Written Replies Nos. 164 to 174
164. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has reviewed the exempted development provisions to ensure that hard landscaping or off-street car parking would be exempted only when complying with sustainable drainage principles, as outlined in the 2009 planning system and flood risk management guidelines (details supplied). [7769/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraClass 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 provides for an exemption from the requirement to obtain planning permission in respect of works to provide a hard surface within the curtilage of a house for purposes incidental to the enjoyment of the house. Under an amendment made to the Planning Regulations in 2011, the exemption for a hard surface to the front or side of a house is subject to a condition related to the extent of the works, requiring that the hard surface must be constructed using permeable materials or otherwise allow for rainwater to soak into the ground.
A consolidated version of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 – 2015 is available on my Department’s website at this link www.housing.gov.ie/planning/bord-pleanala/planning-legislation. It should be noted that this is an administrative consolidation for ease of reference and is not a legal document. The official versions of all planning legislation are available on the Irish Statute Book website at www.irishstatutebook.ie/.
165. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis on which an appeal for jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) was disallowed and the original decision upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7463/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that the jobseeker’s allowance appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 8 February 2017.
This appeal together with the supplementary welfare allowance appeal of the person concerned were referred to an Appeals Officer who has decided to convene an oral hearing of both appeals.
Every effort will be made to hear the case as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be informed when arrangements for the oral hearing have been made.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review an application for invalidity pension in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7470/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity 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 a claimant must, inter-alia, have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last complete contribution year before the date of their claim. Only PRSI classes A, E or H contributions are reckonable for IP purposes.
A claim for IP was received from the lady concerned on the 01 December 2016. She was refused IP on the grounds that the contribution conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. Specifically, she does not have the required 260 contributions paid since she entered social insurance. She was notified on 12 January 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
Your representations have been treated as a request for a review of the decisions of the deciding officer. Following a review of all the information available it has been decided that there is no change to the original decision. The lady concerned was notified on 13 February 2017 of the outcome of the review and of her right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days.
The lady referred to is currently in receipt of disability allowance (DA) at a reduced rate from 09 November 2016, based on a review of her means. The decision to reduce her DA payment has been appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office and will be dealt with by an Appeals Officer.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
167. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons on Tús, the rural social scheme, RSS, and community employment, CE, schemes who carried out duties in community child care facilities for each of the years 2013 to 2016 by county, in tabular form. [7477/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department introduced a new Community Employment (CE) Childcare Strand in 2013 under which there is a dedicated childcare programme leading to a QQI Level 5 Major Award in Early Childhood Care and Education for CE participants who work directly with children. Under the new programme guidelines, CE participants in childcare places may receive up to 3 years continuous duration on the programme in order to achieve the QQI Level 5 qualification, subject to meeting annual review criteria and engagement in intensive job search activities.
These changes are designed to provide a more tailored and valuable support to the provision of community childcare and achieve greater coherence between participation on CE and the job market. This will improve the career path for participants who wish to pursue a career in childcare.
The numbers of CE participants recorded as working in dedicated childcare positions from 2013 to 2016, broken down by county, are set out in table 1.
Table 1
|
County |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Carlow |
33 |
57 |
48 |
2 |
|
Cavan |
54 |
65 |
63 |
61 |
|
Clare |
25 |
32 |
32 |
31 |
|
Cork |
175 |
172 |
182 |
173 |
|
Donegal |
41 |
63 |
52 |
62 |
|
Dublin |
611 |
584 |
548 |
468 |
|
Galway |
60 |
53 |
31 |
37 |
|
Kerry |
91 |
72 |
69 |
52 |
|
Kildare |
28 |
33 |
31 |
72 |
|
Kilkenny |
19 |
36 |
36 |
35 |
|
Laois |
24 |
32 |
35 |
41 |
|
Leitrim |
6 |
17 |
17 |
21 |
|
Limerick |
54 |
94 |
105 |
80 |
|
Longford |
50 |
69 |
76 |
70 |
|
Louth |
80 |
79 |
107 |
93 |
|
Mayo |
36 |
38 |
32 |
26 |
|
Meath |
50 |
48 |
57 |
59 |
|
Monaghan |
67 |
89 |
86 |
76 |
|
Offaly |
25 |
13 |
2 |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
16 |
26 |
33 |
27 |
|
Sligo |
72 |
47 |
35 |
30 |
|
Tipperary |
48 |
52 |
64 |
56 |
|
Waterford |
53 |
53 |
60 |
61 |
|
Westmeath |
92 |
84 |
91 |
76 |
|
Wexford |
91 |
80 |
72 |
65 |
|
Wicklow |
10 |
16 |
39 |
42 |
|
Total |
1,911 |
2,004 |
2,003 |
1,816 |
From the records available to the Department, the number of persons on Tús and the rural social scheme (RSS) that were recorded as undertaking some duties in childcare settings in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, by county, is set out in the following tables. These programmes do not have a dedicated childcare strand.
