Written Answers Nos. 521-536
521. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for the Western Development Commission; the role it will have in relation to the national development plan; the work under way to address the depopulation of the counties under its remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8369/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Western Development Commission (WDC) was established on a statutory basis in 1999 as part of a response to the severe population decline in the Western Region at that time. The remit of the Commission is to promote the economic and social development of the Western Region, covering counties Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare.
The WDC is an important part of a wider focus on regional development by the Government, which also involves a deeper role in economic development by the Local Authorities and the Regional Assemblies.
The Government’s new National Planning Framework and National Development Plan both place an emphasis on the development of the western region and improving access to the region and within the region itself. The National Planning Framework also recognises the potential of the Atlantic Economic Corridor initiative to contributing to the regional growth objectives of the Framework. These include increasing the population of the regions outside of the Eastern and Midlands region.
I anticipate that the WDC will play an important role in helping to deliver on the Government’s objectives.
The Commission is represented on the Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce, as well as on the Implementing Committees which oversee the Action Plans for Jobs for the West and North-West regions.
The Commission is also represented on the Monitoring Committee for the Action Plan for Rural Development.
The Commission also continues to implement initiatives to support the development of SMEs and emerging sectors in the western region, including a new €2 million fund to encourage the film, television, animation and games industry in the West of the country.
522. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to encourage and support the roll-out of greenways; the funding and policy support available under the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8370/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPolicy responsibility for the development of greenways is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. However, my Department also supports the development of greenways through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.
Both Departments are committed to working together to ensure that the impact of the support available for the development of greenways is maximised for citizens and visitors alike. In this context, my Department is in regular contact with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and is working to ensure closer alignment of greenway projects which may be funded by the respective Departments.
There are already a number of good examples of the two Departments funding projects that are complementary to each other. For instance, I recently awarded funding to extend the Great Western Greenway into Achill under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme 2017. I also funded an extension of the Royal Canal Greenway in County Longford under the same scheme. These greenway extensions build on funding allocated by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to support the development of the main greenways.
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is currently preparing a strategy for the future development of greenways and this strategy provides an opportunity to further strengthen the cooperation between my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in relation to greenways and to maximise their economic potential.
523. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department is specifically preparing a paper or papers examining the impact of a hard, soft and WTO or cliff-edge scenario Brexit on Ireland; if so, the date work on the papers commenced; the status of these papers; the expected publication date; his plans to make them available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8543/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department was established on 19 July 2017. My colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D., has the primary responsibility for leading on Brexit negotiations, my Department is contributing on an ongoing basis to discussions, and is providing policy advice relevant to its remit, as and when required. My Department is not specifically preparing a paper or papers to examine various possible outcomes on Ireland post Brexit.
The Department has been established to deliver on the Government’s commitment to bring a greater degree of coordination and cohesion to all of the work of Government in so far as it impacts on rural Ireland and on communities. The impact of Brexit on regional and rural businesses and on communities is relevant across a number of policy areas of my Department. In this context, considerations around the impact of Brexit are shared across different policy areas, rather than being assigned to a single Unit or to dedicated staff.
In addition, my role in the Cabinet Committee on the Economy gives me a specific forum to raise issues for Rural Ireland relating to the Economy, Jobs, the Labour Market, Competitiveness, Productivity, Trade, the Action Plan on Rural Development and the Digital Economy, including managing and mitigating the risks associated with Brexit.
524. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if Galway City Council can make an application to his Department for funding for LIS schemes in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8609/18]
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 in rural areas in 2017 and I have allocated a further €10 million for the scheme this year. I currently have no plans to revisit the eligibility conditions outlined in the Local Improvement Scheme Memorandum 2002 for 2018. In this context Galway City Council will not be eligible to apply for funding under the 2018 LIS.
525. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is grant aid made available through his Department or organisations funded by his Department for the purchase of defibrillators by community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8612/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of defibrillators may be considered eligible for funding under my Department's LEADER Programme, the Communities Facilities Scheme and the RAPID Programme.
LEADER funding is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in 28 sub-regional areas across Ireland, in line with the Local Development Strategies developed by each LAG.
Funding under LEADER is available for a range of defined themes, which include enterprise development and job creation, the development of rural towns, social inclusion, and the environment.
The Social Inclusion theme of the LEADER Programme focuses on the provision of services for people living in rural and remote areas and, in that context, the provision of defibrillators could be considered eligible for LEADER funding.
However, individual project approvals are a matter for the Local Action Group in the relevant area and I have no function in relation to such approvals. In order for a project to qualify for funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy for the sub-regional area concerned, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the LEADER programme.
