Written Answers Nos. 285-309
285. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the recourse, other than a court action, that is available to persons in cases where a Private Residential Tenancies Board, PRTB, ruling is ignored by the opposing side in a dispute; his views on the powers the PRTB holds to enforce rulings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30408/16]
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 to facilitate the resolution of disputes between landlords and tenants. Under the Act, enforcement of RTB determination orders is a discretionary power and the Board exercises this power taking account of the circumstances pertaining to each case. Given the demand for enforcement, it is not sustainable for the RTB to initiate proceedings on all requests. As the Board was established to take cases out of the Courts, it endeavours to secure enforcement initially by non-judicial means.
While there is no legal obligation on the RTB to enforce, the Board takes the issue of non-compliance with determination orders very seriously. In 2015 alone, it referred 312 cases to its legal advisors for enforcement proceedings. It is also open to parties to pursue enforcement independently through the Courts, including the seeking of a garnishee order. It should be noted that going to Court does not of itself ensure successful enforcement and more particularly, recoupment, of an award. In many cases the best option - and one which the RTB facilitates - is for the parties to agree a schedule of payments.
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. This will considerably reduce the expense of enforcing a determination order and may in some cases provide for faster hearings, as there are more sittings of the District Court than the Circuit Court. Section 57 is subject to a Commencement Order which will be made in the coming months.
287. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the excellent work that is carried out by an organisation (details supplied); his plans to provide funding to allow this concept to continue and to grow; if he is aware that this charity is now operating with only one full time member of staff; his plans to allocate funding to increase the staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30425/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Government is committed to developing a range of measures supportive of the regeneration and renewal of towns and villages across rural Ireland and, consequently, ensuring a vibrant population in those places. It is my aim that all reasonable steps are taken to secure the re-use of vacant and under-utilised properties for residential purposes, particularly in the many towns and villages in rural Ireland that contain a significant number of empty houses. Action 5.1 of the Action Plan provides for the development of a National Vacant Housing Re-Use Strategy by early 2017 and I intend to examine the potential to widen the geographical range of social housing location options available to persons seeking such accommodation.
The Strategy will examine the potential for bringing existing but vacant housing back into beneficial use and I intend to examine mechanisms to match such accommodation potential to prospective applicants for social housing, through measures such as the Repair and Leasing Initiative, which will see up-front financial assistance being made available to upgrade empty, but sub-standard, accommodation in return for leasing the property back for social housing purposes. Acquisition and leasing options are also available to local authorities to ensure that households needing accommodation may be provided with that accommodation.
As the Deputy may be aware, my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, has overall responsibility for regional and rural matters and is advancing a broadly based rural development strategy, in the context of the Programme for a Partnership Government. In conjunction with this overarching Strategy, the development of a rural resettlement programme will be considered further in the context of taking forward the range of measures set out in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan.
In the circumstances, I have no plans at present to make funding available to Rural Resettlement Ireland.
288. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the potential role credit unions can play in housing finance, as indicated in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30444/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra289. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress that has been made to date, further to the programme for Government commitment, to engage stakeholders on the way credit unions can support social housing through voluntary housing services; if the engagement to date included any reference to section 44 of the Credit Union Act 1997 or to dormant accounts on the books of credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30445/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together.
The agreed Programme for a Partnership Government recognises the potential role that credit unions can play in housing finance and supports the efforts of the Registrar of Credit Unions at the Central Bank to gradually lift current lending restrictions as appropriate, including for housing. The Programme further provides that we will investigate with all stakeholders how credit unions can support the delivery of social housing.
The Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness emphasises the need to look at new ways of funding social housing delivery, in particular the need to provide structural, funding and policy supports to increase delivery of social housing by Approved Housing Bodies. In that context, it states that support will be provided to an Irish Council for Social Housing/sector led new special purpose vehicle, involving investors which could potentially include the credit union movement.
Credit union representative bodies have also set out a proposed means by which funding could be provided by credit unions to Approved Housing Bodies for the development of social housing. My Department and the Department of Finance have met with these bodies on a number of occasions to examine how credit unions can assist in the area of social housing. To date no reference has been made during those meetings to either section 44 of the Credit Union Act 1997 nor to the use of dormant accounts in credit unions for such funding purposes.
