Bernard Durkan
Question:135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which Ireland continues to compete in conference tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38020/18]
View answerTourism Industry
Questions (135)
Written answers
Business tourism overall, including conference tourism, has been an area of growth in recent years and one where Ireland continues to compete very successfully internationally. The tourism agencies, which have operational responsibility for the development and promotion of this sector, have been very active in competing for and securing the hosting of international conferences in Ireland. Fáilte Ireland is responsible for developing business tourism strategy and, internationally, it works with Tourism Ireland under the Meet in Ireland brand to support the positioning of Ireland as a world-class conference destination.
I have asked both Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland to reply directly the Deputy with further information directly on further opportunities for the sector. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A
Question No. 136 answered with Question No. 134.
Tourism Promotion
Questions (137)
Bernard Durkan
Question:137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he can identify options for the promotion of tourism here during the off season with particular reference to the need to compete with other countries and locations in the same or alternative markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38022/18]
View answerWritten answers
The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the board and management of Tourism Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A
Tourism Industry
Questions (138)
Bernard Durkan
Question:138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which opportunities for niche tourism are being explored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38023/18]
View answerWritten answers
There are many and varied niche areas of tourism that attract visitors to Ireland and which I believe offer great potential for further development and growth. Fáilte Ireland is tasked with developing the industry generally, including these niche areas. Accordingly, I have asked the agency to reply directly to the Deputy with further information on some of the best prospect niche areas. Please contact my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A
Hotel Accommodation
Questions (139)
Bernard Durkan
Question:139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which enhanced hotel bed accommodation is required throughout the greater Dublin area and nationally; his plans to advance or enhance its availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38024/18]
View answerWritten answers
2017 was a record year for Irish tourism. To date, CSO overseas tourism figures for 2018 confirm a very strong performance overall by Irish tourism, with key main markets continuing to show significant growth. These figures suggest that we are on target for a record high performance for the year as a whole.
Fáilte Ireland monitors the performance of tourist accommodation through regular occupancy surveys. This analysis indicates that while the country as a whole has sufficient stock of tourist accommodation, there are capacity constraints in areas of high tourist traffic at times of peak demand and additional capacity is required in certain parts of the country, particularly Dublin city.
In this context, Fáilte Ireland commissions periodic assessments of hotel accommodation in Dublin, most recently August 2018. Although the latest results confirm the current shortage, they expect that approximately 5,400 hotel rooms will come on stream in the coming years, including over 3,000 already under construction. Present projections are that this activity will still be outpaced by growing demand but this is a dynamic situation and additional room stock may be developed in response to this demand.
With specific regard to factors within my Department's and Fáilte Ireland's remit, revised hotel Regulations were introduced in 2016. These regulations were in response to consumer preferences and in order to boost the economic rationale for investment in hotel development. The changes set out in these Regulations, in particular in regard to minimum room size have made investment even more attractive by allowing hotel operators provide more rooms and operate at a lower cost base, thereby improving hotel capacity, competitiveness and profitability. Consumers also benefit in terms of increased room capacity, competition and range of accommodation.
Driver Licence Applications
Questions (140)
John Curran
Question:140. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the application by a person (details supplied) for an exchange of driver licence will be reviewed. [38025/18]
View answerWritten answers
The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no power to intervene in individual cases. I have therefore referred the Question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A
Child and Family Agency Staff
Questions (141)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:141. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are no social workers being appointed in County Donegal to deal with childcare case reports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37897/18]
View answerWritten answers
I am informed by Tusla that as of 30 June 2018 there were 77.80 WTE social work posts in Donegal, which includes 9 WTE vacant posts.
Tusla has advised that these vacancies are at various stages of the recruitment process and it is anticipated that the nine vacant social work posts will be filled in Q4 2018.
In the meantime, Tusla has employed seven agency social workers to ensure continuity of service.