Table 2 - Tús participants recorded as working in childcare 2013 to 2016
Tús Participants Working In Childcare
|
County |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Carlow |
15 |
18 |
18 |
26 |
|
Cavan |
10 |
17 |
18 |
19 |
|
Clare |
20 |
20 |
18 |
15 |
|
Cork |
59 |
66 |
57 |
42 |
|
Donegal |
65 |
70 |
73 |
71 |
|
Dublin |
186 |
227 |
243 |
207 |
|
Galway |
33 |
41 |
40 |
41 |
|
Kerry |
7 |
10 |
7 |
9 |
|
Kildare |
20 |
24 |
19 |
11 |
|
Kilkenny |
22 |
19 |
18 |
17 |
|
Laois |
1 |
1 |
3 |
5 |
|
Leitrim |
11 |
8 |
10 |
13 |
|
Limerick |
26 |
31 |
39 |
40 |
|
Longford |
11 |
15 |
15 |
12 |
|
Louth |
3 |
6 |
4 |
4 |
|
Mayo |
31 |
45 |
44 |
36 |
|
Meath |
23 |
33 |
33 |
27 |
|
Monaghan |
50 |
44 |
46 |
38 |
|
Offaly |
13 |
16 |
17 |
17 |
|
Roscommon |
13 |
16 |
20 |
17 |
|
Sligo |
2 |
6 |
8 |
10 |
|
Tipperary |
12 |
27 |
40 |
40 |
|
Waterford |
25 |
25 |
28 |
30 |
|
Westmeath |
15 |
14 |
19 |
20 |
|
Wexford |
23 |
29 |
23 |
15 |
|
Wicklow |
11 |
23 |
27 |
21 |
|
Total |
707 |
851 |
887 |
803 |
Table 3 - RSS participants recorded as working in childcare 2015 and 2016 (information requested prior to 2015 on RSS is not available)
RSS Participants working in Childcare
|
County |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Carlow |
- |
- |
|
Cavan |
1 |
1 |
|
Clare |
- |
- |
|
Cork |
1 |
3 |
|
Donegal |
- |
- |
|
Dublin |
- |
- |
|
Galway |
2 |
4 |
|
Kerry |
3 |
3 |
|
Kildare |
- |
- |
|
Kilkenny |
- |
- |
|
Laois |
- |
- |
|
Leitrim |
- |
- |
|
Limerick |
- |
- |
|
Longford |
- |
- |
|
Louth |
- |
- |
|
Mayo |
22 |
22 |
|
Meath |
1 |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
- |
- |
|
Offaly |
3 |
3 |
|
Roscommon |
2 |
2 |
|
Sligo |
- |
- |
|
Tipperary |
- |
1 |
|
Waterford |
- |
- |
|
Westmeath |
- |
- |
|
Wexford |
- |
- |
|
Wicklow |
- |
1 |
|
Total |
35 |
41 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
168. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7585/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application for disability allowance (DA) for this lady, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds. Notification of this decision and the reason(s) for it issued to the person concerned on 12 January 2017.
The person in question has lodged an appeal with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). All the relevant papers requested by that Office are being prepared and will be submitted by the Department shortly. The SWAO will be in touch with the person in due course in relation to the progress of the appeal.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
169. 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. [7588/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for disability allowance from this man on 30 January 2017. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
170. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of the pilot scheme for social protection assistance for artists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7666/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne of the initiatives announced as part of the Creative Ireland Programme which was launched by the Taoiseach in December was that the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in conjunction with my Department would devise a mechanism during 2017 to assist self-employed artists who have applied for Jobseeker’s Allowance.
I have been in contact with my colleague the Minister for Arts on the matter and officials of our two Departments have already begun working on this initiative in consultation with the Arts Council. Details of the pilot scheme will be announced as soon as possible.
171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for a State non-contributory pension in the case of a person (details supplied) who has submitted all requested documentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7711/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for a State pension (non-contributory) was received from the person concerned on 7 September 2016. A standard information request was sent to the person concerned on 22 September 2016. The applicant requested an extension of time to gather and return the requested information, through their local Social Welfare Local Office on the 26 September. To date, the requested information has not been received.
The deciding officer contacted the applicant on 13 February and has sent a copy of the original information request. On return of the requested information, the application will be reviewed by the Deciding Officer and the person concerned notified of the outcome without delay. If the person is in need of financial assistance in the interim, they should contact their local Community Welfare Service Officer.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
172. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection ,further to Parliamentary Question No. 186 of 2 February 2017, the length of time of non-payment before 5 October 2016 in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7722/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was awarded disability allowance in late September 2016, with effect from 10 August 2016. Disability allowance has been in payment since 05 October 2016. However, arrears were withheld pending agreement on the recovery of an outstanding debt to the Department. The outstanding debt relates to an overpayment of one parent family payment.
My Department is obliged to recoup any debt to it in an appropriate and timely manner and has attempted to contact this customer on multiple occasions regarding proposals for recovery, including the setting off of arrears due against the debt and the commencement of weekly deductions to cover the remaining balance of the debt.
