Written Answers Nos. 122-132
122. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government further to his commitment at a recent visit to fund a number of infrastructure projects in Ballymun, if he will provide details of the projects; when an announcement on the projects will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9069/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, I attended a meeting with the Ballymun 4 Business (B4B) network on 24 November 2016, in Ballymun, and took part in an informal round table discussion where matters pertaining to housing, tenure, infrastructure and economic development were discussed. This included a discussion regarding the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund and the City Council’s submission for the Ballymun area.
At the meeting, I clearly outlined that the aim of the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund is to relieve critical infrastructural blockages to enable the accelerated delivery of housing on key development sites and to improve the economic viability of new housing projects in Dublin and in urban areas with high demand for housing. The €200 m Fund comprises an Exchequer allocation of €150 million, matched by a €50 million contribution from participating local authorities.
Twenty-one local authorities have submitted a total of 74 project applications relating to specific sites or development land areas. A proposal has been submitted by Dublin City Council in relation to the provision of road infrastructure in Ballymun.
The viability of the applications is currently being examined in detail against the assessment criteria set out in the Call for Proposals, with a focus on the level of funding required and what it might leverage, the number of housing units that could be delivered, their strategic location and speed of delivery, and affordability levels of a proportion of the homes. Following completion of this analysis, I intend to announce successful applications before the end of March.
123. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has initiated any review of building regulations to speed the process of bringing voids back into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9083/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Building Regulations 1997 to 2017, which are made under the Building Control Act 1990, as amended, set out the minimum legal requirements applicable to the construction of all new buildings (including houses), extensions to existing buildings as well as for material alterations and certain material changes of use to existing buildings.
The Building Regulations are primarily concerned with the safety and well-being of persons in and around buildings, and are subject to regular review and improvement in the light of EU requirements, technical progress, changes in standards and construction practices, as well as developments within the construction industry.
In this context, a review of Part B of the Building Regulations, Fire Safety, including a public consultation process has recently been completed with revised regulations and technical guidance expected to be published shortly. Furthermore, a review of Part L, Conservation of fuel and energy – Buildings other than Dwellings, will be launched for full public consultation in the coming weeks.
My Department is exploring the potential for streamlining the approach to redeveloping and re-utilising vacant properties. In this context, processes and requirements in relation to planning, building control, fire safety and the conservation of historic buildings are being considered.
124. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will report on the programme for Government commitment on local government reform. [7054/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government sets out a number of requirements in relation to local government reform. This involves the submission of a report to Government and the Oireachtas by mid-2017 on potential measures to boost local government leadership and accountability, and to ensure that local government funding, structures and responsibilities strengthen local democracy. The Programme also references some specific issues to be considered such as the concept of directly elected mayors in cities, devolution of new powers to local authorities, reducing the size of local electoral areas, and town council status. Work is proceeding on the development of proposals for inclusion in the report to Government and the Oireachtas to meet the requirements of the Programme for a Partnership Government as outlined above.
125. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to an organisation (details supplied) which facilitates persons on housing waiting lists to be involved in the construction of their future home through a project being planned in conjunction with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; if consideration will be given to offering this option in other local authority areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9091/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of social housing support to qualified households is a matter for individual housing authorities in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and regulations made thereunder. The Act provides for a range of social housing supports which qualified households may avail of in order to meet their housing needs, including the provision of dwellings through the voluntary sector via approved housing bodies.
I am aware of the initiative concerned which I understand is being provided through the Homegrown Homes Co-operative and Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown County Council. This is an interesting and innovative development and it is to be hoped that it offers further options regarding the delivery of social housing solutions into the future. Any decision to roll out similar projects in other local authority areas would be a matter for the local authority concerned.
126. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government whether each Minister of State in his Department has appointed a programme manager or adviser; the date of such appointment; and the remuneration and expenses allowance for each. [9533/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister of State in my Department, Mr. Damien English, T.D., has not appointed any Special Advisers or Programme Managers and, insofar as her responsibilities within my Department are concerned, neither has Minister of State Catherine Byrne, who has shared responsibilities between my Department and the Department of Health.
127. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is currently working in a low-waged job can qualify for a back-to-education allowance or any other type of monetary assistance to study nursing in college. [8906/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe student support grant payable by the Department of Education and Skills and administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) represents the primary support for persons pursuing education in Ireland. The Department of Social Protection does not offer specific supports for students pursuing third level qualifications outside of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA).
