Fiona O'Loughlin
Ceist:202. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount the bid for the Rugby World Cup has cost to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49672/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraRugby World Cup 2023
Ceisteanna (202)
Freagraí scríofa
The Department contributed €1.22m over three years to support the bid for the Rugby World Cup in 2023. The funds were paid through Fáilte Ireland. The contributions in respect of each of the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 are set out as follows:
€200,000 - 2015
€600,000 - 2016
€420,000 - 2017
In addition, on behalf of the State, NewERA appointed external legal advisers to advise on a number of aspects of the bid for Rugby World Cup 2023, including the Government guarantees provided to World Rugby as stipulated as part of the bidding process. The legal fees payable have not been finalised but are expected to be in the order of €300,000 plus VAT.
In regard to the other parties, I am informed by the IRFU that they spent approximately €1.75m and the Northern Ireland Executive spent approximately €0.25m, to support the bid.
Driver Licences
Ceisteanna (203)
Seán Crowe
Ceist:203. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the delays being experienced by returned persons in exchanging their foreign driving licence for an Irish one, in particular the case of a person (details supplied); and his plans to speed up this process. [49693/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in these matters. I have therefore referred the Question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
Road Projects
Ceisteanna (204)
John Brassil
Ceist:204. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49734/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
Appointments to State Boards
Ceisteanna (205)
Niall Collins
Ceist:205. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of applications received for the position of chair of a company (details supplied); the number of persons interviewed for this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49741/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
All State Board appointments are carried out in accordance with both Government Guidelines and my own internal Departmental Principles and Procedures, details of which can be found on my Department's website at the following link State Board Membership.
Statistics on all Public Appointments Services (PAS) campaigns can be found on the State Boards website at the following link http://www.stateboards.ie/home.htm including those for the mentioned company.
Following a PAS-led assessment of all applications received, 2 candidates were selected for consideration on the basis of the published criteria for the position.
Upon receipt of the list of selected candidates, and in line with my Department's Principles and Procedures, these two candidates were then assessed by means of an interview.
National Car Test
Ceisteanna (206)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:206. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49796/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Road Safety Authority has statutory responsibility for the NCT.
However I understand that Directive 2014/45/EU sets the minimum requirements in regard to the frequency of the roadworthiness testing of cars, with the first test required on the fourth anniversary of the first registration of the vehicle. This requirement is transposed by the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2007, S.I. 415 of 2017. Therefore, a car that was first registered in 2014 would be due the test in 2018.
Light Rail Projects Expenditure
Ceisteanna (207)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:207. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the basis on which €100 million has been budgeted for the Luas green line projects; the purpose for which this additional funding is intended; the system that prioritised this project over much needed public transport infrastructure in other parts of the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49809/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Luas Green Line Capacity Enhancement project is identified in the National Transport Authority’s ‘Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035’. The purpose of the project is to address current capacity limits at peak hours on the Luas Green Line and to cater for future demands along the line.
The project follows on from the Luas Cross City Project which will commence services next month. A complementary investment project to lengthen the platforms at the Green Line stations is also nearing completion.
The estimated capital cost of €89 million for the provision of infrastructure for the Green Line Capacity Enhancement project is provided in the existing capital envelope for public transport under the Government's Capital Plan 2016-2021. Annual operation and maintenance costs are estimated as €0.86 million between 2020 and 2022 and €1.87 million after 2022.
The Green Line Capacity Enhancement project will cater for existing and future demands along the Luas Green Line corridor ensuring the optimal use of existing infrastructure in advance of other major public transport investments. Budget 2018 provided for an increase in the multi-annual capital investment for public transport with a four-year capital envelope of €2.7 billion over the period 2018-2021. The increased funding will allow rollout of a number of further key programmes to address congestion and emerging capacity constraints on the public transport system across the Greater Dublin Area.
Youth Services Provision
Ceisteanna (208)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:208. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the youth services that are available in an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49729/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision involving approximately 1,400 youth work staff and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country.
Budget 2018 provided an additional €1.5m in current funding to my Department to support the provision of youth services. This additional funding will be used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people. My Department has commenced a process with national organisations and local services to identify service development needs for 2018 and to finalise the 2018 allocations. Every effort will be made to complete this process as soon as possible.
Finglas Youth Resource Centre is funded under my Department’s Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund. This fund was established by the Government in 1998 to assist in the development of preventative strategies in a targeted manner through the development of youth facilities, including sports and recreational facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. In 2017 this project received an allocation of €354,134, an increase of 5% over its 2016 allocation.
Finglas Youth Resource Centre also received Local Drug Task Force funding of €82,518 in 2017. The 21 projects within this scheme provide a range of supports for young people by way of a targeted drug prevention and awareness programmes as well as referrals.
