Written Answers Nos. 733-752
733. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the arrangements being made to give persons that are unable to get a public services card the free travel pass; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22146/20]
View answerThe SAFE registration process, which my Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection uses to authenticate a person's identity, is a face to face process which results in the issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC). At the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department temporarily postponed the SAFE registration process to comply with public health guidelines in respect of social distancing.
My Department has currently resumed SAFE registration services in Intreo Centres and Branch Offices countrywide. This is being done in accordance with relevant guidelines to ensure the health and safety of customers and staff. .
Officials of my Department are contacting customers who are entitled to Free Travel and who have not yet received their Free Travel PSC, inviting them to contact their local Intreo Centre or Branch Office to arrange their SAFE registration.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
734. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of jobseeker’s payments that have been activated in each county quarterly from Q1 2018 to Q2 2020, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22149/20]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables below.
Table 1: People who received at least one Jobseeker Payment - 2018
|
Q1 2018 |
Q2 2018 |
Q3 2018 |
Q4 2018 |
|
|
Carlow |
4,375 |
4,385 |
4,326 |
3,869 |
|
Cavan |
4,541 |
4,459 |
4,432 |
4,022 |
|
Clare |
7,263 |
6,944 |
6,683 |
6,282 |
|
Cork |
24,219 |
23,939 |
23,615 |
21,022 |
|
Donegal |
13,668 |
13,547 |
13,305 |
12,185 |
|
Dublin |
65,400 |
65,383 |
63,701 |
57,772 |
|
Galway |
13,965 |
14,075 |
13,969 |
12,611 |
|
Kerry |
10,814 |
9,785 |
9,198 |
9,700 |
|
Kildare |
11,233 |
11,144 |
10,781 |
9,566 |
|
Kilkenny |
5,406 |
5,358 |
5,212 |
4,616 |
|
Laois |
4,621 |
4,667 |
4,642 |
4,149 |
|
Leitrim |
2,302 |
2,263 |
2,254 |
2,088 |
|
Limerick |
10,804 |
10,986 |
11,047 |
9,694 |
|
Longford |
3,131 |
3,141 |
3,076 |
2,819 |
|
Louth |
9,345 |
9,561 |
9,430 |
8,460 |
|
Mayo |
8,354 |
8,384 |
8,180 |
7,607 |
|
Meath |
9,666 |
9,560 |
9,376 |
8,325 |
|
Monaghan |
3,436 |
3,450 |
3,436 |
3,040 |
|
Offaly |
5,241 |
5,169 |
4,932 |
4,535 |
|
Roscommon |
3,540 |
3,520 |
3,431 |
3,116 |
|
Sligo |
4,464 |
4,488 |
4,,399 |
4,097 |
|
Tipperary |
10,590 |
10,641 |
10,544 |
9,412 |
|
Waterford |
9,238 |
9,340 |
9,190 |
8,420 |
|
Westmeath |
6,108 |
6,155 |
6,013 |
5,421 |
|
Wexford |
12,398 |
12,091 |
11,575 |
10,720 |
|
Wicklow |
7,974 |
7,929 |
7,830 |
6,932 |
|
Other |
1,595 |
1,371 |
1,292 |
1,191 |
|
All |
273,691 |
271,735 |
265,869 |
241,671 |
Table 2: People who received at least one Jobseeker Payment - 2019
|
Q1 2019 |
Q2 2019 |
Q3 2019 |
Q4 2019 |
|
|
Carlow |
3,838 |
3,973 |
4,011 |
3,573 |
|
Cavan |
3,895 |
3,931 |
4,044 |
3,941 |
|
Clare |
6,350 |
6,077 |
6,035 |
6,021 |
|
Cork |
20,799 |
20,156 |
20,968 |
19,100 |
|
Donegal |
12,016 |
11,914 |
12,760 |
11,185 |
|
Dublin |
56,946 |
57,156 |
58,035 |
53,565 |
|
Galway |
12,529 |
12,557 |
12,760 |
11,506 |
|
Kerry |
10,091 |
8,715 |
7,820 |
8,452 |
|
Kildare |
9,562 |
9,452 |
9,659 |
8,806 |
|
Kilkenny |
4,570 |
4,612 |
4,781 |
4,412 |
|
Laois |
4,139 |
4,109 |
4,245 |
3,899 |
|
Leitrim |
2,095 |
2,042 |
2,110 |
1,917 |
|
Limerick |
9,358 |
9,398 |
9,642 |
8,505 |
|
Longford |
2,788 |
2,787 |
2,974 |
2,731 |
|
Louth |
8,421 |
8,490 |
8,737 |
7,808 |
|
Mayo |
7,499 |
7,448 |
7,729 |
7,031 |
|
Meath |
8,360 |
8,268 |
8,366 |
7,544 |
|
Monaghan |
2,969 |
3,018 |
3,213 |
2,846 |
|
Offaly |
4,454 |
4,347 |
4,436 |
4,070 |
|
Roscommon |
3,097 |
3,001 |
3,149 |
2,859 |
|
Sligo |
3,961 |
3,962 |
4,027 |
3,719 |
|
