Written Answers Nos. 295-305
295. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of adult dependants in receipt of a social welfare claim by county, in tabular form across all live register schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7970/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the following table.
It should be noted that the county level statistics indicate the number of people with an adult dependent on the live register in January at an office located in the county indicated. As the catchment areas of many local offices cross county borders, this may differ in some cases from the county of residence of the recipients concerned.
|
Number of persons on the Live Register in receipt of an adult dependant allowance in January 2018 |
|
|
County |
Recipients with Adult Dependants |
|
Carlow |
803 |
|
Cavan |
852 |
|
Clare |
923 |
|
Cork |
3,334 |
|
Donegal |
2,425 |
|
Dublin |
9,093 |
|
Galway |
1,997 |
|
Kerry |
1,537 |
|
Kildare |
1,654 |
|
Kilkenny |
679 |
|
Laois |
1,086 |
|
Leitrim |
377 |
|
Limerick |
1,498 |
|
Longford |
683 |
|
Louth |
1,787 |
|
Mayo |
1,366 |
|
Meath |
1,051 |
|
Monaghan |
562 |
|
Offaly |
989 |
|
Roscommon |
504 |
|
Sligo |
454 |
|
Tipperary |
1,722 |
|
Waterford |
1,292 |
|
Westmeath |
1,168 |
|
Wexford |
2,349 |
|
Wicklow |
1,199 |
|
Total |
41,384 |
297. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a response has been received from the United Kingdom in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal who has applied for illness benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7972/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIllness Benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. One of the PRSI conditions is that a person must have a minimum of 39 reckonable contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. Claims made in 2018 are governed by the 2016 tax year and only PRSI Classes A, E, H, and P, are reckonable for Illness Benefit purposes.
The person concerned made a claim to Illness Benefit and this claim was registered in my Department on 9 January 2018. According to my Department’s records the person concerned does not have the required amount of contributions for the 2016 year.
However, the person concerned indicated on the application form that they had contributions in the United Kingdom. This record was requested by my Department on 30 January 2018. Unfortunately, these requests take approximately 3-4 months. When this record has been received the matter will be dealt with immediately and the person concerned will be notified.
If the person concerned is unable to meet their needs or the needs of their household, they may be entitled to Supplementary Welfare Allowance and should contact their local Intreo Centre.
The PRSI contribution conditions governing entitlement to Illness Benefit are statutory and cannot be either waived or modified in any particular case.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
298. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on restoring redundancy rebates to businesses which previously facilitated small and micro-sized businesses to hire staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7985/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe purpose of the redundancy payments scheme is to compensate employees for the loss of their jobs, where the employer is unable to pay statutory redundancy due to financial difficulties or insolvency. The scheme is funded from the social insurance fund.
Up to 2011, the scheme provided a rebate of 60 per cent to employers who provided statutory redundancy payments to their employees. In Budgets 2012 and 2013, the Government first reduced and then abolished the rebate payment. This decision was made because of the high cost of the rebate and its impact on the financial sustainability of the social insurance fund at the time of the economic crisis. Furthermore, the rebate to employers was paid regardless of a company’s financial situation and ability to pay, thus benefitting viable and profitable companies, including multinational companies. It was not a targeted use of the resources of the social insurance fund.
The redundancy payments scheme as it now operates benefits employees whose employers are unable to pay for statutory redundancy. Employers who declare they cannot sustain the cost of redundancy payments, albeit they continue to trade, are required to submit documentation from their accountants or solicitors and to accept liability for the redundancy payment to the social insurance fund. This ensures that the current scheme takes into account both an employer’s ability to pay redundancy payments and that the social insurance fund can be reimbursed in the future, through debt repayment if their financial position improves.
A rebate of redundancy payments to smaller businesses would discriminate between employers and may be construed as a form of state aid, as rebates are not the norm in EU member states. Restoring the rebate would lead to higher costs for the social insurance fund and could restrict the scope for expanding social protection coverage, as set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government.
While I acknowledge the contribution made by small businesses in the creation of employment, I do not consider it appropriate to reinstate the rebate scheme on any basis.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
299. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to review the operation of the community employment scheme eligibility criteria; her further plans to facilitate persons on community employment schemes who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment in view of the fact their spouses are in full-time employment or in circumstances in which they may be engaged in self-employment such as farming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8022/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the publication of my Department’s Report, An Analysis of the Community Employment Programme, in April 2017 the Government approved a number of changes to the terms and conditions around participation on Community Employment (CE). The main purpose of these changes, which were implemented in July 2017 was to broaden the availability of CE to a greater number of people on the live register and to standardise other conditions around the length of time a person can participate on the programme.