Town and Village Renewal Scheme
Ceisteanna (209)
Martin Heydon
Ceist:209. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to review the need for a 20% drawdown of town and village scheme moneys before the end of 2017 due to delays with tenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49824/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 4th October, I approved funding of €21.6 million for 281 projects across rural Ireland under the Town and Village Renewal scheme.
Letters of Offer were issued to the Local Authorities on 12th October, indicating that the first tranche of funding for projects would be paid this year once 20% of the total project costs had been incurred.
A number of Local Authorities have contacted my Department in recent weeks, indicating that they may have difficulty in reaching the 20% expenditure level this year due to the timing of the announcement of the successful projects.
It was originally envisaged that the projects would be announced in July. However, the establishment of the new Department, which amongst other considerations required new legislation to be introduced in the Oireachtas, meant that it was not possible to meet the original timeline.
The Town and Village Renewal projects will be delivered over a period of 15 months and the commitments which I made to the 281 successful projects remain in place. I have asked my officials to re-profile the funding draw-down based on the information being received from Local Authorities.
Community Banking
Ceisteanna (210)
Niall Collins
Ceist:210. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress as committed to under the programme for Government to investigate the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks. [49829/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Programme for a Partnership Government envisaged that An Post, the Irish League of Credit Unions and other interested stakeholders would be asked to investigate and propose a new model of community banking, such as the Kiwibank model in New Zealand, which could be delivered through the post office network. The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to investigate the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks that operate within well-defined regions.
My officials have been actively working with the Department of Finance to progress the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment. A project team was assembled earlier this year involving officials from both Departments. In addition, a public consultation process, seeking views on the community banking model, was launched in early March and ran for four weeks. A total of 16 replies from a range of stakeholders were received. Officials from both Departments also met representatives from the International Sparkasse Foundation to learn more about the model.
The Departmental officials are now finalising their report and I expect that this report will be submitted to both myself and the Minister for Finance shortly for consideration.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (211)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:211. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision on an application for a carer's allowance by a person (details supplied) will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49705/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I confirm that my department received an application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned on 3 August 2017.
The application was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) to assess the level of care being provided, composition of the household, assess means and confirm that all the conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.
Once the SWI has reported, a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Insurance Data
Ceisteanna (212)
Brendan Ryan
Ceist:212. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide the PRSI record of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49736/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is committed to providing a contribution record statement to all customers who require one.
The main facility for accessing social insurance contribution statements is now online, via the MyWelfare.ie application. This service was introduced on 27 January 2017; and details of how to register are available at: https://www.mygovid.ie/en-IE/GettingStarted/.
However, if any customer is not in a position to use the online facility, the customer can contact the Department by phone to request a written copy of their record.
The online application has been designed to ensure that all customers can access their records directly and conveniently; and do so in a much shorter timeframe than was previously possible. Registering for MyWelfare.ie also enables a customer to apply online for payments including jobseeker's and maternity/paternity benefit; to close claims for payments, to make appointments, view claims and benefits information; update their address and to request payment statements.
Some 850 to 900 customers per week currently engage successfully with the service to request copies of their record; and this number is increasing on a month-by-month basis.
The new service is an efficient and secure service and also allows for the automated processing of requests, which as you will understand, allows my Department to concentrate its resources on maintaining and updating social insurance records for customers.
A person who is not in a position to use the online facility to request a statement can contact the Department’s customer service team for assistance on (01) 4715898. Customers who wish to use a LoCall option can call from a landline on 1890 690 690. The customer service team is available to assist from 9am to 5pm; and is also open during lunchtime.
A copy of the customer’s record has issued.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Insurance Data
Ceisteanna (213)
Brendan Ryan
Ceist:213. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide the PRSI record of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49737/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is committed to providing a contribution record statement to all customers who require one.
The main facility for accessing social insurance contribution statements is now online, via the MyWelfare.ie application. This service was introduced on 27 January 2017; and details of how to register are available at: https://www.mygovid.ie/en-IE/GettingStarted/.
However, if any customer is not in a position to use the online facility, the customer can contact the Department by phone to request a written copy of their record.
The online application has been designed to ensure that all customers can access their records directly and conveniently; and do so in a much shorter timeframe than was previously possible. Registering for MyWelfare.ie also enables a customer to apply online for payments including jobseeker's and maternity/paternity benefit; to close claims for payments, to make appointments, view claims and benefits information; update their address and to request payment statements.
Some 850 to 900 customers per week currently engage successfully with the service to request copies of their record; and this number is increasing on a month-by-month basis.
