Written Answers Nos. 395-417
396. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount spent by local authorities on media advertising from March 2011 to February 2016, by media organisation, that is, newspaper, radio, television, or any other forms of media to which advertisement fees were paid by his Department; and the amount paid per year, to each individual media organisation, in tabular form. [13469/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is not available in my Department.
397. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to the strategic working group on shared services in public libraries of December 2013, if there are any proposed mergers of library authorities around the country; if so, the details of same; if a cost-benefit analysis has been carried out for shared library services, including the business case and any efficiencies costed; if a risk assessment has taken place; if there is a proposal to pilot the new structure at one location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13485/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDiscussions have commenced with the relevant Chief Executives on the possibility of shared services across a number of library authorities. The areas being considered for a shared service approach include Carlow and Kilkenny; Cavan and Monaghan; Laois and Offaly; Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo; Longford and Westmeath; and Cork City and Cork County. The proposed shared service structures are detailed in Managing the Delivery of Effective Library Services and were developed on foot of a risk assessment. A cost-benefit analysis was not carried out, however, as the reforms were identified as a means for achieving a greater and more equitable standard of library service rather than the requirement to drive greater cost efficiency.
These discussions will continue with Chief Executives in the coming months with a view to exploring how the proposals might best be implemented. It is too early to comment on detailed implementation arrangements, including the piloting of proposals in certain areas. All options will be considered as part of the discussion, however, with a view to securing the delivery of an enhanced quality and range of services and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the library service in these areas.
398. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if an allowance is being made in respect of families that include a person with a disability and whose bins are particularly heavy as a result of that person's condition, in relation to the introduction of pay-by-weight charges for the collection of domestic refuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13488/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has met with groups who represent persons with special needs to discuss and explore the impact of pay-by-weight charging on households with special needs. My Department has also been in consultation with the HSE and the waste management industry to discuss the issue and to try to find a workable and fair solution to this important matter. Notwithstanding the complexity of the issues involved, I am hopeful that a number of possible solutions, which are currently being explored as a matter of urgency, can address these difficult issues.
399. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if, in conjunction with the Minister for Social Protection, he will arrange for specific support for a waiver or other support system for larger families with low incomes who have been estimated as being part of the 5% of households who have five or more members who will be affected by the increased charges they will have to pay as a direct result of the pay-by-weight system for waste disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13494/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment waste policy is predicated on the waste hierarchy as set out in the EU’s Waste Framework Directive. A number of specific measures have been, and will continue to be, introduced to reduce the amount of waste generated in the State and to increase the segregation of waste which cannot be prevented, in line with Government policy. The introduction of pay-by-weight charges for the collection of household waste is one such measure.
During the period in which local authorities were directly involved in the collection of household waste, a minority of individual Councils offered different levels of discount to selected households, based on different qualification criteria. As local authorities exited the waste collection market, some required the private operators which took on the Councils’ customers to provide a level of discount for existing waiver customers only, and even then for a limited time. The vast majority of such contractual commitments for private operators to provide a waiver have now expired. In that context, the number of households in receipt of waiver discounts is likely to decline over time, especially as some householders were able to take advantage of special reduced offers elsewhere which actually undercut the waiver price. However, selected private operators still offer some level of discount to former waiver customers on a voluntary basis.
In addition, a very limited number of local authorities make financial contributions towards the cost of, or pay for, the collection of waste from certain households. Again, the qualification criteria and level of support differ from area to area. Such expenditure means that these local authorities divert funding from other areas to support these waiver provisions.
With the exception of one or two municipal districts, local authorities no longer collect waste and the market is now serviced by a diverse range of private operators, where the fees charged are a matter between service provider and customer and the services offered vary across the country. In that regard, it is becoming increasingly apparent that a national waiver scheme could not be imposed in the context of an open market for waste collection.
However, under pay-by- weight charging for household waste collection, there is an opportunity for everybody to have more control over their waste charges and to minimise their waste costs by preventing waste and segregating waste through using the food waste and recyclable waste bins properly. In this regard, a pay-by- weight awareness campaign, launched on 18 May 2016, will be rolled out at national, regional and local levels in the coming weeks and will give invaluable advice to householders on minimising their waste management costs under pay-by- weight charging.
400. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to re-establish the Dublin City Council extension grant which was discontinued in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13523/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding to local authorities in respect of social housing adaptations and extensions, to address serious overcrowding and to meet the needs of tenants with a disability. This funding continues to be available to all local authorities, including Dublin City Council, and was not discontinued in 2008. The funding also provides for improvement works to private houses in lieu of provision of local authority housing. The need for extensions can arise to address overcrowding, as well as for older people or people with a disability who may require the installation of a downstairs bedroom or bathroom. Local authorities also use their existing housing stock to meet such need (downsizing as well as upsizing) but, in some instances, the best option is to adapt/extend a family’s existing accommodation and this funding supports local authorities in responding to that need. The overall funding for this activity in 2015 was €10m nationally, which was an increase of €2m on the previous year. This year, I am providing €11m for such works.
401. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government of the 4,068 adults and the 2,121 children recorded as accessing local authority managed emergency accommodation during the week of 18 to 24 April 2016, how many were placed by the new communities unit; the number of these who had a housing needs assessment; and if they are on the social housing waiting list. [13528/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. In accordance with section 37(2) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including accommodation, rests with individual housing authorities. My Department has no function in relation to operational issues, such as those outlined in the Question, which are a matter for the relevant housing authorities.
402. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if discussions have taken place between the fire service in County Wicklow and Dublin in relation to the boundaries for the fire service between the two areas; and if so, if an agreement has been reached to allow Wicklow fire service to cover the Old Connaught Avenue area in County Dublin, as the closest fire station to the area is in the Wicklow fire service area. [13532/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs confirmed in “Keeping Communities Safe – A Framework for Fire Safety in Ireland”, it is the national policy that the nearest available resource (in terms of speed of arrival) should be deployed to emergency incidents, irrespective of administrative boundaries.
This policy is supported by the Risk-Based Approach (RBA) to managing emergency service provision. My Department, in conjunction with the Contracting Authorities of the three Regional Communications Centres, worked to develop a national model for a Risk-Based Approach to fire cover in all fire authorities. Initial RBA reports, which enabled and supported the first Area Risk Categorisation process undertaken by each fire service in 2013/14, were issued to each fire authority in July 2012.
A second batch of RBA reports, using an expanded data-set, was generated in 2015. These model the predicted order of attendance of primary fire service resources to every geographical area, based on the travel time from fire stations to those individual areas. The results were based on a combination of actual turnout times of the fire stations, using three years of cumulative response data, together with the predicted travel times. These provide an evidence base to support fire authorities in reviewing and redefining the pre-determined attendances (PDAs) in their functional areas and to give effect to the principle of mobilising the “nearest available resource”.
The RBA II project was recently submitted to the newly established Fire Services National Oversight and Implementation Group (FSNOIG) for consultation between management and staff representatives, following which a jointly agreed implementation process should issue.
In the particular case referred to in the Question, the responsibility for the provision of fire services rests with the relevant fire authorities who are, Wicklow County Council and Dublin City Council; the latter provides fire services for the four Dublin local authorities, through Dublin Fire Brigade. I expect that these authorities will jointly review service provision at the interface between their fire authorities in accordance with national policy when the FSNOIG consultation process is complete.
403. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the extension of the fire station at Bypass Road, Killarney, County Kerry will be prioritised for emergency reasons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13648/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department recently announced a five-year Fire Services Capital Programme with an allocation of €40 million, based on the current annual €8 million allocation, to be used for the purchase of fire appliances and specialist equipment, building or upgrading of prioritised Fire Stations, an upgrade of the Communications and Mobilisation system and improvements to Training Centres. Under this programme, sixteen new-build fire stations are to be provided and ten fire stations are to be upgraded. An upgrade of Killarney fire station is provided for in the current five-year programme. Project documentation, including contract documents and a cost plan were received in my Department in 2015, indicating a total project cost of €440,000. My Department is liaising with Kerry County Council to progress the Killarney project as a priority as part of this programme.
The projects in the capital programme will be reassessed on an annual basis and priority may be adjusted to bring forward projects offering best value-for-money and to take account of the state of readiness of the projects.
404. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated full-year savings for 2017 by reducing spending on professional fees by 10% in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14109/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not possible at this point to estimate the expenditure by my Department on professional services in 2017. In the circumstances any potential savings are being estimated based on the 2015 expenditure figures. The amount paid by my Department in 2015 to which professional services withholding tax was applied was €1.369 million. The potential saving resulting from a 10% reduction on this amount would be €136,900.
405. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the estimated full-year saving for 2017 by reducing spending on travel by 10% in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14126/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on my Department’s current 2016 allocation for Travel and Subsistence (T&S), a ten per cent spending reduction is estimated to amount to €127,500. This estimate will have to be revised once Orders for the transfer of functions from my Department are complete, as related T&S budgets will transfer with staff leaving my Department. It is my Department’s policy that only essential business travel is undertaken and that the number of staff absent on official business is kept to an absolute minimum.
406. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he will introduce to ensure that companies do not exploit college graduates as interns to generate profits for their business; his plans to introduce protection for interns, including a minimum wage for intern work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13167/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware I have already announced that I plan to replace JobBridge with a more targeted scheme later this year. I believe that economic and labour market conditions have changed for the better since the scheme was introduced in 2011 and that the time may now be right for a more targeted scheme.
JobBridge was developed in 2011 in response to the unemployment crisis to serve a dual purpose. First, to help jobseekers to secure the work experience vital to enhancing their employment prospects and break the vicious circle of ‘no experience no work but no work no experience’. And second to support employers in taking the first step in recruitment at a time when access to finance was very limited and business risk was very high. JobBridge also addressed the anomaly in the social welfare code whereby unemployed jobseekers who voluntarily undertook unpaid work experience or internships lost their entitlement to a jobseeker payment. Under JobBridge participants retain their jobseeker payment and in addition receive a top up towards the cost of work of €52.50 per week.
JobBridge has been very successful in meeting its objectives over the past five years. It has helped about 19,000 mainly small employers to provide valuable work experience to nearly 48,000 unemployed jobseekers. An independent evaluation of JobBridge published in 2013 found that overall satisfaction levels with the scheme were very high. Two thirds of participants would recommend the scheme to a friend or family member, and levels of abuse of the scheme by employers were very low. Most notably the evaluation found that about 61% of participants progressed into paid employment within a short period of about completing their internship. This is a very high progression rate and suggests that JobBridge has been instrumental in helping about 30,000 jobseekers to secure employment.
JobBridge is giving opportunities to jobseekers across the spectrum of qualifications. Participation on the scheme is voluntary.
Given the numbers of unemployed jobseekers holding graduate and post-graduate qualifications, it is obviously necessary that JobBridge is in a position to offer them an internship that reflects their abilities, aspirations and qualifications. In this regard a previous criticism directed at the Department was that the terms of its jobseeker payments prevented jobseekers, including graduate jobseekers, from taking up internship opportunities as a route into employment, JobBridge addresses this issue.
The Department has a number of controls in place to prevent abuse of the scheme. These include requirements on host organisations to provide a mentor to the intern, to sign and operate a standard agreement, to submit regular monitoring reports to the Department and to co-operate with random monitoring visits. There are also limits placed on the number of internships that can be offered by any one organisation related to the number of staff employed by the company and there are restrictions on the repeat or sequential use of internships. I am satisfied based on the Department’s own monitoring visits and the report of the independent evaluation that these controls are working effectively.
Notwithstanding these achievements JobBridge has been subject to a high level of criticism much of which is based on anecdote or very small scale surveys by various interest groups. I intend to respond to these criticisms in the design of a new scheme. It is however important that the design of a new scheme be informed by the best evidence possible.
It is for this reason that I intend to await the results of a second large scale evaluation of JobBridge currently underway. The results of this evaluation, which is again being undertaken by Indecon, are expected in September and I will announce my proposals for a new scheme shortly thereafter.
407. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the supports for working artists in the social protection system; and if the Government will relax activation rules for working artists to allow them to support themselves as they produce the art and cultural pieces for which our country is rightly proud. [13597/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative full-time employment. The 2016 Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €2.8 billion.