One of the general eligibility requirements to participate on CE is that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment from my Department for a minimum period of 12 months. People who do not qualify for a social welfare payment do not meet the current eligibility requirements for participation on CE. However, such people may be eligible for other programmes or support to help them return to work, for example VTOS courses provided by ETB’s, Skillnet courses funded through the Department of Education and Skills or Momentum courses provided by SOLAS. Those who do not meet the CE eligibility criteria are advised to contact their local DEASP Intreo Office where a case officer will be happy to discuss alternative employment and training options that are available to them.
The eligibility criterion for participation on CE is kept under on-going review to ensure effectiveness in targeting the long-term unemployed jobseekers and other specific disadvantaged groups.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
300. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount of Exchequer funds spent funding the purchase of homes by local authorities or approved housing bodies under the mortgage to rent scheme; and the number of homes the expenditure related to in each of the years since 2012, in tabular form. [8016/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently two Mortgage to Rent (MTR) schemes funded by my Department. A scheme exists whereby a local authority (LA) can acquire ownership of properties with unsustainable local authority mortgages, thus enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant (LA-Mortgage-to-Rent). The other scheme provides for an Approved Housing Body (AHB) to acquire ownership of a property with an unsustainable private mortgage, which also enables the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant (AHB-Mortgage-to-Rent). Both schemes assist families with income difficulties whose mortgages are unsustainable, and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future. Both schemes are part of the overall suite of social housing options and an important part of the mortgage arrears resolution process.
Information in relation to LA-Mortgage-to-Rent scheme transactions during its pilot phase in Dublin City Council and Westmeath County Council in 2013 and annual transactions, broken down by local authority, following national roll out of the scheme in 2014, is available on my Department’s website at the following link:
http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity
Information in relation to the AHB Mortgage to Rent scheme is outlined in the following table.
|
Year |
AHB MTR Expenditure* |
No. of AHB MTR operational units |
|
€ |
||
|
2012 |
0 |
0 |
|
2013 |
€226,567 |
16 |
|
2014 |
€381,098 |
33 |
|
2015 |
€780,131 |
58 |
|
2016 |
€1,794,498** |
71 |
|
2017 |
€3,019,338*** |
86 |
* Owing to the nature of the Capital Advance Leasing Facility scheme, AHB MTR unit delivery does not always arise in the same year as expenditure being incurred and is not directly related to the units that became operational in each year.
**Includes 6 AHB MTR transactions costing €186,495 that were funded through Local Property Tax self-funding.
***Includes 12 AHB MTR transactions costing €244,550 that were funded through Local Property Tax self-funding.
301. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons classed as homeless; and the increased efforts being made to ensure these persons are suitably housed as a matter of urgency. [7827/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficial homeless reports are published on my Department's website on a monthly basis and can be accessed using the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
These reports are based on data provided by housing authorities and produced through the Pathway Accommodation & Support System (PASS). These reports capture details of individuals utilising State-funded emergency accommodation arrangements that are overseen by housing authorities.
The long-term solution to homelessness is to increase the supply of new homes and the provision of social housing supports, as envisioned in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. During the course of 2017 almost 26,000 social housing solutions were provided via housing authorities and I expect similar outputs in 2018. Indeed, the total housing funding provision of €1.9 billion in 2018, is an increase of 35% over 2017.
My Department, local authorities and approved housing bodies will continue to work closely, to identify further solutions and increase social housing solutions, so that we can continue to give those experiencing homelessness the support they need. The long-term housing needs of households in emergency accommodation will be met through a range of social housing supports, including through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme and through general social housing allocations. Progress is being made in this regard and during 2017, over 4,000 adults that were homeless, or at risk of homelessness, entered into independent sustainable tenancies.
In this regard, I recently notified housing authorities of the availability of exchequer funding to support a new initiative to exit homeless individuals and households from emergency accommodation. It is now open to housing authorities to implement a ‘place-finder’ service, similar to that which has been operating successfully in Cork and Dublin. This service will provide assistance to homeless households to secure a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenancy. Place-finder services will assist such households to seek out properties in the rented sector that are suited to that household’s particular needs and will provide access to deposits and advance rental payments.
302. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the estimated cost of retrofitting all local authority owned housing stock to ensure that all homes have double glazed windows, draft proof doors and are properly insulated. [7894/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 58 of the Housing Act 1966 provides that the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock is a matter for each individual local authority. This includes the achievement of energy efficiency, the implementation of planned maintenance programmes and carrying out of responsive repairs and pre-letting repairs. Regarding the number of houses that are owned by local authorities, the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC), in their annual reports on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities, publishes a range of information in relation to social housing stock, including the total number of dwellings in each local authority area. The most recent NOAC report containing this information shows almost 130,000 homes provided directly by Local Authorities and is available at the following link: http://noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2015-PI-Report.pdf.
