Robert Troy
Ceist:197. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if sports capital funding for a group (details supplied) will be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51282/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSports Capital Programme Eligibility
Ceisteanna (197)
Freagraí scríofa
Details of all local allocations under the 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme, including to the group referred to, were announced earlier today and can now be viewed on my Department's website.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland Projects
Ceisteanna (198)
Peter Burke
Ceist:198. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans for the development of the N4 at Cloncoose, Longford in view of the fact that farm owners have had land frozen for a number of years waiting on the development to commence. [51305/17]
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 (TII), formerly the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
Dublin Airport Authority
Ceisteanna (199)
Imelda Munster
Ceist:199. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to a tender for car valeting awarded by the DAA in August 2016; the criteria outlined for the tender; the number of companies that applied; the name of the company that won; the reason that company was successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51306/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy will be aware, the daa has statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin Airport. As this issue is an operational matter for daa, I have forwarded your query to daa for their attention and direct reply to you. If you do not hear from daa within 10 working days, please contact my private office.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
Cycling Facilities Funding
Ceisteanna (200)
Jack Chambers
Ceist:200. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to improve infrastructure for cyclists using the route from Ashtown, Dublin 15 into the city centre in which widening work and appropriate separation of walking and cycling tracks is required; his further plans to install lighting along this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51307/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I have secured funding of €116m in Budget 2018 for the development of cycling and walking infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and Regional Cites over the next four years, 2018-2021. It is envisaged that the progression of infrastructure such as the Royal Canal route will be progressed under this funding stream. I am aware that the Royal Canal route has significant potential as a transport corridor, being adjacent to existing residential communities, Luas Cross City at Broombridge, train stations at Broombridge and Ashtown and the proposed new train station at Pelletstown.
The National Transport Authority is responsible for the development of the cycling network in this location. In light of their responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for a direct response. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
Cycling Facilities Funding
Ceisteanna (201)
Jack Chambers
Ceist:201. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which cycling infrastructure will be improved from the new Luas stop at Broombridge to the city centre; the way in which the use of canal, coastal and river routes will be used to tackle congestion on roads in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51308/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operation of transport facilities, including the building and maintenance of cycling infrastructure.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the development and implementation of public transport and sustainable transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA).
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply with regard to this particular project. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
Sports Capital Programme Eligibility
Ceisteanna (202)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:202. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a capital sports grant application by a club (details supplied); when an announcement of funds allocated is expected under the sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51336/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Details of all local allocations under the 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme, including to the group referred to, were announced earlier today and can now be viewed on my Department's website.
Road Improvement Schemes
Ceisteanna (203)
Robert Troy
Ceist:203. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent on pedestrian infrastructure in each year since 2011. [51363/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Road improvement and maintenance (including footways and footpaths) together with traffic management measures within its area of responsibility is the statutory responsibility of each local authority funded by its own resources supplemented by grant funding. The Department does not, therefore, hold the information requested by the Deputy.
Sports Capital Programme Expenditure
Ceisteanna (204)
Robert Troy
Ceist:204. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount that his Department has spent on sports capital grants since 2011. [51364/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Details of all previous allocations and payments made under the sports capital programme are available on the Department's website at www.dttas.ie/sport/english/sports-capital-programme. Details of all local allocations under the 2017 round of the programme were announced earlier today and can now be viewed on my Department's website.
Public Transport
Ceisteanna (205)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:205. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to tackle the lack of public transport options for school students in the Clonskeagh and Goatstown area of Dublin, particularly schools (details supplied) with regard to the pressure put on public transport services by nearby University College Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51373/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I share the concerns of local residents, teachers and parents of school children in the area. However, the issues raised are primarily matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response from the NTA within ten working days.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (206)
Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:206. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her Department's capital expenditure in each year since 2011. [51365/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Details of the capital expenditure incurred by my Department since its establishment in June 2011 are as follows:
|
2011 €000 |
2012 €000 |
2013 €000 |
2014 €000 |
2015 €000 |
2016 €000 |
2017 (to date) €000 |
|
|
Childcare Programmes |
4,450 |
6,500 |
3,223 |
3,250 |
8,250 |
7,000 |
12,900 |
|
Youth Justice |
n/a |
1,350 |
3,408 |
38,398 |
10,999 |
1,172 |
273 |
|
Youth Organisations and Services |
792 |
1,000 |
1,750 |
764 |
713 |
1,729 |
6,365 |
|
Child and Family Agency |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
4,846 |
6,863 |
13,554 |
9,077 |
|
Total |
5,242 |
8,850 |
8,381 |
47,258 |
26,825 |
23,455 |
28,615 |
Child Care Services Expenditure
Ceisteanna (207)
Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:207. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount her Department has spent on non-contact hours, by service type in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [51366/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The funding provided by the Department has always been intended to be sufficient to cater for all of the costs associated with the childcare programmes funded, including administrative and "Non-contact" work, or to fund this pro-rata where the Department's contribution is a part of the total cost of care provided. As such, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of funding paid in respect of "non-contact time" prior to 2017.
