Written Answers Nos. 227-253
227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total number of houses acquired by the various local authorities for re-letting to tenants on their housing lists on a county basis to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9486/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Department’s Social Housing Capital Investment and Social Housing Current Expenditure Programmes, funding is provided to local authorities to deliver additional social housing stock through new construction projects and through the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments. Details on the number of properties constructed, purchased and leased by all local authorities, for letting to those on their social housing waiting lists are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
Information on quarter four 2016 is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.
228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total number of local authority houses directly under construction by the local authorities to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9487/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Monday last, I published a Social Housing Construction Projects Status Report, which lists all approved projects including those delivered in 2016 and those at various stages of advancement through planning, design and construction. This report can be accessed at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/rebuilding_ireland_-_social_housing_construction_status_report_-_q4_2016.pdf .
The report contains a range of information in relation to each separate social housing construction project, including the local authority area, project name, AHB name where applicable, the number of units and the status of each application in terms of its current level of advancement.
229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans for the provision of modular housing in County Kildare in view of the extraordinary numbers on the housing list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9488/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is up to each local authority, including Kildare County Council, to consider what are the best mechanisms for the delivery of social housing units in their area and this can include traditional construction methods, rapid delivery, acquisitions and also can include the delivery of units through current-funded programmes, such as the Rental Accommodation Scheme, Housing Assistance Payment and various leasing arrangements under my Department’s Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme. In relation to the Deputy's particular query, Kildare County Council have indicated that they are currently working to identify a site or sites suitable for development under the rapid delivery model.
It might be of interest to the Deputy, however, to note that my Department held a workshop recently in relation to rapid build delivery and the rapid build Office of Government Procurement framework, which was recently put in place. All local authorities, as well as representatives of the Approved Housing Bodies, were invited to the workshop and to contact the multidisciplinary team, including technical support dedicated within the Department, who will support them advance projects, through the rapid delivery framework.
It is envisaged that the shorter time frames associated with rapid delivery projects will facilitate the quicker construction of social housing and therefore impact positively on the local authority waiting lists.
230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied that the recently announced national planning framework will facilitate the granting of planning permission to the indigenous rural population in keeping with good planning practices and recognising the need to ensure rural revival; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9489/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo decision on the detailed content or approach to be contained within the new National Planning Framework has been taken by me or the Government at this stage. Indeed, I intend that the development of the Framework, one of the most strategically important public policy exercises currently underway by the Government, will be a collaborative exercise, the ultimate success of which will depend on the degree to which all citizens have the opportunity to have their say on how Ireland should develop over the next twenty years or more, and how we can plan for and accommodate the substantial additional population expected by 2040 in a more strategic and sustainable way. It will be up to the general public, various public bodies and any other stakeholders to put forward their views, including in relation to rural development issues, to my Department which is undertaking a number of technical analyses and assessments of all relevant material submitted in developing the Framework. To be successful, the Framework will need to address the strategic territorial planning and regional development issues that our country faces between now and 2040, in relation to rural and urban, as well as terrestrial and marine, elements.
In addition to the draft NPF being subject to public consultation, the Framework will also be submitted to the Oireachtas for its consideration later this year.
231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total number of persons struck off the local authority housing list for whatever reason in 2016 in each local authority throughout the country; the number of such persons currently in emergency accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9491/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetailed data on the total number of households removed from all housing authority lists and the reasons for such removal, as part of the process for the Summary of Social Housing Assessments (SSHA) 2016, is not yet available. Once compiled, the data will be published on my Department’s website, www.housing.gov.ie. Under the SSHA 2016 process, all housing authorities were required to review those households who were on their housing list but were not then in receipt of housing support. This was to ensure that the details of the applicant households are up to date and accurate and that they remain eligible for, and in need of, social housing support in accordance with the criteria set down in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations. As part of this assessment, all local authorities wrote to relevant households during 2016, including those in transitional and shared or emergency accommodation if relevant, informing them of the assessment process and seeking updated information where necessary.
Where a household responded and was found to no longer meet the qualification criteria for social housing support in light of their updated details, they were removed from the list.
In the event of an initial non-response by a household to a request for updated information, guidance issued by the Housing Agency advised housing authorities to contact the household again and to use all reasonable means of communication available to them in contacting the applicant. Authorities were also advised to undertake local advertising campaigns informing households about the Summary. Where a number of attempts to contact a household failed to elicit a response, authorities were advised that it was not unreasonable to then close the household’s application. However, housing authorities were also advised that should the household subsequently respond with the information required within a reasonable time, the application could be re-activated.
232. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the total number of emergency housing units or accommodation available to Kildare County Council on an ongoing basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9492/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s role in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of housing authorities in addressing homelessness at local level. Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including accommodation, rests with individual housing authorities. Therefore the issue raised in the Question is a matter for the relevant housing authority, in this case Kildare County Council.
233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which a priority status will be awarded to Naas, County Kildare, in view of the need to ensure a dramatic response to the stalled development at the town centre and the general negative impact on the area as a result; if he will initiate an emergency plan together with the local authority to co-ordinate the upgrading required and elevate the town to a major market centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9493/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management of the stalled Naas town centre development is primarily a matter for Kildare County Council in the first instance, and I have no function in the matter. I understand that the securing of a satisfactory conclusion to the development of the site in question, which is of significant strategic importance to the town of Naas, has been a particular focus of the Council’s efforts over the last number of years. In this regard, I am informed by the Council that it continues to actively engage with NAMA – which has a controlling interest in the site - on the issue of the site being offered for sale as soon as possible and that it will continue to support and work in partnership with all stakeholders involved in the further progression of the site.
With relevant processes underway involving NAMA and also arbitration in relation to road access, it would be inappropriate for me as Minister to become involved or make any further comment on the matter.
234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which the construction and erection of modular housing of a high quality has been perfected with a view to early impact on homelessness and local authority waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9494/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to the accelerated delivery of social housing to address homelessness and local authority waiting lists. As part of this commitment, my Department has worked closely with the Office of Government Procurement to establish a framework for the procurement of design and construction work to assist with meeting demand, efficient procurement and value for money in relation to the provision of rapid delivery housing projects. This framework is now in place and will facilitate quicker construction of social housing and therefore impact positively on the local authority waiting lists.
In relation to the Deputy’s query regarding the quality of rapid build homes, it should be noted that all rapid build homes are required to comply with the minimum standards of the Building Regulations and the requirement for key elements to have a 60 year durability, as for general social housing.
235. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the extent to which he can liaise with the local authorities with a view to ensuring that local authority housing applicants that have been delisted from the local authority waiting lists on the basis of excessive income and at the same time refused a local authority housing loan due to lack of sufficient income, are accommodated by means other than private rental accommodation, the costs of which would currently absorb more than half that income; if he will examine the issue as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9495/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAssessing a household’s eligibility for social housing support is a matter for each local authority in accordance with the provisions of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and associated regulations. I am aware of the difficulties experienced by some households in purchasing their own home where they are not eligible for social housing support on income grounds, and where they are consequently faced with sourcing accommodation in the private rented sector. The most effective way to reduce and stabilise rents in the long term is to increase supply and accelerate delivery of housing for the private and social rented sectors. Rebuilding Ireland, the Government’s Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness, aims to increase and accelerate housing delivery across all tenures to help individuals and families meet their housing needs. It sets out over 80 actions that the Government is taking, through new policy, new legislation and innovative Budgetary measures, to achieve that aim.
Pillar 4 of the Action Plan committed to development of a comprehensive rental strategy and this was delivered, with the publication of the Strategy for the Rental Sector on 13 December 2016. The Strategy identifies high and rapidly rising rents as the key driver of accommodation insecurity for tenants and a factor in the termination of tenancies. To address this situation, the Strategy introduced a Rent Predictability Measure to moderate rent increases in those parts of the country where the imbalance between demand and supply of rental accommodation is driving rent levels upwards most acutely.
The Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 gave effect to, and provided for the immediate implementation of, the Rent Predictability Measure. Areas of the country satisfying the statutory criteria will be designated as Rent Pressure Zones and rent increases in those areas are generally capped at 4% per annum for a period of three years. The measure was introduced with immediate effect in the four Dublin Local Authority areas and in Cork City. A further 12 Local Electoral Areas were designated as Rent Pressure Zones on 27 January 2017.
Details of the areas that met the criteria and have been designated as Rent Pressure Zones are available on my Department’s website at the following link:
www.housing.gov.ie/housing/private-rented-housing/coveney-designates-new-rent-pressure-zones.
236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he has examined the existing restrictions in respect of meeting the housing needs of the indigenous rural population in view of the urgent necessity to encourage the building of more houses, thereby enhancing the housing stock and relieving pressure on the urban housing programme and taking into consideration good and sustainable planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9496/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, issued by my Department, set out the national policy framework for planning authorities in drawing up their statutory development plans in relation to rural housing, taking into account local circumstances and the type of area involved, including areas near large cities and towns which need careful management of development pressures and other rural areas experiencing population decline. Under the Guidelines, planning authorities are required to frame their planning policies in a balanced and measured way that ensures that the housing needs of rural communities are met, while avoiding excessive urban-generated housing and haphazard development in areas near cities and towns. The Guidelines also aim to ensure that sites being developed for rural housing are suitable with regard to access and wastewater disposal, and also from landscape and design perspectives.
