Wednesday, 5 Dec 2018

Written Answers Nos. 296-318

Disability Allowance Applications

Questions (296)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

296. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will be made on a disability allowance claim by a person (details supplied). [51079/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 25 July 2018. The first payment was made by her chosen payment method on 14 November 2018.

Arrears of payment due issued to the person concerned on 21 November 2018.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Disability Allowance Applications

Questions (297)

Peter Burke

Question:

297. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a disability allowance application by a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51093/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

I confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from this gentleman on 3 August 2018. The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.

Additional medical evidence for consideration was received from the person concerned on 5 October 2018 and this is currently being reviewed by a deciding officer.

On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

The person in question can apply to the Community Welfare Officer for the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) if he is in need of financial assistance.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Questions (298)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

298. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue on a carer's allowance review for a person (details supplied); when payment will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51104/18]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Carer'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 child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result 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.

An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 30 April 2018.

The evidence before the deciding officer showed that the person concerned was engaged in employment outside the home in excess of 15 hours per week.

The person concerned was notified on 11 September 2018 that she was not entitled to CA, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence to show that she is no longer working.

CA was awarded to the person concerned on 3 December 2018, and the first payment will issue to her nominated post office on 6 December 2018.

Arrears of allowance due from 2 November 2017 to 5 December 2018 have also issued.

The person concerned was notified on 3 December 2018 of this outcome, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Illness Benefit Payments

Questions (299)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

299. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of all payments of illness benefit that have issued to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51112/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned is medically certified up to the 2nd December 2018 and now paid up to the 1st December 2018 with all arrears owing to her having been issued. Details of all payments that have issued to the person concerned have been sent to that person.

If the person concerned remains ill and unfit for work, a further medical certificate should be submitted to the Department as soon as possible in order for further payments to issue.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Illness Benefit Payments

Questions (300)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

300. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of all payments of illness benefit that have issued to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51113/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned currently being processed, this particular claim was delayed as a result of an interaction with another Social Welfare scheme payment. My officials expect to have the matter resolved in the next couple of days. When the claim is processed all arrears due will issue without delay.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Illness Benefit Payments

Questions (301)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

301. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of all payments of illness benefit that have issued to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51114/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned is certified to the 23rd December 2018 and paid to the 6th December 2018.

Further payments will issue up to the certified date. If the person concerned remains ill and unfit for work after the 23rd December 2018 a further medical certificate should be submitted to the Department in order for payments to issue after this date.

Details of Illness Benefit payments issued to the person concerned have been sent to that person.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Questions (302)

Micheál Martin

Question:

302. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress her Department has achieved in reducing its carbon footprint; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51130/18]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

My Department is currently in discussions with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment in the development of specific climate change targets as part of an overall whole of government climate change action plan.

Energy usage is the main contributor to climate change and the Department and its aegis are mitigating this as part of the Public Sector Energy NEAP 33% 2020 energy saving targets. As at the end of 2017 an energy saving of 32.6% was recorded by My Department and its aegis against the 2009 baseline figures using the SEAI Public Sector Energy Reporting Programme. My Department also actively engage with the OPW in their OPW's Optimising Power at work energy saving scheme.

The Department continues to ensure that procurement policies include provisions for Green Procurement. Energy efficiency criteria are included in Requests for Tenders (RFTs) where relevant, including IT equipment and non-IT equipment. Energy, including electricity, is procured centrally through the Office of Government Procurement to obtain savings through economies of scale. Energy providers would also have energy saving and climate change targets.

Illness Benefit Payments

Questions (303)

Willie Penrose

Question:

303. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an outstanding illness benefit payment for a person (details supplied) will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51144/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The Department administers the Illness Benefit scheme to those customers who cannot work because they are sick or ill provided they are covered by the appropriate class of social insurance (PRSI) and satisfy the PRSI conditions.

