Written Answers Nos. 341-360
341. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a more affordable level of recovery of overpayment can be arranged in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40240/19]
View answerMy Department is obliged to recover all debt owed to it as quickly as possible and within the relevant legislation and guidelines governing the recovery of debt. The person concerned has an outstanding One Parent Family Parent (OPFP) debt and proposals on its recovery have been made to her.
Previously the person concerned was repaying this debt by monthly direct debit payments for the agreed amount of €100.00 per month.
Under social welfare legislation, a weekly deduction of 15% of the personal rate of all payments can be deducted without written consent in order to recover a debt owing to the Department. It is being proposed to withhold on a weekly basis €45 from the person concerned CA payment.
In order to give consideration to a lesser amount being recovered weekly as requested and to be able to determine a recovery plan, consideration is given to the size of the debt, the cause of the debt, previous efforts to repay the debt, and the level of income and expenditure of the household.
A letter issued on 1 October 2019 requesting the person concerned to provide details of her weekly income and expenditure in order for the recovery plan to be reviewed.
When same as requested has been received the debt recovery officer will be in a position to reconsider the weekly amount to be recovered.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
342. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a full disability allowance payment will be restored in the case of a person (details supplied); and the timeframe for a decision in the case. [40246/19]
View answerDisability allowance (DA) is subject to periodic reviews. This lady's entitlement was recently reviewed by a social welfare inspector (SWI) and it was established that she had means not previously disclosed to the Department.
On 4 June 2019 the person concerned was notified that her DA payment was suspended and she was afforded the opportunity to submit any supporting evidence she may have in respect of her review. No further evidence was submitted.
Based on the information provided to the SWI in June 2019 a decision will be finalised over the coming days and this decision will be communicated to Ms Ryan directly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
343. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 254 of 27 June 2019, when an invalidity pension will be approved. [40248/19]
View answerFollowing a review of her application, the lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from 14 March 2019. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 17 October 2019. Any arrears due from 14 March 2019 to 16 October 2019 (less any overlapping social welfare payment) will issue as soon as possible. The lady in question was notified of this decision on 02 October 2019.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
344. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1808 to 1810, inclusive, of 6 September 2019 in respect of large debts owed to her Department from customers, if the figures can be further broken down in respect of the number of cases; the amount outstanding in respect of which payment arrangements are in place; the number and value of cases in which no pay arrangements are in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40263/19]
