Written Answers Nos. 267-274
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Written Answers Nos. 267-274
267. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the contracts awarded by her Department or an agency under her remit to a company (details supplied) since March 2011, by year in tabular form; the cost per contract; the basis for each contract; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20315/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the contracts awarded to the company referred to by the Deputy are outlined in tabular form:
|
Year contract awarded |
Details of contract |
Value of contract |
|
2015 |
Eircode Database – quarterly update. (Includes an annual data access fee of €500 p.a.) |
€30,000 p.a. (excl. VAT) |
The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Low Pay Commission, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
Details of a contract awarded by the Citizens Information Board to the company referred to during the period in question are outlined in tabular form:
|
Year contract awarded |
Details of contract |
Value of contract |
|
2013 |
Internal Audit Services from 2013 to 2015 |
€73,800 (incl. VAT) |
No contracts were awarded by the Low Pay Commission, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council or the Social Welfare Tribunal to the company referred to, during the period in question.
268. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20345/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
Disability allowance (DA) is a means-tested allowance paid to a person with a disability who is substantially restricted from employment.
It is a condition for receipt of both CA and DA that the person’s means must be less than the statutory limit. It is a further condition for receipt of payment that the recipients must furnish such certificates, documents and information affecting their right to payment, that are requested by an officer of my department and notify the department of any change in circumstances which affect their right to payment.
Once claims are in payment, the Department periodically reviews them to ensure that there is continued entitlement.
During the course of a review of payment of CA and DA to the person concerned, it was discovered that she had not fully disclosed her means to the Department and, to date, has not furnished all the documentation that was requested from her by a social welfare inspector (SWI).
The person concerned was notified on 17 January 2018 that her CA and DA payments were being suspended from 25 January 2018 because of this.
On 5 March 2018 the person concerned was advised that her entitlement to CA for the period from 7 April 2011 to 25 January 2018 had been reviewed and that an overpayment amounting to €47,525.10 had been assessed.
She was also advised that her entitlement to DA for the period from 13 April 2011 to 23 January 2018 had been reviewed and that an overpayment amounting to €71,006.40.10 had been assessed.
She was notified of the reason for these decisions and of her rights of review and appeal.
My Department was notified on 20 March 2018 that the person concerned had appealed this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
On foot of this, the matter has been referred back to the SWI for further investigation.
Enquiries by the SWI are continuing. Once the SWI has reported, either the decisions of 5 March 2018 will be revised or a submission in support of the decisions will be prepared and forwarded along with the file to the SWAO for determination.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
269. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports, monetary and otherwise, available in circumstances (details supplied). [20354/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's benefit (CARB) is a payment made to insured people who leave the workforce to care for a person(s) in need of full-time care and attention. It is not means tested and is paid for a maximum of 104 weeks per care recipient.
Recipients of CARB get €215 per week when caring for one care recipient and receive an additional €107.50 a week if proving full-time care to a second person.
To qualify the carer must satisfy PRSI conditions, employment conditions, show that they are providing full-time care and attention and must show that the care recipient(s) requires full-time care and attention.
Once the 104 weeks has expired, it would be open to the person concerned to apply for Carer’s Allowance (CA).
This means-tested social assistance payment is made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
Recipients of CA at the maximum rate get €214 per week when caring for one care recipient and receive an additional €107 a week if providing care to a second person.
An additional support available to carers is the carer’s support grant (CSG) which is an annual payment for carers who look after a person in need of full-time care and attention. The payment is made regardless of the carer's means but is subject to the same caring conditions as CA and CARB.
The grant amounts to €1,700 per person being cared for. Recipients of CA or CARB are paid this grant automatically if they have an entitlement to either payment on the first Thursday in June.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
270. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a FIS application by a person (details supplied) can be expedited. [20380/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (formerly 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 26 April 2018.
The applicant has been awarded WFP from 26 April 2018 to 24 April 2019.
Payment is due to issue to the claimant’s nominated financial account this week.
Any arrears due will issue shortly.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
271. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the capital allocation across her Department in each of the years 2018 to 2022. [20449/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra272. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her Department's capital allocation for projects under way and projects already tendered or committed to spending contractually. [20466/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra273. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her Department's capital allocation in each of the years 2018 to 2022 disaggregated according to capital allocated to projects under way, projects contractually committed to and projects yet to be initiated. [20483/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Question Nos. 271 to 273, inclusive, together.
My Department’s capital allocation is split across three subheads i.e. A.2.v Office Equipment and External IT Services, A.2.vi Office Premises Expenses and A.2.ix eGovernment Related Projects. Table 1 outlines the capital allocation for 2018 to 2022, however, this is subject to ongoing review in the context of the annual Estimates.
Tables 2 and 3 outline my Department’s plans for the 2018 allocation of €11m. In relation to 2019 to 2022 it is intended that the allocation will primarily assist the Department in delivering additional IT modernisation and allow for the significant refurbishment of the Department’s Áras Mhic Dhiarmada and other buildings in the coming years. The capital projects are agreed with the Office of Public Works (OPW) annually on the basis of the Departments requirements and the OPW available capacity and resources.
