Written Answers Nos. 563-580
563. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the role played by his Department in ensuring that local authorities adhere to appropriate procurement procedures in tendering for dog control services and pounds; if he has satisfied himself that all local authorities are compliant with national and EU law in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6063/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2010, local authorities have responsibility for operating and managing dog control and licensing services, including the management of dog pounds and shelters. The procurement of any related services and compliance with all relevant national and EU legislation is therefore a matter for each local authority and my Department has no role in that regard.
Local authorities are independent statutory bodies having full responsibility under law for the performance of their functions and the discharge of their governance and other responsibilities, including procurement. Notwithstanding their independence, local authorities are required to adhere to statutory requirements on corporate governance matters.
In accordance with sections 107 and 108 of the Local Government Act 2001, local authorities are responsible for the maintenance of all accounting records including the preparation of the Annual Financial Statement (AFS). The Local Government Audit Service provides an independent scrutiny of the financial stewardship of local authorities, including an audit opinion on the AFS of individual local authorities, on an annual basis. The Local Government Audit Service prepares an associated audit report under section 120(1)(c) of the Act.
564. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason persons living in the rural areas of Galway city and Cork city councils were not eligible to lodge applications under the 2017 local improvement scheme; the reason funding was not made available under the scheme to these local authorities; his plans to amend this rule in respect of the 2018 scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5452/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a programme for improvement works on small private/non-public roads and has been funded in the past by the Department of the Environment and Local Government and subsequently by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
Funding for the LIS was limited in recent years due to constraints on the public finances. However, I recognised that there was a demand for the scheme across the country and, last year, I allocated €17.4 million to the scheme. The scheme was based on previous guidelines governing the LIS, and in particular, the Local Improvement Scheme Memorandum 2002, issued by the then Department of the Environment and Local Government.
The Memorandum outlines in detail the conditions governing the payment of grants to County Councils only, in respect of projects carried out under the LIS. City Councils are not referenced in the Local Improvement Scheme Memorandum 2002.
The LIS provided much-needed support to people and businesses in rural areas in 2017 and I have allocated a further €10 million for the scheme this year. Within the resources available to me, I currently have no plans to revisit the eligibility conditions outlined in the Local Improvement Scheme Memorandum 2002 for 2018.
565. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his attention has been drawn to the concerns among operators regarding the proposed transfer of local link services provided under the rural transport scheme from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to his Department; the progress that has been made in implementing this recommendation from the 2017 report of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on sustaining viable rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5518/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal Link services provide an invaluable support to rural dwellers, allowing them in many instances to travel to work, shop, socialise, attend appointments and to access their local towns and villages. The service is of particular benefit to vulnerable groups such as the elderly.
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport provides funding for the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) through the National Transport Authority which has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the RTP. The RTP now operates under the 'Local Link' brand.
I acknowledge the recommendation made by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in its 2017 report on Sustaining Viable Rural Communities in relation to transferring responsibility for the RTP to my Department. However, I can confirm that there are no plans to transfer responsibility for Local Link services to my Department at this stage. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport remains the most appropriate Minister to oversee the RTP at this juncture, particularly given his remit for integrated transport policy, of which the RTP is a key component.
566. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of secondees from companies (details supplied) who are working in his Department. [5840/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017 following the appointment by the Taoiseach of a new Minister with responsibility for Rural and Community Development. Its goal is to facilitate the advancement of sustainable economic and social progress in rural Ireland and to foster sustainable community development throughout Ireland.
I can confirm that my Department has no persons seconded from the companies listed as follows:
(Deloitte; Price Water House Coopers - PwC; Ernst & Young – EandY; KPMG).
567. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to fund a capital programme to develop suitable bases for mountain rescue teams in locations in which none exists in view of the importance of mountain rescue to the development of rural recreation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5886/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI acknowledge that Mountain Rescue Ireland (MRI) is an important support organisation in rural Ireland and, in recognition of this, the Government has provided significant support to the organisation over the last number of years.
Mountain Rescue Ireland has received support from various Government Departments to help with the organisation’s operating costs. I understand that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport currently provides an average grant of approximately €7,400 per annum for each individual MRI rescue team which helps, among other things, with the provision of health and safety equipment.
In 2016, through the former Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, I provided a sum of €66,245 to MRI towards the organisation's insurance costs for 2017. In 2017, I provided €88,816 towards the organisation's insurance costs for 2018.
As part of the 2017 CLÁR programme, I also announced an initiative to support voluntary first-response organisations that provide much-needed services in rural areas in a voluntary capacity. Under this measure, and as part of a competitive process, €361,116 was allocated to MRI towards the provision of 6 first-response vehicles.
