Written Answers Nos. 235-258
235. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide emergency funding for a community group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28437/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts, 1878 to 2001, local authorities are deemed to be burial boards for their respective functional areas. Acting in their capacity as burial boards, local authorities are responsible for the management, regulation and control of burial grounds in their functional area.
My Department does not provide direct funding or grant assistance for the provision and maintenance of burial grounds.
236. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the offer of assistance his Department made to Sligo County Council, conditional on the council agreeing to increase the local property tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28471/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSligo County Council’s financial position is a matter of serious concern. While it is the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own day-to-day finances in a prudent and sustainable manner, my Department has been in regular consultation with the Council in relation to its financial position, resulting in the agreement of a long-term Financial Plan in December 2015. Further discussions and meetings have taken place recently, focused on the Council’s implementation of the Plan and the issues which have arisen in that context. Arising from this, on 3 October 2016, my Department approved adjustments to aspects of the implementation schedule in respect of the Financial Plan and sanctioned the recruitment of six library staff by the Council.
237. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when the expert panel currently investigating the issue of mica defective concrete blocks will publish their report or an interim report. [28487/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe expert panel on concrete blocks has met on four occasions since it was established in April 2016, and is continuing to receive and review the information that has been made available to it in relation to the problems that have emerged in affected homes in Donegal and Mayo. A substantial volume of information has now been provided by affected homeowners in both counties, as well as from Donegal and Mayo County Councils, which will be of particular assistance in completing the necessary research to inform the preparation of the panel’s report.
Further meetings have taken place with key stakeholders, including affected homeowners, the elected members of Donegal and Mayo County Councils, local authority officials, industry bodies and additional meetings are anticipated with other interested parties before the panel conclude their research into the problems that have emerged in the affected homes.
Ultimately, the panel’s terms of reference aim to establish the facts behind the problems that have emerged in Donegal and Mayo and to outline technical options for addressing the problems identified in order to assist affected homeowners. It is anticipated that the panel will complete their report before the end of the year; there are no proposals to publish an interim report. In this regard, I will await the outcome of the panel’s report before considering what further actions may be required to assist the parties directly involved in reaching a satisfactory resolution to the problems that have emerged in the two counties.
238. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans regarding the upgrading and-or reform of building regulations to provide for fully wheelchair accessible houses to be built and to arrange for this to happen as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28530/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe concept of Universal Design centres on achieving a built environment that can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of their age, size or disability. All new buildings, including social housing units must comply with the legally enforceable minimum performance standards set out in the Building Regulations 1997 - 2014. In this context, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use (2010), which came into effect on 1 January 2012, set out the minimum statutory requirements applicable to new buildings, and to existing buildings where new works, a material alteration or a material change of use is proposed.
The requirements of Part M aim to ensure that regardless of age, size or disability:
(a) new buildings other than dwellings (including multi-unit developments) are accessible and usable;
(b) extensions to existing buildings other than dwellings are, where practicable, accessible and usable;
(c) material alterations to existing buildings other than dwellings increase the accessibility and usability of existing buildings, where practicable;
(d) certain changes of use to existing buildings other than dwellings increase the accessibility and usability of existing buildings, where practicable; and
(e) new dwellings are visitable.
Part M of the Building Regulations aims to foster an inclusive approach to the design and construction of the built environment. While the Part M requirements may be regarded as a statutory minimum level of provision, the accompanying technical guidance encourages building owners and designers to have regard to the design philosophy of universal design and to consider making additional provisions where practicable and appropriate.
While the latest iteration of Part M of the Building Regulations initially coincided with the general downturn in economic and construction activity, its positive effects on access and use in the built environment will now be seen more widely as economic recovery takes hold and construction activity continues to gather momentum and moves onto a sustainable footing. While I have no proposals to amend Part M at this point in time, the Building Regulations, including Part M requirements, are subject to on-going review in the interests of safety and the well-being of persons in the built environment and to ensure that due regard is taken of changes in construction techniques, technological progress and innovation.
239. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to increase the housing adaptation grants as requested in a recent submission by the Irish Wheelchair Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28531/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability was increased in 2016 by some 10%, to an overall funding availability of €56.25m nationally. Some 7,600 households benefitted under this Scheme in 2015, and with the additional funding, this should increase to 8,000 in 2016.
While the Irish Wheelchair Association has proposed an increase in the Housing Adaption Grant upper level from €30,000 to €60,000, I do not propose to accept this proposal. The average individual amount paid under these grants is already lower than the €30,000 upper level and the current arrangement, therefore, serves to spread the benefits of the available funding to a higher number of recipients.
I am conscious of the social benefit accruing from this scheme in terms of facilitating the continued independent living by older people and people with a disability in their own homes. Further consideration will be given to increasing this funding over the coming years in the context of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
240. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has been consulted on and sanctioned the harvesting of seaweed in Roundstone Bay, County Galway by means of new technology provided by a company (details supplied) to local harvesters; and if all the relevant licences were in place and environmental impact statements completed before the harvesting began. [28541/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been in touch with the company named in order to establish the full facts related to this seaweed harvesting activity. On foot of that, my Department will consider the appropriate next steps involved.
241. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has received a report on the extent of land folios existing here with appurtenant seaweed harvesting rights attached to them; and the way these may interact with current legislation or the proposed marine area and foreshore amendment Bill; and if he will be making that report available to the Houses of the Oireachtas. [28542/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department sought the advice of the Office of the Attorney General on the interaction between the Foreshore Act and any relevant appurtenant rights, that is, rights that attach to a piece of land close to the foreshore to collect or harvest seaweed. In addition, my Department engaged with the Property Registration Authority of Ireland, PRAI, to attempt to establish the extent of appurtenant rights specified in Land Registry folios to harvest seaweed that may exist. The PRAI provided my Department with data detailing the extent of the rights in seven of the western seaboard counties, namely, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Clare, Galway, Mayo and Donegal. This was a complex task, given the manner in which the requested data is held by the PRAI and having regard to both the PRAI's and my Department's obligations under data protection legislation.
From information provided by the PRAI, it is clear that many appurtenant rights to collect seaweed exist, and the implications of such rights regarding the harvesting applications before my Department and the proposed Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill are being assessed.
242. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress made by his Department to implement the recommendations in the May 2015 report of the former Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on developing the seaweed industry in Ireland. [28543/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe May 2015 report of the Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on Developing the Seaweed Industry in Ireland puts forward 8 recommendations for developing the industry. However, I have no statutory role in the promotion or development of the seaweed industry. Under the Foreshore Act 1933, I am responsible for regulating only the harvesting of wild seaweed and the report does make a number of recommendations in this regard.
Any regulatory regime must seek to balance existing rights and commercial potential while ensuring sustainability of the resource and compliance with the State’s obligations under EU environmental law. In that regard, the interaction between the Foreshore Act 1933 and traditional rights to harvest seaweed that may exist in certain places is under consideration by my Department in the context of advice from the Office of the Attorney General.
Options for the future licensing of seaweed harvesting, including the relevant recommendations contained in the Oireachtas Committee’s report, are currently under review.
243. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the building of social housing with wheelchair access is included in the Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28614/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAddressing the needs of persons with a disability is already well established in housing policies. The commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government provides a platform to consolidate and build on the significant work undertaken to date, and will ensure that momentum is sustained in future housing policy development.
The National Housing Strategy for People with a Disability 2011-2016, published jointly by my Department and the Department of Health in 2011, sets out the Government’s broad framework for the delivery of housing for people with disabilities through mainstream housing options. The Strategy and the accompanying implementation framework were developed as part of a coherent framework to support people with disabilities to access community-based living with maximum independence and choice.
An Implementation Monitoring Group was established to monitor and report on progress under the strategy and considerable work has been done to deliver on various initiatives to support both new supply of dedicated housing for people with disabilities and provide for the adaptation of existing stock. Under Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the current Strategy will be extended beyond its original timeframe of 2016 to continue to deliver on its aims. The Implementation Monitoring Group will scope and frame the work-plan for its extension by the end of this year.