View answerA breakdown of the cases which are repaying and not repaying by scheme area and by the year in which the overpayment was raised is set out in tables 1 and 2 respectively.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1 - Outstanding customer debts – value outstanding over €10,000 by scheme area – as at end August 2019
|
Scheme |
Repaying |
Repaying |
Not Repaying |
Not Repaying |
Total |
Total |
|
|
No. of cases |
Value Outstanding at end August 2019 |
No. of cases |
Value Outstanding at end August 2019 |
No. of cases |
Value Outstanding at end August 2019 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
1,565 |
€42,192,936 |
1,526 |
€42,306,087 |
3,091 |
€84,499,023 |
|
One Parent Family Payment |
1,284 |
€35,991,554 |
1,513 |
€35,356,666 |
2,797 |
€71,348,220 |
|
Disability Allowance |
568 |
€16,094,691 |
500 |
€16,923,983 |
1,068 |
€33,018,675 |
|
State Pension Non-Con |
294 |
€8,737,633 |
741 |
€31,538,568 |
1,035 |
€40,276,201 |
|
Carers Allowance |
506 |
€14,198,147 |
292 |
€8,243,575 |
798 |
€22,441,722 |
|
State Pension Contributory |
182 |
€4,707,141 |
251 |
€7,579,804 |
433 |
€12,286,945 |
|
Child Benefit |
90 |
€1,549,483 |
291 |
€5,089,970 |
381 |
€6,639,453 |
|
Illness Benefit |
189 |
€4,417,484 |
110 |
€2,283,605 |
299 |
€6,701,090 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
196 |
€5,520,233 |
99 |
€2,583,284 |
295 |
€8,103,518 |
|
Widow(er)s Pension Con |
150 |
€5,290,154 |
89 |
€3,070,193 |
239 |
€8,360,348 |
|
Basic Supplement Welfare |
85 |
€1,802,083 |
128 |
€2,765,346 |
213 |
€4,567,429 |
|
Rent Supplement |
76 |
€1,638,163 |
94 |
€2,242,607 |
170 |
€3,880,770 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
87 |
€4,017,317 |
55 |
€2,274,517 |
142 |
€6,291,834 |
|
Farm Assist |
71 |
€2,376,896 |
56 |
€1,662,919 |
127 |
€4,039,815 |
|
Family Income Supplement |
65 |
€1,320,085 |
55 |
€1,154,737 |
120 |
€2,474,823 |
|
Widows Non Contributory Pension |
38 |
€1,066,345 |
37 |
€929,899 |
75 |
€1,996,245 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit |
18 |
€293,696 |
55 |
€825,807 |
73 |
€1,119,503 |
|
Pre-retirement Allowance |
25 |
€585,655 |
26 |
€504,960.45 |
51 |
€1,090,616.02 |
|
Back To Work Scheme |
15 |
€227,321 |
32 |
€566,694 |
47 |
€794,015 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
17 |
€883,554 |
20 |
€606,529 |
37 |
€1,490,083 |
|
Blind Persons Pension |
23 |
€978,850 |
11 |
€369,565 |
34 |
€1,348,415 |
|
State Pension Transition |
15 |
€330,256 |
15 |
€329,795 |
30 |
€660,051 |
|
Back To Work Enterprise Allowance |
12 |
€235,269 |
17 |
€383,058 |
29 |
€618,328 |
|
Mortgage Interest Supplement |
12 |
€193,296 |
11 |
€226,182 |
23 |
€419,478 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
15 |
€474,669 |
5 |
€106,173 |
20 |
€580,842 |
|
Rent Allowance |
7 |
€117,742 |
8 |
€385,988 |
15 |
€503,730 |
|
Guardians Payment (Contributory) |
10 |
€451,278 |
5 |
€88,815 |
15 |
€540,093 |
|
Guardians Payment (Non-Contributory) |
7 |
€109,866 |
6 |
€227,022 |
13 |
€336,888 |
|
Domiciliary Care |
4 |
€68,866 |
6 |
€96,246 |
10 |
€165,112 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
2 |
€39,108 |
6 |
€108,352 |
8 |
€147,460 |
|
Third Level Option |
2 |
€32,553 |
3 |
€76,172 |
5 |
€108,725 |
|
Second Level Option |
1 |
€23,169 |
4 |
€59,293 |
5 |
€82,463 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
2 |
€47,805 |
1 |
€15,681 |
3 |
€63,486 |
|
Part-time Job Incentive |
1 |
€33,339 |
2 |
€24,578 |
3 |
€57,918 |
|
Diet Supplement |
|
|
2 |
€21,148 |
2 |
€21,148 |
|
Jobs Initiative Scheme |
|
|
1 |