The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is a scheme that allows persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments the opportunity to pursue a course of study, while still maintaining their income support. Entitlement to the BTEA is conditional on having an on-going entitlement to the qualifying social welfare scheme payment.
The purpose of the BTEA is to raise educational and skill levels in order to improve a welfare recipient’s employment prospects and the priority for my Department is to ensure that the allowance is focused and targeted at those most in need.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
128. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person's holiday home is taken into consideration under the means assessment when applying for disability allowance. [8858/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the case of means-tested payments from my Department, such as disability allowance (DA), applicants are assessed with any cash income, property other than the home, and capital (such as savings, shares and investments). For all means-tested schemes, there is an initial amount of capital that is disregarded for means assessment purposes. For most schemes this disregard is €20,000 but, in the case of DA, it is €50,000. This ensures that a DA applicant with €50,000 in savings (and no other means) can be assessed as having nil means and, as a result, receive the maximum rate of DA.
Capital (savings and investments) and the value of property owned but not personally used or enjoyed is assessed as means. Where capital or property is assessed on this basis, any income received from its use (e.g. interest on savings, dividends from shares, rent from property) is not assessed as cash income.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
129. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if mortgage payments can be taken into consideration under a person's means assessment when applying for disability allowance. [8859/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the case of means-tested payments from my Department, such as disability allowance (DA), applicants are assessed with any cash income, property other than the home, and capital (such as savings, shares and investments). For all means-tested schemes, there is an initial amount of capital that is disregarded for means assessment purposes. For most schemes this disregard is €20,000 but, in the case of DA, it is €50,000.
How the means assessment applied is set down in legislation and deciding officers are obliged to follow this legislation. There are disregards applied to every means assessment which allow for general costs. There is no disregard allowable specifically for mortgage repayments on the family home. If the mortgage repayments are on a second property, the means are assessed at the current market value of the property less any mortgage owed. The balance is then assessed as income.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
130. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection to outline the benefits of JobPath; the way in which JobPath operates; if he will provide a breakdown by county of successful participation leading to full-time employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8860/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s Public Employment Service (PES) is managed by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and delivered directly by its own Intreo service as well as by contracted private companies, such as JobPath, Local Employment Service (LES) and Job Club providers. It is the role of the staff of these services to provide Jobseekers with a range of practical supports and assistance to help them enter/re-enter employment. The range of supports provided relate to the jobseekers preparation for, search for, the securing of and the sustaining of employment in the open labour market. With JobPath the department has procured additional resources to enable it to provide a high quality case managed employment support service to people who are long term unemployed and those most at risk of becoming long-term unemployed.
The JobPath service was designed to augment and complement the Department’s existing employment service capacity, including that provided by LES and Job Club contractors. The additional capacity provided through the JobPath service has allowed the department to provide the type and intensity of services required by Jobseekers, particularly those most distant from the labour market.
Prior to the introduction of Intreo and JobPath the Department had a case officer to live register ratio of approximately 1,500:1 compared to international benchmarks of less than 200:1. Today with the reduction in the unemployment rate and the increase in capacity, both internally through Intreo and externally through JobPath, the ratio is circa 230:1. Nevertheless with a ratio of 230:1 as compared with international norms of less than 200:1 JobPath continues to play a key role in the delivery of the services required by Jobseekers.
The JobPath service was rolled out on a phased basis over the period mid-2015 to July 2016, as a result the first groups of participants have only recently completed their engagement period with the service. It is important to note, that through the service jobseekers have access to a personal adviser (PA) who works with them over two phases. During the first phase, of 12 months duration, the PA provides practical assistance in searching, preparing for, securing and sustaining employment. The second phase starts if the jobseeker is successful in finding work. During this phase the PA continues to work with the jobseeker for a further period of at least three months, and up to 12 months. It will take time therefore to accumulate a sufficient number of clients (who have completed their engagement period) for complete and robust outcome data to be available.
However for 2017, the Department will publish a report on the performance of the service on a quarterly basis, with the first such report having just been published recently (17th of January).
The initial data on the impact of the service is encouraging.
- Employment outcome data shows that compared to people who did not take part in the service, people who availed of the service were 23% more likely to have started a job (as of October 2016). The difference appears to be more marked for very long-term unemployed people, with those out of work for more than three years some 44% more likely to have found a job if they engaged with the service.
- The results from the first independently conducted customer satisfaction survey indicates that jobseekers feel that they are receiving a good service under JobPath (76 – 81% satisfaction vs 5 – 8% dissatisfaction), that the staff of the service make them feel valued (90%+) and they have a good relationship with their personal adviser (90%+). They also feel that the service has improved their chances of getting a job (68% - 77%).