The new service is an efficient and secure service and also allows for the automated processing of requests, which as you will understand, allows my Department to concentrate its resources on maintaining and updating social insurance records for customers.
A person who is not in a position to use the online facility to request a statement can contact the Department’s customer service team for assistance on (01) 4715898. Customers who wish to use a LoCall option can call from a landline on 1890 690 690. The customer service team is available to assist from 9am to 5pm; and is also open during lunchtime.
In this case, an inspection of this record has been conducted and the record has been updated to include Carer’s Benefit credits from 01/01/2013 to 01/11/2017. These credits are now included on the customer’s record; and a copy of the record has issued.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Community Employment Schemes Supervisors
Ceisteanna (214)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:214. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to implement the Labour Court recommendation on the issue of pension rights for community employment supervisors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49756/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Community Employment (CE) scheme supervisors are employees of private companies in the community and voluntary sector. The State is not responsible for funding pension arrangements for such employees even where the companies in question are reliant on State funding. It is open to individuals to make provision for a pension by way of PRSA which all employers are obliged to facilitate.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that the issue of CE supervisors’ pension provision is currently being examined by a Community Sector High Level Forum, chaired by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. My Department is represented on this group, as are IMPACT, SIPTU, Pobal and other relevant Government Departments. I understand their work is ongoing and that the Forum is due to meet again on 23 November 2017.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Rent Supplement Scheme Payments
Ceisteanna (215)
Robert Troy
Ceist:215. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a review regarding the payment of rent allowance in respect of a property (details supplied); the reason payment to the person was not suspended on receipt of reports that rent payment was not being made to the landlord; the action she will take to clarify this situation; and the timeframe for the completion of this review. [49758/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I refer to the replies to the Deputy’s previous PQs about this matter. Reference Numbers 42721-17 and 47178-17 refer.
The review of the case has been completed and communicated to the Deputy. Arrangements have been proposed for an amount of unpaid Rent Supplement to be paid directly to the landlord.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Free Travel Scheme
Ceisteanna (216)
John Brassil
Ceist:216. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will grant free travel passes to all children who are in receipt of a domiciliary care allowance and have to travel long distances to receive medical treatment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49762/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by almost 80 private transport operators. There are currently approximately 898,000 customers with direct eligibility to free travel with an annual allocation of €80 million. The scheme is available to all people aged over 66 living permanently in the State. To qualify for the scheme, applicants who are under age 66 must be in receipt of a qualifying payment. These are invalidity pension, blind pension, disability allowance, carer’s allowance or an equivalent social security payment from a country covered by EC Regulations or one with which Ireland has a Bilateral Social Security Agreement.
Any decision to extend the free travel scheme to all children that are in receipt of a domiciliary care allowance would require additional funding for the free travel scheme and would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
Domiciliary care allowance is a monthly payment of €309.50 to the carer of a child with a disability. The allowance may be used for the additional costs involved in caring for the child and this may include additional transport costs. On most transport services children under sixteen years of age are charged fares at special concessionary child rates.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection may award a travel supplement in any case where the circumstances of the case so warrant. The supplement is intended to assist with ongoing or recurring travel costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. Every decision is based on consideration of the circumstances of the case, taking account of the nature and extent of the need and of the resources of the person concerned.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Exceptional Needs Payment Applications
Ceisteanna (217)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when an exceptional needs payment will be made in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49767/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There is no record of an application having been received in this matter. However, an application form for Supplementary Welfare Allowance has been posted to the person concerned. If she wishes to apply for an exceptional needs payment she should complete the application form and return it to the welfare service in Maynooth, where it will be considered.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Schemes
Ceisteanna (218)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:218. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if teeth cleaning performed by a dental hygienist, as distinct from a dentist' is covered under the dental benefit scheme. [49799/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In order to hold a contract under the Department’s treatment benefit scheme, a practitioner must be entitled to operate in their own right. Dental hygienists cannot currently operate independently. Under the Irish Dental Council’s code of practice, “Dental work carried out by a dental hygienist may only be carried out under the supervision of a registered dentist, who has first examined the patient and who has indicated to the dental hygienist the course of treatment to be provided.” As a result, it is currently not possible for dental hygienists to hold a contract with this Department.
Dental cleaning may be performed by hygienists on behalf of the dentist who holds a contract with the department under the dental benefit scheme, with the dentist submitting the claim for payment in respect of the cleaning provided directly to the Department.
Housing Data
Ceisteanna (219)
John Brassil
Ceist:219. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing units directly built, and expected to be built, in each local authority area in each of the years 2015 to 2019, by social housing, affordable housing and housing by approved voluntary bodies, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49652/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Details on the number of properties of various categories, purchased and built in all local authority areas, are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision. Information on quarter three of 2017 is currently being finalised and will be published shortly.
