Written Answers Nos. 654-681
654. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure buildings (details supplied) do not breach a requirement; and his further plans to ensure such transitional arrangements do not lead to new public buildings failing to comply with the nearly zero energy building targets after 31 December 2018 and all new buildings after 31 December 2020. [26184/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDirective 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings (recast) requires Member States to ensure all new buildings will be nearly zero-energy by 31 December 2020 and all new buildings occupied and owned by public authorities will be nearly zero-energy by 31 December 2018. The Directive broadly defines a nearly zero-energy building as a building with a high energy performance where the very low amount of energy required should, to a very significant extent, be met by energy from renewable sources, including renewable energy produced onsite or nearby. The statutory minimum energy performance standards for buildings are addressed under Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) of the Building Regulations and the accompanying Technical Guidance Documents.
Against this background, Ireland has been making significant progress in terms of both improving energy efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions within the built environment. Taking the energy efficiency requirements established in 2005 as the benchmark, the Building Regulations (Amendment) Regulations 2007 set the requirements necessary to achieve a 40% improvement (over the 2005 standards) in the energy and carbon performance of new dwellings. The requirements were subsequently upgraded under the Building Regulations (Part L Amendment) Regulations 2011, which has delivered a 60% aggregate improvement (relative to 2005 standards) in both the energy and carbon performance of new dwellings. My Department envisages one further upgrade to the Part L requirements in order to ensure Ireland meets our ‘nearly zero energy’ obligation for dwellings by 31 December 2020.
Part L of the Building Regulations was also revised in 2008 in respect of buildings other than dwellings which introduced the methodology (known as NEAP or the Non-domestic Energy Assessment Procedure) to measure the energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions for new buildings other than dwellings. A further review, which is being developed in conjunction with public sector bodies, of Part L in respect of buildings other than dwellings which is now at an advanced stage will set out the statutory requirements for nearly zero energy for new non-domestic buildings, including new buildings occupied and owned by public authorities, in order to meet the requirements of the Directive.
The current review of Part L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) in respect of buildings other than dwellings will be informed by a comprehensive public consultation process which my Department intends to announce shortly.
655. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to ensure that cooling energy demand and overheating risk are quantified in Irish building regulations for dwellings, to ensure full compliance with European law, to ensure that new homes are comfortable and energy efficient irrespective of external weather and to reduce the risk of avoidable summer deaths (details supplied). [26185/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart L (Conservation of Fuel and Energy) of the Building Regulations and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document for dwellings specifies the calculation procedure called the Dwelling Energy Assessment Procedure (also known as DEAP) as the methodology to be used to calculate the energy and carbon dioxide emissions performance for dwellings. The DEAP methodology has been designed to be in accordance with the requirements set out in Annex I of Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings (recast). The DEAP methodology contains an optional overheating module which can be used to estimate the risk of overheating in dwellings.
The DEAP methodology is currently undergoing review. As part of this review, it is also planned to introduce a cooling calculation module into the software to calculate the cooling demand for dwellings.
656. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of local authority capital housing scheme applications lodged with his Department including their current status, by local authority area in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26188/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently there are 20 local authority capital construction projects for new general social housing developments lodged with my Department for initial approval in principle. The following are the numbers per local authority:
|
Clare County Council |
4 projects |
|
Cork County Council |
1 project |
|
Offaly County Council |
3 projects |
|
Monaghan County Council |
1 project |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
1 project |
|
Sligo County Council |
1 project |
|
Donegal County Council |
1 project |
|
Kildare County Council |
1 project |
|
Wexford County Council |
7 projects |
These numbers change constantly as new approvals are issued and as local authorities lodge new proposals. The development of new proposals is greatly assisted by the ongoing dialogue at technical level in relation to projects, which is now a feature of engagement between my Department and local authorities.
657. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of personnel employed in the housing and planning sections of each local authority area by year since 2007 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26200/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities. The data gathered do not provide detail in respect of the number of personnel employed in the housing and planning sections within each local authority, and accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department.
658. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when the funding promised under the National Taking in Charge Initiative will be available. [26258/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSome €10 million has been made available in 2016 to fund the National Taking in Charge Initiative, which will assist local authorities in developing new approaches to addressing housing estates, including those with developer-provided water services infrastructure that, for various reasons, have not been taken in charge to date.
