Written Answers Nos. 130-138
130. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of arrears due in respect of a jobseeker's claim in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11890/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobseeker’s allowance payments to the person concerned have been suspended from 20 February as he failed to sign, as required, on that date. A decision on future payments, including any arrears due, cannot be made until he presents himself at his local social welfare office.
131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date in respect of the determination of an application for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who applied in September 2012; if and when a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11891/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 22 September 2012. The person submitted further medical evidence in support of her claim and a review of her application is underway. Once a decision is made on this review, the person in question will be notified of the outcome.
133. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal against the decision to disallow rent allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17. [11938/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 22 February 2013. 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. When received, the appeal in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
134. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on an application for carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11939/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the Department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 15 May 2012. This application was referred to one of the Department’s medical assessors who was of the opinion that the caree in question was not medically eligible for carer’s allowance. A letter issued on 14 October 2012 refusing the allowance. The person in question submitted further evidence for review in November 2012. The evidence was forwarded to the Department’s medical assessors for further consideration and is awaiting assessment. Once the review is completed in this case the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress made to date in determination of eligibility for disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if supplementary welfare can be paid in this instance while awaiting a decision as they have no income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12033/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned applied for disability allowance on 22 February 2013. On completion of the necessary investigations a decision will be made and the person will be notified directly of the outcome. In addition, as this person has a PRSI record, an application form for invalidity pension has been posted to him today. He should complete this form and return it as soon as possible if he wishes to be assessed for invalidity pension. If the person concerned wishes to apply for supplementary welfare allowance he should contact his local community welfare service at 1800 383800.
136. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in tabular form by county the number of landowners whose land is designated as part of the hen harrier conservation programme; the numbers of landowners who are in receipt of compensation for this form of land designation under the national parks and wildlife farm plan scheme; the maximum, minimum and average payments made to landowners under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11805/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department utilised the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS), which is a database of claimants under the Single Payment Scheme supplied by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, for the identification and notification of possible landowners and users in the nine Hen Harrier Special Protection Areas (SPAs) advertised in November 2007. These nine SPA sites covered six counties and, where an individual had land in more than one site, this led to a duplication which altered the figures slightly. The figures in the following table indicate the total numbers of individuals notified, with a breakdown by site and county, as well as the adjusted figure where duplication has been identified.
|
Code |
Site name |
Counties |
Landowners |
|
4160 |
SLIEVE BLOOM MOUNTAINS SPA |
Laois |
288 |
|
Offaly |
137 |
||
|
425 |
|||
|
4161 |
STACK'S TO MULLAGHAREIRK MOUNTAINS, WEST |
Cork |
380 |
|
LIMERICK HILLS AND MOUNT EAGLE SPA |
Kerry |
641 |
|
|
Limerick |
687 |
||
|
1,708 |
|||
|
4162 |
MULLAGHANISH TO MUSHERAMORE MOUNTAINS SPA |
Cork |
154 |
|
4165 |
SLIEVEFELIM TO SILVERMINES MOUNTAINS SPA |
Limerick |
121 |
|
Tipperary |
348 |
||
|
469 |
|||
|
4167 |
SLIEVE BEAGH SPA |
Monaghan |
82 |
|
4168 |
SLIEVE AUGHTY MOUNTAINS SPA |
Clare |
599 |
|
Galway |
723 |
||
|
1,322 |
|||
|
(excluding duplicates 3,905) |
Total |
4,160 |
|
|
4163 |
NAGLES MOUNTAINS SPA |
Cork |
288 |
|
4164 |
BALLYHOURA MOUNTAINS SPA |
Cork |
109 |
|
Limerick |
166 |
||
|
275 |
|||
|
4166 |
KILWORTH MOUNTAINS SPA |
Cork |
73 |
|
Tipperary |
12 |
||
|
85 |
|||
|
(excluding duplicates 605) |
|||
|
Total |
648 |
||
My Department has administered a small-scale farm plan scheme using Exchequer funds, which has supported farmers in adopting appropriate management practices in the Hen Harrier SPAs. Due to budgetary constraints, the scheme is now closed to new applicants. The number of participants who are currently in receipt of payments under the farm plan scheme for the Hen Harrier is set out in the following table.
|
County |
Number of Participants |
|
Clare |
85 |
|
Cork |
50 |
|
Galway |
30 |
|
Kerry |
58 |
|
Laois |
6 |
|
Limerick |
95 |
|
Monaghan |
10 |
|
Tipperary |
32 |
|
Total |
366 |
Payments under the farm plan scheme are based on eligible lands located within one of the Hen Harrier SPAs and those lands must be managed in accordance with the Hen Harrier prescription. Payments are made at the following rates:
- Eligible areas up to 40 hectares are paid at a rate of €350 per hectare.
- Eligible areas from 40 hectares to 120 hectares are paid at a rate of €25 per hectare.
- Eligible areas in excess of 120 hectares are paid at a rate of €5 per hectare.
The minimum amount received by a participant in the scheme was €293, while the maximum amount received was €16,054. The average payment per participant in the scheme is €7,801.
137. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Longford where land was designated a special area of conservation in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11806/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. I am advised that a payment of €1,500 in respect of the first year was made to this applicant in June 2012. A letter confirming same was sent to the applicant on 11 July 2012. My Department envisages that payments of €1,500 in respect of 2013 will be made in the second quarter of this year.
138. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the National Parks and Wildlife Service is expected to complete its threat response plan for the conservation of hen harriers at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11864/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the EU Birds Directive, six Special Protection Areas have been classified for the conservation of Hen Harrier. A recent survey recorded significant declines in some of these sites, which are considered to be traditional strongholds of this species’ breeding range.
Under regulation 39 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, provision is made to develop and implement an appropriate threat response plan in order to meet the objectives of the Birds Directive. The threat response plan will incorporate measures intended to cease, avoid, reduce or prevent threats, pressures or hazards that may be having an adverse effect on the conservation status of a species of bird referred to in Article 1 of the Birds Directive and/or causing the deterioration of the habitats of species for which a Special Protection Area has been classified pursuant to the Birds Directive.
The development of a threat response plan for the conservation of Hen Harrier in Ireland is underway and my Department is currently engaged in a procurement process to secure the necessary support in order to undertake this process in a timely and efficient manner. My Department will be working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in exploring the areas of overlap between the conservation of habitat for the Hen Harrier and the forestry and agricultural sectors in the location referred to by the Deputy, with a view to finding practicable and manageable solutions to reverse the significant Hen Harrier population declines that have been recorded. My Department will also engage with other stakeholders in order to ensure that all relevant sectors are involved in this process.