Tipperary |
9,368 |
9,215 |
9,710 |
8,777 |
|
Waterford |
8,355 |
8,361 |
8,735 |
8,010 |
|
Westmeath |
5,327 |
5,279 |
5,328 |
4,853 |
|
Wexford |
10,748 |
10,531 |
10,803 |
10,317 |
|
Wicklow |
7,005 |
7,056 |
7,187 |
6,511 |
|
Other |
1,097 |
1,027 |
1,017 |
820 |
|
All |
239,637 |
236,882 |
241,524 |
222,778 |
Table 3: People who received at least one Jobseeker Payment - 2020
|
Q1 2020 |
Q2 2020 |
|
|
Carlow |
3,832 |
3,333 |
|
Cavan |
3,763 |
3,549 |
|
Clare |
6,616 |
6,343 |
|
Cork |
19,648 |
18,242 |
|
Donegal |
11,446 |
10,555 |
|
Dublin |
54,381 |
52,118 |
|
Galway |
11,945 |
11,461 |
|
Kerry |
9,210 |
7,768 |
|
Kildare |
9,131 |
8,763 |
|
Kilkenny |
4,703 |
4,102 |
|
Laois |
3,921 |
3,621 |
|
Leitrim |
2,067 |
1,843 |
|
Limerick |
8,745 |
8,284 |
|
Longford |
2,742 |
2,598 |
|
Louth |
8,251 |
7,675 |
|
Mayo |
7,372 |
6,686 |
|
Meath |
8,090 |
7,626 |
|
Monaghan |
2,878 |
2,602 |
|
Offaly |
4,246 |
3,867 |
|
Roscommon |
2,993 |
2,703 |
|
Sligo |
3,863 |
3,311 |
|
Tipperary |
9,077 |
7,817 |
|
Waterford |
8,195 |
7,371 |
|
Westmeath |
5,026 |
4,542 |
|
Wexford |
10,441 |
9,152 |
|
Wicklow |
6,884 |
6,399 |
|
Other |
594 |
533 |
|
All |
230,060 |
212,864 |
735. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration has been given to requesting the assistance of local employment service personnel in processing and progressing those on jobseeker’s payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22150/20]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that the processing times for jobseeker claims is currently in line with my Department’s target for timely decision making on these claims. There is no need or intent to seek the assistance of third parties in the processing of jobseekers claims.
I can confirm that my Department has 24 contracts in place for employment services with Local Employment Services. There are currently over 18,000 people in receipt of a jobseekers payment or otherwise in need of assistance in gaining full time employment, who are receiving support from contracted Local Employment Services.
The ongoing pandemic and its economic impact has increased the demand on many of my Department's services. Although this government has taken many measures to provide support to the economy, it is not unreasonable to expect an increased demand for my Department's employment services of which the Local Employment Services are an important element.
I trust that this information is of assistance to the Deputy.
736. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment that take up a springboard course will continue to receive the payment at the prevailing rate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22151/20]
View answer742. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will allow persons on a pandemic unemployment payment whose work is unlikely to return for the foreseeable future to retrain with schemes such as Springboard without their payment being affected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22213/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 736 and 742 together.
Under the July Stimulus the Back To Education Allowance has been extended to people who have been in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The Department's Back to Education Allowance provides income support for people who wish to pursue second or third level courses.
In advance of commencing a course of education or training, either part-time or full-time, including springboard courses, a person in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be required to establish an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare weekly payment, generally a Jobseeker’s payment. A person will be required to transfer from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to the relevant qualifying social welfare scheme to continue to receive income support while availing of full-time education provision.