On 8 July 2016, following consideration of submissions put forward by local authorities, I announced the allocation of €9 million to assist in the process of taking in charge of 356 developments (accounting for over 17,000 households). In addition to the €9 million allocation, almost €4.5 million of funding will be sourced by local authorities through bonds and other sources.
659. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the proposals he has to change regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act to enable enforcement proceedings to be initiated in the District Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26275/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Residential Tenancies Act 2004 regulates the landlord-tenant relationship in the rented residential sector and sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) was established as an independent statutory body under the Act to operate a national tenancy registration system and facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants.
Section 124 of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 provides for the enforcement of RTB determination orders in the Circuit Court. Section 57 of the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 amends section 124 to provide for the enforcement of RTB determination orders through the District Court rather than the Circuit Court. Section 57 is subject to a Commencement Order which will be made in the coming months.
660. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the proposals he has to amend planning regulations in respect of afforestation; if his attention has been drawn to concerns of many communities in relation to the planting of land adjacent to dwelling homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26276/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe principal Planning and Development Regulations 2001 were amended in September 2011 by the Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2011 to provide that initial afforestation shall be exempted development.
This activity is exempted from the requirement to obtain planning permission, as it is subject to a separate statutory development consent system under the European Communities (Forest Consent and Assessment) Regulations 2010, administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The 2010 Regulations make specific provision for public consultation in the application and approval process.
I have no proposals to further amend the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, in this regard.
661. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the changes in the operation of the HAP scheme and the rent supplement scheme; if he will consider extending the flexibility in terms of the rent supplement ceilings to County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26316/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraConsistent with its stated commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government, the Government increased both Rent Supplement and Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) rent limits in every local authority area, taking account of geographic variations in market rents, with effect from 1 July 2016. In addition, additional flexibility above the existing HAP rent limits was made available to all local authorities operating HAP from the same date. These changes have the effect of providing further targeted supports to those households in most need; providing prospective HAP recipients with access to a greater number of properties in the market; and reducing the number of households falling into homelessness.
The average increase in the HAP rent limit applicable to household types in Offaly was 12%. In addition, the local authority was provided with flexibility to increase the relevant rent limit by a further 20% in order to facilitate households to access a suitable property.
The Rent Supplement scheme falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.
662. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department will provide funding to address the shortfall from the re-evaluation of rates payable carried out by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26317/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Question refers to global valuations of property of utility undertakings carried out by the Commissioner of Valuation.
The Commissioner for Valuation is responsible for valuation matters, including the global valuation of property of public utility undertakings under Part 11 of the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015.
The Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 come under the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality. This legislation provides for global valuations of utility undertakings to be carried out by the Valuation Office every five years and entered on the central valuation list. This can result in either increases or decreases to the relevant valuation. In 2015, the Valuation Office carried out global valuations for Gas Networks Ireland, Iarnród Éireann and telecommunications companies BT Ireland, Eircom, Vodafone, Three Ireland and Meteor. In November 2015, the Valuation Office issued a copy of the Valuation Certificate and a schedule setting out the apportioned value for each rating authority to my Department. The previous valuation for these utilities had taken place in 2010. The Global Valuation Certificates showed a reduction in the combined valuations for these utilities. In addition, the reduction in the global valuation of the ESB, following an appeal to the Valuation Tribunal, reduced the rates payable by the ESB from 2016.
The timing of the global valuations in 2015 caused particular difficulties for local authorities as they were published at an advanced stage of the local authority budgetary process. In this regard, my Department engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and it was agreed that there would be a once-off adjustment in support from the Local Government Fund in 2016 to local authorities affected by the global valuations. The additional allocation provided was on an exceptional and once- off basis, solely for the 2016 budgetary period.
The elected members of a local authority have direct responsibility in law for all reserved functions of the authority, which includes adopting the annual budget, and are democratically accountable for all expenditure by the local authority. As such, it is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to both locally identified needs and available resources.
663. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total number of NAMA units offered to the local authority in tabular form on a county by county basis; and the number accepted and transferred per annum from 2011 to date. [26395/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) plays an important role in the delivery of social housing. To the end of June 2016, a total of 2,135 residential properties, which are part of the security for loans that NAMA has acquired, had been secured for use by local authorities or approved housing bodies. These comprise 1,588 completed properties and a further 547 that had been contracted and where completion work is ongoing. A further 119 properties were considered as being active transactions whereby terms are agreed or active negotiation is ongoing, and 390 other properties were to be further appraised for their suitability. These and other statistics are available on the website of the Housing Agency at www.housing.ie/NAMA.
The table below gives the breakdown, by county, of units secured for social housing through NAMA. A breakdown per annum will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Total number of units, secured for use by local authorities or approved housing bodies, by local authority, to date (cumulative).
Identified by NAMA Demand Confirmed Secured
|
Carlow Co. Co. |
228 |
150 |
138 |
|
Cavan Co. Co. |
49 |
1 |
0 |
|
Clare Co. Co. |
235 |
77 |
55 |
|
Cork City |
502 |
189 |
132 |
|
Cork Co. Co. |
798 |
309 |
285 |
|
Dublin City |
853 |
400 |
377 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Co. Co. |
354 |
162 |
112 |
|
Fingal Co. Co. |
293 |
122 |
105 |
|
Galway City |
203 |
202 |
196 |
|
Galway Co. Co. |
145 |
40 |
32 |
|
Kerry Co. Co. |
221 |
69 |
42 |
|
Kildare Co. Co. |
307 |
130 |
127 |
|
Kilkenny Co. Co. |
189 |
63 |
55 |
|
Meath Co. Co. |
235 |
63 |
38 |
|
Offaly Co. Co. |
83 |
36 |
30 |
|
Roscommon Co. Co. |
104 |
45 |
0 |
|
South Dublin Co. Co. |
593 |
148 |
141 |
|
Waterford Co. Co |
109 |
51 |
51 |
|
Wicklow Co. Co. |
39 |
7 |
7 |
|
Westmeath Co. Co. |
108 |
22 |
20 |
|
Donegal Co. Co |
124 |
31 |
5 |
|
Monaghan Co. Co. |
45 |
38 |
38 |
|
Leitrim Co. Co. |
35 |
0 |
0 |
|
Laois Co. Co. |
98 |
1 |
0 |
|
Mayo Co. Co. |
75 |
31 |
0 |
|
Longford Co. Co |
38 |
2 |
0 |
|
Tipperary Co. Co |
161 |
13 |
0 |
|
Sligo Co. Co |
122 |
29 |
4 |
|
Wexford Co. Co. |
225 |
132 |
102 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
162 |
54 |
16 |
|
Louth County Council |
32 |
27 |
27 |
|
Grand Total |
6,765 |
2,644 |
2,135 |
664. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will explore the option of temporarily reducing the lower rate of employer PRSI from 8.5% to 4.25%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24504/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently, employers pay PRSI at the rate of 8.5% where weekly earnings are between €38 and €376. Once weekly earnings exceed €376, the rate of employer PRSI is 10.75%. The upper threshold for the 8.5% rate of employer PRSI was increased from €356 to €376 from 1 January 2016, to take account of the increase in the minimum hourly wage. This measure benefitted over 26,000 employers with employees earning between €356 and €376 per week. The full-year cost of this measure was €6.7 million. It is estimated that the full year cost of reducing the lower rate of employer PRSI from 8.5% to 4.25% would be €158.5m and would affect 678,400 employments. This estimate is based on the latest available data and reflects macro-economic indicators for 2017. It should be noted that the estimate does not take possible changes in employer or employee behaviour into account.
Any reductions would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
665. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools in counties Cavan and Monaghan involved in the meals programme in the past school year; the way this compares to the previous year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24513/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra670. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding allocated each year since 2006 to the school meals programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26207/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra671. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools and students which availed of the school meal programme each year since 2006 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26208/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 665, 670 and 671 together.
The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of €42 million in 2016. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them.
Details of the allocation to the school meals programme each year since 2006 is provided in the attached tabular statement. Details of the number of schools and students that availed of the programme since the academic year 2009/2010 are also provided. These figures are not available for the period between 2006 and 2009.
In the previous school year, 25 schools from counties Cavan and Monaghan participated in the school meals programme which represented an increase of 1 school over the previous year. This information is provided on a county basis in the attached tabular statement.
