Written Answers Nos. 218-237
218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which the tourism sector here continues to attract sporting and activity tourism; the extent to which growth in this sector has been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49627/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy. It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects, which are operational matters for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland.
The hosting of major sports events, both participative and spectator sports, can provide a great showcase for Ireland and drive international visitor numbers. In addition, the media coverage of sports events helps to put Ireland onto travel itineraries as a holiday destination.
It is estimated that overseas sporting and activity tourism is worth approx. €900 million to Ireland every year.
I am very supportive of the ongoing efforts of the tourism agencies and the national governing bodies of sport to attract international events, subject, of course, to an assessment of the costs/benefits involved in any State financial support, in particular the number of overseas visitors.
With regard to activity tourism, I am pleased to have secured additional funding for the development of Greenways in the Mid-Term Review of the Capital Plan, bringing the total amount available for the development of Greenways in the period 2018 -2021 to almost €56 million.
219. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the degree to which adequate hotel bed accommodation continues to be available in order to meet the requirements of the tourism sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49628/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra220. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the areas throughout the country which appear to be sufficient in terms of adequate hotel and guest house bed accommodation to meet the demands of the tourism sector; his plans to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49629/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together.
Fáilte Ireland monitors the performance of tourist accommodation through regular occupancy surveys. This analysis indicates that while the country as a whole has sufficient stock of tourist accommodation, there are capacity constraints in certain areas of high tourist traffic at times of peak demand. According to Fáilte Ireland, capacity constraints in those areas of high tourist traffic outside of Dublin (such as Galway city and Cork city) are limited to the peak tourist season. In Dublin city, however, constraints occur throughout much of the year indicating that additional capacity is required.
In this context, Fáilte Ireland has commissioned periodic assessments of hotel accommodation in Dublin. Although the results confirm the current shortage, they also indicate that there should be sufficient stock in the city - whether being developed currently or being planned - to meet projected demand in the future, with the bulk of new stock due to come on-stream after 2018.
With specific regard to factors within my Department's and Fáilte Ireland's remits, revised hotel Regulations were introduced last year in response to consumer preferences and in order to boost the economic rationale for investment in hotel development. The changes set out in these Regulations should make investment even more attractive by allowing hotel operators provide more rooms and operate at a lower cost base, thereby improving hotel capacity, competitiveness and profitability. Consumers should also benefit in terms of increased room capacity, competition and range of accommodation.
221. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he has prioritised various projects in the capital plan for road and rail expansion over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49630/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe capital investment programme in the roads sector continues to be framed by the conclusions reached in my Department's Strategic Framework for Investment in Land Transport (SFILT) which highlighted the importance of the maintenance and renewal of transport infrastructure together with targeted investments to improve the existing network.
The bulk of the expenditure in the programme will, therefore, be directed towards road maintenance and renewal and meeting contractual commitments under the road PPP programme. The additional funding provided as part of the Capital Plan Review will, however, allow for significant enhancements to the programme. On national roads, the extra funding will facilitate a range of initiatives including M50 safety enhancement works, measures to reduce energy usage for traffic route lighting, the inclusion of some additional major and minor road upgrade schemes in TII’s construction programme and the appraisal of a range of projects with a view to developing a pipeline of future projects. Financial provision is also being made to meet the Government’s commitment to contribute to the A5 upgrade.
As regards regional and local roads the enhanced programme will allow a significant number of additional road upgrade schemes aimed at addressing safety, employment generation and support and urban regeneration to be advanced.
I have secured funding of over €400 million for investment in public transport in 2018. This increased funding will allow rollout of a number of key programmes to address congestion and emerging capacity constraints on our public transport system across our cities. This includes:
- Commencing rollout of the BusConnects programme;
- Planning and design work for new urban cycling and walking routes in our main cities. This will pave the way for an intensive construction programme commencing substantially in 2019;
- Additional Luas capacity, with additional trams and longer trams on the Luas Network;
- Maintaining the heavy rail network to protect investment already made in our national railway system;
- Progressing the City Centre Re-signalling Project to improve speeds on mainline rail and the new rail Central Traffic Control Centre.
- Continuing the programme of retro-fitting older existing public transport facilities to improve their accessibility features;
- Traffic management, bus priority and other smarter travel projects in our cities.
- Piloting of emerging low emission technologies, particularly for buses, and also measures to encourage the transition of the national taxi fleet towards alternative fuels and technologies;
- Planning and design work for new Metro North.
