Written Answers Nos. 288-308
288. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the approximate timeframe from beginning to completion of the process where local authorities purchase properties under the tenant in-situ scheme; and how many such purchases were completed in County Kildare in 2023. [5709/24]
View answerUnder Housing for All, the Government will deliver 47,600 new build social homes and 3,500 social homes through long-term leasing in the period 2022-2026. Our clear focus is to increase the stock of social housing through new build projects delivered by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
Social Housing is delivered through a range of local authority and Approved Housing Body (AHB) delivery programmes across the build, acquisition and lease delivery streams.
For 2023, Government agreed an increased provision for social housing acquisitions and my Department provided funding local authorities to acquire at least 1,500 social homes. The additional acquisitions have focused on properties where a tenant is in receipt of social housing supports and has received a Notice of Termination due to the landlord’s intention to sell the property. My Department issued a circular letter in March 2023, setting out details of these arrangements and each local authority was provided with a provisional allocation for social housing acquisitions in 2023.
Local authorities have delegated sanction in relation to these acquisitions, subject to those acquisitions being within Acquisition Cost Guidelines issued by the Department. An independent valuation must also be obtained for each acquisition, in line with established practice for local authorities for social housing acquisitions. The current Acquisition Cost Guidelines (ACGs) were updated and issued to local authorities in April 2023. These guidelines are reviewed and updated as appropriate by my Department usually on an annual basis.
Local authorities will work with all social housing supported tenants who receive a Notice of Termination and offer the available supports, which may include a tenant in situ acquisition or support to obtain an alternative tenancy, including a HAP-supported tenancy or an allocation to local authority stock. It is a matter for individual local authorities to identify suitable acquisitions in line with local circumstances and their social housing allocations policy. My Department does not hold data on the timelines or process steps for acquisitions. Further information may be available from individual local authorities.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social and affordable housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority, including completed acquisitions. From 2023, this data includes a breakdown of acquisitions completed by each local authority where a Notice of Termination issued to a tenant and is available, for all local authorities, to the end of Quarter 3 2023 on the statistics page of my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/.
289. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage if the responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of common green/grass areas in council/local authority estates comes under the remit of the local authority/county council; if not, if it is the responsibility of the various residents’ associations. [5711/24]
View answerLocal authorities are responsible under the Housing Acts for the management and maintenance of their housing stock and the management of their estates, which includes facilitating tenants’ participation in estate management.
290. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a series of matters in relation to the detrimental impact that invasive pike have on the freshwater pearl mussel's reproductive cycle by extirpating native juvenile salmonid populations (details supplied) will be examined and rectified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5782/24]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the agency under the aegis of the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications with responsibility for fish species listed the Habitats Directive in Ireland, including Salmon (Salmo salar) and other species. The IFI have categorised pike as a non-native species influencing ecology in Ireland.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department commissioned a survey on the host fish of the freshwater pearl mussel in 2017. The authors remarked that while IFI had reported a decline in stock of juvenile trout and salmon that coincided with the introduction and spread of pike throughout the river and Iakes (IFI, 2018a), however there appear to be sufficient densities of salmon fry (0+) for glochidial encystment at the two sites sampled in the Owenriff (Johnston and Moorkens, 2018). Both sites sampled were in close proximity to abundant mussels beds which have been shown to be brooding successfully (Moorkens, 2017). Water quality and hydrological issues are a more direct pressure on salmonids and freshwater pearl mussel in this catchment, based on the most recent assessments.
In relation to the captive breeding trial, mussels from the Owenriff catchment were used, as access to the Newport river was not possible during summer 2023 due to high rainfall and associated river water levels. This prevented the collection of mussels from the Newport river to facilitate the development of the captive breeding methodology.
IFI (2018a). Fish Stock Survey of Selected Lakes and River Sites in the Owenriff Catchment 2017. IFI/2018/1-4396. National Research Survey Programme, Inland Fisheries Ireland, 3044 Lake Drive, Citywest Business Campus, Dublin 24.
Johnston, P.M. and Moorkens, E.A. (2018) Electrofishing survey to identify fish hosts for the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera in 12 populations in the Republic of Ireland. 2017 Survey. Unpublished Report to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, DCHG, Dublin
Moorkens, E.A. (2017). Survey and Condition Assessment of the population of the freshwater mussel Margaritifera margaritifera in the Owenriff River, County Galway. Unpublished Report to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, DCHG, Dublin.
291. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 371 of 23 January 2024, if she can offer further advice in relation to a person (details supplied) obtaining official ID. [4936/24]
View answerThe person concerned will be required to attend her local office with documentation to support her application for a Public Services Card (PSC).
An official from my department will contact the person in the coming days with a PSC appointment and details of what is required.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
292. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection how many employee applications for clarification on PRSI and pension class have been made to scope section; how many are awaiting a decision; and how many decisions have been held due to An Post withholding service histories. [4990/24]
View answerThe Department can confirm that there are currently 29 cases under investigation in the Scope insurability section of the Department from employees of the employer referred to by the Deputy. The Department is actively engaging with the employer in relation to these cases and decisions will be made in due course.
The Department does not keep records of the number of historical applications for insurability decisions received from employees of specific employers.
I trust this clarifies the position for the deputy.
293. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection when a review of means for an increase on a State pension (contributory) for a qualified adult will be decided (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4997/24]
View answerThe person concerned is in receipt of the Increase for a Qualified Adult in respect of their spouse at a reduced weekly rate since 3 February 2023.
The Increase for a Qualified Adult is a means tested payment where all means of the Qualified Adult in their own name or jointly with others, is assessed as part of their weekly means.
A request for a review was received from your office on 26 October 2023. The application was referred to a local Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for further clarification on the farming income. On receipt of the completed report from the SWI, which has been given priority, the application will be reviewed and the person concerned will be notified of the decision.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
294. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the minimum income threshold for working people in receipt of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5031/24]
View answerDisability allowance (DA) is a means-tested payment for people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. The applicant must be suffering from an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect which has lasted for one year or is expected to last for one year and, as a result of which, they are substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable having regard to the person’s age, experience and qualifications. The person must also satisfy a means test and be habitually resident in the State.
My Department continues to keep the range of income and employment supports under review. Any proposed changes to the supports provided must also be considered in an overall budgetary context.
I can confirm that a €20 per week increase in the DA earnings disregards, from €120 to €140 per week, was introduced in Budget 2021 and commenced in June 2021.
Furthermore, I can also confirm that a €25 per week increase in the DA earnings disregards, from €140 to €165 per week, was introduced in Budget 2023 and commenced in January 2023.
Recognising that all work is rehabilitative, the DA scheme is structured to encourage recipients to avail of opportunities to engage in either insurable employment or self-employment. When an individual engages in work, they can avail of an income disregard of 100% of the first €165 earned per week. 50% of earnings between €165 and €375 are also disregarded for the purpose of the means test. Any amounts over €375 are assessed in full. This disregard is available to all DA recipients who engage in employment and there are no restrictions on the hours worked each week.
The means assessment reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or capital are in a position to use these resources to support themselves so that social welfare expenditure can be directed towards those who need it most.
Under the make work pay initiative, where a DA recipient's means exceed the limits, even after the disregard is applied to their earnings, they are entitled to retain their free travel pass for five years. My Department has also put in place a system for the fast-track reinstatement of DA for people with disabilities who have taken up or returned to an employment which subsequently did not work out within 12 months.
A Green Paper on Disability Reform was published in September, to begin the conversation about improving these supports and further addressing the cost of disability.
The aim of the Green Paper is two-fold. First, it seeks to better insulate disabled people who cannot work from poverty by providing for higher rates of payment. Second, it seeks to support and encourage a higher level of employment for people with disabilities by tailoring the provision of employment supports to suit a person’s capabilities.
I encourage all those with an interest to express their views in our public consultation by making a submission in writing or by video. It is essential that we hear from as many disabled people and representatives as possible. I have extended the consultation period until 15 March 2024 to ensure everyone has adequate time to make a submission.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
295. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider increasing the minimum income threshold for people in receipt of disability allowance if their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5032/24]
View answer296. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection her views on whether it is appropriate that persons in receipt of disability allowance can lose their allowance as a result of marriage or cohabitation, thus increasing their reliance on their partner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5033/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 295 and 296 together.
Disability Allowance is a means-tested social assistance scheme, which is also subject to a medical assessment and habitual residency requirement.
It is the nature of means-tested schemes that above a certain level of means a person is not entitled to a payment, as it is deemed their own means are sufficient to provide for their needs.
Where a person makes an application for Disability Allowance, the means assessment includes income from employment or self-employment, income from a social security pension from another country and maintenance payments.
If a claimant is married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting, the means of the couple will be assessed. This is the case even if only one of the couple is claiming a payment.
In the assessment of capital means, the couple’s savings, investments, shares and property are included. However, the home in which the claimant lives is not included in the assessment of means unless the person receives an income from it.