The forthcoming National Development Plan will set out the Government's priorities for capital investment over the next 10 years. I will be reviewing the scope of all of my Department's programmes in the context of the resources available to me to ensure that the funding has the maximum impact on rural areas and the support services they require.
568. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of Defence Forces personnel who are availing of family income supplement, in tabular form. [5730/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (WFP) formerly Family Income Supplement (WFP) is an in-work support, which provides an income top-up for employees on low earnings with children. WFP is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependants and to offer a financial incentive to take-up employment. There are over 57,000 families with more than 129,000 children in receipt of WFP.
To qualify for WFP, a person must be engaged in full-time insurable employment, which is expected to last for at least 3 months and be working for a minimum of 38 hours per fortnight or 19 hours per week. A couple may combine their hours of employment to meet the qualification criteria. The applicant must also have at least one qualified child who normally resides with them or is supported by them. Furthermore, the average family income must be below a specified amount, which varies according to the number of qualified children in the family.
The figures for Defence Forces families in receipt of WFP are as follows:
|
Year |
Number of Recipients |
|
2017 |
180 |
|
2018 |
175* |
*As at the end of January 2018
For the purposes of consistency it is important to note that the figures for 2017 above are based on the amount of families in receipt of WFP at week 52 of that year, as such the figures may go up or down depending on the week in the year.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
569. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the schools that qualify for the school meals scheme under the DEIS and non-DEIS criteria respectively, by county. [6035/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding towards school meals is being provided in 1,540 schools and other organisations, supporting over 230,000 children at a cost of some €54 million in 2018, representing an increase of €6.5 million over the previous year. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
The scheme provides funding for a breakfast for all children and lunch for the majority of children in DEIS schools for the school year from September to June. In recent years priority for new applications has been given to DEIS schools.
For the first time in many years, breakfasts are also now available in the current academic year to some schools outside DEIS that have been identified in consultation with the Department of Education and Skills which has developed a more robust and responsive framework for assessing individual schools levels of concentrated disadvantage.
A list of the DEIS and non-DEIS schools currently participating in the school meals scheme can be found at the following link:
570. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a death grant will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5300/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy is referring to the introduction of a bereavement grant. During the economic downturn, my Department protected primary social welfare rates and in recent years, as the economy recovered, the Government has concentrated resources in improving the core rates of payments, particularly for pensioners. Abolishing the bereavement grant provided a significant annual saving and allowed my Department to protect other core social welfare payments such as the State pension.
Any decision to reinstate the bereavement grant would have to be considered in the context of overall budgetary negotiations.
It is worth noting that there are a range of supports available for people following bereavement which provide more significant support than the grant. These include weekly-paid widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner’s (contributory and non-contributory) pensions, which are based on contributions or a means test, and a once-off widowed or surviving civil partner grant of €6,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including State pension, continue in payment for six weeks following a death. In Budget 2016, the Government increased the payment after death period to 12 weeks for carer’s allowance. Guardian payments are available where someone cares for an orphaned child. A special funeral grant of €850 is paid where a person dies because of an accident at work or occupational disease.
Additionally, the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependants. Under the SWA scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income, which may include help with funeral and burial expenses.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
571. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding an application by a person (details supplied) for a non-contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5301/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence including that adduced at the oral hearing, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
572. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the average waiting time for decisions on carer's allowance and domiciliary care allowance payments; the number of persons awaiting decisions for such payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5317/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as quickly as possible.
Before a decision can be made on entitlement to carer’s allowance, evidence must be provided in respect of the care recipient’s care requirement, the level of care the carer provides and the carer’s means. In general, social welfare schemes with a number of complex qualifying conditions can take longer to process. This is compounded if the documentary evidence provided at initial application stage is incomplete or insufficient; this is often the case with carer’s allowance applications.
At the end of December 2017, the average waiting time for new carer's allowance (CA) applications was 17 weeks with 5,284 CA applications awaiting decision. The volume of CA applications on hands are also a consequence of a continued increased intake of claims with the number of applications for CA in 2017 26% higher than in 2015. Staff have been re-assigned within the carer’s allowance area to work on claims processing and it is expected that this will improve the processing times for this scheme over the coming weeks.
A redesigned application form will be available shortly; this new form will allow carers to provide more information on the type and level of care they provide, with an aim to providing Deciding Officers with the information they need to expedite decisions on entitlement.
