Tuesday, 27 May 2014

Written Answers Nos. 465-481

Domiciliary Care Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (466)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

466. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection following the recent High Court decision of B v. Minister for Social Protection in which the system for considering applications for domiciliary care allowance was found to be unlawful, she announced that reviews of current applications would be suspended until further notice; if she will confirm if her Department has recommenced the reviews; and the action her Department has taken to remedy the unlawful deficits as identified in the High Court decision. [23240/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

New applications for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) continue to be processed in the Department since the judgement referred to was delivered. However, scheduled eligibility reviews of DCA claims already in payment, which have not been carried out since the review of the administration of the scheme was announced in May 2012, remain suspended pending further consideration of the judgement in this case. No decision on a date for the re-introduction of these scheduled eligibility reviews has yet been made.

The judgement to which the Deputy refers, involved a challenge by a claimant in regard to the process involved in determining eligibility on her claim for DCA. The Department has appealed the Judgement to the Supreme Court, as there are important legal issues which need to be clarified. However, it is open to the person concerned to make a fresh application from a current date.

Back to Work Allowance Eligibility

Ceisteanna (467)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

467. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the eligibility for back to work allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23242/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned has the requisite claim paid days on the live register. However for all other eligibility conditions he must contact his local office who can advise him in this regard.

Carer's Allowance Delays

Ceisteanna (468)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

468. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection noting that the Balbriggan social welfare office has recently increased its processing office of staffing levels by one, but has a considerable backlog of carer's allowance applications to deal with, the emergency provision that will be made for extra staff resources to clear the backlog, in view of the hardship on applicants while waiting. [23252/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Carer’s Allowance Scheme is administered from the Department’s offices in Longford. Claims are referred by Carer’s Allowance Section to local Social Welfare Inspectors to carry out means assessments and reviews.

The Balbriggan Inspectorate does not currently have a significant backlog of Carer’s Allowance applications for assessment or review. There are currently 8 applications on hands for means assessment, all of which are currently being processed.

Process improvements have been introduced resulting in improved processing times and further process improvements are in train.

Carer's Allowance Applications

Ceisteanna (469)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

469. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for carer's allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [23253/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

I confirm that the department received an application for carer’s allowance from the person in question on the 27th January 2014. The application is currently with a social welfare investigative officer for assessment of means and confirmation that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. The person in question also submitted additional information on the 1st of May which is being considered. Once the investigative officer has completed and submitted the report a deciding officer will make a full decision. The application will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Family Income Supplement Applications

Ceisteanna (470)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

470. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Social Protection the current average length of time for a family income supplement application to be processed in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23303/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.

In the case of Family Income Supplement (FIS) the Department has been working to build an awareness of the scheme through its engagement with employers and jobseekers and through the use of its website and the network of Citizen’s Information Centres. Against this back-drop the level of new claims has increased by over 10% in the first quarter of 2014, compared to the same period last year, with the average processing time for new FIS applications at the end of the first quarter of 2014 running at 4 weeks.

FIS renewal applicants are invited to re-apply 8 weeks in advance of the expiry of their claims. The vast majority of renewal applications are processed in advance of the expiry of their current payment to ensure continuity of payment, provided that customers return completed application forms in a timely manner.

There processing of FIS applications are continually monitoring to ensure that processing methods are as efficient as possible and that there are sufficient resources in place to deal with increasing application levels.

Question No. 471 answered with Question No. 392.

Social Welfare Overpayments

Ceisteanna (472)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

472. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons (details supplied) in County Donegal have been contacted by her Department in relation to an overpayment that occurred from 1992 until 1996; the reason her Department failed to act within a reasonable period of time on information it received about the overpayment; if she will consider having this overpayment cancelled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23399/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Any individual who incurs an overpayment from the Department of Social Protection has a liability under law to refund the amount involved. They have received monies to which they were not entitled and every effort will be made to recover the amounts due through all available means.

The overpayment in question is currently being recovered at the rate of €20 per week.

Question No. 473 answered with Question No. 464.

Third Level Funding

Ceisteanna (474)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

474. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 409 if he will provide a breakdown of his Department's funding of the range of specialised third level courses referred to in his reply. [22664/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

My Department provided a total of €1,404,382 in 2013 for the provision of specialised third-level courses, as detailed in the following tables.

Full-time courses provided in 2013

-	Title of Course	Course Provider
1.	MA/Dioplóma Iarchéime in Ateangaireacht Chomhdhála	National University of Ireland, Galway
2.	MA sa Léann Teanga	National University of Ireland, Galway
3.	BA sa Riarachán Gnó	Letterkenny Institute of Technology / National University of Ireland, Galway
4.	MA sa Ghaeilge Fheidhmeach	Dublin Institute of Technology
5.	Ard-Dioplóma san Aistriúchán/Dioplóma Iarchéime san Aistriúchán agus san Eagarthóireacht	National University of Ireland, Maynooth
6.	Dioplóma Iarchéime/MA Scríobh & Cumarsáid na Gaeilge (Aistriúchán) agus modúil éagsúla	University College Dublin
7.	BCL (Dlí agus Gaeilge)	University College Cork
8.	Modúil sa Ghaeilge	Waterford Institute of Technology

Short-term courses provided in 2013

-	Title of course	Course Provider
1.	Ardchúrsa sa Dlítheangeolaíocht agus san Aistriúchán Dlíthiúil	The Honourable Society of King's Inns
2.	Ardchúrsa san Aistriúchán Dlí	The Honourable Society of King's Inns
3.	Ardchúrsa sa Dlí-Chleachtadh trí Ghaeilge	The Honourable Society of King's Inns
4.	Aistriúchán Cáipéisí Dlí agus Cáipéisí Eile	Europus Teo.