Departmental Reports
Questions (142)
Catherine Connolly
Question:142. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the timeline for publication of the analysis of adoption records; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37926/18]
View answerWritten answers
The analysis of records is being carried out by Tusla and the Adoption Authority of Ireland, and overseen by an Independent Reviewer, who is a former Deputy Director of Social Services in Northern Ireland. Representatives from both agencies and the reviewer have met regularly since June. The work to date has focused on agreeing the sampling methodology, in consultation with a statistician, addressing the data protection issues, identifying the specific records to be reviewed, and agreeing a template to be applied by social workers reviewing the records.
There are an estimated 150,000 adoption records in existence and, of these, approximately 100,000 are currently in the custody of the State - either Tusla or the Adoption Authority of Ireland. The review is focused on those records and a targeted sampling exercise is being carried out in the first instance, owing to the volume of records involved. This targeted review will help to establish the extent of usable information that can be found in these historical records. The review will provide information to assist me in identifying more fully the scale of illegal birth registrations and in identifying any necessary next steps.
Tusla and the Adoption Authority are working hard to extract and examine the records. This is a very complex task, and issues have arisen in relation to data protection and GDPR (the General Data Protection Regulations). These issues mean that the estimated timeline for the Independent Review's Report is now mid-December.
Jobseeker's Allowance Payments
Questions (143)
Bernard Durkan
Question:143. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason payment for jobseeker's allowance has not been available for the past two weeks for a person in Rathangan post office (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37924/18]
View answerWritten answers
The jobseeker's allowance claim in the case of the person concerned has been suspended as she is currently casually employed and a review of means is necessary. A UP16 issued to the person concerned today and must be completed by her employer and returned to the Newbridge Intreo Centre in order that a means assessment can be carried out and the correct rate of payment established and applied to her claim. An application form for fuel allowance has also issued in the post today and should be completed by the person concerned and returned to the Newbridge Intreo Centre.
Should the person concerned be suffering any financial hardship in the interim, it is open to her to contact the community welfare service and submit an application for a basic supplementary welfare allowance payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Pensions Data
Questions (144)
Niamh Smyth
Question:144. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of pensions paid out from Killeshandra post office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37932/18]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested is being compiled at present and my officials will provide same to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications
Questions (145)
John McGuinness
Question:145. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a domiciliary care allowance will issue to a person (details supplied). [37938/18]
View answerWritten answers
This domiciliary care allowance (DCA) application has been finalised. The person concerned was notified on the 6th September 2018 that DCA was awarded from 1st July 2017 up to 31st December 2017, when the child reached 16 years. Arrears due for this period issued to the nominated post office on the 18th September 2018.
The qualifying conditions for disability allowance (DA) are different to DCA. In order to qualify for a DA payment a person must be substantially restricted in undertaking suitable employment, be aged between 16 and 65, satisfy a means test, and be habitually resident in the State. As a result entitlement to DA does not automatically follow payment of DCA.
The person concerned submitted an application for DA on the 22nd February 2018. Their application, based upon all the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds as it was not found that this person was substantially restricted in taking up employment. The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on the 30th April 2018 and was also notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
On the 9th May 2018, following representations on behalf of the person concerned, they were advised that further medical evidence would need to be submitted in order for a review to be carried out. No new evidence has been submitted to date.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Supplementary Welfare Allowance Applications
Questions (146)
Bernard Durkan
Question:146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which, in the absence of a basic social welfare payment in the case of a person (details supplied), it is expected that the person can survive; if immediate steps will be taken to ensure a basic payment while an investigation is taking place into a previous entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37974/18]
View answerWritten answers
My department received an application for Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) from the person concerned on the 7th September 2018.
The Department's office adminstering the SWA scheme for Co. Leitrim has advised that the claim has now been processed and a weekly payment has been put in place from today (effective from 7th September) subject to the person concerned continuing to satisy the scheme criteria.