Table 1: Budget allocation for the School Meal Programme
|
Year |
Allocated Funding |
|
2006 |
€10.4m |
|
2007 |
€16.6m |
|
2008 |
€32m |
|
2009 |
€35m |
|
2010 |
€35m |
|
2011 |
€35m |
|
2012 |
€35m |
|
2013 |
€37m |
|
2014 |
€37m |
|
2015 |
€39m |
|
2016 |
€42m |
Table 2: Number of schools and students benefiting from the School Meal Programme per year
|
School Meals Local Projects Scheme |
School Meals Local Projects Scheme |
School Meals Local Projects Scheme |
Urban School Meals Scheme* |
Urban School Meals Scheme* |
Urban School Meals Scheme* |
|
School Year |
Schools |
Pupils |
Year |
Schools |
Pupils |
|
2009/2010 |
1,065 |
144,582 |
2009 |
364 |
51,916 |
|
2010/2011 |
1,059 |
135,243 |
2010 |
324 |
57,473 |
|
2011/2012 |
1,005 |
136,884 |
2011 |
332 |
49,317 |
|
2012/2013 |
1,037 |
146,981 |
2012 |
305 |
47,448 |
|
2013/2014 |
1,128 |
151,292 |
2013 |
306 |
55,657 |
|
2014/2015 |
1,160 |
155,472 |
2014 |
332 |
62,107 |
|
2015/2016 |
1,175 |
166,761 |
2015 |
301 |
55,371 |
* The Urban School Meals Scheme is administered and operated by the Local Authorities with the Department of Social Protection providing funding of 50% of the food costs. Some overlap exists in relation to the schools and pupils in both schemes. For example, a school may operate a breakfast club under one scheme and a lunch club under another.
Table 3: Number of Schools in the School Meals Programme in Cavan/Monaghan
Number of Schools in the School Meals Programme
|
County |
2014/2015 |
2015/2016 |
|
Cavan |
12 |
12 |
|
Monaghan |
12 |
13 |
666. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the process whereby private landlords are asked to sign welfare forms for tenants giving them undue control over on individual tenant's right to apply for welfare such as rent assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24780/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra669. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will increase the rent supplement cap for County Kerry to reflect rent prices in the county, most especially for single persons, in light of a recent report (details supplied) which shows the average rent of a one bedroom apartment in Kerry at €434; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26068/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra675. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of family units who are recipients of the rent allowance within each local authority area and county by location within that authority or county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25092/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra809. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients and cost to the Exchequer of rent supplement, rent supplement uplifts and housing assistance payment in 2015 and in 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26127/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 666, 669, 675 and 809 together.
Supports in relation to housing and the provision of financial supports, including the rent supplement scheme, which is currently supporting some 51,800 recipients at a cost of €267 million in 2016, are a key priority for Government. A county breakdown of rent supplement recipients is provided in the attached tabular statement, this information is not maintained by local authority area.
The Deputies will be aware that the rent limits under the rent supplement scheme were recently increased effective from 1 July 2016. The review process undertaken represents a realignment of the maximum rent limits with agreed rents, with rents generally benchmarked against the 35th percentile of those rents registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. The review’s methodology was conducted in the same manner for all counties. The increases provided are evidenced based and reflect the pressures on rental properties in each particular location. The rent limits for all counties are benchmarked considering the main urban centre impacting the county’s rental market. In county Kerry and in line with earlier rent reviews, the limits are benchmarked against the major urban centre of Tralee. Rental prices in areas of significant tourist activity in county Kerry are both high in pricing and long term let properties are also in very short supply. Discretion will continue to be applied by my Department’s Community Welfare Service staff for such areas in excess of the general county limits.
In recognition of the ongoing difficulties in the rented market, my Department continues to implement a targeted, flexible, case-by-case approach where rents may exceed the maximum limits. This ensures people at risk of homelessness through the loss of their tenancy continue to be supported under the rent supplement scheme. Over 8,900 people at imminent risk of homelessness were supported through increased payments under the rent supplement scheme, with some 135 households assisted in County Kerry. A county breakdown of this information is provided in the tabular statement attached.
