Written Answers Nos. 180-197
180. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the vacant property refurbishment grant, particularly in relation to Cork County Council; the stage of applications at present, particularly in relation to a person (details supplied); the number of applicants who have drawn down and received the grant to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8555/24]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. A grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.
While my Department provides guidance on the scheme, it is the local authorities who administer and manage the scheme. Regarding the payment of grants following completion of works, required documentation must be in order before the grant is issued. Further details in relation to specific grant applications may be available from the local Vacant Homes Officer in Cork County Council. The Cork County Council VHO can be contacted at VHO@CorkCoCo.ie.
My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/4bbe4-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/
181. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will make changes to the guidelines that deny planning permission to applicants in Donegal who would have to access on to the N56. [8558/24]
View answerIt is a principle under planning that the planning process is not pre-determined and where any planning application is lodged in accordance with section 34 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act), the application must be considered on a case by case basis by the relevant planning authority.
An application for planning permission also provides an opportunity for members of the public to make submissions or observations in respect of proposed development. The planning authority is required to have regard to any submissions or observations received on a planning application during the public participation process in accordance with section 34 of the Act.
Where any party is unhappy with the decision of a planning authority in relation to an application for planning permission, the decision may be appealed to An Bord Pleanála within four weeks of the decision of the planning authority in accordance with section 37 of the Act.
It should be noted that the establishment of individual objectives and policies within County Development Plans which form part of the consideration of any application, is an exercise undertaken by Planning Authorities as part of their overall statutory development plan function under sections 9 to 13 of the Act and is a reserved function of the elected members.
The Spatial Planning and National Roads Guidelines were issued in 2012 by the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. The Guidelines were prepared in consultation with the Department of Transport, local authorities and the National Roads Authority (NRA - now Transport Infrastructure Ireland - TII).
Planning authorities are required to have regard to the Guidelines in the performance of their functions under the Planning and Development Act 2000. Planning authorities must also ensure that they consult with TII in preparing any local area plans or other non-statutory plans where there may be material implications for national roads.
The Guidelines set out planning policy considerations relating to development affecting national roads (including motorways, national primary and national secondary roads) outside the 50-60 kmh speed limit zones for cities, towns and villages. The Guidelines state that local authority Development Plans must include policies that seek to maintain and protect the safety, capacity and efficiency of national roads and associated junctions, avoiding the creation of new accesses and the intensification of existing accesses to national roads where a speed limit greater than 50 km per hour applies.
The Guidelines do state that, in certain circumstances, planning authorities may identify stretches of national secondary roads where a less restrictive approach may be applied as part of the process of reviewing or varying the relevant development plan. This includes the form and suitability of development, the volume of traffic to be generated and the implications for safety, capacity and efficient operation of national roads including any future upgrades and consistency with other planning guidelines issued under section 28 of the Act such as the Retail Planning Guidelines 2012 and Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines 2005.
182. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Social Protection they way in which a company applies to provide school meals under the school meals programme; when applications will open and the way in which applications are made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8570/24]
View answerThe objective of the School Meals Programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Following the expansion of the programme in recent years, some 2,600 schools and organisations, covering 443,000 children are now eligible for funding.
I am committed to continuing to expand the School Meals Programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme that has taken place in recent years. As part of this significant expansion plan, all remaining primary schools were contacted last year and requested to submit an expression of interest form if their school is interested in commencing the provision of hot school meals.
Expressions of interests were received from over 900 primary schools in respect of 150,000 children and late last year these schools were invited to participate in the Hot School Meals Programme from April 2024. There will be an opportunity for the other primary schools who had subsequently expressed an interest, to do so formally during this year.
Funding under this Programme is for food only. All schools who wish to avail of the School Meals Programme are responsible for choosing their own School Meals supplier on the open market in a fair and transparent manner in accordance with Public Procurement rules and the primary relationship is between school and supplier.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
183. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Social Protection if a prepaid return envelope can be included when requests are issued from the child benefit section asking parents to confirm their children's details concerning continued entitlement to child benefit payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8418/24]
View answerChild Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children up to the age of 16 years. Currently, 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.
I have secured approval to bring forward, from September to May, the extension of Child Benefit for 18-year-olds who are in full-time education or who have a disability.
From May 1st, Child Benefit will be paid to anyone who is 18 and in full-time education (including 3rd level), or who has a disability, up until their 19th birthday.
The measure is expected to benefit some 60,000 children annually.
Child Benefit scheme stopped issuing freepost envelopes to customers in 2017. There are no plans to change the automated process of issuing continuing eligibility certificates without a return envelope.
In cases where a customer writes freepost on an envelope or uses a freepost envelope from another scheme, the Department will accept the charges and ensure the documents are directed to the appropriate area within the Department.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
184. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection the current status of the review of the disability allowance means review for a person (details supplied), and when she could expect payment to increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8421/24]
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, a means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
My Department received correspondence from the person concerned on 7 November 2023, requesting a review of their DA rate of payment due to a change in the person's circumstances.
