Written Answers Nos. 267-279
267. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an adult dependant allowance in respect of a person is payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14298/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned has had her Increase for Qualified Child (IQC) re-instated with effect from 1 November 2017. The first payment will be made by her preferred payment method on 4 April 2018.
Arrears of payment due have issued to the person concerned.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
268. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of vacancies throughout the State on community employment, Tús and rural social schemes. [14304/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates a range of employment support measures which are designed to encourage the unemployed to re-enter the labour market by participating in schemes such as Community Employment (CE), Tús and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS).
The Deputy will appreciate that given the welcome improvements in the labour market in recent years with reducing numbers of long term unemployed on the Live Register, which is the target cohort for CE and Tús, it is proving difficult to fill the number of places available nationwide. Long-term unemployment is expected to fall further this year in line with the continuing forecasted fall in overall unemployment. There has been a 48% fall in the numbers on the Live Register who are more than 1 year unemployed in the five years since the end December 2012.
According to the JobsIreland website, where all CE vacancies are advertised, there were approximately 1,500 CE posts vacant on Monday 26th March 2018.
There are 47 Local Development Companies (LDCs) as well as Údarás na Gaeltachta known as Implementing Bodies (IBs) involved in the delivery of the Tús programme. Those engaged on both Tús and RSS are generally referred to as participants and are the employees of the designated IBs. Nationally, the current Tús quota is for 8,260 participant placements across the 48 IB’s. As on 23th March 2018, there were approximately 1,950 participant vacancies nationwide.
As on 16th March 2018, there were 153 participant vacancies on the rural social scheme (RSS).As part of Budget 2018, I announced an additional 250 places on the RSS. These places were allocated to the RSS Implementing bodies with effect from 23rd March 2018 and will be rolled out shortly. This will increase the overall number of places to 3,350.
It should be noted that this data is quite dynamic given the throughput on a number of these schemes. Therefore, the data will change almost weekly for both CE and Tús as participants commence and exit the programmes.
269. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the case of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in relation to a disability allowance refusal will be examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14331/18]
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 trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
270. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the eligibility of a person who is self-employed for illness benefit; the status of support for the self-employed in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14333/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSelf-employed persons are liable for PRSI at the Class S rate of 4% which covers them for access to long-term benefits such as State pension (contributory) and widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory) as well as some treatment benefits, maternity and paternity benefit, adoptive benefit and guardians payment (contributory). Class S contributions do not provide access to short-term social insurance benefits such as illness benefit. However the means tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme may be available to those who are experiencing financial difficulty.
Self-employed contributors have been covered for invalidity pension since December 2017. This gives the self-employed access to a safety-net of income supports if they become permanently incapable of work as a result of a long-term illness or disability without a means test.
I have already indicated the Government’s intention to examine the further extension of benefits to self-employed people. In doing this, it will take account of results of the 2017 survey of self-employed workers, which indicated that self-employed people are open to paying a higher rate of social insurance in return for additional benefits, and the actuarial review of the social insurance fund which was undertaken by KPMG and published last year.
The actuarial review found that the combined cost of introducing the invalidity, illness, jobseeker’s and carer’s benefits for class S contributions is estimated to be €118 million in 2018, rising to €223 million in 2020. The review indicated that PRSI rates for the self-employed would need to increase from the current level of 4% to 7.8% to ensure a revenue neutral outcome.
271. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which her Department chose 6 April 2012 as the date for persons 66 years of age to qualify for the changes in the application process for the State pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14361/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Act 1997, in line with the recommendations in the final report of the National Pensions Board, provided for an increase in the number of paid contributions required for entitlement to old age contributory pension from 156 or three years to 520 or ten years. This increase was introduced in two phases with lengthy timescales which recognised the need for a long lead-in time when making fundamental changes to State pension entitlements in order to meet people's expectations and allay fears as much as possible.
There was an increase to 260 paid contributions in the case of a person who reaches pension age on or after 6 April 2002 and an increase to 520 in the case of person who reaches pension age on or after 6 April 2012. The ten years of contributions may comprise an aggregate of 520 qualifying and voluntary contributions of which at least 260 must be qualifying contributions. In addition, a person who was a voluntary contributor on or before 6 April 1997 may qualify on the basis of an aggregate of 520 qualifying or voluntary contributions of which at least 156 must be qualifying contributions.