Applications for project funding should be made directly to the relevant LAG. Contact details for all LAGs are available on my Department's website at http://drcd.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/list-of-LAGs.pdf.
The Communities Facilities Scheme (CFS) was launched on 10 March 2017. It was targeted at disadvantaged urban and rural areas, but not exclusively so. The funding related to capital projects only. The CFS is administered by the Local Community Development Committees on behalf of the Department. I am delighted to confirm that I have also secured a €2 million allocation for the CFS in Budget 2018. The modalities of the CFS for 2018 are currently under consideration.
The RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) Programme was launched on 2 November 2017. The Programme funding was for capital grants only and was aimed at funding projects in disadvantaged urban areas. The funding related to capital projects only. The RAPID Programme is also administered by the Local Community Development Committees on behalf of the Department. I have also secured a €2 million allocation for RAPID in Budget 2018. The modalities of the RAPID Programme for 2018 are currently under consideration.
The purchase of defibrillators was eligible for funding under Measure 4 (First Response Support Measure) of the CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) Programme 2017. CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in areas that experience disadvantage. The closing date for applications under Measure 4 was 5 May 2017. Decisions regarding the CLÁR Programme and the initiatives that might be funded are currently under consideration by my Department. Further information on Measure 4 can be found at the link http://drcd.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/clar-2017-measure-4-en.pdf.
526. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of vacant habitable dwelling units and vacant derelict residential dwelling units in the ownership or part ownership, or under the control, of both his Department and agencies under his remit; the county in which each unit is located; the length of time each unit has been vacant, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8671/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFour state bodies fall under the remit of my Department, Pobal, Irish Water Safety, the Western Development Commission and the Charities Regulatory Authority.
There are no buildings or dwelling units owned , either by my Department or by any of the above agencies. All properties used by this Department are owned, or leased, by the Office of Public Works on our behalf.
527. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his attention has been drawn to the conditions at a pound (details supplied) which is the subject of a social media video displaying appalling living conditions for animals; and if his Department will correspond with local government authorities and animal welfare inspectors to ensure a full inspection is carried out. [8746/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities have responsibility for operating and managing dog control and licensing services in their administrative areas, including the management of dog pounds and shelters and my Department has no involvement in this process.
Furthermore, the enforcement of welfare standards regarding all animals, including dogs seized, accepted or detained under the Control of Dogs Acts, is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. My Department has no function in this regard.
However, on foot of the Deputy's question, enquiries have been made by my Department with the relevant local authorities, all of which have indicated that the enterprise referenced is maintained to a high standard and has passed all recent unannounced veterinary inspections.
528. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the action plans for 2015, 2016 and 2017 as provided for by the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2012; the way in which control and governance is exercised over disbursements in their absence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8781/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe legislation governing the Dormant Accounts Funds provides a framework for the disbursement of funds for measures targeted at socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged people, and people with a disability. The funding is allocated through a three-year Disbursement Scheme, underpinned by annual Action Plans which set out specific measures which may draw down from the Fund.
My Department coordinates the preparation of the Disbursement Scheme and the Annual Action Plans across Government. Responsibility for this transferred to my Department in July 2017.
The most recent Disbursement Scheme, covering the period 2017-2019 inclusive, was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas in May 2017. Dormant Account Action Plans have been put in place by the relevant Departments responsible at that time for 2014, 2016 and 2017. However, I understand that the 2014 Plan was produced in the latter half of that year and a decision was made to allow sufficient time for these programmes and projects to develop throughout 2015 rather than adopt a new action plan for 2015.
The roll-out of annual Action Plans takes place over a number of years. The 2014, 2016 and 2017 Action Plans have proceeded over the last 4 years resulting in disbursements from the Fund of €36.5 million to programmes and projects which have aided the defined target groups.
The preparation of the 2018 Action Plan has now commenced and I recently wrote to each Minister requesting that their Departments identify possible measures for inclusion in the Action Plan. My Department will review the submissions made by Departments in this regard and, upon completion of this process, I expect to be in a position to submit the final 2018 Action Plan to Government in May 2018.
In parallel with the development of the 2018 Action Plan, my Department has also commenced a review of the previous disbursement scheme which ran from 2014-2016. This review, which will be completed by the end of June 2018, will set out to improve the administrative procedures governing Dormant Accounts funding to maximise the effectiveness with which funds are distributed in order to better support the people and communities at whom the funding is aimed.
529. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps being taken to tackle the problem of mobile phone coverage black spots in rural areas in the context of his Department's co-chairing of the mobile phone and broadband taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8502/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was established in July 2016 to examine broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits in Ireland and identify tangible actions to improve the quality of these services.