It is a matter for individual planning authorities to prepare their development plans and the policies contained within such plans, taking account of local and varying geographical and landscape circumstances, as well as the approaches set out under the Guidelines in relation to rural-generated housing. It is also a matter for planning authorities, as well as An Bord Pleanála, to implement the Guidelines and local planning policies in assessing and deciding on individual planning applications and appeals under the development management consent process.
I intend to keep the 2005 Guidelines under review, particularly in view of the commitment in the Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness to accelerate the delivery of housing in order to address the housing supply deficit and projected housing needs over the coming years, contributing to wider objectives, including the need to support sustainable urban and rural development and communities.
237. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to introduce a new affordable housing scheme in view of the fact that as part of the delivery of new social housing units public lands will be used as part of this delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9527/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 55 on today’s Order Paper, which sets out the position on this matter.
238. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of employees in his Department and under its aegis who are suspended from work without prejudice and on full pay pending an investigation. [9718/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently no employees in my Department who are suspended from work without prejudice and on full pay pending the outcome of an investigation. The Department does not hold this type of information in relation to staff of local authorities or bodies under the aegis of my Department.
240. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of schools that currently do not have a school meals programme in place per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9238/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra242. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if all DEIS schools currently avail of the school meals programme; the number that do not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9237/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 242 together.
The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of some €47.7 million in 2017. The funding for the scheme was increased this year, as part of Budget 2017, by an additional €5.7 million (14% over the previous year’s allocation) which will benefit over 50,000 children. For the current academic year, 2016 / 2017, a total of some €44 million has been allocated to schools under the scheme.
There are currently a total of some 1,145 schools participating in the scheme, a breakdown of this information on a county basis is provided in the attached tabular statement. Statistics are not maintained by my Department on the number of schools who do not receive support under the school meals programme.
In recent years priority for new applications for funding has been given to schools which are part of the DEIS programme. From September 2016 additional funding is being provided to DEIS schools already participating in the scheme to provide breakfast and lunch to the majority of pupils. Those DEIS schools not participating in the scheme were recently invited to join the scheme of which 21 have joined for this academic year and 3 more have expressed an interest in joining. There are a total of 825 DEIS schools of which the vast majority, 770 or over 93%, are currently participating in the scheme. The Deputy should be aware that the Department is in the process of contacting some 70 schools not currently part of DEIS and deemed to require this support from next September following the recently launched DEIS Plan 2017. These schools are being invited to join the school meals scheme from September 2017.
Budget 2017 also provided for the extension of the scheme to breakfast clubs in non-DEIS schools from September 2017 which is the first time in many years that increased payments will be provided to schools outside of DEIS. Priority will be provided to those schools where there is most need.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement: Number of Schools benefitting from School Meals by County.
|
County |
Total |
|
Carlow |
23 |
|
Cavan |
12 |
|
Clare |
22 |
|
Cork |
78 |
|
Donegal |
114 |
|
Dublin |
339 |
|
Galway |
59 |
|
Kerry |
44 |
|
Kildare |
26 |
|
Kilkenny |
17 |
|
Laois |
6 |
|
Leitrim |
11 |
|
Limerick |
36 |
|
Longford |
16 |
|
Louth |
24 |
|
Mayo |
89 |
|
Meath |
14 |
|
Monaghan |
19 |
|
Offaly |
20 |
|
Roscommon |
18 |
|
Sligo |
28 |
|
Tipperary |
33 |
|
Waterford |
18 |
|
Westmeath |
20 |
|
Wexford |
43 |
|
Wicklow |
16 |
|
Grand Total |
1145 |
241. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on restoring redundancy rebates to businesses which previously facilitated small businesses to hire staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9439/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra254. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring redundancy rebates to businesses by 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% based on 2016 figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9438/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 254 together.
The purpose of the redundancy payments scheme is to compensate employees for the loss of their jobs, where the employer is unable to pay statutory redundancy due to financial difficulties or insolvency. The scheme is funded from the social insurance fund.
Up to 2013, the State paid a rebate to all employers who provided statutory redundancy payments, regardless of a company’s ability to pay. As a result, very significant amounts were paid out in redundancy rebates to employers from the social insurance fund. This expenditure peaked in 2011, when the total cost of redundancy rebate payments to employers was in excess of €214m. These payments were often benefitting viable and profitable companies at the cost of the social insurance fund. To the best of my knowledge no other EU member state or OECD member state provides for redundancy rebates to businesses that continue to trade.
