Written Answers Nos. 236-246
236. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the moneys paid to local authorities to date for work that is not already completed and suitable verification provided to his Department by county; the schemes this money relates to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52375/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI interpret the Deputy's question as referring to schemes launched by my Department in 2017.
Earlier this year, I launch a number of schemes that provide support for the development of rural communities. These include the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor/Rural Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the CLÁR Programme and the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS).
These schemes all include conditions which require works to have commenced and progressed before payments can be drawn down by Local Authorities.
In the case of the LIS, funding can be drawn down on certification by a Local Authority that 50% of their works have been completed and that all works will be fully completed by 31st December 2017. In addition to Local Authority certification and desk-based checks by my officials, my Department's Inspection Services have completed on-the-spot verification checks on LIS roads in a number of counties and were able to verify that works had been completed to the level certified. Further inspection and audit will be carried out in 2018 under the LIS, and other schemes.
In the case of the Outdoor Rural Recreation Infrastructure scheme, the Town and Village Renewal scheme and the CLÁR programme, Local Authorities are required to spend at least 20% of the total project cost before the first tranche payment of 50% of their allocation under the respective scheme can be drawn-down. The balance of funding will only be paid on full completion of the projects in question.
The release of the initial tranche of funding is also subject to satisfactory progress being demonstrated in respect of the 2016 schemes, where such funding was provided to the Local Authorities.
The table provided details the allocations made to each Local Authority under the schemes referred to above. It also shows the payments made to each Local Authority up to 6th December 2017, on the basis of the criteria outlined above having been met. I anticipate that further payments will be made before the end of the year.
It is important to note that apart from the LIS, the rural development schemes which were launched this year are expected to operate over a 12-15 month period. Therefore, it was always anticipated that a portion of the funds allocated would be drawn-down in 2018.
|
# |
LIS 2017 |
Town and Village 2017 |
||
|
County |
Total allocation |
Total draw-down 2017 to date |
Total allocation |
Total draw-down 2017 to date |
|
Carlow |
€440,460.00 |
€250,000.00 |
€884,487.84 |
€0.00 |
|
Cavan |
€335,080.00 |
€335,080.00 |
€929,727.60 |
€0.00 |
|
Clare |
€866,774.00 |
€866,774.00 |
€944,000.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Cork |
€1,151,985.00 |
€941,777.24 |
€1,347,826.77 |
€0.00 |
|
Donegal |
€3,384,000.00 |
€884,000.00 |
€1,159,000.00 |
€0.00 |
|
South Dublin |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€20,000.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Fingal |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€252,000.00 |
€12,000.00 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€80,000.00 |
€40,000.00 |
|
Galway |
€1,368,651.00 |
€1,368,651.00 |
€1,004,231.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Kerry |
€995,578.00 |
€980,225.97 |
€868,471.60 |
€99,440.00 |
|
Kildare |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€416,403.20 |
€0.00 |
|
Kilkenny |
€605,565.00 |
€598,079.00 |
€873,364.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Laois |
€812,270.00 |
€756,789.91 |
€983,407.24 |
€0.00 |
|
Leitrim |
€487,947.00 |
€487,947.00 |
€1,098,538.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Limerick |