Social Welfare Benefits Applications
Questions (147)
Bernard Durkan
Question:147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if and when a basic social welfare payment will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); if immediate steps can be taken to ensure the issue of basic payment in the interim is addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37975/18]
View answerWritten answers
The person concerned applied for Jobseekers Allowance and Supplementary Welfare Allowance. To qualify for these payments, an applicant must satisfy a mean test. This test involves an applicant declaring all sources of income and providing the necessary documents requested by the investigating officer as verifiable evidence.
Both claims were disallowed because she did not provide all the necessary documentation despite being informed, both verbally and in writing, of the consequences.
Local officers have made every effort to facilitate the person concerned and paid an Exceptional Needs Payment. She was advised, again both verbally and in writing, of her right of appeal the original decisions but there is no record of an appeal having been made to date.
The person concerned may still appeal these decisions, or make a new claim in respect of Jobseekers Allowance or Supplementary Welfare Allowance, but she should be aware of her obligation to cooperate with any investigation of entitlements.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Questions (148)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:148. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is discretionary provision to award a carer's allowance to a person (details supplied); if this decision will be reviewed in view of the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38028/18]
View answerWritten answers
Carer's allowance (CA) is a statutory 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 child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care. There is no provision in the legislation governing CA which allows a Deciding Officer any discretion to award payment to a person who does not satisfy the qualifying conditions.
I confirm that my department received an application for CA from the person concerned on the 27 April 2018.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the Deciding Officer decided that the person concerned was not habitually resident in the State.
She was notified on 23 August 2018 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
A review of that decision was requested on 14 September 2018.
Once the review is completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Land Development Agency
Questions (149)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:149. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the Land Development Agency was set up; if he will provide statistical information (details supplied) relating to the agency; and the mechanism to be used to provide a legal basis to the agency. [37894/18]
View answerWritten answers
I, along with my colleague the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, signed the Establishment Order for the new Land Development Agency on 14 September 2018, this Order was made under the Local Government Services (Corporate Bodies) Act 1971. The LDA will act as a new commercial State body to actively manage development land with two primary objectives.
- The first objective is to ensure the optimal usage of State lands, coordinating their regeneration and development and opening up key sites not being optimally used, especially for delivery of new homes.
- The second objective is to drive strategic land assembly through mechanisms that will bring together both public and private sector interests in ensuring the timely preparation and release of strategic land for development in a counter-cyclical manner. Such counter-cyclical action will be aimed at stabilising any tendency towards volatility in development land values, securing more of the increase in such values as a result of the planning and infrastructure investment processes for the common good and thereby driving increased affordability through better and more cost-competitive land availability.
The Agency will act as a national centre of expertise, working with and supporting local authorities, public bodies and other interests, to harness public lands as catalysts to stimulate regeneration and wider investment and to achieve compact, sustainable growth, with a particular emphasis on complex regeneration projects and the provision of affordable housing.
The LDA has been established, with three staff members initially rising to five in the weeks ahead and rising progressively thereafter, in line with the expansion of its development lands portfolio. The expectation is that the Agency will have some 25 staff when fully operational. Staffing of the LDA will be focused on securing experienced personnel in the areas of planning, construction and development, project management, finance, procurement and law.
Now that it has been established, the LDA is in the process of advancing agreements with various State bodies in relation to a range of sites, with the Housing Agency, the Office of Public Works, the Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Defence participating in the first tranche of land agreements. A detailed business plan for the LDA is currently in development and will provide additional information on its delivery programme.
Moreover, to support the work of the LDA, the Government has agreed new policies requiring that 30% of public lands coming forward for redevelopment and or disposal are to be reserved for affordable housing purposes, in addition to the statutory requirement for 10% social housing under Part V provisions, ensuring more housing supply at affordable prices and rents.
My Department is advancing the preparation of primary legislation to underpin the LDA in the longer term, replacing the Order under which it has currently been established. It is expected that a General Scheme will be published later this Autumn with a Bill being published in early 2019, ensuring that the LDA has a clear mandate and sufficient powers, including in relation to compulsory acquisition if that becomes necessary, to deliver.
