Written Answers Nos. 165-185
166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he will be in a position to offer development assistance to the various tidy towns committees in County Kildare which have in the past participated in their respective competitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19294/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2018 is a very special year for the SuperValu TidyTowns Competition as it marks the 60th Anniversary of what has been a very successful Government initiative. The work done by the TidyTowns committees down through the years has played an important part in the improvement of the appearance of our villages, towns and cities around the country.
To mark the 60th anniversary of the competition, I allocated funding in excess of €1.3 million to over 900 TidyTowns Committees at the end of 2017 to assist them in their preparations for the 2018 competition. 41 groups in County Kildare between them received a total of €75,000 in funding.
While this grant was provided on a once-off basis, my Department administers a number of funding schemes including the LEADER programme and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which may also support elements of the work of TidyTowns Committees. Details of all available schemes can be found on my Department's website at www.drcd.gov.ie.
167. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which his Department can assist in the promotion of local historic sites or buildings heretofore undeveloped for education or tourism purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19295/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Town and Village Renewal Scheme has, since 2016, provided funding in excess of €31 million to over 450 projects in rural towns and villages throughout the country. Funding under this scheme has been provided for tourism initiatives and works in and around historic sites in collaboration with the Heritage Council and other agencies.
Last week I announced a further round of funding under the scheme which will see up to an additional 200 towns and villages benefit from an allocation of €15 million over the next 15 to 18 months. Full particulars regarding the application process and scheme criteria have been provided to the Local Authorities who will administer the scheme.
In addition to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, there are a number of other programmes within my Department's remit that may be able to provide assistance for the type of activity referred to by the Deputy.
The RAPID Programme provides capital grants to support groups which are tackling social exclusion and helps improve the quality of life for residents in disadvantaged urban areas.
The Communities Facilities Scheme targets disadvantaged urban and rural areas and aims to fund projects that seek to enhance communities, address disadvantage and improve social cohesion at a local level. The promotion of local undeveloped historic sites or buildings for education or tourism purposes may be considered for funding under these schemes.
Funding may also be available under my Department's LEADER Programme to support the type of activity referred by the Deputy. LEADER is a multi-annual EU co-funded programme to support rural development. Ireland has an allocation of €250 million under the programme over the period 2014-2020, including both national and EU funding. LEADER is delivered through Local Action Groups in 28 LEADER areas around the country.
In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy in the area concerned, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme. The decision to approve a project, or otherwise, is a matter for the Local Action Group in the relevant area.
Applications for funding can be made directly to the relevant Local Action Groups. Contact details for all Local Action Groups are available on my Department's website at www.drcd.gov.ie/rural/development/leader.
168. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which his Department monitors the registration of charities with a view to ensuring that all charities are registered and operated according to regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19296/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Charities Regulatory Authority was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Authority is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities. Its role is to provide effective and robust regulation in accordance with the 2009 Act.
My Department has been assigned overall policy responsibility for the Charities Regulator. However, the Authority is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions. Neither I nor my Department have any role in the decision making process of Authority.
My Department receives regular updates from the Charities Regulator on key performance indicators, under the terms of an oversight agreement.
I understand that, as of 31 March 2018, there were 9,623 charities on the Register of Charities. These were being governed by 55,518 charity trustees. If anyone has concerns that a charitable organisation is in breach of the Charities Act 2009, they may forward details of their concerns directly to the Charities Regulator. I am advised that all concerns received are actively reviewed and processed by the Regulator’s compliance staff. At the end of March, the Charities Regulator had 324 open concerns regarding 184 charities.
In the past year the Charities Regulator has published five guidance documents to assist charity trustees manage and control their organisations. The report of the Consultative Panel on the Governance of Charitable Organisations is due to be published on 10 May, following which I understand that the Charities Regulator plans to publish the first code of governance for charities by the end of the year. This document will provide key guidance for charity trustees in the management and control of their organisations.
169. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated amount it would cost to award travel passes to persons who do not qualify due to means; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19139/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current free travel scheme provides free travel on the main public and private transport services for those eligible under the scheme. These include road, rail and ferry services provided by companies such as Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann, as well as Luas and services provided by over 80 private transport operators. There are currently approx. 908,000 customers with direct eligibility with an annual allocation of €90 million.
