Written Answers Nos. 85-94
85. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the projected revenue and expenditure of the national training fund over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3719/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Training Fund (NTF) is funded mainly by the imposition of a levy on employers. The levy is 0.7% of reckonable earnings in respect of employees in Class A and Class H employments, which represents approximately 75% of all insured employees. The levy is collected through the PAYE/PRSI system and funds are transferred monthly to my Department by the Department of Social Protection. NTF income also includes European Social Fund refunds and European Globalisation Funds.
The level of receipts from the employment levy over the next three years is expected to be as follows: €405 million in 2017, €426 million in 2018 and €444 million in 2019. The actual amount collected will depend on the numbers in employment each year.
The level of expenditure from the NTF will depend on the demand for services. The overall level of investment in training is in line with previous years but there has been a rebalancing of funding from training for employment to training those in employment to take account of the improved employment situation.
A total of €366.3 million has been allocated this year from the NTF. It should be noted that NTF funding forms part of the Department’s annual overall expenditure ceiling and, unless the rate of the levy changes, fiscal rules mean that any increase in NTF expenditure would have to be offset by reductions in expenditure elsewhere.
86. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if retained firefighters, who even though they voted on the Lansdowne Road agreement were not included in the 2016 pay increases and most likely will also be left out of this pay increase, will receive increases due; if, with regard to reviewing FEMPI, he will revisit the dual employment clause; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3568/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRates of pay for Retained Fire Service Personnel throughout all local authorities have a historic relationship for pay purposes with local authority craft workers’ rate of pay. The application of pay adjustments and related measures in accordance with the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, 2015 and the Public Services Stability Agreement 2013-2018 (the Lansdowne Road Agreement) to the rate of pay of craft workers, apply automatically to the rates of pay of retained firefighters.
As the annualised rate of pay for craft workers is above the upper threshold for pay increases i.e. €32,000, as set out in the Lansdowne Road Agreement, there was no adjustment in their rate of pay in 2016.
From 01 April 2017, all staff on annualised salaries up to €65,000 will receive an increase in gross pay of €1,000, including craft workers, with an associated pro rata increase for retained firefighters.
With regard to the matter of dual employment this is a matter which has been the subject of significant discussion between Unions representing retained firefighters and the Local Government Management Agency, representing the employers, and as such it would not be appropriate to comment on this matter.
87. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress on the review of the nitrates action programme with the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3644/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Union (Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Waters) Regulations 2014, as amended, give legal effect in Ireland to the Nitrates Directive and to our Nitrates Action Programme (NAP). The objective of the Regulations is to protect ground and surface waters, including drinking water sources, primarily through the management of livestock manures and other fertilisers.
My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has commenced the process of review of the Nitrates Action Programme and is currently preparing to commence formal engagement with the European Commission in the coming weeks with a view to having a new Nitrates Action Programme in place by 2018, to run up to 2021. A request for a new nitrates derogation will be submitted to the Commission as part of the review process. A full consultation process will be carried out in early 2017 as part of this review and any issues raised by stakeholders will be considered as part of that process.
88. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he or his Department attended or were represented at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development commonly referred to as Habitat III that took place in Quito, Ecuador from 17 to 21 October 2016 (details supplied). [3540/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither I nor my Department were in a position to attend the 3rd United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III) in Quito, Ecuador last October. However, my Department inputted to the development of the EU Position Paper presented at the Conference for the purposes of the negotiations on the adoption of the New Urban Agenda as a universal framework of actions for housing and sustainable urban development. It is intended to engage further with the UN Secretariat in relation to the mechanisms for implementation of the New Urban Agenda as they are progressed.
89. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the terms of reference of the committee appointed to carry out the root and branch review of the planning system proposed in the programme for Government; the details of the membership of the committee and their qualifications to carry out this task; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3541/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe detailed arrangements in relation to the undertaking of an overall review of the planning system, as proposed in the Programme for a Partnership Government and aimed at reducing the uncertainty and length of planning processes, have not yet been finalised. However, the Deputy may wish to note that, in advance of such a review being undertaken, considerable progress has already been made in a number of areas identified by Government as forming part of such a review.
