Written Answers Nos. 137-156
137. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide additional details on the independent appeals process as part of the new regulations for the defective concrete blocks scheme, including who will administer the appeals process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34419/23]
View answerThe Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023, and the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Regulations 2023 (the Regulations) were adopted on 29 June 2023.
Section 37 of the Act provides for the establishment of an Appeals Panel, consisting of a maximum of 10 people, one of which is to be the Chairperson. Under the Act, the Appeals Board shall be independent in the performance of its functions.
The Public Appointments Service (PAS) carried out a campaign to recruit the members of the Panel. and they have recommended a number of suitable candidates for the Panel. I expect to be in a position to make appointments shortly.
Points of appeal available to a DCB applicant include validation stage by the local authority, Housing Agency damage threshold determination, remediation option, and grant amount approved and where a local authority refuse to make a grant payment pursuant to grant approval.
Once a valid appeal is received the Chairperson of the Appeals Panel shall constitute an Appeal Board of three persons from among the members of the Appeals Panel to determine the appeal. My Department will provide the necessary administrative support to the Appeals Panel as mandated by the Act.
138. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount paid by his Department in 2022 and to date in 2023 on outside or third-party reports of a technical nature or qualitative and quantitative nature, by payee, in tabular form. [34473/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
139. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason only grade 1 conservation architects are considered eligible under the required qualifications of the national built heritage conservation officer under the Planning and Development (Built Heritage Protection) Bill 2022; the reason building conservation accredited surveyors, which is equivalent to a grade 1 architect, are not considered eligible for the role of the national built heritage conservation officer; if he will review this matter and amend the Bill accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34497/23]
View answerThe Planning and Development (Built Heritage Protection) Bill 2022 referred to is a Private Members' Bill which was sponsored by a number of Senators in 2022 and has completed Second Stage in Seanad Éireann. As this Bill is not Government policy I am not in a position to comment on the reasons behind the provisions of the Bill.
140. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will report on the outcome of the Public Consultation on the Review of Part B (Fire Safety) of the Building Regulations; what the aim of the review was; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34534/23]
View answerThe public consultation on proposed amendments to Part B of the Building Regulations and the associated Technical Guidance Document relating to fire safety closed on 21 April 2023. The proposed changes aim to improve fire safety in new buildings and support the re-use of existing buildings by simplifying, clarifying and rationalising fire safety requirements.
This public consultation was the culmination of a review of Part B of the Building Regulations and the associated Technical Guidance Document B which was necessitated by a number of issues including changes in the design and construction of buildings and the use of new and innovative building systems and materials. The review also took common and emerging building trends into account.
In carrying out the review, specific regard was given to the holistic requirements of the Building Regulations in Ireland as well as the framework of administration set out under the Building Control Regulations. In addition, fire safety, planning and Irish health and safety laws were considered along with Irish policy documents such as Housing for All and Fire Safety in Ireland – The Report of the Fire Safety Task Force 2018.
Work is underway in my Department to examine each submission made and to consider if an amendment to the proposed Part B of the Building Regulations relating to fire safety and/or the associated draft Technical Guidance Document is warranted or required. In line with Action 21.1 of the Housing for All Action Plan Update, the review of Part B of the Building Regulations (Fire Safety) is due to be completed and published in Q4 2023.
141. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will examine the delays in receiving timely responses from Uisce Éireann; if he can address the difficulties of public representatives to meet with/speak to Uisce Éireann representatives other than the call centre, which can only advise that the matter is being investigated; if he will provide all members with contact details of Uisce Éireann local management teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34536/23]
View answerUisce Éireann recognises the importance of the role of elected representatives in the delivery of public water services in Ireland. It has formed dedicated teams within Uisce Éireann whose sole function is to service these key stakeholders, supported by staff throughout the organisation right up to the most senior levels.
Uisce Éireann operates a dedicated inbound telephone and email service for Oireachtas members known as the Elected Representatives Support Desk (ESRD). This is operated by a team supported by the wider Uisce Éireann business and allows any Minister, TD, Senator, or MEP to submit a question on any subject or issue to Uisce Éireann.
Uisce Éireann also operates a dedicated telephone and email service for County and City Councillors known as the Local Representatives Support Desk (LSRD). This team is supported by the wider Uisce Éireann business and allows any Councillor to submit a question on any subject or issue to Uisce Éireann.
Uisce Éireann is also currently engaging with local elected representatives through a series of individual local authority water services workshops. And the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) and the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) to brief on investment and operational activity specific to each local authority area, as well as to gain councillor input and insights into future communication and engagement between Uisce Éireann and local elected representatives.
The ESRD/LSRD service commenced in 2014 and in the last 9 years has responded to over 100,000 queries directly received from over 1,100 elected representatives.
