Written Answers Nos. 143-167
143. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to expand the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, grants for solar photovoltaic cells currently available to householders to SMEs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46008/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn July 2018, details of a new pilot scheme to support micro generation were introduced, initially targeting domestic self-consumption through a grant scheme for solar PV installation and battery storage. The data gathered during the pilot scheme will inform potential future phases of support for micro-generation in Ireland that may be appropriate, as we align with the ambition and requirements of the recast Renewable Energy Directive (RED) that recognises the rights, entitlements and obligations of renewable self-consumers. The scheme will be subject to a six month review which will examine the uptake and the level of the grant, assess the costs associated with relevant technologies and explore opportunities for broadening the scheme to other groups, as appropriate. The objective of the pilot scheme is to help build a sustainable, enduring micro generation sector in Ireland including setting appropriate safety and qualification standards for the industry.
Micro generation, was also appraised as part of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) economic assessment. The analysis identified a number of challenges that may need to be addressed before a financial support scheme (payment) for micro generation can be developed. These include a reform of network charges, an assessment of the distributional impact of such a policy decision on the PSO (cost burden sharing), and development of a fair tariff for exported electricity taking the benefits of self-consumption into account. This approach is in line with experience from other EU member states who have attempted to introduce supports for micro generation.
My Department currently offers opportunities for SMEs to avail of supports for Solar PV and other energy efficiency measures through the SEAI-led Better Energy Communities scheme, details of which can be found www.seai.ie/grants/community-grants.
144. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the provision of rural broadband in County Kildare. [46024/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April 2017 my Department published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan. The Map is colour coded and searchable by address/eircode:
- The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
- The BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The LIGHT BLUE areas represent eir's commercial rural deployment plans to roll-out high speed broadband to 300,000 premises as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017.
There are approximately 92,000 premises in Kildare. Nearly 14,000 (15%) fall within the AMBER area and will be served under the State led Intervention. Some 76,000 (83%) of premises are in a BLUE area and are or will be served by commercial providers, while nearly 2,000 (2%) are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be served by eir's planned rural deployment.
The above is based on data for Q3 2018. This data is to be published on my Department’s website shortly.
Information on categories of specific premises can be accessed on the Department’s website, www.broadband.gov.ie, by entering the relevant eircode into the High Speed Broadband Map. For those premises who fall within eir's commercial deployment to 300,000 premises further detail is provided on its website www.fibrerollout.ie.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage, with evaluation ongoing of the final tender submission received on 18 September. The Taoiseach has asked Mr Peter Smyth, the independent process auditor to the NBP procurement to review the process. Mr. Smyth will submit a report to the Taoiseach and to me as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. This review is taking place in parallel with the evaluation being carried out by the Department’s procurement team on the final tender.
Under a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017, eir is in the process of passing 300,000 predominantly rural homes with high speed broadband. According to data for Q3 2018 submitted by eir to my Department the company has passed almost 210,000 premises nationwide as part of its ongoing deployment. This data is to be published on my Department’s website shortly.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements.
145. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the revised target deployment schedule for the national broadband plan will be published; and when black spots in County Louth can expect to have access to adequate broadband services. [46032/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra146. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to undertake public information campaigns or to provide updates to persons living in black spot areas in County Louth and other counties affected regarding the future of the national broadband plan. [46033/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra147. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the audit commissioned from a person (details supplied) on the integrity of the procurement process regarding the national broadband plan will conclude; and if the findings of the audit will be published. [46034/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 145 to 147, inclusive, together.
In April 2017 my Department published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie . This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan.
The Map is colour coded and searchable by address/eircode:
- The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
- The BLUE areas represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The LIGHT BLUE areas represent eir's commercial rural deployment plans to roll-out high speed broadband to 300,000 premises as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017.