In addition, National Guidelines for the Assessment and Allocation Process for Housing Provision for People with a Disability were developed and adopted for implementation by housing authorities with effect from November 2014. Furthermore, housing authorities have established Housing and Disability Steering Groups (HDSGs), chaired by each authority, which include representatives from the Health Services Executive and disability representative organisations. The objective of these is to achieve a coordinated and integrated approach to meeting the housing needs of people with disabilities at a local level including, among other things, addressing accessibility requirements in new social housing stock. A strategic plan for each county/city area has been drawn up by the HDSGs to develop specific local strategies to meet identified and emerging needs. These local Strategic Plans are currently being collated by the Housing Agency into a draft National Strategic Plan under the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
The concept of Universal Design centres on achieving a built environment that can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people, regardless of their age, size or disability. All new buildings, including social housing units, must comply with the legally enforceable minimum performance standards set out in the Building Regulations 1997 - 2014. In this context, the Building Regulations (Part M Amendment) Regulations 2010, and the accompanying Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use (2010), which came into effect on 1 January 2012, set out the minimum statutory requirements applicable to new buildings, and to existing buildings where new works, a material alteration or a material change of use is proposed.
Part M of the Building Regulations aims to foster an inclusive approach to the design and construction of the built environment. While the Part M requirements may be regarded as a statutory minimum level of provision, the accompanying technical guidance encourages building owners and designers to have regard to the design philosophy of universal design and to consider making additional provisions where practicable and appropriate.
244. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department has offered Sligo County Council additional support of €200,000 per annum to resolve the crisis in the library service; if similar support will be provided for the Donegal library service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28617/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not provided financial support to Sligo County Council to alleviate staffing difficulties in the Sligo Library Service. Accordingly, while my Department has recently sanctioned the filling of up to six library posts in Sligo library service, the funding of these posts is a matter solely for Sligo County Council.
My Department continues to work with and support Sligo County Council in the achievement of financial stability through the delivery of its financial plan. In this context, my Department has recently approved a number of changes to the annual savings profiles outlined in the plan. It is a matter solely for Sligo County Council , however, to prioritise and allocate its resources in accordance with section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, including whether or not to use any consequent additional capacity that might arise to fund the recruitment of staff in its library service.
246. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the additional funding allocation he has received in the context of the housing crisis and the Government's commitment to increase capital spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19757/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSome €1.7 billion has been provided for housing services under Budgets 2015 and 2016. This has facilitated the delivery of over 13,000 social housing units in 2015, an 86% increase in unit delivery above 2014, and will deliver in excess of 17,000 social housing units this year.
To support the implementation of Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, I have secured €5.35 billion in Exchequer investment to deliver 47,000 social housing units through build, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, over the period to 2021.
This €5.35 billion investment comprises some €4.5 billion in capital funding and €844 million in support of programmes funded from current expenditure. In addition, €200 million is being provided for the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund through investment in key enabling infrastructure. Overall, over 40% of the available capital fiscal space for the 2017 to 2021 period is being assigned to housing.
The specific funding allocations for both capital and current housing programmes for next year will be finalised shortly in the context of the 2017 estimates process.
247. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will consider a national building agency that would directly employ builders to spearhead a public housing building programme in view of his concerns over housing supply, noted in his Department's draft national risk assessment report, and the risk this poses to overall competitiveness and social inclusion. [20697/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s 2016 Draft National Risk Assessment - Overview of Strategic Risks, was published on 10 June 2016, and is available at the following link: http://www.merrionstreet.ie/MerrionStreet/en/ImageLibrary/20160610National_Risk_Assessment.pdf. Since then, the Government has published Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, available at the website www.rebuildingireland.ie. The Plan sets out a practical and implementable set of actions to achieve the Government’s goals to significantly increase and expedite the delivery of social housing units, boost private housing construction, improve the rental market, and deliver on the commitment to see housing supply, in overall terms, increase to some 25,000 new homes every year by 2020.
