Robert Troy
Ceist:536. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be granted to a school (details supplied) that has submitted an application through the CLÁR scheme. [22081/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCLÁR Programme
Ceisteanna (536)
Freagraí scríofa
CLÁR is a targeted capital investment programme for rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation.
I launched the 2018 CLÁR programme on the 15th of March last, with an indicative allocation of €5 million for qualifying projects under the following measures:
Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures
Measure 2: Play Areas/Multi-Use Games Areas
Measure 3: First Response Support Measure
The closing date for CLÁR 2018 was the 30th of April and I can confirm that an application was received in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy.
More than 400 applications have been received by my Department and my officials are currently assessing these proposals. I hope to be in a position to announce the successful 2018 CLÁR projects in the coming weeks, following the completion of the assessment process.
CLÁR Programme
Ceisteanna (537)
Robert Troy
Ceist:537. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be granted to a group (details supplied) that has applied through the CLÁR scheme. [22082/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
CLÁR is a targeted capital investment programme for rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation.
I launched the 2018 CLÁR programme on the 15th of March last, with an indicative allocation of €5 million for qualifying projects under the following measures:
Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures
Measure 2: Play Areas/Multi-Use Games Areas
Measure 3: First Response Support Measure
The closing date for CLÁR 2018 was 30th April and more than 400 applications were received by my Department. An application does not appear to have been received in respect of the group referred to by the Deputy. However, if the Deputy wishes to provide me with further information, I will look further into the matter.
My officials are currently assessing all applications received under the 2018 CLÁR programme and I hope to be in a position to announce the successful 2018 CLÁR projects in the coming weeks.
CLÁR Programme
Ceisteanna (538)
Robert Troy
Ceist:538. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be granted to a school (details supplied) that has applied through the CLÁR scheme. [22083/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
CLÁR is a targeted capital investment programme for rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation.
I launched the 2018 CLÁR programme on the 15th of March last, with an indicative allocation of €5 million for qualifying projects under the following measures:
Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures
Measure 2: Play Areas/Multi-Use Games Areas
Measure 3: First Response Support Measure
The closing date for CLÁR 2018 was 30th April and I can confirm that an application was received in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy.
More than 400 applications have been received by my Department and my officials are currently assessing these proposals. I hope to be in a position to announce the successful 2018 CLÁR projects in the coming weeks, following the completion of the assessment process.
CLÁR Programme
Ceisteanna (539)
Robert Troy
Ceist:539. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be granted to a school (details supplied) that has applied through the CLÁR scheme. [22084/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
CLÁR is a targeted capital investment programme for rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation.
I launched the 2018 CLÁR programme on the 15th of March last, with an indicative allocation of €5 million for qualifying projects under the following measures:
Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures
Measure 2: Play Areas/Multi-Use Games Areas
Measure 3: First Response Support Measure
The closing date for CLÁR 2018 was 30th April and I can confirm that an application was received in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy.
More than 400 applications have been received by my Department and my officials are currently assessing these proposals. I hope to be in a position to announce the successful 2018 CLÁR projects in the coming weeks, following the completion of the assessment process.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (540)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:540. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the breakdown of the training and development and incidental expenses incurred by his Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22146/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017.
On a full year basis, a total of €45,478 was expended on training and development in my Department to year end 2017.
There were no incidental expenses incurred.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (541)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:541. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the breakdown of the travel and subsistence expenses incurred by his Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22162/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department was established following the Transfer of Functions Orders in July 2017. On a full year basis, a total of €239,000 was expended on travel and subsistence expenses in my Department to year end 31 December 2017.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (542)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:542. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the consultancy services, value for money and policy review expenses incurred by his Department in the year ending 31 December 2017. [22178/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19 July 2017. Any information relating to the functions transferred to this Department, for the requested period prior to that date, will be reported on by the relevant previous parent Departments, in their responses. The information in the table below is from the date of establishment of the Department. No expenses were incurred by my Department in relation to value for money and policy reviews.
|
Type |
Year |
Company |
Spend |
|
Consultancy service |
2017 |
Elevate Strategies Limited |
18,819 |
|
Consultancy service |
2017 |
Indecon |
49,749 |
Control of Dogs
Ceisteanna (543)
Noel Rock
Ceist:543. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to remove the need for personal information on dog collar tags, including names and addresses of owners, in view of the fact that the details can be added on microchips; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22208/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998, require the owner or person in charge of a dog to ensure the dog wears a collar bearing the name and address of the owner on an attached plate, badge or disc. This facilitates the return of the dog to its owner in the event that it is lost and where access to a microchip scanner may not be easily available.
I have no plans amend the regulations in respect of this matter at this time.
Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation
Ceisteanna (544)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:544. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress on the pilot scheme to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages, as committed to under the Action Plan for Rural Development. [22518/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A pilot scheme to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages is currently being developed as part of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which is administered by my Department. The pilot will consider ways in which properties that are currently not in use in town centres can be renovated to allow them to be used for residential purposes. This will help to rejuvenate town centres while also contributing to the housing needs of individuals.
I have established a Steering Group to oversee the design and delivery of the pilot scheme. The Steering Group is chaired by my Department and involves a number of other key Departments and agencies, including the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Finance, and the County and City Management Association, which provides representation from the Local Authority sector.
This is a complex issue, but work in relation to developing the pilot scheme is ongoing and I expect that substantial progress will be made in developing the pilot over the coming months. This pilot has the capacity to inform future initiatives for town centre renewal under the new €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which was announced by the Government recently as part of Project Ireland 2040.
Town and Village Renewal Scheme
Ceisteanna (545)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:545. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on continuing with the current annual limit imposed of 15 applications per county to the town and village renewal scheme; and if an analysis or costings to date have been completed on increasing the limit per county or adapting to a per capita basis per county. [22520/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is a key part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development. A particular objective of the scheme is to target the towns and villages that were badly hit by the recent recession and might benefit most from the scheme. In that context, I do not believe that increasing the limits in respect of the number of applications submitted by county, or adopting a per capita basis per county, will necessarily achieve that aim.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Town and Village Renewal scheme was launched in the second half of 2016 and it is being enhanced and adapted on an ongoing basis with the aim of ensuring the revitalization of towns and villages across the country.
Under the 2016 scheme, each county received an allocation of €380,000 and each Local Authority was invited to submit up to 8 projects for approval by my Department.
In 2017, a competitive process was introduced, with a strong emphasis on measures that would have a strong economic impact on towns and villages. Each Local Authority was invited to submit a maximum of 15 applications for consideration by my Department. All applications were assessed against the scheme criteria and successful applications were selected on the basis of merit.
Under the 2018 scheme which I announced recently, each Local Authority has been invited to submit a maximum of 12 projects for consideration. While the selection of applications will again be based on merit, as outlined in the scheme documentation my Department will endeavour to select at least 4 projects in each county, depending on the quality of the proposals received, in order to ensure a reasonable geographic spread. The 2018 scheme is again encouraging applications in respect of projects that can bring a positive economic impact to towns and villages and I am hoping to approve a higher number of large-scale projects that meet this objective. It is for this reason that I have asked Local Authorities to submit a slightly lower number of proposals than in 2017.
Over 450 projects have been funded across the country under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme since it was introduced in the second half of 2016. The Government’s commitment to supporting rural Ireland is underscored through Project Ireland 2040, which will see the creation of a new €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to be launched shortly. This new Fund will provide an opportunity to deliver more integrated and ambitious projects which will further support the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages.
EU Funding
Ceisteanna (546)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:546. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on the cut of 21% in the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development at EU level for the multi-annual financial framework, MFF, programme 2021-27, as referenced in COM (2018) 321, compared to the 2014-20 programme; if the cut to the EU co-financing element of Leader will be bridged with Exchequer contributions over the 2021-27 period; and if not, the reason therefor. [22521/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The European Commission has proposed, as part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, that the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) would be allocated approximately €78.8 billion for the period 2021-2027. I understand that this represents a reduction in the region of 15% on the current period, although there are a number of different percentages being suggested depending on the approach used to compare the 2021-2027 MFF proposal with the level of funding currently being provided.
It should be noted that the proposal published by the European Commission is the initial MFF proposal. The final outcome will be determined by negotiations at EU level over the coming year. Achieving Ireland’s priorities in these negotiations will be a key issue for the Government.
A decision regarding the level of funding to be provided for the various elements of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme, including LEADER, will be made following the conclusion of the MFF negotiations.
Recreational Facilities
Ceisteanna (547)
Catherine Martin
Ceist:547. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of public playgrounds maintained by each local authority nationally in tabular form. [22581/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has funded the development of playgrounds and Multi-Use Games Areas in specific areas under the CLÁR programme.
However, my Department does not have a function in respect of the general maintenance of public playgrounds and the information requested by the Deputy is not available within my Department. The maintenance of such playgrounds is a matter for each individual Local Authority.
Road Improvement Schemes
Ceisteanna (548)
Willie Penrose
Ceist:548. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if, in the context of the allocation of moneys by his Department for accommodation roads under the road improvement scheme, he will ring-fence additional moneys and special allocations to offshore islands, which incur additional costs to carry out such works with plant materials and so on and, further, have significantly more accommodation roads to repair due to location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22719/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) which the Deputy refers to is a programme for improvement works on small private/non-public roads. The eligibility criteria for the scheme are largely based on the Memorandum governing the scheme which was published in 2002 by the then Department of Environment and Local Government. The scheme is currently delivered through the Local Authorities.