It must be noted that the entire amount of income or capital is not included while assessing means. The first €50,000 of capital and savings is fully disregarded, the next €10,000 is assessed at €1 per thousand, the following €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand. These disregards are the highest among social welfare schemes.
For people in employment, an income disregard of €165 per week is applied. In addition, 50% of earnings between €165 and €375 is also disregarded for the purpose of the means test. A person can actually earn up to €495.10 per week and still retain a proportion of their Disability Allowance payment.
Where the spouse/civil partner/cohabitant is engaged in insurable employment a disregard of €20 per day applies subject to a maximum of €60 per week and the balance is assessed at 60%.
Means is assessed on a household basis and as such must be reassessed if a person’s living circumstances change.
The means assessment reflects the fact that there is an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of income or capital are in a position to use these resources to support themselves so that social welfare expenditure can be directed towards those who need it most.
Any change to the means threshold would have to be considered as part of the Budget process.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
297. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider allowing persons in receipt of disability allowance to not take into account the cost of their monthly rent when doing disability allowance means test assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5034/24]
View answerDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
DA is a means tested scheme and the way means are assessed is laid down in social welfare legislation. I can confirm that rent is not allowed as a disregard from a means assessment for DA, except in cases where maintenance is paid.
The full amount of any maintenance received by a DA recipient, in the form of cash payments and/or in-kind benefit of direct payment of rent to landlords, is assessed means, minus the maximum weekly disregard of €95.23 per week. This applies regardless of the form of housing/rent assistance payments the customer receives i.e. a Rent Supplement payment or a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)
It is the person’s actual out of pocket contribution towards the rent that is disregarded from the means test, up to the maximum weekly amount of €95.23. For example, where a person pays €35 per week to the Council under the HAP scheme as their contribution towards rent, that is the weekly amount disregarded from the means test.
My Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers and continues to keep the range of income and employment supports under review. Any proposed changes to the supports provided must also be considered in an overall budgetary context.
A Green Paper on Disability Reform was published in September, to begin the conversation about improving these supports and further addressing the cost of disability.
The aim of the Green Paper is two-fold. First, it seeks to better insulate disabled people who cannot work from poverty by providing for higher rates of payment. Second, it seeks to support and encourage a higher level of employment for people with disabilities by tailoring the provision of employment supports to suit a person’s capabilities.
I encourage all those with an interest to express their views in our public consultation by making a submission in writing or by video. It is essential that we hear from as many disabled people and representatives as possible. I have extended the consultation period until 15 March 2024 to ensure everyone has adequate time to make a submission.
If there is a particular DA case that the Deputy would like to be reviewed, officials from my Department will conduct a review.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
298. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection whether contributions made from working in a country (details supplied) can be used to calculate entitlements to a contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5036/24]
View answerThe State Pension (Contributory) is payable to applicants who satisfy certain eligibility conditions including the number of social insurance contributions (paid and credited) they hold over their working life. In certain cases, where an applicant has had periods of insurable employment both in Ireland and in another EU member state or a country with which Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement, they may have an entitlement to a pro-rata State Pension (Contributory).
Ireland has a bilateral social security agreement with the United States of America. Hence, contributions from working in the United States of America would be taken into consideration when calculating entitlement to a State Pension (Contributory).
When applying for the State Pension (Contributory), an applicant is asked to include details of their employment history outside of Ireland. The Pensions Service Office in this Department will contact the relevant authorities in those countries to confirm the social insurance contributions that are applicable.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
299. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is a way to have contributions for self-employed persons working the requisite number of hours to qualify for carer's benefit where they do not pay contributions in class A, B, C, D, E and H; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5039/24]
View answerCarer's Benefit is a Pay Related Social Insurance based payment made to insured people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. It is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks).
Only Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions paid at classes A, B, C, D, E and H are counted towards Carer's Benefit. Contributions paid at class S (self-employed contributions) do not count.
Self-employed workers whose income is €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable to pay social insurance contributions at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. Where all qualification criteria for the particular scheme are satisfied, this class of PRSI gives access to the following benefits:
• Adoptive Benefit,
• Guardian's Payment (Contributory),
• Invalidity Pension,
• Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed),
• Maternity Benefit,
• Parent's Benefit,
• Partial Capacity Benefit (where in receipt of Invalidity Pension),
• Paternity Benefit,
• State Pension (Contributory),
• Treatment Benefit, and
• Widows, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension.