There are nearly 61,000 premises in Louth. Some 8,500 (14%) fall within the AMBER area and will be served under the State led Intervention. Nearly 52,000 (85%) of premises are in a BLUE area and are or will be served by commercial providers, while approximately 500 (1%) are LIGHT BLUE and fall to be served by eir's planned rural deployment.
The above is based on data for Q3 2018. This data is to be published on my Department’s website shortly.
Information on categories of specific premises can be accessed on my Department’s website, www.broadband.gov.ie, by entering the relevant eircode into the High Speed Broadband Map. For those premises who fall within eir's commercial deployment to 300,000 premises further detail is provided on its website www.fibrerollout.ie.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage, with evaluation ongoing of the final tender submission received on 18 September. The Taoiseach has asked Mr. Peter Smyth, the independent process auditor to the NBP procurement to review the process. Mr. Smyth will submit a report to the Taoiseach and to me as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. This review is taking place in parallel with the evaluation being carried out by the Department’s procurement team on the final tender.
Under a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017, eir is in the process of passing 300,000 predominantly rural homes with high speed broadband. According to data for Q3 2018 submitted by eir to my Department the company has passed almost 210,000 premises nationwide as part of its ongoing deployment. This data is to be published on my Department’s website shortly.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity. Under the Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements.
To address mobile phone blackspots, officials in my Department and in the Department of Rural and Community Development are actively engaged with local authorities and mobile phone operators to identify priority blackspots and take action to resolve this issue.
To identify the areas across the country lacking adequate mobile phone coverage, both Departments have worked with a pilot group of local authorities to identify the issues associated with mapping local blackspots. This pilot exercise has been completed, with all local authorities now having been asked to map local blackspots and identify infrastructure that could potentially be used to provide additional coverage on an economic basis. This exercise is ongoing. The blackspot information received so far is providing useful and usable data regarding poor coverage in many rural areas and along national and regional roads.
Various other initiatives are under way to address mobile coverage blackspots:
- Both Departments have worked to achieve a greater consensus around site selection for telecoms infrastructure and therefore improve mobile phone coverage.
- A focus group was established to provide guidance with respect to categories of location where high quality reliable mobile coverage should be made available as a priority. The report of the focus group was published on my Department’s website on 31 August 2018. It is anticipated that the output of the focus group should influence the actions of the mobile network operators in their work to reduce mobile phone blackspots. It will also inform future policy in my Department with regards to priorities for mobile phone services.
- A working group has been established with the remit of investigating the feasibility of developing standardised policy for accessing and utilising State and publicly owned assets for the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure.
- ComReg is delivering a composite national coverage map, which will, in tandem with its work on handset testing and activities to raise consumer awareness, allow people across Ireland to optimise the services available to them.
- Following a consultation process ComReg has developed a licensing scheme which will enable households and businesses to use mobile phone repeaters to boost signals into their premises and bring immediate improvements in mobile coverage
- All of these initiatives should assist in enhancing the quality of mobile phone and data services, particularly in rural areas.
Further information on the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce is available on my Department’s website, www.broadband.gov.ie.
148. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the roll-out of the national broadband plan; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that businesses in counties Cavan and Monaghan are suffering due to a lack of same (details supplied). [46035/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 860 of 6 November 2018. The position is unchanged.
149. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on recent reports regarding emission levels from diesel vehicle imports from the UK and Northern Ireland; if these imports meet Ireland's standards on particulate and other noxious emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46047/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of recent reports that have indicated that emissions testing was not being carried out in Northern Ireland as part of the annual Ministry of Transport (MOT) test on diesel cars, and of concerns that imports of such cars may result in higher emissions from the Irish passenger fleet. Emissions from road vehicles in general, and from diesel vehicles in particular, are a key source of negative health impacts from a range of air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), black carbon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), especially in urban areas. Any factor which may increase these emissions, or circumvent legally mandated controls on them, is a matter for concern. However I understand that, with a few rare exceptions such as vintage vehicles, any second-hand car imported into Ireland from Northern Ireland will be required to undergo the National Car Test (NCT) if it is more than four years old and the period of validity of its MOT has expired, at which point its emissions will be tested.