In this connection, the Programme for a Partnership Government indicated that a review of the resources and structures required by An Bord Pleanála to meet its statutory objective of deciding appeals within 18 weeks was one aspect of the planning system that would be specifically addressed. This is now being progressed in the context of the implementation of the recommendations of the Organisational Review of An Bord Pleanála, undertaken by an independent expert panel, which was published in March 2016. An Implementation Group, comprising representation from my Department and An Bord Pleanála, has been established to oversee the implementation of the Review Group recommendations with a view to ensuring that the Board is appropriately positioned and fit for purpose from an organisational perspective to achieve its legislative mandate in this regard.
Furthermore, in order to ensure that the planning system remains accessible and responsive to projected increased construction activity as the economy recovers, the Government’s Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness – Rebuilding Ireland, which was published in July 2016, proposed a review of the forecasting, planning and delivery of residential development as another strand in the overall review of the planning system. In this connection, the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 provides for the introduction of temporary fast- track planning arrangements, whereby planning applications for large-scale housing developments (100+ units), including student accommodation, can be made directly to An Bord Pleanála and determined within a specified time frame, with a view to facilitating the earlier provision of increased housing supply. Work is now progressing on the preparation of the regulations and guidance necessary to bring the new procedures into operation at an early date.
Rebuilding Ireland also referred, in the context of an overall review of the planning system, to the introduction and integration of technological efficiencies such as e-planning ( i.e. online submission of planning applications and appeals) to facilitate a more modern and responsive planning system. The Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2016, which recently passed Second Stage in the Dáil and which it is intended will be enacted by the Summer, includes enabling provision to facilitate the introduction of e-planning.
90. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government when the grant scheme announced in 2016 will be progressed (details supplied). [3549/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) has been developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in certain vacant properties across Ireland. The scheme was launched in Waterford and Carlow in early October 2016, on a pilot basis, and it is my intention that the scheme will be available nationally by April 2017.
The scheme is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or access the funding needed to bring their properties up to the required standard for rental property. Subject to the suitability of the property for social housing, and the agreement of the property owner, the cost of the necessary repairs will be met upfront by the local authority or an Approved Housing Body (AHB). This allows for the property owner to sign-up to a lease arrangement for a length that is linked to the value of the repairs, subject to a minimum of 10 years. The value of the repairs will then be offset incrementally against the agreed rental payment over a defined period within the lease.
A property owner can either choose to arrange for a contractor to carry out the repairs themselves, or the local authority or AHB can arrange this instead. Property owners will not be required to take on landlord responsibilities and the local authority or AHB will have on-going management and maintenance responsibilities in respect of the properties.
A scheme of this nature will require both significant capital and current exchequer investment expenditure over the next 5 years and therefore must be properly analysed and assessed to ensure the best use of public money. The purpose of the pilot is to ensure that the scheme is appropriately modelled from a financial perspective but also, and critically, that it is workable from local authorities’ and AHBs’ perspectives and delivers high quality social housing effectively.
My Department and the Housing Agency, who are assisting with implementation of the scheme, are in regular contact with the two pilot local authorities and I understand that the pilot is progressing well at a local level. In parallel, my Department is also in contact with other local authorities to assist them with necessary preparations for the roll-out of the scheme.
Several AHBs are working together with the Waterford and Carlow local authorities to manage the scheme in those particular areas and, as the scheme becomes available nationally, I expect that more AHBs will become involved in the roll out of the scheme. AHBs have a proven record in managing the refurbishment of properties and being good landlords puts them in an excellent position to play a key role in the success of the scheme.
Over the period 2016 to 2021, it is anticipated that up to 3,500 units will be secured for social housing under this scheme and I have committed to making €140m available over that period. While the current target for 2017 is 150 units, the interest expressed by property owners and stakeholders so far indicates that the 2017 targets will be achieved and could potentially be exceeded following national roll out. Taking account of this, the capacity of local authorities and AHBs to deliver under the scheme, as well as the necessary agreement on the financial considerations arising, I am exploring how delivery under the new scheme might be accelerated.
