Written Answers Nos. 36 - 60
36. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties faced by passengers seeking information or to purchase tickets online for cross-Border transport services; and the efforts he has made to improve these links and access to them. [36789/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the difficulties relate to the purchase of Bus Éireann tickets online for cross border transport services. As this issue is a matter for Bus Éireann, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
37. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in the context of sustainable transport funding allocated annually to counties, if funding will be considered for undertaking an examination of carrying out improvements and enhancements to the Quincentennial Bridge including the number of traffic lanes and the possibility of installing a pedestrian bridge alongside the existing one which would alleviate traffic congestion in the Galway region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36804/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. As the Quincentennial Bridge is on a national road the planning, design and implementation of works on the bridge is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
38. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will refuse to sign the ministerial orders enabling IAS scheme trustees to amend the scheme, as required under the State Airport (Shannon Group) Act 2014, until he is satisfied that the deferred pensioners' entitlements are not being disproportionately reduced. [36637/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraResolution of the funding difficulties of the IASS is primarily a matter for the Trustee, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme’s members and the Pensions Authority. The process currently underway involves all of these stakeholders including the deferred members.
It has been clear for a long time that any solution to the complex problems of the IASS requires significant contributions from both employers and members of the scheme. Earlier this year an Expert Panel was established by my Department, along with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, IBEC and ICTU. The Expert Panel was tasked with finding the fairest way to distribute the burden, while addressing a range of other impediments. The Report of the Panel built on the 2013 Labour Court recommendations and the summary of a draft funding proposal put forward by the Trustee in February this year.
The IASS Trustee and the principal employers have recently issued documents in respect of the proposed changes in pension arrangements. These communications mark the commencement of the formal consultation process which the Trustee is required by the Pensions Act 1990 to undertake in respect of the reductions in benefits that it is proposing. Each member will also shortly receive a personalised illustration of future pension benefits. All members have been invited to send their views on the proposals to the IASS Trustee by 27 October 2014. The target date for implementation of the proposals remains 31 December 2014.
Huge efforts have been put in by all concerned over many years in an attempt to resolve the scheme's funding problems. A set of clear proposals has now been put forward which offer the best chance to resolve the long-standing problems of the scheme and resolve members’ uncertainties about their future pension entitlements. I would urge all parties to accept them.
On the basis that the trustee decides to proceed with changes to the IAS scheme following the consultation process which is underway, I will sign the Ministerial Orders enabling the IAS scheme trustees to amend the scheme.
39. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for temporary provision of alternative taxi rank spaces for the duration of the Luas cross-city works. [36790/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including the Luas Cross City project.
Dublin City Council (DCC), in consultation with the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, is responsible for the making of by-laws regarding the location and number of taxi ranks in the Dublin City area. The making of such bye-laws is a reserved function of the local authority and I have no function in the matter.
Planning for short-term and permanent taxi ranks arising from the Luas Cross City project is discussed by the Luas Cross City Taxi Forum which comprises representatives of Taxi Groups, the Rail Procurement Agency, NTA and DCC. I consider it appropriate that all taxi concerns are discussed at this Forum where very specific and detailed issues can be addressed.
In the light of the NTA’s involvement in the LUAS Taxi Forum, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Authority for a more detailed response. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
40. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on potential privatisation of public transport. [36810/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither Dublin Bus nor Bus Éireann are being privatised. However, the direct award contracts for the provision of Public Service Obligation (PSO) bus market services held by the two companies expire later this year. The awarding of subsequent contracts is the statutory responsibility of the National Transport Authority (NTA).
All Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann routes will be included in the new five year direct award contracts which the NTA will enter into with the companies next December. However, the NTA announced that 10% of publicly subvented bus services will only remain within the direct award contracts until the end of 2016 after which they will be operated under separate contracts that will have been competitively tendered.
Tendering will give the opportunity to test market pricing and offer possibilities to improve efficiency and customer service. The contract will go to the best competent tenderer and it will be open to both Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann to tender for the services.
The NTA expects that the procurement process for the routes to be tendered will begin in December 2014 leading to the award of the contract in March 2016 with the successful operator commencing services in late 2016.
41. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to hold the Tour de France here again in view of its previous success in 1998. [36775/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe staging of major sports events is a matter in the first instance for the governing bodies of the relevant sports.
The hosting of sporting events can deliver additional international visits and helps to put Ireland onto travel itineraries as a holiday destination. The Giro D'Italia and the American Football match between the University of Central Florida and Penn State earlier this year shows that the island of Ireland can successfully host large international events.
I am supportive of the ongoing efforts of the Tourism Agencies and the National Governing Bodies of Sport to attract international events, subject, of course, to an assessment of the costs/benefits involved in any State financial support. In that context, I was delighted to see that the FAI and Dublin City Council recently won their bid to host part of the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament at the Aviva stadium. This is a fantastic opportunity to host a premier international tournament.