For further information on this question, or on matters relating to the NCT, I would refer the Deputy to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
150. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Emper, Ballynacargy, County Westmeath, will avail of efibre broadband (details supplied). [46078/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April 2017 my Department published an updated High Speed Broadband Map which is available at www.broadband.gov.ie. This map shows the areas targeted by commercial operators to provide high speed broadband services and the areas that will be included in the State Intervention Area under the National Broadband Plan. The Map is colour coded and searchable by address/eircode:
- The AMBER areas represent the target areas for the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP and are the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
- The BLUE represent those areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high speed broadband services.
- The LIGHT BLUE areas represent eir's commercial rural deployment plans to roll-out high speed broadband to 300,000 premises as part of a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017.
According to the Map all 42 premises in the townland of Emper are in the AMBER area. The townland of Ballynacargy (Ballynacarrigy on the Map) has 98 premises, all of which are also in the AMBER area. Information on the categories of premises in other townlands in the wider Ballynacargy area can be accessed on my Department’s website www.broadband.gov.ie by entering the relevant eircode into the High Speed Broadband Map.
Under a Commitment Agreement signed with my Department in April 2017, eir is in the process of passing 300,000 predominantly rural homes with high speed broadband. According to data for Q3 2018 submitted by eir to my Department the company has passed almost 210,000 premises nationwide as part of its ongoing deployment. This data is to be published on my Department’s website shortly. For those premises who fall within eir's commercial deployment to 300,000 premises further detail is provided on its website www.fibrerollout.ie.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage, with evaluation ongoing of the final tender submission received on 18 September.
The Taoiseach has asked Mr Peter Smyth, the independent process auditor to the NBP procurement to review the process. Mr. Smyth will submit a report to the Taoiseach and to me as Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. This review is taking place in parallel to the evaluation being carried out by the Department’s procurement team on the final tender.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements.
151. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the safety measures that will be put in place at a junction (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45978/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of local authorities, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
It is a matter for each Council to determine its priorities and decide its work programme taking available grant funding and its own resources into account. I always stress to Councils the importance of prioritising roads when allocating their own resources.
My Department's regional and local road grant programmes include a Safety Improvement Works scheme. Under this programme local authorities submit a list of projects each year in order of priority for consideration for funding. Within the constraints of the overall roads budget, allocations are then made to local authorities as part of the annual grant allocation process. The Cavan County Council proposals for Safety Works in 2019 will be considered under this process. It is expected that the 2019 Grant Allocations for regional and local roads will be announced in January 2019.
152. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he and TII can assist in having urgent works carried out to alleviate flooding problems in respect of two properties (details supplied); and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that despite several commitments that the work was to be carried out in 2018 nothing has been carried out to date; if he will make a statement on the matter. [45992/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and operation of individual roads is a matter for the relevant road authority in relation to local and regional roads, or for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in conjunction with the local authorities concerned, in relation to national roads (such as the N73).
While I note that you have already been in contact with the National Roads Design Office (NRDO) on this matter, given the concerns raised, I have referred your question to TII for their attention and direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
153. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46012/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe case provided by the Deputy was subject to review by my Departmental officials as there was an issue with the initial application payment. This matter has now been rectified and the case is being progressed.
154. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Irish Rail has a shortage of carriages and rolling stock to run its schedules; if the company is having to rent carriages and rolling stock for its national, commuter rail and DART lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46045/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra155. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the deficit in DART and commuter rail rolling stock is a major factor in ongoing overcrowding on rail and DART services in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46046/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra156. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to increase capacity on the train line serving the M3 park-and-ride facility. [46098/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 154 to 156, inclusive, together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for ensuring the development and delivery of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the provision of rail fleet.