The benefits to which class S PRSI does not provide access are -
• Carer's Benefit,
• Health and Safety Benefit,
• Illness Benefit, and
• Occupational Injuries Benefits.
There has been an extensive expansion of access to the range of social insurance benefits for self-employed social insurance contributors in recent years without any increase in the 4% rate of contribution made by them. In effect, self-employed contributors, in return for a contribution of 11 percentage points lower than for employed contributors, have access to benefits which comprise over 90% of the value of all benefits available to employed contributors.
Any changes in access to schemes for self-employed contributors would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, including the appropriate contribution rates.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
300. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is aware of a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5066/24]
View answerThe Carer's Support Grant (CSG) is an annual payment for carers who look after a person in need of full-time care and attention. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but is subject to certain qualifying conditions. The time spent providing care must not be less than 35 hours in a period of 7 consecutive days, and care is provided on any 5 days, whether consecutive or not, within a period of 7 consecutive days.
The person claiming the Grant must:
• Be aged 16 or over and ordinarily resident in this State
• Care for the person on a full-time basis
• Care for the person for a continuous period of at least six months – this period must include the first Thursday in June
• Live with the person being looked after, or this person can be contacted quickly by a direct system of communication (i.e., a telephone or alarm)
• Not be employed / self-employed for more than 18.5 hours per week
• Not be in receipt of, or entitled to receive Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit or be signing for credited contributions
Additionally, the person being cared for must:
• Be so incapacitated as to need full-time care and attention
• Not normally live in a hospital, convalescent home, or another similar institution
• Not receive full-time care and attention within their own home from another person other than the person claiming the Grant
A CSG application form was received from the person concerned on 20 April 2022. The Deciding Officer found that the person requiring care was residing in Sheltered Accommodation from Monday to Thursday and the person concerned was providing care from Friday to Monday.
Having reviewed the evidence of the case, the Deciding Officer found that, although the person concerned was providing some care, the time involved was not considered to be full time as set out in the legislation governing the CSG. The person concerned was informed of this decision in a letter dated 10 May 2022 and of their right of review and appeal.
On 7 July 2022, the person concerned requested a review of the decision. The outcome of the review was that the original decision remained unchanged. The person concerned was notified on 11 July 2022 of the outcome, the reason for it and of their right of appeal.
On 28 July 2022, the person concerned appealed the decision of the Deciding Officer. The Appeals Officer upheld the decision of the Deciding Officer and disallowed the appeal on 14 November 2022. The decision of the Appeals Office is final and conclusive and can only be overturned in light of new facts or fresh evidence.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
301. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost to increase the number of advocates in the National Advocacy Services for People with Disabilities to 50. [5192/24]
View answerThe National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities (NAS) is a Service Delivery Company of the Citizens Information Board, the statutory body under the aegis of my Department, which has a mandate under the Citizens Information Act 2007 to provide advocacy for people with disabilities.
NAS provides a nationwide representative advocacy service for adults with a disability, and has a particular role in supporting people with disabilities who are isolated from their community and services, have communication differences, are inappropriately accommodated, live in residential services, attend day services, or have limited informal or natural supports.
There are 28 permanent whole-time equivalent (WTE) Advocate posts in NAS is 28, along with 8 Senior Advocate posts. Based on 2024 costs, the estimated full-year cost of increasing the number of NAS WTE Advocates posts to 50, are an additional 1,437,876 based on point 1 of the NAS Advocate salary scale. The figures do not include provision for any additional administrative or managerial costs that may arise from such an increase.
302. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in determining an appeal (details supplied); when a final determination is likely to issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5217/24]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered on the 31st August 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought.
These papers were received on 19th October 2023 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 1st November 2023, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral appeal hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
303. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for invalidity pension in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5218/24]
View answerInvalidity Pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and for no other reason and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The person concerned has been awarded IP with effect from 16 November 2023 and will receive first payment to her nominated bank account on 15 February 2024. Any arrears due from 16 November 2023 to 14 February 2024 will issue shortly after first payment date. The person in question was notified of this decision on 1 February 2024.I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
304. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of times she embarked on visits to foreign countries on behalf of the State since the formation of the Government; the geographical location of each visit; the number of days she abroad on such trips; the dates upon which each trip took place; and the associated travel and accommodation costs which were incurred by her Department in relation to each trip, in tabular form. [5249/24]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection funded the following travel for the Minister since the formation of the current government:
|
Trips |
Destination |
Dates |
Days |
Associated Costs |
|
1 |
Porto, Portugal |
25th- 29th May 2023 |
5 |
€719.29 |
|
1 |
Malta |
11th- 14th May 2022 |
4 |
€542.17 |
305. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection her total Departmental headcount; the headcount for staff dealing with social assistance claims; the corresponding figure for social insurance claims; the average processing time for each social assistance and social insurance scheme respectively; the number of applications under each scheme in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5338/24]
View answerThe total permanent headcount for the Department of Social Protection as sanctioned by DPENDR for 2024 is 6,464 (up 100 from 2023). At the end of 2023 the Department was 22.52 under the permanent staff allocation of 6,364.