I am not aware of any immediate plans to bring the Tour de France back to Ireland.
42. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for excluding Waterford county from the Wild Atlantic Way route; his proposals to include that county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36788/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism projects such as the Wild Atlantic Way, it is not directly involved in developing or managing them. The development of the Wild Atlantic Way is a matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland.
It is important to note that the Wild Atlantic Way was developed specifically for the Western seaboard to address the ongoing decline in international visitors. It builds on what is distinctive and appealing about the West coast, its rugged coastline and powerful ocean, to give it visibility in a congested international tourism market.
In regard to Waterford, Fáilte Ireland is currently developing a similar unifying tourism proposition for those counties in the east and south. These areas share a relative strength in the richness of their historic built environment such as Viking Waterford, Medieval Kilkenny and Brú na Boinne. This is a work in progress and it is intended to form a complementary tourism proposition to the Wild Atlantic Way.
The brand proposition will group the cultural and heritage tourism assets and experiences of Ireland’s East and South via a network of routes, trails and journeys into a new tourism experience that can easily be understood by and will appeal to overseas visitors.
It is intended that the research, brand development and consumer testing will be completed during 2014, and the new proposition will be launched in early 2015.
43. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the Rugby World Cup bid. [36663/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast November the Government considered a Memorandum on the discussions and analysis to date on a potential bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023. In response to the Memorandum, the Government expressed strong support for the proposal and for the conduct of further work to get to the stage of making a formal decision to bid.
To progress the matter further, Minister Ring and Minister Varadkar met with Minister Arlene Foster and Minister Carál Ní Chuilín, who are the Ministers respectively responsible for tourism and sport in the Northern Ireland Executive, in Armagh on 22 January 2014. A working group was established to examine key issues further and to report back to Ministers in the Summer.
The working group, on which the IRFU and relevant Government Departments from both jurisdictions were represented, has now reported and, in conjunction with my colleagues in Northern Ireland, I am currently examining the report.
44. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to work with Dublin Bus to make its service more attractive, affordable and accessible; and if he will commit to not supporting any more fare increases. [36793/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has entered into a public service obligation (PSO) contract with Dublin Bus for the provision of bus services and also monitors the performance of the company under the terms of that contract. Any proposal by Dublin Bus to vary passenger fares requires the approval of the NTA in accordance with its independent statutory mandate. Fare increases do not require ministerial approval.
I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
45. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views that amendments will be required to existing road safety legislation in view of technology advancements in the area of computerised wrist watches; and if the current law adequately addresses the use of such items while driving. [36773/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department considers all such issues in terms of their impact on road safety. I am concerned that the use of this technology while driving may have the potential to distract motorists and therefore could represent a safety hazard.
Under existing legislation, Section 52 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 which deals with careless driving provides that a person shall not drive a vehicle in a public place without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons. Section 53 of the 1961 Act (as amended) which deals with dangerous driving provides that a person shall not drive a vehicle in a public place in a manner which is or is likely to be dangerous to the public.
Furthermore, a new Road Traffic Bill is currently being drafted which includes provisions to further strengthen the law with regard to the restriction on the use of electronic devices while driving. My officials have been consulting with the Road Safety Authority, the Gardaí and other key stakeholders during this process in order to best address the rapidly changing information and communications technology environment and the risk it poses to safe and responsible driving.
I would urge all road users to give their full and undivided attention to their own and other road users safety at all times.
46. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his Department's input into the Wild Atlantic Way initiative; the extent to which the islands on the Atlantic seaboard were consulted and included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36811/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism projects such as the Wild Atlantic Way, it is not directly involved in developing or managing these. The development of the Wild Atlantic Way is a matter for the Board and management of Failte Ireland.
The route of the Wild Atlantic Way was developed with the assistance of tourism consultants and regional steering groups. The steering groups comprised Fáilte Ireland, Local Authorities, local Leader and Development companies and other key agencies such as Údarás Na Gaeltachta, the Western Development Commission and others relevant to each particular region. In addition Fáilte Ireland carried out a series of community briefings along the route which were well attended by local tourism operators, stakeholders and community representatives.
This consultation process fully included the islands and inputs were received from many people from the islands.
The Deputy will be interested to know that 26 islands are included on the Wild Atlantic Way as Discovery Points on the basis that they have scheduled ferries to them either seasonally or year-round. Ferries to the 26 islands leave from 22 embarkation points.
The continued involvement of communities along the western seaboard will be critical to the success of the Wild Atlantic Way project. In that regard, Fáilte Ireland is working with local authorities, tourism operators, local communities and other stakeholders to ensure that they can take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the initiative.
47. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when the review of the JobsPlus scheme will be published; if it is planned to broaden the eligibility of the scheme to encompass those who are in receipt of the one parent family payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37219/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobsPlus provides a direct monthly financial incentive to employers who recruit employees from those who are long term on the live register. JobsPlus is biased in favour of those who are longer term unemployed. It provides employers with two levels of payment: €7,500 over two years where a jobseeker is recruited following 12-24 months on the live register and €10,000 for those on the live register for more than 24 months. The subsidy is paid in monthly instalments over a two year period provided the employment is maintained. The objectives of JobsPlus are focussed on supporting the longer term jobseeker into work. A person on a one parent family payment is not considered eligible and I have no proposals to change the criteria.
Since its launch in July 2013 to the end of September 2014, JobsPlus has supported 2,999 jobseekers in full-time employment with 2,272 employers nationally. Around 60% of the jobseekers currently supported were 24 months or more on the live register at the time of recruitment.
The Department is currently finalising a review of the initial phase of JobsPlus. The review is assessing the success or otherwise of the initiative to date, will identify key achievements and opportunities, and the changes necessary to improve the administration, operation and focus of the incentive into the future. The Deputy will appreciate that any broadening of eligibility will have cost implications and will require consideration in the context of the forthcoming Budget.
48. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the anomaly whereby parents of 18 year olds who are in full-time secondary education cannot claim child benefit and the enormous pressure this brings among poorer families in the retention of such students in education. [37227/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild benefit is a monthly universal payment made to families with children, which assists all parents with the cost associated with raising children. The Government is conscious that child benefit is an important source of income for all families. Child benefit is paid to around 616,000 families in respect of some 1.17 million children, with an estimated expenditure of around €1.9 billion in 2014. Child benefit as a “universal” payment is paid in respect of all qualified children up to the age of 16 years. The payment continues to be paid in respect of children up to their 18th birthday who are in full-time education or who have a disability.
Budget 2009 provided for the reduction of the age for which child benefit is paid from under 19 years of age to under 18 years of age. This measure was implemented in full in 2011 and has resulted in savings of €79 million on an annual basis. A value for money review of child income supports, published by the Department of Social Protection in 2010, found that the participation pattern of children in education supports the 18 year age limit for child benefit. I have no immediate plans to make any changes to the age threshold for child benefit. Furthermore, any changes to the eligibility criteria for child benefit could only be decided in a Budgetary context.
Families on low incomes can avail of a number of provisions to social welfare schemes that support children in full-time education until the age of 22, including through the payment of qualified child increases (QCIs) on primary social welfare payments and through the family income supplement (FIS). Furthermore, the back to school clothing and footwear allowance, which provides a one-off payment to assist families on social welfare and health service executive payments with the extra costs when children start school each autumn, is payable in respect of young people aged 18-22 who are in second-level education. These payments provide a level of assistance which is directly or indirectly linked with a household’s income situation. I am satisfied that the social protection system currently provides assistance to families with older children who are participating in full-time education and that this support is targeted at low-income families.
49. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide funds to a company (details supplied) in County Donegal under the free travel scheme so that the senior citizens of Inishowen can avail of free travel in the same way that their contemporaries can all over the country given that this route is not a new route; it is the same route as was operated by Lough Swilly before it went out of operation and, as such, it should be funded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37237/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe free travel scheme permits free travel on most CIE public transport services, Luas and a range of services offered by some 90 private operators in various parts of the country for those eligible under the scheme. There are currently in excess of 780,000 customers with direct eligibility.
The Department appreciates the important role that free travel plays in promoting social inclusion and preventing the isolation of elderly people. All of the schemes operated by this Department, including free travel, were examined in the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure and continue to be kept under review given the on-going need for savings. The Review continues to inform decisions in relation to future spending while striving to ensure that priority is given to the elderly and disabled.
Under the programme for National Recovery 2011-2014 introduced by the previous Government, expenditure on the free travel scheme was frozen at 2010 levels for the duration of the plan leaving a provision for the scheme of €77 million per annum. As a result of this, the Department is not in a position to consider new applications or indeed requests from existing operators for increased payments under the Scheme.
However, given the increasing number of recipients and the funding pressures, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and I have established a working group with representatives from the two Departments, as well as the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the National Transport Authority to review the free travel scheme. The work of this group is expected to conclude shortly.
52. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason for the long delay in the processing of an application for a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [37252/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 10th July 2014. This application has now been processed and she was notified on the 26th September 2014 that DCA is being awarded in her case.
53. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of each of respite care grant, fuel allowance, family income supplement, back to school clothing and footwear allowance and a back to education allowance reduced on age grounds. [37271/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of total number of recipients of each of respite care grant, fuel allowance, and back to school clothing and footwear allowance are collated annually for inclusion in the Statistical Information of Social Welfare Services. With respect to recipients of family income supplement and back to education allowance the total number of person in receipt of a payment under these schemes are collated monthly.
Detailed in the following tabular statement are the latest statistics available for each of the schemes referred to by the Deputy.
Recipients of respite care grant, fuel allowance, and back to school clothing and footwear allowance 31 December 2013
|
Grant/Allowance |
No. of Recipients |
|
Respite Care Grant |
72,721 |
|
Fuel Allowance |
412,741 |
|
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance |
180,779 |
Recipients of family income supplement and back to education allowance 31 August 2014
|
Supplement/Allowance |
No. of Recipients |
|
Family Income Supplement |
47,553 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
2,555 |
54. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total allocated budget for her Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; the actual outturns in each of her Department subheads at the end of 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37289/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for expenditure under Vote 37 (formerly Vote 38 in 2011) and the Social Insurance Fund (SIF). The Department’s allocated income and expenditure budget for both Vote 37 and the SIF is as provided by way of the annual Estimate process (and supplementary estimate process where required) as voted by Dáil Éireann. The details of the Department’s allocated expenditure budget together with a summary of actual outturn for the years 2011 to July 2014 are set out in the following table and the schedules annexed thereto.
Under section 9 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (SWCA) 2005 the amount by which the income of the SIF for any financial year is less than its expenditure shall be paid into the SIF out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas (Vote 37). Provision for such subvention is included in the budget allocation and payments made are recorded under Subhead Y in 2011, A.41 in 2012 and A.39 in 2013 and 2014.
The variation between allocated budget and outturn for each year listed is mainly due to higher than expected PRSI receipts in the Social Insurance Fund which has a corresponding effect on the cost of Vote Subvention as recorded under the subheads detailed above.
Department of Social Protection Budget v Outturn 2011 to 2014
|
- |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 YTD |
|
Jul-14 |
||||
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
|
Allocated Budget: |
||||
|
Vote |
13,649,114 |
14,318,399 |
13,321,937 |
7,283,097 |
|
SIF |
9,054,539 |
8,867,284 |
8,586,017 |
4,843,389 |
|
22,703,653 |
23,185,683 |
21,907,954 |
12,126,486 |
|
|
Outturn: |
||||
|
Vote1 |
13,550,357 |
14,126,589 |
13,107,733 |
7,160,799 |
|
SIF2 |
9,014,549 |
8,869,567 |
8,631,635 |
4,846,541 |
|
22,564,906 |
22,996,156 |
21,739,368 |
12,007,340 |
|
|
Variation: |
||||
|
Vote |
98,757 |
191,810 |
214,204 |
122,298 |
|
SIF |
39,990 |
(2,283) |
(45,618) |
(3,152) |
|
138,747 |
189,527 |
168,586 |
119,146 |
Note1 – The Vote outturn for each year is outlined in schedules 1 to 4.
Note2 – The SIF outturn for each year is outlined in schedule 5.
Schedule 1 - Department of Social Protection Vote Outturn 2011
|
- |
- |
€000 |
|
A.1. |
Salaries, wages and allowances |
247,664 |
|
A.2. |
Travel and subsistence |
3,110 |
|
A.3. |
Training and development and incidental expenses |
6,907 |
|
A.4. |
Postal and telecommunications services |
19,393 |
|
A.5. |
Office equipment and external IT services |
26,423 |
|
A.6. |
Office premises expenses |
10,979 |
|
A.7. |
Consultancy services and value for money and policy reviews1 |
893 |
|
A.8. |
Payments for agency services |
65,656 |
|
A.9. |
eGovernment related projects |
1,342 |
|
B. |
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
971,769 |
|
C. |
Blind Pension |
15,624 |
|
D. |
Child Benefit |
2,076,338 |
|
E. |
Jobseeker's Allowance |
2,974,987 |
|
F. |
Farm Assist scheme |
113,724 |
|
G. |
Employment Support Services |
342,876 |
|
H. |
Pre-retirement Allowance |
59,942 |
|
I. |
One-parent Family Payment |
1,088,897 |
|
J. |
Widows'/ Widowers'/Surviving Civil Partner's and Guardian's Related Payments (Non-Contributory) |
23,583 |
|
K. |
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
4,211 |
|
L. |
Family Income Supplement |
204,543 |
|
M. |
Carer's Allowance |
507,193 |
|
N. |
Supplementary Welfare Allowances |
961,523 |
|
O. |
Disability Allowance |
1,089,178 |
|
P. |
Respite Care Grant |
130,392 |
|
Q. |
Free Schemes (Assistance) |
399,437 |
|
R. |
School Meals Schemes |
34,975 |
|
S. |
Grant to the Citizens Information Board |
45,114 |
|
T. |
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
99,924 |
|
U. |
Rural Social Scheme |
46,835 |
|
V. |
Community Services Programme |
45,452 |
|
W. |
FÁS employment programmes, integration support programmes, associated administration expenses |
468,095 |
|
X. |
Miscellaneous services |
3,016 |
|
Grant to Family Support Agency |
— |
|
|
Y. |
Payment to the Social Insurance Fund under section 9(9)(a) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 |
1,460,362 |
|
Gross expenditure |
13,550,357 |
Schedule 2 - Department of Social Protection Vote Outturn 2012
|
- |
- |
€000 |
|
A.1 |
Administration – pay |
303,369 |
|
A.2 |
Administration - non pay |
172,631 |
|
A.3 |
Administration – community welfare service1 |
— |
|
A.4 |
Administration – FÁS1 |
— |
|
A.5 |
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
963,211 |
|
A.6 |
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
3,054,741 |
|
A.7 |
One-Parent Family Payment |
1,057,753 |
|
A.8 |
Widows’/Widowers’/Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Con) Pension |
17,670 |
|
A.9 |
Deserted Wife’s Allowance |
3,546 |
|
A.10 |
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments |
180,291 |
|
A.11 |
Farm Assist |
108,170 |
|
A.12 |
Pre-retirement Allowance |
46,091 |
|
A.13 |
Other Working Age – income supports |
64,667 |
|
A.14 |
Community Employment Programme1 |
330,399 |
|
A.15 |
Rural Social Scheme |
45,242 |
|
A.16 |
Tús – Community Work Placement Scheme |
67,055 |
|
A.17 |
Jobs Initiative |
25,794 |
|
A.18 |
Community Services Programme |
45,390 |
|
A.19 |
Back to Work Allowance |
127,203 |
|
A.20 |
National Internship Scheme – JobBridge1 |
54,739 |
|
A.21 |
Back To Education Allowance |
199,567 |
|
A.22 |
Other Working Age – Employment Supports1 |
56,529 |
|
A.23 |
Disability Allowance |
1,087,513 |
|
A.24 |
Blind Pension |
15,747 |
|
A.25 |
Carer’s Allowance |
509,671 |
|
A.26 |
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
102,237 |
|
A.27 |
Respite Care Grant |
136,353 |
|
A.28 |
Child Benefit |
2,046,955 |
|
A.29 |
Family Income Supplement |
223,608 |
|
A.30 |
Back-To-School Clothing And Footwear Allowance |
65,679 |
|
A.31 |
School Meals Schemes |
35,005 |
|
A.32 |
Child Related Payments |
5,300 |
|
A.33 |
Rent Supplement |
422,536 |
|
A.34 |
Mortgage Interest Supplement |
55,082 |
|
A.35 |
Household Benefits Package |
143,732 |
|
A.36 |
Free Travel |
75,518 |
|
A.37 |
Fuel Allowance |
144,692 |
|
A.38 |
Grant to the Citizens Information Board |
45,743 |
|
A.39 |
Office of the Pensions Ombudsman |
977 |
|
A.40 |
Miscellaneous services |
2,174 |
|
A.41 |
Payment to the Social Insurance Fund under Section 9(9)(a) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 |
2,084,009 |
|
Gross expenditure |
14,126,589 |
Schedule 3 - Department of Social Protection Vote Outturn 2013
|
- |
- |
€000 |
|
A.1 |
Administration – pay |
301,091 |
|
A.2 |
Administration - non pay |
171,282 |
|
A.3 |
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
952,457 |
|
A.4 |
Jobseeker’s Allowance |
3,108,974 |
|
A.5 |
One-Parent Family Payment |
977,960 |
|
A.6 |
Widows’/Widowers’/Surviving Civil Partner’s (Non-Contributory) Pension |
16,735 |
|
A.7 |
Deserted Wife’s Allowance |
2,876 |
|
A.8 |
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments |
108,315 |
|
A.9 |
Farm Assist |
99,178 |
|
A.10 |
Pre-retirement Allowance |
34,555 |
|
A.11 |
Other Working Age – income supports |
46,424 |
|
A.12 |
Community Employment Programme |
341,250 |
|
A.13 |
Rural Social Scheme |
44,203 |
|
A.14 |
Tús – Community Work Placement Scheme |
92,060 |
|
A.15 |
Jobs Initiative |
24,924 |
|
A.16 |
Community Services Programme |
44,853 |
|
A.17 |
Back to Work Allowance |
119,505 |
|
A.18 |
National Internship Scheme – JobBridge |
67,688 |
|
A.19 |
Back To Education Allowance |
186,879 |
|
A.20 |
Other Working Age – Employment Supports |
63,691 |
|
A.21 |
Disability Allowance |
1,140,916 |
|
A.22 |
Blind Pension |
14,823 |
|
A.23 |
Carer’s Allowance |
554,801 |
|
A.24 |
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
104,272 |
|
A.25 |
Respite Care Grant |
119,945 |
|
A.26 |
Child Benefit |
1,899,922 |
|
A.27 |
Family Income Supplement |
261,758 |
|
A.28 |
Back-To-School Clothing And Footwear Allowance |
47,976 |
|
A.29 |
School Meals Schemes |
36,775 |
|
A.30 |
Child Related Payments |
5,376 |
|
A.31 |
Rent Supplement |
372,909 |
|
A.32 |
Mortgage Interest Supplement |
35,063 |
|
A.33 |
Household Benefits Package |
113,130 |
|
A.34 |
Free Travel |
75,477 |
|
A.35 |
Fuel Allowance |
155,599 |
|
A.36 |
Grant to the Citizens Information Board |
46,387 |
|
A.37 |
Office of the Pensions Ombudsman |
974 |
|
A.38 |
Miscellaneous services |
2,600 |
|
A.39 |
Payment to the Social Insurance Fund under Section 9(9)(a) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 |
1,314,130 |
|
Gross expenditure |
13,107,733 |
Schedule 4 - Department of Social Protection Vote Outturn YTD to July 2014
|
- |
- |
€000 |
|
A1 |
Administration - Pay |
179,507 |
|
A2 |
Administration - Non-Pay |
91,362 |
|
A3 |
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
546,333 |
|
A4 |
Jobseeker's Allowance |
1,724,703 |
|
A5 |
One Parent Family Payment |
530,970 |
|
A6 |
Widows' Widowers' / Surviving Civil Partners Pension (Non-Contributory) |
9,624 |
|
A7 |
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
1,505 |
|
A8 |
Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance Payments |
45,585 |
|
A9 |
Farm Assist |
55,522 |
|
A10 |
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
15,365 |
|
A11 |
Other Working Age Supports |
23,462 |
|
A12 |
Community Employment Programme |
202,258 |
|
A13 |
Rural Social Scheme |
26,517 |
|
A14 |
TUS - Community Work Placement |
68,699 |
|
A15 |
Job Initiative |
13,192 |
|
A16 |
Community Services Programme |
32,482 |
|
A17 |
Back to Work Allowance |
66,920 |
|
A18 |
National Internship Scheme - JobBridge |
45,507 |
|
A19 |
Back to Education Allowance |
103,515 |
|
A20 |
Other Employment Supports |
41,976 |
|
A21 |
Disability Allowance |
710,874 |
|
A22 |
Blind Pension |
8,351 |
|
A23 |
Carer's Allowance |
323,671 |
|
A24 |
Domiciliary Care Allowance |
62,896 |
|
A25 |
Respite Care Grant |
113,437 |
|
A26 |
Child Benefit |
1,107,339 |
|
A27 |
Family Income Supplement |
170,225 |
|
A28 |
Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance |
34,051 |
|
A29 |
School Meals |
5,573 |
|
A30 |
Other Child Related Payments |
3,107 |
|
A31 |
Rent Supplement |
201,171 |
|
A32 |
Mortgage Interest Supplement |
13,492 |
|
A33 |
Household Benefits Package |
52,230 |
|
A34 |
Free Travel |
43,248 |
|
A35 |
Fuel Allowance |
78,587 |
|
A36 |
Grant to the Citizens Information Board |
29,800 |
|
A37 |
Office of the Pensions Ombudsman |
686 |
|
A38 |
Miscellaneous Services |
884 |
|
A39 |
Exchequer Subvention to the Social Insurance Fund |
376,173 |
|
Gross expenditure |
7,160,799 |
Schedule 5 - Department of Social Protection SIF Expenditure 2011 to 2014
|
- |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 YTD |
|
Jul-14 |
||||
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
|
Administration Expenses |
280,987 |
276,652 |
272,520 |
152,048 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
3,625,042 |
3,802,795 |
3,983,264 |
2,371,263 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
132,596 |
146,629 |
137,270 |
60,033 |
|
Widow's and Widower's (Contributory) Pension |
1,338,440 |
1,343,198 |
1,349,840 |
782,556 |
|
Death Benefit |
7,977 |
7,827 |
7,775 |
4,592 |
|
Bereavement Grant |
19,438 |
19,755 |
20,286 |
4,098 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
928,278 |
736,881 |
560,460 |
254,781 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
85,883 |
83,565 |
80,400 |
46,685 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
309,430 |
303,527 |
292,597 |
156,636 |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
1,075 |
465 |
309 |
87 |
|
Health & Safety Benefit |
644 |
526 |
578 |
317 |
|
Redundancy & Insolvency |
330,636 |
323,420 |
148,146 |
45,599 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
23,040 |
18,986 |
33,428 |
11,810 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
0 |
2,107 |
7,377 |
5,523 |
|
Illness Benefit |
876,333 |
773,959 |
648,938 |
363,146 |
|
Injury Benefit |
16,529 |
15,860 |
14,592 |
9,352 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
606,701 |
604,024 |
707,769 |
389,396 |
|
Disablement Benefit |
77,477 |
76,147 |
76,118 |
43,263 |
|
Medical Care |
317 |
355 |
345 |
183 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
24,503 |
24,498 |
22,443 |
13,235 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
11,420 |
10,768 |
10,967 |
6,213 |
|
Widowed Parent Grant |
6,228 |
5,968 |
6,331 |
3,486 |
|
Fuel Allowance |
86,654 |
66,702 |
72,542 |
37,991 |
|
Household Budget Package |
224,921 |
224,953 |
177,340 |
84,247 |
|
SIF Expenditure |
9,014,549 |
8,869,567 |
8,631,635 |
4,846,541 |
55. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is not receiving fuel allowance even though they are on a rural social scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37337/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraParticipants on the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) are paid a fuel allowance where they were in receipt of the allowance prior to commencing on the scheme and where they continue to satisfy the conditions for that payment. A person who was not in receipt of a fuel allowance prior to commencement on any of the Department’s work placements schemes cannot qualify for that payment during their placement. The person in question had not established an entitlement to fuel allowance prior to commencing on the scheme.
All social welfare and work placement schemes, including the fuel allowance and RSS, are operated on the basis of publically available guidelines, which ensure fairness and consistency in determining eligibility. Full details on the criteria for the fuel allowance are available on the Department’s website www.welfare.ie.
56. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if any of the programmes in Ireland’s Youth Guarantee implementation plan will meet European Social Fund eligibility criteria; if so, if she will provide a list of the programmes accepted. [37360/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra57. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form the full annual cost of the Youth Guarantee implementation plan programmes for 2014 and 2015; and a breakdown of the different funding sources and amounts to include the youth employment Initiative and Exchequer moneys. [37361/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 57 together.
The costs associated with the Youth Guarantee will be funded, in the first instance, by the Irish Exchequer. However, it is expected that a number of these Programmes will meet ESF eligibility criteria and they have been included in the Youth Employment Initiative application for Ireland. This will permit EU funding to be drawn down in respect of expenditure in 2014 and 2015 to a level that should enable the full YEI allocation for Ireland of €68.145 million in current prices (with a further similar amount in ESF funding) to be taken up over those two years.
The Department of Social Protection (DSP) proposes to claim €41.4m ESF and €35m YEI over the period 2014-2020 under the relevant ESF and YEI Operational Programmes. These claims will be submitted under arrangements with the Department of Education and Skills (DES) who are the certifying authority for the EU.
The DSP schemes covered are Tús, JobBridge, JobsPlus and Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Schemes. Expenditure relating to clients on these schemes who are under 25s will be claimed for both the ESF and YEI i.e. for every €300 of eligible expenditure submitted, €100 ESF and €100 YEI (i.e. ) will refunded by the European Commission.
The DSP Youth Guarantee schemes that will attract co-funding under the ESF Operational Programme 2014-2020 are:
Table 1: ESF Funding for DSP Schemes
|
- |
Intermediate Body |
Activity Total for ESF - €m |
Total for YEI 1 €m |
Total Matching Funding - €m |
Activity Total Funding 2014-2020 - €m |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) |
DSP |
3.094 |
3.094 |
3.094 |
9.282 |
|
JobsPlus Incentive Scheme |
DSP |
3.333 |
3.333 |
3.333 |
10.0 |
|
TUS |
DSP |
10.6 |
10.6 |
10.6 |
31.8 |
|
JobBridge Internship scheme |
DSP |
18.0 |
18.0 |
18.0 |
54.0 |
1 Other schemes under the Youth Employment Initiative are: Youthreach (DES), Garda Youth Diversion Projects (DJE), Young Persons Probation projects (DJE), Social Inclusion and Activation Programme (DECLG) and Momentum (DES).
Taking existing and planned provision together, table 2 below sets out our original estimates of programme uptake by young people in 2014, with associated programme costs that were published in Ireland’s Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan in January of this year. However, these estimates are likely to be revised downwards significantly at the end of the year given that the full rollout of several programmes have been contingent on the passing of enabling legislation which only came into effect over the summer and has therefore considerably reduced the 2014 inflow into Youth Guarantee related schemes.
It should also be noted that the figures shown in table 2 reflect partial costs only as they are set out in the format of the Irish public expenditure estimates. As noted in the footnote to the table, for example, the costs for the Back to Education Allowance scheme relate only to the income supports offered to unemployed people taking up an approved education course. They do not include the cost of the education programme itself, which in most cases is also funded by the exchequer. These figures also exclude the likely costs of additional caseworker resources to be devoted to young people as a result of the new procedures described in Section 2 of Ireland’s Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan. The exact level of resources involved remains to be determined in the light of early experience with the new procedures.
