Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Written Answers Nos. 250-267

Social Insurance Data

Ceisteanna (250)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

250. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in relation to the insurability of employment, and determining the employment or self-employment status of persons, if she will provide details of the total number of decided cases, whereby persons were successfully deemed by the SCOPE section in her Department to be employees, since the section's inception; if she will further provide, as a percentage, the total number of cases investigated, whereby employment status was determined to exist; if she will provide, as a percentage, the total number of cases investigated, whereby self-employment status was determined to exist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20821/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

It is the responsibility of Scope Section in my Department to give decisions and information on the insurability of employment on a case by case basis in accordance with the law.

Since the introduction of the current computer system in Scope Section in 1990, there have been 19,620 cases where Scope Section determined the employment or self-employment status of individuals. In 11,493 (58.58%) of these cases the individuals were found to be insurable at class S (self-employed). 8,127 (41.42%) cases were found to be insurable at class A.

Information in relation to decisions on the insurability status of individuals prior to 1990 is not available in the Department.

Invalidity Pension Applications

Ceisteanna (251)

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

251. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will examine and expedite an invalidity pension application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, in view of the fact all relevant medical evidence has been submitted in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20830/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The person concerned has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 19 February 2015. Payment will issue to his nominated post office on the 11 June 2015. Any arrears due from 19 February 2015 to 10 June 2015 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The person in question was notified of this decision on the 22 May 2015.

Back to Education Allowance

Ceisteanna (252)

Sean Conlan

Ceist:

252. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when her Department implemented an operational change to the back to education scheme for those with a stamp history, who had been made redundant in circumstances where they were originally able to avail of the scheme for the full length of their course, and are now only able to avail of the scheme for nine months; the persons and bodies who effected such a change; if the change is in compliance with the relevant legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20860/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments that pursue courses of education at second or third level. The objective of the scheme is to raise the educational and skill levels to enable jobseekers better access to the emerging needs of the labour market in line with Government activation strategy. A number of changes have been introduced to the operation of the BTEA in recent years to implement the recommendations of the Review of Employment Support Schemes published by the Department in January 2013.

A person who receives statutory redundancy may be granted immediate access to the BTEA, provided they are able to establish an entitlement to a qualifying payment. In general, the value of the BTEA weekly payment is equivalent to the weekly rate on the underlying qualifying payment. A person who receives voluntary redundancy does not have the same entitlement.

A jobseeker who qualified for BTEA based on a jobseekers benefit (JB) payment will receive BTEA for the duration of the JB entitlement only. This change was introduced in 2014 and became operable for all applications received after 1 January 2015. The BTEA payment will only continue in circumstances where an entitlement to one of the other qualifying payments for BTEA can be established. In the case of JB, this will most likely be a jobseeker’s allowance payment.

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (253)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceist:

253. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of public and civil servants who were recruited under the aegis of her Department in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21113/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

As the Deputy will be aware there was a moratorium on recruitment across the civil and public service during 2014. Also, like all other Government Departments, the Department had to operate within an employment control framework (ECF) target determined by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. As an exemption to the moratorium, the Department received sanction to recruit externally to establish a panel of Medical Assessors. 7 Medical Assessors were appointed during 2014.

In relation to any other critical vacancies, the only sources available to the Department to recruit staff to fill critical vacancies were from the redeployment panel operated by the Public Appointment Service and the transfer of staff from other Government Departments and the wider Public Service.

The Department has sanction to recruit temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) for the Public Services Card Programme. A total of 202 TCOs were employed in the Department at the end of December 2014).

In addition, the Department received sanction outside its ECF, to recruit temporary staff for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme and 51 TCOs were employed between June and September 2014).

The Department also has sanction to recruit TCOs to cover critical posts that became temporarily vacant due to long term absences e.g. maternity, shorter working year scheme etc. These numbers fluctuated during the year and at the end of 2014 there were 102 such TCOs working in the Department.

Departmental Staff Redeployment

Ceisteanna (254)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceist:

254. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of public and civil servants under the aegis of her Department who were seconded abroad or to another Department in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21130/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

There were six civil servants on secondment from my Department to other Government Departments during 2014, one of whom is the Department’s Permanent Representative to the EU serving in Brussels.

