Written Answers Nos. 501-520
501. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the projected spend under the Leader programme 2014-2020; the amount of this funding that will come from EU rural development spending; the amount to be funded by the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29405/18]
View answerThe total allocation for the LEADER 2014 - 2020 Programme is €250 million. The EU portion of this funding is provided under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) at the rate of 62.8% of total costs (€157 million). The remaining 37.2% (€93 million) in matching funding is provided by the Exchequer.
I am confident that the full level of funding for the LEADER 2014-2020 Programme will be drawn down during the lifetime of the Programme, resulting in expenditure of €250 million.
502. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a birth certificate will be issued to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28799/18]
View answerThe registration of stillbirths in Ireland was first provided for in the Stillbirths Registration Act 1994. The definition of a stillbirth contained in that Act was carried forward to the Civil Registration Act 2004 which now provides for the registration of stillbirths, in section 28.
When the 1994 Act was introduced it was primarily to afford comfort to the bereaved parents. For this reason it was felt that the definition of a stillbirth should be as wide as possible, consistent with accepted medical norms. During the passage of the 1994 Act detailed consideration was given, by the Oireachtas, as to what the most appropriate definition of a stillbirth should be. It was decided to use the broadest definition available to allow as many registrations as possible. The definition that was agreed on is based on the international medical meaning of the term 'stillborn child'.
The definition is now contained in section 2(1) of the 2004 Act and provides that a stillborn child "means a child who, at birth, weighs not less than 500 grammes or has a gestational age of not less than 24 weeks and shows no sign of life".
Stillbirths which occurred in Ireland prior to the enactment of the 1994 Act may be registered, if the criteria set out in this definition are fulfilled.
The definition of 'stillborn' varies from country to country. Some countries use gestational age only, while others use weight, or a combination of both. In Ireland, in order to broaden the definition, either criterion can be used. For international comparison purposes the World Health Organization recommends that a stillbirth be defined as a baby born with no signs of life at or after 28 weeks' gestation.
While acknowledging that the loss for the family concerned there are no plans to amend the legislation as the definition of a stillbirth contained in the 2004 Act is consistent with accepted medical norms.
503. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the length of a survey required to be carried out when requesting a review of the payment for the free transport scheme; if it is six months, the same as the initial survey or if it is two weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28638/18]
View answerThe free travel scheme permits free travel on most CIÉ public transport services, Luas and a range of services offered by some 80 private operators in various parts of the country for those eligible under the scheme. There are currently approximately 914,000 customers in receipt of free travel.
The six month survey period is necessary to capture possible seasonal fluctuations in passenger traffic. My Department is satisfied that this length of time produces a very fair and equitable result bearing in mind the obligation to ensure that value for money is obtained for the tax payer and also that operators in the scheme are fairly compensated for the carriage of free travel pass holders. These payment mechanisms are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Whilst my Department appreciates that the carrying out of a survey and the associated manual recording of data is a labour intensive project, it is not possible to review payment of existing operators in respect of the Free Travel Scheme in the absence of survey data. It is with this in mind that the Department is encouraging private operators to install the integrated ticketing technology which automatically reads the free travel variant of the Public Services Card (PSC) and would significantly reduce the workload in carrying out these surveys.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
504. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28639/18]
View answerI can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 25 April 2018.
On 29 June 2018 they were requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on their 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.
505. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of community employment assistant supervisors promoted to community employment supervisor in each of the years 2012 to 2017, by percentage and number, by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28640/18]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) schemes are typically sponsored by groups (known as CE sponsors) wishing to benefit the local community. The CE sponsoring organisations are the legal employers of CE supervisors and assistant supervisors and are responsible for recruitment.
From the records available to my Department a total of 78 assistant supervisors have worked for sponsoring organisations in the role of supervisor from 2012 to 2017. This includes promotion and acting up positions. I must emphasise that decisions on promotions are for the CE sponsoring organisations and not my Department.
The first tabular statement provides details of the number of assistant supervisors who have worked as supervisors for the years 2012 to 2017. The second one provides a breakdown by county.
I trust this clarifies the position for the deputy.