The Taskforce Report was published in December 2016, and included 40 actions to alleviate barriers to mobile phone reception and broadband access. An Implementation Group was established in 2017 to oversee the delivery of actions in the Taskforce’s report and progress updates are published on my Department's website on a quarterly basis.
With regard to mobile phone black spots, my officials in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, are actively engaged with local authorities and mobile phone operators to identify priority black spots and take action to address this issue.
During 2017 officials from both Departments worked with a group of local authorities to identify the issues associated with mapping local black spots. This pilot exercise has been completed, with all local authorities now being asked to map local black spots and identify infrastructure that could potentially be used to provide additional coverage.
This work will continue in 2018 and has been included as an action in this year's work programme of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce Implementation Group.
In addition, ComReg will shortly launch a scheme for the use of mobile phone repeaters, which will allow householders and businesses to boost signals into their premises, and bring immediate improvements in mobile phone coverage.
530. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to amend the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as amended by section 13 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008 to include a foster parent in the definition of a qualified parent for the purposes of determining eligibility for the one-parent family payment (details supplied). [8060/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of fostering services is a matter for TUSLA (the Child and Family Agency). This includes any supports, including financial, that are required by either the foster parents or the foster children that specifically relate to fostering.
Under the current social welfare legislation in order to qualify for payment of OFP, an applicant must be a qualified parent of at least one relevant child who is ordinarily resident in the State, is not detained in a children detention school, and has not attained the relevant age. The relevant age is currently 7 years of age. There are special provisions for OFP recipients who have a child on Domiciliary Care Allowance, are on the half-rate Carer’s Allowance or are on the Blind Pension that extend payment until the youngest child reaches 16 years of age. There is also a ‘recently bereaved’ special provision that extends payment for up to 2 years of until the youngest child is 18 whichever occurs first. Additional scheme conditions also apply.
A qualified parent is:
(a) a widow,
(b) a widower,
(c) a separated spouse,
(d) an unmarried person,
(e) a person whose spouse or civil partner has been committed in custody to a prison or place of detention for not less than 6 months, or
(f) a surviving civil partner,
(g) a civil partner who is not living with the other civil partner of the civil partnership, or
(h) a person who is not a party to a civil partnership.
who is the parent, step-parent, adoptive parent, or legal guardian of at least one relevant child, who normally resides with that person. Additional qualifying conditions also apply.
To be a qualified parent the applicant must therefore be legally defined as either the parent or guardian of the relevant child. A foster parent is not the legal parent or guardian of the foster child and as such is not a qualified parent and cannot qualify for OFP with the foster child as the relevant child.
Lone foster parents are treated in the same manner as all lone parents in terms of the social welfare income support payments that are available to them from this Department – assuring, in the process, equal treatment for all lone parents. All lone parents must satisfy the conditionality requirements of the OFP scheme.
While there are no specific provisions for foster children in the legislation relating the OFP scheme, provision is effectively made for foster children on the basis of the legislation covering the payment of increases for qualified children (IQCs). This legislation provides that, where the relevant conditions are met, all qualified children – including foster children – will be paid as a child dependent on these schemes. On that basis, foster children are treated in the same manner as the recipient’s own children, once the recipient has an underlying entitlement to the scheme. For example, if a foster parent has children of his/her own one of whom is under 7 years of age, and meets the other conditions of the OFP scheme, s/he can qualify for OFP and will be paid an IQC for his/her own children and the foster child.
In addition foster care allowances from Tusla are not taken into account in the means test for social welfare payments. Where a child has been placed in foster care by Tusla and the child has been in the continuous care of the foster parent(s) for 6 months, Child Benefit may then transfer to the foster parent(s).
I do not currently have plans to include a foster parent in the definition of a qualified parent for the purposes of determining eligibility for one-parent family payment (OFP).
531. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of adult dependants in receipt of a social welfare payment by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8109/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI regret that the county breakdown requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department.
However, I include for her information the total number of recipients benefiting from an increased payment for a qualified adult that were in payment at the end of January.
|
Number of Qualified Adult Allowances in payment at the end of January 2018 |
|
|
Scheme |
Qualified Adults |
|
State Pension (Non-Contributory) |
3,220 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
66,164 |
|
State Pension (Transition) |
13 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance |
41,374 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
2,614 |
|
Farm Assist |
2,992 |
|
Pre-Retirement Allowance |
34 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
3,115 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
|
|
Rural Social Scheme |
1,142 |
|
TUS - Community Work Placement |
1,510 |
|
Back To Work Enterprise Allowance |
3,000 |
|
JobBridge National Internship Scheme |
5 |
|
Back To Education Allowance(3) |
1,376 |
|
Gateway |
10 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
222 |
|
Disability Allowance |
14,609 |
|
Illness Benefit |
4,057 |
|
Interim Illness Benefit |
53 |
|
Injury Benefit |
101 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
6,937 |
532. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of adult dependants on a social welfare labour activation scheme by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8110/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur records indicate that the number of adult dependants on the relevant activation schemes i.e. Back To Education Allowance, Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, Short Term Enterprise Allowance, Tús, Gateway and Community Employment in January 2018 are set out in Table 1 as follows.