€14,738 |
1 |
€14,738 |
|
Death Benefit |
1 |
€112,107 |
|
|
1 |
€112,107 |
|
National Internship |
1 |
€12,783 |
|
|
1 |
€12,783 |
|
Respite Care |
1 |
€10,925 |
|
|
1 |
€10,925 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
1 |
€10,658 |
|
|
1 |
€10,658 |
|
Magdalen Commission Scheme |
|
|
1 |
€14,619 |
1 |
€14,619 |
|
Adoptive Parent Benefit |
|
|
1 |
€28,299 |
1 |
€28,299 |
|
Total |
5,638 |
€156,193,128 |
6,075 |
€171,085,486 |
11,713 |
€327,278,615 |
Table 2 - Outstanding customer debts – value outstanding over €10,000 by year debt was raised – as at end August 2019
|
Year Raised |
Repaying |
Repaying |
Not Repaying |
Not Repaying |
Total |
Total |
|
|
No. of cases |
Value Outstanding at end August 2019 |
No. of cases |
Value Outstanding at end August 2019 |
No. of cases |
Value Outstanding at end August 2019 |
|
1984 |
1 |
€19,930 |
2 |
€28,778 |
3 |
€48,708 |
|
1985 |
1 |
€11,958 |
1 |
€16,452 |
2 |
€28,411 |
|
1986 |
3 |
€43,983 |
10 |
€167,429 |
13 |
€211,412 |
|
1987 |
3 |
€39,656 |
9 |
€190,041 |
12 |
€229,698 |
|
1988 |
9 |
€139,821 |
17 |
€309,375 |
26 |
€449,196 |
|
1989 |
6 |
€102,011 |
32 |
€584,130 |
38 |
€686,141 |
|
1990 |
14 |
€247,224 |
27 |
€538,016 |
41 |
€785,240 |
|
1991 |
12 |
€231,211 |
24 |
€448,574 |
36 |
€679,785 |
|
1992 |
17 |
€283,200 |
39 |
€656,837 |
56 |
€940,038 |
|
1993 |
13 |
€234,408 |
25 |
€440,106 |
38 |
€674,514 |
|
1994 |
22 |
€489,292 |
51 |
€900,705 |
73 |
€1,389,998 |
|
1995 |
30 |
€667,885 |
50 |
€884,668 |
80 |
€1,552,554 |
|
1996 |
39 |
€750,243 |
55 |
€974,452 |
94 |
€1,724,696 |
|
1997 |
43 |
€868,41 |
73 |
€1,372,747 |
116 |
€2,241,163 |
|
1998 |
41 |
€858,632 |
67 |
€1,320,770 |
108 |
€2,179,403 |
|
1999 |
61 |
€1,394,002 |
67 |
€1,194,358 |
128 |
€2,588,361 |
|
2000 |
48 |
€1,018,872 |
73 |
€1,419,056 |
121 |
€2,437,929 |
|
2001 |
38 |
€858,838 |
81 |
€1,567,510 |
119 |
€2,426,349 |
|
2002 |
45 |
€1,034,778 |
55 |
€1,088,863 |
100 |
€2,123,641 |
|
2003 |
116 |
€2,159,039 |
173 |
€2,972,678 |
289 |
€5,131,717 |
|
2004 |
224 |
€4,123,378 |
400 |
€6,954,932 |
624 |
€11,078,310 |
|
2005 |
180 |
€3,991,446 |
226 |
€5,070,343 |
406 |
€9,061,789 |
|
2006 |
147 |
€3,205,559 |
166 |
€3,516,088 |
313 |
€6,721,648 |
|
2007 |
134 |
€3,131,212 |
114 |
€2,683,754 |
248 |
€5,814,967 |
|
2008 |
163 |
€3,914,658 |
123 |
€2,950,242 |
286 |
€6,864,900 |
|
2009 |
225 |
€6,131,559 |
187 |
€5,384,136 |
412 |
€11,515,696 |
|
2010 |
260 |
€7,358,599 |
255 |
€6,402,283 |
515 |
€13,760,882 |
|
2011 |
319 |
€9,440,454 |
296 |
€7,072,343 |
615 |
€16,512,798 |
|
2012 |
317 |
€10,633,923 |
329 |
€9,286,969 |
646 |
€19,920,892 |
|
2013 |
469 |
€14,826,226 |
438 |
€13,005,313 |
907 |
€27,831,540 |
|
2014 |
416 |
€11,504,689 |
405 |
€11,998,352 |
821 |
€23,503,041 |
|
2015 |
433 |
€13,582,919 |
409 |
€13,251,087 |
842 |
€26,834,007 |
|
2016 |
402 |
€12,328,812 |
365 |
€12,571,999 |
767 |
€24,900,812 |
|
2017 |
530 |
€15,010,237 |
447 |
€16,482,783 |
977 |
€31,493,020 |
|
2018 |
488 |
€14,891,558 |
525 |
€19,997,097 |
1,013 |
€34,888,656 |
|
2019 |
369 |
€10,664,481 |
459 |
€17,382,203 |
828 |
€28,046,684 |
|
Total |
5,638 |
€156,193,128 |
6,075 |
€171,085,486 |
11,713 |
€327,278,615 |
345. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if executive officer grade positions are available in her Department in Mullingar, County Westmeath. [40290/19]
View answerMy Department, like all Government departments and agencies is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget, which for this Department has involved reductions in staff numbers.
