Written Answers Nos. 174-197
174. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to raise the income threshold for social housing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32623/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each housing authority, in different bands according to the area, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. The limits also reflect a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn and thereby promote sustainable communities.
I am satisfied that the current income limits generally provide for a fair and equitable system of identifying those households unable to provide accommodation from their own resources. These limits will continue to be kept under review by my Department, as part of the broader social housing reform agenda set out in the Social Housing Strategy 2020.
175. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress being made on the review of dog breeding regulations; the intended outcome of this review; and the reason there are no breeders, or relevant interests, represented on the review body. [32678/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra176. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of registered dog breeders here; and the number of inspections of puppy farms in 2015. [32679/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra177. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the penalties for being an unregistered dog breeder; the number of enforcement orders that have been taken against breeders for not being registered; and his views on whether there is a lack of enforcement against unregistered dog breeders. [32680/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 to 177, inclusive, together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 269 of 25 October 2016 which sets out the position in relation to the review of the Dog Breeding Establishment Guidelines. The Working Group concerned has produced a first draft revision of the guidelines. The working group is representative of my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Agriculture Northern Ireland, the Local Authority Veterinary Services (LAVS), the ISPCA and the DSPCA. All of these bodies have a formal regulatory role and the requisite expertise in this area. The Canine Breeders of Ireland and the Hunt Association of Ireland have also been consulted. The draft revision is currently under consideration in my Department and I expect that the matter will be submitted for my consideration shortly.
The regulation of dog breeding establishments is a matter for local authorities in accordance with the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010. Each 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.
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.
Section 45 of the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015, commenced on 1 September 2016, amends the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010 to allow for the prosecution of an unregistered dog breeding establishment. Since 1 September 2016, on becoming aware of an unregistered dog breeding establishment, the Local Authority may initiate action under this provision. In this regard, section 6 of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 provides for a fine not exceeding €5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both, on summary conviction, and also provides for a fine not exceeding €100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both, on conviction on indictment.
Statistical information of registered dog breeders, new and repeat inspections, enforcement orders and closures carried out on dog breeding establishments is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/search/archived/current/sub-type/dog-control/type/statistics?query=. The process of collating and validating the annual statistics in respect of 2016 by my Department will not commence until next year.
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.
178. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of health and safety officers in local authorities who are still on the old clerical grading (details supplied); the reason these health and safety officers have not been put on the appropriate grading commensurate with their title of health and safety officer; the timeframe for these officers to be put on the appropriate grading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32754/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for staffing and organisation arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible.
My Department gathers quarterly data on staff numbers in local authorities. The data gathered do not provide detail in respect of the numbers or grading of health and safety officers within each local authority, and accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department.
180. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will assess a query on the housing assistance payment by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32803/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation and allocation of housing supports is a matter for the housing authority concerned and is one in which I, as Minister, have no role. However, in order to be of assistance, enquiries have been made with the housing authority concerned in relation to this case and I understand the tenant in question has been advised how they might avail of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) or other social housing supports.
The operation of the Rent Supplement scheme, and the ability to make discretionary payments under that scheme, is a matter for the Department of Social Protection.
181. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will investigate the possibility of amending the current criteria for the mobility aids housing grant scheme to ensure that applicants with severe arthritis and other such conditions are included under priority 1 status on the medical certificate section of the application form in response to reports that the current criteria is not specific enough to accommodate such conditions and undermines the severity of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32808/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding to local authorities towards the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability; the suite of grants includes the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability and the Mobility Aids Grant.
The detailed administration of these grants, including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of grants to applicants under the various measures, is the responsibility of the local authorities. I do not propose to amend the current criteria for the scheme as they place no restriction on the medical conditions that will give rise to a person being eligible under the scheme. This allows for a local authority, in implementing the scheme locally, to prioritise applications as they deem necessary based on the input of the doctor, the occupational therapist and other urgent considerations such as medical need of the applicant or the discharge of patients home from hospital.
182. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when his Department will be in a position to support a family (details supplied) with a demountable home. [32828/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, housing authorities have statutory responsibility for the assessment of the accommodation needs of Travellers and the preparation, adoption and implementation of multi-annual Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs) in their areas. My Department’s role is to ensure that there are adequate structures and supports in place to assist the authorities in providing such accommodation, including a national framework of policy, legislation and funding.