The person concerned does not qualify for a payment of Illness Benefit as she does not satisfy the first PRSI contribution qualifying condition which requires a person to have at least 104 weeks of PRSI contributions paid since first starting work..

Up until the end of the 2017 PRSI contribution year (31/12/2017) the person concerned only had 60 PRSI contributions paid reckonable for Illness Benefit.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Budgets

Questions (304, 305)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

304. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the budget 2019 allocation to farm and fish assist. [51180/18]

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

305. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of a proposal (details supplied) over a calendar year and taking into account changes announced in budget 2019. [51181/18]

Written answers

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 305 together.

The farm assist (FA) scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. Recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance scheme such as retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2019 Budget Allocation for the Farm Assist scheme (including fish assist) is some €72 million.

Budget 2017 fully reversed the previous cuts to the Farm Assist means test. The changes included that 70% of farm income is now assessed as means, down from 100% being assessed as means (which is equivalent to a 30% income disregard) and an additional annual means disregard of €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and subsequent children.

The assessment of means for the purpose of qualifying for farm assist is designed to reflect the actual net income from farming. Income and expenditure figures for the preceding year are generally used as an indicator of the expected position in the following year. However, account is taken of any exceptional circumstances so as to ensure that the assessment accurately reflects the current situation. It may also be noted that farm assist customers continue to receive more beneficial treatment than other self-employed persons as payments received under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS), Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) or Special Area of Conservation (SAC) schemes are assessed separately from other farm income. With regard to this income the first €2,540 is disregarded, and then 50% of the balance and related expenses are disregarded - with the balance being assessed as means.

It is estimated that the cost of changing the farm assist means testing rules in order that irrespective of the source of income the first €3,000 would be disregarded and the balance would be means tested at 50% would be approximately €13 million for a full year. This estimate is based on the existing number of recipients and current rates. However, it is envisaged that there may be an increase of new farm assist claims if these measures were introduced. Therefore, the estimated cost of €13 million should be regarded as a minimum estimate.

Budget 2019 provides for a €5 per week increase in the personal rate of payment for FA from €198 to €203 per week from 25 March 2019 with proportional increases for qualified adults and children.

Any further changes to this scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context and within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy

Invalidity Pension Applications

Questions (306)

Tom Neville

Question:

306. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an invalidity pension application by a person (details supplied). [51190/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The gentleman referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 19 July 2018.

Payment will issue to his nominated bank account on 13 December 2018. Arrears of payment due from 19 July 2018 to 12 December 2018 will issue as soon as possible. The gentleman in question was notified of this decision on 03 December 2018.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (307)

Niall Collins

Question:

307. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of public sector staff from his Department seconded to work in the public sector of other EU member states; the schemes available for such secondments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50992/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

Departmental staff can occasionally be seconded to work in EU member states' public sectors with a view to learning and exchanging expertise on a case by case basis. However, there are currently no staff from my Department seconded through such arrangements.

Urban Renewal Schemes

Questions (308, 309)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

308. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason a project (details supplied) was excluded from the urban regeneration and development fund. [51052/18]

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

309. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount allocated for a project (details supplied) under the urban regeneration and development fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51053/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together.

The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was launched as part of Project Ireland 2040, to support the compact growth and sustainable development of Ireland’s five cities, regional drivers and other large urban centres. I initiated the first call for proposals under the Fund in July 2018 and the deadline for submission of applications was 28 September. A total of 189 applications were submitted to my Department and on 26 November I announced the successful applicants for funding, details of which are available on my Department's website at the following link: https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/urdf_-_2019_funding_allocations_0.pdf.

There were two categories of submission, Category A for projects that were 'ready to go' and Category B to support the initial development of projects (Master-planning/Feasibility) to ensure a pipeline of projects into the future as the URDF is a rolling fund, with €2 billion available to 2027. The fund in the initial call was oversubscribed in both categories (A & B).