It is not possible to estimate the cost of restoring redundancy rebates to businesses on a prospective basis however, as an indication, expenditure on redundancy payments (including payments made in the cases of insolvencies) from the social insurance fund has fallen from €312m in 2011 to €31m in 2016, in part because of the abolition of the rebate and in part because of the improvement in the economy.
I acknowledge the contribution made by small enterprises in the creation of employment. I note the fall in unemployment to just under 7%. I see no justification for re-introducing rebates either from an employment perspective or in terms of the cost-effective use of the social insurance fund.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
243. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of mortgage interest supplement; when he plans to finish this scheme; the measures he will put in place for those persons that are in receipt of the payment and rely on the scheme to help keep their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9142/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe original purpose of the mortgage interest supplement (MIS) scheme was to provide short-term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence.
This scheme was discontinued to new entrants from 1st January 2014. The most appropriate way in which customers experiencing mortgage difficulties can be supported is through on-going engagement with their lender to explore sustainable solutions.
Customers availing of this support prior to 1st January 2014 have been able to retain entitlement to the scheme up to 1st January 2018. There are currently approximately 2,000 people in receipt of MIS, for which Government has provided over €4 million in 2017.
It is expected that over the remaining period MIS customers will continue to exit the scheme through sustainable solutions being put in place with their lenders; securing employment; or exit strategies sponsored by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, such as the Mortgage to Rent Scheme. A review of all current MIS cases is underway by staff of the Community Welfare Service, gathering information on property type, and lending institutions involved. As part of this process the cases will be profiled in order to consider appropriate exit strategies for these customers.
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments. As part of its free services, MABS provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears.
The role of MABS was expanded in 2015 with the establishment of a Dedicated Mortgage Arrears MABS service (DMA MABS) across the MABS network, to help people specifically with home mortgage arrears. There are now 32 specialist DMA advisors working across 27 locations countrywide, assisting borrowers to assess the options available to them and, where required, negotiating with lenders on their behalf. To date, the DMA service has helped almost 3,000 such borrowers.
Additionally, MABS provides a national network of court mentors who attend each listed repossession Court hearing countrywide. The mentors provide support to distressed borrowers who are facing the loss of their home and signpost them to the appropriate services. To date, over 1,300 borrowers have been referred onward to MABS advisors through the court mentor service.
In 2016, a further initiative was announced by Government, known as Abhaile. This scheme further extends the free services already available to borrowers through the DMA MABS service and the court mentor service. The new voucher based scheme, for which MABS is the gateway, provides access for people, who are insolvent and in home mortgage arrears, to access independent expert financial and/or legal advice and assistance, free of charge. Qualification for help under the scheme is based on the borrower being (a) in mortgage arrears on their home; (b) insolvent; (c) at risk of losing their home because of their mortgage arrears; and (d) reasonably accommodated. To date, c. 4,400 vouchers for services have been issued, in respect of over 2,800 principle private residences.
I am continuing to monitor the supports and services which the Department has put in place to assist homeowners in serious mortgage arrears.
245. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for carer's benefit in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9191/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my department received an application for carer’s benefit from the person concerned on 21 December 2016.
Additional information was requested from her on 2 February 2017. Once the information is received the application will be processed without delay and she will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
246. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding joint partnership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9270/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for a retrospective farm partnership decision has been received in the Scope insurability section of the Department from the customer referred to by the Deputy. The matter is under investigation and a decision will be made in due course.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. If you require any further assistance with this query please do not hesitate to contact my office.
247. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost per year for the past three years for the retrieval and return of hard copy files stored at off-site locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9313/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s costs in relation to 3rd party off-site storage from 2014 to 2016 are set out in the following table:-
|
Year |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Cost |
€164,393 |
€187,436 |
€121,020 |
These costs relate mainly to document handling and retrieval at the off-site facility. The cost of the facility itself is borne by the Office of Public Works (OPW).
It is not possible to further breakdown the costs of specifically retrieval and return of hard copy files.
248. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the way in which farming income is calculated when applying for carer's allowance (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9316/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's Allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has a disability such that they require that level of care.
It is a condition for receipt of CA that the carer is not employed or self-employed outside his or her home.
However, where the carer can show to the satisfaction of a deciding officer or appeals officer that adequate care is provided for the care recipient in their absence, they can engage in employment or self-employment or undertake training or education courses, as long as the aggregate time spent on these activities outside their home does not exceed 15 hours per week.