€411,000.00 |
€411,000.00 |
€1,087,943.00 |
€358,680.00 |
|
Longford |
€302,443.00 |
€302,443.00 |
€637,400.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Louth |
€250,000.00 |
€249,999.75 |
€775,726.16 |
€0.00 |
|
Mayo |
€1,272,974.00 |
€1,272,974.00 |
€1,348,178.00 |
€82,000.00 |
|
Meath |
€474,290.00 |
€470,870.00 |
€905,546.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Monaghan |
€366,312.00 |
€349,040.00 |
€580,000.00 |
€290,000.00 |
|
Offaly |
€676,155.00 |
€676,155.00 |
€300,000.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Roscommon |
€421,258.00 |
€421,258.00 |
€575,508.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Sligo |
€496,158.00 |
€281,997.48 |
€1,063,968.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Tipperary |
€246,900.00 |
€244,329.00 |
€857,384.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Waterford |
€718,689.00 |
€660,825.00 |
€625,800.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Westmeath |
€516,324.00 |
€516,324.00 |
€596,000.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Wexford |
€494,493.00 |
€494,493.00 |
€1,157,525.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Wicklow |
€310,000.00 |
€310,000.00 |
€265,000.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Totals |
€17,405,306.00 |
€14,131,032.35 |
€21,637,435.41 |
€882,120.00 |
[Table cont]
|
# |
CLÁR 2017 |
Rural Recreation 2017 |
Overall Totals 2017 |
|||
|
County |
Total allocation |
Total draw-down 2017 to date |
Total allocation |
Total draw-down 2017 to date |
Total allocation |
Total draw-down 2017 to date |
|
Carlow |
€178,760.00 |
€63,596.70 |
€32,500.00 |
€0.00 |
€1,536,207.84 |
€313,596.70 |
|
Cavan |
€288,731.00 |
€250,438.60 |
€617,310.00 |
€0.00 |
€2,170,848.60 |
€585,518.60 |
|
Clare |
€323,132.00 |
€160,469.76 |
€55,917.13 |
€0.00 |
€2,189,823.13 |
€1,027,243.76 |
|
Cork |
€195,600.00 |
€0.00 |
€1,109,520.00 |
€0.00 |
€3,804,931.77 |
€941,777.24 |
|
Donegal |
€70,590.00 |
€0.00 |
€66,200.00 |
€35,500.00 |
€4,679,790.00 |
€919,500.00 |
|
South Dublin |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€780,000.00 |
€0.00 |
€800,000.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Fingal |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€34,096.00 |
€13,096.00 |
€286,096.00 |
€25,096.00 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€80,000.00 |
€40,000.00 |
|
Galway |
€519,792.16 |
€235,361.50 |
€43,500.00 |
€0.00 |
€2,936,174.16 |
€1,604,012.50 |
|
Kerry |
€134,188.00 |
€0.00 |
€114,276.93 |
€0.00 |
€2,112,514.53 |
€1,079,665.97 |
|
Kildare |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€416,403.20 |
€0.00 |
|
Kilkenny |
€161,932.00 |
€107,030.00 |
€36,610.00 |
€11,947.50 |
€1,677,471.00 |
€717,056.50 |
|
Laois |
€51,395.00 |
€39,208.50 |
€51,860.00 |
€29,127.00 |
€1,898,932.24 |
€825,125.41 |
|
Leitrim |
€457,551.59 |
€333,857.50 |
€1,050,153.00 |
€0.00 |
€3,094,189.59 |
€821,804.50 |
|
Limerick |
€161,730.00 |
€160,925.17 |
€135,269.86 |
€130,296.00 |
€1,795,942.86 |
€1,060,901.17 |
|
Longford |
€238,417.06 |
€97,001.00 |
€445,159.00 |
€175,000.00 |
€1,623,419.06 |
€574,444.00 |
|
Louth |
€245,869.00 |
€31,379.13 |
€8,500.00 |
€4,250.00 |
€1,280,095.16 |
€285,628.88 |
|
Mayo |
€628,230.00 |
€303,107.33 |
€1,125,429.75 |
€141,330.00 |
€4,374,811.75 |
€1,799,411.33 |
|
Meath |
€104,000.00 |
€104,000.00 |
€52,000.00 |
€36,549.46 |
€1,535,836.00 |
€611,419.46 |
|
Monaghan |
€536,783.73 |
€138,394.00 |
€84,800.00 |
€61,284.28 |
€1,567,895.73 |
€838,718.28 |
|
Offaly |
€186,954.00 |
€185,664.80 |
€1,040,115.41 |
€0.00 |
€2,203,224.41 |
€861,819.80 |
|
Roscommon |
€325,555.00 |
€192,346.00 |
€118,040.64 |
€69,270.00 |
€1,440,361.64 |
€682,874.00 |
|
Sligo |
€274,650.00 |
€120,386.40 |
€970,275.00 |
€64,995.00 |
€2,805,051.00 |
€467,378.88 |
|
Tipperary |
€191,258.00 |
€121,934.00 |
€33,200.00 |
€24,333.00 |
€1,328,742.00 |
€390,596.00 |
|
Waterford |
€313,365.00 |
€215,108.13 |
€70,600.00 |
€0.00 |
€1,728,454.00 |
€875,933.13 |
|
Westmeath |