In determining whether the applicant is a bona fide tenant, which is a key requirement for the scheme, the Department will generally require documentary evidence including; signed documentation from both landlord and tenant, proof of ownership of the property, documentation that the tenancy has been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board, details of the lease agreement and documentation detailing payments made to the landlord. This verification process is an integral control element in the administration of the rent supplement scheme, and ensures conditions for entitlement continue to be met. There is no direct contractual relationship between the landlord and the Department in the administration of the scheme.
Reporting on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
Tabular Statement, Table 1- Rent Supplement Recipients by County
|
COUNTY |
Recipients End Dec. 2015 |
Recipients End August 2016 |
|
CARLOW |
962 |
712 |
|
CAVAN |
403 |
363 |
|
CLARE |
1,024 |
578 |
|
CORK |
6,822 |
5,569 |
|
DONEGAL |
1,202 |
581 |
|
DUBLIN |
23,758 |
21,340 |
|
GALWAY |
3,326 |
2,794 |
|
KERRY |
1,633 |
1,585 |
|
KILDARE |
3,396 |
2,847 |
|
KILKENNY |
554 |
375 |
|
LAOIS |
978 |
889 |
|
LEITRIM |
331 |
292 |
|
LIMERICK |
1,441 |
1,073 |
|
LONGFORD |
384 |
375 |
|
LOUTH |
1,462 |
1,058 |
|
MAYO |
1,528 |
1,201 |
|
MEATH |
1,528 |
1,201 |
|
MONAGHAN |
269 |
213 |
|
OFFALY |
812 |
633 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
611 |
592 |
|
SLIGO |
478 |
338 |
|
TIPPERARY |
1,674 |
1,152 |
|
WATERFORD |
958 |
717 |
|
WESTMEATH |
1,426 |
1,315 |
|
WEXFORD |
2,296 |
2,072 |
|
WICKLOW |
1,991 |
1,930 |
|
Grand Total |
61,247 |
51,795 |
Table 2 - Total Increased Rental Payments by County as of End Dec. 2015
|
County |
Awards under National Tenancy Sustainment Framework |
Awards under protocol with Threshold-ITSP |
Total no. of increased payments by County |
|
CARLOW |
24 |
24 |
|
|
CAVAN |
13 |
13 |
|
|
CLARE |
60 |
60 |
|
|
CORK |
235 |
70 |
305 |
|
DONEGAL |
0 |
- |
|
|
DUBLIN |
2,237 |
1,623 |
3,860 |
|
GALWAY |
112 |
112 |
|
|
KERRY |
25 |
25 |
|
|
KILDARE |
228 |
228 |
|
|
KILKENNY |
112 |
112 |
|
|
LAOIS |
101 |
101 |
|
|
LEITRIM |
48 |
48 |
|
|
LIMERICK |
7 |
7 |
|
|
LONGFORD |
95 |
95 |
|
|
LOUTH |
77 |
77 |
|
|
MAYO |
3 |
3 |
|
|
MEATH |
256 |
256 |
|
|
MONAGHAN |
1 |
1 |
|
|
OFFALY |
51 |
51 |
|
|
ROSCOMMON |
13 |
13 |
|
|
SLIGO |
0 |
- |
|
|
TIPPERARY |
165 |
165 |
|
|
WATERFORD |
27 |
27 |
|
|
WESTMEATH |
94 |
94 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
7 |
7 |
|
|
WICKLOW |
97 |
97 |
|
|
Overall Total |
4,088 |
1,693 |
5,781 |
Tabular Statement - Total Cumulative Increased Payments by County as of 12 September 2016
|
County |
Awards under National Tenancy Sustainment Framework |
Awards under protocol with Threshold |
Total no. of increased payments by County |
|
CARLOW |
48 |
48 |
|
|
CAVAN |
39 |
39 |
|
|
CLARE |
60 |
60 |
|
|
CORK |
432 |
64 |
496 |
|
DONEGAL |
- |
- |
|
|
DUBLIN |
3,713 |
1,774 |
5,487 |
|
GALWAY |
193 |
2 |
195 |
|
KERRY |
135 |
135 |
|
|
KILDARE |
446 |
1 |
447 |
|
KILKENNY |
135 |
135 |
|
|
LAOIS |
118 |
118 |
|
|
LEITRIM |
92 |
92 |
|
|
LIMERICK |
7 |
7 |
|
|
LONGFORD |
210 |
210 |
|
|
LOUTH |
148 |
148 |
|
|
MAYO |
3 |
3 |
|
|
MEATH |
378 |
378 |
|
|
MONAGHAN |
1 |
1 |
|
|
OFFALY |
62 |
62 |
|
|
ROSCOMMON |
50 |
50 |
|
|
SLIGO |
1 |
1 |
|
|
TIPPERARY |
174 |
174 |
|
|
WATERFORD |
52 |
52 |
|
|
WESTMEATH |
300 |
300 |
|
|
WEXFORD |
16 |
16 |
|
|
WICKLOW |
284 |
2 |
286 |
|
Overall Total |
7,097 |
1,843 |
8,940 |
667. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24925/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra776. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to increase the State pension by €25 over five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25786/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra820. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer for every 1% increase in social protection payments, with a breakdown of this cost by payment type. [26337/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra821. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost to the Exchequer for every 1% cent increase in the rate of child benefit in respect of children aged 12 years of age and over. [26340/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 667, 776, 820 and 821 together.
