Written Answers Nos. 145-152
146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding payment of rent support in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15944/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application has been approved and payment of rent supplement awarded and backdated to 8 October 2012. An arrears payment of €4,396.00 to cover this period has been issued to be paid into her bank account on 27 March 2013.
147. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which a review/appeal has taken account of the family circumstances in respect of liabilities in the determination of the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in respect of jobseeker's allowance means; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15946/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer having fully considered all the available evidence disallowed the appeal of the person concerned by way of summary decision on 20 March 2013. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing. 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.
148. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the future of the Digital Hub Development Agency; if it is intended to proceed with the planned merger with Dublin City Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15765/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government announced in late 2012 that the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) will transition into Dublin City Council (DCC) as part of its programme to rationalise State Agencies. The announcement follows the November 2011 Report on Public Sector Reform, in which the DHDA was earmarked for merger. There will be a transition period over the next number of months with a view to putting appropriate arrangements in place as soon as possible (including legislative changes where necessary). During this period the new governance model for the Digital Hub project will be fully defined and agreed. A key priority in the smooth transition of the DHDA to DCC, is to retain its distinctive role in supporting the creation of jobs in the digital area. The DHDA plays an important role in fostering the emergence of digital start-up companies, and the Department and DCC will be working to ensure that this role continues under the new arrangement. This will be reflected in any legislative arrangements that are required.
149. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide an update on the process the Environmental Protection Agency will now follow subsequent to the closing of submissions for the terms of reference of the next report on fracking; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15813/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has indicated that it will issue a public call later this year inviting interested parties to submit tenders relating to detailed research on the use of Unconventional Gas Exploration and Extraction in Ireland, in particular with regard to the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) technology. In this regard, proposed terms of reference for the study have been developed by a Steering Group, which includes representatives from the EPA and my Department, amongst others. These were the subject of a Public Consultation Process which was undertaken at the beginning of this year and which closed on 8 March. I understand that over a 1,000 submissions were received under this process and these are currently being examined by the Steering Group. Once the terms of reference have been finalised, it is anticipated that following the engagement of the relevant experts, the study will take in excess of twelve months to complete, leading to a potential publication date in 2015.
150. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the assistance available to encourage micro wind generation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15835/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraElectric Ireland has been offering a 9c/kwh feed in tariff, on a commercial basis under specified terms and conditions, to domestic microgenerators since February 2009. This includes wind microgenerators and other technologies. No other electricity supply company has to date chosen to enter the market and to offer a microgeneration feed-in-tariff on a commercial basis, although the Commission for Energy Regulation invited them to do so.
ESB have indicated that they are currently 622 microgenerators (wind and other technologies) connected to the distribution grid, of which 550 are in Electric Ireland’s Domestic Micro-generation Export Tariff Payment Scheme. All Electric Ireland customers in the micro-generation scheme are domestic customers, as it is a domestic scheme only. However, not all domestic micro-generators are on Electric Ireland’s domestic micro-generation export tariff payment scheme, as they are with other electricity suppliers who don’t offer such a scheme to their customers. SI 201 of 2012 was introduced last year to provide for the refund of VAT paid by farmers on qualifying equipment, purchased from 1 January 2012, for the purposes of micro-generation of electricity for use in a farm business. Again this is not limited to wind microgeneration.
In 2009, the SEAI initiated a pilot microgeneration programme. This involved 42 installations of various microgeneration technologies. Monitoring of the installations took place and is now complete. A final monitoring report on the performance of the installations and learning from the programme is expected shortly from SEAI. This will inform future policy development. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has also provided my Department with some initial analysis on whether microgeneration could be incorporated into the forthcoming Better Energy: Financing scheme (Pay As You Save) in respect of energy efficiency measures. This will be further considered by my Department. In view of falling technology costs, my Department has also asked SEAI to update analysis on the costs of varying levels of support for microgeneration technologies, with a view to considering how the sector could be supported in the future. I understand that SEAI has recently engaged specialist assistance in this regard.
151. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will consider introducing the replacement of windows in the warmer home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15840/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Better Energy Programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The Better Energy: Warmer Homes scheme delivers a range of energy efficiency measures to low income households that are vulnerable to energy poverty. The scheme is delivered through a combination of SEAI appointed Community Based Organisations (CBOs), augmented by a panel of private contractors in order to ensure national coverage and via an area based approach. Measures available include; draught proofing, attic insulation, lagging jackets for hot water tanks, low energy light bulbs and cavity wall insulation and are free of charge to the customer. These measures were selected for inclusion in the Scheme as they were deemed most likely to deliver energy savings to homeowners, at least relative cost, and would thereby optimise the use of Exchequer funds.
Window replacement works are not eligible for support under the Better Energy: Warmer Homes programme. I am advised, however, that grants for window replacement are available to those over 60 under the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme, operated by local authorities on behalf of my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. This means-tested scheme provides grants to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out to their homes. Eligible works include structural repairs or improvements, re-wiring, repairs to or replacement of windows and doors, provision of water supply and sanitary facilities, provision of heating, cleaning and painting.
152. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with reference to the proposal that motor tax be payable incrementally and acknowledging the administrative costs that would arise from paper processing of quarterly payments, if he will consider a direct debit option via personal bank accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15941/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no plans currently to change the available options for paying motor tax incrementally (quarterly or half-yearly) or to introduce a direct debit payment option for motor tax. The current quarterly and half-yearly payment options incorporate a surcharge element to cover the higher administrative costs involved in processing such applications. The estimated annual income from the increased charges for half-year and quarterly vehicle licences is in the region of €20m. Were a monthly pro-rata system to be introduced, the loss in income would have to be compensated for elsewhere in the motor tax system, or through the taxation system generally. It would also have a negative transitional impact on the flow of income to the Local Government Fund and consequently on grant allocations to local authorities from the Fund.
Further, it is unlikely that the introduction of a direct debit payment option would lead to a reduction in administration. An applicant would still need to apply for motor tax, a disc would still need to issue, renewal notices and reminders would still need to issue when tax renewal falls due. There would be significant once-off costs in setting up such a system, as well as ongoing administrative, control and financial costs. Any such proposal would require legislation to ensure that there is a system in place to recoup income lost to the taxpayer where there are insufficient funds in personal accounts to meet the payment or where the direct debit option is cancelled by the account holder once a disc is issued.