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the ongoing need to respond to new demands across a wide range of services. This is to ensure that the best use is made of available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
In accordance with relevant Department of Public Expenditure and Reform circulars and guidelines, when a permanent post is approved to be filled, the assignment will be made from either a panel created through a Public Appointment Service (PAS) competition or from an internal Departmental promotion panel or from the relevant Mobility list.
I am advised that there are currently no positions at the Executive Officer grade available in my Department in Mullingar.
346. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding the provision of a pension scheme for community employment scheme supervisors; when the issue will be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40292/19]
View answerI am currently engaging with representatives of Community Emloyment supervisors and assistant supervisors to discuss issues arising following the 2008 Labour Court Recommendation. All parties to the engagement process have agreed that the detail of the discussions should remain confidential while the engagement is ongoing and I would ask Deputies to respect these wishes and allow the talks to continue free from speculation which might prove unhelpful. I expect that it will take a number of weeks to reach a conclusion.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
347. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will take steps to include persons in receipt of a partial capacity payment as eligible to participate in training and education and upskilling opportunities, for example, Springboard in line with the eligibility of those in receipt of disability or jobseeker payments; if her attention has been drawn to the unintended discriminatory nature of the ineligibility of those receiving a partial capacity payment and the impact it has on their efforts to secure employment in view of the ratification of the UNCRPD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40308/19]
View answer358. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his plans to extend training and education and upskilling opportunities to recipients of the partial capacity benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40490/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 358 together.
Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) is a social welfare scheme which allows a person to return to work or self-employment (if they have reduced capacity to work) and continue to receive a payment from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP).
A person in receipt of Invalidity Pension or Illness Benefit for a minimum of six months who wishes to return to work may qualify for PCB if their capacity for work is reduced by their medical condition.
It is important to note in relation to PCB that:
- participation is voluntary.
- there is no requirement that a person must undertake work that is of a ‘rehabilitative or therapeutic’ nature (no exemption needs to be sought from DEASP).
- there is no restriction on the number of hours worked.
- there is no restriction on earnings.
- a person who participates on the PCB scheme may return to an Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension payment if, for example, the employment ceases or if the person cannot continue to work.
- a person on the PCB scheme, with an underlying entitlement to Invalidity Pension, will retain their Free Travel Pass for a period of five years.
- PCB allows people to continue to receive a percentage of their Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension payment while working. The personal rate of payment of PCB is based on a medical assessment of a person’s restriction, regarding their capacity for work, whether the person was in receipt of Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension and their current rate of payment. After the medical assessment, if a person's disability is rated as moderate, severe or profound their previous payment continues at 50%, 75% or 100% per cent, respectively.
The PCB scheme extends the welfare system by explicitly recognising and responding to the reality that some people with disabilities will have a capacity to engage in open market employment while continuing to receive some income support from the State. The objective of the scheme is to support such people to return to the workplace without fear of loss of their disability related social welfare benefits.
The majority of Springboard+ courses are open to employed, unemployed and returners who meet the eligibility criteria at the time of course commencement. Eligibility for springboard+ is the responsibility for the Higher Education Authority and my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills.
The Back to Education Allowance scheme (BTEA) is an educational opportunities scheme for customers in receipt of certain social welfare payments wishing to pursue second or third level courses of education, subject to meeting the qualifying conditions. The BTEA aims to assist those who are distant from the labour market to acquire the necessary education to improve their chances at attaining employment.
Any change to the qualifying conditions for the various schemes operated by the Department would have to be considered within the annual budgetary context.
348. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to restore the full rate of the jobseeker’s allowance to young persons under 26 years of age in budget 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40319/19]
View answerThe 2019 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseeker’s allowance (JA) scheme of €1.6 billion.
Reduced rates for JA recipients aged 18-25 were introduced on a phased basis to tackle high youth unemployment and to prevent long term welfare dependency. This is in line with other EU and OECD jurisdictions. Receiving the maximum rate of JA without a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training can lead to long-term welfare dependency from a young age. If a young jobseeker participates in education or training the personal rate that applies is €203 per week.