Table 1: 2018 to 2022
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
€11m (this includes €1m carried over from 2017) |
€14m |
€15m |
€16m |
€17m |
Table 2: A.2.v Office Equipment and External IT Services and A.2.ix eGovernment Related Projects
|
Project |
Project Status |
Capital Allocation 2018 |
|
€m |
||
|
Ongoing purchase of computer hardware, photocopiers, other non-IT office machinery, software licenses including storage technology, investment in server infrastructure and in virtualisation technology etc. |
Underway |
6.758 |
|
Intreo Service Development |
Subject to progression timelines of project |
0.400 |
|
Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information |
Subject to progression timelines of project |
0.142 |
|
eGovernment - Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information |
Subject to progression timelines of project |
0.2 |
|
Total |
7.5 |
Table 3: A.2.vi Office Premises
|
Project |
Project Status |
Capital Allocation 2018 |
|
€m |
||
|
Tuam |
Initiated |
0.8 |
|
Kilmallock |
Initiated |
0.3 |
|
Kilbarrack |
Project Underway |
0.090 |
|
Bantry |
Initiated |
0.9 |
|
Nenagh |
Initiated |
0.45 |
|
Ballybofey |
Initiated |
0.5 |
|
Longford |
Contractually Committed |
0.1 |
|
Killybegs |
Initiated |
0.05 |
|
Dungarvan |
Initiated |
0.18 |
|
Generators |
Project Underway |
0.13 |
|
Total |
3.5 |
274. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the unrealistic repayment plans being forced upon HAP recipients who find themselves in arrears on their HAP rent contribution account and face having their HAP payments suspended if they cannot comply in view of the fact that HAP recipients are on this payment due to their low income; if an amendment will be made to guidelines pertaining to repayment plans in order that HAP recipients can enter a repayment plan that is within their individual financial resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20338/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. There are currently just over 36,000 households having their housing needs met via HAP and some 20,000 separate landlords and agents currently in receipt of HAP payments. A weekly average of 357 HAP tenancies are been set-up during 2018.
HAP is a form of social housing support under which local authorities make monthly payments on behalf of tenants directly to landlords in respect of rent, subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme. All the terms and conditions of the HAP scheme for both tenants and landlords are available on the dedicated HAP website, www.hap.ie, and associated HAP documentation.
HAP tenants are required to sign a rent contribution agreement to pay a weekly rental contribution to the local authority, in line with the local authority’s differential rent scheme. As set out in the rent contribution agreement, this weekly rental contribution must be paid by them so that they remain eligible for the HAP scheme. HAP recipients are required to set up automatic electronic rent payment arrangements.
Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Accordingly, the day-to-day operation of the social housing system, including HAP, is a matter for the relevant local authority.
In addition, with regard to differential rent, section 58(3) of the Housing Act 1966 provides that, subject to such Regulations, as may be made by the Minister under the section, a housing authority may charge such rent or other payment, as they may determine from time to time, in respect of a dwelling of which they are the owner. The making and amending of rent schemes and the administration of such schemes is accordingly the responsibility of housing authorities, as an integral part of their housing management functions.
There is an onus on local authorities to ensure that the administration of rents and associated matters are undertaken within the framework of an effective system for the proper management and maintenance of the housing stock. Rental income is the main source of funding for the management and maintenance of dwellings. Rent schemes developed should ensure that the overall rental income reflects adequately, insofar as it is practicable to do so, the cost of management and maintenance of the local authority's rented housing stock and enables the authority to fulfil its obligations to its tenants in regard to the management and maintenance of their dwellings. Broad principles in relation to this matter were laid down by my Department via Circular letter and associated guidelines, which drew on an extensive process of consultation with local authority practitioners, were also issued which should be of assistance in achieving good practice in the administration of rent related matters.
The HAP Shared Service Centre (SSC) manages the collection of all HAP tenants’ differential rents, on behalf of the relevant local authority, and the payment of all HAP rents to landlords on behalf of tenants supported by the HAP scheme. The HAP SSC applies a very clear communication policy if rental arrears issues arise. This policy includes regular and early written communication with tenants, landlords and the relevant local authority.
Outside of issuing the formal notification letters, there would always be attempts to contact the tenants by phone and by email to settle accounts and avoid escalation of the debt process. Depending on the activity of arrears in question, both the relevant local authority and the landlord are informed when an account has not been cleared and of possible suspension and/ or cessation of the HAP payment. However, in the vast majority of cases a payment plan to deal with the arrears is agreed between the tenant and the local authority, before there is any necessity to advise the landlord.
If the tenant does not contact their local authority or does not enter into a payment arrangement within 8 weeks of the arrears commencing, both the landlord and the tenant are informed that the HAP payment may be ceased.
To date, the approach has been very effective with minimal levels of rent arrears arising for HAP tenants. In 2017, when nearly 18,000 additional households were supported by HAP, the scheme had a 98% differential rent collection rate, with minimal arrears arising for tenants or local authorities. Therefore, only a very small number of tenants have fallen into difficulty with their differential rent.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review. In general, I am satisfied with the operation of the HAP scheme and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme under Rebuilding Ireland.