Community Development Projects

Ceisteanna (475)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

475. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if sources of funding will be available for a community project in a Gaeltacht (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22732/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The Deputy may wish to note that no application for capital funding in respect of the community project referred to has been received by my Department. Grant application forms are available on my Department’s website at: http://www.ahg.gov.ie/ie/AnGhaeltacht/CunamhCaipitildoThograiTeangalarnaithe/.

However, in the context of available resources and competing priorities, it is unlikely that my Department would be in a position to provide capital funding towards this project this year. The very limited capital funding available for the development of such facilities in the Gaeltacht is deployed in a manner which best underpins the commitments made in the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030. The Deputy will appreciate that, accordingly, such funding is targeted at projects which can best support the strengthening of the Irish language as the predominant community and household language in the Gaeltacht.

Company Sale

Ceisteanna (476, 477, 478)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

476. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide details of the tendering process put in place prior to the sale of Arramara Teo. [22765/14]

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

477. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide the names of the companies that tendered for Arramara Teo and of the successful bidder. [22766/14]

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

478. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the tendering process or sale of Arramara Teo was advertised and were potential partners for the company approached by Údarás for a declaration of interest. [22767/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 476 to 478, inclusive, together.

I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 155 and 156 of 17 April 2014 regarding this matter.

As I indicated in that reply, I understand that Údarás na Gaeltachta considered that the most appropriate mechanism was to engage consultants to identify potential strategic partners in the seaweed industry for the purpose of securing the future development of Arramara Teo. As a result, Údarás na Gaeltachta engaged consultants RSM FGS to assist in identifying a potential strategic partner for Arramara Teo.

I have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that RSM FGS compiled a list of nine potential partners who were invited to submit expressions of interest. I understand that six expressions of interest were received, which were assessed and shortlisted to three preferred potential partners ranked first, second, and third. I understand that the first ranked preferred potential partner was granted a period of exclusivity in order to enable it to undertake a process of due diligence and that it subsequently indicated that it was no longer interested in Arramara Teo. As the next ranked preferred potential partner, I understand that negotiations were opened with Acadian Seaplants Ltd, which culminated in the sale to it of Údarás na Gaeltachta's shares in Arramara Teo.

Finally, I have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that, having regard to confidentiality issues, they are not in a position at this juncture to disclose the identity of the companies who expressed an interest in forming a strategic partnership with Arramara Teo. However, Údarás na Gaeltachta have confirmed that they will be in direct communication with the Deputy in respect of this matter shortly.

Turbary Rights

Ceisteanna (479)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

479. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applications he has received in each of the past five years seeking his consent to cut turf on a designated bog, and to date in 2014; the date on which each application was received; when a decision was made; if consent was granted or not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22887/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Applications for consent to cut turf on sites nominated for designated as raised bog special areas of conservation under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 or on sites designated as raised bog natural heritage areas under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 may be made to me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Details of the number of applications for consent to cut turf on designated sites that have been received and of the decision made in each case are being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. The draft National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan has outlined the consideration of specific requests by turf cutter representatives to undertake limited cutting in parts of certain special areas of conservation. While the possibility of such continued cutting is likely to be very limited, there may exist exceptional circumstances where such cutting may not interfere with the protected habitat on the sites. These will be looked at in more detail in the coming months as site specific management plans are being drafted.

Following a request by the Tullagher Lough and Bog Special Area of Conservation Turf Cutters and Contractors Association, a scientific review of that site has been recently undertaken by my Department as part of the National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan. The results of this review have determined that turf cutting may be consented to in certain parts of the special area of conservation but will not be permitted in other parts. Tullagher Lough and Bog is quite exceptional as a raised bog special area of conservation and the particular hydrological context allows for limited turf extraction, while not compromising the conservation of the threatened habitats on the site. In the case of Tullagher Lough and Bog, I have issued consent to cut turf, from 2014, to 117 individuals who had applied to my Department for compensation in relation to the cessation of turf cutting but who may now continue to cut turf on the site.

Film Industry Development

Ceisteanna (480)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

480. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the date on which he sent a letter to the German Embassy seeking to advance a bilateral agreement on film co-production; if or when he received a response from the German ambassador; the German position on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22895/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I wrote the letter referred to by the Deputy on 19th February 2014 and my Department has recently been in further contact with the embassy on the matter.

Turbary Rights

Ceisteanna (481)

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

481. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in respect of a bog (details supplied) if a person can resume cutting there; what are the stipulations and conditions for a person to utilise the said bog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22946/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The Review of Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs), which is available to download from my Department’s website at http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/Publications, provides detail on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on raised bog Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs).