Written Answers Nos. 238-257
238. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has met with the Minister for Justice and Equality to discuss the increased violent incidents on trains and the DART; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28277/18]
View answerAs the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport and I have not met with the Minister for Justice and Equality to discuss anti-social behaviour on trains and the DART.
I am concerned, however, to ensure that the necessary arrangements are in place to ensure the safety and security of passengers and staff travelling and working on our rail network.
There were 45.5 million passenger journeys in 2017 on Iarnród Éireann, the vast majority of which occurred without incident.
However, I have been advised by the company that the number of recorded anti-social incidents has risen in the last number of years. In 2016, 492 incidents were recorded, of which 12 were assaults on staff. In 2017, 705 incidents were recorded, of which 15 were assaults on staff. To date this year, 305 incidents have been recorded, of which 5 were assaults on staff.
The safety and security of passengers and staff, including arrangements to deal with anti-social behaviour on the rail network, are matters for the operators, in conjunction with, as appropriate, An Garda Síochána. Iarnród Éireann has advised that it liaises on a minimum quarterly basis with An Garda Síochána in major districts to address trends and issues on an area basis. In addition, this allows for proactive planning for events and known recurring issues.
Security patrols by the company have increased by 21.8% since 2016 and Iarnród Éireann has advised that it has enhanced general security cover and provides for enhanced security patrols for major events.
Furthermore, in view of concerns raised by trades unions regarding security on certain routes in Dublin, Iarnród Éireann has committed to a number of immediate and short-term measures to maintain a safe travelling environment for customers and staff and to ensure service continuity.
I have asked my Department to write to the CEO of Iarnród Éireann, Mr Jim Meade, and the Chairman of the Railway Safety Advisory Council, Mr John Power, to seek their views on the adequacy of the current arrangements for combating anti-social behaviour on our rail network.
In addition, I have also asked my Department to engage with the CEO’s of Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann to seek their views on the adequacy of the current arrangements for combating anti-social behaviour on our buses.
Once I have received their responses, I will, in conjunction with stakeholders, including my colleague, the Minister for Justice and An Garda Síochána, review the measures in place to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff on our bus and rail network.
239. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if additional funding will be provided to an organisation (details supplied) to enable its athletes to participate in future international competitions in view of the increasing number of its athletes now eligible to qualify for international competitions. [28330/18]
View answerSport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. This includes responsibility for the allocation of funding for high performance sport. Sport Ireland channels its funding through the recognised National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs), in this case Rowing Ireland.
I have referred the Deputy's Question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
240. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if e-car charging points are provided at his Department's buildings in Dublin or in other locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28403/18]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is presented in the table:
|
Department location |
Number of electric vehicle charger points |
|
Dublin |
1 (includes 1 parking bay) |
|
Loughrea |
0 |
|
Killarney |
0 |
|
Shannon |
0 |
The Deputy should note that any further installation of electric vehicle charge points is subject to demand.
241. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the assistance available for young persons to train and gain employment in public projects in their local area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28085/18]
View answerMy Department does not have a role in relation to the public project referred to, as this is a matter for Dublin City Council.
However, this Government supports young, unemployed people with a number of policies directed to help them to secure sustainable jobs.
The first intervention under the Government policy is to provide a case officer to support the newly unemployed young person.
The case officer will work with the young person to develop a Personal Progression Plan which identifies the steps to be taken to facilitate a swift return to employment, which may include further education and training or other opportunities. This training is provided by the relevant State agencies.
My Department has been provided with funding under the Dormant Accounts Fund for the development of a Youth Employability Initiative. My Department will be announcing details of a needs led Youth Employability Initiative later this year, which will focus on providing soft skills to young people to improve their employability.
Also, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection will shortly introduce a new work experience programme targeted specifically at young jobseekers who are long term unemployed or who face significant barriers to gaining employment. The new Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) will provide young people with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement.
242. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to a report by a section 3 committee within the HSE and Tusla which reported in 2011 and issued documents, including a policy, guidelines, assessment tools and a training plan for handling child sexual abuse, none of which were implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28374/18]
View answerI have requested further information from the Deputy about the report referred to in the question. As the Deputy will be aware, Tusla was established in 2014 and therefore did not participate in a committee, report on or issue documents prior to that. I thank the Deputy for the question on these important matters, and I will provide a response when the report is identified.
243. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if e-car charging points are provided at her Department's buildings in Dublin or in other locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28389/18]
View answerMy Department shares an OPW leased building in Miesian Plaza, Baggot Street, Dublin 2, with a number of other Government Departments. The car-parking facility is operated under the lease arrangements between the OPW and the landlord and I can confirm that this includes two e-car charging points in two parking bays for electric vehicles.
There are no other e-car charging points or parking bays specific to electric vehicles provided at any other location of my Department.
244. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a decision will issue on applications for CLÁR funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28337/18]
View answerCLÁR is a targeted capital investment programme for rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation.
I launched the 2018 CLÁR programme on the 15th March last, with an indicative allocation of €5 million for qualifying projects under the following measures:
Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures
Measure 2: Play Areas/Multi-Use Games Areas
Measure 3: First Response Support Measure
The closing date for CLÁR 2018 was 30th April, and more than 400 applications have been received across the three Measures.
My officials are currently finalising the assessment of the applications and I hope to be in a position to announce the successful projects shortly.
245. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if e-car charging points are provided at his Department's buildings in Dublin or in other locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28401/18]
View answerMy Department has offices in Dublin, at Trinity Point on Leinster Street South, and in Ballina, Co Mayo.
There are no e-car charging points or specific parking bays allocated to electric vehicles at either location, however, there are e-car charging points situated in close proximity to both office locations, one at Merrion Square in Dublin, and two in Ballina, in Humbert St and off Bachelors Walk.
246. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department has a policy definition of the working poor; if so, the number in this category and for those deemed to be in consistent poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28088/18]
View answerIn-work poverty measures the at-risk-of-poverty rate (i.e. the percentage with incomes below 60% of the median income) among adults (16+) who are ‘in-work’, based on their self-defined principal economic status. The most recent CSO Survey on Income and Living Conditions data shows that in 2016 the at-risk-of-poverty rate was 5.6% for those aged 16 years or over with a principal economic status of ‘at work’. This was a reduction on the 2015 figure of 5.8%. Eurostat data (calculated on a basis that differs slightly from the CSO measure) suggests that in-work poverty is relatively low here; the Eurostat estimate for Ireland in 2016 is 4.8%, as compared with the EU average of 9.5%.
Consistent poverty refers to people who are both on relatively low incomes and experiencing deprivation. The consistent poverty rate in 2016 was 8.3 per cent for the overall population, down from 8.7 per cent in 2015. Numerically, 395,000 people were in consistent poverty in 2016, based on the 2016 Census population figure of 4.76m. An analysis of consistent poverty rates by principal economic status shows that the consistent poverty rate was lowest among those who were at work (1.9%).
The full impact of the recovery is not reflected in these 2016 figures for Ireland. Macro-economic and labour market indicators have shown continued economic and employment growth since then. The number of people in receipt of working-age income and employment supports has continued to fall. With these improvements, the Government was in a position to introduce a range of welfare increases from 2016 onwards. Measures include increases in core weekly rates for working-age adults, child benefit, income disregards for lone parents, rent limits for housing support payments and new initiatives to make work pay, such as the Back to Work Family Dividend.
Income supports play an important role in addressing poverty. The Working Family Payment (WFP) (formerly known as Family Income Supplement (FIS)) and Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) are important in-work supports for this group. WFP is an in-work support which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. It is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependants and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. The BTWFD is a targeted scheme designed to further improve the incentive to take-up employment or self-employment for welfare recipients with children. In 2016, social transfers reduced the at-risk-of-poverty rate for people of working-age from 33.6% to 16.5%. This equated to a poverty reduction effect of 50.9%.
Recent budgets have been forward looking, allocating limited resources in a prudent way, to make sure that everyone benefits from the recovery. The focus of these budgets has also been on the provision of services rather than simply on income supports (e.g. extension of the School Meals Scheme and the Single Affordable Childcare Scheme).
The Social Impact Assessment of Budget 2018 show average household incomes increasing by 1.1% (€11.40 per week). They also provided greater rewards for working, with over 80% of the unemployed substantially better-off in work and almost 25% of the working population experiencing a reduction in their Marginal Effective Tax Rate with little to no impact predicted for a further 69% of the working population.
The improvement in the economy, together with the welfare measures referred to, are likely to have supported a reduction in poverty since the period in 2016 to which the SILC publication refers. This improvement is expected to continue with further rises in incomes and living standards.
247. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of one parent family allowance by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28089/18]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the table.