The Central Bank commenced a number of new regulations for credit unions on 1 January 2016. Prior to their commencement, following careful consideration, the Central Bank made a number of modifications, including to Regulation 25(2), which makes reference to the fact that the Central Bank may prescribe, in accordance with section 43 of the Credit Union Act 1997, further classes of investments for credit unions which may include investments in projects of a public nature. The effect of these modifications is that regulation 25(2) now provides that investment in projects of a public nature can include, but are not limited to, investments in social housing projects.
I acknowledge the modifications made by the Central Bank and the willingness of credit unions to actively seek a role in financing the delivery of social housing.
Conscious of the independence of the Central Bank in its regulatory role in respect of credit unions, bilateral engagement has taken place between my Department and the Department of Finance to consider the potential regulatory and legislative implications of credit union involvement in the social housing sector. My Department and the Department of Finance met with the Central Bank on 21 April 2016 to provide information of a technical nature in relation to social housing funding arrangements. This was with a view to assisting the Central Bank in understanding how these arrangements operate, as it deals with issues arising from proposals put forward for credit union investment in social housing.
Ultimately, the funding mechanisms required will have to be put in place in the first instance by the credit union bodies themselves, with the support of their members and with the agreement of the Central Bank. My Department will continue to contribute to this process by providing necessary technical advice and support.
290. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the grant schemes available for persons to improve heating systems in their houses that are available through his Department or funded by his Department through local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30524/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe only scheme my Department funds through local authorities that may, depending on the circumstances, provide funding for heating systems in private housing is the Housing Aid for Older People scheme. This scheme provides grants of up to €8,000 to assist older people living in poor housing conditions to have necessary repairs or improvements carried out to private houses. Eligible works under the scheme include the provision of heating where the household has no current heating system; however, it does not provide for the upgrading of an existing central heating system.
291. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his Department will provide a sensible solution to a housing issue for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30548/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile lead responsibility for the Mortgage to Rent scheme rests with my Department, the Housing Agency co-ordinates its day-to-day functioning on my Department’s behalf. In relation to the specific case raised, I understand that as part of the normal administration of the scheme, the Housing Agency has offered the property to a number of Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) but each has declined to purchase it from the lender at the price the lender has set. This is because the value of the works that are required to bring the property to the standard for social housing makes the purchase of the property by an AHB financially unviable. At this point there is nothing further that the scheme can offer this borrower in these circumstances. I would therefore encourage the borrowers to re-engage with their lender to establish if there are other options available to them to resolve their mortgage arrears situation. I would also encourage the borrower to contact their local authority with regard to their particular long term housing needs.
The Government is committed to supporting households in long-term mortgage arrears to remain in their homes and has included a review of the MTR Scheme for borrowers of private commercial lending institutions as an action in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. The review will examine what amendments can be made to the scheme to make it work better for borrowers. My Department has commenced work on scoping the review and in this regard has begun early consultations with key stakeholders. The review is to be complete by the end of the year.
In addition, the Government has established a new scheme to help people who are insolvent and in serious mortgage arrears on their home to access free, independent, expert advice. The Scheme of Aid and Advice for People in Mortgage Arrears provides financial and/or legal advice and assistance to people in this situation. The aim of the Scheme is to help mortgage holders in arrears to find the best solutions and keep them wherever possible, in their own homes. This service may also be of assistance to this particular borrower, and I would recommend that they contact their local MABS office for advice and assistance.
293. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will require local authorities to produce an empty homes strategy with objectives; aims and actions needed to tackle the issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30587/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra294. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will introduce financial penalties for owners of properties which have been vacant for over two years or more in areas of high social housing demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30588/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 294 together.
Action 5.1 of the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness undertakes to develop a National Vacant Housing Re-Use Strategy by early 2017. To this end, the Housing Agency, which has lead responsibility for co-ordinating the development of the Strategy, has established a working group to inform the Strategy, with senior representatives from my Department, local authorities and from the Housing Agency itself. Its first meeting was held on 30 September.