When the carer is also a farmer, the same conditions apply to him or her as they do to any self-employed person. How the 15 hours limit is used is a matter for each carer. It is only when they exceed 15 hours per week that their entitlement is affected and, should this occur, they should contact the Department.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
249. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Social Protection when he expects to launch the work experience programme which will replace JobBridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9395/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobBridge was introduced in July 2011 in response to the unprecedented collapse of our economy and particularly the sharp and dramatic increase in unemployment. Since then over 19,000 Host Organisations have offered work placement opportunities to over 48,000 participants.
The findings of the recent external evaluation of JobBridge by Indecon Economic Consultants show that the scheme has been very effective in improving the employment outcomes of jobseekers. It indicates that 79% of participants – about 38,000 people – have had some period of employment since completing their placement, with over 64% still in employment. Jobseekers who participated in JobBridge improved their employment outcomes by 32% when compared with non-participants. By any measure this is a significant uplift and shows that placements with a direct link to an employer deliver higher employment outcomes than other options.
Most importantly, the scheme is viewed positively by participants. A majority of over the 10,000 respondents to a survey rated the scheme positively on 18 out of 20 aspects. For example, 70% of participants felt that the placement provided them with a quality work experience and gave them new skills.
The complete Indecon evaluation can be found at:
http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/JobBridge-Evaluation.aspx.
While acknowledging that success, it is clear that we can do better. For example, jobseekers feel that the payment could be improved, and employers indicated a willingness to contribute to the cost of the scheme. As a ‘catch-all’ type of programme, there are some deadweight and displacement costs associated with it that could be tackled.
Having considered the evidence and the suggestions put forward by Indecon and the Labour Market Council, I announced my intention to replace JobBridge later this year with a new work experience programme that would be better suited to the much-improved labour market and addresses criticisms of the scheme.
I am very conscious that any new scheme would need the support, trust and confidence of employers, jobseekers and the public. That is why I instructed my officials to consult with key stakeholders on the design principles that should underpin any new work experience programme. These consultations are well underway and I expect my officials to report back to me on the outcome shortly. I will announce my intentions on a new programme after I have a chance to consider the feedback from the key stakeholders.
If you require further assistance with this query please don’t hesitate to contact my office.
250. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost per year for the past three years for the storage of data and or files on cloud storage or third party servers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9411/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates two secure data centres in which all business data is stored. Some limited utilisation of cloud computing services has been undertaken by my Department in recent years, in tandem with the growth in the utilisation of such services in the provision of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) services generally. My Department utilises very limited hybrid cloud solutions in the delivery of some of its modern ICT services - where such solutions are considered appropriate. In instances where hybrid cloud solutions are utilised, the data is always stored in my Department’s data centres and is not stored in cloud storage or on any third party servers.
251. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection if all regulatory impact assessments for his legislative proposals are published on his Department's website; the web address for each such site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9427/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRegulatory Impact Analyses (RIAs) are undertaken by my Department in accordance with the relevant Department of the Taoiseach guidelines on significant legislative, policy and other changes.
A Regulatory Impact Analysis is not ordinarily undertaken on the package of tax, welfare and other measures announced in the annual Budget Day Statements. As most of the Social Welfare Bills provide for the implementation of various budgetary measures, RIAs are not considered necessary in relation to these measures. Social Welfare Bills also provide for a range of other miscellaneous and technical amendments to the social welfare code and these types of amendments are not considered amenable to the undertaking of a RIA.
Details of the RIAs undertaken by my Department are available on its website at https://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Regulatory-Impact-Assessment_holder.aspx.
252. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will have details regarding their application for supplementary welfare. [9432/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for an Exceptional Needs Payment for the person concerned was received on 25/01/2017. The application was refused on the grounds that it should be possible for the client to meet this cost from his own income. The person concerned was advised of the outcome of the application and the right to appeal the decision. To date, no appeal has been received.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
253. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending social protection supports to the self-employed and permitting such persons to opt into the existing class A structure, paying the rate corresponding to their income level based on the last published actuarial review of the Social Insurance Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9437/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe last Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund, which referred to 31 December 2010, did not provide a cost for permitting self-employed workers to opt to into class A structure paying equivalent rates of contributions. It did provide a costing of extending two benefits – jobseeker’s benefit and invalidity pension – to self-employed workers. The full year incremental costs of extending Jobseeker’s Benefit and Invalidity Pension to the self-employed, stated in 2012 terms, was estimated to be €87m and €78m in a full year, respectively. This costing is based on the extension of these benefits to all self-employed workers on a compulsory basis.