The Social Welfare Act 1997 was enacted on 2nd April 1997. The increase to 520 contributions was commenced to be effective from a date over 15 years after the legislation introducing it, and this would be considered a reasonable lead-in period for such a change.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
272. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an application for a disability allowance by a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [14386/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that an application from this gentleman for disability allowance (DA) was received by the Department on 28 December 2017.
The processing time for individual DA claims may vary in accordance with their relative complexity in terms of the three main qualifying criteria, the person’s circumstances and the information they provide in support of their claim.
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 submitted their report to DA section, a decision will be made on the application and this gentleman will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
273. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the percentage of persons employed in her Department that have a disability, expressed in whole-time equivalent terms and in head count terms; and the way in which the number of persons with disabilities employed compares with national targets. [14438/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets out the legal obligations of public service bodies to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities, comply with any statutory Codes of Practice, meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities and report every year on achievement of these obligations.
According to the latest staff census figure, compiled for the year ending 31s December 2017, my Department has 339 staff employed that have disclosed a disability or received a workplace accommodation in respect of a disclosed disability. This represents 5% of all staff employed in the Department and exceeds the current 3% employment target for people with disabilities in the Irish Civil Service.
In relation to the three agencies under the aegis of my Department the last figures available as reported to the National Disability Authority were in respect of 2016. The Citizens Information Board reported that 9.64% of all staff employed had disclosed a disability or received a workplace accommodation in respect of a disclosed disability. The Pensions Authority reported that 3.92% of all staff employed had disclosed a disability or received a workplace accommodation in respect of a disclosed disability.
274. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce a redress scheme for apartments and households which have defects in fire safety standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14339/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn general, building defects are matters for resolution between the contracting parties involved, the homeowner, the builder, the developer and/or their respective insurers, structural guarantee or warranty scheme. It is important to note that while my Department has overall responsibility for establishing and maintaining an effective regulatory framework for building standards and building control, it has no general statutory role in resolving defects in privately owned buildings, including dwellings, nor does it have a budget for such matters. In this regard, it is incumbent on the parties responsible for poor workmanship and/or the supply of defective materials to face up to their responsibilities and take appropriate action to provide remedies for the affected homeowners.
Under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, primary responsibility for compliance of works with the requirements of the Building Regulations, including Part B (Fire Safety), rests with the owners, designers and builders of buildings. Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for the 31 local building control authorities, who have extensive powers of inspection and enforcement under the Acts and who are independent in the use of their statutory powers.
In August 2017, I published a Framework for Enhancing Fire Safety in Dwellings, which is intended to be used as a guide by the owners and occupants of dwellings where fire safety deficiencies have been identified, or are a cause for concern. The Framework will also be of assistance to professional advisors both in developing strategies to improve fire safety and in developing strategies to enable continued occupation in advance of undertaking the necessary works to ensure compliance with the relevant Building Regulations.
It should be noted that in response to the many building failures that emerged in the last decade, my Department has been working on a building control reform agenda, including the following:
- the introduction of the Building Control (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which require greater accountability in relation to compliance with Building Regulations in the form of statutory certification;
- working closely with the Local Government Management Agency on the oversight and governance of the local authority Building Control System to improve its effectiveness; and
- progressing primary legislation, the Building Control (Construction Industry Register Ireland) Bill 2017, to develop and promote a culture of competence, good practice and compliance with the building regulations in the construction sector.
275. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the new wind farm guidelines will be available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14405/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently undertaking a focused review of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines. As part of the overall review, a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is being undertaken on the revised Guidelines before they come into effect, in accordance with the requirements of EU Directive 2001/24/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, otherwise known as the SEA Directive. SEA is a process by which environmental considerations are required to be fully integrated into the preparation of plans and programmes which act as frameworks for development consent, prior to their final adoption, with public consultation as part of that process.
Following a tendering process, my Department appointed SEA experts in December 2017 to assist in this regard. It is expected that a public consultation on the revised draft Guidelines, together with the comprehensive environmental report, will be undertaken during the second quarter of this year, with the aim of issuing the finalised Guidelines, following detailed analysis and consideration of the submissions and views received during the consultation phase, in Q3 2018.
When finalised, the revised Guidelines will be issued under Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Planning authorities, and, where applicable, An Bord Pleanála must have regard to guidelines issued under Section 28 in the performance of their functions generally under the Planning Acts. In the meantime, the current 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines remain in force.
276. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to provide a solution for homeless charities in relation to HAP (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14329/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraRent Supplement is a means-tested payment for certain people living in private rented accommodation who cannot provide for the cost of their accommodation from their own resources.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. It is available in all local authority areas and its introduction now ensures that all social housing supports can be accessed through the local authorities, allowing tenants to take up full-time employment and keep their housing support, subject to adjustment of their differential rent.
HAP is paid directly to landlords and may be payable to Approved Housing Bodies who can demonstrate that they are entitled to be landlords of a particular property. This might include long term lease arrangements where the AHB is entitled to be a landlord in a property they have leased.
HAP would only be payable following submission of a valid application completed by the tenant and landlord. AHBs would also be required to confirm that there has been no other State funding provided in respect of the particular property to ensure no double funding arises.
My Department has contacted the charity referred to for specific details and will liaise with the Local Authority and charity to identify potential mechanisms to facilitate the best outcome for the social housing tenants involved.
277. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the percentage of persons employed in his Department that have a disability, expressed in whole-time equivalent terms and in head count terms; and the way in which the number of persons with disabilities employed compares with national targets. [14442/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets out the legal obligation of the public sector to meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities. This Act also provides for a statutory annual report on the employment of people with disabilities in the public sector.
The latest available figures relate to 2016 when 4.7% of staff (32 staff) in my Department declared themselves as having a disability as defined under the Disability Act 2005. The Department only records data on those staff members who have self-declared their disability.
278. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the State has received communication from the UK Government in respect of the UK National Policy Statement for nuclear power (details supplied); if so, when the communication was received; the nature of the communication; if a copy of same will be made available; the way in which this communication was handled by his Department; the response that issued in respect of same; if this response will be made available; if no response issued, the reason therefor; if Ireland is being formally consulted by the UK on this matter; if not, if the State is seeking to assert such consultation rights; if not, the reason therefor; the proposals being made to provide for public consultation on this matter by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14467/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department received correspondence from the UK authorities on 7 December 2017, informing it of the carrying out of a public consultation on the process and criteria for designating potentially suitable sites in a new National Policy Statement for nuclear power projects with over 1GW of single reactor capacity for the period 2026-2035, and stating that the Department could make a submission in the matter by 15 March 2018.
As preparatory work for a policy statement for future nuclear power projects does not engage the requirements of the UN Convention on assessing environmental impacts in a transboundary context (the Espoo Convention) or the corresponding requirements of the EU Directives relating to environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment (SEA), I have no function in relation to the public consultation concerned. My Department, therefore, forwarded the UK correspondence to both the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, which has responsibility at national level for nuclear policy and radiological protection, and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, for appropriate attention.
Arising from separate correspondence from the UK public authorities in relation to public consultation on a different draft national policy statement, my Department is awaiting a response to its request for confirmation of the UK authorities' position on the likely significant effects of the preparatory work for a policy statement for future nuclear power projects on the environment of other States and the consequential issue of whether transboundary consultation under the SEA Directive is required.
279. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the announcement of regional projects within the Ireland 2040 plan, specifically those relating to counties Sligo and Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14474/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraProject Ireland 2040, which was launched by the Government last month, sets out the long-term planning and investment strategy for the country and contains a wide range of major investment projects and commitments within the 10-year National Development Plan.
In addition, the 20-year National Planning Framework outlines the broader policy principles and priorities to plan in a more strategic and coordinated manner for an estimated 1 million increase in our population, with the requirement for over 600,000 new jobs and over 550,000 new homes by 2040, and its principles are underpinned by the capital investment priorities within the NDP.
My Department has secured substantial capital funding resources under the 10-year NDP in the areas of housing, water services infrastructure and other key delivery areas, and will be working closely with the local government sector and our other agencies to further develop and implement the actions and projects identified.
Details of sectoral investment and priority projects are already listed throughout both documents, which are available on the dedicated webpage, www.gov.ie/en/project-ireland-2040 .
Programme and project identification to enable overall implementation of Project Ireland 2040 will also be progressed at national, regional and local levels, through specific measures contained in Project Ireland 2040 , allied to forthcoming Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSESs) being developed by the three Regional Assemblies by the end of this year These Strategies will subsequently be further elaborated upon at local authority city and county development plan levels.
Accordingly, given the long-term outlook of Project Ireland 2040, the planning and investment process at regional level will necessarily be a rolling one and will be subject to both regular updates through the Project Ireland 2040 website and appropriate oversight arrangements currently being progressed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department.