Recipients of One-Parent Family Payment at the end of May 2018 by county
|
County |
Recipients |
|
Carlow |
547 |
|
Cavan |
464 |
|
Clare |
680 |
|
Cork |
3,662 |
|
Donegal |
1,290 |
|
Dublin |
14,251 |
|
Galway |
1,215 |
|
Kerry |
916 |
|
Kildare |
1,587 |
|
Kilkenny |
532 |
|
Laois |
640 |
|
Leitrim |
168 |
|
Limerick |
2,034 |
|
Longford |
420 |
|
Louth |
1,648 |
|
Mayo |
777 |
|
Meath |
759 |
|
Monaghan |
384 |
|
Offaly |
659 |
|
Roscommon |
287 |
|
Sligo |
466 |
|
Tipperary |
1,482 |
|
Waterford |
1,397 |
|
Westmeath |
750 |
|
Wexford |
1,426 |
|
Wicklow |
1,139 |
|
Total |
39,580 |
248. Deputy Niamh Smyth 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. [28100/18]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 29th May 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.
249. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the eligibility criteria for the telephone allowance will be amended in order that it will not be necessary for a claimant to be in receipt of the living alone allowance and the fuel allowance to qualify for the benefit in view of the fact that this penalises other deserving applicants such as pensioners in receipt of a fuel allowance in the UK but are living here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28103/18]
View answerThe new weekly Telephone Support Allowance (TSA) is a payment of €2.50. Customers of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection who are in receipt of a qualifying payment and who are in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance and the Fuel Allowance will automatically qualify for the TSA. Approximately 127,000 customers are in receipt of the TSA payment. The estimated full year cost of the scheme is €16.14 million.
The primary objective of the TSA is to allow the most vulnerable people access to personal alarms or phones for security. The allowance will also encourage social contact and assist in the prevention of social isolation for those living alone.
The British UK winter fuel payment is a non means tested payment which is automatically paid to people in receipt of a British state pension. People in receipt of the British winter fuel payment and the British state pension may apply for fuel allowance. As with all other recipients of the fuel allowance, the claimant must satisfy a means test as well as all other qualifying conditions.
People in receipt of the British state pension are not entitled to receive the living alone increase. The living alone allowance is paid as an increase in the weekly rate of payment to pensioners and people with disabilities in receipt of qualifying payments who live alone. There are no circumstances where the living alone increase is paid to people who are not in receipt of a qualifying payment from my Department. This applies equally to individuals in receipt of an occupational or private pension but not a State pension.
Where a person, in receipt of a UK State pension, has a legal right to reside in Ireland and is habitually resident in this State, and the level of their weekly means are €257.50 or lower, they may claim a State pension (non-contributory) from my Department, effectively as a top-up to their UK pension. If they qualify for that payment, at any weekly payment rate, and receive a Living Alone Allowance and Fuel Allowance, they will qualify for a TSA payment, on the same basis as someone who paid into the Irish Social Insurance Fund.
There are no plans at this time to review or extend the criteria for the TSA to allow people who are not in receipt of the living alone increase to receive the payment. Any decision to do so would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
250. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of referrals made by JobPath providers (details supplied) to recruitment agencies since the commencement of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28178/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware the primary purpose of the activation services provided by my Department, including the JobPath service, is to assist and support jobseekers to look for and sustain full time employment. My Department refers long-term job seeking customers to the JobPath service to receive one-to one intensive and regular engagement with a personal adviser. The JobPath companies do not onward refer or place Jobseekers with recruitment agencies and accordingly there is no recording of same.
The JobPath contractors engage with employers across the range of employment sectors to establish vacancies and to understand the needs of employers in assisting job seekers returning to the workforce. The business needs of some employers and the buoyant job market occasions that some employers may choose to use the services of recruitment agencies in identifying and recruiting staff. The JobPath companies will engage as appropriate with these agencies to assist jobseekers gain sustainable employment. However, as I have indicated already, they do not refer jobseekers to recruitment companies for activation support.
Many jobseekers also self-refer to recruitment agencies to maximise their chances of employment, as well as registering with the various recruitment websites including my Department’s own recruitment website www.JobsIreland.ie.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
251. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if JobPath providers (details supplied) have been trained on the new GDPR rules; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28179/18]
View answerMy Department collects and holds large volumes of personal data on customers and is very aware of the need to have adequate data protection policies, procedures and structures in place in line with the GDPR. Preparations for the GDPR have been overseen by the Department’s Data Management Programme Board. The Department has a dedicated GDPR implementation team in place and has commissioned external expertise to assist it with achieving GDPR compliance. While my Department already has strict data protection guidelines, policies and procedures, all have been subject to review and updated to ensure that the processing of all personal data is GDPR compliant. All data sharing arrangements are also being reviewed to ensure compliance with the Regulation.
Contracted providers of Activation services act on behalf of the Department for the purpose of delivering these services and are subject to strict obligations imposed by the Department in terms of data protection.
JobPath providers are contractually required to register with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. Data protection legislation requires that personal data shall be kept only for one or more specified and lawful purposes and that personal data shall be used and disclosed only in ways compatible with these purposes. The legislation also requires that the data should be adequate, relevant and not excessive. Any suspected breach of the data protection legislation will be investigated by the Department and may also be a matter for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.
My Department has regular meetings with both JobPath providers to ensure that they are fully aware of and are fulfilling their contractual obligations, including those concerned with data protection regulations. Both companies have undertaken regular independent audits of their data processes and procedures as part of these contractual obligations. In addition, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner has recently conducted audits of each company. Employees of both companies, and their subcontractors, are subject to the same data protection laws as Departmental staff.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
252. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if JobPath providers (details supplied) receive job sustainment fees in cases in which they send participants to recruitment agencies and in which employment is successfully sourced through the recruitment agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28180/18]
View answerJobPath is one of a range of activation supports which includes schemes such as TÚS and Community Employment (CE), catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers. Activation services are also provided by departmental case officers in the Intreo Centres, or by contracted companies and organisations such as Local Employment Services (LES), Job Clubs and the JobPath providers.
The JobPath service is being delivered through a payment by results model and the Department was careful in designing the service to ensure that payments to contractors are conditional on people not just finding a job, but finding sustainable employment. If a person secures a job and sustains that job, the contractor may be able to claim a job sustainment fee. JobPath is an activation service and not a placement agency and as such clients are assisted to secure their own employment. Depending on the nature of that employment it may be beneficial to the client to make use of Recruitment Agencies to help them secure a position. However the JobPath providers continue to work with the client until such time as they have found sustainable employment.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
253. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 295 of 10 May 2018, the status of the case (details supplied); when a decision will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28248/18]
View answerMy Department is reviewing the decision to refuse the claim of the person concerned for Carer’s Support Grant. In this regard the Deciding Officer is awaiting a report from a local inspector. The inspector has advised that he will arrange to meet the person concerned within the next week and will furnish a report shortly thereafter. If the outcome of the review is not favourable to the person concerned, her claim will be referred to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for decision of an Appeals Officer.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
254. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a disability allowance will be awarded to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28272/18]
View answerI confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from this gentleman on 2 May 2018.
On 25 June 2018 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on his eligibility. On receipt of this information a decision will be made on his DA application and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
255. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding extensions to carer's benefit; the timeframe for same; if subsequent extensions can be granted; the timeframe to process the requests in view of the fact that the carers involved may have employment commitments and deadlines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28284/18]
View answerCarer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention.
It is payable for a maximum of 104 weeks for each person being cared for.
This may be claimed as a single continuous period or in any number of separate periods up to a total of 104 weeks.
Where a person is receiving CARB for a period of time and has used less than 104 weeks at the end of that period, they can seek to have their current period of entitlement extended on request. As part of the request they must submit evidence to show that they will be remaining out of employment during the extended period, except where the regulations otherwise allow.
They may also need to submit evidence to show that their care recipient will require full-time care and attention for the duration of the expended period.
Where the Department accepts that the care recipient will require full-time care and attention for the foreseeable future, and the carer submits the required employment evidence, extension requests are generally processed within two weeks.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
256. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application for carer’s allowance by a person (details supplied) will be determined; if same will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28333/18]
View answerMy department received an application for carer's allowance (CA) from the person concerned on the 20 February 2018.
CA is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
As the applicant is a self-employed farmer, the matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 9 April 2018 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
Enquiries by the SWI are continuing. 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.
257. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied) will be determined; if same will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28334/18]
View answerThe lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 03 May 2018. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 12 July 2018. Any arrears due from 03 May 2018 to 11 July 2018 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue in due course. The lady in question was notified of this decision on the 26 June 2018.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