Notwithstanding the preceding, to take account of the additional administrative burden on childcare providers as the result of significant changes to the childcare schemes in 2016-17, including the expansion of the ECCE scheme to include three intake points, contractual changes and the coming into force of the Childcare Regulations, I provided some €14.5m in summer 2017 to be drawn down as a "non-contact time" payment for providers, equivalent to seven days' funding.
An additional €3.5m was allocated to provide a once-off payment in December in respect of the More Affordable Childcare measures being implemented by providers of targeted schemes from September 2017, entitled the Programme Support Payment, or PSP. The objective of the “non-contact time” payment and the now-titled Programme Support Payment are one and the same.
These moneys have been made available to providers of all childcare programmes funded by my Department, including both community and private services, which account for 27% and 73% of all early years services in Ireland respectively. As to your question regarding the total amount funded to each, I can inform you that under the “non-contact time” payment of summer 2017, some €4,189,163 was paid to community services, while €9,233,777 was paid to private services. This amounts to a total value of €13,422,940 to date under the “non-contact time” payment.
As the Programme Support Payment of December 2017 has yet to be drawn down by providers of the targeted schemes, its final, total value remains to be seen.
Social Insurance
Ceisteanna (208)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:208. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the self employed PRSI that would be due for 2016 from a person that was on a rural social scheme during that year and that had no income other than a self employed income of €2,000 from farming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51334/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Self-employed workers who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year, are liable to pay PRSI at the Class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum annual payment of €500. For the purposes of determining whether an individual’s income exceeds the €5,000 annual threshold, income from all sources, including reckonable earnings from insurable employment and all self-employed income, is taken into account. Income received by participants of the rural social schemes is regarded as reckonable earnings for PRSI purposes. In the case of an individual with income from a rural social scheme and self-employed income from, for example, farming, their income from all sources will be aggregated to determine if it exceeds €5,000. Where the income exceeds the threshold, Class S PRSI at 4% may be chargeable on the individual’s self-employed income. PRSI on the rural social scheme income is deducted at source by the employer alongside, where appropriate, income tax and USC payable. PRSI chargeable on the self-employed income is paid directly to the Revenue Commissioners. These provisions have been in place for a number of years including the 2016 contribution year.
Disability Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (209)
Robert Troy
Ceist:209. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a disability allowance for a person (details supplied) will be granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51251/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Following a successful review, this lady has been awarded disability allowance with effect from 31 May 2017. The first payment will be made to her chosen payment method on 6 December 2017.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible, once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments (if applicable).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (210)
Robert Troy
Ceist:210. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied) will be granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51252/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm my office received an application for carer's allowance from the person concerned on 9 August 2017.
Additional information was requested by a deciding officer on 16 November 2017 in order to determine the entitlement. Once this information is received, the application will be processed without delay and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (211)
Robert Troy
Ceist:211. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a carer's allowance for a person (details supplied) will be granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51253/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned was in receipt of carer’s allowance (CA) until 11 May 2016 when her claim was terminated as she had failed to supply documentation requested in course of a review.
She re-applied for CA on 20 March 2017. On this application, the person concerned denied having any accounts in a bank, post office, credit union, building society or in any financial institution in this country or another country.
As there were issues outstanding from the previous review, the matter was referred to a local social welfare inspector (SWI) on 7 June 2017 to assess the level of care being provided, assess means and confirm that all conditions for receipt of carer’s allowance are satisfied.
During the course of this investigation, the person concerned has submitted bank statements.
However the SWI enquiries are continuing. 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.
Carer's Allowance Payments
Ceisteanna (212)
Tom Neville
Ceist:212. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when arrears of carer's allowance will be granted to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51290/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Carer’s allowance was awarded to the person concerned on 4 November 2017 and first payment issued to her nominated post office on 23 November 2017.
Arrears for the period 29 June 2017 to 22 November 2017 will issue shortly.