Tabular 1:
|
Year |
Assistant Supervisors |
Supervisors |
Promoted or acting up in intervening period |
Percentage |
|
Nov-12 |
208 |
1182 |
n/a |
0% |
|
Dec-13 |
209 |
1159 |
9 |
4.3% |
|
Dec-14 |
230 |
1166 |
13 |
5.7% |
|
Dec-15 |
241 |
1164 |
9 |
3.7% |
|
Dec-16 |
247 |
1130 |
19 |
7.7% |
|
Dec-17 |
249 |
1098 |
18 |
7.2% |
|
May-17 |
245 |
1101 |
10 |
4.1% |
Tabular 2:
|
Nov 12 - Dec 13 |
Dec 13 - Dec 14 |
Dec 14 - Dec 15 |
Dec 15 - Dec 16 |
Dec 16 - Dec 17 |
Dec 17 - May 17 |
Total |
|
|
Dublin |
6 |
7 |
4 |
9 |
8 |
4 |
38 |
|
Cavan |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||||
|
Louth |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Mayo |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Cork |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||||
|
Waterford |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||||
|
Wexford |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||||
|
Meath |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|||
|
Monaghan |
2 |
2 |
|||||
|
Offaly |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Tipperary |
1 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
|||
|
Roscommon |
2 |
2 |
|||||
|
Kerry |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Kildare |
1 |
3 |
4 |
||||
|
Leitrim |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Limerick |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||||
|
Westmeath |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||||
|
Wicklow |
2 |
1 |
3 |
||||
|
Carlow |
1 |
1 |
2 |
||||
|
Kilkenny |
2 |
2 |
|||||
|
Sligo |
1 |
1 |
506. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's support grant application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28663/18]
View answerAn application for Carer's Support Grant was received in my Department on 20 April 2018 from the person concerned. Having fully considered the application a Deciding Officer has now awarded the 2018 Carer's Support Grant to the person concerned. An amount of €1,700 will be lodged to her nominated bank account on Thursday 12 July 2018.
507. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28671/18]
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 lady referred to on 30 April 2018. Her claim was disallowed on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on 3 July 2018 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
508. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a disability allowance will be approved for a person (details supplied). [28697/18]
View answerDisability Allowance is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least on year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, a means test and a habitual residency test.
A completed application form for disability allowance must be submitted to the Department in order to have eligibility checked and a formal decision made on entitlement. To date no application for disability allowance has been received.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
509. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28715/18]
View answerCarer's allowance (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.
An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 14 February 2018.
On 23 May 2018, the person concerned requested additional time to allow her to supply further medical evidence.
That evidence along with her original application is currently being examined and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
510. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the delay in a decision regarding an application for carer's allowance by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28716/18]
View answerCarer's allowance (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.
I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on the 3 May 2018.
Additional information was requested from the person concerned on 25 May 2018.
That evidence along with her May 2018 application is currently being examined and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
511. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the annual expenditure on commercial archaeology services in her Department by provider in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28745/18]
View answerMy Department has not incurred any expenditure on commercial archaeology services during the years 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018.
512. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied) will be addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28759/18]
View answerI can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance (DA) from the person concerned on 1 May 2018.
While it has been established that the person concerned satisfies the medical conditions for receipt of DA, on 30 May 2018 they were requested to supply additional information which had not been supplied with the original application but is required before a final decision can be made on entitlement. 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.
513. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a State pension, non-contributory, by a person (details supplied); if their qualification for a State pension, contributory, will be examined; and if a history of their contributions will be provided. [28763/18]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 28 May 2018, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
State pension (contributory) cannot be decided in the absence of a completed pension application form. According to the records of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, an application form has not been received to date from the person concerned. On foot of your representations, the Department have posted an application form to the person concerned. When their application form is received, a decision will be made on their pension entitlement, and they will be notified of the outcome without delay. The person concerned will also receive separately, by post, a copy of their social insurance record.
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.
514. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to extend or reinstate the telephone allowance to all pensioners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28784/18]
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 also in receipt of the Living Alone Allowance and the Fuel Allowance 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.
In the previous Budgets, the Government has concentrated resources on increasing the rate of the pension, rather than on the household benefits package.
The criteria for the TSA are framed in order to direct the limited resources available to my Department in as targeted a manner as possible. Fuel Allowance is a means tested payment and these criteria will ensure that the TSA payment goes to those most at risk of social isolation.