|
Table 1 - No. of Adult Dependants paid on Activation Schemes at Jan 2018 |
||||||
|
County |
Back to Education Allowance |
Back to Work Enterprise Allowance |
Short Term Enterprise Allowance |
Tús |
Gateway |
Community Employment |
|
Carlow |
34 |
63 |
0 |
32 |
- |
115 |
|
Cavan |
21 |
87 |
0 |
23 |
- |
66 |
|
Clare |
32 |
99 |
1 |
29 |
- |
102 |
|
Cork |
138 |
227 |
5 |
140 |
- |
376 |
|
Donegal |
64 |
127 |
1 |
106 |
- |
247 |
|
Dublin |
297 |
590 |
3 |
298 |
2 |
656 |
|
Galway |
75 |
140 |
0 |
91 |
2 |
130 |
|
Kerry |
57 |
99 |
0 |
49 |
- |
157 |
|
Kildare |
55 |
113 |
4 |
44 |
- |
181 |
|
Kilkenny |
32 |
87 |
1 |
27 |
1 |
107 |
|
Laois |
36 |
76 |
3 |
26 |
- |
100 |
|
Leitrim |
13 |
51 |
0 |
16 |
- |
29 |
|
Limerick |
81 |
90 |
2 |
49 |
- |
237 |
|
Longford |
23 |
66 |
1 |
20 |
- |
64 |
|
Louth |
62 |
132 |
3 |
36 |
- |
136 |
|
Mayo |
43 |
105 |
2 |
75 |
3 |
95 |
|
Meath |
39 |
129 |
1 |
49 |
- |
55 |
|
Monaghan |
11 |
45 |
1 |
20 |
- |
85 |
|
Offaly |
35 |
81 |
0 |
31 |
- |
103 |
|
Roscommon |
15 |
46 |
1 |
28 |
1 |
49 |
|
Sligo |
35 |
37 |
0 |
23 |
1 |
41 |
|
Tipperary |
29 |
93 |
2 |
73 |
- |
179 |
|
Waterford |
68 |
103 |
0 |
78 |
- |
160 |
|
Westmeath |
37 |
71 |
0 |
13 |
- |
137 |
|
Wexford |
54 |
124 |
1 |
60 |
- |
216 |
|
Wicklow |
28 |
119 |
6 |
74 |
- |
143 |
|
TOTAL |
1,414 |
3,000 |
38 |
1,510 |
10 |
3,966 |
533. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons awarded a disability allowance by the social welfare appeals office in December 2017 are still not in payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8127/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe persons concerned have been awarded disability allowance with effect from their date of application. The first payments will issue by their selected payment method as follows; 21 February 2018 in respect of the first named individual and 7 March 2018 in respect of the remaining two individuals.
Arrears of payment due will issue as soon as possible once any necessary adjustment is calculated and applied in respect of any overlapping payments or in respect of outstanding overpayments (if applicable).
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
534. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the disability allowance claim being paid to a person (details supplied) will be examined to ensure that the person is on full benefit; if the jobseeker's benefit to the person's partner is the maximum amount; if it covers their five children; and if the family is in receipt of children's allowance for five children. [8130/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI confirm that the disability allowance claim for the person concerned has been examined and he is now receiving his full entitlement. The first payment issued by his selected payment method on 14 February 2018. His partner is in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance at the maximum rate. Child benefit is also in payment at the correct rate in respect of their five children.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
535. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8148/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (formerly known as Family Income Supplement) is a weekly tax free payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children.
An application for Working Family Payment (WFP) was received from the person concerned on 25 November 2017.
The person concerned has now been awarded WFP with effect from 5 October 2017 to 3 October 2018.
The first payment will issue to the nominated bank account on Thursday 22 February 2018 and any arrears owing will issue shortly.
I trust this clarifies the mater for the Deputy.
536. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of public services cards that have been issued; the number of cards issued to persons under 18 years of age; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8165/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 15 February 2018, over 3.126 million PSCs have been issued. This includes almost 1.01 million Free Travel PSCs.
The number of PSCs currently issued to under 18 year olds is 27,315. In this context, it should be noted that a new PSC is issued to a person once he or she turns 18 years of age.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