Departmental Staff Retirements

Ceisteanna (255)

Mary Mitchell O'Connor

Ceist:

255. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of public servants under the aegis of her Department who retired in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21149/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

The number of public servants in bodies under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection that retired in 2014 is outlined in the following table.

Office of the Pensions Ombudsman	Nil
The Pensions Authority	Nil
Citizens Information Board	5

Living City Initiative

Ceisteanna (256)

Martin Heydon

Ceist:

256. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to the extension of the living cities initiative to towns that have a rich heritage of Georgian buildings, which are costly to repair, and are falling into disrepair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20749/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

The Living City Initiative, which was enacted in the Finance Act 2013 and commenced on 5th May 2015, has been extended beyond the original pilot cities of Limerick and Waterford, to include the cities of Dublin, Cork, Galway and Kilkenny as well. In line with my Department's commitment to evidence based policy-making, the inclusion of these additional four cities was as a result of a comprehensive, independent ex ante cost benefit analysis.

This Initiative is targeting particular areas of these six cities which are most in need of regeneration. I do not currently intend to extend the Initiative further than the six cities. However, my Department will closely monitor the progress of the Initiative in the six cities, and will keep the matter of potentially extending the relief further under review.

It is important to note that I do not see this as a wide-spread Initiative, as it is targeted at those areas in the six cities which are most in need of attention.

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Ceisteanna (257)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

257. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of the legislative, including secondary, changes required to implement the policy announcement of 13 May 2015 on mortgage arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19813/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

On 13 May, the Government announced a number of measures to support mortgage holders who are in arrears.  Building on action previously taken, the measures aim to increase the supports available to people in arrears and to increase the numbers of people availing of them. 

This package will reform the Personal Insolvency framework to give Courts the power to review, and where appropriate, to approve insolvency deals that have been rejected by creditors.  The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme will also be expanded and the scheme will be made more accessible.  It was also agreed that the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) will play a greater role in offering information, advice and assistance to borrowers in arrears.

As responsibility for Personal Insolvency reform comes under the responsibility of the Minister for Justice & Equality, responsibility for MABS rests with the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection and responsibility for introducing enhancements to the MTR scheme rests with the Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government, they are best placed to advise on any necessary legislative amendments.  For my own part, I can confirm that there are no legislative changes, including secondary legislative changes, specifically required to progress actions associated with my Department's functional responsibility arising from the policy announcement of 13 May last. 

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Ceisteanna (258)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

258. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of all the bodies, persons and organisations he has consulted with, prior to his announcement of 13 May 2015, related to mortgage arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19816/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

On 13 May last the Government announced a number of new measures to support mortgage holders in arrears.  This announcement was coordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach.

On a continuing basis, my Department actively engages with key stakeholders involved in addressing mortgage arrears.  In addition to ongoing regular discussions with other Government Departments and agencies, in advance of the recent announcement, discussions have been held over recent months with a range of individuals and organisations including - the Central Bank, the Insolvency Service of Ireland, the Housing Agency, FLAC, MABS, the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation, the Phoenix Project, StepChange, the consumer advocate Mr. Brendan Burgess, the Banking & Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) and the main mortgage lenders.

These engagements have been very useful and allow for a greater understanding of the issues which in turn assists in developing the Government's strategy to deal with mortgage arrears.

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Ceisteanna (259)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

259. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of the companies or persons contracted to provide advice or expertise, prior to his announcement of 13 May 2015, related to mortgage arrears, and in each case, if he will provide the financial details of the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19819/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

There were no companies or individuals contracted by my Department to provide advice or expertise prior to the Government announcement of further measures in respect of mortgage arrears on 13th May last.  The package was developed in a collaborative manner by an Inter-Departmental Committee of senior officials, chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach. 

The Government is committed to helping people in arrears to reach sustainable solutions and engagement between lenders and mortgage holders has resulted in almost 115,000 solutions to the end of December last. The major reforms announced by the Government are designed to help more people to access the supports, options and solutions available and, in particular, to support mortgage holders in long term arrears. The Government expects the new powers available to the Courts will help to underpin the credibility of the Insolvency Service and encourage more deals to be reached.