In light of the NTA's responsibility on this matter, I have referred the Deputies' questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
157. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 484 of 3 July 2018, if she has received the data from Tusla as committed to in the reply; if she will direct Tusla to reply to this Deputy in view of the fact the agency has not responded; if there is a process within Tusla to fully investigate the way in which a complaint was handled dating back to 1998 and having significant repercussions to date; if Tusla will investigate the complaints of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46093/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that it is not appropriate for me to comment on individual cases. I have written to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and asked them to ensure that the individual matter to which the Deputy refers receives the appropriate attention.
I have also asked Tusla to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to his queries on the management of complaints that predate the establishment of Tusla.
I can inform the Deputy that, prior to the establishment of Tusla in 2014, the functions of the Agency fell under the Health Services Executive. Tusla do not have a role in the management of complaints that predate the establishment of the Agency, and such complaints should be made to the HSE.
158. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to seek policy responsibility for parental leave. [46117/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraParental leave, and the range of different types of family leave which are available, are of considerable significance for children’s experiences and their outcomes. For these reasons, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has a clear interest in policy developments in these areas. To this end, officials from my Department have actively engaged in an Inter-Departmental Group this year on how to operationalise commitments in the Programme for Government to expand paid parental leave during the first year of a child’s life. My Department has also led the drafting of a Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families which outlines significant actions to continue to making progress in this area in the coming decade. The Strategy will be published on 19th November. The Department of Justice and Equality, in the context of its mandate to progress equality measures, has policy responsibility for Family Leave and will lead on the implementation of actions in this respect in the Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families, in partnership with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection in the case of paid leave entitlements. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs will continue to work closely with colleagues across Government to progress actions on family leave and family friendly flexible working. This collaborative approach across the relevant Government Departments is effective and I am not seeking to change it.
159. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to review the CLÁR areas based on the 2016 census returns; the timeline for the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45960/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCLÁR was originally launched in October 2001 to provide for targeted investment in disadvantaged rural areas. The areas originally selected for inclusion in the programme were those which suffered the greatest population decline from 1926 to 1996. The Cooley Peninsula was also included on the basis of the serious difficulties caused in that area by Foot and Mouth disease. The average population loss in the original CLÁR regions over the period 1926 to 1996 was 50%.
In 2006, an analysis of the 2002 Census data was carried out by the NIRSA Institute at Maynooth University and the programme was extended to include areas with an average population loss of 35% between 1926 and 2002.
The CLÁR programme was closed for new applications in 2010. However, I re-launched the programme in the second half of 2016, using as a base-line the areas identified in the work carried out by NIRSA. Over 1,200 projects have been approved for funding of €25 million under CLÁR since I re-launched the programme in 2016.
I have now initiated a review of the CLÁR programme which will, in particular, examine CLÁR areas by reference to the 2016 Census of Population data. The review process will begin with a targeted consultation meeting with a number of people who are recognised for their background and expertise in relation to rural development issues. This meeting is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.
The review will also involve more detailed stakeholder consultation and will inform future launches of the CLÁR programme in 2019 and beyond. I anticipate that the review will be completed early in 2019.
160. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application by Longford County Council for funding for Granard Motte. [39839/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund overseen by my Department will invest €1 billion over 10 years in rural renewal. This will enable towns and villages and outlying rural areas throughout Ireland to grow and support stronger rural economies and communities into the future.
The first call for applications for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed at the end of September. There was a great response with over 290 applications received. Of these 125 were for category 1 "shovel ready" projects and the other 165 were for category 2 projects - those which need development funding to become potential category 1 applications in future calls for applications.
Assessment criteria are published and the applications are now being assessed by a project advisory board. The board includes representatives from key Government Departments and external experts.
As the assessment process has not concluded it would not be appropriate for me or my Department to comment on any applications received.
By the end of this month I am expecting to receive recommendations from the project advisory board on the first group of category 1 projects for funding with further announcements to follow.
161. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a payment will issue for an application by a person (details supplied) for illness benefit. [45989/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned has now been processed and any arrears owing to her have been issued.