Based on the information received, a review of the claim was undertaken. I can confirm that following a review, it was found that?the person concerned had a decrease in her means from her previous assessment and has been assessed with nil weekly means with effect from 8 November 2023.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on?21 February 2024.
Any arrears due will issue less any overlapping payments and any overpayments due.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
185. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection following the welcome news that full-time second level students over 18 years of age will be re-eligible for child benefit from May, if the arrears of missing months before May will be paid from when they turned 18; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8423/24]
View answerChild Benefit is a monthly payment made to families with children up to the age of 16 years. Currently, the payment continues to be paid in respect of children until their 18th birthday where they are in full-time education, or have a disability.
In Budget 2024, the Government decided to extend the payment of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds who are in full-time education or have a disability. This was one of my key priorities in the Budget.
With many children now starting primary school at age 5, together with the increase in pupils doing transition year, there has been an increase in the number of 18-year-olds still in secondary education. I believe the extension of Child Benefit to 18-year-olds in full-time education is a long-term change for the better and will support families across Ireland into the future.
This is a significant change to the Child Benefit scheme. It requires technical and operational changes before implementation.
We had originally provided that the change would take effect from September this year. However, I am very pleased that we are now able to bring this important change in from an earlier date and I have secured Government approval to do that. As a result, the measure will be brought in from the first of May. In the region of 60,000 children are expected to benefit from this measure annually. The additional estimated cost of bringing the commencement date forward to May is €21.6 million.
In the case of a child who turned 18 after May 2023 and who is still in full-time education, Child Benefit will be payable again from May 2024 up to their 19th birthday, or until they leave full-time education, whichever is sooner.
As the measure comes into effect from 1st May, where a child turns 18 in the meantime, there will be no payment for any intervening period up to May 2024, which is the usual approach for changes to the social welfare system that take effect from a future date. The Department will be in contact with these recipients of Child Benefit over the coming months to advise of the next steps.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
186. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if a one-parent family payment will continue to be paid to a person (details supplied). [8428/24]
View answerThe person specified continued to be eligible for One Parent Family Payment during the two week substitution period.
Wages from employment, including employment undertaken while participating in a course of study is assessed as means on a One Parent Family Payment claim.
The first €165.00 of gross weekly earnings is not assessed in a means test on a One Parent Family Payment claim. However, income above €165.00 is assessed at 50%.
Appropriate means were applied for the two week period concerned and the payment reverted to the higher rate when the additional income ceased.
187. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if, pending the submission of additional information requested for a disability allowance for a person (details supplied), she will allow continued payment of the allowance until eligibility has been established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8438/24]
View answerDisability Allowance is both a means and medically assessed payment. To confirm continued eligibility to DA, a means review of the person concerned commenced on 9th November 2023 and an information request letter issued to them. The letter requested, inter alia, up to date statements for all accounts held with financial institutions held either by the person concerned and/or their spouse/partner; details of earnings of both parties; and details of any shares held by either party.
The person concerned provided some of the requested information on 4th December 2023.
As no further information was supplied by the customer, the Department wrote to the person concerned on 12th February 2024 requesting the outstanding documentation and advising that some of information supplied previously was not sufficient to complete the review i.e., some financial statements provided were over 2 years old, statements were not provided for previously declared accounts and statements did not show account holder name or account number on the documentation provided.
This letter advised that payments would be suspended from 21st February if the requested documentation was not provided by that time. It is standard practice to suspend payments where a customer fails to provide all of the requested documentation.
Upon receipt of all information, the Deciding Officer will determine eligibility. Payments will be unsuspended and arrears issued if appropriate.
For convenience, all requested information can be e-mailed to longfordcontrolreview@welfare.ie.
The person concerned can apply to the Community Welfare Officer based in their local Intreo office for the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) if they are in need of financial assistance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
188. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection to respond to concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8442/24]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the administration and payment of a range of benefits that support parents of newborn and young babies. In all circumstances, entitlement to claim benefit follows on from having an entitlement to the corresponding leave. The legislation governing the different forms of leave is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Any question relating to leave entitlement should be directed to that Department.
I can confirm that all parents, including those whose babies have been born through surrogacy, have access to Parent's Benefit and Paternity Benefit, subject to their satisfying the qualifying conditions.
In Budget 2024, I provided for a €12 increase in weekly social welfare payments from January. As a result, Parent's Benefit and Paternity Benefit are paid at a rate of €274 per week. Any further changes to the rates would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
In addition, in Budget 2024, I provided for the extension of Parent's Leave and Benefit from 7 weeks per parent to 9 weeks per parent from August of this year. This leave and benefit must be availed of within 2 years of the child's birth or adoption.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
189. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on a carer's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8474/24]
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 26th September 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 5th October 2023 and the case was assigned to an Appeals Officer on 15th 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.
190. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a disability allowance will be made available in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8577/24]
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.
In accordance with the Department of Justice definitions, a stamp 2 visa indicates a permission to study and excludes an individual from receiving any welfare benefits unless the holder has an entitlement via other means.
The person concerned will have to complete a Disability Allowance application form (DA1) and submit it to my Department in order to have their eligibility assessed and a formal decision made.
The person concerned can apply to the Community Welfare Officer based in their local Intreo office for the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) if they are in need of financial assistance.
Application forms for DA and SWA were posted to the person concerned on 20 February 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
191. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a PPS number might issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8581/24]
View answerIt is not possible to determine the status of the person’s application for a Personal Public Service (PPS) Number without an email address from which the application was made. Following your representation, my officials made contact, by telephone, with the person concerned to ascertain their application email address, however this information has not yet been provided.
When the application email address is identified, the person can make direct contact with my officials by emailing PPSNGardinerSt@welfare.ie. The person should ensure all relevant documentation has been uploaded, to facilitate the prompt processing of their application.
I hope this clarifies the matter.
192. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8583/24]
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.
Social welfare legislation provides that, for DA, all income and capital (such as savings, investments and property other than the family home) belonging to the claimant and his or her spouse/partner, where applicable, are assessable for means assessment purposes.
The person concerned must complete a Disability Allowance application form (DA1) and submit it to the Department in order to have their eligibility assessed and a formal decision made.
In order to make an application for DA, the person concerned requires a PPSN. The person concerned is currently in the process of applying for same. Once the person concerned has been issued a PPSN, they can proceed with their application.
The person concerned can apply to the Community Welfare Officer based in their local Intreo office for the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) if they are in need of financial assistance.
Application forms for DA and SWA were posted to the person concerned on 20 February 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
193. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the entitlement to an appropriate payment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8586/24]
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 is in receipt of an Invalidity Pension (IP) from my department since 18 June 2015.
On 14 September 2023, the person was awarded an increase for a qualified adult (IQA) and an increase for two qualified children (IQC) effective from 23 February 2023 and for one qualified child effective from 10 August 2023. He requested a review of the award date of these increases and has requested backdating of the IQA and IQC payments to 2018. This review was undertaken and the deciding officer (DO) found that there were no grounds for backdating the IQA or IQC payments as the qualified adult and children involved were not residing in Ireland with the person concerned up to the dates on which the increases were awarded. The person concerned was notified on 20 February 2024 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the maximum hours or income a person (details supplied) can work or receive to retain the one-parent family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8604/24]
View answerOne-Parent Family Payment (OPFP) is a means-tested payment for parents under age 66 who are not cohabiting, and whose youngest child is under 7.
OPFP is made up of a personal rate and an increase for each qualifying child. The weekly rate depends on a person's means or income, that is the personal rate of payment reduces as means or income increase. Current rates of payment can be found on the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/1af6ca-rates-of-payment-sw19/
For OPFP purposes, means (for example earnings, income from savings, investments, property and other income ) are calculated in accordance with Part 5 of Schedule 3 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005, as amended. The first €165 per week of gross earnings (including wages and profit from any form of self-employment), is disregarded in the means assessment for OPFP customers and half the balance is assessed as means.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned is currently receiving a weekly OPFP payment of €248, calculated as follows:
Personal rate - €232
Less a means assessment on the basis of employment income - (€ 30) - €202
Increase for a qualifying child - €46
Weekly OPFP - €248
If the person’s income has changed, they should contact their local Social Welfare Branch Office in Maynooth to request a means review.
I hope this clarifies the matter.
195. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Justice how many citizenship ceremonies are planned for 2024; the expected months for citizenship ceremonies in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8624/24]
View answer196. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of citizenship ceremonies planned in 2024; and if she will provide a schedule of same, by date. [8412/24]
View answer197. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice how many citizenship ceremonies are planned for 2024, and the expected months for citizenship ceremonies this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8426/24]
View answer199. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Justice the number of citizenship ceremonies anticipated in 2024; the month or months in which they will take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8475/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 195 to 197, inclusive, and 199 together.
I can assure the Deputy that the Citizenship Division of my Department is committed to providing as many opportunities as possible for applicants to complete the naturalisation process.
Last year Citizenship Division more than doubled the number of ceremonies available to applicants with 15 held over the course of the year. These took place in the RDS, Dublin in March, in the INEC, Killarney in June, and in the Convention Centre in both October and December. This was a significant increase on 6 Citizenship Ceremonies held in 2022.
It is envisioned a similar schedule of Ceremonies will be held this year with the first one scheduled for next Monday, February 28.
As the Deputy will appreciate, these events require considerable planning and Citizenship Division issues invitations to successful applicants at the earliest possible opportunity. As plans for further ceremonies are confirmed this information will be put into the public domain.
Further information on Citizenship Ceremonies is available on my Department’s website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/citizenship-ceremonies/