Ministerial Responsibilities

Ceisteanna (260)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

260. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Finance when a final reply will issue to correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19835/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

The Deputy will appreciate, it is not within the role of the Minister for Finance to require independent local garages to provide a particular set of services to the public.

I have issued a reply to the Deputy's correspondence.

Tax Credits

Ceisteanna (261, 262, 263, 264)

Robert Dowds

Ceist:

261. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the cost of increasing the standard rate income tax band to €40,000. [19854/15]

Robert Dowds

Ceist:

262. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the savings from withdrawing the personal tax credit for those earning above €100,000, at a withdrawal rate of 20%. [19855/15]

Robert Dowds

Ceist:

263. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the savings from fully withdrawing the personal tax credit for those earning €100,000. [19856/15]

Robert Dowds

Ceist:

264. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the revenue generated from applying the 3% universal social charge surcharge to pay as you earn employees who earn more than €100,000 per annum. [19857/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 to 264, inclusive, together.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the estimated first and full year costs of increasing the standard rate tax income tax band to €40,000 are in the order of €710 million and €950 million respectively.

The estimated yield to the Exchequer from withdrawing 20% of the personal tax credit from those earning above €100,000 is in the order of €77 million. 

The estimated yield to the Exchequer from withdrawing the full personal tax credit from those earning above €100,000 is in the order of €385 million.

The estimated first and full year yield from introducing a 3% surcharge on PAYE income in excess of €100,000 is €81 million and €102 million respectively.

These figures are estimates for 2015, from the Revenue tax forecasting model using the latest actual data for the year 2012, the latest year for which data are available, adjusted as necessary for income, self-employment and employment trends in the interim. They are provisional and may be revised.

Exports Data

Ceisteanna (265)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

265. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the total value of exports, and this value as a percentage of total exports, that are attributed to the aircraft leasing sector, for each of the past three years. [19868/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

I am advised by the CSO that total exports of operating leasing services was €7,822 million in 2014, €7,497m in 2013 and €7,537m in 2012. This can be found in table 2a of the balance of payments release available on the CSO's website.This amounts to 3.8 per cent of total exports (goods and services) in current prices for 2014, 4.1 per cent for 2013 and 4.1 per cent for 2012. This operating leasing item includes other assets that are on operating leases including computer equipment, other transport vehicles and so on. The leased aircraft element cannot be presented in isolation from the other leased assets but is the most significant element.

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Ceisteanna (266)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

266. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 64 of 13 May 2015, and in respect of the 36,256 private dwelling house mortgage accounts classified as restructured which are in arrears, the way this was broken down between accounts that were in arrears prior to restructuring, where the arrears balance has not yet been eliminated, and accounts that are in arrears on the current restructuring arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19933/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

Further to the Central Bank Residential Mortgage Arrears and Repossessions statistics in respect of quarter four 2014, I am informed by the Central Bank that the banks do not report data for statistical purposes to them in such a way as to facilitate the requested breakdown. Consequently, I am unable to provide the specific breakdown requested of accounts in arrears prior to restructuring and accounts in arrears on the current restructuring arrangement. 

The Government is committed to helping people in arrears to reach sustainable solutions and engagement between lenders and mortgage holders has resulted in almost 115,000 solutions to the end of December. The major reforms announced by the Government on 13 May are designed to help more people to access the supports, options and solutions available and, in particular, to support mortgage holders in long term arrears.

Mortgage Arrears Proposals

Ceisteanna (267)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

267. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the status of a charity in the United Kingdom (details supplied) in providing assistance to bank customers in mortgage arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19947/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Finance

As you know the issue of mortgage arrears is an important issue for Government and on 13 May the Government agreed a number of new measures to support mortgage holders who are in arrears. Building on action already taken, the measures aim to increase the supports available to people in arrears and to increase the numbers of people availing of them. 

With regard to the status of the StepChange Debt Charity, I understand that talks are ongoing between the organisation and Irish banks regarding the proposition that StepChange would operate an advice service to help people struggling with the burden of debt to find a solution to their problems.