There is no means test for the Free Travel Pass. Rather, there are a number of schemes, such as State pensions, Invalidity Pension and Disability Allowance, which entitle the beneficiaries to the card as a secondary benefit. Some of these schemes have a means-test, and others do not. There is no way for my Department to know how many additional people would qualify, for example, for a Disability Allowance if there was no means test, and so the numbers of people who would benefit from such a move is impossible to state.
Even if it was possible to know how many people would be in that category, the estimated full year cost of providing free travel passes to people in those circumstances would be impossible to estimate with accuracy. Any such cost would manifest itself in the form of requests for increased funding by transport providers, based on increased numbers using the scheme on their service, and so would depend on a number of factors including the type of travel pass issued (e.g., single or companion pass), the number of journeys made using the free travel pass, the prevailing fares, and the type of journeys undertaken, i.e., rail, bus or Luas.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
170. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if jobseeker's allowance being paid to a person (details supplied) can be paid to their bank account. [19142/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobseekers payments are ordinarily collected at a Post Office and payment by EFT method is only available in exceptional circumstances. The individual in question has been advised of this previously and an application to transfer to EFT Payment was refused accordingly. This case is currently being re-examined in light if the Deputy’s representations and a further communication will issue to the Deputy in this regard.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
171. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if an appointment to meet a social welfare officer will be scheduled for persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19148/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Scope insurability section of my Department makes statutory decisions on the insurability of employment under the Social Welfare Acts. It deals with employers, employees and the self-employed, who may apply, where there is doubt, to have an employment or self-employment status investigated and the correct class of pay-related social insurance (PRSI) determined.
Scope section can also determine if a person genuinely worked in a partnership and to do so will require that the person or persons concerned apply to it for a determination and provide any details necessary to assist with the determination.
The persons concerned should apply to Scope section to have the circumstances of their partnership status investigated. The address is Gandon House, Amiens Street, Dublin 1 and phone number is (01) 6732585.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
172. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending a pension payment of €243.30 to all persons resident here who are 66 years of age and over and are not in receipt of a State pension payment either in their own right or as a qualified adult based on the latest CSO population projections. [19195/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra173. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending a pension payment of €243.30 to all persons resident here who are 65 years of age and over and are not currently in receipt of a State pension payment either in their own right or as a qualified adult based on the latest CSO population projections. [19196/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra174. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the State pension (contributory) rate to 35% of the average industrial wage. [19197/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra175. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the State pension (contributory) rate to 40% of the average industrial wage. [19198/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra176. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated additional cost of a payment of €216.38 to all persons in receipt of the State pension who are receiving a State pension less than that amount including qualified adults. [19199/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated additional cost of providing a payment of €216.38 to all persons in receipt of the State pension who are receiving a State pension less than that amount including qualified adults. [19202/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra180. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated additional cost of providing a payment of €216.38 to all persons in receipt of the State pension that are receiving a non-contributory State pension that is below the top rate of €232 including qualified adults. [19203/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 172 to 176, inclusive, 179 and 180 together.
In 2018, it is estimated that this Department will spend almost €7.6 billion on pension payments. The cost includes payments to just over 650,000 pensioners and qualified adults who are aged 66 and over as well as pensions paid to those who are under 66 years of age (such as widows and qualified adults under the age of 66). The cost of increasing payments for all existing pensioners and qualified adults aged 66 and over to €243.30 per week would be €540 million in a full year.
According to the CSO’s Population and Labour Force Projections for 2018, and taking account of various assumptions, the number of people aged 66 and over resident in Ireland is estimated to range between 618,816 and 620,711. The cost of providing a pension payment of €243.30 for all residents aged 66 and over would then range between €7.83 billion and €7.85 billion. It should be noted that this does not include the cost of increasing pension payments to pensioners living abroad who are entitled to a contributory pension.
According to the CSO’s Population and Labour Force Projections for 2018, and taking account of various assumptions, the number of people aged 65 and over resident in Ireland is estimated to range between 664,634 and 666,680. The cost of providing a pension payment of €243.30 for all people aged 65 and over would then range between €8.40 billion and €8.43 billion. Again, it should be noted that this does not include the cost of increasing pension payments to pensioners living abroad who are entitled to a contributory pension.
