Written Answers Nos. 362-383
362. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total annual expenditure on the defective concrete block grant scheme for each year the scheme has been in operation, in tabular form. [41241/24]
View answerI commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 ('the 2022 Act') on 22 June 2023, which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
The table below sets out the drawdown amounts under the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme since June 2020.
|
Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme |
Total |
|
Total 2020 |
€775,059 |
|
Total 2021 |
€4,050,425 |
|
Total 2022 |
€8,752,613 |
|
Total 2023 |
€22,100,910 |
|
Total 2024 to date |
€35,393,934 |
|
Total Drawdown to date |
€71,072,941 |
A total of 354 remediation option grant determinations have been made by the Housing Agency amounting to €115,540,725 (as at 31 August 2024).
A further 722 remediation option grant determinations were made under the Transitional arrangements of the 2022 Act by Donegal and Mayo County Councils with a total value of €231,560,839 (as at 31 August 2024).
363. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for a breakdown of the €245 million for the cost rental equity loan allocated in Budget 2025; if this is all capital funding; and if it includes the equity funding piece. [41261/24]
View answerUnder Budget 2025, announced on 1 October, my Department was allocated an overall budget package of over €7.9 billon, comprising €4.5 billion capital and €3.4 billon current funding. Full details are available online at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/3ab46-budget-2025-expenditure-reports/ .
As part of this, the Cost Rental Equity Loan (CREL) scheme has a provisional sub-allocation of €300m capital funding. This figure includes both the loan and State equity investment elements of CREL.
The AHB Cost Rental homes to be funded under CREL will also be supported by loan financing from the Housing Finance Agency, which has been allocated €1.65bn under Budget 2025.
It should be noted that the figures in the Budget Expenditure Reports are provisional allocations and may be subject to change in the Revised Estimates Volume to be published in December.
364. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown, by each local authority of the number of applicants for housing adaptation grants; the length of time each one has been waiting for a decision on their completed application; the length of time between the decision and supports being provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41285/24]
View answer375. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the full-year cost of increasing the maximum housing adaptation grant to €60,000 based on current drawdown numbers and composition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41623/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 364 and 375 together.
My Department provides Exchequer funding to local authorities to administer the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability, which support older and disabled people living in private houses to adapt their home to meet their needs. The grants include the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, which are 80% funded by my Department, with a 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority.
The detailed administration of these schemes, including assessment, approval and prioritisation, is the responsibility of local authorities. My Department engages regularly with local authorities on the effective and efficient administration of the scheme to ensure that all applications are dealt with in accordance with Departmental guidance.
My Department developed a revised recoupment claim form which was implemented by local authorities on a phased basis throughout 2022. The revised form captures data on the date a valid application is received, approved and paid by a local authority. This will allow my Department to calculate the average length of time that it will take a local authority to approve valid applications and issue grant payments over the 12-month period of 2023 taking account that local authorities submit recoupment claims in batches at various stages throughout the year. This approach will ensure that all local authorities are correctly represented in the resulting data, which my Department is working to make available as soon as possible. Details of the number of grants paid by all local authorities up to 2023 are available on my Department's website at the following link: gov - Other local authority housing scheme statistics (www.gov.ie).
Housing for All commits to reviewing the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme and a Report on the Review has been prepared by my Department. Minister O'Brien and I recently published this Report which includes a proposed increase in the grant limits by over 30% and the income thresholds by 25% as well as number of other measures in relation to the means test. The Report on the Review of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability is available on my Department’s website at the following link: gov.ie - Ministers O’Brien and Dillon announce reforms following review of the Housing Adaptation Grants (www.gov.ie).
My Department will now proceed to implement the review recommendations through bringing forward a statutory instrument as soon as possible, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, with the aim of introducing a revised scheme in Quarter 1 of 2025. Budget 2025 provided for an increase of funding provision for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme has been increased by €25 million for 2025 to almost €100 million. This increase will underpin the introduction of the recommendations set out in the review.
365. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding allocated to Cork City Council for preventative maintenance in 2024. [41306/24]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2019.
Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities, I have approved €31 million in funding under the Planned Maintenance/Voids Programme this year. Of this, €1,884,714 has been allocated to Cork City Council.
Work in relation to the 2024 programme is ongoing and current indicators show that the original target's are expected to be achieved this year. Full details in relation to delivery under the 2024 Planned Maintenance/Voids Programme will be available early in 2025.
366. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 917 of 11 September 2023, if Offaly County Council has supplied the information sought with respect to the Cadamstown group water scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41462/24]
View answerIn relation to the specific group water scheme referred to, I understand that the scheme has received all payments relating to the emergency capital works concerned.
I can confirm that my Department has requested some further information from Offaly County Council which is required to close out this matter.
367. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that he adhered to the provisions and timelines of the Habitats Directive, in particular Article 4, when he signed a statutory instrument in relation to Barroughter Bog, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41527/24]
View answer368. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that he adhered to the provisions and timelines of the Habitats Directive ain particular Article 4, when he signed a statutory instrument in relation to Clonmoylan Bog, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41528/24]
View answer369. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that he adhered to the provisions and timelines of the Habitats Directive, in particular Article 4, when he signed a statutory instrument in relation to Ardgraigue Bog, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41529/24]
View answer370. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason he did not adhere to the six-year time limit as defined in the Habitats Directive when he signed the statutory instruments for Barroughter Bog, County Galway, for Clonmoylan Bog in County Galway and Ardgraigue Bog, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41530/24]
View answer371. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that Barroughter Bog, County Galway, Clonmoylan Bog in County Galway and Ardgraigue Bog, County Galway have legal standing as special areas of conservation given his failure to adhere to the provisions of the Habitats Directive in so designating these bogs as special areas of conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41531/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 367, 368, 369, 370 and 371 together.
The EU Directive on the Conservation of Habitats, Flora and Fauna (92/43/EEC), commonly known as “the Habitats Directive” requires Member States to select sites, for the protection of habitats and species which are considered threatened in the EU territory and listed on the Annexes to the Directive. Annex I of the Habitats Directive includes priority habitats such as Active Raised Bog, which are considered to be in danger of disappearing within the EU territory
Sites selected to protect habitats and species listed in the Habitats Directive are known as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and form part of the Natura 2000 network of protected sites across Europe.
The Habitats Directive is transposed into Irish law by way of inter alia the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.
Ireland has selected and protected a number of candidate SAC sites for the protection of Annex I raised bog habitats, including Barroughter Bog and Cloonmoylan Bog in 1997 and Ardgraigue Bog in 2002.
Following completion of the necessary statutory processes these candidate SAC sites, including Barroughter Bog, Cloonmoylan Bog and Ardgraigue Bog completed the designation process and have been formally designated by way of Statutory Instrument made in accordance with section 3 of the European Communities Act, 1972 pursuant to and in accordance with Ireland’s obligations under the Habitats Directive.
In accordance with the process for designating SACs in Ireland, my Department issued notifications of intention to designate the three Special Areas of Conservation, Barroughter Bog Cloonmoylan Bog and Ardgraigue Bog, in the years between 1997 and 2002, which made the sites the subject matter of such notices candidate SACs.
A candidate SAC constitutes a ‘European Site’ under Irish Law. As such, candidate SACs are afforded the same protections as SACs from the time of first notification.
The designation of every SAC in Ireland involves a comprehensive procedure including notification, objections, appeals, and final formal designation. This process has applied to all SACs, including those referred to, and is an intensive and time-consuming process. Once a site is notified as a candidate SAC it is afforded the necessary legal protection under Irish law whilst the full designation process is being concluded in accordance with the requirements of the Habitats Directive. The SACs in question are all validly designated in accordance with Irish and European law.
372. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of LIHAF applications received for Louth since its inception; the number that were approved and not approved, respectively; the status of all approved applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41538/24]
View answer373. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of LIHAF applications received for Meath since its inception; the number that were approved and not approved, respectively; the status of all approved applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41539/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 372 and 373 together.
