Written Answers Nos. 248-267
248. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address a matter regarding the pension entitlements of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52245/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEntitlement to state pension (contributory) is assessed on the basis of an applicant’s full social insurance record and the eligibility conditions applicable on the date they reach pension age. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a social insurance record of 1,719 reckonable contributions and credits. A reduced state pension (contributory) was awarded based on an assessed yearly average of 36 contributions, covering the period from December 1968 to December 2016. The person concerned is in receipt of the correct rate of contributory pension based on this record. Any gaps in the person’s insurance record will impact on the person’s overall yearly average and, consequently, on their rate of weekly pension entitlement.
The homemaker’s scheme was introduced in 1994 to make qualification for state pension (contributory) easier for a claimant who has taken time out of the workforce for caring duties. The scheme allows up to 20 years (since 1994) spent caring for children under 12 years of age, or for an incapacitated person(s), to be disregarded when the claimant’s social insurance record is being assessed for pension purposes. The effect of this is to reduce the number of years by which the person’s contributions are divided, thereby increasing their yearly average, and making it easier for them to qualify for the most beneficial rate of state pension (contributory). As part of the pension eligibility assessment of the person concerned, a disregard of one year and an award of 24 additional credits in the person’s yearly average calculation resulted from home-making periods from 6 April 1994 to 19 September 1995.
If the person concerned considers they have additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence of the missing periods of employment to my Department and their pension entitlement will be reviewed.
The changes made to rate bands in 2012 more closely reflect the social insurance contribution history of a person than those in place between 2000 and 2012. The current rate bands still provide pensions to people which are more proportionate with their level of contribution.
My Department is examining in depth whether the 2012 rate band changes have impacted disproportionately or unfairly on specific groups in relation to the contributions they have made for the pension they receive. If that is the case, measures to alleviate that impact on people who have reduced pension entitlements following the 2012 changes, would be considered.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
249. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52248/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the Department was notified by the Social Welfare Appeals Office on the 29 November 2017 that the appeal for this lady was upheld and she was deemed to be medically suitable for the scheme.
On 4 December 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.
250. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the State has not to date ratified article 31 of the revised European Social Charter; if steps will now be taken to ratify article 31 in view of correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52296/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland ratified the Revised European Social Charter on 4 November 2000. At that time Ireland accepted 92 of the 98 paragraphs of the Revised Charter. Three of those paragraphs not accepted by Ireland make up Article 31, which relates to the right to housing. Any examination of Ireland’s current position in relation to Article 31 of the Revised European Social Charter would fall under the responsibility of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.
251. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she will take to deal with an anomaly which arose in respect of career’s allowance in the case of a person (detail supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52318/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of credited contributions (credits) is to protect social insurance entitlements by bridging gaps in an employee’s social insurance record, where they are not in a position to pay PRSI, such as for period of unemployment, illness or in receipt of certain payments, including carer’s allowance.
In isolation, credits do not give entitlement to social insurance benefits. In combination with paid PRSI contributions, credits can assist employees qualifying for short-term schemes such as jobseeker’s benefit. Credits may also enhance the level of benefit for long-term schemes such as the level of payment of State pension contributory (SPC), but only where the individual has already met the condition relating to the minimum number of paid contributions.
To qualify for credits an individual must satisfy entitlement to the credits scheme. While there are no self-employed credits, individuals who were previously employed can access the scheme in the same manner as other workers, subject to meeting the conditions of the scheme. In general credits can only be awarded where an individual has had a recent attachment to the workforce as an employee i.e. within the last 2 years. Therefore credits are not automatically awarded to all recipients of carer’s allowance.
Individuals who are caring on a full-time basis, including those in receipt of carer’s allowance may, however, qualify for the homemaker’s scheme. The homemaker’s scheme is designed to help home-makers and carers protect their SPC entitlement, and applies to home-making periods since 6 April 1994. It applies to the self-employed on the same basis as it does to other workers.
The scheme provides that years spent working in the home while caring on a full-time basis for a child up to 12 years of age or an incapacitated person age 12 or over will be disregarded in calculating a person's yearly average number of contributions for the purposes of determining the rate of their entitlement to SPC. In this way the homemaker’s scheme ensures that an individual’s entitlement to SPC is protected during periods spent caring.
252. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the examination on the right to housing which was referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52154/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra260. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to bring forward legislation for a referendum to enshrine the right to housing in the Constitution; if so, the timeframe for same; if not, the reason therefore; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52153/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 260 together.
The issue of the right to housing was debated in Dáil Eireann and Seanad Eireann recently. Arising from this, a motion to refer the Eighth Report of the Convention on the Constitution, which dealt with economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to housing, to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach was passed by the Dáil on 28 September 2017 and by the Seanad on 11 October 2017.
The scheduling of the business of the Committee is a matter for the Committee to consider.
253. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when he plans to issue revised rural housing guidelines to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52090/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing engagement between the European Commission and my Department regarding the 2013 European Court of Justice ruling in the Flemish Decree case, a working group, comprising senior representatives from my Department and planning authorities, was established in May 2017 to review and, where necessary, recommend changes to the 2005 Planning Guidelines on Sustainable Rural Housing, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, with a view to ensuring that rural housing policies and objectives contained in county development plans comply with the relevant provisions of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
The deliberations of the Working Group concluded in September and my Department is now in the process of further engagement with the European Commission on the proposed changes to be made to the 2005 Guidelines, which it is expected will be finalised early in 2018.
Planning authorities were advised by way of Circular letter PL 2/2017, which issued on 31 May 2017, that the existing 2005 Guidelines remain in place and they should not amend rural housing policies in their development plans until after the revisions to the Guidelines have been finalised and issued. The Circular letter is available to view on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/pl_02-2017_sustainable_rural_housing_guidelines_for_planning_authorities_2005_-_local_need.pdf.
254. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the judicial review of An Bord Pleanála decision RL2969. [52122/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs neither the State, nor I as Minister, is a party to this particular judicial review, I am not in a position to indicate the present status of the case.
Furthermore, under Section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), I am statutorily precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any case in which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanála, is, or may be involved.
255. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the legal status of turbary rights; his views on whether they should be protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52123/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt would not be appropriate for me to comment on the legal status of turbary rights, as this would involve interpretation of law, which is ultimately a matter for the Courts.
The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, is concerned with proper planning and sustainable development and does not interfere with other rights relating to land such as turbary rights.
256. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason RTB funding was not awarded to County Wicklow in 2015, 2016 and 2017; his views on the fact that such funding was not granted in view of the fact that it was granted in previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52132/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, as part of the funding process, conducts spot checks of local authorities’ private rented inspections procedures and records to verify that proper records are being maintained, that money being spent is for the purpose allocated and that value for money is being achieved.
Wicklow County Council was among the local authorities selected and a spot check was carried out in March 2016. As Wicklow County Council was unable to satisfy my Department at the time that it was adequately meeting its obligations in accordance with the terms of the scheme, the release of funding for the years 2015, 2016 and 2017 has been set aside, pending satisfactory implementation by Wicklow County Council of the Department's recommendations in relation to its inspection and enforcement function, at which point the funding will be made available.
My Department remains available to discuss further and support Wicklow County Council in addressing these issues and enabling the drawdown of the allocated funding.
257. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to review the tenant purchase scheme in terms of the way in which it relates to rural cottages in cases which the dwelling was built on family land by a local authority and the tenant is in a position to purchase yet is prevented from doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52135/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
In line with the commitment given in the Rebuilding Ireland, a review of the first 12 months of the Tenant Purchase Scheme’s operation was undertaken. The review incorporated the analysis of comprehensive data received from local authorities regarding the operation of the scheme during 2016 which would have encompassed the potential sale of rural cottages. Furthermore, tenants of rural cottages were able to take part in a wide-ranging public consultation process that took place earlier in the year. A number of submissions, which helped inform the review were received from individuals, elected representatives and organisations on many aspects of the scheme's operation during this process.
The review is now complete and a full report setting out findings and recommendations has been prepared and I expect to be in a position to publish the outcome of the review shortly.
258. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the report that his Department has on house building costs will be published; if this report will be presented to Dáil Éireann in January 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52148/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Government is committed to a broad range of measures to tackle, among other things, some of the costs associated with the provision of housing. This includes undertaking a detailed analysis, in conjunction with the construction sector, to benchmark housing delivery input costs in Ireland, in order to facilitate an increased level of housing output into the future.
A working group, chaired by my Department, was established and met on a number of occasions since December 2016. While it was intended that the working group would concentrate on the domestic market, the Housing Agency has been advancing an analysis of delivery costs and international comparisons.
Both of these reports are being finalised at present and I will consider them without delay once submitted to me, with a view to publication as soon as possible.
259. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will implement a local government direct contact email address for Members of the Oireachtas (details supplied) in view of the fact that many Members have questions about housing and homelessness and the difficulty of getting comprehensive and timely information from local authority management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52152/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Government Act 2001 (Section 237A) Regulations 2003 set out statutory provisions for local authorities and their dealings with members of the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The Regulations provide that each local authority must deal with requests for access to information by Oireachtas members "as expeditiously as may be and in accordance with a proper level of customer service". In this regard, local authorities are required to put in place arrangements to ensure that systems, procedures and time frames equivalent to those used by them in relation to correspondence from local authority members also apply in respect of parliamentary representatives.
Local authorities are independent statutory bodies. It is a matter for individual local authorities to decide the specific measures to be put in place to satisfy their statutory obligations under the Regulations.
261. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated daily cost of HAP and RAS payments in 2018; the equivalent daily investment being put into building permanent homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52155/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra262. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a cost-benefit analysis has been undertaken to compare the cost of HAP, RAS and rent supplement in 2018 and the cost of building permanent homes; the rationale for continuing high spending in the private rental sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52156/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together.
There are currently some 50,000 households having their housing needs met via HAP and RAS, and some 40,000 landlords or agents currently in receipt of HAP and RAS payments. These schemes provide social housing support for households who require long-term assistance with their housing needs in the private rented sector, by allowing them to increase their income without the risk of losing their housing support. Under Rent Supplement, these households would lose their housing support payment, therefore putting their housing security at risk.
Rent Supplement, which falls within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, continues to be available to those who are already in the private rented sector but who, because of a short term change in their circumstances, such as loss of income through unemployment, require a short-term income support to pay their rent. These applicants would not generally require an assessment of housing need and the expectation would be that a return to employment would obviate the need for long-term support. Thus Rent Supplement would return to being a short-term income support, as originally intended.
My Department does not hold a per day breakdown of the costs of HAP and RAS due to variations in costs related to a variety of factors including contractual agreements, household size, and locations. However, a detailed breakdown of the annual cost of each scheme per year for both RAS and HAP is available on my Department's website, which can be accessed at the following link;
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision
At the end of 2016 local authorities reported that there were 20,306 Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) tenancies in place, with a 2016 Exchequer outturn for the scheme of just under €131 million. Exchequer funding of €134.3 million has been allocated to RAS in 2017, which is expected to be expended in full. In summary, the average monthly payment to landlords under RAS, across all areas and all household sizes, was just over €700 in 2016. RAS data for 2017 is not yet available. In relation to HAP, the average monthly payment to landlords nationally at end Q3 2017 was just over €710.
€134.3 million is provided in Budget 2018 to support the cost of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). Budget 2018 has increased the Exchequer funding for the HAP scheme by €149m to €301 million. This will allow for the continued support of existing HAP households at end 2017, and also enable the additional 17,000 households targeted under Rebuilding Ireland to be supported by HAP in 2018.
As part of Budget 2017, Minister Donohoe announced that a review of day-to-day Government spending would take place in advance of Budget 2018. The 2017 Spending Review is the first in a series of rolling, selective reviews, which will cover the totality of Government spending over a three year period to 2019. These reviews provide an examination of all areas of public expenditure by Government Departments in a process led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As part of the Spending Review 2017, an analysis of current expenditure on housing supports was carried out by the Irish Government Evaluation and Economic Service (IGEES). A copy of this analysis can be found at the following link:
www.per.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Current-Expenditure-on-Housing-Supports.pdf.
Rebuilding Ireland is fundamentally based on blended delivery of social housing and harnessing the best possible housing solutions, while achieving the best value for money within the financial resources available to Government. A range of delivery mechanisms are operating in parallel and while it is recognised that an increased emphasis is now on building units, there are a considerable number of units available nationally for leasing and renting, both long and short term, which satisfy particular demand.
I am satisfied that the resources allocated under Budget 2018 to each of the housing schemes under my remit provide sufficient flexibility to react to market demands.
263. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he has met with a group (details supplied); if he is examining this model of providing affordable housing; his views on reports by it that the costs of construction are lower than that which is reported by the construction for profit industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52157/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 10 July 2017, I attended the "hand-over ceremony" for the first five of 49 affordable homes delivered by the Ó Cualann Co-Housing Alliance in Ballymun. I was impressed with what I saw and since then, I have met with O'Cualann’s representatives to discuss how the homes delivered in Ballymun can be delivered at greater scale. My Department has also arranged meetings involving O’Cualann, Dublin City Council and the Irish Council for Social Housing.
It is precisely for the purpose of scaling up delivery of this type of affordable housing that I am providing funding of €25 million, over 2018 and 2019. The funding will be made available to unlock local authority owned lands specifically for affordable housing, using models such as this which have already proven to be successful but are now needed at greater scale. It is estimated that over 650 such new affordable homes could be facilitated under the new scheme.
I understand that, working with Dublin City Council, AIB and industry professionals, Ó Cualann delivered new 2-, 3- and 4-bed, A2 rated, quality homes with sales prices ranging from €140,000 to €220,000. Importantly, in terms of the model used, the Council provided serviced “ready to go” sites at very low cost, facilitating the affordable delivery and ultimate sales prices of the homes.
My Department is meeting with the Dublin local authorities this week to discuss how the new scheme will operate, and I expect to be in a position to issue a call for proposals on this matter in early 2018.
264. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the remaining 690 families living in hotel rooms will be moved into secure and appropriate housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52158/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on reports received from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, there were a total of 676 families accommodated in hotel and B and B arrangements at the end of October; this is a reduction of 195 families, or more than 22%, on the high of 871 recorded in March of this year.
As part of the response to the commitment contained in Rebuilding Ireland that commercial hotels and B&B's should only be used as emergency accommodation for families in limited circumstances, housing authorities are delivering a number of family-focused, supported temporary accommodation facilities, also referred to as ‘family hubs’. These custom-developed hub facilities offer more appropriate living arrangements for families than is possible in hotel accommodation. There are currently ten such facilities in operation in Dublin providing temporary accommodation to approx. 300 families. Five new hubs will become operational across Dublin before the end of the year and another two early in the New Year. Further hubs will be delivered during the course of 2018.
The long-term solution to the current homeless issue is to increase the supply of homes and accordingly Rebuilding Ireland is designed to accelerate all types of housing supply. It is intended that the long-term housing needs of households in emergency accommodation will be met as soon as possible through a range of social housing supports, such as the enhanced Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme and general social housing allocations.
265. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to meet with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to discuss his Department's policy and procedural guidance for housing authorities in assisting victims of domestic violence with emergency and long-term accommodation needs and the way in which the guidelines are not being applied consistently across local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52159/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with commitments in Rebuilding Ireland, my Department issued guidance in January 2017 to all local authorities in relation to assisting victims of domestic violence with emergency and long-term accommodation needs.
This guidance has been developed to support local authorities respond to victims of domestic violence, in the context of their housing requirements. The guidance is also a useful reference for service providers working in the domestic violence services sector, highlighting where they can be of greatest assistance to their clients. The guidance also covers a range of scenarios that may arise for victims of domestic violence in seeking social housing supports, including provisions around the use of the Housing Assistance Payment scheme, or the Rental Accommodation Scheme, where a victim has a joint interest in the family home, or ownership of alternative accommodation, but would otherwise qualify for social housing support.
I understand that this guidance has been positively received and broadly welcomed by housing authorities and the domestic violence services sector. My Department is not aware of any reports to suggest that the guidance is not being implemented across the local authority sector and, accordingly, at this time, I have no plans to meet the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, specifically in relation to this matter.
266. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the expenditure by his Department by heading (details supplied) in each of the years since June 1997 to January 2011, in tabular form; and the miscellaneous expenditure not relating to set Department budgets pertaining to the headings. [52225/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Press and Communications Office of my Department liaise with the media on behalf of my Department as well as all Ministers. The engagement of external expertise is generally only considered where the issues involved require expert skills or capabilities that are not readily available within my Department.
While my Department does not collate data in a manner that would allow the Question to be responded to in full, information in relation to the costs and name of any media consultants employed by my Department and the cost of the advice between 1997 and 2007 has previously been provided to the Deputy in the reply to PQ No 947 of 11 December 2007.
The information requested in respect of 2008 to 2011 is being compiled to the extent possible and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with standing orders.
267. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to support Traveller culture and heritage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52129/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's commitment to supporting diversity and inclusion is reflected in its policies and operations, and in those of the bodies under its aegis. One of the stated aims of Culture 2025, this Departments national cultural policy document, is to create opportunities for increased citizen participation, especially for those currently excluded or at risk of exclusion, with a key value being the right of everyone to participate in the cultural life of the nation. This right runs throughout people’s lives, irrespective of where they come from, where they live, their religious beliefs or their economic or social backgrounds. In line with these policy objectives, my Department's Creative Ireland programme continues to promote the Traveller Mentoring Program and in 2017, through Cork City Council, funded the renovation of the Traveller Culture Exhibition at Cork Public Museum in 2017, with the refurbishment designed by visual artist and Traveller Leanne McDonagh
In addition, the Arts Council, in particular arrange of supports for work in the context of the Traveller Community under the Arts Participation Scheme and the Artist in Community Scheme, managed by Create on the Arts Council’s behalf which, actively encourages artists to work in a culturally diverse context including among the Traveller Community. The work of artists from the Traveller Community has also been recognised this year with the election to Aosdána of playwright Rosaleen McDonagh and the award of the Council’s Next Generation Bursary Award for 2017 to Visual Artist, Leanne McDonagh.
The Cultural Institutions are also active in this space and this year, the Chester Beatty Library has partnered with the National Concert Hall as part of Dublin City Council’s Dublin Culture Connects under which, the poet Stephen James Smith is working with the traveller women’s group at Labre Park in Ballyfermot to look at shared stories. The National Museum is planning a major exhibition with the Traveller Community to be hosted in the Museum of Country Life from June 2018. The exhibition will focus on the traditions, customs and history of the Traveller community over the years.
My Department is also represented on the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy Steering Group, which monitors the implementation and progress of the recently published the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. I look forward to working with my Department and those bodies under its aegis in developing these important initiatives.