The average weekly earnings for 2017 (based on an average for each of the quarters of 2017) are €724.05 per week. The cost of increasing the State Pension (Contributory) to 35% of €724.05 per week is estimated to be €206.05 million in 2019. The additional cost of increasing the Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension by the same amount is estimated to be €43.7 million in 2019.
The cost of increasing the State Pension (Contributory) to 40% of €724.05 per week is estimated to be €943.3 million in 2019. The additional cost of increasing the Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension by the same amount is estimated to be €200.1 million in 2019.
The additional cost of providing a payment of €216.38 to each recipient of a State pension payment, including those in receipt of a reduced rate of payment as well as those in receipt of a qualified adult payment, is estimated to be €230.7 million in 2019. This costing includes increases in the reduced rates of State Pension Contributory and Widows, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension.
It is not possible to calculate the cost of providing a payment of €216.38 to all persons in receipt of reduced rates of State Pension Non-Contributory. However, the cost of increasing the rate payable to qualified adults of the payment is estimated to be €9.6 million in 2019.
The costs shown above are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2018. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2019. It should also be noted that all of these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
177. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of a non-contributory State pension in which the amount received is below the top rate of €232. [19200/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs of 31 March 2018 there were 27,905 persons in receipt of a non-contributory state pension whose personal rate was less than €232.00.
178. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of men and women, respectively, in receipt of each of the State pension payments; and the number of qualified adults receiving payments. [19201/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested (where available) by the Deputy is detailed in the following table.
Recipients of State Pensions by sex and adult dependent allowances in payment at the end of March 2018
|
Scheme Type |
Female |
Male |
Total |
Qualified Adults |
|
State Pension Contributory |
147,806 |
249,569 |
397,375 |
65,580 |
|
State Pension Non Contributory |
57,774 |
36,675 |
94,449 |
3,182 |
|
Widow(er)'s and Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension |
102,549 |
17,936 |
120,485 |
181. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the social welfare payments through which child maintenance payments are accessed as means towards such entitlements. [19212/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra182. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the punitive effects of multiple assessments on child maintenance; her further views on whether the assessment process is fair to lone parents; her plans to amend the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19213/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together.
My Department operates a range of means tested social assistance payments. Social welfare legislation provides that the means test for these schemes takes account of the income and assets of the person and a spouse/partner, if applicable. Income and assets include income from employment, self-employment, occupational pensions, maintenance payments as well as property owned (other than the family home) and capital such as savings, shares and other investments.
The means-tested social assistance payments for which maintenance payments are assessed as means are jobseeker’s allowance; disability allowance; farm assist; state pension non-contributory; supplementary welfare allowance; blind pension; one-parent family payment; pre-retirement allowance; and widow’s, widower’s or surviving civil partner’s non-contributory pension.
For these schemes, maintenance payments (including maintenance payments made to or in respect of a qualified child) are assessed by first disregarding any housing costs incurred up to €4,952 per annum (or €95.23 per week), and then assessing the remainder at 50%.
Accordingly, the total value of any maintenance payments is never assessed as means for these weekly income support payments and the total income received by the family (social welfare payment and maintenance payment combined) will be higher than someone not receiving maintenance payments.
Maintenance payments made to qualified adults of social insurance payments, as well as working family payment recipients, are also assessed as means.
Unlike schemes such as jobseeker’s allowance and one parent family payment, the working family payment (formerly FIS) is an income supplement for employees who work 19 hours or more per week. It is an income tested scheme and account is taken, in determining entitlement, of all net income from employment, weekly welfare payments (if payable), income from any self-employment, maintenance payments and income from any other source. A family in receipt of maintenance will always be better off than a family where maintenance is not a factor as the working family payment replaces 60% of the difference between total family income and the relevant income threshold.
A small proportion of lone parents are also in receipt of rent supplement, in addition to a one-parent family payment and the working family payment. The rent supplement assessment provides for a gradual withdrawal of payment as income increases. Income from employment and working family payment (formerly FIS) in excess of the standard Supplementary Welfare Allowance weekly rate of payment attract an additional income disregard and are assessed as follows: the first €75 of such additional income together with 25% of any additional income above €75 can be disregarded for means assessment purposes.