The Plan comprises five pillars of concerted actions right across Government and I can assure the Deputy that implementation of the Plan is well underway, including through local authorities, Approved Housing Bodies, a new Housing Delivery Office within my Department, and a new Housing Procurement Unit and a One-Stop-Shop for Approved Housing Bodies within the Housing Agency. I am also in the process of establishing a Stakeholder Forum that will act as a vehicle for continuous feedback on the practical experience of implementation.
I do not believe that setting up another body to deal with housing is either necessary or appropriate, particularly given the time and resources that would need to be diverted to such an endeavour. My focus is firmly on the implementation of the actions set out in Rebuilding Ireland, working with all stakeholders, including Government Departments and agencies, local authorities, approved housing bodies, voluntary bodies, and the construction sector, to achieve its ambitious goals.
248. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the measures he has advanced to solve the child homelessness crisis. [23027/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe solution to the challenge of homelessness, including for those families with children, is to increase the supply of homes as envisioned under Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness. The Action Plan, published on 19 July 2016, aims to deliver 47,000 units of social housing over the period to 2021 through construction, refurbishment, acquisitions and leasing, supported by Exchequer investment of some €5.35 billion.
The Plan provides for early solutions to address the unacceptable level of families in emergency accommodation, including the objective that by mid-2017, hotels will only be used for emergency accommodation in very limited circumstances. The increases in Rent Supplement and Housing Assistance Payment levels from 1 July 2017, in terms of supporting families to remain in rented accommodation, will play an important role in the achievement of this overall objective. However, where families do find themselves in a homeless situation, their needs will be met through the enhanced Housing Assistance Payment, general social housing allocations, the wider housing supply to be delivered through an expanded Rapid-Build housing programme and a Housing Agency initiative to acquire 1,600 vacant housing units.
The Action Plan also outlines the Government’s commitment to ensure that services are fully responsive to the particular needs that might arise for families with children that are residing in emergency accommodation, with a number of measures to be overseen by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. These measures include the appointment of a Dedicated Child Support Worker, assistance by Home School Community Liaison and School Completion staff, and access to crèches and preschool services.
The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan is available at http://rebuildingireland.ie/.
249. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of retired public sector employees in his Department, including bodies under its aegis, who are in receipt of a public sector pension and who have been re-employed either part time or full time, temporary or otherwise by the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28978/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraRetired public and civil servants are engaged from time to time by my Department in areas where specific expertise is required for a short fixed period and these staff provide a level of knowledge, experience and background compatible with such requirements. There are currently 2 former civil or public servants who have been employed in my Department on temporary contracts.
The abatement principle, which ensures that the fee or salary paid plus pension does not exceed the rate of pay the pensioner would receive if he/she had continued service in their former post, applies to payments as appropriate.
Details in relation to bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the individual bodies concerned.
250. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of staff employed by his Department or seconded to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28991/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are 627.34 Whole Time Equivalent staff employed in my Department. This includes two members of staff on secondment from local authorities. This reflects the position following a recent restructuring of my Department, which is now focussed mainly on Housing, Planning, Water, Community and Local Government responsibilities.
251. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to difficulties being experienced in accessing a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28100/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobsireland.ie is a free online jobs site that enables employers to post job opportunities and jobseekers to search and apply for these opportunities online. At 20 years old, the original site was showing its age. For example, although it enabled jobseekers to search for job opportunities based on job type and location, it wasn’t possible for employers to search for suitable jobseekers on the site; they had to rely on candidates finding and applying for a job from among the many thousands hosted on the system.
Accordingly, the Department issued a tender last year for the development and implementation of a new service that would enable both employers and jobseekers to search for each other using competencies and skillsets as well as the traditional job-type classifications. As part of the new service, candidate profiles will be automatically matched to job specifications posted by employers with both candidate and the employer notified via email and/or SMS when a suitable match is found. Candidates can also use the site to apply for the jobs advertised. The system will also integrate with the Department of Social Protection’s Intreo service and will include other new features such as allowing jobseekers to post CVs and video profiles if they wish.