The Programme for Government commits to increase the rate of the State Pension above the rate of inflation. The appropriate level of social welfare supports will be considered by Government in a budgetary context in the coming weeks, with due regard to available resources.
A €5 increase in the weekly rates of payment to those aged 66 and over is estimated to cost €148.8 million in 2017. A €10 increase in the weekly rates of payment to those aged 66 and over is estimated to cost €297.6 million in 2017. These costs include a proportionate increase for recipients with qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment. The weekly payments concerned include:
- State Pension Contributory
- Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension – aged 66 or over
- Deserted Wife's Benefit – aged 66 or over
- Death Benefit Pension – aged 66 or over
- State Pension Non Contributory
- Carer's Allowance – aged 66 or over
- Half Rate Carer's Allowance – aged 66 or over
The estimated cost to the Exchequer of a 1% increase in all weekly Social Protection payments is estimated at €146.74 million in 2017. The following Table details by scheme the indicative cost of a 1% increase in weekly rates of Social Protection payments. The costs include a proportionate increase for recipients with qualified adults.
|
Scheme |
Cost in 2017 €m |
|
Social Insurance Schemes |
|
|
State Pension Contributory |
46.10 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) |
13.33 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
0.07 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
0.69 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
6.23 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
0.10 |
|
Disablement Pension |
0.68 |
|
Illness Benefit |
5.44 |
|
Injury Benefit |
0.13 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
0.10 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
3.43 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
0.29 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
0.00 |
|
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit |
2.50 |
|
Social Assistance Schemes |
|
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
11.22 |
|
Blind Person's Pension |
0.13 |
|
Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension |
0.14 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
0.01 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
3.99 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
5.65 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
0.04 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
23.94 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
0.03 |
|
Disability Allowance |
13.16 |
|
Farm Assist |
1.02 |
|
Back to Education Allowance |
1.07 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
1.26 |
|
Community Employment Programme |
2.57 |
|
TÚS - Community Work Placement Initiative |
0.98 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
0.33 |
|
JobBridge - National Internship |
0.23 |
|
Gateway |
0.17 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
1.71 |
|
OVERALL TOTAL |
146.74 |
The estimated costs in 2017 of a 1% increase in the monthly rates of Child Benefit and Domiciliary Care Allowance are €20.5 million and €1.2 million respectively.
The estimated cost of a 1% increase in the rate of Child Benefit, in respect of children 12 years of age and over, is €6.3 million in 2017.
The above costings are on a full year basis and assume that, where relevant, each increase is implemented from the beginning of January. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change over the coming weeks in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2017.
668. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he has taken to deal with a company (details supplied) and its treatment of its workers in terms of holiday pay and redundancy payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26023/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra798. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he has taken to ensure that the staff of a company (details supplied) staff are paid their redundancy expeditiously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26022/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 798 together.
I have been in contact with the director of the company concerned who has confirmed that all redundancy payments, outstanding holiday pay and minimum notice payments due to the former employees of the company were paid on 14 September 2016.