Housing Assistance Payment Administration
Questions (150)
Robert Troy
Question:150. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if changes to the housing assistance payment model will be made in order to speed up a process (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37925/18]
View answerWritten answers
I refer to the replies to Question Numbers 270 of 27 June 2018, 589 of 22 May 2018 and 625 of 8 March 2018.
The position in relation to the processing times for Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) applications remains unchanged. Once a HAP application has been received and confirmed as valid by the relevant local authority, it is then processed by the HAP Shared Service Centre. On average, HAP applications are processed by the HAP Shared Services Centre within 1 working day of receipt.
I am satisfied with the operation of the HAP scheme and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
Pyrite Remediation Programme Implementation
Questions (151)
Lisa Chambers
Question:151. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department has received the stage 3 application from Mayo County Council for the pilot remediation project in north County Mayo; if not, the reason therefor; the stage the project is at; when it is due to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37946/18]
View answerWritten answers
I assume the Deputy is referring to a proposed pyrite pilot remediation project in North County Mayo in respect of social housing stock. The Stage 3 application (i.e. pre-tender) recently received from Mayo County Council for this proposal is being examined by my Department and a response will be provided to the County Council shortly.
Local Authority Housing Waiting Lists
Questions (152)
Lisa Chambers
Question:152. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons on the housing waiting list in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37947/18]
View answerWritten answers
Details on the number of households qualified for social housing support in each local authority area are provided in the statutory Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA). The most recently published SSHA, carried out in 2017, details the number of households on all local authority waiting lists as at 28 June 2017.
The results of the SSHA are available on my Department’s website and include breakdowns by each local authority across a range of categories. The 2017 report also includes the results of the 2016 summary for comparative purpose. Full details in relation to the 2017 assessment are available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/sha_summary_2017.pdf.
The SSHA process for 2018 has been completed and the detailed report is being finalised and will be published shortly.
Building Regulations
Questions (153)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:153. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the meeting between An Taoiseach and a group (details supplied) which was held on 11 September 2018 in Buncrana, County Donegal; if he will clarify the commitments made by An Taoiseach and publicised in the local media that families whose homes are affected by mica will receive at least the same redress as those families whose homes were affected by pyrite; when a redress scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37965/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Expert Panel on concrete blocks was established by my Department in 2016, to investigate problems that have emerged in the concrete blockwork of certain dwellings in Counties Donegal and Mayo.
The Panel had the following terms of reference:
(i) To identify, insofar as it is possible, the numbers of private dwellings which appear to be affected by defects in the blockwork in the Counties of Donegal and Mayo;
(ii) To carry out a desktop study, which would include a consultation process with affected homeowners, public representatives, local authorities, product manufacturers, building professionals, testing laboratories, industry stakeholders and other relevant parties, to establish the nature of the problem in the affected dwellings;
(iii) To outline a range of technical options for remediation and the means by which those technical options could be applied; and
(iv)To submit a report within six months.
On 13 June 2017, the report of the Expert Panel was published and included eight recommendations which my Department is actively progressing with the relevant stakeholders, prioritising the implementation of Recommendations 1 and 2.
With regard to Recommendation 1, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) Technical Committee, established to scope and fast track the development of a standardised protocol, held its inaugural meeting on 11 September 2017 and has held several further meetings since. The standardised protocol will inform the course of action in relation to remedial works for all affected householders. The draft standard was published on 6 June 2018 for public consultation and ran for a period of six weeks to 18 July 2018. The Technical Committee are currently in the process of considering the submissions received with a view to publishing the standardised protocol shortly.
The draft standard, I.S. 465 - Assessment, testing and categorisation of damaged buildings incorporating concrete blocks containing certain deleterious materials, outlines a protocol which will be used to assess and categorise the damage in properties where the concrete blocks are suspected to contain the minerals mica or pyrite. Previously, there was no common way for engineers or homeowners to assess the damage caused by defective concrete blocks to help decide what, if any, remedial work could be carried out.