In 2013 the EU adopted a Council Recommendation to member states on a Youth Guarantee. Under the Youth Guarantee process my Department’s case officer’s engage with young jobseekers on a monthly basis, to prepare and implement a personal progression plan to help them find work which is tailored to their specific skillset. Where young people do not find work quickly, they are supported through placement on employment and training schemes, which are closely aligned to the needs of the labour market. For example, the Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) which I launched last year is a work experience scheme targeted exclusively at young jobseekers facing barriers to employment and participants on the scheme receive a payment of €229.20 per week.
These policies have been effective in reducing both youth and long-term unemployment. For example, the most recent data shows that Irish youth unemployment has fallen from a peak of 31.2% in 2012 to 14.7% in August 2019.
My Department is finalising a review on the impacts of the reduced rates on young jobseekers which I will be reviewing shortly. This is a complex and detailed piece of work which also examined the research undertaken by the National University of Maynooth into effectiveness of the introduction of reduced JA rates payable to young jobseekers aged 18 and 19.
Any changes to the age related rates of payment of JA would also 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 at this time.
349. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the 2020 funding allocation for the dedicated mortgage arrears service has been decided; if so, if this decision has been communicated to the Citizens Information Board and the eight regional Money Advice and Budgeting Service companies operating the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40320/19]
View answerThe Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, (CIB) provides assistance to people, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments, who are over-indebted and need help and advice with debt problems. As part of its free services, MABS provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears.
The Dedicated Mortgage Arrears (DMA) advice service, which operates across the MABS regional network was established in 2015, as part of the Government's response to providing supports to mortgage holders in arrears.
The DMA service aims to ensure that borrowers in mortgage arrears have access to information on the range of supports and options available to them and, where required, negotiates with lenders on their behalf. To date, it has helped almost 8,000 borrowers with mortgage arrears issues.
Since its inception, the DMA service has become an integral part of the Abhaile suite of services, which provides access for people who are insolvent and in mortgage arrears, to independent financial and / or legal advice and assistance under a voucher scheme accessed through MABS. Abhaile is jointly coordinated and funded by the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. MABS, CIB, the Insolvency Service of Ireland and the Legal Aid Board are working together to provide the various Abhaile services.
Together with my colleague, Charlie Flanagan, Minister for Justice , I was pleased to announce, last month, that the Abhaile service (including DMA) is being extended for a further three years.
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) receives its overall budget allocation for all services, including DMA, on an annual basis. An allocation for the DMA service has been sought for the service for 2020 as part of the Citizens Information Board overall budget requirements for 2020, however this is subject to the completion of the Department's overall estimates process. Once completed this will be communicated to CIB.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
350. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the waiting times for applications for payments (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40346/19]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following tabular statement.
Table 1. Average weeks to award a claim in August 2019
|
Average Weeks to Award |
August 2019 |
|
Illness Benefit |
1 |
|
Disability Allowance |
14 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
16 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
13 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
10 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
10 |
351. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment of the occupational injury benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40368/19]
View answerAn application for Occupational Injury Benefit was received by the Department on the 26th September 2019.
This application has been awarded at a rate of €203 per week. The person concerned is currently medically certified as unfit for work until the 7th October 2019, and all arrears have been issued to him.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
352. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons (details supplied) that have availed of disablement benefit to date under the occupational injury benefit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40372/19]
View answerA total of 583 disablement benefit applications under the occupational injury benefit scheme have been received from former coal miners across the country to date.
The outcome of these applications is as follows:
|
No. of applications |
Arigna only |
Countrywide |
|
Received |
311 |
583 |
|
Pending |
5 |
12 |
|
Awarded |
140 |
238 |
|
Disallowed |
150 |
287 |
|
Withdrawn by the customer |
16 |
46 |
In total 12 cases are pending due to incomplete applications, are awaiting further medical evidence or the establishment of insurable employment in the mines.
All applicants who were disallowed the benefit were advised of their entitlement to appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days of the decision being made.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
353. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the working family payment continues to issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40381/19]
View answerWorking Family Payment (formerly Family Income Supplement) is a weekly tax free payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children.
Working Family Payment for the person concerned is currently in payment. The current award period is due to end on the 9th October 2019.
Working family payment is due for renewal from 10th October 2019.