Therefore, there will be no claim on the social insurance fund for these payments.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
672. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify the changes introduced to the back to education allowance scheme for the 2016-2017 school year and the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26350/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra673. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will amend current back to education allowance scheme legislation to take effect from the commencement of the 2016-2017 school year by introducing a disregard of earnings up to €75 to allow students to earn money from part-time jobs to assist in funding their education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26351/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 672 and 673 together.
The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is designed primarily to support second chance education. It is an educational opportunities scheme for persons in receipt of certain qualifying social welfare payments wishing to pursue second or third level courses of education in order to improve their employment prospects.
Entitlement to BTEA is conditional on having ongoing entitlement to the qualifying scheme payment. The BTEA scheme has been amended in recent years to ensure that the conditions are in line with the qualifying payment. These amendments include no longer approving third level courses of study being undertaken outside of Ireland starting from 2016. This is in line with the rules of social assistance payments which are not payable abroad. The only exception to this rule is where participation in the one year EU Erasmus programme is a compulsory part of the course.
In addition from the 2016/17 academic year, BTEA participants with eligibility based on jobseekers, transitional jobseekers or one parent family payments who engage in part-time work will be assessed in accordance with their primary payment. This new measure ensures that only participants who continue to satisfy the means test of their primary payment or another qualifying BTEA payment will continue to receive income support under BTEA and that resources are directed at those most in need of assistance.
These amendments were introduced following the review carried out on employment supports schemes in 2012. The BTEA was never intended to be an alternative form of funding for people entering or re-entering the third level education system. The student universal support Ireland (SUSI) grant payable by the Department of Education and Skills represents the primary support for persons pursuing education.
Overall, the priority for my Department is that the BTEA scheme will be focused, targeted and suitable for the needs of jobseekers and of the future skills needs of the economy. It is only in that context that changes to BTEA will be considered.
674. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the action he has taken to protect jobs at a company (details supplied); if he and his Government colleagues will ensure workers are able to claim full statutory entitlements; his views on whether current legislation is sufficiently robust to enable workers claim full statutory rights when a business has entered liquidation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26429/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been in contact with the director of the company concerned who has confirmed that all redundancy payments, outstanding holiday pay and minimum notice payments due to the former employees of the company were paid on 14 September 2016.
Therefore, there will be no claim on the social insurance fund for these payments.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
676. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied). [24356/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 15 June 2016. The first payment was made by his chosen payment method on 7 September 2016.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments (if applicable).
677. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a carer's support grant by a person (details supplied). [24357/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Carer’s Support Grant (formerly called the Respite Care Grant) is an annual payment for carers who look after certain people in need of full-time care and attention.
An application by the person concerned for the Carer’s Support Grant was refused on 6 September 2016 by one of my Department’s Deciding Officers. The Deciding Officer was not satisfied the care being provided was sufficient to qualify for the Grant. The person concerned was notified of this decision in writing and was advised of her right to request a review. She was also advised of her right to submit a formal appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
678. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection if, in view of the fact that the introduction of the total contributions approach acknowledges that the previous system threw up unfair anomalies such as, for example, in cases where women subject to the marriage bar are denied a full contributory old age pension despite having more than the minimum number of PRSI contributions and years worked necessary to qualify; and if he will apply this total contributions approach retrospectively in the case of these women, such that women who have well over the minimum number of PRSI contributions necessary to qualify for a contributory pension can gain access to such a pension. [24364/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ‘marriage bar’ describes a rule that existed in most of the public service and some private sector employments, where women were required to leave their employment upon marriage. This practice was abolished in 1973 when Ireland joined the EEC. As employees in the public service generally paid a reduced rate of PRSI, which provided no cover for the State pension (contributory), the marriage bar would not generally have impacted on State pension entitlement, as they would not have qualified for that payment had they remained in public sector employment.
To qualify for a State pension (contributory) a person must satisfy a number of criteria. One of these is that they have at least 520 paid contributions (i.e. 10 years). However this of itself does not qualify someone for a full rate contributory pension. As with such pensions in other countries, there is a separate criterion to decide the rate of payment for those who do qualify.
Since 1961, when contributory pensions were introduced in this State, the 'yearly average' contributions test has been used in calculating the rate of pension entitlement. Entitlement is banded, with the maximum rate payable to those with a yearly average of 48-52 contributions, and the minimum rate payable to those with a yearly average in the range of 10-14 contributions per year.