It is accepted that periods of unemployment are a normal feature of the acting and artistic professions and people in these professions can qualify for a jobseeker’s payment when they are unemployed. Jobseeker’s payments compensate for periods of involuntary unemployment only and it is not the function of my Department to provide income support through the jobseeker’s schemes to any group, including artists during periods of unemployment, which are involuntary. For this reason, social welfare legislation provides that all jobseekers must satisfy certain qualifying conditions in order to be entitled to an unemployment payment including, being available for full-time work and be genuinely seeking work. The legislation does not impose any restriction or limitation on the right of a person to the opportunity to engage in the employment of his or her choice. All unemployed persons should avail of reasonable employment opportunities and Artists are treated no differently to any other unemployed person. My Department’s INTREO service now provides a more focussed service to those in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment, including Artists.
My Department has no plans to introduce new sector specific working age payments that provide exemptions to be available for and genuinely seeking employment.
It is essential to the sustainability and integrity of the jobseeker’s schemes that these criteria remain a core feature of the State’s supports for the unemployed.
408. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme. [12501/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department informs me that there is no record of an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned. If the person in question wishes to make an application, he should complete and return the application form (CR1) that I have arranged to issue to him.
On receipt of a fully completed application form, his entitlement to CA will be determined. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
409. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to review the household benefits package scheme and to reinstate the telephone allowance for persons over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12502/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe household benefits package (HHB) comprises the electricity or gas allowance, and the free television licence. The package is generally available to people living in the State, aged 66 years or over who are in receipt of a social welfare type payment or who satisfy a means test. The package is also available to carers and people with disabilities under the age of 66 who are in receipt of certain welfare type payments. Widows and widowers aged from 60 to 65 whose late spouses had been in receipt of the household benefits package retain that entitlement. The Department will spend approximately €227 million this year on the household benefits package for over 418,000 customers. All aspects of the HHB package are continually reviewed and improvements made to the scheme where necessary.
The cost of the telephone allowance scheme had risen significantly each year, as the number of eligible customers grew, arising from the increased number of pension recipients. The decision to discontinue the telephone allowance was estimated to provide annual savings of €48 million. These savings meant that the Department was able to retain the other valuable elements of the household benefits package such as the electricity and gas allowance and the television licence. Any decision to restore the telephone allowance would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
410. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Social Protection when he will issue payment to a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme. [12527/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person in question was disallowed disability allowance (DA) on the grounds that he was not medically suitable for the scheme. He appealed that decision to the social welfare appeals office (SWAO).
My department has been notified by the SWAO that the appeal for the person in question has been successful.
A deciding officer will now implement the appeals officer’s decision and the person concerned will be notified in writing of the details as soon as possible.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the deputy.
411. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12546/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.
Where the care recipient is less than 16 years of age a domiciliary care allowance (DCA) must be in payment for them.
The person concerned applied for CA on 9 January 2015 in respect of care being provided for her 11 year old son. As DCA was not in payment for him, CA was disallowed on 15 April 2015. The person concerned appealed this decision and the appeal was disallowed on 19 October 2015.
The person concerned re-applied for CA on 8 February 2016 following a successful appeal against the refusal of her application for DCA.
A person can be considered to be providing full-time care and attention where they are engaged in employment, self-employment or on training courses outside the home for a maximum of 15 hours per week, provided that they can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer that adequate care has been provided for the care recipient in their absence.
As the person concerned does not satisfy this condition in that she is working in excess of 15 hours per week, her application for CA must be refused. The person in question has indicated to CA section staff that she will reduce her hours if CA may be awarded and someone from that area will be in touch with her to discuss how this may be facilitated within the scope of the statutory conditions for award of CA.
The person concerned was notified on 7 May 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
412. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12549/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraCA is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.
In order to assist the deciding officer (DO) to determine entitlement in this case, the application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.
Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
413. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12550/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 5 February 2016.
The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied. Once the SWI has reported, a deciding officer will make a decision as quickly as possible. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
414. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12553/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) was awarded to the person concerned on 17 May 2016 and the first payment issued to their nominated post office on 26 May 2016.
Arrears of allowance due from 11 February 2016 to 25 May 2016 have also issued.
The person concerned was notified on 17 May 2016 of this decision.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
415. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12555/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to hold an oral hearing in this case on 1 June 2016. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
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.
416. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12580/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 17 May 2016 and the first payment issued to their nominated bank account on 26 May 2016.
Arrears of allowance due from 15 October 2015 to 25 May 2016 have also issued.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
417. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the carer's allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12582/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 16 February 2016.
CA is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.
In order to assist the deciding officer to determine the person’s entitlement, the application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of CA are satisfied.
Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