The service received 13,235 queries in 2022, approximately 1,100 contacts each month, with 66% fully resolved within 3 days and 81% resolved within 10 days. More complex cases are those that require deeper investigation by their local authority partners, and/or collating information from a range of different functions across Uisce Éireann, and thus take longer to resolve. In 2022, some 94% of calls to the LRSD and ERSD were answered within 20 seconds.
142. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in terms of Planning and Development Regulations, specifically, schedule 9, Fees for Planning Applications, section 2, Scale of Fees for Planning Applications, Class of Development; 12. the use of land as a burial ground; if consideration will be given to maintaining the need for a planning application, but waiving the fee for applications under this class of development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34543/23]
View answerArticle 156 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended (the Regulations), states that a fee shall be paid to a planning authority by an applicant when making a planning application. Class 12 of Part 12 of Schedule 9 to the Regulations sets the amount of the fee payable in respect of a planning application for the use of land as a burial ground at €200, or €50 for each hectare of site area, whichever is the greater.
Therefore, the fee payable for a planning application for the use of land as burial grounds is calculated on a case-by-case basis and is dependent on the size of the area of the land proposed to be utilised for burial grounds.
Such fees provide local planning authorities with a degree of income which contributes to the costs of providing a planning service; however, there is a significant shortfall in the funding generated versus the actual cost involved in the processing and determining of such planning applications, as well as the provision of other planning-related services such as forward planning and planning enforcement, in an increasingly complex legislative and technical environment.
As such, I have no immediate plans to waive planning fees for applications under this class of development.
143. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average waiting time and average response times for section 35 and 42 NWPS licences (details supplied); how many applications for same have been received; and how many have been responded to. [34579/23]
View answerLicence applications received in to the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) are processed as efficiently as possible with the current resource allocation. Many of these applications require assessment at local level and this workload is being managed in tandem with many other priorities. There is no average turnaround time for these licence applications.
So far this year the NPWS has received 763 applications under S42 of the Wildlife Acts (excluding County Wicklow) with 679 issued, refused or the application was withdrawn. They have also received 114 applications under S35 of the Wildlife Acts with 88 issued, refused or the application was withdrawn.
Individual applications do not receive an acknowledgement, however, any queries from applicants are dealt with in a timely manner, as far as possible.
144. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the funding requested from Louth County Council for an additional €570,000 for housing adaptation grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34751/23]
View answerI refer to the reply to Question No. 99 of Wednesday 21 June 2023 which sets out the position in this matter.
145. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently in possession of a free travel pass per year from 2017-2023; and the cost to his Department per year, in tabular form. [34657/23]
View answerThe free travel scheme was introduced in 1967 to promote social inclusion and prevent the isolation of elderly and disabled people by taking advantage of free space on public transport services. The scheme permits free travel on most CIE public transport services, Local Link, Luas and a range of services offered by some 80 private operators in various parts of the country for those eligible. The free travel scheme is available to all persons aged over 66, and those under age 66 on certain qualified payments, who are living legally and permanently in the State.
Below is a table of Free Travel recipients numbers and scheme costs from 2017 to date.
|
Year |
No. of Recipients at year end |
Cost |
|
2023 |
1,072,195 (to end June) |
€95,000,000 (budget allocation) €54,715,443 (to end June) |
|
2022 |
1,054,845 |
€89,569,000* |
|
2021 |
1,022,001 |
€91,266,000 |
|
2020 |
999,007 |
€93,695,000 |
|
2019 |
966,206 |
€93,919,000 |
|
2018 |
934,298 |
€86,810,000 |
|
2017 |
902,513 |
€77,460,000 |
*2022 cost figures are provisional as the Appropriation Accounts are still subject to audit and final sign off by the Office of the Comptroller & Auditor General.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
146. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a jobseeker’s benefit application by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34435/23]
View answerThe Person Concerned submitted an application for Jobseekers Benefit on the 27th of June 2023.
The Application was processed and awarded on the 7th July 2023. A decision letter issued to The Person Concerned on this date advising that this application has been awarded from the 20th of June and that payment will be available to them on the 12th of July 2023.
147. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people are in receipt of the household benefits package in 2023; how many of these people also receive the fuel allowance; the estimated cost to increase the household benefits package by €4 per month; by €8 per month; and by €12 per month. [34436/23]
View answerThe Household Benefits Package (HHB) comprises an electricity or gas allowance of €35 per month and the free television licence. My Department will spend approximately €285 million this year on HHB for over 511,000 customers.
As at the end of April 2023, an estimated 242,500 customers were in receipt of both HHB and the Fuel Allowance.
If the increases to the electricity/gas element outlined by the Deputy were introduced in 2023, the estimated additional yearly cost for those estimated to be in receipt of HHB based on current qualifying criteria (511,000) would be as follows:
|
Proposed Monthly Rate Increase |
New Monthly Rate |
Number of Recipients |
Additional Yearly Cost |
|
€4 |
€39 |
511,000 |
€24.53M |
|
€8 |
€43 |
511,000 |
€49.06M |
|
€12 |
€47 |
511,000 |
€73.58M |
Any decision to change the qualifying criteria for the HHB package payment or to increase the electricity/gas element of the package would have budgetary consequences and would have to be considered in the context of budgetary negotiations.
Finally, the Department of Social Protection provides Additional Needs Payments as part of the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who have an urgent need, which they cannot meet from their own resources. These payments are available through our Community Welfare Officers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
148. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people are in receipt of the domiciliary care allowance for 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many applications were made for the domiciliary care allowance in 2022 and 2023 respectively; and how many applications were refused in 2022 and 2023 respectively. [34437/23]
View answer149. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people are in receipt of the carer’s allowance for 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many applications were made for the carer’s allowance in 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many applications were refused in 2022 and 2023 respectively. [34438/23]
View answer152. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people are in receipt of the disability allowance for 2022 and 2022 respectively; how many applications were made for the disability allowance in 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many applications were refused in 2022 and 2023 respectively. [34441/23]
View answer153. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people are in receipt of the half-rate carer’s allowance for 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many applications were made for the half-rate carer’s allowance in 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many applications were refused in 2022 and 2023 respectively. [34442/23]
View answer154. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people are in receipt of the parent’s benefit for 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many applications were made for the parent’s benefit in 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many applications were refused in 2022 and 2023 respectively. [34443/23]
View answer155. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection how many families are in receipt of the working family payment for 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many applications were made for the working family payment in 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many applications were refused in 2022 and 2023 respectively. [34444/23]
View answer156. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people are in receipt of the adoptive benefit for 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many applications were made for adoptive benefit in 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many applications were refused in 2022 and 2023 respectively. [34445/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 148, 149 and 152 to 156, inclusive, together.
The Department provides a range of payments for carers and working families.
Please find details below, broken down by year and scheme as requested.
|
Scheme Details |
Year |
Claims in payment |
New Claims Received |
New Claims Disallowed |
|
Working Family Payment |
2022 |
47,244 |
34,372 |
12,849 |
|
Working Family Payment |
2023* |
46,302 |
14,662 |
8,664 |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
2022 |
43 |
44 |
9 |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
2023* |
14 |
16 |
3 |
|
Parents Benefit** |
2022 |
74,017 |
77,015 |
1,120 |
|
Parents Benefit** |
2023* |
41,872 |
42,036 |
411 |
|
Carers Allowance |
2022 |
92,268 |
22,781 |
10,115 |
|
Carers Allowance |
2023* |
93,766 |
11,553 |
5,816 |
|
Half Rate Carers Allowance |
2022 |
42,422 |
8,196 |
3,096 |
|
Half Rate Carers Allowance |
2023* |
43,391 |
4,199 |
1,696 |
|
Disability Allowance |
2022 |
156,366 |
26,021 |
15,663 |
|
Disability Allowance |
2023* |
159,194 |
14,086 |
9,048 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
2022 |
50,126 |
10,524 |
3,948 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
2023* |
51,978 |
6,218 |
2,145 |
* Figures supplied for 2023 as at 30 June 2023
** In relation to Parents Benefit, it should be noted that parents can make more than one claim and can submit up to 7 separate applications for Parent’s Leave and Benefit during their child’s first two years of life. While a claim for leave may be awarded in one month, the leave and benefit could be availed of at a different time, or over a period of months, as it is available to use one week at a time. Figures provided are in relation to claims.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
150. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to increase the carer’s allowance by €4 per month; by €8 per month; and by €12 per month. [34439/23]
View answerCarer's Allowance is paid on a weekly basis. The estimated cost to increase Carer's Allowance by €4, €8 and €12 per week is outlined in the table below.
|
Scheme |
€4 per week |
€8 per week |
€12 per week |
|
|
m |
m |
m |
|
Carer's Allowance |
€14.9 |
€29.8 |
€44.6 |
These costings are subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
151. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Social Protection how many people are in receipt of the illness benefit for 2022 and 2023 respectively; how many applications were made for the illness benefit in 2022 and 2023 respectively; and how many applications were refused in 2022 and 2023 respectively. [34440/23]
View answerIllness Benefit is a weekly payment made to people aged under 66 who satisfy prescribed PRSI contribution conditions and who are medically certified as being unable to attend work due to illness.
In 2022, 559,606 people applied for Illness Benefit. To the end of June 2023, 157,552 have applied for the scheme.
Details of the number of Illness Benefit applications received in 2022 and to the end of June 2023 are shown in the tables below.
2022
|
Status |
Claim Count |
|
Awarded |
651758 |
|
Disallowed |
20045 |
|
Withdrawn |
95568 |
|
Total |
767371 |
2023 (to end June)
|
Status |
Claim Count |
|
Awarded |
158492 |
|
Disallowed |
4499 |
|
Pending |
1010 |
|
Withdrawn |
27720 |
|
Total |
191721 |
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
