 2016. In this regard, care must be taken in interpreting this result.
1572. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who submitted a carer's allowance appeal on 2 August 2017 has not had a decision on this appeal; the reason the file was not submitted to the appeals office until October 2017; the expected date that this file will be allocated to a deciding officer for decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54444/17]
View answerThe person concerned was notified of the decision to disallow his Carer's Allowance application on 18 July 2017 and given the right of review or appeal. The person concerned appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. A notice of appeal was received by Carer’s Allowance Section on 14 August 2017 requesting a statement from the Deciding Officer showing the extent to which the facts and contentions advanced by the appellant were admitted or disputed.
At this stage, a different Deciding Officer reviewed in full the original decision which was under appeal together with any additional information/contentions received with the appeal. Having completed the review, the original decision remained unchanged. A submission was then forwarded to the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 12 October 2017 for determination by an Appeals Officer.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing in this case.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the appellant will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
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.
1573. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which a person (details supplied) is in receipt of full entitlements attributable to invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54464/17]
View answerInvalidity 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 gentleman concerned is in receipt of IP at the maximum weekly personal rate since 05 March 2015. In addition, he receives an increase for a qualified adult payable at the maximum rate and an increase for a qualified child and is in receipt of a travel pass.
The National Fuel Scheme applies to persons in receipt of long term Social Welfare payments. The allowance is subject to a means test and is paid only to those who live alone or with certain exempted people. Full details of the qualifying criteria for the scheme are available on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie. A Deciding Officer of the department wrote to the gentleman concerned on the 07 November 2017 requesting information relevant to his fuel allowance claim. However, as he failed to reply to this correspondence, his fuel allowance has been stopped with effect from 18 January 2018 as continued eligibility cannot be determined.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1574. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if candidates interviewed for the post of chief executive of the Citizens Information Board were asked to outline proposals to dismantle and replace or otherwise restructure entities, such as citizens' information services and MABS, funded and supported by the board (details supplied); if this took place in advance of a board decision on the future corporate governance of those entities; if so, the reason for the sequencing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54466/17]
View answerA recruitment process to fill the post of Chief Executive Officer of the Citizens Information Board (CIB), vacated on 25 August, 2014, was conducted by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). The selection process implemented by PAS was in accordance with the Commission for Public Service Appointment’s relevant Code of Practice.
On completion of the selection process, PAS made a recommendation for appointment to the post to the Board of CIB. The consent of my predecessor, as Minister, was sought in accordance with section 13 (3) of the Comhairle Act 2000. On receipt, the Board of CIB approved the appointment of the new Chief Executive at its meeting of 14 October 2014.
The need to undertake a fundamental comprehensive review of service delivery was set out in CIB’s Strategic Plan as far back as 2009. As part of the implementation of CIB’s 2012 – 2015 Strategic Plan, a feasibility study to identify options for organisational integration of service delivery partners was carried out in 2014. A lengthy process of analysis of options and consultation with all stakeholders followed. The decision on the final governance model was taken by the Board of CIB in February 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1575. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding a domiciliary care allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [54479/17]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 4 January 2018, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and 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.