The objective of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is to provide public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages. The types of infrastructure being provided include roads, bridges, diversion of power-lines, drainage works as well as public amenities (parks).
In July 2016, my Department invited relevant infrastructure project proposals from local authorities, and received over 70 applications.
A LIHAF Advisory Group was established to undertake an evaluation and assessment of LIHAF applications. This Advisory Group was drawn from a number of areas within the Department including planning, quantity surveying and housing delivery experts. A LIHAF Management Committee was established to make recommendations to the Minister, on projects that met the criteria for LIHAF funding and which could be given approval in principle, taking account of the detailed evaluation and assessments undertaken by the LIHAF Advisory Group.
All proposals were assessed in line the criteria set out in the Call for Proposals and ultimately 30 projects were approved for LIHAF grant funding in 2017.
Louth County Council submitted three applications for projects Newtown, Drogheda; Mount Avenue, Dundalk and Northern Environs, Drogheda. Two of these applications were successful. One of the approved projects at Newtown is no longer proceeding as the housing developers were unsuccessful in their Strategic Housing Development application. The other project at Mount Avenue has recently reached substantial completion of the LIHAF infrastructure works.
Meath County Council submitted six applications for projects located in Farganstown, Navan; Stamullen; Dunshaughlin; Ratoath; Kilcock and Nevinstown, Navan. Two of these applications were successful and the LIHAF infrastructure works are complete, these projects are at Farganstown, Navan and Ratoath.
It should be noted that the LIHAF scheme closed for new applications in 2017.
374. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the international events and engagements he has attended at which members of the media were also in attendance as part of the Government delegation, since the formation of the Government; the media organisation they represented; the cost involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41605/24]
View answerI can confirm that have not attended any international events or engagements where members of the media were present as part of our delegation.
376. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to the awarding of basic allowance or appropriate award in the case a person (details supplied) who has a child with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40930/24]
View answerThe Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme which is the safety net within the overall social welfare system, helps eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the SWA scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single Additional Needs Payments (ANP)s. The basic SWA provides immediate assistance for those in need who are awaiting the outcome of a claim or an appeal for a primary social welfare payment or do not qualify for payment under other State schemes.
According to the records of the Department, the person concerned applied for a basic SWA payment while a decision is pending on her Jobseekers Transitional Payment application. The most recent correspondence to the customer issued on 04/10/2024, requesting statements for accounts held in two financial institutions. To date, the person concerned has not provided the outstanding documents requested. Once the required documents have been received, the claim will be reviewed promptly, and the customer will be advised of the outcome in writing.
Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment (JST) is a special arrangement under the Jobseeker’s Allowance scheme. It is a means-tested payment. Qualifying conditions for JST can be found here www.gov.ie/en/service/9c29ef-jobseekers-transitional-payment/#what-jobseekers-transitional-payment-is .
According to the records of the Department, the person concerned applied for JST payment on 19/09/2024. The most recent correspondence to the person concerned was by email on 09/10/2024 requesting the following:
• Confirmation if she is in receipt of any spousal maintenance.
• A self-assessment tax return for 2023 (not the Form 11).
• The last three months statements for accounts held in financial institutions.
To date, the person concerned has not provided the required documentation. Once the requested documents have been received, the claim will be progressed, and the customer will be informed of the decision.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
377. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given for domiciliary care allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40931/24]
View answerDomiciliary Care Allowance is payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age and where the level of the child's disability is such that the child is likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 consecutive months.
An application for DCA in respect of their child was received from the person concerned on 20 September 2024.
As part of the decision process, their application is currently awaiting the opinion of a Departmental Medical Assessor (MA).
On receipt of the MA opinion, a decision will be made by a Deciding Officer and the person concerned will be notified directly of the decision on their application.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
378. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) did not receive credits. [40940/24]
View answerThe person concerned reached pension age on 13 June 2020.