As part of the capital funding supports provided by my Department, funding of 50% is provided to housing authorities for the purchase of ‘Emergency Replacement Mobiles’. A ‘demountable’ falls into the category of a mobile, as it is not considered to be permanent accommodation in accordance with building standards. An emergency in this respect is an unanticipated event, such as flood/storm/fire damage, that would render a caravan uninhabitable or dangerous to live in. Emergency is not where a caravan falls into disrepair over time due to lack of maintenance, as this can be foreseen and preventative action taken by the owner/local authority. Also, overcrowding is not deemed as an emergency situation, as this is something which should be managed within the housing authority’s social housing waiting list or Traveller Accommodation Programme.
In respect of the case referred to in the Question, my Department has not received a request for funding from Galway County Council towards the cost of a demountable.
183. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will review local electoral area boundaries in advance of the 2019 local elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32868/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent review of local electoral areas was carried out from November 2012 to May 2013 by a Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee established under the Local Government Act 1991.
Unlike the position for Dáil and European Parliament constituencies, there is no constitutional or legislative requirement for the revision of local electoral areas. There is a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to consider reducing the size of the local electoral areas. This will be examined in the preparation of a report for Government and the Oireachtas by mid-2017 on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability.
184. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide a final response to a query that was sent to his office in August 2016 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32880/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe new Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme and applies to all existing local authority houses, other than those classes of houses excluded under legislation. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria which are set out in the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 handbook, which is available online (http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/2016_02_19_-_tenant_information_booklet_-_tips_2016.pdf) or from individual local authorities.
The issue of transferring between different local authority properties or transferring between different local authority areas, if this is applicable, is a matter solely for the authorities concerned in accordance with their respective allocation schemes. Decisions on the allocation of tenancies are a matter for the individual local authority and I am precluded by housing legislation from intervening in individual housing cases. However, I understand that in terms of Cork County Council, mutual transfer applicants, including transfers between tenants of different local authorities, voluntary housing developments, leased units etc., are considered on their merits.
A formal response to the Deputy’s representation setting out the relevant options will issue from my Department shortly.
185. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will provide estimates for the amount public libraries spend each year on accessing electronic serial subscriptions such as academic or paid subscription journals. [32882/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the national public library strategy, Opportunities for All, online access to e-magazines and journals has been available to users through the public library service since January 2016. The service provides access through a single ‘hosting platform’ to a broad range of e-magazines to meet the recreational and professional requirements of users. Content is provided from countries worldwide and across a variety of subject areas.
The annual cost of the service is approx. €70,000 per annum. It is a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001 to manage and finance the service. My Department has no role in this regard.
186. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount that his Department spent on external legal advice in each of the years 2013, 2014 and 2015; the names of each of the legal firms that provided advice to his Department in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32919/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
187. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on a group sewerage scheme administered by his Department which only authorised two applications in 2016; his further views on an application (details supplied); if the scheme's criteria will be changed in 2017; if redress could be sought for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32926/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s new Rural Water Multi-annual Programme 2016-2018 was developed through a working group of key stakeholders involving local authorities, the Water Services Transition Office, Irish Water, the National Federation of Group Water Schemes as well as my Department.
The programme provides for the funding of demonstration Group Sewerage Schemes, through Measure 4(d), where clustering of households on individual septic tanks is not a viable option, particularly from an environmental perspective.
Local authorities were invited in January 2016 to submit bids under the programme. The invitation envisaged no more than two demonstration sewerage projects being brought forward under the measure in any one year of the three year programme. The demonstrations will allow, over the course of the programme, my Department to determine the appropriate enduring funding levels and relationship with the current grant scheme.
Baltrasna/Marlinstown Group Sewerage Scheme was included by Westmeath County Council in its bid under Measure 4(d) of the Programme. However, following examination of all local authorities’ proposals under this measure by the Expert Panel convened for this purpose, the scheme was not recommended for funding under the Programme. A copy of the Expert Panel’s report and consideration of all proposals under the Programme is available on my Department’s website at the following link – http://www.housing.gov.ie/water/water-services/rural-water-programme/group-water-schemes-and-rural-water-issues.
188. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if there will be any increase in funding for the Louth volunteer centre in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32962/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s Community and Voluntary Supports and Programmes provide a cohesive framework of support for the community and voluntary sector. This programme supports 21 Volunteer Centres and 8 Volunteer Information Services, as well as a number of national organisations, including Volunteer Ireland. Over €3 million was allocated for these organisations in 2016.
With the assistance of Volunteer Ireland, my Department has recently initiated a review of the distribution of funding to Volunteer Centres, to ensure a more sustainable distribution of funding. The funding of all Volunteer Centres, including Louth Volunteer Centre, will be considered in the course of this review, and in the context of funding available following Budget 2017.
189. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the terms that apply when full payment of one-parent family payment can be awarded along with another social protection payment. [32534/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne-Parent Family Payment (OFP) is a payment for men and women under 66 who are bringing children up without the support of a partner. To get this payment you must meet certain conditions and you must satisfy a means test.
OFP is payable in addition to the following social welfare payments:
- Child Benefit;
- Half-rate Adoptive Benefit;
- Half-rate Health and Safety Benefit;
- Half-rate Maternity Benefit;
- Half-rate Paternity Benefit; and
- Half-rate Carer’s Allowance.
Special provisions are in place for customers who are either in receipt of the Domiciliary Care Allowance and/or Carer’s Allowance (half-rate). These customers can retain OFP until their youngest child is 16 years.
OFP is payable in conjunction with the Blind Pension, until the recipient’s youngest child is 16 years of age. The full rate for each payment, together with the qualified child increase in respect of both payments, is payable.
The Family Income Supplement (FIS) may be payable in addition to OFP. However, OFP is assessable as income in determining the family’s FIS entitlement.
OFP can also be paid concurrently with Guardian’s payment, but this payment is paid specifically in relation to the child and in these circumstances the OFP recipient is not entitled to an increase for a qualified child.
190. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of social protection payments made per month to the post office in Dunlewey, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32536/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table sets out the monthly breakdown of Department of Social Protection payments issued to Dunlewey Post Office, Dunlewey, County Donegal since September 2015:
|
Month |
Number of Payments |
|
Sep-15 |
96 |
|
Oct-15 |
125 |
|
Nov-15 |
100 |
|
Dec-15 |
89 |
|
Jan-16 |
101 |
|
Feb-16 |
102 |
|
Mar-16 |
90 |
|
Apr-16 |
108 |
|
May-16 |
94 |
|
Jun-16 |
104 |
|
Jul-16 |
132 |
|
Aug-16 |
126 |
|
Sep-16 |
129 |
191. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a payment for illness benefit has been reduced in respect of a person (details supplied). [32512/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Social Protection Regulations the rate payable on illness benefit claims is dependent on a person’s average weekly earnings in the governing contribution year. For claims made in 2016 the governing contribution year is 2014.
The illness benefit claim of the person concerned was awarded in March 2016 and payment has been made to date. It is being paid at the personal rate of €147.30. This rate reflects the person’s average weekly earnings in the 2014 contribution year.
If the person concerned is unable to meet their needs or the needs of their household, they may be entitled to supplementary welfare allowance and should contact my Department’s community welfare services at their local Intreo centre.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
192. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the safeguards in place by his Department to ensure that the child benefit payment is not abused, in that parents do not receive the payment for children who do not reside here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32555/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is a universal payment made to parents/guardians for the support of their children. It is paid to some 615,000 families in respect of 1.19 million children, with an expenditure of approximately €1.9 billion in 2015.
Safeguarding the child benefit payment is a priority and the Department takes a proactive approach to ensuring that it is only paid to eligible families. A policy of issuing continuing eligibility certificates to parents commenced in 2008 and is still in operation; forming part of the overall review process. The control policy is continuingly reviewed to ensure that the controls in place to prevent fraud and abuse continue to be effective and relevant. As a result additional control measures are devised and implemented as required.
