Frank Feighan
Ceist:121. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made by the appeals office in respect of a person (details supplied). [42971/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Welfare Appeals Issues
Ceisteanna (121)
Freagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer on 20 September 2013, 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 in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Departmental Offices
Ceisteanna (122)
Clare Daly
Ceist:122. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the areas nationally where social welfare offices were closed in the past two years; and if she will justify the rationale for same. [42978/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware the Department assumed responsibility for the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the HSE in October 2011 and the FÁS Employment & Community services in January 2012. The Department is currently examining the operation of all its services in the context of the Pathways to Work commitments and the development of Intreo services nationally. The Pathways to Work Programme represents a significant reform in the social welfare system and highlighted the need for the Department to focus its resources on the provision of opportunities, supports and assistance to unemployed people. The Department is intensifying its level of engagement with the unemployed, in particular, those who are, or become, long-term unemployed. The new Intreo service offers practical, tailored employment services and supports for jobseekers, a model which is currently being rolled out across the country. It is expected that three hundred staff will be redeployed to activation work from within the Department’s existing resources by the end of the year.
Overall, this is resulting in a rebalancing of resources across the Department’s range of activities including the relocation of some staff to main centres, primarily Intreo offices, which will provide a full range of services, including the CWS and these will, in general, be available in one location. While there has been no closure of local or branch offices in the last two years, some 300 CWS clinics across the country have been re-structured during 2012 and 2013 as well as a small number of former FÁS offices. This included offices where limited weekly CWS public clinics were held, in some cases for only one to two hours per week.
Where the community welfare service has been re-structured, alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure that customers are provided with on-going access to the supports provided by the service. In general, this means that the frequency of available public clinics will be increased. The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department and that the services provided are reconstituted, where necessary, to meet the changing needs of Irish society.
Departmental Staff Remuneration
Ceisteanna (123)
Joe Higgins
Ceist:123. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of public servants in her Department who are paid in excess of the Taoiseach's salary and in excess of the Government's pay cap; the annual cost of these excess payments in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43401/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are no public servants in the Department on a salary in excess of €185,350 which was the Taoiseach’s annual salary at 1 July 2013. This figure equates to the Government’s pay ceiling.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (124)
Robert Troy
Ceist:124. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will review a request by Granard Town Council for part funding in the amount of 50% to match the funding supplied by it to purchase the Granard Motte, which is a protected structure and of cultural and historical significance to Granard and the surrounding area. [42813/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 142 on 11 July 2013 in which I clarified the protection this monument already enjoys under the National Monuments Acts and the extremely limited scope for the State acquiring ownership of such properties in the prevailing budgetary circumstances. In the meantime my Department and the Office of Public Works have undertaken an on-site inspection and evaluation and are currently in discussion with the owner’s agent and Granard Town Council with a view to determining the best available options for securing the long-term preservation and presentation of the monument.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (125)
Jonathan O'Brien
Ceist:125. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the discussions he has held regarding the ceasing of funding for Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta Teo from the end of December 2013 which provides support and advice to schools in Gaeltacht regions; and his plans to address the situation. [42189/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta (ESG) was established in 1987 as an umbrella group to represent the interests of primary and post-primary Gaeltacht schools and to provide advice and support to them. My Department has been in constant contact with the organisation since its establishment. As a result of discussions with my Department, ESG was restructured in 2007 and my Department has sanctioned over €780,000 in grant aid to the organisation since then. Towards the end of 2011, my Department became aware that discussions were ongoing between ESG and Gaelscoileanna with regard to amalgamating the two organisations. The funding that my Department sanctioned for ESG in 2012 and 2013 was conditional on this amalgamation taking place. My understanding of the current position is that the amalgamation has not as yet occurred and that ESG is considering disbanding the organisation.
In the current economic climate, it is more essential than ever to achieve efficiencies from Exchequer funding. In this context, it is worth noting the decision of the North South Ministerial Council on 10 July when it approved the new funding arrangements, to replace Foras na Gaeilge's existing core funding model, with the delivery by 6 lead organisations operating on an all-island basis of various strategic priorities, including Irish-medium education. It is envisaged that the lead organisation which will deliver this strategic priority will serve all Irish-medium schools, both inside and outside the Gaeltacht. Any organisation may apply under Foras na Gaeilge's selection procedures which are to be published in due course.
Departmental Staff Remuneration
Ceisteanna (126)
Joe Higgins
Ceist:126. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of public servants in his Department whoare paid in excess of the Taoiseach's salary and in excess of the Government's pay cap; the annual cost of these excess payments in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43390/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was established on 2nd June 2011. No civil or public servants in my Department or the bodies under its aegis are currently, or were previously, in receipt of salaries in excess of the limits mentioned by the Deputy since that date.
Fisheries Protection
Ceisteanna (127)
John Browne
Ceist:127. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to reopen the Waterford Estuary to salmon fishermen for drift net fishing and eel fishing; if not, if a compensation package will be put in place for the eel fisheries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42934/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I refer to the reply to Question No. 771 of 18 September 2013 and Question No. 373 of 24 September 2013 which dealt comprehensively with these issues, including the matter of compensation.
Departmental Funding
Ceisteanna (128)
Andrew Doyle
Ceist:128. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the annual subvention his Department provides to An Post; the amount on a yearly basis from 2007 to date in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42784/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department does not provide any annual subvention to An Post.