Written Answers Nos. 114-136
115. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the allocation to Offaly County Council and Tipperary County Council under the repair and leasing scheme announced recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11082/17]
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 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 up-front by the local authority or an 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.
Following on from the success of the initial pilot in Waterford and Carlow local authorities, last week I announced that the pilot Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) was being rolled out on a national basis from 23 February 2017.
I am making an additional €26m available to fund this scheme in 2017, which brings the total amount available this year to €32m. This additional investment in 2017 means that delivery under the scheme can be accelerated and up to 800 vacant properties can be brought back into use as new homes for families on local authority waiting lists this year. This funding represents a frontloading of the €140m being made available for the scheme over the next 5 years. Over the period 2016 to 2021, it is anticipated that up to 3,500 units will be secured for social housing under this scheme.
Local Authorities are encouraged to engage early with the scheme and to collaborate where possible with AHBs at a local level to drive the project forward and to achieve maximum output in 2017. The delivery of 800 units nationally will be spread across all areas and the onus will be on individual LAs to maximise their output. A specific budgetary allocation is not being made on a county by county basis, but rather, in order to ensure that the maximum output can be achieved, funding will be available on the basis of performance and capacity to deliver new social homes using the scheme.
I will be carefully monitoring the scheme in 2017 to ensure that it works and is cost effective. Likewise, this analysis will assist in determining its delivery potential for future years, as well as whether additional financial resources are required in that context.
The Repair and Leasing Scheme is one of a number of initiatives in Rebuilding Ireland to address vacant properties around the country. Other initiatives including the Buy and Renew scheme will operate in parallel to harness the maximum potential of vacant properties available for social housing. The full details of the Buy and Renew Scheme initiative are being finalised and will be communicated to local authorities shortly. I have made an initial €25 million available for this initiative this year and propose to increase this to as much as €50 million in 2018, depending on the uptake. I expect this investment to deliver between 400 and 500 renewed houses for social housing use. The initiative may present opportunities for local authorities and approved housing bodies to tackle dereliction in towns and urban areas, but prospective housing units will always need to be suitable for social housing use, in an area of need and represent reasonable value for money.
116. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to reform the commercial rates system; the timeframe for any forthcoming legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11093/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation pursuant to the Valuation Act s 2001 to 2015. The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority.
Commercial rates form an important element of the funding of all local authorities. The principle of local authorities levying rates based on an independent valuation is well established and I have no plans to change this. However, the legislative basis for the levying of rates is spread over a number of enactments, some dating back to the 19th century. I have asked my Department to develop proposals for the preparation of a consolidated Rates Bill to modernise and consolidate the legislation in this area. I hope to bring proposals in this area to Government in the coming weeks.
117. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the legislative proposals published by his Department between 2011 and 2016, inclusive, that underwent a regulatory impact assessment; the legislative proposals published by his Department that did not undergo a regulatory impact assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11151/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra118. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if regulatory impact assessments for legislative proposals published by his Department include impacts (details supplied); the impact categories not included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11166/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together.
The following table gives details of Bills published by my Department between 2011 and 2016, indicating whether or not a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) was undertaken in each case:
|
Name and Number of Bill |
RIA completed Yes/No |
|
Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011 (32 of 2011) |
Yes |
|
Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2011 (46 of 2011) |
Yes |
|
Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2011 [Seanad] (63 of 2011) |
Yes |
|
Local Government (Household Charge) Bill 2011 (74 of 2011) |
No |
|
Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Bill 2011 (79 of 2011) |
No |
|
Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2012 (7 of 2012) |
No |
|
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2012 (40 of 2012) |
No |
|
Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 (61 of 2012) |
No |
|
Residential Tenancies (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2012 (69 of 2012) |
Yes |
|
Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2012 (84 of 2012) |
Yes |
|
Water Services Bill 2013 [Seanad] (1 of 2013) |
No |
|
Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2013 (14 of 2013) |
No |
|
Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Bill 2013 (37 of 2013) |
Yes |
|
Housing (Amendment) Bill 2013 (44 of 2013) |
No |
|
Electoral, Local Government and Planning and Development Bill 2013 (70 of 2013) |
Yes |
|
Local Government Bill 2013 (98 of 2013) |
Yes |
|
Water Services No. 2 Bill 2013 (123 of 2013) |
No |
|
European Parliament Elections (Amendment) 2013 Bill (124 of 2013) |
Yes |
|
Pyrite Resolution Bill 2013 |
No |
|
Electoral (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2014 (28 of 2014) |
No |
|
Electoral (Amendment) (No.4) Bill 2014 (67 of 2014) |
Yes |
|
Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 (later known as the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015) |
No |
|
Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 (Reform of Household Waste Collection Provisions) |
Yes |
|
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 |
No |
|
Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 |
Yes |
|
Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 (No. 2 of 2015) |
Yes |
|
Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015 |
Yes |
|
Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015 (51 of 2015) (formerly entitled Planning and Development (No 1) Bill |
Yes |
|
Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2015 (87 of 2015) |
Yes |
|
Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill 2015 (109 of 2015) |
No |
|
Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Bill 2015 |
Yes |
|
Housing (Regulation of Approved Housing Bodies) Bill 2015 |
Yes |
|
Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Bill 2015 |
No |
|
Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Age of Eligibility for Election to the Office of President) Bill 2015 |
No |
|
Water Services (Amendment) Bill 2016 (No. 2 of 2016) |
No |
|
Planning and Development (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2016 |
Yes |
|
Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2016 (59 of 2016) |
No |
|
Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill |
Yes |
|
Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 |
Yes |
Where a RIA is undertaken, it is usually done at an early stage in the policy development process to assist in deciding the best approach to take.