I would encourage any local authorities that are eager to engage early with the scheme to liaise with the pilot local authorities and my Department, in order to be familiar with the requirements around participation and also the practical implementation issues that are being worked through with the pilot scheme.
91. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 1 of 19 January 2017, the details of the 200 further direct construction and turnkey projects, representing some 3,600 new units that have been approved by his Department since he has become Minister; the date on which each project received approval; the stage each project is currently at; the estimated date of completion; and the details of the 100 AHB projects that have been approved in the same timeframe. [3557/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government on Wednesday, 18 January 2017, my Department indicated that details of all approved social housing projects are being updated and would be published in conjunction with the next Rebuilding Ireland quarterly implementation report, which is due in the coming weeks. The list will also be provided to the Committee and it will include the projects that I have approved since I became Minister in May 2016.
92. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on the claim as reported in a newspaper (details supplied) that the number of house completions may be lower than announced by his Department due to the way ESB connections are collated; and if he will review the methodology for calculating house completions in view of the information contained in the news report. [3663/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to the Question No. 234 of 24 January 2017, which sets out the position on this matter.
93. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to remodel the mortgage to rent scheme with a view to making it more relevant to situations which pertain for persons who have mortgage debt and are unable to pay same at this point in time; if appropriate amendments will be made to the mortgage to rent scheme in order that many persons in mortgage arrears would be in a position to remain in their houses with a revamped mortgage to rent scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3678/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUp to 31 December 2016, a total of 3,575 cases have been submitted under the Mortgage to Rent (MTR) Scheme, which was introduced in 2012 for borrowers of private commercial lending institutions. Of these, 2,723 were ineligible or terminated during the process, 217 had been completed and 635 were being actively progressed. Further data on the operation of the scheme to date is collected and reported by the Housing Agency at the following link: https://www.housingagency.ie/Our-Services/Housing-Supply-Services/Mortgage-to-Rent.aspx.
A number of amendments were made to the MTR Scheme in July 2015 to enable more properties to qualify and to make the scheme more flexible and accessible to borrowers.
Notwithstanding the amendments already made, 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 as an action in Rebuilding Ireland: An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. The review, now in its final stages, is examining how the scheme can work better for borrowers; details of the outcome of the review will be announced in due course.
94. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Social Protection if sole traders and self employed persons who are in dispute with the Revenue Commissioners on reaching pension age are disqualified from securing the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3543/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo qualify for a State pension (contributory), a person must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions which include commencing insurable employment at least 10 years before pension age, having a minimum of 520 qualifying PRSI contributions and achieving a yearly average of at least 10 qualifying contributions, paid or credited, over their working life.
Social insurance contributions (Class S PRSI) were introduced for self-employed people on 6th April 1988. This provides cover for self-employed people for long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widows/widowers pension (contributory).
Social welfare legislation stipulates that a self-employed contributor shall not be regarded as satisfying the qualifying conditions for State pension (contributory), unless all outstanding self-employment contributions have been paid by him/her in full. Where contributions are paid subsequent to a claimant’s 66th birthday, State pension (contributory) can only be awarded from the date on which the self-employment liability has been fully discharged. These provisions are consistent with the contributory and solidarity principles which underpin the social insurance system.
In the event that a person has not paid the required PRSI contributions to qualify for a State pension (contributory), they may make a claim for the State pension (non-contributory), subject to their satisfying the qualifying conditions for that payment. The maximum rate of that pension is 95% that of the maximum contributory pension rate, and while it is means-tested, over 70% of recipients receive it at the full rate. If a person only qualifies for this payment at a reduced rate, they will generally have more means, when the payment is taken into account, than a person wholly dependent upon the State pension.
The Deputy should note matters related to the collection of tax are outside the responsibility of my Department, and should be pursued with the Revenue Commissioners. Income tax and outstanding PRSI payable by a self-employed contributor is treated as one aggregate sum in accordance with the provisions of social welfare legislation.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