Given that only a small number of people have completed their full engagement period with the service these results can only be treated as indicative. Nevertheless they are encouraging.
As the number of people who have completed their engagement period with the service increases the department will be in a position to provide greater granularity in the reports to be published each quarter this year.
The first report (with results together with a copy of the independent customer satisfaction survey findings for both companies) is available on the department’s website at – www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/JobPath-performance-report-January-2017.pdf.
131. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to the fact that employment scheme sponsors, such as rural social schemes and community employment schemes, are no longer receiving recommendations from local social welfare offices for vacancies that arise on such schemes; the reason this is the case; his views on whether JobPath is obstructing such schemes from filling vacancies that arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8861/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of activation supports and programmes catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. This includes programmes such as Community Employment (CE) and Rural Social Scheme (RSS).
These schemes help to break the cycle of unemployment and improve a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. My Department is also conscious of the valuable contribution the schemes are making in the provision of services to individuals and communities across Ireland.
CE Sponsors advertise CE vacancies free-of-charge on the Department's JobsIreland website, www.jobsireland.ie. Posting vacancies is a relatively simple process and a dedicated video tutorial is available on the site to assist sponsors. Anyone requiring further assistance can contact my Department’s National Contact Centre by phone at Lo Call 1890 800 024 or (01) 248 1398, or by email at jobsireland@welfare.ie. Further enhancements will be made to the way in which CE vacancies are displayed on the site in the coming months.
Jobseekers can view CE vacancies online. Eligible candidates are referred to sponsors by case officers in the local Intreo Centres. My Department continues to refer candidates so I would advise sponsors who may be experiencing particular recruitment difficulties to contact their local DSP Intreo office with any concerns they may have in that regard.
Eligibility for participation on the RSS is limited to those in receipt of certain specified social welfare payments and all participants must also be actively engaged in farming or fishing.
The JobPath service is provided for jobseekers only. The period of engagement with JobPath for any individual is typically 52 weeks. During that time, they receive intensive individual support to help them overcome barriers to employment and are also provided with a range of training and development supports, including online modules, career advice, CV preparation and interview skills. During the year, if a person is placed into a job they will continue to receive support for at least three months and up to an additional twelve months while in employment.
In general - and JobPath is no exception - job-seekers are not allowed to participate in two employment activation supports at the same time. Given the need to manage the allocation of places effectively, my Department does not facilitate or encourage jobseekers to leave one scheme early in order to take up a place on another scheme. Participation in other schemes remains an option once a person completes their JobPath engagement.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
132. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection to set out the eligibility criteria being used to fill vacancies on employment schemes such as rural social schemes and community employment schemes; his Department's short, medium and long-term plans for such schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8862/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of activation supports and programmes catering for long-term unemployed jobseekers and those most distant from the labour market. These include programmes such as Community Employment (CE) and Rural Social Scheme (RSS).
CE schemes provide part-time temporary work in their local communities, including opportunities for training and development as a stepping-stone back to employment, for people in receipt of a range of social welfare payments, including those on a long-term jobseeker’s payment. The standard minimum entry age for CE is 25 years of age. In general participants can avail of 12 months participation on CE. Lifetime cumulative participation on CE by an individual is limited to 3 years (156 weeks) for persons under 55 years of age and 6 years (312 weeks) for persons of 55 years of age up to and including 65 years of age. Eligible persons in receipt of a qualifying disability-linked social welfare payment are eligible for one additional year on CE over the standard maximum participation caps.
The RSS provides income support for farmers and fisherpersons who are currently in receipt of specified social welfare payments and the scheme helps to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. Eligibility for participation on the RSS scheme is limited to those in receipt of certain specified social welfare payments and all participants must also be actively engaged in farming or fishing.
The eligibility criteria for CE places is kept under on-going review to ensure they are effective in targeting long-term unemployed jobseekers and other specific disadvantaged groups. The Department is committed to continuing to enhance the effectiveness of the CE Programme and is conscious of the valuable contribution it is making in the provision of services to individuals and communities across Ireland.
With the ongoing welcome reductions in the Live Register and the increasing number of job opportunities, the Deputy will appreciate that issues such as the appropriate level of expenditure, the number of places and the criteria for participation on employment schemes all need to be considered. I plan to bring a Memo for Government in the coming weeks about these matters. If there are changes to be made, consultations with stakeholders will be facilitated.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