€77,096.00 |
€30,000.00 |
€933,634.26 |
€149,310.00 |
€2,123,054.26 |
€695,634.00 |
|
Wexford |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€351,250.00 |
€0.00 |
€2,003,268.00 |
€494,493.00 |
|
Wicklow |
€33,300.00 |
€0.00 |
€25,266.00 |
€12,633.00 |
€633,566.00 |
€322,633.00 |
|
Totals |
€5,698,879.54 |
€2,890,208.52 |
€9,385,482.98 |
€958,921.24 |
€54,127,103.93 |
€18,862,282.11 |
237. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the person who requested legal advice (details supplied); the basis of the request; the reason there was a different approach taken to Galway; if he will provide the legal opinion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52403/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI presume the Deputy is referring to the Lot basis used for delivery of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP).
The SICAP programme is implemented by 46 Programme Implementers in 51 geographic areas (known as Lots). These Lots were determined by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in 2014, prior to the commencement of the current programme, which comes to an end on 31 December this year.
In advance of the commencement of the procurement process for the new programme, SICAP 2018 - 2022, which will roll out from 1 January 2018, legal advice was sought by my Department, inter alia, in relation to the Lot delivery structure. Based on the legal advice received by the Department it was decided that the new programme should be tendered for on the basis of the existing Lot areas (as previously determined by the LCDCs). I can confirm that all Lot areas in the country were treated on the same basis.
As the Deputy is aware, Legal Advice is subject to privilege and it would not be appropriate, in the circumstances, to provide it to any third parties.
238. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for the development of rural recreation in 2018; the schemes he plans to expand; the new schemes being considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52464/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPillar 3 of the Action Plan for Rural Development makes a commitment to a series of actions to maximise Ireland’s rural tourism and recreation potential in recognition of the contribution that tourism makes to the rural economy. Actions under this Pillar are implemented across a number of Government Departments and will support sustainable jobs through targeted tourism initiatives, promoting Activity Tourism, and developing and promoting our natural and built heritage, including in Gaeltacht areas.
My Department delivers a number of initiatives that support the management and development of recreational infrastructure and will continue to deliver these initiatives into 2018.
For example, my Department administers the Walks Scheme, under which landholders receive modest payments to maintain sections of National Way Marked Ways and other priority walks that traverse their lands. A total of 39 trails are currently covered by the scheme, and the number of landholders receiving payments under the scheme stands at approximately 1,900. The Programme for a Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development include a commitment to double the number of walks on the Walks Scheme. In 2018, my officials will be examining ways in which this commitment can best be progressed.
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure or the necessary maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in Ireland. The scheme was implemented in 2016 and 2017 and has facilitated the development of greenways, blueways, walks and other trails across the country. This scheme will continue to support important local, regional and national projects in 2018.
In addition, my Department has entered into a strategic partnership arrangement with Coillte to ensure the long term maintenance and development of trails and other recreational infrastructure on Coillte lands, for public use.
239. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of meetings of Comhairle na Tuaithe held since 6 May 2016; the number of these meetings he attended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52465/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraA meeting of Comhairle na Tuaithe took place on 6th April 2016, prior to the appointment of the current Government, and a further meeting was held on 30th November 2016. I was not in a position to attend the meeting on 30th November in my role as Minister for State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
Since the establishment of Comhairle na Tuaithe in 2004 and the publishing of the National Countryside Recreation Strategy in 2006, there has been a significant growth in the number of people engaging in outdoor pursuits, across a wider range of activities than heretofore, in more remote and fragile environments, and through a variety of new formats such as adventure races. In this context, and to ensure that the countryside recreation sector can grow sustainably, it was considered appropriate for a review to be undertaken of Comhairle na Tuaithe's structures and approach.
A review process was overseen by the then Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in late 2016, and completed in early 2017. A workshop was also held in January 2017 with Comhairle members, to discuss the recommendations of the review process and possible next steps. I am currently considering the details of this review in the context of a wider focus on the development of rural recreation sector as part of my Department's work programme for next year.
240. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount approved for projects by each local action group, LAG, under the present Leader programme; the amount expended to date by each LAG under the present Leader programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52466/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLEADER is a multi-annual EU co-funded programme to support rural development. Ireland has an allocation of €250 million under the programme over the period 2014-2020, including both national and EU funding. The programme is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area.
Funding Agreements for the current LEADER programme were, for the most part, signed with the LAGs in the second half of 2016 and the programme effectively became operational from that date. There was no project expenditure on the new LEADER programme prior to 2017, although funding was provided to the LAGs to develop their Local Development Strategies and to prepare for the implementation phase of the programme.
As of 6 December 2017, 546 projects with a value of over €14.4 million have been approved for LEADER funding by the LAGs.
Appendix 1 provides details of these projects by each Local Action Group.
A further 402 projects requesting over €18 million in funding are at various stages in the approval process. This funding will be drawn down as projects start to incur expenditure and submit payment claims.
Appendix 2 details the overall expenditure incurred to date under the 2014-2020 LEADER Programme in each LAG area. The figure of €13.263 million includes expenditure on Preparatory Support, Administration (which includes Animation), and Project expenditure.
I am confident that progress now being made by the LAGs, along with the administrative changes which have been introduced following the LEADER Forum hosted earlier in the year, will result in a continued increase in project approvals and substantial payments being made under the LEADER programme over the coming months.
Appendix 1 PQ 52466
LEADER Projects Approved by each LAG at 6 December 2017
|
LAG Area |
Number of Projects |
Leader Grant Amount (€) |
|
Carlow |
11 |
810,556.71 |
|
Cavan |
12 |
424,468.90 |
|
Clare |
51 |
953,791.50 |
|
Cork North |
1 |
149,997.94 |
|
Cork South |
3 |