For those who have insufficient contributions to qualify for a full State pension (contributory), there are supports available in the overall State pension system which assists qualification for a contributory payment, based on factors such as the contributions made by their spouse, and/or other factors likely to impact upon their needs. These include
- The Homemaker’s scheme, which was introduced to make qualification for State pension (contributory) easier for those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties.
- Increases for Qualified Adults.
- Credits for periods of unemployment and illness.
For those who do not qualify for a full rate contributory pension, they may qualify for a means-tested non-contributory pension of up to 95% of the full contributory pension.
It is expected that a total contributions approach (TCA) to pension qualification will replace the yearly average contributions test for State pension (contributory) for new pensioners from 2020. The aim of this approach is to make the rate of contributory pension more closely match contributions made by a person. An important factor in the final design of the scheme will be the treatment of homemaking periods.
This is a very significant reform with considerable legal, administrative, and technical elements in its implementation. When proposals are agreed, legislation will be brought forward to underpin the necessary changes. It is important that the changes be announced well in advance of introduction, to enable those affected to include the new factors into their retirement planning.
While the details of the new system have yet to be finalised, I do believe they will result in a fairer system. However, the Deputy should note that not everyone will see their projected entitlements improve under the new scheme, and there will be some people, who have paid very little into the Social Insurance Fund, who may qualify for a lower rate of payment under TCA than they would have under the yearly average system. People in this situation who had already retired before the introduction of TCA would strongly oppose such a change being imposed upon them, particularly if their means are such that they would not qualify for an alternative benefit at a higher rate of payment.
If, instead, we allow current pensioners to choose the most advantageous system to them, then that would have very significant Exchequer costs. It would mean that a significant number of pensioners would have a higher rate of pension than under the ‘yearly average’ system, but no pensioner would have a lower rate, and the question of how to finance this would arise.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
679. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will restore the farm assist payment to the levels prior to the cuts made to the scheme three years ago as part of budget 2017. [24370/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. Farm assist recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance scheme such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2016 Revised Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure of €85 million on the farm assist scheme.
Changes introduced in Budgets 2012 and 2013 brought farm assist into closer alignment with the jobseeker’s allowance scheme’s treatment of self-employed people. Farm families with the lowest income were least impacted by these changes as the headline rates of farm assist were maintained.
The Programme for Government contains the commitment to undertake a "Review of the Farm Assist Scheme, recognising the challenges facing farmers on low incomes". This review has now been completed and will inform any changes to the farm assist scheme, which will be considered in the context of Budget 2017 subject to the overall budgetary context.
680. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who have applied for domiciliary care allowance over the past four years; the number of people refused this allowance over this period; the number of decisions taken to the courts by these persons, if any; and to provide a breakdown on the different medical conditions of those applying and the medical conditions of those refused the allowance. [24391/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe details requested on Domiciliary Care Allowance applications made over the past four years are set out in the table:
Domiciliary Care Allowance applications – Decisions 2012-2015 inclusive.
|
Applications processed in year |
Applications allowed incl. on review |
Allowed on Appeal |
Disallowed after full process complete |
Total allowed and as % of all processed claims |
|
|
4,680 |
2,204 (47%) |
2012 |
903 |
1,573 |
3,107 (66%) |
|
4,404 |
2,444 (55%) |
2013 |
808 |
1,152 |
3,252 (73%) |
|
5,166 |
3,797 (73%) |
2014 |
648* |
721 |
4,445 (86%) |
|
6,313 |
4,646 (74%) |
2015 |
434* |
1,233 |
5,080 (80%) |
*Excluding appeals relating to backdating issues, as these claims are already in payment .
Since 2012, there have been a total of 6 Judicial reviews of DCA decisions.
Statistics on the disabilities of the child being applied for are not routinely collated and as a result are not available. Eligibility for the scheme is based on the level of additional care required resulting from the disability and not the type of disability itself.
681. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Social Protection when an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied) will be processed. [24477/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has been awarded disability allowance (DA) with effect from the date she attains 16 years of age. The first payment of DA will be made by her chosen payment method on 28 September 2016.