The Template for Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) provided by the Department of the Taoiseach is used by way of guidance for the majority of RIAs published by my Department. RIAs are also carried out in line with that Department’s RIA Guidelines - How to Conduct a Regulatory Impact Analysis.
These guidelines state that a RIA should provide sufficient evidence to respond to concerns and objections that can be anticipated in the context of the decision-making process and in terms of public reaction. Examining relevant impacts under a range of appropriate categories forms part of this process for each RIA undertaken by the Department.
Social and economic impacts are included for the majority of RIAs undertaken. A number of RIAs have also addressed environmental impacts. Where relevant, other impact categories as included in the RIA guidelines are also referenced, such as competitiveness, impacts on socially excluded and vulnerable groups, the rights of citizens, North-South and East-West relations and impacts in relation to any potential compliance burden.
119. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a referral from the disability allowance section to the appeals office for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10969/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application for disability allowance (DA) from this gentleman was disallowed by a deciding officer (DO) who decided that he did not satisfy the medical conditions for the scheme. Notification of this decision issued on 29 April 2016.
Following a request for a review of this decision and following a review of all the available evidence, a DO upheld the original decision to disallow on medical grounds. The outcome of this review was notified to the person concerned on 26 October 2016.
The person in question has lodged an appeal with the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO). All the relevant papers requested by that Office recently were submitted by the Department and 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.
120. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of a carer's allowance appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10790/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 23 February 2017. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.
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.
121. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans for a social welfare programme for artists. [10805/17]
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.
122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when rent support will increase in line with current rent in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10999/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the new Private Rental Tenancies Legislation a landlord must give a minimum of 90 days written notice prior to increasing a tenant’s rent.
The client concerned should submit to the Department an up to date Rent Supplement application form, lease agreement and verification of this 90 days’ notice confirming any increase in their monthly rent. On receipt of this documentation the client’s rate of Rent Supplement entitlement can be re-assessed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position in regard to disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11001/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that an application from this lady for disability allowance (DA) was received by my Department on 13 May 2016.
The application has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted his/her report to DA section, a decision will be made on the application and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the information supplied by way of parliamentary question previously has been withheld from the relevant section in view of the correspondence dated 13 February 2017 indicating the intention to withhold the entire underpayment of €477.70 and further weekly deduction from their disability allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11004/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information provided to my Department previously by the Deputy was available to the debt recovery unit. My Department is obliged to recoup any debt to it in an appropriate and timely manner and has attempted to contact this lady 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 these correspondence, my Department proceeded to deduct the arrears of disability allowance from the outstanding debt and commenced weekly deductions from 22 February 2017. Notification of this decision issued on 13 February 2017. No response has been received to date.
On the basis of this representation by the Deputy, the weekly deductions will be suspended for two weeks in order that this lady can submit an income and expenditure sheet. On receipt of this information, proposals for recovery of the outstanding debt can be negotiated. If there is no response from the person concerned within the stated time frame, deductions will automatically recommence at the previous rate.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
125. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if arrears of rent will be paid in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11006/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has not, to date, received an application for Rent Supplement from the clients concerned. The client should forward an application to be assessed for entitlement to Rent Supplement to the Mid-Leinster Rents Unit, PO Box 11758, Dublin 24.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
126. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when rent support in line with current rent will be increased in the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11008/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the new Private Rental Tenancies Legislation a landlord must give a minimum of 90 days written notice prior to increasing a tenant’s rent.