If she remains ill and unfit for work, she should forward further medical certificates to the Department as soon as possible to enable payments to continue to issue.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
162. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for delays in applications for illness benefit; and the steps she is taking to rectify the situation. [45990/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOverall payment levels of Illness Benefit (IB) are now at their normal level. For information, in any one week, circa 50,000 customers are entitled to an IB payment. Last week, circa 54,000 customer payments were made, approximately 4,000 payments in excess of the normal level, and this includes some customers due arrears. For any customers with arrears outstanding, the Department would like to assure them that they will receive their back payments as soon as possible.
The Department can confirm that a normal level of payments will issue to IB customers this week. It is, however, important to note that there will always be some people who do not get paid in any given week. This is due to issues such as delays in receipt of claims and certificates, incorrectly completed certificates, human error, inconsistencies between the information submitted and the information already on file, the existence of another welfare payment for the main claimant or their dependants on the claim, all of which can lead to payments being suspended or delayed. This was always the case.
However, the Department acknowledges that the majority of the delays over the past few weeks were due to system and processing issues rather than normal levels of exceptions and would like to again apologise to the customers affected.
In August, the IB scheme migrated from an old legacy IT system approaching its end-of-life to a more up-to-date system already successfully used for many of the Department’s other payments. As part of this process, IB payments transitioned from a payment in arrears to a real-time payment model. This model was designed to provide quicker access to payments for customers and also to greatly reduce the manual processing work involved in administering IB claims. Unfortunately, although the majority of customers continued to receive payments, there were a number of unanticipated difficulties and some IB customers’ payments were adversely affected with delays and missed payments.
The Department would like to sincerely apologise for the difficulties and frustration experienced by customers who did not receive the correct IB payment or who experienced delays in their payments. The Department has been working hard over the past few weeks, and is continuing to work, to resolve any outstanding issues - allocating additional staff to IB claim work and developing a number of IT modifications to identify and rectify payment issues.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
163. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) will receive an illness benefit payment and all arrears due. [45991/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Illness Benefit claim for the person concerned is certified to 2nd February 2019 and is paid to date.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
164. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she and the Secretary General of her Department will appear before the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts about the delays in payments of illness benefit to circa 50,000 persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45993/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Secretary General will appear before the Joint Committee on Employment Affairs and Social Protection on 8th November 2018 in order to update the committee on the issues pertaining to recent Illness Benefit payment matters and the steps taken to address these issues. The Secretary General will respond to any questions raised by the committee at that meeting.
In addition to his role as Accounting Officer for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, the Secretary General is scheduled to appear before the Houses of the Oireachtas Committee of Public Accounts on a regular basis. Any matters raised at his next appearance before the PAC pertaining to recent Illness Benefit payment issues will be addressed by the Secretary General on that occasion.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
165. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the equality and poverty proofing measurements in place to protect jobseekers under 26 years of age, particularly those who are experiencing homelessness, those with international protection who are moving out of direct provision and those who have support needs such as mental health and confidence building who cannot access or participate in activation schemes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45994/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra166. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which the policy on age-related jobseeker's allowance can continue to be justified as a preventative measure for welfare dependency in view of the fact that there is no basis in evidence (details supplied) [45999/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.
In line with other EU and OECD jurisdictions where such measures feature in their social welfare systems age related reduced jobseeker’s allowance (JA) payments for young unemployed people were introduced on a phased basis to tackle high youth unemployment. Receiving the maximum rate of JA without a strong financial incentive to engage in education or training can lead to long-term welfare dependency from a young age.
A key feature of the introduction of the rate adjustments was that subsequent participation in full-time education and training would lead to an increased rate in payment. As a result, if a young jobseeker on a reduced JA payment participates on an education or training programme they receive the maximum weekly personal payment of €198.