For the purposes of EU regulations, Irish child benefit is classified as a family benefit and there are specific rules governing the payment of these benefits. EU nationals who come to work in Ireland but whose families reside in another EU member state may have an entitlement to family benefits in Ireland under EU regulations. As a member state of the European Union, Ireland is bound to apply these regulations in accordance with the objective of the EC Treaty regarding free movement of persons.
Consequently, child benefit is paid under EU Regulations in respect of children residing in another EU member state, when one or both parents/guardians are either employed and paying Irish social insurance or in receipt of an Irish contributory benefit or pension. Child benefit payments made under these regulations are also subject to the control programme, ensuring that payment only continues where Ireland remains the competent authority.
193. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on an application for illness allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32548/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness Benefit is a payment for persons who are incapable of work and who satisfy certain statutory pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. Claims made after January 2009 can only be paid for a maximum duration of two years (624 days) after which a further 13 contributions must be paid to re-qualify for payment.
The person concerned will exhaust their two year entitlement to illness benefit on 3 Dec 2016. Subsequent to that date there may be an entitlement to invalidity pension.
Invalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay-related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. To qualify for IP claimants must, inter alia, have at least 260 (five years) paid reckonable PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. An invalidity pension form is in the course of issue to the person concerned and, on its return, the claim to that pension will be considered further and a decision will be made in the matter.
Meanwhile, if the person concerned is unable to meet their needs or the needs of their household, they may be entitled to supplementary welfare allowance and should contact my Department’s community welfare services at their local Intreo centre.
194. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection the action a person (details supplied) can take regarding missing PRSI contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32567/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State pension (contributory) SPC is a very valuable benefit and is the bedrock of the Irish pension system. Therefore, it is important to ensure that those qualifying have made a sustained contribution to the Social Insurance Fund over their working lives. To ensure that the individual can maximise their entitlement to a State pension, all contributions paid or credited over their working life from when they first enter insurable employment until pension age are taken into account when assessing their entitlement and the level of that entitlement. Since 1961, when contributory pensions were introduced, the average contributions test has been used in calculating pension entitlement. Once over 16 years of age, the date a person enters into insurable employment is the date used for averaging purposes. In this context, even if someone has only ten years (520 weeks) of paid reckonable contributions between their 16th and 66th birthdays, they may qualify for a State pension (contributory), although the rate payable would vary depending on their circumstances.
There is insufficient information in the Deputy’s question as to why the person in question has a gap in the relevant period, and why they would have no paid, credited or voluntary contributions in that period, and without further details it is not possible to advise whether such a gap would reduce her rate of payment.
Where people may not qualify for a full contributory pension as a result of an intermittent PRSI record, they may qualify for a means-tested State Pension (non-contributory), amounting up to 95% of the maximum contributory pension rate.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
195. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a person’s (details supplied) appeal for carer's allowance; and when the person can expect a decision on the case. [32607/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department periodically reviews claims in payment to ensure that there is continued entitlement.
Carer’s allowance (CA) was in payment to the person concerned from 13 July 2007 and a review was recently carried out. As part of that review the matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance continued to be satisfied.
My Department takes the view that full-time care and attention does not necessarily mean 24 hours in each day. Full-time care and attention can be considered to apply where there is an ongoing and daily commitment by the carer and which also generally results in the carer not being able to support him/herself through normal full-time employment.
The outcome of the review was that it was decided that the level of care being provided no longer reached the level of full-time care.
The person concerned was notified on 6 October 2016 that payment was being stopped from 12 October 2016.
As part of a review of that decision, the matter is currently with a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to re-examine the level of care being provided. Once the SWI has reported, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome of the review.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
196. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if rent support has been increased in line with current rent now at €1,400 in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32583/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 123 of 14 July 2016. The client concerned has not, to date, provided the required documentation outlined in response to the previous Parliamentary Question.
On receipt of same the client's rate of Rent Supplement entitlement can be re-assessed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
197. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a decision has been made on an application for carer's benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32597/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department received an application for carer’s benefit from the person concerned on 26 September 2016. It is a condition for receipt of carer’s benefit that the person being cared for must have a disability whose effect is that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself.
The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the requirement for full-time care was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 28 September 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