203,610.12 |
|
Cork West |
3 |
139,990.45 |
|
Donegal |
54 |
1,359,076.11 |
|
Dublin |
13 |
178,252.47 |
|
Galway East |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway West |
0 |
0 |
|
Kerry |
103 |
1,710,577.99 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
30 |
794,155.93 |
|
Laois |
21 |
256,624.34 |
|
Leitrim |
0 |
0 |
|
Limerick |
8 |
321,090.50 |
|
Longford |
5 |
20,476.57 |
|
Louth |
19 |
220,775.09 |
|
Mayo |
23 |
898,887.49 |
|
Meath |
7 |
239,206.66 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
394,957.08 |
|
Offaly |
41 |
741,527.33 |
|
Roscommon |
9 |
242,291.61 |
|
Sligo |
28 |
622,774.68 |
|
Tipperary |
31 |
746,643.39 |
|
Waterford |
22 |
1,733,223.18 |
|
Westmeath |
21 |
280,434.93 |
|
Wexford |
24 |
1,017,898.48 |
|
Wicklow |
0 |
0 |
|
TOTAL |
546 |
14,461,289.45 |
Appendix 2 – LEADER 2014-2020 Programme Expenditure 2015 to 6 December 2017
|
LAG |
Total Payments (€) |
|
Carlow LCDC |
257,126.41 |
|
Cavan LCDC |
359,010.81 |
|
Clare Local Development Company |
706,949.63 |
|
Cork North LCDC |
399,782.61 |
|
Cork South LCDC |
299,524.94 |
|
Cork West LCDC |
467,784.15 |
|
Donegal LCDC |
786,308.78 |
|
Forum Connemara |
283,732.96 |
|
Galway Rural Development Co. |
389,893.27 |
|
Kerry LCDC |
773,562.60 |
|
Kildare LCDC |
192,781.38 |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
729,819.35 |
|
Laois LCDC |
319,797.53 |
|
Leitrim LCDC |
355,032.02 |
|
Limerick LCDC |
609,622.20 |
|
Longford LCDC |
291,673.73 |
|
Louth LCDC |
374,142.12 |
|
Mayo LCDC |
890,641.43 |
|
Meath LCDC |
422,738.37 |
|
Monaghan LCDC |
350,505.35 |
|
Offaly LCDC |
531,255.07 |
|
Roscommon LCDC |
422,603.92 |
|
Rural Dublin LCDC |
305,791.19 |
|
Sligo LCDC |
446,879.89 |
|
Tipperary LCDC |
521,101.85 |
|
Waterford LCDC |
504,997.85 |
|
Westmeath LCDC |
398,299.32 |
|
Wexford LCDC |
474,858.21 |
|
Wicklow LCDC |
396,927.89 |
|
TOTALS |
13,263,144.83 |
241. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of expenditure that has been incurred to date under the moneys sanctioned by him recently by each local authority on the local improvement scheme; the amount of funding including pre-funding paid to each local authority under the scheme; the latest date given to local authorities to have the work completed and appropriate certification made available to his Department in the case of pre-funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52467/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast September, I announced the allocation of €10 million under the Local Improvement Scheme following consultation with Local Authorities on the level of demand for such a scheme this year. The Local Authorities were advised that any requests for funds would be subject to their capacity to complete any proposed works in 2017, and funding availability.
I announced a further allocation of €7.4 million at the end of November, based on the capacity of Local Authorities to complete further works by the end of the year.
The table below details the amount of funding allocated to each county for the LIS scheme and the amount drawn down to 6th December 2017.
In line with the scheme criteria, funding can be drawn down on certification by a Local Authority that 50% of their works have been completed and that all works will be fully completed by 31st December 2017. Local Authorities were asked to submit their certification to my Department by 1st December 2017 in relation to the second tranche of allocations, to facilitate the processing of payments.
To ensure that the LIS funding is utilised as planned, my officials are carrying out desk-based checks on the Local Authority returns. My Department's Inspection Services have also completed on-the-spot verification checks on LIS roads in a number of counties and were able to verify that works had been completed to the level certified. Further inspection and audit work on the LIS roads will be carried out in 2018.