My Department is currently supporting local authorities in undertaking an ambitious programme of insulation retrofitting which commenced in 2013. The aim of the Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Programme is the improvement of energy efficiency and comfort levels in local authority homes, benefitting those at risk of fuel poverty and making a significant contribution to Ireland’s carbon emissions reduction targets and energy efficiency targets for 2020.
The programme is being implemented in a number of phases: Phase 1 is focused on providing attic/roof insulation and the less intrusive cavity wall insulation in all relevant properties, while Phase 2, which has been piloted in both Fingal and Westmeath County Councils, will focus on the external fabric upgrade of those social housing units with solid/hollow block wall construction.
My Department is providing grant funding of €3,500 per unit under Phase 1 and from €14,650 for mid-terrace to €17,650 for end-terrace units under Phase 2. The grant limits available under Phase 2 represent the more comprehensive suite of works, and includes a provision to upgrade poorly performing windows and doors in specific circumstances.
Funding of some €115.7 million has been provided from 2013 to the end-2017 to improve energy efficiency and comfort levels in almost 64,000 local authority homes. In 2018, the main focus of the available funding for the Programme will be on the completion of the remaining Phase 1 works and formally rolling out Phase 2. My Department will, shortly, be asking local authorities to submit details of their work proposals and related funding requirements for the Programme in 2018.
303. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the boundary between Cork city and county councils; and when new electoral areas in both local authority areas will be considered under a commission. [7919/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recommendations of the Cork Implementation Oversight Group as contained in their Report: "Proposal for delineation of extended boundary of Cork City" have been accepted by the Government in their decision of 12 December 2017.
It is my intention that reconfigured Local Electoral Areas for Cork City and County Councils will be ready for the 2019 local elections and I intend to make the appropriate arrangements in due course, informed by the work of the Cork Implementation Oversight Group.
304. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of vacant and-or derelict buildings and houses each local authority has acquired in the past four years to date in 2018, in tabular form; the number that were subsequently used to house those on housing lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7967/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding to local authorities to acquire a range of properties for social housing use. The properties involved can range from those in good condition to those that need remediation and may have been vacant. The acquisition of properties for social housing is largely delegated to local authorities so they can respond flexibly to all opportunities to provide new social housing.
Given the delegated sanction afforded to local authorities, my Department does not hold information on the precise condition, including the level of dereliction, of the many properties acquired over the past four years for social housing use.
More recently, my Department has introduced the Buy & Renew scheme to provide further opportunity for local authorities to acquire and remediate suitable properties for social housing use and to complement the Repair & Lease Initiative. During 2017, provisional information shows that funding provided by my Department to local authorities supported the purchase of approximately 70 such homes under the Buy & Renew scheme, details of which are set out in the following table.
|
Local Authority |
Homes |
|
Clare County Council |
1 |
|
DunLaoghaire/Rathdown County Council |
12 |
|
Fingal County Council |
8 |
|
Kerry County Council |
12 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
7 |
|
Meath County Council |
11 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
16 |
|
Offaly County Council |
1 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
1 |
I expect that over the course of 2018, further progress will be made in this area as local authorities close sales on properties identified during 2017 and put in place arrangements for their remediation to make them suitable for social housing use.
305. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the actions taken and progress made since he indicated that his Department is reviewing its role in respect of the aspects of legislation relating to regulation of fairground equipment and funfairs and specific legislative provisions relating to fairground equipment. [7994/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 239 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 places a statutory duty on organisers of funfairs and owners of fairground equipment to take such care as is reasonable for ensuring that persons at a funfair do not suffer injury or damage by reason of dangers arising from the funfair or associated activities. This legislation also requires that the owner of fairground equipment shall not make it available to the public unless such equipment has a valid certificate of safety. The organiser of a funfair is required to give notice of the event to the relevant local authority and such notice is to be accompanied by a valid certificate of safety.
My Department commenced an internal review process on the issue of safety at funfairs/fairground equipment last year. One of the issues raised in the review was that the relevant provisions of the Planning and Development Act do not assign responsibility to a specific body to investigate accidents at funfairs. However, it was noted at that time that provisions in criminal justice and in safety, health and welfare at work legislation provide a range of responsibilities and roles for investigation of accidents.
The review of the aspects of legislation relating to regulation of fairground equipment and funfairs in section 239 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, particularly in respect of the specific legislative provisions relating to fairground equipment, is on-going and includes an examination of international practice in the area of regulating public safety.
The drafting of the review report has commenced and further engagement with relevant stakeholders is envisaged as part of the process of clarifying issues and preparing the report's conclusions and recommendations.