Any decision to extend the TSA scheme to all pensioners regardless of their means or personal circumstances or to reinstate the telephone allowance element of the household benefits package would have significant budget implications and would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
515. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the levels of long-term unemployed; the action she is taking to ensure all opportunities are given to the long-term unemployed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28785/18]
View answerThe Government’s primary strategy to tackle unemployment – including long-term unemployment – is twofold. The Action Plan for Jobs supports continuing strong economic recovery and employment growth. Policies and actions to ensure that unemployed people benefit from the increase in employment are set out in the strategy paper Pathways to Work 2016-2020.
To date, these policies have been effective in reducing long-term unemployment.
Latest available data shows that the long-term unemployment rate has fallen from a peak of 9.5% in 2012 to 2.1% in Q1 2018. The actual number of people out of work for a year or more has fallen by more than three-quarters, from 215,000 in early 2012 to 50,000 now.
Long-term unemployment can be expected to fall further this year in line with the continuing forecast fall in overall unemployment. Already, we have exceeded our target to bring long-term unemployment below 2.5% in accordance with Pathways to Work targets for 2020.
Policy continues to focus on support for the long-term unemployed. For example, the Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy prioritises long-term unemployed people – most notably through the roll-out of JobPath to engage more systematically with this group; through targeted wage subsidies under JobsPlus; and through reserved places for long-term unemployed jobseekers on employment and training programmes.
This continued policy focus, together with the continuing strong performance of the economy, will support further reductions in long term unemployment.
516. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of charging ports and parking bays for electric vehicles at her Department building and other buildings used by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28890/18]
View answerThere are no e-car charging points or parking bays provided for at the Department's buildings, or at other buildings used by the Department.
517. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28916/18]
View answerCarer's allowance (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.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on the 3 April 2018.
The application was awarded on 27 June 2018 and first payment is due to issue to her nominated bank account on 5 July 2018.
Arrears of allowance due from 5 April 2018 to 4 July 2018 will also issue.
The person concerned was notified on 27 June 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.
518. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an application will be finalised for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28918/18]
View answerCarer's allowance (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.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 19 April 2018. The application is currently being processed and once completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
519. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the finance required to fund overdue pension entitlements for community employment supervisors has been approved and ring-fenced in budget 2019 Estimates following the passing of a motion in Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28970/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware Community Employment (CE) scheme supervisors are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector that receive public funding. They are not employees of my Department or public servants, and as such were not subject to pay reductions under the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) which only applied to public servants.
While the motion called for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to meet with unions with a view to addressing the issue of CE supervisors’ pension provision, the issue is currently being examined by a Community Sector High Level Forum, chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. A number of Departments including my own Department are represented on this group, as are the unions and Pobal.
A detailed scoping exercise was carried out with input from the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) on the potential costs of providing Exchequer support for the establishment of such a pension scheme for employees across the Community and Voluntary sector in Ireland. The exercise clearly illustrated that this matter presents very significant issues for the Exchequer, with a potential cost to the State of €188 million per annum in respect of funding to enable an employer pension contribution in State funded Community and Voluntary organisations, excluding any provision for immediate ex-gratia lump sum payment of pension as sought, which could, depending on the size of the sector, entail a further Exchequer cost of up to €318 million.
I am very conscious that while the issue relates to Community Employment supervisors and assistant supervisors, such individuals comprise of just one small group within the wider Community and Voluntary sector.
The Deputy should note that any provision of State funding for such a scheme in respect of those employees could potentially give rise to claims for similar schemes on the part of those in the broader sector, thus crystallising the potential level of liability. Any solution to this issue will require careful consideration, in particular the implications for scarce Exchequer resources.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
520. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if funding workers on labour activation programmes in line with the proposed legislation being introduced by the Minister for Finance to increase the compulsory retirement age to 70 years of age will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29003/18]
View answerThe Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided for the necessary amendments to increase the State pension age in line with the National Pensions Framework. It provided for an increase in the age for qualification for the State Pension from 66 years to 67 years from 2021, and a further increase to 68 years from 2028.
The Deputy should note that currently people on labour activation programmes funded by my Department may work until the day before their 66th birthday, current state pension age. My Department will continue to review the conditions of the scheme to ensure they remain appropriate and in line with any changes to legislation including changes to the state pension age.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