Budget 2018 provided a four-year capital envelope for public transport of over €2.7 billion to 2021. As I have previously outlined to the Deputy, this includes a multi-annual capital envelope of over €770 million for the BusConnects programme. This significant funding will enable us to put in place the kind of bus system that is needed to cater for Ireland’s future economic growth and growing transport needs, with high quality infrastructure and services, coupled with major improvements in ticketing and information, all providing a modern, faster, reliable, convenient and attractive public transport solution.
222. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects regional airports to enhance and integrate with the transport sector in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49631/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Aviation Policy, published by my Department in 2015, acknowledges the role played by the regional airports of Donegal, Ireland West Airport Knock, Kerry and Waterford as being important in promoting a level of international connectivity to support the tourism and business sectors in their regions.
In this regard I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as part of the Review of the Capital Plan that was carried out by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, my Department secured over €17 million in additional capital funding for the Regional Airports Programme in recognition of this role. These additional resources will come into play in the period 2019 to 2021 and are considerably in excess of the €10 million in extra Capital Plan funding that was originally mooted in the Programme for Government.
The Regional Airports Programme will continue to support necessary safety and security investments by these airports to ensure that they can continue to contribute to enhanced regional connectivity.
It is of course a matter for the airports themselves to exploit all potential opportunities to expand their air services.
223. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which the international conference sector continues to be facilitated here by way of major, modern hotel accommodation; the extent to which the market is growing and has potential for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49633/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies in the area of national tourism policy. The development and promotion of individual tourism sectors such as international conference tourism is a matter for the Boards and Management of Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. Fáilte Ireland is responsible for the development of the business tourism sector, whereas Tourism Ireland is responsible for overseas marketing of Ireland as a destination for business tourism.
Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to both tourism agencies for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
224. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the monthly revenue from road tolls such as the M50 and regional tolls in each of the past five years to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49634/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy in relation to roads. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority. For regional and local roads it is a matter for each respective local authority.
More specifically, the statutory powers to levy tolls on national roads as well as regional and local roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors are vested in TII (for national roads) and each local authority (for regional and local roads) under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).
Noting the above, I am referring the question on monthly toll revenue for national toll roads to TII for direct reply within 10 working days. Please inform my private office if you do not receive the information.
In relation to toll collection on the East Link Bridge (Regional Road) the question should be referred to Dublin City Council for direct response.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
225. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he expects to be in a position to approve the necessary expenditure to increase the number of rail carriages serving the north County Kildare commuter routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49635/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).
As the Deputy is aware, Iarnród Éireann is responsible for assessing rolling stock requirements for the heavy rail network in conjunction with the NTA.
Noting the responsibility of the agencies in this regard, I have referred the Deputy's question to both organisations for a more detailed reply. Please advise my office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of road accident black spots identified throughout the country over the past twenty years; the degree to which these areas have been identified for remedial action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49636/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities are responsible for mapping and collating available collision data on regional and local roads. Where analysis shows that engineering measures may assist in reducing the collision risk at a particular location then any local authority which is not self funding in terms of roads (under the new Local Property Tax regime) may apply to my Department for funding under the Safety Improvement works programme. Each year monies are made available to local authorities for such works with priority given to works that are considered to be most effective in reducing collisions.
Collision data for national roads is mapped and collated by Transport Infratructure Ireland (TII). I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's Question to TII for reply in relation to national roads. Please advise my Office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
227. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the incentives in place to encourage the sale of electric and hybrid cars and to encourage drivers to switch from petrol and diesel powered cars. [49649/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very supportive of the transition of the car fleet away from conventional fossil fuels towards low/zero emissions technology, especially electric vehicles (EVs). The Deputy may be aware that my Department and the Department of Communication, Climate Action and Environment, have jointly convened an interdepartmental Low-Emitting Vehicles (LEV) Task Force to consider a full suite of potential measures to expedite the deployment of low carbon technologies under a commitment outlined in the "Programme for a Partnership Government".
The wide ranging work of the Taskforce has been divided between three working groups addressing: Market Growth Stimuli and Visibility; Infrastructure, Energy Regulation and Pricing; and Planning Legislation, Building Regulations and Public Leadership.
Working Group 1 of the LEV Taskforce, which is chaired by my Department, includes the examination of existing and potential fiscal support measures; developing business related incentives such as the accelerated capital allowance scheme and BIK scheme; as well as the consideration of other incentives including free parking and free tolls for EV drivers.
Based on the recommendations of the LEV Taskforce presented to the Minister of Finance in advance of this year’s Budgetary and Estimates Process, a suite of tax and expenditure measures have been agreed that clearly indicate the Government's commitment to a low-carbon electric vehicle (EV) future.