The qualification period will be deemed to have been met for a person transferring from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. This means someone applying for second or third level education, including springboard courses, will be deemed to have satisfied the required qualification period when they transfer from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Other Back To Education Allowance (BTEA) eligibility conditions apply, including the age of the applicant.
Whereas the Pandemic Unemployment Payment is short term in nature and scheduled to cease in April 2021, the Back to Education Allowance provides long term income support which can be provided for the duration of an education course and which can extend for up to 3 or 4 years depending on the individuals circumstances.
A person in receipt of Back to Education Allowance may also qualify for an annual Cost of Education Allowance if they have one or more children.
A person who is in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will need to complete an application form for Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit (Form UP1 or UP1 JBSE if they are self- employed) and include it with the BTEA application when posting it to their local Intreo Centre. Further information on the Back To Education Allowance scheme is available on www.gov.ie
I hope that this clarifies the position for you.
737. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22152/20]
View answerIn advance of commencing a course of education, a person in receipt of Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) is required to establish an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare weekly payment, generally a Jobseeker’s payment, to access a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA). A person will then be required to transfer from PUP to the relevant qualifying social welfare scheme to continue to receive income support while availing of full-time education provision.
The person concerned currently has a pending online Jobseeker’s Allowance application. This has been prioritised for decision to allow his eligibility for a BTEA to be assessed. Once a decision has been made, the person concerned will be informed directly of the outcome and advised how to proceed.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
738. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Social Protection if persons returning to work from short career breaks are entitled to the pandemic unemployment payment; if not, the reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22171/20]
View answerThe COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in March 2020 as a time-limited emergency measure to meet the surge in unemployment which resulted from the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. To be eligible for this payment a person must have been in employment /self-employment immediately prior to 13th March 2020 and have become fully unemployed or suffered a collapse of income if they are self -employed, due to the downturn in economic activity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and are not being paid by their employer.
If a person was not in employment immediately prior to 13 March 2020 they are not eligible to receive the COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. It is the case that a date had to be selected and the date chosen was the date that the first of the essential Public Health restrictions were introduced.
Where a person is not eligible to receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment they may apply for a jobseekers payment. The Jobseeker’s Benefit scheme provides a social insurance contribution-based support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. It is paid for 9 months (234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid and for 6 months (156 days) for people who have less than 260 paid. Where a person does not qualify for Jobseekers Benefit or has used up their entitlement to it they may apply for the means tested Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Any person who is experiencing financial hardship may access assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme including Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments. Information on the supports available under this scheme is available at www.gov.ie
I hope that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy at this time.
739. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a community employment scheme will be extended for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22174/20]
View answerRequests for extending participants on Community Employment Schemes are only considered by the Department at the request of the Project Sponsor and a request for an extension has not been received in respect of the person concerned.
Work Schemes such as Community Employment (CE) are labour market programmes that enable long-term unemployed people to progress into employment and/or further education and training. Participation limits on these schemes are necessary to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons. It is important to note that participation is intended to be for a temporary fixed term and the positions offered are not full-time sustainable jobs. Instead, the placements are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the open labour market
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
740. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection if clients that are not comfortable providing personal data and information to Turas Nua will have failure to attend and or participate on their file; the reassurance that can be provided to persons to ensure that their personal data and information is fully protected by the company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22193/20]
View answer741. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Social Protection if clients of a company (details supplied) can formally request a copy of their files directly from the company; if clients must request her Department directly for data subject to access rights; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22194/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 740 and 741 together.
JobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. The service is delivered by two companies, Seetec and Turas Nua.
Information is shared by my Department with the JobPath providers to enable them to provide employment services on behalf of the Department. This will include some personal data such as name and contact details. In order for the service to function it is necessary to transfer data. The purpose of sharing this information is to assist in the development of tailored personal progression plans for individual jobseekers in order to support them back into paid employment. The contractor will be in receipt of this data before contact is made with the customer. The contractor, in seeking to assist the customer to gain full time employment, will enquire as to the customer's career goals, work history and assist in identifying any barriers to employment. If a customer is uncomfortable sharing information with any of my Department's services they should raise this so that any valid concerns can be allayed.