However, there has been no response to any of this correspondence and my Department will now proceed to deduct the arrears of disability allowance from the outstanding debt and commence weekly deductions from 22 February 2017. Notification of this decision issued to this customer on 13 February 2017.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
173. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of trips outside the State taken by either him or the Minister of State at his Department in tabular form; the destinations; the purpose of each trip; the duration of each trip; the officials who accompanied the Minister or Minister of State on each trip; and the costs of flights, accommodation and any other expenses incurred, per person, on each trip. [7731/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have made six trips outside the State since taking up office in May 2016. The details requested by the Deputy in relation to these trips are set out in the following table. In some instances, the figures relating to the costs incurred may not be final, as claims for these trips have still to be submitted by all of those who travelled or may not have not been fully processed.
The Minister of State at the Departments of Social Protection, Justice and Equality and Health, Deputy Finian McGrath, has not made any trips outside the State in his capacity as Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection.
Details of travel outside the State by Minister Varadkar and accompanying Officials from 6 May 2016
|
Destination |
Purpose of trip |
Duration of trip |
Minister/ Official |
Cost of flights € |
Cost of accommodation € |
Other expenses € |
|
Luxembourg |
Employment and Social Affairs Council (EPSCO) |
15/6/2016 – 16/6/2016 |
Minister Varadkar |
(Note 1) |
185.00 |
100.97 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
556.88 |
|||||
|
Private Secretary |
520.18 |
376.83 (Note 2) |
||||
|
Ministerial Advisor |
492.18 |
|||||
|
Slovakia |
Informal EPSCO |
13/7/2016 – 16/07/2016 |
Minister Varadkar |
335.02 |
350.00 |
61.25 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
206.72 |
|||||
|
Principal Officer |
279.46 |
|||||
|
Private Secretary |
333.02 |
533.95 |
232.75 |
|||
|
Vienna |
World Economic Forum – new leaders for Europe |
10/11/2016 – 13/11/2016 |
Minister Varadkar |
439.80 |
510.00 |
|
|
Private Secretary |
498.35 |
510.00 |
247.50 |
|||
|
Brussels |
EPSCO |
7/12/2016 – 9/12/2016 |
Minister Varadkar |
157.57 |
360.00 |
|
|
Assistant Secretary |
103.96 |
|||||
|
Private Secretary |
157.58 |
540.00 |
296.00 |
|||
|
Ministerial Advisor |
150.22 |
|||||
|
London |
Meeting with UK Secretary of State for Work and Pensions |
1/2/2017 – 3/2/2017 |
Minister Varadkar |
69.04 |
£156.06 (Note 3) |
|
|
Assistant Secretary |
89.98 |
£327.42 |
||||
|
Principal Officer |
126.98 |
|||||
|
Assistant Principal |
89.98 |
£327.42 |
||||
|
Private Secretary |
155.73 |
£156.06 |
318.83 |
|||
|
Ministerial Advisor |
69.04 |
£156.06 |
||||
|
Peru and Columbia |
Accompanying President Higgins on official visit |
8/2/2017 – 13/2/2017 |
Minister Varadkar |
3,353.51 |
||
|
Private Secretary |
3,353.51 |
Note 1: No airfare costs – refunded by EU Council.
Note 2: Costs include other expenses.
Note 3: These figures relate to the costs of accommodation as booked and are therefore, quoted in sterling. Claims for this trip are still to be submitted and processed.
174. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of, and his views on, recent projects completed at Rathfarnham Castle and the Pearse Museum in Rathfarnham; if further projects are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7541/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRathfarnham Castle is a National Monument in State ownership since 1988. The Office of Public Works manages the site and has undertaken a programme of conservation and refurbishment at the castle over the past twenty years.
The most recent (Phase 6) works were completed in 2015 and provided a new lift and staircase in the south-west tower, new toilet facilities at basement level in the southeast tower, upgrading of doors and floors for fire resistance, and new external ramps and steps to allow level access to a new entrance point. These works have successfully addressed both the fire safety issues, and universal accessibility limitations, that existed at this National Monument.
Future works planned for the Castle will include the refurbishment of four rooms at basement level for exhibition purposes.
An application has already been made to the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for Ministerial Consent for these works, and the submission of a planning application to South Dublin County Council will follow shortly. The timelines for the progress of any new works will be dependent on the availability of funding.
At St Enda’s Park, a permanent exhibition on the life and times of Patrick Pearse was installed in the museum basement and opened in July 2016 by President Michael D. Higgins. A public artwork that responded to the historical heritage of the Museum and incorporated the text of Pearse's last poem, 'The Wayfarer', was also unveiled on this date. Carved on 21 pieces of Donegal sandstone and laid along a circular path, the poem now forms a centrepiece in the Walled Garden.
South Dublin County Council has carried out improvement works on Grange Road and Sarah Curran Avenue comprising traffic calming, provision of cycle facilities, footpath upgrade, design of open space with new pedestrian and cyclist entrance into the park and the installation of a sculpture.
Follies within the park have been restored over the past 3 years. Landscaping work within the walled garden has led to paths being upgraded, and the final phase of this work will be completed this year.