I am pleased to announce that resources were secured to continue the current valuable and generous VRT reduction and SEAI purchase grants; the introduction of a new grant to support installation of home charger points for buyers of new and second-hand EVs; a new grant to stimulate take-up in the Taxi/Hackney/Limousine (SPSV) sector; a new EV toll incentive regime; a new EV Public Awareness Programme to include driver experience opportunities; public sector and commercial fleet trials allowing public bodies and business to trial EVs; a new Benefit in Kind (BIK) 0% rate to incentivise EVs without mileage conditions as well as rules to ensure that there is no BIK liability associated with recharging EVs in workplaces.
It may also interest the Deputy to know that my Department developed the National Policy Framework for Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport in Ireland to support the deployment of alternative fuels for transport in Ireland and assist in removing any barriers that exist towards greater uptake of low emissions vehicles (LEVs). This plan was published in May and can be viewed on our Department’s website or by clicking on this link: www.dttas.ie/sites/default/files/publications/public-transport/english/npf-picture/6186npfalternative-fuelsengv5.pdf.
228. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if 495 social workers have left the Child and Family Agency, Tusla since 2014; the counties in which these social workers were formally assigned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49583/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information required by the Deputy is not readily available. My officials have requested the information from Tusla and this will be forwarded directly to the Deputy.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:
I refer to your written parliamentary question (ref: 49583/17, 22/11/2017).
As advised in my response to you on 22 November, my officials requested the detailed information you were seeking from Tusla as this was not readily available when responding to your question.
Tusla has informed me that since its establishment on 1 January, 2014 to the end of September 2017 a total of 471 Social Workers have Left Tusla or gone on career break.
The following table sets out the breakdown by region:
Social Workers Leavers/Career Break 01/01/2014 to 30/09/2017
|
Region |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
Total |
|
Corporate |
- |
2 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
|
DML |
19 |
28 |
39 |
33 |
119 |
|
DNE |
39 |
38 |
48 |
33 |
158 |
|
South |
15 |
17 |
31 |
24 |
87 |
|
West |
21 |
33 |
23 |
26 |
103 |
|
Grand Total |
93 |
118 |
142 |
117 |
471 |
There is no doubt that the recruitment and retention of social workers is one of the biggest challenges for Tusla and in order to assist with retention and increase the attractiveness of Tusla as an employer, the Agency has introduced a number of measures, including:
- a Continuous Professional Development Strategy which commits to all social workers having a minimum of 21 hours for personal development plans and 10 hours for engaging in continuous professional development;
- a National Transfer Policy to facilitate social workers wishing to relocate to another part of the country. This will also ensure that their valuable expertise will be retained.
- an Employee Assistance Service which is available to all staff 24/7 in all areas:
- a Health, Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which has a range of services available to staff including a Critical Incident Stress Management Team to support teams and individuals in the event of any traumatic event: and
- the EAP also manages rehabilitation services and provides assistance to staff who are out of work due to injury or illness and supports them in their return to work.
A staff survey on retention has also been completed, the finding of which will inform part of the new Strategy on Retention for Tusla in 2018. The introduction of Senior Social Worker Practitioner posts, designated to Social Work teams around the country, will also be assessed to see if it has been an effective measure in recruitment retention.
I am satisfied that Tusla will continue to work hard to attract and retain talent in a supportive working environment.
229. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the withdrawal of funding from the community services programme for a group (details supplied) that has been successfully promoting the heritage towns of Roscrea and Birr since 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49561/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Community Services Programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a socially inclusive nature. The CSP works on a social-enterprise model which means that it does not fully fund contract holders but requires that they generate revenue by charging fees or raising funds. All CSP recipients are obliged to meet these criteria. These social enterprises also remain responsible for their own budgets and financial liabilities.
The organisation referred to by the Deputy received funding under the CSP for one manager and two full-time equivalent (FTE) posts. This equates to funding in the order of €70,000 per annum.
The organisation submitted their business plan in 2016, as part of the normal re-contracting process. During this process, it was found that the service did not meet the required standards in terms of strategic fit, value for money and the demonstration of the continued need for the service.
Overall, the review found that the service:
- Is primarily meeting the needs of a membership base, the majority of which are private businesses. This is not a priority for continued funding under the CSP which is focused on groups that provide services to specific disadvantaged groups, rather than private businesses;
- Has low levels of foot-fall and opening hours when compared to other tourism operations supported by the CSP. Given the service primarily benefits private business, rather that CSP target groups, the funding provided to the organisation does not represent value for money under the Programme; and
- Has not adequately and clearly articulated what the key needs of their clients are and how they propose to meet them, particularly in terms of the target groups of the CSP.