Due to increased volumes of claims and the need to provide more detailed decision letters in line with High Court decisions it was taking, on average, 20 weeks in July 2017 to process a domiciliary care allowance (DCA) claim. Remedial actions, including the assignment of extra staff, were taken and the average waiting time for new DCA applications is currently less than 13 weeks with some 1,300 DCA applications awaiting decision. Further additional staff are in the process of being assigned to this area and it is hoped to reduce the processing time further over the coming period.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
573. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the action being taken to provide pension equality for those who were historically penalised for being stay-at-home parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5318/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 23 January, the Government agreed to a proposal that will allow pensioners affected by the 2012 changes in rate bands to have their pension entitlement calculated by a new "Total Contributions Approach" (TCA) which will include up to 20 years of a new HomeCaring credit. This approach is expected to significantly benefit many people, particularly women, whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, while raising families or in a caring role. It will make it easier for pensioners assessed under the yearly average model, to qualify for a higher rate of the State Pension (contributory). The TCA will ensure that the totality of a person’s social insurance contributions - as opposed to the timing of them - determines a final pension outcome.
Under the new arrangements a person who reached pension age after 1 September 2012 and has a 40 year record of paid and credited social insurance contributions, subject to a maximum of 20 years of the new HomeCaring credits, will qualify for a maximum contributory pension where they satisfy the other qualifying conditions for the scheme. Crucially, unlike the existing Homemakers disregard system, periods of home-caring before that scheme was introduced in 1994 may be recognised under the new scheme.
Up to 10 years of other credits, for example when unemployed or ill, may also be used, subject to the total number of credits not exceeding 20 years. So, for example, a person might receive a maximum pension based on 20 years paid PRSI contributions, 5 years jobseeker credits, and 15 years HomeCaring Credits, over a 50 year period.
The new TCA for pensioners assessed under the 2012 rate band changes, comes into effect from 30 March 2018. Pensioners do not need to contact the Department at this juncture. Instead, the Department will invite over 40,000 pensioners, who were assessed under the current rate bands in place since 2012, to have their pensions recalculated under TCA to determine if they qualify for a higher rate of entitlement. However, as it will take time to design and set up administrative processes, and the necessary IT systems, the Department expects to send out these invitations from Quarter 4 of 2018 and to begin payments, including arrears for any period from 30 March 2018, from Quarter 1 of 2019.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
574. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if persons who were receiving a prescribed relative allowance, PRA, for providing full-time care to a relative, which was subsequently replaced by a carer's allowance, will be awarded home caring credits for the period that they were receiving the PRA under the new total contributions approach for calculating pensions in recognition of their caring role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5342/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Prescribed Relatives Allowance preceded the introduction of the Carer's Allowance scheme. It was payable in respect of a relative (specified in legislation) of a social welfare pensioner, who was living with and providing full-time care and attention to the pensioner. Initially, the allowance was paid by way of an increase in the pension payment. In 1989 provision was made for direct payment of the allowance to the relative providing the care. Following the introduction of the Carer's Allowance in 1990, relatives of pensioners in receipt of prescribed relatives allowance, were invited to apply for Carer's allowance. Where they applied, and it was to their financial advantage, arrangements were made to make payment of Carer's allowance direct to the relative providing full-time care and attention to the pensioner.
The Total Contributions Approach (TCA) to qualifying for the State Pension (contributory) announced on 23 January where the Government agreed to a proposal that will allow pensioners affected by the 2012 changes in rate bands to have their pension entitlement calculated by a new "Total Contributions Approach" (TCA) which will include up to 20 years of a new HomeCaring credit. Unlike the current Homemakers scheme, this credit will apply to periods both before and after 1994. This approach is expected to significantly benefit many people, particularly women, whose work history includes an extended period of time outside the paid workplace, while raising families or in a caring role. It will make it easier for such pensioners to qualify for a higher rate of the State Pension (contributory). The TCA will ensure that the totality of a person’s social insurance contributions - as opposed to the timing of them - determines a final pension outcome, and it also acknowledges, for the first time, the contribution made by home-carers in the period before 1994.
While details of the TCA model have not been finalised ahead of consultation and legislation later this year, it is expected that former recipients of the Prescribed Relatives Allowance may be considered within the context of HomeCaring credit awards.
The new TCA for pensioners assessed under the 2012 rate band changes, comes into effect from 30 March 2018. Pensioners do not need to contact the Department at this juncture. Instead, the Department will invite over 40,000 pensioners, who were assessed under the current rate bands in place since 2012, to have their pensions recalculated under TCA to determine if they qualify for a higher rate of entitlement. However, as it will take time to design and set up administrative processes, and the necessary IT systems, the Department expects to send out these invitations from Quarter 4 of 2018 and to begin payments, where applicable, including arrears for any period from 30 March 2018, from Quarter 1 of 2019.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
575. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a review of a decision not to grant disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5401/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on the evidence supplied in support of this person’s application, his application for disability allowance (DA) was disallowed on the grounds that the medical qualifying condition was not satisfied. The person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 16 August 2017.
They requested a review of the decision by a deciding officer (DO) and submitted additional medical evidence for consideration on 27 September 2017.