For rent supplement, maintenance payments of up to €95.23 per week are assessed in determining the appropriate rate payable (vouched weekly rent or mortgage costs of up to this amount are disregarded in establishing the rate of one-parent family payment payable). Where a person has weekly maintenance payments of more than €95.23, it is assessed under rent supplement using the formula as outlined.
It should be noted that multiple means assessments can only occur in a situation where the claimant is in receipt of multiple sources of income from the State. The purpose of means testing is to ensure that resources are targeted to those with the most financial need. The current method of means assessment ensures that appropriate levels of support are available to those who need them, across the wide range of income supports available from my Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
183. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she and her predecessors have taken to address the concerns of members of an association (details supplied) about their pensions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19231/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra184. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she is satisfied that the trustees of a pension scheme (details supplied) have acted in the best interest of all beneficiaries and in particular the best interests of an association; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19232/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra185. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps she or her predecessors have taken to address the concerns of an association (details supplied) that is of the view that decisions were taken without its input in 2010 in relation to its pension scheme which closed off the defined benefit pension and replaced it with a defined contribution scheme and changed rules and governance arrangements; the efforts that have been made to resolve these matters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19233/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 183 to 185, inclusive, together.
All dealings and decisions made by corporate or individual trustees of an occupational pension scheme are governed by legislation and enforced through the supervision of the Pensions Authority. The duties of a pension scheme trustee include administering a scheme in trust in accordance with the law and the terms of the trust deed and rules. Consequently, any decision made by corporate or individual trustees of an occupational pension scheme are governed by the relevant legislation and rules set out in the trust deed and the rules of the particular scheme. Trustees of pension schemes must act in the best financial interests of the scheme members and must serve all beneficiaries of the scheme impartially. If there is a conflict of interest then a person’s duty as a trustee must take precedence over other interests.
While current legislation does not specifically provide that member trustees must include at least one or more pensioner members (nor does it provide that member trustees must include one or more active members) it does provide an opportunity for such membership and pensioner members may avail of that opportunity to become scheme trustees or nominate others to act on their behalf.
The rules governing the role of trustees are regularly reviewed and enhanced. The Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013 amended section 50 of the Act to broaden the options available to the trustees of a pension scheme when considering a restructure of scheme benefits. The restructuring of scheme benefits under section 50 of the Pensions Act must comply with the requirements of the Pensions Act and the criteria set out in statutory guidance. Before the trustees make an application to the Pensions Authority, they must consult with the employer, the scheme member, with pensioners and with the authorised trade union representing members. Trustees must undertake a comprehensive review of the scheme with a view to the long term stability and sustainability of the scheme. In advance of any application the trustees must notify all members of the scheme, including pensioners, in writing of :
- The circumstances giving rise to the proposed application and the reasons why the trustees believe an application is in compliance with their fiduciary duties,
- The proposed benefit reductions which are to apply to each category of member or other person and the reasons for treating one or more categories of member or other person differently to others,
- The fact that the trustees have requested additional contributions from the employers to avoid the necessity for a reduction in benefits and the response of the employers, and
- General examples of the projected impact of the reduction(s) on members using such assumptions as the actuary deems appropriate.
Members have 30 days to respond to the notification and their interests will be considered.
Measures were also introduced in 2015 to facilitate engagement between the trustees of a pension scheme and groups representing the interests of pensioner and deferred scheme members. Changes to guidance issued by the Pensions Authority require the trustees of a pension scheme to notify groups representing the interest of scheme members of proposals by the trustees of a defined benefit pension scheme to issue a direction under section 50 of the Pensions Act to restructure scheme benefits. This affords the representative group an opportunity to make a submission to the trustees of a pension scheme in relation to proposals to restructure scheme benefits. These changes facilitate engagement between groups representing the interests of pensioner and deferred scheme members and the Pension Authority and the trustees of a pension scheme. Consequently, I would expect that any group that is recognised for the purposes of collective representation with the trustees of a pension scheme could seek to engage voluntarily with the enterprise involved in talks or trade disputes with employees.
Last year the Pensions Authority carried out a public consultation process on proposals to impose higher standards for trustees. The transposition of the new EU Directive IORP II by January 2019 will also further advance the duties and supervision of trustees.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