My Department is very aware of the need to have robust data protection policies, procedures and structures in place in line with current data protection legislation. My Department’s contracts with the JobPath providers are in compliance with all relevant legislation and any information shared is contractually based and necessary to provide a service. All contracts in place are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Ireland and the courts of Ireland have exclusive jurisdiction over these contracts.
In addition, JobPath providers are contractually required to register with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner as data processors and are legally bound to observe and adhere to data protection requirements. Sub-contractors engaged by the JobPath service providers for the purpose of delivering the JobPath service are also fully governed by the same contractual obligation as the main contractor.
My Department has regular meetings with both JobPath providers to ensure that they are fully aware of and are fulfilling their contractual obligations, including those concerned with data protection. Both companies have undertaken regular independent audits of their data processes and procedures as part of these contractual obligations. In addition, the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner has conducted audits of each JobPath company. Employees of both JobPath companies, and their subcontractors, are subject to the same data protection laws as Departmental staff.
Under the GDPR, the right of access gives individuals the right to obtain a copy of their personal data. Any JobPath customer who wishes to obtain a copy of their personal data can make a data subject access request directly to their Jobpath provider or to the Department itself. However, in all such cases, the Department as data controller will coordinate the collection and issuing of the data to the customer.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
743. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the payment of child benefit to include those children that have reached 18 years of age but are still in full-time secondary school education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22221/20]
View answerChild benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children, until their 18th birthday, who are in full-time education, or who have a disability. Child benefit is currently paid, as of end-July 2020, to over 637,793 families in respect of over 1.2 million children. The estimated expenditure on Child Benefit in 2019 is in excess of €2 billion.
Analysis of data from the Department of Education and Skills, and Child Benefit data, indicate that there were up to 25,901 students aged 17 or 18 year in full-time secondary education during the 2019/2020 academic year. The estimated annual cost of extending eligibility for Child Benefit to include 18 year-olds in full-time secondary education is in the region of €56.1 million.
Any change to Child Benefit involves significant cost implications, and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
744. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the process for persons renewing the public services card; if the process has changed due to Covid-19; the measures in place for persons in cases in which their card has expired; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22222/20]
View answerPrior to the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals whose Public Services Cards (PSCs) were expiring in the following three months were written to by the Department advising them that they could renew their PSC by attending an office of the Department and having a new photograph taken, or by applying for a renewal by post, by sending a passport-size photograph.
In the context of the Covid19 pandemic, this practice ceased at the beginning of March, to ensure compliance with HSE and WHO guidelines in respect of social distancing in our offices.
My Department has since introduced a new service whereby a person whose PSC is expiring can call 1890 837 000 and a new PSC - valid for three years from the current expiry date of their Card - will issue to them, carrying the same photograph and information as their current PSC. The issuing of revised reminder letters will resume in due course.
It is also important to note that the National Transport Authority has accepted expired PSCs from people entitled to Free Travel since March this year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
745. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the social welfare supports in place for a person (details supplied) that lives here but pays tax in the UK. [22235/20]
View answerWithout having knowledge of the circumstances of the person concerned, it is not possible to provide information on his social welfare entitlements.
It is open to the person concerned to contact the Clondalkin Intreo Centre to discuss his situation at (01) 4030000, (01) 4667200, SWLOClondalkin@welfare.ie.
Information about my Department’s schemes and services, including qualifying conditions, is available at www.gov.ie/DEASP.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
746. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of artists and those working in the entertainment industry that were in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment at €350 a week in June 2020; and the number in September 2020 on the reduced rate of the payment. [22280/20]
View answerFor the month of June 2020 a total of 8,785 people working in the Arts, Entertainment and Recreation sector were in receipt of at least one pandemic unemployment payment at the standard rate of €350.
The most recent figures for September 1st 2020 show that 5,032 people from this sector were still receiving this payment, with 1,486 people receiving the lower rate of €203 and 3,546 people receiving the higher rate of €350.
748. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients and the level of funding in the past five years paid to recipients of the fuel allowance in tabular form; the number of families the fuel allowance has supported; his planned changes to take account of the increased cost of energy for families; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22311/20]
View answerFuel Allowance is a seasonal payment for 28 weeks, from October to April, to help low income households with their heating costs. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household. Fuel allowance expenditure and recipient numbers for the past 5 years are:
|
Year |
2020 |
2019 |
2018 |
2017 |
2016 |
|
Cost €m |
261.35 (est) |
239,752(est) |
240,203 |
229,003 |
234,812 |
|
No of recipients |
367,362(May 20) |
369,255 |
380,463 |
370,631 |
379,406 |
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, a special heating supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances that have special heating needs. Exceptional needs payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet out of their own resources. In addition, my Department also pays an electricity or gas allowance under the household benefits scheme at an estimated cost of €194 million in 2020.
The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable households from the impact of energy costs through a combination of supports, investment in programmes to improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock, and energy efficiency awareness initiatives.
In Budget 2020, the Fuel Allowance payment was increased by €2 to €24.50 per week. This is an increase of just under 9% and will increase the annual Fuel Allowance payment from €630 to €686, a €56 yearly increase. The annual cost of this increase in Fuel Allowance is €21m. This cost has been funded via a ring-fenced allocation from the circa €90m which will be raised from the Carbon Tax increase. This is the largest single allocation and is directly aimed at protecting the most vulnerable.
Income support is only part of the answer in terms of addressing energy costs. One of the best ways to tackle energy costs in the long term is to improve the energy efficiency of the dwelling through proper building and household insulation. In this regard it was also announced in Budget 2020 that a total of €52.8 million is being made available to retrofit the homes of people living in or at risk of energy poverty through the Warmer Homes Scheme. This represents the biggest ever allocation for the Warmer Homes Scheme – more than double the initial allocation for 2019. €13 million of this funding is ring-fenced revenue arising from the increase in the carbon tax. This reduces the energy required to adequately heat a home, thus reducing a household’s exposure to increases in energy costs.
In terms of the forthcoming budget, the Government will consider how it can support people on low incomes and those on social welfare payments. The Deputy will be aware that in the context of carbon tax, one of the key pillars of the Government's response is to provide for an avoidance of fuel poverty and to provide allowances,from the funds that would be generated, to enable people to deal with the impact of increased expenditure that they have to incur in their daily lives.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
749. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of free travel applications awaiting processing; the average turnaround time for new applications to the scheme; and the action she will take to address the requirement for new applicants to have a public services card that are unable to apply for the card due to the suspension of appointment services. [22315/20]
View answerThe free travel scheme is available to those who live permanently and legally in the State and are over age 66, or are under age 66 and in receipt of certain qualifying payments.
As at 4 September 2020, there were forty (40) free travel applications waiting to be processed. The current average turnaround time for free travel applications is less than 1 week.
The SAFE registration process, which my Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection uses to authenticate a person's identity, is a face to face process which results in the issuing of a Public Services Card (PSC). For those entitled to Free Travel, their PSC bears a free travel token, which can be used on public transport services.
At the outbreak of COVID-19, my Department temporarily postponed the SAFE registration process to comply with public health guidelines in respect of social distancing. My Department has resumed SAFE registration services in Intreo Centres and Branch Offices countrywide, in accordance with relevant guidelines to ensure the health and safety of customers and staff.
In order to manage social distancing in our offices, access to the SAFE registration online appointment system has been suspended. However, my officials are currently contacting customers who were awarded Free Travel since the Covid 19 pandemic began, who were unable to obtain their Free Travel PSC, inviting them to contact their local Intreo Centre or Branch Office to arrange their SAFE registration.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
750. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection when a PPS number will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [22344/20]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has allocated a Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) to the individual referred to by the Deputy and a letter advising her of her PPSN issued on 7th September 2020.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
751. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason no reply has issued from her Department in response to queries for persons (details supplied); if the applications have been finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22345/20]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has allocated Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) to the two individuals referred to by the Deputy and letters advising them of their PPSNs issued on 28th July 2020 and 2nd September 2020 respectively.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
752. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection when she plans to publish the review of community employment schemes carried out in 2018; when the recommendations of same will be implemented; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22395/20]
View answerCommunity Employment (CE) is a positive initiative that enables the long-term unemployed to contribute to their communities whilst up-skilling themselves for prospective future employment. It helps to break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market.
In early 2019, 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 took place and a series of follow-up meetings were undertaken with the relevant Departments. There was also a stakeholder consultation process which resulted in a number of submissions that were included in the wider review.
The final Interdepartmental Group report is currently with my Department for consideration and will be submitted to Government in due course.
