Written Answers Nos. 338-350
338. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will be issued in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2704/18]
View answerAccording to the records of this Department the person concerned has not submitted an application for an exceptional needs payment. An officer of this Department sent an exceptional needs payment application form to the person concerned on 17/1/18. If the person concerned is at risk of losing their home, Kildare County Council can be contacted at 1800 804307/045-980705 for advice.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
339. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if new medical evidence to the effect that the person is unlikely to work again within the next year or more will facilitate reconsideration in the case of an application for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2706/18]
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 department received a claim for IP for the gentleman concerned on 16 June 2017. He was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on the 16 August 2017 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.
He appealed the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). An appeals officer (AO), having taken all available information into account, upheld the department’s decision and disallowed the appeal. The gentleman concerned was notified of the decision of the AO on 03 January 2018. The decision of an AO is final and conclusive in the absence of additional relevant evidence not available at the time of the appeal. Any new facts/evidence should be forwarded to the independent SWAO for consideration.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
340. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) has still not been decided upon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2707/18]
View answerCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 14 July 2017.
The matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 18 October 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.
341. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of employees in the Irish labour force who regularly work one to ten, 11 to 24, 25 to 34 and 35 hours and over, respectively, per week; and the corresponding figure in percentage terms. [2721/18]
View answerThis a matter for the Central Statistics Office.
342. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he expects the Government to have legislation ready to proceed with the implementation of the report of the Cork local government implementation oversight group, which the Government has accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2453/18]
View answer343. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the proposals put forward under section 29 of the Local Government Act 1991 by Cork County Council regarding the alteration of the boundary between Cork city and Cork County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2454/18]
View answer344. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the meaning of the phrase metropolitan town in the report of the Cork local government implementation oversight group which the Government has accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2455/18]
View answer345. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there will be special arrangements for Ballincollig within the expanded boundaries of Cork City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2456/18]
View answer346. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the recommendation of the Mackinnon report that a newly configured Cork City Council should move to an area based approach to decision making, service provision and operations will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2457/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 342 to 346, inclusive, together.
My Department has not received any formal proposals in relation to Cork under section 29 of the Local Government Act 1991 at this time. A boundary alteration can be given legal effect through the existing statutory procedures in Part V of the Local Government Act 1991, or in the absence of local authority agreement in the context of these procedures, by means of primary legislation. I have received Government approval to bring such legislation forward, if necessary, and my Department has, accordingly, commenced work on the preparation of legislation. The objective would be for the relevant legislation to be published in time to ensure enactment before the Summer recess.
All matters necessary to achieve successful implementation of the proposed boundary alteration are to be addressed in the context of the work of the Cork Local Government Implementation Oversight Group in accordance with its terms of reference.
The report of the Cork Expert Advisory Group made reference to Ballincollig as a “metropolitan town” as part of its description of the town and its location, in the context of the Group’s recommendation that Ballincollig be included within an enlarged city area.
347. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the boundaries for the proposed new directly elected mayors for Dublin and Cork will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2463/18]
View answer348. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the plebiscites for the proposed new directly elected mayors for Dublin and Cork will be held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2464/18]
View answer349. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the boundaries for the plebiscite on the proposed new directly elected mayors for Dublin and Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2465/18]
View answer350. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the powers and responsibilities for the proposed new directly elected mayors for Dublin and Cork will be outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2466/18]
View answer351. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the nature of the proposed regional assemblies designed to provide the proposed new directly elected mayors for Dublin and Cork with a democratic forum; the number of members they will have; the powers and functions they will have; the way in which the members will be elected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2467/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 347 to 351, inclusive, together.
The Programme for Partnership Government includes a commitment to consider directly elected mayors in cities as part of a broader range of local government reform measures aimed at strengthening local democracy. In response to this commitment, a policy discussion report on metropolitan governance for Ireland's cities is at an advanced stage of preparation. It will be submitted to Government in the near future and presented to the Oireachtas thereafter for consideration.
The main issues to be examined in the report include those identified by the Deputy: the geographic definition of metropolitan areas, the range of functions which could be assigned to a metropolitan governance structure, and options for such a structure's governance and political leadership, including by direct election.
The report will be aligned with the draft National Planning Framework, Ireland 2040 Our Plan, which has an important focus on the strategic development of our cities.
At its meeting of 26th September 2017, the Government agreed, as part of an indicative timetable for a number of referendums over the next 18 months, that a plebiscite on directly elected mayors would take place in October 2018. My Department is prioritising the drafting of the legislation required to give effect to this decision.
