Written Answers Nos. 171-188
171. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to establish a construction industry register of competent contractors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17442/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) was established by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) as a register of builders and contractors. Participation in the register is voluntary at present and I understand that to date approximately 800 building and contracting entities have registered.
The Government signalled its commitment in the Construction 2020 Strategy and in the Action Plan for Jobs to place the Construction Industry Register Ireland on a statutory footing. CIRI is viewed as an essential consumer protection measure that will give consumers who engage a registered builder the assurance that they are dealing with a competent and compliant operator. Legislative proposals in this regard are currently being finalised by my Department with a view to the General Scheme of a Bill being presented to Government for consideration.
172. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his views on whether his commitment of having no families living in hotels and bed and breakfasts by July 2017 is still achievable (details supplied). [17449/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe target set in Rebuilding Ireland, that by mid-2017 hotels will only be used in limited circumstances to provide emergency accommodation for families, is necessarily ambitious. However, I believe that the significant efforts currently being made by local authorities and other key bodies, supported by my Department, will enable the objective to be achieved.
It is intended that the long-term housing needs of families currently homeless will be met through a mix of social housing solutions, particularly through the enhanced Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, general social housing allocations and other letting arrangements that the housing authorities consider appropriate. Significant results are being achieved in this regard, with housing authorities achieving over 3,000 sustainable exits from homeless accommodation into independent tenancies during 2016, a record level of exits in a calendar year.
At present, local authorities are also pursuing a range of new emergency accommodation that can be used to accommodate households, as an alternative to hotels, during periods of homelessness. These supported accommodation initiatives will provide temporary accommodation for homeless families with a greater level of stability, services and supports than are available in hotel accommodation, while move-on options to long-term independent living are identified and secured.
Statutory responsibility in relation to the provision of homeless services, including emergency accommodation, rests with the individual housing authorities. However, my Department continues to engage proactively with the various local authorities in relation to funding the delivery of a range of identified temporary accommodation arrangements for homeless families.
173. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the average price for and the number of rapid build modular housing units built to date. [17450/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe first scheme of 22 rapid build homes was finished to an extremely high standard of quality and with a superior energy efficiency rating. The final account has been settled by Dublin City Council with the final cost per unit working out at a very competitive €180,000 (excluding VAT).
For commercial sensitivity reasons, given that tendering processes are on-going and further rapid build projects will be tendered over the coming months, it would not be appropriate to go into further detail in relation to the costs for other projects at this time.
174. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection the detail of the current provision of free school meals programmes nationally; the cost of providing this; the cost of extending free school meals programmes to full coverage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17250/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,460 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 (almost 14% over the previous year’s allocation) which will benefit over 50,000 children. For the current academic year, 2016/2017, some €44 million has been allocated to schools under the scheme.
In recent years priority for new applications for funding had 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. A further 21 DEIS schools have joined the scheme this academic year.
Budget 2017 funding also provides for the inclusion in the scheme, from September 2017, of up to 245 new schools and 47,000 children. This includes support to schools being brought into DEIS for the first time and the extension of the scheme to breakfast clubs in non-DEIS schools, which is the first time in many years that increased payments will be provided outside of DEIS. Priority will be provided to schools where there is most need and officials in my Department have recently contacted these schools inviting them to join the scheme.
To provide a breakfast to every pupil in the country to all of the almost 4,000 schools, at primary and secondary level, would cost an additional €86 million in a full year. In line with all schemes administered by my Department, any further extension of the school meals scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
175. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for illness benefit by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17148/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from this man on 1 March 2017. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and he 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.
176. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reintroduce the transition pension for those who have reached retirement age but do not yet qualify for the State pension; the amount this will cost in a full year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17175/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 provided that State pension age will be increased gradually to 68 years. This began in January 2014 with the abolition of the State pension (transition), which had been available from 65 for those who satisfied the qualifying conditions, thereby standardising State pension age for all at 66 years, which is the current State pension age. This will increase to 67 in 2021 and to 68 in 2028.
In most cases, it is hoped that workers will continue to work up to the new State pension age. Where this is not possible, there are specific measures which apply to someone claiming Jobseeker’s Benefit from a date after their 65th birthday. Where qualified, these recipients may continue to be eligible for that payment until reaching pension age.
Reversing this measure would have a significant Exchequer cost. In 2013, the cost of the State pension (transition) was €137 million. Its abolition was not expected to save that amount of expenditure in full, as some people who were affected would alternatively claim working age payments such as Jobseeker's Benefit (albeit at a lower rate than the rate of the State pension), or may claim an Increase for a Qualified Adult in respect of their spouse’s pension. However, it is anticipated that well over half of the gross cost has been saved each year as a result of this measure, and this would be expected to increase as (a) the number of 65 year olds increases, (b) the change results in a higher percentage of people working while aged 65, and (c) there have been two Budget increases in the rate of the State pension since then. It is estimated that the net saving in 2018 is likely to be in the region of €84 million, and this is expected to increase over time. The cost of reversing this decision would depend, therefore, on the effective date of such a measure, and also on any resultant changes in behaviour.