Recipients of JA under 26 years of age who have dependent children, those transferring directly to JA from disability allowance, or individuals aged 18-24 years who were in the care of the Child and Family Agency (TUSLA) during the period of 12 months before they reached the age of 18 are not subject to the reduced rate. Similarly, unaccompanied minors who entered the State and were in the care of TUSLA prior to entering the direct provision system are exempt from the reduced rates of JA. My Department actively engages with Tusla and non-Government organisations in providing the necessary support to vulnerable young people leaving care who are experiencing homelessness or are in insecure situations.
Supports are also available to vulnerable young people under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, notably through the exceptional needs payment (ENP) which helps meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. For example, to end September 2018, the Department made some 360 rent deposit support payments to young people under 26, with expenditure of some €250,000. This form of assistance is very important to those on low incomes and who are at risk of, or who are homeless, or who rely on the private rented market to meet their housing needs.
The Deputy will be aware that in 2013 the EU adopted a Council Recommendation to member states on a Youth Guarantee. The aim of the EU-wide Youth Guarantee, supported by central EU funding of €6 billion, was to provide young people under the age of 25 with a good quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within a short time of becoming unemployed. Many of the elements of a Youth Guarantee were already in place in Ireland prior to the EU Recommendation, so the implementation of the Irish Youth Guarantee focuses on enhancing processes and policies for assisting young unemployed people to secure sustainable jobs. Under the Youth Guarantee process case officers engage with unemployed young people, on a monthly basis, to prepare and implement personal progression plans for employment. Where young people do not find work quickly, additional supports are offered through places on employment and training schemes, which are closely aligned to the needs of the labour market.
To date, these policies have been effective in reducing both youth and long-term unemployment. For example, the most recent data shows that Irish youth unemployment has fallen from a peak of 31.2% in 2012 to 12.0% in October 2018. Irish youth unemployment has thus fallen from well above the EU average in 2012 (23%) to well below the current EU figure of 14.9%.
The National University of Ireland, Maynooth was given access to the data from the Jobseeker’s Longitudinal Database to examine the effectiveness of the reduced rates in encouraging young jobseekers to avail of education, training, employment programmes and opportunities. They examined the data for 18 and 19 year olds as the reduced rates were first introduced for this cohort. Their findings found positive results noting an overall reduction in unemployment durations.
The Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) which I launched on 24 September 2018 is a new work experience scheme targeted exclusively at young jobseekers, aged 18 to 24, who are either long-term unemployed or face significant barriers to employment. All participants will receive a payment of €229.20 per week from my Department. Participants whose underlying entitlement is in excess of that amount will continue to receive their weekly payment with an additional top-up allowance of €22.50 per week.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
167. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the roll-out of the youth employment support scheme will come into effect; if the scheme can guarantee the inclusion of persons experiencing homelessness or who have international protection and are moving out of direct provision with no recourse to family or financial supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46020/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Youth Employment Support Scheme (YESS) has been open to applications since Monday 1st October 2018.
YESS is targeted at young jobseekers aged 18-24 years of age who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment. The scheme aims to provide jobseekers with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement. The scheme will provide a supportive structure for participants, including case worker support for both Placement Hosts and jobseekers.
While participation on the YESS is wholly voluntary for both parties involved, there are certain qualifying and eligibility conditions that both Placement Hosts and jobseekers have to satisfy.
For a jobseeker to participate on the YESS, they need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- they must be aged between 18 and 24 and
- have been out of work and in receipt of a qualifying payment for at least 12 months, or
- if unemployed for less than 12 months, be considered by a case officer to face a significant barrier to work.
The list of qualifying payments for participation on the scheme include; Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit, One Parent Family Payment, Jobseeker's Transition Payment, Disability Allowance, Blind Person’s Pension or Supplementary Welfare Allowance. The scheme does not guarantee inclusion for any jobseekers, other than those who satisfy the necessary criteria and who meet the scheme qualifying conditions. Persons who are experiencing homelessness or that have international protection and are moving out of direct provision will need to be in receipt of a relevant payment and satisfy all other scheme related conditions to be eligible to participate.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