As a result of these findings, the service was recommended to exit the CSP on 30th of June 2017.
This decision was appealed to Pobal on 29th November 2016. An independent review was carried out which upheld the original decision. This was communicated to the organisation on 20th December 2016.
Discussions were held between Pobal and the organisation in January 2017, outlining options for alternative funding post programme exit in June 2017.
In February 2017 the organisation requested an extension to their contract until 30th of September 2017 to allow them to complete their summer schedule and a timely wind-up of operations. This extension was facilitated and approved by my Department and an addendum to their contract was issued on 21st of February 2017.
This organisation has now exhausted the appeals process for the CSP. For the reasons outlined above, I would now urge them to explore other sources of funding, outside of the CSP, in order to continue operating.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
230. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter (details supplied); if she will sanction the school meals grant to this facility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49591/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to schools and organisations at a total cost of some €47.5 million in 2017. As part of Budget 2017, the funding for the scheme was substantially increased by an additional €5.5 million which is benefitting up to 50,000 additional children from September 2017 bringing the total number of schools in the scheme to some 1,700 and the number of children supported up to 250,000.
In recent years priority for new applications for funding had been given to schools which are part of the DEIS programme, designed to give tailored support to schools who have high concentration of disadvantage. The school meals scheme provides funding for a breakfast for all children and lunch for up to 90% of children in DEIS schools. For the first time in many years, breakfasts are also now available to some schools outside DEIS that have been identified in consultation with the Department of Education and Skills which has developed a more robust and responsive framework for assessing individual schools levels of concentrated disadvantage.
While there have been expansions to the school meals scheme, any further changes to increase the funding to allow an extension to crèches would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
231. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1527 of 26 July 2017, the calculated value of the non-cash benefits which those in direct provision with status receive. [49468/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra232. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 1527 of 26 July 2017, if she is satisfied that a payment of €26.10 is sufficient for a person in direct provision to have the means to seek employment. [49469/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together.
Once a person has been granted status, they may apply for payments from my Department which are appropriate to their circumstances, on the same basis as Irish citizens. Such payments could include basic supplementary welfare allowance, jobseekers allowance or one-parent family payment and child benefit. Entitlement is assessed on the basis of the rules of the particular scheme. Apart from child benefit, payment under these schemes is subject to a means test, with the value of the non-cash benefits which they receive, i.e. accommodation, food and other services, assessed in the means assessment, in line with the legislation governing the means test for each scheme.
The Department’s recommended values provided to Deciding Officers and Designated Persons for the assessment of the non-cash benefits are set out in the table. These amounts are designed to ensure a reasonable consistency between the different categories of people living in direct provision (i.e. between those who have not achieved status, who are in receipt of the Direct Provision Allowance, and those who have status and so qualify for general social welfare payments).
Regarding seeking employment, people in direct provision with the right to seek employment have access to the same suite of employment supports as Irish citizens. Once they engage with their local Intreo office and receive a jobseekers payment, they will receive assistance by way of education, training and activation supports. Prior to being directed to activation services, they will be assessed with regard to job readiness and any specific obstacles such as, for example, language difficulties are addressed at this stage.
In addition, as I previously indicated to the Deputy, Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) can be made to persons in the direct provision system, including to support their move from direct provision accommodation into the community. All applications are determined on a case-by -case basis having regard to the individual circumstances presented.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table - Recommended values for non-cash benefits since 3 August 2017
|
Category |
Recommended Value |
|
Single Person |
€169.40 |
|
Couple |
€275.90 |
|
Couple, 1 child |
€284.10 |
|
Couple, 2 children |
€292.30 |
|
Couple, 3 children |
€300.50 |
|
Single, 1 child |
€177.60 |
|
Single, 2 children |
€185.80 |
|
Single, 3 children |
€194.00 |
For larger numbers of children, these values should be increased by €8.20 for each child after the third.
233. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide direction to ensure that emergency needs payments are readily considered to support those in direct provision centres to move on in view of the fact that homeless HAP is not available in most counties and therefore there is a no possibility for those leaving direct provision to access or save the standard market requirement of a month rent in advance. [49470/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
ENPs made to persons in the direct provision system are largely towards clothing costs, transport costs and the purchase of child related items such as prams/buggies. ENPs are also paid to support the move from direct provision accommodation into the community, including assistance with rent deposits and items associated with setting up home. All applications are determined on a case by case basis having regard to the individual circumstances presented. The guidance for Community Welfare Service officers who administer payments to people living in the direct provision system outlines the availability of support under the ENP scheme towards these costs. Any persons who consider that they have an entitlement to an ENP should contact their local Intreo Centre.