Eligible roads are non-public roads, often leading to houses and important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, piers, mountains, etc., or other non-public roads that provide access to parcels of land, or provide access for harvesting purposes (including turf or seaweed) for two or more persons. There must be more than one landholder on an LIS road and the road must be open to the public.
It is the responsibility of the relevant Local Authority to select and prioritise the road projects that will receive LIS funding, including on offshore islands, in line with the scheme criteria, their financial allocation, and the Memorandum governing the scheme.
The Memorandum does not preclude roads on islands being selected by the relevant Local Authorities. I do not, therefore, propose to ring-fence funding specifically for LIS roads on islands at present.
Defined Benefit Pension Schemes
Ceisteanna (549)
Tom Neville
Ceist:549. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22550/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
While it is not appropriate for me to comment on an individual pension scheme, I am aware of recent announcements regarding the pension scheme in question and plans to close the scheme to future accrual. Neither I nor the Pensions Authority has the power under legislation to intervene to compel an employer to continue to make contributions to a scheme. Even where a scheme is closed to new members or to future accrual of benefits, the sponsoring employer role continues in relation to that scheme.
Almost all Irish defined benefit schemes have a rule that allows the employer to cease contributions, usually after a notice period. Currently there is no legislative obligation on the employer to make contributions and no further liability on the employer where contributions cease. Neither is there an obligation on the employer to give notice to members or to consult in advance of ceasing contributions.
However, in the case where a restructuring of benefits is proposed, the employer and the trustees of a pension scheme are required to notify scheme members, beneficiaries and the authorised trade unions. Furthermore, changes made to the Occupational Pension Schemes (Section 50 and 50B) Regulations in 2015 require trustees to also notify groups representing the interests of pensioners and deferred scheme members in a scheme in such a situation.
The Roadmap for Pensions Reform, which was published recently, details specific measures that will modernise our pension system. It sets out under Strand 4, ‘Measures to Support the Operation of Defined Benefit Schemes’, that the Government is committed to advancing the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017. The purpose of this Bill is to respond to the ongoing difficulties in DB schemes and to increase protections for members as well as encouraging employers to ensure that schemes are well funded and managed.
The general scheme of the Bill, which was published in May 2017, contained a number of key measures relating to DB pension schemes. These proposed provisions will ensure that an employer cannot “walk away” at short notice from the pension scheme it is supporting by providing a 12 month notification period where an employer is seeking to cease making contributions to a scheme. The amendments seek a middle road between the current position where employers can abandon DB schemes and full and immediate debt on employer provisions. The measures will act to support existing provisions in the Pensions Act and will provide for further protection for scheme members’ benefits and enhance employer responsibilities for their schemes.
The amendments also provide for more frequent monitoring of the financial position of schemes and will further provide that, where a scheme is in deficit and a funding proposal has not been put in place in a timely manner, the Pensions Authority may direct steps to be taken to ensure that the scheme meets the funding standard.
It is important to note that if this new legislation is enacted, a scheme will have to give a minimum notice period of twelve months before contributions can be stopped. However, it will not prevent a company from ceasing contributions once the minimum notice period is served provided the scheme meets the Minimum Funding Standard.
These provisions are quite technical and complex. Work to finalise them is at an advanced stage and I hope to be in position to bring forward the amendments at Committee Stage at the end of May or early June. With the cooperation of the Oireachtas, the Government intends to pass this legislation before the summer recess.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Disability Allowance Eligibility
Ceisteanna (550)
Alan Kelly
Ceist:550. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if non-taxable subsistence payments while working in rehabilitative employment are exempt from the means test for the purposes of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21986/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Disability allowance (DA) is a weekly means tested allowance paid to people with a disability.
All sources of income (for example, cash income, employment, capital and maintenance) are assessed as part of the means test; however, certain cash income is legislatively excluded from the assessment. Subsistence is not included in the listed exemptions and is fully assessed.
Currently when a person on DA engages in employment of a rehabilitative nature, the first €120 of earnings (after deduction of PRSI, any pension contributions and union dues) is disregarded, and the full amount of DA is retained. In addition, 50% of earnings between €120 and €350 will not be taken into account in the DA means test. Any earnings over €350 are fully assessed as means.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, following a recommendation in the Make Work Pay report, the requirement that work must be of a rehabilitative nature is being removed and the provision giving effect to this is contained in the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017 (Bill 94 of 2017).
My Department has also developed an online Benefit of Work Estimator for people with disabilities which is now available on the DEASP MyWelfare website. This will enable people with disabilities on DA or blind pension to estimate the impact of taking up employment or of working more hours on their payments.
I hope that this answers the Deputy’s question.
Disability Allowance Eligibility
Ceisteanna (551)
Alan Kelly
Ceist:551. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in receipt of disability allowance who serves in a voluntary capacity on a body and is eligible to claim a small amount of non-taxable travel and subsistence for same will have same regarded as means for the purposes of the means assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21987/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Disability allowance (DA) is a means-tested scheme and the way means are assessed is set down in social welfare legislation.