The client concerned should submit to the Department an up to date Rent Supplement application form, lease agreement and verification of this 90 days’ notice confirming any increase in their monthly rent. On receipt of this documentation the client’s rate of Rent Supplement entitlement can be re-assessed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
127. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which arrears of rent are due to the landlord in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11009/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No 985 of 16th February 2017, No 144 of 9th February 2016 and Parliamentary Question No 123 of 14th July 2016. The client concerned has not, to date, provided the Department with an up to date Rent Supplement application form confirming an increase to their monthly rent. On receipt of same, the client’s entitlement can be assessed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
128. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection his views on the European Commission’s Country Report Ireland (details supplied) and the finding that it is difficult to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of upskilling programmes such as JobBridge, Springboard and Momentum, due to the lack of formal, rigorous evaluation; the detail of all evaluation programmes currently in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11029/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2015 My Department initiated a rolling, multi-annual evaluations programme, using econometric and qualitative methods, of Pathways to Work programme and process reforms. This includes large-scale annual customer satisfaction surveys. It draws upon an episodic administrative database, the Jobseekers’ Longitudinal Database (JLD), capturing jobseekers spells of unemployment and exits to employment, training and education, from 2004.
The two major evaluations currently under way using the JLD are the evaluation of the Intreo ‘one-stop-shop’ service for jobseekers, and of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA).
As part of this evaluation programme, the JobBridge evaluation report was published in October 2016. It had 3 elements: a rigorous counterfactual impact evaluation (that used cohort-building techniques to continuously assess impacts); a survey (response rate: 33.5% of all participants and 23.3% of all host organisations); and a cost-benefit analysis. Key findings included:
- Individuals similar to those who participated in JobBridge had a 36.6% probability of securing employment within one year, whereas the JobBridge interns’ probability of securing employment within one year increased to 48.4% (an 11.8 percentage point difference and a 32% increase in the probability of becoming employed).
- The overall economic cost-benefit analysis, taking account of increased employment and incomes, indicates a positive economic net benefit.
- Among interns, there was broad agreement that the internship provided them with new job skills and an opportunity to gain quality work experience. However, there was dissatisfaction with the value of the top-up payment and some aspects of the administration of the scheme.
Following publication of the evaluation in October 2016, the Minister announced his intention to replace JobBridge in 2017 with a new work experience programme that better reflected the improved labour market and addressed certain criticisms of the scheme. The design of the scheme will be informed by learning from the evaluation, by proposed design principles as recommended by the Labour Market Council, and by consultation with stakeholders.
In relation to Springboard and Momentum, which are operated under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills there have been formal evaluations undertaken of both programmes in recent years. The latest statistics for Springboard show that 80% of participants between 2011 and 2015 are no longer on the Live Register.
The above information was supplied to the European Commission during the drafting of the Country Report.
129. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount of funding allocated in each of the years 2014 to 2017, inclusive, for pre-activation support for persons with disabilities in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11030/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to increasing the share of people with disabilities working in the open labour market, given that employment plays a key role in helping to ensure economic independence and offering the best protection against poverty. To this end, the Department provides a wide range of work related supports for people with disabilities. It should be noted that these employment supports are of a voluntary nature and are tailored to individual circumstances and a person’s capacity to engage with education, training or job-search programmes.
The Department often uses the term “activation” to describe how it engages with jobseekers in their search for work. However, it is acknowledged that not all young people with disabilities are ready to enter the work force and that an element of “pre-activation” is required as an initial step.
Budget 2017 made provision for a new pre-activation and training programme for people with disabilities. The objective of this programme is to provide support across a range of activities such as the development of participant’s skills, (for example using public transport independently), work preparation, placements and sampling that would assist people with disabilities to obtain and sustain employment.
Prior to 2017, some pre-activation activities were delivered through disability activation projects (DACT), which was jointly funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Department. However, not all DACT projects were pre-activation in nature. The following table provides details of all expenditure under the DACT programme in 2014 and 2015, on the basis that it is not possible to provide a breakdown of this spending in terms of pre-activation and other activities.
|
Year |
Disability Activation programme (ESF Co-funded) € million |
Pre-activation programmes for people with disabilities € million |
|
2014 |
2.89 |
|
|
2015 |
1.66 |
|
|
2016 |
€0.10 |
|
|
2017 |
€3.00 |
|
Notes:
i. Expenditure in 2016 relates to interim funding of the Providing Equal Employment Routes (PEER) project delivered by the Walkinstown Association for People with an Intellectual Disability (WALK).
ii. Expenditure in 2017 is an estimate for this year and includes the Budget 2017 provision of €2 million for a pre-activation programme for people with disabilities and €1 million being provided through the new ESF programme: Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.
I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
130. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection when the pathways to work for jobless households strategy as committed to under the programme for Government will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11032/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been working on the drafting of a strategy in line with commitments in Pathways to Work 2016-2020 and in the Programme for Government. In this preparation work DSP has consulted both with other relevant government Departments and with the Labour Market Council.
I hope to bring a draft for consultation with government colleagues before the relevant Cabinet Committee towards the end of March. Subject to the outcome of that consultation and any follow-up action required I hope to publish the strategy paper before the end of May.