Estimates for the projected 2015 inflow and associated costs will only be available after Budget 2015.
Table 2: Expected participation, activation programmes, 2014
|
Programme |
Average participation |
Inflow of new participants |
Expected inflow of young people |
Indicative 2014 cost of youth provision (€million) |
|
Youthreach/CTC |
6,000 |
3,300 |
3,300 |
110.0 |
|
JobBridge (including planned reserve) |
7,700 |
13,300 |
5,000 |
27.0 |
|
Tus |
7,500 |
7,500 |
1,000 |
15.9 |
|
JobsPlus |
4,000 |
2,000 |
1,500 |
4.5 |
|
Momentum* |
6,500 |
6,500 |
2,000 |
6.1 |
|
BTEA (excl Momentum)** |
18,500 |
9,300 |
3,300 |
60.0 |
|
BTWEA |
11,000 |
5,500 |
200 |
4.1 |
|
VTOS |
5,600 |
2,800 |
500 |
14.3 |
|
FAS/Solas |
10,300 |
25,000 |
9,500 |
72.0 |
|
CEB youth Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring supports |
700 |
700 |
1.0 |
|
|
CEB/MFI micro-loans for young people |
150 |
150 |
2.5 |
|
|
International Work Experience and Training |
250 |
250 |
250 |
2.5 |
|
Gateway |
3,000 |
3,000 |
450 |
2.5 |
|
Community Employment |
25,300 |
12,700 |
500 |
14.0 |
|
Total |
105,650 |
92,000 |
28,350 |
336.4 |
|
Memorandum items: PLCs Apprenticeship |
35,000 8,000 |
32,000 2,500 |
22,000 2,000 |
117.0 75.0 |
|
Vocational Third Level |
- |
It is estimated that at least 50% of the 41,000 entrants to third level each year are entering courses leading towards defined occupations |
- |
N/A |
|
Overall total |
- |
- |
- |
528.4 (excluding vocational third level) |
* Excludes income maintenance costs tentatively estimated at €10 million.
** Includes only income maintenance costs; most provision cost included in data for PLCs and Third Level under memorandum items
58. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the savings that have so far been achieved from the introduction of section 13 and section 14 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2014; and when these sections of the Act were commenced. [37396/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare and Pension Act 2013 (Sections 13 and 14) were commenced on 1st August 2014 by reference to SI No. 308 of 2014.
Since the commencement of the recovery of certain benefits and assistance scheme (RBA), 65 cases have been settled with a value of €183,437.
59. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the transitional arrangements in place to assist persons in receipt of payments from her Department in returning to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37405/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department’s main support for welfare recipients returning to work is the family income supplement (FIS), an in-work support which targets low-paid employees with children. FIS is designed both to prevent child and family poverty and to offer a financial incentive to move from welfare to work. FIS is paid to some 44,000 families in respect of some 97,000 children. Expenditure on FIS for 2014 is estimated to be of the order of €280 million.
An integral part of FIS is that once the level of payment is determined, it continues to be payable at that rate for a period of 52 weeks, provided that the person remains in full-time employment. A key advantage of this approach, which is unique to the FIS scheme, is that claimants can be certain that they will receive a guaranteed level of income support throughout the period. This certainty provides a real incentive to workers with families to avail of employment opportunities and to maximise their earnings from work.
The Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 contains a commitment to introduce measures to assist low income families by improve the system of child income supports in Budget 2015 such that those moving from welfare to work will retain payments for children to ensure that people are better off in work. Any decisions in this regard are a matter for Government to consider in a budgetary context.
60. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on implementing transitional arrangements for persons returning to work so that they can continue to receive rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37406/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 73,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
The rent supplement assessment provides for a gradual withdrawal of payment as hours of employment or earnings increase. Where a person has additional income in excess of the standard weekly rate of supplementary welfare allowance, the first €75 of such additional income together with 25% of any additional income above €75 is disregarded for means assessment purposes.
Rent supplement is not payable where a person or spouse/partner is in full time employment of 30 hours or more per week. However, a person on rent supplement who is deemed by a local authority to be eligible to participate in the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) may engage in full-time employment, subject to satisfying the standard means test, and may still be paid rent supplement.
The Department’s strategic policy direction is to transfer responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need to local authorities under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Officials of the Department are working closely with those in the lead Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, in introducing HAP on a phased basis, initially in Cork County, Limerick City and County and Waterford City and County from 15th September 2014. Under the HAP scheme, recipients will pay a differential rent to the local authority allowing them to take up full-time employment, while still receiving housing support.