The URDF grant in respect of the successful proposal in question, as with all other successful bid proposals, has been approved in principle subject to agreement of subsequent technical details with my Department and may be regarded as an initial investment of support for the project. Given that this is a Category B proposal, my Department intends to further engage with the applicant in order to discuss the progression of the proposal in 2019 and onwards and to agree on the terms of the funding allocation which, once agreed, will be drawn down from throughout 2019.

With regard to the unsuccessful proposal referred to, there were a group of projects that were not eligible or recommended due to the following general reasons:

(i) The proposal did not respond to core assessment criteria of the fund or the quality of the proposal was low;

(ii) The proposal was a routine capital project more related to other capital funding sources available by another department or agency;

(iii) The proposal was already commercially viable and would be better supported by market response; and

(iv) The proposal was not in compliance with state aid or the additionality factor/wider leveraging of the project was in question (Value for Money).

There were also those projects that, while not recommended at this time given the criteria above, were considered worthwhile if further developed. Such an approach was adopted to facilitate a continual pipeline of projects (Category B) for potential re-submission in subsequent calls for proposals.

In this regard, it is my intention to announce a second call for proposals early in 2019. My Department proposes to provide feedback in this regard and will engage further with applicants as appropriate.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Questions (310)

Micheál Martin

Question:

310. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the progress his Department has achieved in reducing its carbon footprint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51134/18]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

My Department’s Energy Policy and Environmental Policy Statements recognise that good environmental performance is as relevant in our workplace as in the home and elsewhere, and is accordingly an integral part of our day-to-day management and activities. The office environment is demanding on many resources, including energy, water, paper, equipment and other consumables. In this regard, as part of our green housekeeping policy, we have placed particular emphasis on conservation and maximising energy efficiencies. My Department’s Workplace Travel Plan (WTP) aims to encourage greater staff use of sustainable transport options when travelling to and from work, and to ensure that, where practicable, staff opt for sustainable transport options when conducting business on behalf of the Department. The commitment of my Department is indicated by its accreditation to ISO 14001 International Standard for Environmental Management Systems for its headquarters at the Custom House.

My Department has reported a 24.5% improvement in energy efficiency to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Public Sector Monitoring & Reporting (M&R) System in accordance with the provisions of the European Union (Energy Efficiency) Regulations 2014 which transpose the Energy Efficiency Directive (Directive 2012/27/EU) into Irish Law, in respect of its offices in Ballina, Wexford and the Custom House, between the baseline year 2009 and 2017. Analysis of this data on the SEAI M&R System indicates that my Department has achieved 9.7% reduction in CO2 emissions in this period. Met Éireann, which is a Division of my Department, has reported a 9.6% improvement in energy efficiency to the SEAI during the same period. Analysis of the Met Éireann data for the same period on the SEAI M&R System indicates that it has achieved a 33% reduction in CO2 emissions.

This has been achieved by staff efficiency awareness and energy saving initiatives and participation in the OPW Optimising Power@Work Programme and the SEAI’s Energy Management Action Programme (EMAP). In order to achieve further efficiency gains, major lighting efficiency projects are currently underway in the Department's Ballina and Met Éireann offices, which are envisaged to be completed by year-end. My Department remains committed to achieving a 33% improvement in energy efficiency by the 2020 deadline and to further reductions in carbon emissions.

Coastal Erosion

Questions (311)

Imelda Munster

Question:

311. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position regarding the report that has been prepared in respect of coastal erosion across all 19 local authorities in which coastlines are under threat from erosion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51186/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government

While my Department has a number of roles in relation to the maritime area, these do not include responsibility for addressing coastal erosion.

Constitutional Amendments

Questions (312)

Micheál Martin

Question:

312. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the forthcoming referenda planned by the Government. [50865/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government

At its meeting this week, the Government reviewed the progress on Bills to amend the Constitution and decided that, subject to passage of the necessary Constitution Amendment Bills, two referendums will be held on the same day as the local and European elections in May 2019. Work is being progressed in my Department, in consultation with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to inform the development of an appropriate Constitution Amendment Bill in good time for the holding of a referendum on extending the franchise at Presidential elections to Irish citizens resident outside the State. The second referendum to be held in tandem with the local and European elections will be on divorce which will be a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality.

The decision to hold a referendum on extending the franchise at Presidential elections will address the recommendation in the Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution.

The Government noted that further consideration will be given to the timing of a referendum on reducing the voting age to 16. However, it is not proposed that this referendum be held in 2019.

In addition, the Government noted all proposals for referendums contained in Private Members’ Bills, in particular the Amendment of the Constitution (Water in Public Ownership) Bill (No. 2) 2016 which is now on Committee stage. On 20 November 2018, the Government approved the priority drafting of amendments to be made to this Bill, with work currently on-going. These amendments are to focus on retaining the entity charged with the provision of public water services in public ownership. It is intended that the draft wording arising, once finalised, will be brought back to Government for approval and can then be brought forward as a proposed amendment to the Bill.

Commemorative Events

Questions (313, 314, 315, 316)

Pat Buckley

Question:

313. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for the commemoration of the Civil War and particularly the remembrance of the republicans executed officially, unofficially or summarily in addition to those murdered by the Free State in view of a statement in Dáil Éireann on 24 November 2011. [51055/18]

Pat Buckley

Question:

314. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to issue a State apology for the republicans murdered by the Free State at Ballyseedy on 7 March 1923 (details supplied) in view of a statement in Dáil Éireann on 24 November 2011. [51056/18]

Pat Buckley

Question:

315. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to issue a State apology for all IRA volunteers, republicans and civilians executed by the Free State during the Civil War whether carried out officially, unofficially or summarily in view of a statement in Dáil Éireann on 24 November 2011. [51057/18]

Pat Buckley

Question:

316. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to collate a full list of all IRA volunteers, republicans and civilians executed by the Free State during the Civil War, whether carried out officially, unofficially or summarily, and to be published in view of a statement in Dáil Éireann on 24 November 2011. [51058/18]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 to 316, inclusive, together.

As we approach the most challenging and sensitive phase of the Decade of Centenaries, the Government will continue to be advised and supported in its commemoration plans by the guidance of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations, and in consultation with the All Party Consultation Group on Commemorations. 

One of the cornerstones of the State's approach to commemorations over the coming years will be to continue to further reconciliation on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain. 

I am committed to ensuring that the State's approach to remembering this very complex period in our history, and all of those who lost their lives during those years, will be based on the respectful, sensitive, appropriate and authentic approach that has become the hallmark of the Decade of Centenaries commemorative programme. 

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (317)

Niall Collins

Question:

317. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of public sector staff from her Department seconded to work in the public sector in other EU member states; the schemes available for such secondments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50985/18]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I am advised that there are no public sector staff in my Department seconded to work in other EU member states' public sector. 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Questions (318)

Micheál Martin

Question:

318. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress her Department has achieved in reducing its carbon footprint; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51127/18]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

As I advised the house in my reply to Parliamentary Question Number 240 of 15th November last my Department is a participant of the Public Sector Energy Reporting Programme and provides energy consumption data to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) which manages the reporting process on behalf of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.  

The management of properties occupied by staff of my Department and the bodies under its aegis is primarily a matter for the Office of Public Works.  As a consequence, an energy management company has been engaged by OPW to liaise with officials in my Department for the purposes of identifying better building energy management systems.  This also includes consideration of proposals for building and facility upgrades, disseminating information to effect behavioural changes and other measures which contribute to improvement in overall energy efficiently performance  levels. 

In the SEAI's latest annual report published in 2017, the Department and its agencies recorded  28% energy savings as against baseline levels recorded in 2009, which represents significant progress towards the 33% savings target for 2020.

The Deputy may also wish to refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question Number 640 of 27th November which outlines the ongoing work of my Department in relation Peatland restoration and the development of a Biodiversity Sectoral Climate Change Adaptation Plan as required under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act (2015).