LIS 2017
|
County |
Total 2017 allocation |
Total Drawdown 2017 to date |
|
Carlow |
€440,460.00 |
€250,000.00 |
|
Cavan |
€335,080.00 |
€335,080.00 |
|
Clare |
€866,774.00 |
€866,774.00 |
|
Cork |
€1,151,985.00 |
€941,777.24 |
|
Donegal |
€3,384,000.00 |
€884,000.00 |
|
Galway |
€1,368,651.00 |
€1,368,651.00 |
|
Kerry |
€995,578.00 |
€980,225.97 |
|
Kilkenny |
€605,565.00 |
€598,079.00 |
|
Laois |
€812,270.00 |
€756,789.91 |
|
Leitrim |
€487,947.00 |
€487,947.00 |
|
Limerick |
€411,000.00 |
€411,000.00 |
|
Longford |
€302,443.00 |
€302,443.00 |
|
Louth |
€250,000.00 |
€249,999.75 |
|
Mayo |
€1,272,974.00 |
€1,272,974.00 |
|
Meath |
€474,290.00 |
€470,870.00 |
|
Monaghan |
€366,312.00 |
€349,040.00 |
|
Offaly |
€676,155.00 |
€676,155.00 |
|
Roscommon |
€421,258.00 |
€421,258.00 |
|
Sligo |
€496,158.00 |
€281,997.48 |
|
Tipperary |
€246,900.00 |
€244,329.00 |
|
Waterford |
€718,689.00 |
€660,825.00 |
|
Westmeath |
€516,324.00 |
€516,324.00 |
|
Wexford |
€494,493.00 |
€494,493.00 |
|
Wicklow |
€310,000.00 |
€310,000.00 |
|
Totals |
€17,405,306 |
€14,131,032.35 |
242. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of families receiving family income supplement by their numbers of children as at 31 December 2016 and 31 October 2017, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52326/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe numbers of families in receipt of Family Income Supplement (FIS) in accordance with their respective family size for the requested dates are as follows;
Family Income Supplement
|
Family Size |
Dec. 2016 |
Oct. 2017 |
|
1 Child |
18733 |
18151 |
|
2 Children |
19038 |
18851 |
|
3 Children |
11888 |
12006 |
|
4 Children |
5475 |
5610 |
|
5 Children |
1704 |
1708 |
|
6 Children |
475 |
491 |
|
7 Children |
148 |
145 |
|
8 Children |
69 |
64 |
243. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the family income supplement income limits by 5%, 10% and 15%, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52328/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated additional cost per year of increasing the Family Income Supplement (to be renamed the Working Family Payment) income limits by 5%, 10% and 15% respectively based on current numbers is as follows:-
|
Increase |
Estimated Additional Cost Per Year |
|
5% |
€57m |
|
10% |
€114m |
|
15% |
€171m |
Budget 2018 increased the income thresholds by €10 for families with up to three children. Any further changes to the FIS/WFP income thresholds would have significant cost implications and would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.
244. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons employed by a company (details supplied) are refusing to talk to Deputies on matters concerning persons in cases in which persons have given personal authority to the company to discuss the issues with Deputies; and if she will direct the company to allow this representation in future. [52329/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department contracts with a range of third parties for the purposes of transacting its business. These include, for example, my department’s branch offices, the Local Employment Service (LES) companies as well as the JobPath service providers such as Seetec.
In the case of enquiries from public representatives, information on an individual client may be disclosed once it is established that the inquirer is a public representative and is acting on behalf of and with the client’s consent. This process includes confirming the identity of the inquirer - this may require, for example, returning the call and/or consulting www.oireachtas.ie to confirm the details of any caller. It should be noted that PPSN details are not disclosed.
If the Deputy has a particular circumstance in mind where he feels that the above was not the case, he should provide the details and my officials will raise the matter with the contractor in question.
245. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 480 and 481 of 14 November 2017, if the treasurer of a company (details supplied) that her Department officials approached to establish a new entity to avail of the funding previously provided to an organisation under the community services programme was a member of the board of the organisation when Pobal and her Department removed funding from that organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52343/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the current treasurer of Inishowen Development Partnership Limited was a member of Inishowen Tourism Society Limited at the time CSP funding was withdrawn for the Inishowen tourism service on 30th June 2017.
I am satisfied that the individual’s role as treasurer of Inishowen Development Partnership Limited did not create any conflict in terms of the discussions between officials from my Department and representatives from that company to explore how CSP funding for the Inishowen tourism service can be restored.
The person concerned is not on the board of the newly established Explore Inishowen CLG which is completely independent and separate from Inishowen Development Partnership Limited.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
246. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision regarding an invalidity pension application will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52423/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe department received a claim for invalidity pension (IP) from the lady concerned on the 15 June 2017. Her claim for IP was disallowed on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on the 01 August 2017 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her rights of review and appeal.
She requested a review of this decision and submitted further medical evidence in support of her request. Following a review of all the information available it has been decided that there is no change to the original decision. She was notified on 22 November 2017 of the outcome of the review and of her right to appeal the decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