131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when a social welfare payment will resume in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11069/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned had been in receipt of Jobseeker’s Benefit and was requested to attend a scheduled activation meeting with her Case Officer at the local Intreo Centre on 15th February 2017. She failed to attend this meeting and, because she did not contact the office to explain her absence, she did not receive her payment. In order to have her payment issue resolved, the person concerned should contact her local Intreo Centre and explain her absence.
132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if possible entitlement to social welfare payment, for example, illness benefit or disability allowance deriving from self employment exists in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11071/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness Benefit is an insurance based payment payable to person who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. One of these requires that the person have at least 39 reckonable contributions, either paid or credited, in the governing contribution year which, at present, is the 2015 year. According to my Department’s records the person concerned has no contributions for that year. The last contributions received were in respect of the year 2012. Illness Benefit could not therefore be paid.
I can confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this lady on 30 September 2016. On 10 January 2017 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on her eligibility. No response was received and a reminder issued on 4 February 2017. No response has been received to date.
On receipt of this information a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
133. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an invalidity pension will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11079/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe lady referred to has been awarded invalidity pension with effect from the 10 November 2016. Payment will issue to her nominated bank account on the 16 March 2017. Any arrears due from 10 November 2016 to 15 March 2017 (less any overlapping social welfare payment and/or outstanding overpayment) will issue in due course. The lady in question was notified of this decision on 1 March 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
134. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if his attention has been drawn to schools that will run out of funding for school meals in 2017; the reason for this; the number of schools affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11081/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy may not be aware that funding for the school meals scheme was increased this year, as part of Budget 2017, by an additional €5.7 million (almost 14% over the previous year’s allocation) which will benefit more than 50,000 children. I want to emphasise that recent reports suggesting that funding under this scheme has reduced is not the case.
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 during 2017. For the current academic year, 2016/2017, a total of some €44 million has been allocated to schools under the scheme which includes an additional €2.5 million to provide further increases to DEIS schools, which are prioritised under the scheme. In addition, a further 21 DEIS schools have joined the scheme this year. Funding is now being provided to enable DEIS schools to provide breakfast for all children and lunch for the majority of children. Breakfast clubs are prioritised as they provide very positive outcomes for vulnerable children in terms of their energy levels, punctuality and school attendance.
Schools are notified in writing of their allocation at the beginning of the academic year, many of which have received significant increases over that provided in previous years, and are expected to manage within the funding provided. The issue of running out of funding should not arise as schools are responsible for operating the scheme within their allocation and to ensure that value for money is provided.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
135. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he will take to expedite an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11102/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this gentleman on 16 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 trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
136. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Social Protection the legislative proposals published by his Department between 2011 and 2016, inclusive, which underwent a regulatory impact assessment; the legislative proposals published by his Department that did not undergo a regulatory impact assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11158/17]
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.
Two RIAs have been published by my Department in the period 2011 to 2016. One of these RIAs relates to amendments to the funding standard applying to defined benefit pension schemes, which were provided for in Part 3 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012. This RIA is available at www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/riapension.pdf.
The other RIA relates to the measures to provide for the transposition of certain aspects of Directive 2010/41/EU on the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity, in so far as they relate to ensuring that the spouse or civil partner of a self-employed worker can benefit from social protection in accordance with national law. The amendments necessary to transpose these provisions were contained in section 19 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill Act. This RIA is available at www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/RIADirective2010-41-EU.pdf.
The Bills published by my Department since 2011 are set out in the following table.
|
Title of Bill |
Status |
RIA Undertaken |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2011 |
Enacted 29th June 2011 |
Not considered necessary |
|
Social Welfare Bill 2011 |
Enacted 19th December 2011 |
Not considered necessary |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2012 |
Enacted 1st May 2012 |
RIA undertaken on Part 3 of the Bill |
|
Social Welfare Bill 2012 |
Enacted 21st December 2012 |
Not considered necessary |
|
Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2012 |
Enacted 26th December 2012 |
Not considered necessary |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 |
Enacted 28th June 2013 |
Not considered necessary |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013 |
Enacted 9th November 2013 |
Not considered necessary |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2013 |
Enacted 25th December 2013 |
Not considered necessary |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2014 |
Enacted on 17th July 2014 |
RIA undertaken on section 16 of the Bill |
|
Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2014 |
Enacted on 4th December 2014 |
Not considered necessary |
|
Social Welfare Bill 2014 |
Enacted on 25th December 2014 as the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014 |
Not considered necessary |
|
Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015 |
Enacted on 6th May 2015 |
Not considered necessary |
|
Gender Recognition Bill 2014 |
Enacted on 22nd July 2015 |
Not considered necessary |
|
Social Welfare Bill 2015 |
Enacted on 16th December 2015 as the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2015 |
Not considered necessary |
|
Social Welfare Bill 2016 |
Enacted on 19th December 2016 |
Not considered necessary |