Rebuilding Ireland targets the delivery of 50,000 social homes by 2021, supported by investment of €6 billion. Information on this delivery is in the following table, with 33,431 to be delivered via construction activity, both by local authorities and by approved housing bodies.
|
Construction |
Acquisition |
Leasing |
|
|
2016 |
2,260 |
1,755 |
225 |
|
2017 |
3,200 |
1,250 |
600 |
|
2018 |
4,969 |
900 |
2,000 |
|
2019 |
6,385 |
1,025 |
2,130 |
|
2020 |
7,716 |
800 |
2,631 |
|
2021 |
8,907 |
800 |
2,450 |
|
TOTAL |
33,437 |
6,530 |
10,036 |
Social housing current construction activity, on a local authority by local authority basis, can be seen in the quarterly status reports that are now published covering all approved social housing construction projects. These reports show details such as the project locations, number of new homes being constructed and information relating to their advancement.
The most recent of these reports covers the period up to the end of quarter 2 of 2017 and it contains information on the delivery of 11,000 new social homes. 1,100 of these were delivered between 2016 and end-quarter 2 of 2017; a further 2,700 are on site and under construction, with the remainder progressing through planning, design and on to construction. The report can be accessed at the following link: http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-schemes-2017/.
It will be these schemes that will form a significant element of delivery over the period 2018 and 2019. I am keen that all local authorities advance their social housing programmes as speedily as possible and I have assured them that funding is in place to support their activity in this regard.
Planning Guidelines
Ceisteanna (220)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:220. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason the wording has changed in the national planning guidelines 2020 to 2040; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49663/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government intends Ireland 2040 - Our Plan, the National Planning Framework (NPF), to provide the long-term strategic planning and investment context for Ireland over the next 20 years.
Recognising that almost 40% of Ireland’s population lives in rural areas, the Government recognises that rural communities should be in a position to meet their housing needs in rural areas and within a coherent overall local planning policy approach to housing and proper planning and sustainable development in general.
In 2016, there were a total of 442,669 occupied one-off houses, representing 26 per cent of all dwellings in the State. Between 1991 and 2010, the rate of ‘single house’ development was approximately a quarter of all dwellings built during this period. Since then, and primarily due to very low levels of urban development during recent years, the percentage of ‘one-off’ development as part of all housing completions has increased to almost 40 percent of all homes constructed in the State since 2011. For 17 counties, the indications are that one-off housing comprised over half of all dwellings built since 2011.
National Policy Objective 18b of the draft NPF states:
‘In rural areas under urban influence, to facilitate the provision of single housing in the countryside based on the core consideration of demonstrable economic need to live in a rural area and relevant siting criteria for rural housing in statutory guidelines and plans.’
Public consultation on the draft NPF concluded on 10 November and over 1,000 submissions were received. My Department is reviewing submissions received with a view to finalising the document in the very near future, including addressing the issue of social and economic underpinnings to the provision of housing in rural communities within the context of National Policy Objective 18b above.
Tenant Purchase Scheme Review
Ceisteanna (221, 223)
John McGuinness
Ceist:221. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the review of the tenant incremental purchase scheme 2016 is now complete; his plans to introduce changes to the scheme; if he will review the minimum reckonable income of persons and allow long-standing tenants to purchase their homes whether on social welfare or not but with proof of savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49664/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:223. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason a person's long-term social welfare payments cannot be taken into account when seeking to purchase a house from a local authority. [49688/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 223 together.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.
The minimum reckonable income for eligibility under the scheme is determined by the relevant housing authority in accordance with the detailed provisions of the Ministerial Direction issued under Sections 24(3) and (4) of the 2014 Act. In the determination of the minimum reckonable income, housing authorities can include income from a number of different sources and classes, such as from employment, private pensions, maintenance payments and certain social welfare payments, including pensions, where the social welfare payment is secondary to employment income.
In order to ensure the sustainability of the scheme, it is essential that an applicant’s income is of a long-term and sustainable nature. This is necessary to ensure that the tenant purchasing the house is in a financial position, as the owner, to maintain and insure the property for the duration of the charged period, in compliance with the conditions of the order transferring the ownership of, and responsibility for, the house from the local authority to the tenant.
In line with the commitment given in the Rebuilding Ireland An Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, a review of the first 12 months of the Tenant Purchase scheme’s operation has been undertaken. The review has incorporated analysis of comprehensive data received from local authorities regarding the operation of the scheme during 2016 and a wide-ranging public consultation process which saw submissions received from individuals, elected representatives and organisations.
The review is now complete and a full report setting out findings and recommendations has been prepared. I expect to be in a position to publish the outcome of the review shortly.