Departmental staff (Social Welfare Inspectors, for example) may undertake work across both social assistance and social insurance schemes. In addition, staffing levels in particular areas may vary during the year as claim activity fluctuates. It is thus not possible for the Department to disaggregate its headcount by staff dealing with social assistance or social insurance claims.
The data requested by the Deputy concerning the average processing time in December 2023, and number of applications by scheme in 2023, is shown in the attached tabular statement.
|
Scheme |
Number of applications in 2023 |
Average weeks to award in 2023 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) - Irish |
43,057 |
7 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) - EU/International |
4,184 |
5 |
|
Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension |
8,616 |
1 |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
12,370 |
7 |
|
Jobseekers Allowance |
119,744 |
1 |
|
Jobseekers Benefit |
151,508 |
1 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
13,103 |
4 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
54,146 |
1 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
43,253 |
6 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
29,177 |
6 |
|
Parent's Benefit |
76,935 |
1 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
22,617 |
6 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
4,492 |
4 |
|
Disability Allowance |
28,704 |
10 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
11,498 |
7 |
|
Illness Benefit |
372,528 |
1 |
|
Occupational Injury Benefit |
7,536 |
1 |
|
Child Benefit |
35,203 |
1 |
|
Working Family Payment |
30,125 |
7 |
|
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
12,290 |
6 |
|
Household Benefits |
74,282 |
1 |
306. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on traditional and online advertising by her Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5356/24]
View answerMy Department is committed to ensuring that members of the public are aware of the welfare supports and services that are available to them and that they are notified of any scheme changes which may affect them.
Public information and advertising campaigns are an important part of our work and cover national and regional print media and radio, digital and social media.
All campaigns are developed and targeted carefully in collaboration with our media buyer, using the best mix of media formats to ensure that the Department's messages reach members of the public effectively.
Advertising expenditure in each of the past 10 years including all media fees, and 2024 spend incurred to date, is outlined below in tabular form, and is €10,106,129.04 in total.
|
Year |
Total Advertising Spend |
|
2024 |
€275,772.15* |
|
2023 |
€1,462,679.07 |
|
2022 |
€1,352,300.85 |
|
2021 |
€2,289,774.30 |
|
2020 |
€2,538,989.37 |
|
2019 |
€845,761.29 |
|
2018 |
€416,585.00 |
|
2017 |
€839,102.66 |
|
2016 |
€87,642.92 |
|
2015 |
€209,198.58 |
|
2014 |
€64,095.00 |
* Invoiced to 1st of February 2024.
307. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department has spent money or sought external assistance with Departmental, Ministerial public relations; if so, the cost; and the name of the agencies, consultants and companies involved in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5374/24]
View answerMy Department has sought external assistance with public relations once in the last 10 years. Details of such expenditure by my Department on public relations advice from an external agency during the past ten years follow.
|
Year |
Agency |
Amount |
|
2017 |
Murray Consultants |
€3,690 (inc. VAT) |
My Department does not employ or engage any external consultants or firms to deal with public relations. The Department's Press Office deals with all media queries and public relations matters.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
308. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent by her Department on legal costs or legal services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5392/24]
View answerThe answer to the Deputy's query is detailed in the table below:
Department of Social Protection Legal Fees and Costs
Full Year Costings - 2014 to 2023 & 2024** Year To date
|
YEAR |
TOTAL LEGAL FEES AND COSTS |
|
2014 |
€625,873.47 |
|
2015 |
€1,215,204.00 |
|
2016 |
€1,170,873.09 |
|
2017 |
€1,923,476.52 |
|
2018 |
€1,023,522.13 |
|
2019 |
€2,238,328.50 |
|
2020 |
€1,598,314.32 |
|
2021 |
€1,398,748.22 |
|
2022 |
€1,597,236.19 |
|
2023 |
€578,713.13 |
|
2024 ** YEAR TO DATE |
€226,888.04 |