The records of my Department show that the person concerned paid Class S contributions from 1995 to 2001. There are no subsequent paid contributions on their record. Self-employed Class S contributions are not reckonable for the award of credits. As such, there was no entitlement to credited contributions for any of the years after 2001. An application for State Pension (contributory) was received on 17 February 2020. Based on the records of my Department the person concerned has a total of 739 paid contributions, 175 credited contributions and 512 HomeCaring Periods which gives entitlement to 68.58% of the maximum rate of state pension (contributory).
I have arranged for a copy of the social insurance record of the person concerned to issue. If they consider that there are additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo, F91 T384.
It is also open to them to apply for the state pension (non-contributory) which is a means-tested payment with a maximum payment of 95% of the state pension (contributory).
I hope this clarifies the position.
379. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was refused a support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40972/24]
View answerThe person concerned recently applied for Fuel Allowance.
The current means threshold for a person aged under 70 years is €477.30. This includes income of up to €200 above the maximum rate of State Pension Contributory, which is €277.30. The means of the person concerned were assessed at €505.50, which is over the means threshold. As a result, their Fuel Allowance application was disallowed on this occasion.
If the person’s circumstances change in the future, it is open to them to re-apply for a Fuel Allowance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
380. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection where, in the event of a person having money in a pension fund that is paying a monthly pension, the capital sum is invested, or the sum of the pension being paid that is assessed for carer’s allowance, disability allowance and State pension (non-contributory) payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40987/24]
View answerSocial welfare legislation provides that means tests take account of the income and assets of the person (and their spouse or partner, if applicable) applying for the relevant scheme. The means assessment includes income from sources such as employment, self-employment, and occupational pensions. It also includes property owned, other than the family home, and capital such as savings, shares, and other investments.
The assessment of capital reflects an expectation that people with reasonable amounts of capital and property are in a position to use that capital, or to release the value of the property, to support themselves without having to rely solely on a means-tested welfare payment.
Most social protection schemes have a general capital disregard, meaning the full amount of the capital is not assessed.
In the case of the means assessment for a personal rate of Carer's Allowance and Disability Allowance, the first €50,000 of capital an applicant holds is fully disregarded; the next €10,000 is assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.
In the case of the means assessment for a personal rate of the State Pension (Non-contributory), the first €20,000 (€40,000 for a couple) of capital an applicant holds is fully disregarded; the next €10,000 is assessed at €1 per thousand, the next €10,000 is assessed at €2 per thousand, with the remainder assessed at €4 per thousand.
The value of a pension fund is only assessable as means when the customer has access to the fund. Any benefits in the form of regular payments or a lump sum payment will be assessed as means. Where a pension lump sum is received, operational practice is to assess this as capital. The value of any cash otherwise available from a pension fund will be assessed on the basis of the capital valuation of that fund.
Any changes to this would have to be considered in the overall policy context.
381. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of the State pension (non-contributory) and the State pension (contributory), broken down by their yearly average PRSI contributions and whether they qualified before or after 1 September 2012, in tabular form. [40996/24]
View answerThe figures requested by the Deputy are set out in the table below.
There were approximately 100,000 recipients of the State Pension (Non-Contributory) at 31 December 2023.There were approximately 509,000 recipients of State Pension (Contributory) at 31 December 2023, of whom just under 165,000 qualified before 1 September 2012.Not all State Pension awards can be categorised according to the level of yearly average contributions. The tabular breakdown below excludes State Pension (Non-Contributory) recipients, whose claims were assessed on a means-tested basis without reference to their social insurance record. Furthermore, the following categories of State Pension (Contributory) recipients are not included:
• automatic transfers from Invalidity Pension;
• awards under the Total Contributions Approach (or Aggregated Contributions Method);
• those with partial records outside of full social insurance (such as periods in other countries, paying modified rates of social insurance, or periods prior to 1953).