My Department and the Housing Agency are liaising with local authorities and with the Central Statistics Office in order to obtain a better understanding of the numbers, characteristics and reasons why homes are vacant. A number of local authorities have commenced, or are planning to commence, pilot programmes to identify vacant homes and bring them back into use; these pilot programmes will inform the Strategy. In addition, the Strategy will be informed by international best practice and experience, and research is being undertaken in this area.
There are a number of new schemes recently announced that will specifically target vacant properties. A new Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) will assist local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to bring vacant private houses into social housing use, providing homes for families on local authority waiting lists. The new Scheme will operate initially in Waterford and Carlow and my Department will work closely with other local authorities to roll it out around the country over the course of the next six months. I have secured €140m for the successful implementation of this Scheme over the next five years. This Scheme has significant potential and I am hopeful that it can bring at least 3,500 vacant houses back into productive use between now and 2021.
In addition, under a new “Buy and Renew” initiative, my Department will support local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to purchase private housing units in need of remediation, and renew them with the aim of making them available for social housing use. An initial capital provision of €25 million will be available for this initiative in 2017.
Furthermore, in relation to under-utilised and vacant lands, the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, enacted in July 2015, introduced a new measure, the vacant site levy, which is aimed at incentivising the development of vacant, under-utilised sites in urban areas. Under the Act, planning authorities are required to establish a register of vacant sites in their areas, beginning on 1 January 2017, and to issue annual notices to owners of vacant sites by 1 June 2018 in respect of vacant sites on the register on 1 January 2018. The levy will be applied by planning authorities, commencing on 1 January 2019 in respect of sites which were vacant and on the vacant site register during the year 2018 and will subsequently be applied on an annual basis thereafter, as long as a site remains on the vacant site register in the preceding year.
Planning authorities are empowered to apply an annual vacant site levy of 3% of the market value of vacant sites exceeding 0.5 hectares in area - with reduced or zero rates of levy applying in specific circumstances – which, in the planning authority’s opinion, were vacant or idle in the preceding year, in areas identified by the planning authority in its development plan or local area plan for residential or regeneration development. The 3% rate of vacant site levy is consistent with the rate applied to derelict sites under the Derelict Sites Act 1990 and is considered reasonable, without being over-punitive, for the purposes of incentivising the activation of such sites for residential or regeneration purposes. In this regard, it is also worth noting that all levies due on an individual site remain a charge on the land concerned until all outstanding levies due are paid. Accordingly, there will be a cumulative effect associated with not activating a site for development purposes for each year a site remains vacant or idle.
The proceeds of the levy raised on vacant sites will be used by planning authorities for the provision of housing and regeneration development in the local area in which vacant sites are located. No more than 10% of the levy monies received by planning authorities may be used on their collection and administration costs.
Regarding urban regeneration in general, the Programme for a Partnership Government sets out the ambitious priority attached to it and incorporates a series of specific actions aimed at facilitating the regeneration of our urban centres . The Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan further reinforces its commitment to this area. In this context, a Working Group, comprising of senior representatives from my Department, local authorities and other relevant bodies, has been established to bring forward proposals for new urban regeneration measures by the end of the year. It is intended that the new measures will complement the existing regeneration programme under my Department’s Social Housing Capital Programme, as well as other social regeneration initiatives already under way.
295. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the exact funding increase provided by budget 2017 for his Department in 2017, minus provision required for demographics and the Lansdowne Road agreement, compared to the estimate provided in budget 2016, the summer economic statement and the expected out-turn for 2016, in tabular form. [30604/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFull details of budget increases in respect of my Department are set out on page 57 (Reconciliation of 2017 Expenditure Ceiling) of Part II of the Expenditure Report 2017, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and available online at http://budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2017/Documents/Part%20II%20-%20Expenditure%20Allocations%202017%20-%202019.pdf.
The increases outlined in the Expenditure Report 2017 are increases over the expenditure ceilings set out in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report 2016 which had been adjusted from the Budget 2016 ceilings to reflect the transfer of functions from my Department to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
I currently expect a full spend of my Department’s allocations in 2016.
296. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the chief executive of Sligo County Council has warned that libraries in the county will be subject to rolling closures until such time as his Department approves the filling of vacant library posts; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that the chief executive has warned that the planned major enhancement of O’Connell Street in Sligo town will not proceed in the new year until such time as his Department approves the filling of vacant technical posts; if his Department has received a formal request from the council to approve the filling of the said vacant library and technical posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30639/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department works closely with Sligo County Council in relation to the Council’s overall staffing requirements. However, under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, it is the Chief Executive of the Council who is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority. My Department received a staff sanction request from Sligo County Council for two part-time Branch Librarians, two Senior Library Assistants and two Librarians on 3 October 2016 and following consideration of the requests, the posts were approved.
Sligo County Council submitted a staff sanction request, on 14 October 2016, for a number of technical posts, and this request is under consideration.
297. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of housing units he envisions will be delivered under the social housing construction and acquisition fund in 2017 in categories (details supplied). [30800/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraOf the 47,000 social housing units to be delivered under Rebuilding Ireland, an Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, it is estimated at this stage that approximately 26,000 will be constructed, while 11,000 will be acquired by local authorities and AHBs directly from the market or the Housing Agency, with a portion of these being newly built units. 10,000 units will be leased by local authorities and AHBs, which includes an estimated 5,000 units to be sourced from the NTMA Special Purpose Vehicle and a further 5,000 properties to be secured from a combination of the Repair and Leasing Initiative that will be piloted shortly and under long-term lease arrangements by local authorities and AHBs from a range of different sources, not including Part V. This therefore includes a mix of units from the existing housing stock and newly built units. Overall, it is estimated that around 4,700 units could be secured for social housing from Part V agreements.
For 2017, the estimated breakdown and method of delivery for social housing includes 2,350 units to be delivered by local authorities through construction activity (i.e. new build and refurbishment/regeneration), 75 units to be acquired by local authorities, with the equivalent figures for AHBs being 550 and 1,175. It is expected that some 300 additional new units will be built and made available for social housing via Part V mechanisms and will be owned by either local authorities or AHBs. These figures do not include new social units that will be delivered via other methods such as long-term leasing or households who will have their needs met through the Housing Assistance Payment or Rental Accommodation Scheme.
298. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the funding under the social housing current expenditure programme for 2017 will provide social housing units only as leased arrangements with private landlords or will be used to build social housing units for local authority or approved housing bodies. [30801/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme (SHCEP) supports the delivery of social housing by providing financial support to local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for the long term leasing of houses and apartments from private owners, developers and AHBs. Properties made available under the programme are used to accommodate households from local authority waiting lists. Leased properties are allocated to tenants in accordance with the relevant local authority's allocation scheme. In 2017, 2,250 new social housing units are targeted to be funded under the SHCEP programme. In addition, the Programme will also fund the ongoing cost of the almost 8,000 existing units that are already being used for social housing under the Programme. These new units will be delivered using a variety of different streams, including properties which will be newly constructed and acquired by AHBs. In 2017, of the 2,250 new units to be funded under the Programme, it is expected that 250 units will be built and 900 units will be acquired by AHBs.
My Department offers separate financial support to AHBs in the form of a long term loan under the Capital Advance Leasing Facility (CALF) to assist with the financing of the construction or acquisition of units that will be provided for social housing use. This loan facility can support up to 30% of the eligible capital cost of the project, where the units will be provided under long-term lease arrangements (and funded by the SHCEP) to local authorities for social housing use.
299. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if it is the policy of his Department that where a homeless single parent presents or declares as homeless with homeless services, that such a family will be accommodated together in emergency accommodation and that a single parent family will not be separated in any circumstances when being provided with emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30817/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 144 of 28 September 2016. The position is unchanged.
300. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will publish the results of the national housing needs assessment; and the reasons for the delay in doing so. [30832/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Housing Strategy 2020, published in November 2014, included a commitment to undertake summaries of social housing assessments (SSHA) on an annual basis from 2016. The aim of the process is to capture the total number of households across the country which are qualified for social housing support and whose housing need is not currently being met. This data will allow my Department to target the delivery of social housing supports under Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness to those most in need. The summary process requires all housing authorities to review those households who are on their housing list but who are not currently in receipt of housing support to ensure that the details of the applicant households are up to date and accurate and that they are still eligible for, and in need of, social housing support. All local authorities then submit their returns electronically to a central IT system managed by the Local Government Management Agency. This information is then verified, analysed and collated in a report submitted to my Department by the Housing Agency. As previously indicated, I expect the 2016 Summary to be finalised and published before the end of the year.
301. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will examine an issue (details supplied) and take measures to resolve same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30842/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe roll-out of the HAP scheme brings together all the social housing services provided by the State under the single umbrella of the local government system and removes a barrier to employment by allowing households to continue to receive HAP support even if their income increases or they gain full-time employment. The scheme has been rolled out on an incremental basis and is currently operational in 19 local authority areas, currently supporting more than 14,000 households, including eligible homeless households, and some 9,500 separate landlords and agents acting on behalf of landlords are receiving a monthly HAP payment. HAP payments can also be made to a Trust, as I understand is the case referred to here. Upon commencement of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme in a local authority administrative area, the availability of Rent Supplement support is altered and in general Rent Supplement will no longer be available to any new applicant households that have an identified long-term housing need.
Local authorities, where HAP is operational, are working closely with local Department of Social Protection staff to transfer eligible households from the Rent Supplement scheme to HAP. Tenants who are currently in receipt of Rent Supplement and who qualify for social housing support will be transferred to HAP over time. The process of transferring households from Rent Supplement to HAP is carefully managed in order to ensure that no gaps in support arise within the transfer process.
A landlord or an agent acting on behalf of a landlord is not legally obliged to enter into a tenancy agreement with a HAP recipient. However, since 1 January 2016, a person cannot be discriminated against when renting because they are getting one of certain payments, which includes HAP, so landlords can no longer state when advertising accommodation that HAP is not accepted. If a person feels that they have been discriminated against by a landlord or their agent, they can make a complaint under the Equal Status Acts.
The operation of the Rent Supplement scheme is a matter for the Department of Social Protection.
302. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of inspections of dog breeding premises carried out in 2014, 2015 and to date in 2016 under the Dog Breeding Establishment Act; if any of these were follow-up inspections; if any sanctions were imposed on operators or owners of these premises; the resources allocated to such inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30868/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of dog breeding establishments is a matter for local authorities in accordance with the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010. The local authority must maintain for public inspection a register of dog breeding establishments in its functional area, which must include the name and address of the applicant seeking entry onto the register, the address of the dog breeding establishment and the maximum number of breeding bitches that may be kept at the dog breeding establishment or premises. Statistical information of new and repeat inspections and closures carried out on Dog Breeding Establishments is available on my Department’s website at http://www.housing.gov.ie/search/archived/current/sub-type/dog-control/type/statistics?query.
The process of collating and validating annual statistics in respect of 2016 by my Department will be undertaken next year.
The Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010 provides a robust regulatory framework for, inter alia, the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare, for the closure of such establishments.
A joint inspection regime of dog breeding establishments, involving the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Local Authority Veterinary Service, was inaugurated last year for the purpose of inspection and follow up action. The discovery of individual problematic dog breeding establishments, and the taking of action by the Gardaí, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and local authorities in an integrated manner in the most serious cases, is a matter for the enforcement authorities concerned.
More generally, the enforcement of welfare standards regarding all animals is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
303. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost in budget 2017 of extending the jobseeker's allowance and benefit payment for persons under 26 years of age. [30961/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra304. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing jobseeker's allowance and benefits payments by €5 for persons under 26 years of age. [30962/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra305. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing jobseeker's allowance and benefits payments for those persons under 26 years of age to the same level as those persons over 26 years of age. [30963/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra331. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the proposed increase of €2.70 per week in the jobseeker's allowance for young persons on the current €100 rate in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30765/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra332. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected cost of a €5 per week increase in the jobseeker's allowance for young persons on the current €100 rate in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30766/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra333. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the proposed increase of €3.80 per week in the jobseeker's allowance for young persons on the current €144 rate in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30767/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra334. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the projected cost of an increase of €5 per week in the jobseeker's allowance for young persons on the current €144 rate in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30768/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra339. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason young persons were not given an increase in their jobseeker's allowance payment in line with other social protection payments in view of the fact that while youth unemployment is down, it still stands at 16%, more than double the 2007 rate; the amount which is saved by not increasing the payment to the full €5 per week in line with other payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30821/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra340. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer if budget 2017 had increased the €100 and €144 jobseeker's payments by €5; the amount it is costing to increase both by €2.70 and €3.80; and the number of young persons on the €100 payment and the €144 payment. [30864/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra341. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the savings achieved by the decision to restrict the increase for young persons on jobseeker's allowance to €2.70 for those on €100 and €3.80 for those on €144 a week instead of the €5 a week across the board. [30915/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra342. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the rationale for widening the gap between the rates for other adult welfare recipients and young welfare recipients. [30916/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra343. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason he indicated he plans to incentivise education, training and work experience when he has only increased the back to education allowance for the under 26s but not for the range of other education and training schemes (details supplied). [30917/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra345. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will confirm that all young persons under 26 years of age who are jobseekers will be eligible for the full social protection payment of €193 should they engage in training or education. [30964/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 303 to 305, inclusive, 331 to 334, inclusive, 339 to 343, inclusive, and 345 together.
On Budget Day, I announced the first general increase in the weekly rates of payment since 2009. A €5 increase in the weekly rates of payment for all social welfare payments will commence from March, with proportionate increases for qualified adults and those on reduced rates of payment (including jobseekers on age-related reduced rates of payment).
Approximately 1.5 million people will benefit from this increase, from pensioners, people with disabilities, carers, lone parents, maternity and paternity benefit recipients and jobseekers.
Jobseeker’s allowance (JA) claimants under the age of 26 generally receive age-related reduced rates of payment. Age-related reduced rates of payment do not apply in certain circumstances, however, such as when the claimant has a dependent child, or transferred to JA from Disability Allowance, or was in State care during the 12 months prior to applying for JA.
There are no age-related reduced rates of payment for the Jobseeker’s Benefit scheme, which is based on a person’s social insurance record. Accordingly, young people who are eligible for the maximum rate of Jobseeker’s Benefit will receive the full €5 weekly increase from March.
The cost of the proportional €2.70 increase in the weekly rate of payment for jobseekers on the age-related reduced rate of payment for 18 to 24 year olds, from €100 per week to €102.70 per week, is €3.2 million in a full year. A €5 increase, from €100 per week to €105 per week, would cost €5.9 million in a full year. These costs include increasing the qualified adult rate (€100) by the same amount.
The cost of the proportional €3.80 increase in the weekly rate of payment for jobseekers on the age-related reduced rate of payment for 25 year olds, from €144 per week to €144.80 per week, is €0.8 million in a full year. A €5 increase, from €144 per week to €149 per week, would cost €1 million in a full year. These costs include increasing the qualified adult rate from €124.80 to €128.10 per week.
Increasing the €100 and €144 rates by €5 per week, instead of proportionate increases, would cost an additional €3 million or €6.9 million in total in a full year.
In 2017, it is estimated that there will be, on average, c. 22,515 young jobseekers on the €100 per week rate of payment and c. 3,870 jobseekers on the €144 per week rate of payment.
The full year cost of bringing the lower age related rates of jobseeker’s allowance to match the rates payable to people aged 266 and over is €116 million (based on the proposed 2017 rates outlined in the Budget).
The long-standing practice of my Department is to award proportionate increases for people who are on reduced rates of payment and for qualified adults. If the full increase was awarded to some categories of people on reduced rates, and not to others, this would not be fair to others on reduced rates of payment.
The rationale for having reduced rates of payment for young jobseekers in receipt of a means-tested jobseeker’s payment is to prevent young people from entering welfare dependency by providing a strong financial incentive to take up a job, or a training or education programme.