The application has been referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) for a report on the person's means and circumstances. Once the SWI has completed their report, a decision will be made on the application and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
576. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason an oral hearing has not been arranged in the case of a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that the Department wrote to the person on 21 September 2017 stating that one would be arranged; and if the person's file will be reviewed to determine if an invalidity pension can be granted without the oral hearing. [5411/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer's decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
577. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address the anomaly whereby farmers on reaching pension age do not receive the benefit of the earnings disregard of €200 in the means test for the State non-contributory pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5412/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State pension (non-contributory) is a means-tested payment and the weekly rate payable is dependent on the means of each claimant. Account is taken in the means test of the value of property (other than the family home) and capital the person may have as well as cash income such as earnings from employment or self-employment, occupational pensions, foreign social security pensions and so on.
These arrangements apply to all claimants for the State pension (non-contributory) as well as other means-tested welfare schemes. The rules applying to the State pension (non-contributory) do not prohibit individuals engaging in any form of self-employment; it is the means available from the net profit from such self-employment (after allowing for expenses) which determines the rate of pension payable, if any.
It should be noted that the means assessment allows for "any expenses necessarily incurred in carrying on any form of self-employment..". There is no exhaustive list of all expenses allowed in self-employed cases, since expenses vary with the nature and extent of the self-employment.
The main allowable expenses in most instances are as set out in the means guidelines available on the Departmental website: https://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Means-Assessment.aspx.
It should also be noted that the first €30 per week means (from any source including self-employment) is disregarded for State pension (non-contributory) purposes, and that this amount is doubled in the case of a couple.
Furthermore, a farmer in receipt of the State Pension (non-contributory) can also benefit from the disregard that exists for certain farm payments administered by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, such as the Agri-Environment Options Scheme. The first €2,540 of this and similar payments is fully disregarded, with 50% of the remainder assessed as means.
Where a claimant for the State pension (non-contributory) is in employment, a weekly earnings disregard of €200 per week applies. This disregard is intended to facilitate non-contributory pensioners who wish to continue working, or to re-enter the workforce.
There are currently no plans to amend the means assessment for the State Pension (non-contributory) scheme. Any such changes to the current means testing arrangements for self-employed pensioners generally would have to be considered in the overall policy and budgetary context.
578. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the closure of the social welfare office in Castlepollard, County Westmeath will be reconsidered (details supplied). [5430/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department currently has 58 Social Welfare Branch Offices at various locations throughout the country. Each Branch Office is operated and managed, under a contract for services, by a Branch Manager who is required to act as an agent for the Department in the area served by the office. Branch Office managers operate on a contract for service and are independent contractors.
The Contract for the delivery of Branch Office services in Castlepollard is due to expire on 9 February 2018. The Department is currently engaging in a process to enhance services across the branch office network in order to ensure that an efficient and quality public service which properly reflects customer needs is provided. In the interim period, I have decided, on an exceptional basis, to offer to extend the term of the Contract for a maximum period of 12 months from the date of expiration of the Contract, i.e. to 8 February 2019.
I trust that this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
579. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount provided in training support grant in each of the years 2015 to 2017, by amount paid, to each supplier of training; the number of training suppliers that are based in Northern Ireland in each year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5451/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Training Support Grant (TSG) provided by the Department is designed to fund access to short-term training where this cannot be provided by a state provider within a reasonable time or where a intervention is identified that can support individual jobseekers to access work opportunities.
The scheme is activation focused and the jobseeker is required to provide reasonable evidence or grounds of need (for example in the form of a potential job offer) or a requirement to maintain or achieve accreditation.
The maximum fund available to jobseekers under the scheme is €500 p.a. Access to the scheme is via the Department’s case officers.
The following table provides a breakdown of the total TSG Spend and the number of suppliers based in Northern Ireland for 2015, 2016 and 2017:
|
Year |
Annual TSG expenditure |
Number of training suppliers paid |
Number of suppliers based in Northern Ireland |
|
2015 |
€3,314,562 |
769 |
13 |
|
2016 |
€3,153,623 |
729 |
13 |
|
2017 |
€2,640,704 |
710 |
7 |
Given the volume of data required, the information requested by the Deputy regarding payments made to individual suppliers cannot be compiled in the time available to reply to this parliamentary question. The Department will provide a schedule of payments to each training supplier to the Deputy later this week.
580. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in the first steps programme who have been referred to JobPath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5454/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobPath is an employment activation service that supports people who are long-term unemployed, including those working part time and those at risk of becoming long-term unemployed, to secure and sustain full-time paid employment. All jobseekers over one year on the Live Register are eligible for selection for the JobPath service and clients are chosen by means of a random selection process.
Customers who are already engaged in a First Steps Internship should not be selected for activation to JobPath as they can only participate with one activation scheme or service at a time. If the Deputy has a specific case in mind she may provide details to my Department.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