Policy in relation to the HAP scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department recognises a foreign divorce in the case of a person (details supplied) and approves their application for widow's pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49477/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo qualify for a widow(er)’s or surviving civil partner’s (contributory) pension, the surviving spouse must be deemed, under Irish State Law, to be the legal widow of the deceased.
The late husband of the person concerned was previously married in Ireland and subsequently divorced in the United Kingdom. In order for a foreign divorce to be recognised in this State, one of the parties to the divorce must be domiciled in the country granting the divorce when proceedings were initiated. The legislative provisions pertaining to the recognition of divorces outside the State are set out in Section 5 of the Domicile and Recognition of Foreign Divorces Act, 1986.
Entitlement of the person concerned to widow’s pension was examined. Based on the evidence available to the Deciding Officer, the deceased spouse of the applicant was previously legally married in Ireland. Both he and his spouse were domiciled in Ireland at the time their divorce proceedings were initiated in the United Kingdom. Therefore, the divorce that took place in the United Kingdom, is not recognised in this State. Consequently, the deceased’s marriage to the applicant is not recognised under Irish State law.
As the deceased’s marriage to the applicant is not recognised under Irish state law, the person concerned does not qualify for widow’s contributory pension, and was informed in writing of this decision on 10 November 2017.
If the person concerned is not satisfied with the deciding officer’s decision, they can appeal the decision to the independent Chief Appeals Officer, Social Welfare Appeals Office, D’Olier House, D’Olier St., Dublin 2.
Additionally, it is open to the person concerned to apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance from their local community welfare service accessed through the nearest Intreo Centre, if the resources currently available to her are insufficient to meet her needs.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
235. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the duration of contracts to deliver JobPath that were awarded to companies (details supplied); if there is an option in the contract to extend the duration of the contract; if there is an option in the contract to terminate the contract on its expiry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49497/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, JobPath is a service that supports people who are long-term unemployed to secure and sustain paid employment. My Department has contracted two companies, Turas Nua Limited and Seetec Limited, to deliver JobPath services.
The contracts are for six years, comprising two consecutive phases: phase one entails four years of client referrals while phase two entails a ‘run off’ period during which time no additional clients will be referred.
The contracts include an option to extend phase one for further periods, up to a maximum of 24 months, at my Department’s discretion. The contracts terminate at the end of phase two.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
236. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will examine the anomaly whereby recipients of jobseeker's benefit are not entitled to a child dependent allowance in respect of a child over 18 years of age who is still in full-time education in view of the fact that recipients of jobseeker's allowance are entitled to receive this allowance; and her views on whether this is unfair in view of the fact that recipients of jobseeker's benefit have paid PRSI contributions to benefit from this scheme. [49506/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe jobseeker's benefit and jobseeker’s allowance schemes provide income support for people who have lost work and who are available for and genuinely seeking full-time employment. Jobseeker’s allowance is a means tested social assistance payment whereas jobseeker’s benefit is a contribution based insurance scheme. The 2017 Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the jobseekers’ schemes of €2.5 billion.
An increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) is normally payable until the child reaches 18 years of age. Where a person is in receipt of either jobseekers allowance or jobseekers benefit for at least 156 days and the child is in full-time education, an IQC will be paid up to 22 years of age or up to the end of the academic year in which he or she reaches 22. The 156 day requirement is the same for both of the jobseekers schemes.
Time spent on other social welfare payments can be combined to meet the 156 days requirement, but the period between any two payments must not be more than 26 weeks.
237. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a value for money report was produced on JobPath; her plans to conduct a value for money report regarding JobPath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49513/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is planned to carry out a full econometric review of JobPath commencing end 2017 when participant numbers will have reached a level to support such an evaluation.
The Department has recently published the JobPath Performance Data Report for the period July – March 2016, the results of which have been very positive. The report is available on the Departments website at https://www.welfare.ie/en/downloads/JobPath_Performance_Report_Jul15-Mar16.pdf.
The Department will publish similar performance reports for each successive quarter as jobseekers complete their 12 month engagement period.
The JobPath service is being delivered through a payment by results model. This is an important safeguard in itself, as the payment model is based on sustained employment outcomes benefiting individual Jobseekers. In addition the model has been designed so that job sustainment fees are only payable were a client of the service ceases to be entitled to claim a jobseekers related payment - during the period of employment.