Travel and subsistence under social welfare legislation is considered to be income and all income, with some exceptions, belonging to the person is assessable as means for DA purposes. The deciding officer has no discretion in this and is bound by the legislation.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
State Pension (Contributory) Applications
Ceisteanna (552)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:552. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the progress to date in the determination of an application for a State pension contributory in the case of person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21988/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned is in receipt of a maximum rate state pension (contributory) with effect from their 66th birthday, based on an assessed yearly average of 48 contributions, covering the period from their date of entry into insurable employment in June 1967 to end-December 2016.
The person was notified of this decision in writing on 16 June 2017.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Schemes
Ceisteanna (553)
John Brady
Ceist:553. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the social welfare payments and supports which can be accessed by the self-employed; the criteria for each; and the year each payment was made available to the self-employed in tabular form. [22023/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Self-employed persons have access to the range of social assistance payments and supports subject to meeting the conditionality and means-testing criteria of the relevant scheme.
In addition, the following social insurance payments are available to the self-employed, subject to meeting the conditionality and contribution criteria:
- Adoptive Benefit
- Guardian’s Payment (Contributory)
- Invalidity Pension
- Maternity Benefit
- Paternity Benefit
- State Pension (Contributory)
- Treatment Benefit
- Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory)
The criteria for access to the relevant social insurance schemes and the year they were made available to the self-employed are presented as follows:
|
Scheme |
Criteria for Access |
Year Made Available |
|
Guardian’s Payment (contributory) |
If either parent or step-parent had worked at any time and paid PRSI, including Class S, for 26 weeks, the orphan is entitled to the Guardian's Payment (Contributory). This may be paid for an orphan living in the State or abroad and is not means tested. Payment is made to the orphan's guardian up to the child's 18th birthday or 22nd birthday if they are in full-time education. |
1988 |
|
Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension |
To qualify for a Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension, either the claimant or their late spouse or civil partner must have a certain number of PRSI contributions. All the PRSI requirements must be met on one person's record. All must have been made before the death of the spouse or civil partner. |
1988 |
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
Persons who started paying class S PRSI on 6 April 1988 (the date of introduction of PRSI for the self-employed) will, if it is more advantageous, have entitlement to State Pension (Contributory) based on their PRSI record from that date (even if they had previous social insurance contributions) provided that they satisfy date of entry prior to age 56 on that date. Persons liable for class S PRSI contributions (who have satisfied the other conditions) must have at least one year's class S PRSI contributions paid before reaching pension age and have any outstanding class S PRSI contribution liability paid. |
1988 |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
The claimant must have 52 PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the relevant tax year, 52 PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year, or 52 qualifying PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year. |
1998 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
The claimant must have 52 weeks of PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the relevant tax year, 52 weeks of PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year immediately before the relevant tax year, or 52 weeks of PRSI contributions paid at Class S in the tax year immediately following the relevant tax year. If a claimant is now self-employed but was in insurable employment before she became self-employed, her PRSI contributions (Class A, E and H) in that employment may help her qualify for Maternity Benefit if she does not satisfy the self-employment conditions as stated above. |
1998 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
Same as maternity benefit. |
2016 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
The claimant must have at least 260 (5 years) paid PRSI contributions since entering social insurance and 48 contributions paid or credited in the last or second-last complete tax year before the date of their claim. PRSI paid at class S is only reckonable for claims received on or after 1st December 2017. |
2017 |
|
Treatment Benefit |
The claimant must have paid Class A, E, P, H or S social insurance contributions. The amount of social insurance needed depends on the age of the claimant, and there are no special conditions for the self-employed. |
2017 |
Social Welfare Schemes Data
Ceisteanna (554)
John Brady
Ceist:554. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the payments being made to persons categorised as self-employed; and the number receiving each payment. [22024/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are two schemes to assist people on certain social protection payments who wish to become self-employed, namely, the short term enterprise allowance (STEA) and the back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA). The STEA provides immediate access to those who qualify for jobseekers benefit wishing to set up a business. Payment under the scheme is at the same rate and for the same duration as their entitlement to jobseekers benefit.
The BTWEA is designed to provide a monetary incentive for people who are on social welfare payments to develop a business while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their qualifying social welfare payment over two years – 100% in year one and 75% in year two.
At the end of April, there were 8,856 recipients of Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, and 348 recipients of Short-Term Enterprise Allowance.
As well as these supports, at the end of April there were 7,278 people in receipt of a Jobseeker payment (Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance) who indicated that they were previously self-employed.
Because ‘self-employment’ status or previous status is not relevant for entitlement to many other social welfare benefits, there is no ‘self-employed’ category for other benefits.