Following the procurement process, the contract was awarded to a firm that is now building and delivering the new service from a base in Cork. The service is being implemented on phased basis which means, unfortunately, that there is some service disruption while work is ongoing. There have also been some teething problems with the first phase implementation as a result of which the system is not working to specification. The Department is working with the supplier to address these issues and to add new functionality over the coming weeks.
Employers or any person experiencing difficulties with the website can contact the Department’s National Contact Centre on 1890 800 024 for assistance. Additional resources have been assigned to expedite queries.
253. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can extend participation on a Tús scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28176/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra269. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) can extend participation on a Tús scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28178/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 269 together.
The purpose of Tús is to provide short-term quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than one year. Tús helps to break the cycle of unemployment and improves a participant’s chances of returning to the labour market. Currently, there are no circumstances under which a person’s term on Tús can be extended.
The Tús budget for 2016 allows for 8,000 participants. Extending the period of participation beyond one year for current participants would reduce the number of placements available to other people who are long-term unemployed. This would deprive them of an opportunity to participate on the scheme. I consider the existing 12-month placement period on Tús is appropriate for meeting the objectives of the initiative, while also ensuring that as many unemployed people as possible are able to benefit from it.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
254. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding disability services in County Louth, including the funding available to a programme (details supplied). [28443/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Providing Equal Employment Routes (PEER) project was one of 14 disability activation projects (DACT), in the Border, Midlands and West region, which were jointly funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Department of Social Protection (DSP), from the end of 2012 to April 2015. The project was delivered by the Walkinstown Association for People with an Intellectual Disability (WALK).
After the ending of ESF funding, as provided for in EU regulations, my Department understands that the WALK PEER project obtained additional funding from other sources. As this additional funding terminated in July 2016, and following representations from WALK regarding funding difficulties relating to the PEER project, I decided to provide some short term funding to this project to enable it to continue service provision until early next year.
Arising from the learning derived from the DACT projects, it is evident that there is a need for a continuum of services that provides people with disabilities with the appropriate supports to obtain employment and stay in work. Consequently, there is also a need to enhance collaboration between service providers to ensure supports are delivered in a co-ordinated and structured manner. To this end, a working group chaired by the NDA and comprising of the Departments of Education and Skills, Health and Social Protection, together with the HSE was established to develop an effective co-ordinated policy approach and interdepartmental protocols to assist individuals with disabilities, including those who require a high level of support, to obtain and retain employment. This working group is due to report by the end of the year with an implementation plan in this regard. The provision of services at a national level, will be determined with reference to this implementation plan.
255. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures to be taken to tackle unemployment and in particular youth unemployment when the EU Council discussed these matters in September 2016. [28656/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince mid-20012, Ireland’s youth unemployment rate has fallen from 31% (significantly above the then Eurozone average of 24%) to 17% (significantly below the current Eurozone average of almost 21%).
Given the above trends, it is clear that improvement at the overall European level has not been as rapid as in Ireland over the last few years. Indeed, the youth unemployment rate is currently close to or above 40% in three countries, and over 25% in a further four countries.
It was in this context that the conclusions from the recent EU Summit in Bratislava recognised the need for the EU to “create a promising economic future for all and provide better opportunities for youth”. In concrete terms, the Summit envisaged that, in December forthcoming, decisions would be taken on “EU support for Member States in fighting youth unemployment and on enhanced EU programmes dedicated to youth”.
The EU Commission is expected to make an initial presentation on these issues to the Employment and Social Policy Council at its meeting on October 13th. There has not as yet been an indication as to the nature or scope of any additional EU-level measures that may be proposed by the Commission in response to the Summit conclusions.
257. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the disability allowance scheme. [28054/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 25th July 2016. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 26th August 2016 and the case will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
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 on social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
258. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28061/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received from the person concerned on the 10th June 2016. The application was not allowed as it was considered that the child did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A decision letter issued on 26th September 2016.
In the case of an application which is refused, the applicant may submit additional information and ask for the decision to be reviewed, and/or they may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. The person concerned has been advised of these options in the decision letter.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