Each year more people are living to pension age and living longer in retirement. As a result of this demographic change, the number of State pension recipients is increasing year on year. This has significant implications for the future costs of State pension provision which are currently increasing by close to €1 billion every 5 years. The purpose of changes to the State pension age is to make the pension system more sustainable in the context of increasing life expectancy. This sustainability is vital, if the current workers, who fund State pension payments through their PRSI, are to receive a pension themselves when they reach retirement age.
There is no legally mandated retirement age in the State, and the age at which employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment between them and their employers. While such a contract may have been entered into with a retirement date of 65, in the context of the previous State pension arrangements, there is no legal impediment to the employer and employee agreeing to increase the duration of employment for one or more years, if both parties wish to do so.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy. If you require any further assistance with this query please do not hesitate to contact Philip in my office.
177. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the legislation which states that married women cannot sign for credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17185/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPRSI credited contributions (“credits”) are an integral part of the social insurance system. For the most part they are linked to having an underlying entitlement to a social welfare payment while temporarily detached from the labour force or having entitlement to statutory leave e.g. parental or maternity leave. The primary purpose of PRSI credits is to secure social welfare benefits and pensions of employees by covering gaps in insurance where they are not in a position to pay PRSI such as during periods of unemployment, illness, etc.
There is no current legislation which prohibits married women for signing for credits. If there is a particular case which relates to the Deputy’s question, he could provide details to my Department who will investigate the issue.
178. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 222 of 28 March 2017, his definition of a suitable amount of time to train up a new staff member (details supplied). [17193/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department offers a range of training opportunities to staff dependent upon grade and function. The ‘One DSP curriculum’ offers training to staff in various roles including deciding officer, case officer, social welfare inspectors, designated persons and managers in Intreo centres. Undertaking the full suite of training for deciding officers, for example, includes up to 11 classroom days and additional e-learning modules. This training is offered in modular format and completing the full suite of training may take a number of months. Further, informal peer-to-peer coaching is arranged locally. The Department has partnered with the National College of Ireland to develop programmes on the National Framework of Qualifications built upon this curriculum.
The Department also provides IT systems training and management/leadership training for staff in managerial roles.
There is no definitive time period associated with the training of new staff. It is very much dependent on the area of work and the training needs associated with same.
The business needs of the Department and the timely and efficient services and payments to customers are paramount when decisions are made regarding the release of experienced staff. All transfer lists are dealt with in order of the date that a staff member applied to be considered.
179. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection the funding allocated to the Citizens Information Board to defray the cost of consultancy for each of the past five years; and the detail of each of the consultancy reports. [17216/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Citizens Information Board (CIB) under the aegis of my Department is responsible for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money advice and budgeting) and advocacy on a wide range of public and social services. It provides some services directly to the public and directly funds and supports an extensive range of services through its delivery partners including the network of 42 local Citizens Information Centres (CIC’s) 51 local Money Advice and Budgeting Service ( MABS), MABS National Development, National Traveller MABS, Citizens Information Phone Services, Sign Language Interpreting Services and the National Advocacy Service.
The Citizens Information Board is allocated an annual budget from which it funds all of its services and is responsible for ensuring that appropriate governance arrangements are in place in relation to the expenditure of these public funds. The allocation to CIB for 2017 is some €54 million.
Expenditure by the Board on consultancy over the past five years is set out in the following table.
|
Consultancy services engaged by CIB |
2016 - € |
2015 - € |
2014 - € |
2013 - € |
2012 - € |
|
CIB Data Strategy |
- |
- |
- |
€11,088 |
€34,440 |
|
General HR Consultancy |
3,141 |
- |
€984 |
€978 |
- |
|
ICT Infrastructure |
- |
- |
€21,218 |
- |
€4,920 |
|
Internal Restructuring at CIB Head office |
168,216 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Legal Consultancy |
- |
12,028 |
4,287 |
- |
- |
|
Social policy research/reports |
538 |
571 |
8,110 |
8,226 |
1,407 |
|
Pension Consultancy - (general advice on public sector pension and stability agreement related matters) |
- |
5,508 |
5,768 |
2,382 |
9,425 |
|
Procurement support |
10,394 |
4,370 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Property Consultancy - (general asset management) |
3,690 |
- |
9,225 |
- |
- |
|
European Foundation for Quality Management ( EFQM) |
- |
- |
128,566 |
152,811 |
885 |
|
Restructuring of Delivery Services Study |
- |
- |
48,708 |
47,232 |
- |
|
Total |
185,978 |
22,477 |
226,865 |
223,436 |
51,076 |
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
180. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will extend the life of the mortgage interest supplement scheme beyond 1 January 2018 for the 2,000 persons that are currently in receipt of MIS to ensure every person is offered a viable housing solution and that no person loses their home as a result of this support being run down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17262/17]
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.
The Deputy will be aware that the scheme was discontinued to new entrants from 1st January 2014. 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 1,880 people in receipt of the scheme, for which Government has provided over €4 million in 2017. 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.
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 including the Mortgage to Rent Scheme. In line with all schemes administered by my Department, any further extension of the MIS scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
I want to advise the Deputy that the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, provides assistance to 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 3,400 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 1,400 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. To date, approximately 5,600 vouchers for services have been issued, in respect of over 3,460 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. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
181. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17302/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has no current claim with this Department. It is open to the person concerned to contact his local Intreo Centre at Moorefield Road, Newbridge if he wishes to make a claim or seek information on possible entitlements. Alternatively, if he is in urgent need, he should contact the Community Welfare Officer for his area on 087 9638588. The spouse of the person concerned has made a claim for Jobseekers Allowance and a decision will be issued in due course.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
184. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the steps he will take to expedite an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17312/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my department received an application for disability allowance from this lady on 22 March 2017.
On 4 April 2017 the person concerned was requested to supply supporting documentation required by the deciding officer in order to make a decision on her eligibility. 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.
185. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who applied for carer’s benefit was refused same, notwithstanding that they have social insurance contributions for the relevant period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17313/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention.
To qualify the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are or will be providing full-time care and attention and must show that the care recipient requires full-time care and attention.
The PRSI condition requires that the carer must have paid 156 reckonable contributions since entry into insurable employment and they must have paid:
- 39 reckonable contributions in the relevant tax year or
- 39 reckonable contributions paid in the 12-month period before the start of Carer's Benefit or
- 26 reckonable contributions paid in the Relevant Tax Year and 26 contributions paid in the year before that.
Only contributions at Class A, B, C, D, H and E can be counted towards Carer's Benefit. Class S (self-employed contributions) do not count. The Relevant Tax Year is the second last complete tax year before the year in which you make your claim. So, for claims made in 2017, the Relevant Tax Year is 2015.
The employment condition requires that the carer must have been employed for at least 16 hours each week in 8 out of the 26 weeks before the period of care is due to start.
My department received an application for CARB from the person concerned on 26 November 2014. The application was disallowed on the grounds that the PRSI conditions were not satisfied. Although the person concerned has paid 156 reckonable contributions, he last paid them in 1984/85.
The person concerned was notified on 3 February 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal and he was advised of his potential entitlement to carer’s allowance (CA). An application for CA also issued.
An application for CA was received from him on 15 January 2016. This application was disallowed on the grounds that his means were not less than the statutory limit. He was notified on 27 July 2016 of this decision, the reason for it and of his right of review and appeal. No review or appeal request has been received to date.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
186. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application for a domiciliary care allowance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17317/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe domiciliary care allowance application from this lady was disallowed as it was considered that the child did not meet the eligibility criteria for the allowance. A letter issued on the 20th March 2017 advising of this decision.
In the case of an application which is refused, the applicant may submit additional information and ask to have the decision reviewed, or they may appeal the decision directly to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. A review of the decision will be carried out and new information submitted by e-mail will be examined as part of this review. The lady concerned will be notified of the outcome of the review as soon as it is completed.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
187. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if JobPath participants may undertake and participate in voluntary unpaid community based work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17320/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLegislation provides that a person must satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work in order to be entitled to a jobseeker’s payment.
However, I am deeply conscious of the long tradition of volunteering in this country and the contribution that volunteering makes to Ireland’s social fabric. In recognition of the vital role played by the voluntary community, my Department operates a Voluntary Work Option for customers on the Jobseeker schemes.
Customers engaged with the JobPath Service may avail of the voluntary work option provided they continue to satisfy the statutory conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking work. Customers must remain engaged with the JobPath Service while participating in voluntary work where they will continue to receive intensive individual support to help them to overcome barriers to employment and to assist them in finding full-time sustainable jobs. The JobPath Providers will facilitate their appointments as appropriate. While voluntary work may provide long-term unemployed people with part-time experience, it is not sustainable employment.
Voluntary work normally involves only a few hours a day or a few days a week and examples in which jobseekers may engage include:
- helping the sick, elderly or persons with a disability
- assisting youth clubs, church groups, sports groups, cultural organisations, local resident associations
- All decisions determining whether the customer may take up the voluntary work will be taken by an official of my Department.
I hope that clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of jobseeker's allowance payable in the case of a person (details supplied); if the jobseeker's allowance is the appropriate payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17323/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned made an application for jobseekers allowance and has, as part of the qualifying conditions for receipt of this payment, declared herself available for and seeking full time work. To assist her in her efforts to find work she has been referred to her local JobPath provider and she is actively engaging with them at present. She is being paid the appropriate rate of jobseekers allowance for a person in her circumstances.
If she is unfit for work through illness, jobseekers allowance may not be the appropriate payment and depending on the illness she has, she should make an application, which involves submission of relevant medical evidence, for a payment appropriate to her circumstances; which may be one, inter alia, of the following: illness benefit, occupational injury benefit or disability allowance.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