If State Pension Contributory awards under either the yearly-average or the Interim Total Contributions Approach are included, average rates of payment are:
• 94.7% of the maximum rate of State Pension for those who qualified prior to 1 September 2012 and
• 95.0% of the maximum rate of State Pension for those who qualified after 1 September 2012.
|
Yearly Average |
Qualified Pre 1 September 2012 |
Qualified Post 1 September 2012 |
|
48 or over |
67,736 |
123,495 |
|
40-47 |
21,533 |
|
|
30-39 |
20,453 |
|
|
20-29 |
21,182 |
|
|
20-47 |
40,612 |
|
|
15-19 |
7,016 |
8,336 |
|
10-14 |
8,414 |
3,503 |
The Deputy may also wish to note the following:
In order to determine the breakdown requested, the numbers of State Pension Contributory recipients include the most up-to-date data as at 30 September 2024 and will accordingly have slight differences from figures in my Department's forthcoming Annual Statistics report.
382. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the decision to introduce a lower rate of State pension (contributory) after 1 September 2012 has not been reversed given the impact it has in pushing tens of thousands of pensioners into poverty. [40997/24]
View answerFrom September 2012, the rates of State pension (contributory) paid to those who had a yearly average of less than 40 contributions were lowered.
In recognition that these rate changes may have negatively impacted certain cohorts, in January 2018, the Government announced an Interim Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to calculate the entitlement of pensioners who reached State pension age on or after 1 September 2012 (i.e. those born on or after 1 September 1946) and who had a reduced rate pension entitlement based on those post Budget 2012 rate bands. People whose pensions were decided prior to 1 September 2012 were not affected by the Budget 2012 rate band changes.
Work began on examining the social insurance records of over 94,000 pensioners in September 2018. Where these reviews resulted in an increase in the pensioner’s rate of payment, the increase was backdated to 30 March 2018 or the pensioners 66th birthday, as appropriate. At the end of October 2019, with the project completed, 94,258 reviews had been finalised; of these, 53,092 (56%) were women and 41,166 (44%) were men. Of the 53,092 women reviewed, 28,528 (54%) received an increase while the rest remained on their existing rate. Of the 41,166 men reviewed, 9,956 (24%) received an increase and the remainder continued to receive their same rate of payment. No pensioner had their pension payment reduced as part of this review.
One of the landmark reforms to the State Pension system, enacted in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023, is a ten-year phased transition to the Total Contributions Approach and the abolition of the Yearly Average method. The phased transition will commence in January 2025. This was part of the recommendations from the independent Pensions Commission following its in-depth analysis of the State pension system.
Under the Total Contributions Approach for calculating the SPC, the total number of paid contributions can be supplemented by up to 20 years of credited contributions. These credits can take the form of HomeCaring periods (maximum of 20 years) or ordinary credits (maximum of 10 years) for reasons such as unemployment or illness. The total combined credits cannot exceed 20 years (i.e. if a person has 15 years HomeCaring periods and eight years ordinary credits, they will get a maximum of 20 years credits).
To receive the maximum rate of payment, a person needs a total of at least 2,080 contributions and credits combined (equivalent to 40 years). If the total is less than 2,080, the rate of payment will be a percentage of the maximum rate of pension. For example, a person may receive a maximum pension based on a record of 20 years paid PRSI contributions, 5 years jobseekers’ credits, and 15 years HomeCaring credits (before or after 1994).
The existing provision of up to 20 years credited periods can provide up to half of a full pension entitlement, having regard to the fact that 40 years contributions are required to receive a maximum rate of payment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
383. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for carer’s allowance from the Kildare area in 2023 and to date in 2024; the amount awarded; and the amount refused due to means. [41027/24]
View answer387. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for carer's allowance from the Kildare area in 2023 and to date in 2024; the amount awarded; and the amount refused due to means. [41099/24]
View answer388. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for carers allowance from the Cork area in 2023 and to date in 2024; the amount awarded; and the amount refused due to means. [41105/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 383, 387 and 388 together.
The Department of Social Protection does not hold statistics on reasons for unsuccessful claim applications. Claim processing statistics are not collected on a county basis, and thus it is not possible to provide the requested county data; national totals are provided.
In the State in 2023 there were 22,633 claims registered for Carer's Allowance, while 17,333 were awarded and 10,875 rejected. These awarded and rejected figures include claims, which were registered in late 2022. To the end of August 2024, 15,847 Carer's Allowance claims were registered and 11,047 awarded.