Financial incentives already exist for young people taking up education, training and employment supports. Young people participating in employment programmes such as Community Employment, Tús and Gateway already receive the full adult rate of payment, which is currently €210.50 per week and will rise to €215.50 next year.
From next September, when a young jobseeker participates in my Department’s Back to Education scheme, he or she will be entitled to receive the full maximum rate of jobseeker’s payment which will then be €193 per week (for people of any age), as against the €160 which they are currently on.
This 21% increase represents an extra €33 a week, and demonstrates the State’s support for young jobseekers who seek to enhance their skills. The rate payable to young jobseeker’s who participate on Solas training courses is a matter for the Minister for Education and Skills.
The number of young people on the Live Register on jobseekers payments was close to 90,000 in 2010 and is now down to 34,000. There is a continuing strong downward trend this year with the numbers down from 42,000 to 34,000 since the beginning of 2016.
Youth unemployment has fallen by 5 percentage points in the last year alone and it is now below the EU average. Of course more remains to be done and I am determined that we help more young people in the most effective way possible, by helping them into the workforce or education.
306. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection if a use or lose by year end rule is or has been in operation within his Department when devolving funding to labour activation programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30205/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department’s schemes are mainly demand led. The demand for individual schemes is driven by demographic trends and economic factors. In the case of most labour activation programmes, like Community Employment for example, scheme funds are drawn down as required on a regular basis over the course of the year based on projected expenditure which is closely monitored by the Department. If the full allocation is not required in any given year, funds will not be drawn down. If the Deputy wishes to provide specific details of the scheme referred to in the question I will have the matter examined further. I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
307. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 154 of 6 October 2016, if approved housing bodies are counted as landlords providing multiple lettings in the table provided in reply to that question. [30206/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe rent supplement scheme is currently supporting some 50,700 recipients for which the Government has provided €267 million for in 2016. The most recent analysis, undertaken in June 2016, shows that there are approximately 39,200 landlords providing accommodation to rent supplement customers, of which approximately 260 refer to registered approved housing bodies. In general the number of tenancies provided per approved housing body under rent supplement is approximately two units.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement – Landlords with multiple lettings under the Rent Supplement Scheme – June 2016.
|
Category |
Number of Landlords |
|
1 Property Only |
32,628 |
|
2 Properties Only |
3,831 |
|
3 Properties Only |
1,235 |
|
At least 4 properties, no more than 10 |
1,342 |
|
At least 11 properties, no more than 20 |
137 |
|
At least 21 properties, no more than 30 |
33 |
|
At least 31 properties, no more than 40 |
10 |
|
At least 41 properties, no more than 50 |
5 |
|
51 Properties or more |
9 |
|
Total |
39,230 |
308. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for an underspend in the budget allocation 2015 for supervision of €1.5 million on the labour activation programme, community employment; the details of where the surplus went to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30211/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) Scheme funds are drawn down as required on a regular basis over the course of the year based on projected expenditure which is closely monitored by the Department. If the full allocation for any scheme is not required in any given year, funds will not be drawn down from the Exchequer. Various factors may have led to lower than estimated supervisory expenditure in 2015. Approximately 50 supervisors per year retire from CE. These supervisors are usually at the top of the pay scale and may subsequently be replaced with new supervisors at the entry point of the scale (and therefore the overall costs of supervision will decrease). Supervisors who are on long-term sickness would not be receiving pay from their CE employment for the duration of the absence (they would instead appear as a cost against the illness benefit scheme). If a Sponsor organisation took some time to fill a CE supervisor vacancy, this would also reduce the supervision expenditure. Another possible factor is supervisors requesting reductions in their working hours (which also reduces their salary pro rata).
It should also be noted that with the improving economy and reducing numbers on the Live Register, there is a lessening demand for places on employment schemes such as CE and this is also leading to reduced overall expenditure.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
309. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30216/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has no record of an application for disability allowance having being made by the person concerned. If the person is concerned wishes to make an application, he should fully complete and submit an application form (DA1) so that his eligibility may be determined. If he has submitted an application for DA in the last few days, there is no need to reapply and the Department will be in touch with him in due course.