The person concerned was notified of these details on 4 November 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
One-Parent Family Payment
Ceisteanna (213)
Clare Daly
Ceist:213. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the incident of Intreo personnel sending an official letter to a person (details supplied) placing an onus on the person to contact his or her abuser in order to secure financial support; and her plans to ensure that this does not reoccur for persons seeking one-parent family payments. [51291/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department takes the issue of domestic violence very seriously. We are in the middle of Women's Aid's "16 Days" campaign which I fully support every year. I also recognise that my Department’s Maintenance Recovery Unit does a worthwhile job in assisting people where its assistance is required. The guidelines in place in my Department with regard to seeking maintenance are clear in respect of circumstances involving domestic abuse or violence. Claims should be processed without delay to the individual who presents and without the lone parent who has the child ever having to contact the former partner.
Historically, for reasons of data protection, when a person presented to a local social welfare office indicating that he or she was in a difficult or vulnerable position, a flag was not placed on his or her electronic record because the Department did not want him or her to be known for that particular flag.
In the past week, a case was brought to my attention by a very brave young woman. Last Friday, I met the young woman in question and we had a long conversation about what had happened to her in order that I could learn about what broke down in the delivery of the Department's services.
I also had the privilege of meeting representatives of Women's Aid in the Department yesterday. I rang the organisation last week requesting a meeting and we had the launch of the "16 Days" campaign on Friday. We have provided Women's Aid with copies of all of the letters and correspondence the Department sends to lone parents, with a view to having these documents adapted and changed through the lens of someone who is in a vulnerable position and to ensure that no one, even through human error, will receive a letter that causes pain or distress, such as occurred last week.
Women's Aid agreed to come back to me within a week with suggestions on the wording of the correspondence.
We also agreed that Women's Aid will develop an accredited training course for the Department to be delivered to all front-line staff who may deal with a person who is in a vulnerable or precarious position. The training course will be delivered by Women's Aid in conjunction with my Department's Staff Development Unit.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Complaints Procedures
Ceisteanna (214)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:214. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the basis on which the social welfare investigative officer in undated correspondence to a person (details supplied) made a decision; when payments to the person will be restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51293/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The first person concerned was in receipt of the Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension. This person concerned received a letter which mistakenly referred to the second person concerned as co-habiting with her. This is in fact incorrect as the wrong person was named in the letter. The Department wishes to apologise for any upset caused.
The voluntary declaration signed by the first person concerned actually referred to co-habiting with another person. This issue has been highlighted to the relevant business area and a letter will issue to the person concerned correcting the error.
As means could not be established and residency could not be proven, the jobseekers allowance claim in the case of the second person concerned was disallowed. It is open to the second person concerned to request a review of his claim at the local Intreo Centre. All relevant documentation should be submitted in support of a request for a review. Alternatively the second person concerned can appeal the decision of the deciding officer to the Social Welfare Appeals Office which functions independently of the Department. A letter from the Department was issued on 10/11/17 confirming this information.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Carer's Benefit Applications
Ceisteanna (215)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:215. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a carer's benefit application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51297/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Carer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to full-time employees who leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention.
My department received an application for CARB from the person concerned on 24 July 2017.
One of the qualifying conditions 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.
The application was disallowed on the grounds that this condition was not satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 10 October 2017 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence in support of her application. Following this review the decision remained unchanged.
The person concerned was notified on 17 November 2017 of the outcome of the review, the reasons for it and of her right of appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Widow's Pension Appeals
Ceisteanna (216)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:216. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 244 of 19 October 2017, if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed in view of the logic that the person's second marriage could not have proceeded without evidence of divorce from the first marriage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51393/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned was previously married in Ireland and divorced in Northern Ireland. His subsequent marriage to his late wife also took place in Northern Ireland.
As set out in previous responses on this matter, the provisions pertaining to the recognition of divorce outside the State are set out in Section 5 of the Domicile and Recognition of Foreign Divorces Act, 1986. Accordingly, in order for the Northern Ireland divorce to be recognised in this State, one of the parties to the divorce must have been domiciled in Northern Ireland when the divorce proceedings were initiated. Based on the evidence available to the Department, it appears both parties to the divorce were domiciled in Ireland at that time. Therefore the divorce and the subsequent marriage that took place in Northern Ireland are not recognised under Irish State Law. Consequently, there is no entitlement to widower’s contributory pension.
If the person concerned is not satisfied with the decision of the deciding officer, they may appeal the decision to the independent Chief Appeals Officer, Social Welfare Appeals Office, D’Olier House, D’Olier St., Dublin 2.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.