Finian McGrath
Ceist:149. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will support a matter regarding a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [32777/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraDomiciliary Care Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (149)
Freagraí scríofa
An application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 27th May 2013. This application has been forwarded to one of the Department’s Medical Assessors for their medical opinion. Upon receipt of this opinion, a decision will issue to the person concerned. It can take up to 8 weeks to process an application for DCA, which is a non means tested payment.
Free Travel Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (150)
Jack Wall
Ceist:150. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 12 June 2013, when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare was medically assessed and if the person's application for a companion bus pass will be re-examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32792/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person named above submitted an application for a Companion Free Travel Pass and her application was desk assessed by a Medical Assessor on 13 May 2013. A medical report was completed by the person’s medical practitioner and this was scanned by the Department. A Medical Assessor viewed the medical report in line with evidence based protocols and Departmental guidelines in order to determine medical eligibility for the scheme. Following the desk assessed medical assessment, the medical opinion was conveyed to Household Benefits Section and a decision letter issued to the applicant on 14th May 2013.
International Bodies Membership
Ceisteanna (151)
Andrew Doyle
Ceist:151. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline each international organisation, international agency or international body that Ireland is a member of that her Department or a State body or agency under the aegis of her Department is responsible for or co-responsible for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32816/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Neither my Department, nor any State body or agency under its aegis, is responsible for, or co-responsible for, any international organisation, international agency or international body that Ireland is a member of.
Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility
Ceisteanna (152)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if jobseeker's allowance will be made payable in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose mother is an Irish citizen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32821/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned is currently in receipt of a jobseeker’s allowance payment.
Question No. 153 withdrawn.
Rent Supplement Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (154)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when rent support will be offered in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 2; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32825/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
According to our records, no claim for rent allowance has been received from the person concerned. She should contact her local Community Welfare Officer if she wishes to make such a claim.
Rent Supplement Scheme Applications
Ceisteanna (155)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:155. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when rent support will be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32826/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned made an application for rent supplement on the 30th April 2013.The client has been requested to provide further information in order to process her claim in full. A decision will be made on her application when the information has been provided.
Child Benefit Eligibility
Ceisteanna (156)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection notwithstanding her reply to previous parliamentary questions, the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare cannot receive child benefit in respect of their grandchildren in whose care they are while their mother is in the UK; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32827/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As indicated in reply to PQ Ref No: 26529-13, the person concerned did not qualify for child benefit as she is not the qualified person for receipt of the payment under Social Welfare legislation.
Section 159 (1) of S.I. 142/2007 provides that the person with whom a qualified child shall be regarded as normally residing shall be determined in accordance with the following Rules.
1. Subject to Rule 2, a qualified child, who is resident with more than one of the following persons, his or her – Mother, Stepmother, Father, Step-father, shall be regarded as normally residing with the person first so mentioned and with no other person.
Section 159 (4) of S.I. 142/2007 provides that a qualified child, who is resident elsewhere than with a parent or a step-parent and whose mother is alive, shall, where his or her mother is entitled to his or her custody whether solely or jointly with any other person, be regarded as normally residing with his or her mother and with no other person.
While the mother retains custody of the children, it is not possible under Social Welfare legislation to award child benefit to any other person.
Public Procurement Regulations
Ceisteanna (157, 160)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:157. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of projects that were approved for funding by his Department conditional on a bond being produced from a builder; the amount of the default by builders where such bonds were in place; the amount recovered through the use of bonds in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32713/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraÉamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:160. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason his Department insisted as a condition of grant aid that a bond be taken out against default by the builder on this contract; the reason that his Department now claims that this bond, which is being used to recover money lost when the original builder went into liquidation, cannot be considered by it in assessing the funding available to the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32731/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 160 together.
Two projects were approved funding by the Department conditional on a bond being produced from a builder. Details of these projects are included in the table below:
|
The number of projects that were approved funding by the Department conditional on a bond being produced from a builder |
The amount of the default by builders where such bonds were in place |
The amount recovered through the use of bonds in such cases |
|
1. Contract associated with Phase I of Killarney House Restoration Project |
N/A |
N/A |
|
2. Contract associated with Phase II of Killarney House Restoration Project |
N/A |
N/A |
In relation the specific project referred to by the Deputy, that project was initiated, developed and managed by the project promoter. The Department made a contribution to the overall project. I have been informed by the project promoter that the recovery of the bond is the subject of proceedings in the High Court between third parties. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the matter.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (158, 159)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:158. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the next payment will be made by his Department to the Solas project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32729/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraÉamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:159. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when approval will be given to the Solas project to sign a contract for phase two of the Galway Art House Cinema project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32730/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 159 together.
My Department recently received a request for a further instalment of the capital grant for the Solas project. That application is currently being examined, and a payment will issue once all of the usual conditions for a grant payment have been satisfied.
The decision as to when approval will be given for permission to sign a contract for phase two of the Solas project will depend on a number of factors, including progress on phase one of the contract, and also progress on obtaining the required matching funding by the project promoters.