A renewal form issued to the person concerned on 31 July 2019 but to date this has not been returned to us. A duplicate renewal form has been issued this week. When the person concerned is returning the application form a fulltime education certificate should be provided from the college/university for the dependent child.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
354. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) qualifies for illness or disability benefit in view of their medical condition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40382/19]
View answerThe person concerned is currently in receipt of Illness Benefit at a weekly rate of €371.70. He is currently medically certified as unfit for work until the 3rd October 2019 and he has been paid fully up to date.
It is open for the person concerned to apply for the long term schemes of Invalidity Pension or Disability Allowance if he is permanently incapable of work, where his elegibity for these schemes can be assessed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for you.
356. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40472/19]
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 child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 18 July 2019.
The application was awarded to the person concerned on 1 October 2019 with effect from 18 July 2019. The first payment will issue to her nominated post office on 10 October 2019.
Arrears of allowance due from 18 July 2019 to 9 October 2019 have issued also.
The person concerned was notified on 1 October 2019 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
357. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the interdepartmental review of community employment schemes; when the review is expected to be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40489/19]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to establish an Interdepartmental Group (IDG) to explore how social inclusion schemes might be organised going forward.
A number of meetings of the IDG have taken place and a number of bilateral meetings with relevant Departments have also been undertaken. There was a consultative process with stakeholders and the associated submissions were considered as part of the wider deliberations. I expect to have the final report shortly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
359. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there are grants for water well drilling for domestic houses. [40175/19]
View answerThere is a grant currently available, which is funded by my Department through the local authorities, for the provision or necessary improvement of an individual water supply in a house. This is more commonly called the individual or private wells grant. The grant, subject to certain conditions, assists households dependent on these supplies with the costs incurred in providing such a supply of water for domestic purposes or rectifying serious deficiencies with an existing supply.
Information on this grant is available from local authorities and from my Department's website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/rural-water-programme/private-wells.
Earlier this year, I announced details of the new Multi-annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021. This included an improved funding scheme for individual wells.
The composition of the new multi-annual programme is based on recommendations from the Working Group that I established in April 2018 to conduct a review of investment needs and rural water services. The changes that I have approved to the individual wells grant scheme are as follows:
- A maximum grant for rehabilitation works of €3,000, which represents an increase of 47% on the current maximum grant amount;
- Where the local authority agrees that the most appropriate solution is to provide a new well, the maximum grant payable would be €5,000;
- Recognising the role of the grant in improving quality, the water quality treatment element (typically filtration and UV filtration) will qualify for 100% funding up to a maximum of €1,000;
- Up to 85% of other costs would be met, subject to the total combined maximum costs of €3,000 for well rehabilitation or €5,000 for a new well;
- For clarity, applicants would not be able to avail of both grant amounts, so they would not be able to avail of €3,000 for well rehabilitation as well as the €5,000 for a new well.
Work is at an advanced stage of development for the new scheme. I expect that the process will be completed shortly when the necessary regulations dealing with the financial assistance arrangements and related administrative matters are put in place. This will enable a circular letter, terms and conditions, guidance and the application form to issue to local authorities shortly thereafter.
360. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has received a copy of the report of the review group on the planning provisions regarding strategic housing developments; if he will provide a copy of the report; if not, the reason therefor; and when he will release the report. [40195/19]
View answerAs part of the actions under the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 (the Act) introduced new streamlined arrangements to enable planning applications for strategic housing developments (SHDs) of 100 housing units or more, or student accommodation or shared accommodation developments of 200 bed spaces or more, to be made directly to An Bord Pleanála for determination.
The primary purpose of the SHD arrangements is to support efficiency in the planning decision-making process, providing greater certainty for developers in terms of the timeframes within which proposals for such developments can be determined, while also fully respecting the need to ensure proper planning and sustainable development, the statutory requirements for public consultation and consideration of observations submitted.
Section 4(2) of the Act provides for a review of the operation and effectiveness of the SHD arrangements. In this regard, I established a Review Group to assess the operation and effectiveness of the SHD provisions and to report back to me by end September 2019. To augment the work of the Review Group, a public consultation on the SHD arrangements was advertised and held in July 2019.
The Report of the Review Group was received on 24 September 2019 and is currently being considered prior to it, and my conclusions of the review, being laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Section 4(2)(a) of the Act provides that this must be done not later than 30 October 2019.