This standard:
1. establishes a protocol for assessing and determining whether a building has been damaged by concrete blocks containing certain excessive amounts of deleterious materials (free or unbound muscovite mica, or aggregate with potentially deleterious quantities of pyrite);
2. describes methods for establishing the extent of the problem;
3. describes the scope of any testing required; and
4. categorises buildings, in accordance with this Standard, providing competent persons with guidance on the appropriate measures to be taken.
With regard to Recommendation 2, my Department has been in contact with Engineers Ireland in relation to the establishment of a register of competent engineers for homeowners/affected parties’ reference. Engineers Ireland has provided assurance that they will collaborate with the Department, the NSAI and others on measures to establish such a register once the standardised protocol is in place.
Last year, I visited Donegal and Mayo and met with key stakeholders, including affected homeowners, elected members and officials of the local authorities and other interested parties. On 18 December 2017, I again visited Donegal and met with key stakeholders to provide an update on the progress to date. I made a similar visit to Mayo on 26 January 2018 and again to Donegal on 13 July 2018.
I will be in a position to provide a further update following the publication of the standardized protocol in the coming weeks.
Local Authority Members' Remuneration
Questions (154)
Mattie McGrath
Question:154. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount in travelling expenses claimed by Tipperary County Council executives in each of the years January 2013 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37996/18]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested is not available in my Department as day to day operational matters are the responsibility of individual local authorities. Overall travelling expenses incurred by local authorities are recorded in Appendix 1 to the Annual Financial Statement of each authority.
Local Government Fund
Questions (155)
Mattie McGrath
Question:155. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of funding County Tipperary local authorities have received from the Local Government Fund in each of the years from January 2013 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37998/18]
View answerWritten answers
The funding to County Tipperary from the Local Government Fund from 2013 to date is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
GPG/LPT |
Other Funding |
Total |
|
2013 |
€37,971,172.00 |
€1,335,683.44 |
€39,306,855.44 |
|
2014 |
€22,755,110.00 |
€1,464,109.46 |
€24,219,219.46 |
|
2015 |
€23,320,110.00 |
€1,128,748.51 |
€24,448,858.51 |
|
2016 |
€23,320,110.00 |
€3,132,587.69 |
€26,452,697.69 |
|
2017 |
€25,951,602.36 |
€2,458,805.74 |
€28,410,408.10 |
|
2018 (Aug 31) |
€18,089,676.00 |
€1,610,976.85 |
€19,700,652.85 |
General Purpose Grants (GPG) provided local authorities with funding for some of their day-to-day activities, including elements of water services costs. These payments were made to local authorities up to 2014 and were replaced by Local Property Tax (LPT) allocations in 2015.
As a result of the introduction of LPT in 2013 and the establishment of Irish Water, the local government funding model changed considerably in 2014. The 2014 figure recognises the removal of water related costs and is therefore not directly comparable to the previous years’ funding.
The Other Funding column in the table includes payments related to the rural water programme including group water schemes, other water services related payments, contributions towards local authority pay and pensions costs and smaller ancillary payments.
Deontais Ranna
Questions (156)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:156. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aici cloí leis an ngealltanas atá i gClár an Rialtais i mbliana agus breis airgid a chur ar fáil don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht do 2019; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [37979/18]
View answerWritten answers
Is mar chuid de phróiseas na meastachán atá ar bun faoi láthair a dhéanfar cinneadh maidir leis an soláthar airgid a bheidh ar fáil do mo Roinn le caitheamh ar thograí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta i 2019. Ach an oiread leis an mbliain reatha, nuair a d'éirigh liom soláthar breise a fháil, beidh mé ag troid, le linn phróiseas na meastachán, ar mhaithe leis an margadh is fear a fháil don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht.