Written Answers Nos. 262-286
262. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) receives a reduced payment in respect of disability allowance and jobseeker's allowance; if this case will be examined to ensure that the person receives the maximum entitlement for a single person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51337/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the person concerned is in receipt of disability allowance (DA) at the maximum personal rate payable for a single person. If the gentleman’s circumstances have changed and he wishes to have his claim reviewed, he may apply in writing to the disability allowance section, Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Ballinalee Road, Longford.
DA and jobseeker's allowance (JA) cannot be paid simultaneously.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
263. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which entitlement to unpaid wages can be addressed in the case of a person (details supplied); if restitution will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51338/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has a comprehensive suite of employment rights legislation. We have a well-resourced labour inspectorate, which forms part of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). In addition, where an individual believes they are being deprived of employment rights applicable to employees, they may refer a complaint to the WRC where the matter can be dealt with by way of mediation or adjudication leading to a decision enforceable through the District Court.
The Payment of Wages Act 1991 establishes a range of rights for all employees in relation to payment of wages, one of which is protection against unlawful deductions from wages.
The Payment of Wages Act provides that, where an employee considers that there may have been a contravention of the Act, the employee may submit a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) within 6 months of the date of the alleged contravention. The Workplace Relations Customer Service Section of the WRC provides information on employees' rights and how to obtain redress if an employee considers that their employment rights may have been infringed. They can be contacted at Lo-call: 1890 80 80 90 or via its website www.workplacerelations.ie. The Single Complaint Form for submitting complaints regarding breaches of employment rights is also available at www.workplacerelations.ie. An explanatory booklet on the Payment of Wages Act is also available on that website.
264. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when illness benefit will issue in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51339/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department administers the Illness Benefit scheme to those customers who cannot work because they are sick or ill provided they are covered by the appropriate class of social insurance (PRSI) and satisfy the PRSI conditions. Unfortunately, no Illness Benefit claim has been received from the person concerned.
An application form (IB1) for Illness Benefit has issued to the person concerned. When that is completed and returned the claim will be processed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
265. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when fuel allowance is likely to become available to a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51343/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuel allowance is a means-tested payment intended to help householders on long-term social welfare payments with their heating costs during the winter season.
The applicant must satisfy the main eligibility conditions which include being in receipt of a qualifying payment, satisfying a means test and living alone or with other qualifying person(s).
As the spouse of the person concerned is not considered as a qualifying person for the purposes of fuel allowance, their application was disallowed. The person was notified in writing of this decision on 16 June 2018. If the person's circumstances change, it is open to them to re-apply for fuel allowance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
266. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number, date of publication and details of post enactment reports published by her Department since March 2011, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51372/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra267. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of Acts passed since March 2011 for which her Department is responsible; the date, in tabular form, each Act was signed into law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51388/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together.
My Department has responsibility for the legislation underpinning the social welfare code, occupational and private pensions, civil registration and gender recognition, redundancy and employer's insolvency, employment rights and the Citizens Information Board.
Sixteen Acts relating to these matters have been enacted since March 2011, as set out in the following table. No post enactment reports have been published to date.
|
Title of Act |
Date of Enactment |
|
Social Welfare Act 2017 |
23 December 2017 |
|
Social Welfare Act 2016 |
19 December 2016 |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2015 |
16 December 2015 |
|
Gender Recognition Act 2015 |
22 July 2015 |
|
Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 |
6 May 2015 |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2014 |
25 December 2014 |
|
Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 |
4 December 2014 |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2014 |
17 July 2014 |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013 |
25 December 2013 |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2013 |
9 November 2013 |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 |
28 June 2013 |
|
Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2012 |
26 December 2012 |
|
Social Welfare Act 2012 |
21 December 2012 |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2012 |
1 May 2012 |
|
Social Welfare Act 2011 |
19 December 2011 |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011 |
29 June 2011 |
268. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the grant and funding schemes operated by her Department; the value of each scheme; and the basis or criteria used for the allocation of funding in respect of each scheme. [51404/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of its remit to provide information, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection administers a grant funding scheme known as the Grants Scheme for the Development and Promotion of Information and Welfare Rights.
In 2018, funding provided for the scheme amounts to €690,000.
The primary criterion specifies that any grant paid under the scheme is to be used to assist organisations in the provision of information on social services and in particular, social welfare services.
In 2018, three organisations benefitted from funding allocated under the scheme.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
269. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps being taken to reduce inequality in the workplace; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51415/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe question is appropriate to the Minister for Justice and Equality who has policy responsibility for employment equality legislation and inequality in the workplace.
The Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015 outlaw discrimination in a wide range of employment and employment-related areas. These include recruitment and promotion; equal pay; working conditions; training or experience; dismissal and harassment including sexual harassment. The legislation defines discrimination as treating one person in a less favourable way than another person based on any of the following 9 grounds:
- Gender: this means man, woman or transsexual;
- Civil status: includes single, married, separated, divorced, widowed people, civil partners and former civil partners;
- Family status: this refers to the parent of a person under 18 years or the resident primary carer or parent of a person with a disability;
- Sexual orientation: includes gay, lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual;
- Religion: means religious belief, background, outlook or none;
- Age: this does not apply to a person aged under 16;
- Disability: includes people with physical, intellectual, learning, cognitive or emotional disabilities and a range of medical conditions;
- Race: includes race, skin colour, nationality or ethnic origin; or
- Membership of the Traveller community.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Workplace Relations Commission are two separate organisations that work to ensure equality at work.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) is a statutory body set up to provide information to the public on human rights and equality legislation. The IHREC can also act as an advocate on behalf of individuals and support them in defending their rights under the Employment Equality Acts, including the provision of legal assistance. It operates under the aegis of the Department of Justice and Equality.
The Workplace Relations Commission is the place to bring a discrimination claim under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. It investigates or mediates claims of unlawful discrimination under equality legislation, and it operates under the aegis of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
270. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which the back to school clothing and footwear allowance is calculated; if consideration is given to financial hardship where means may be in excess of the allowable limit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51428/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn. The Government provided €49.5 million for the scheme in 2018 which operates from June to September.
The payment rates for the 2018 scheme were €125 for eligible children aged 4 to 11 years and €250 for children aged over 12 years and attending secondary school.
In general, the allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid and eligible children between the ages of 18 and 22 who are in full-time second level education and in respect of whom a qualified child allowance is being paid.
To qualify for BSCFA a person must meet a number of conditions, namely:
- the child must meet the age criteria;
- the applicant must be in receipt of a qualifying payment and getting an increase in that payment for the qualified child (except in certain circumstances);
- the assessable income for the household must be within prescribed limits;
- the applicant and the child (or children) in respect of whom the allowance is claimed must be resident in the State.
There are no current plans to amend the eligibility criteria for BSCFA. Any changes to the scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context and within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.
Applications which are outside the terms of the BSCFA scheme will not qualify for payment under the BSCFA scheme. However, individuals who are refused a BSCFA payment may be considered for exceptional needs payments (ENP) under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme by the officers administering this scheme in the normal way.
Any persons who consider that they have an entitlement to an exceptional needs payment should contact the Department’s Community Welfare Service.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
271. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the refusal of a back to education allowance in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51448/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned made an application for the Back to Education Allowance (B.T.E) which was refused based on the information provided. A request for a review by the person concerned was received, and the application was referred to an independent Case Officer. The outcome of the review found there were no grounds to change the recommendation.
Intreo Centre staff have sought to advise the customer and remain available to assist him.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
272. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason for the ongoing delay in fully commencing the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015; if her attention has been drawn to the impact and distress the long delay in commencing the delayed parts of the Act is having on affected families; the timescale to complete the relevant work to allow for commencement in view of the fact that numerous deadlines have been missed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51462/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCertain sections in Part 9 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 provide for the registration and re-registration of the birth of a donor-conceived child. The current position is that these sections need to be amended, to correct technical errors, and have yet to be commenced. I am aware of the impact that this is having on affected families, and of the pressing need to proceed with commencement as quickly as possible. My intention is to correct these technical errors by means of Committee Stage amendments to the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Bill 2017, which I hope to see taken early in the new year.
Commencement of these provisions is also dependent on commencement of Parts 2 & 3 of the Act, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Health. In this regard, the Children and Family Relationships (Amendment) Bill 2018 was enacted on 24 July 2018. It was introduced to correct typographical and technical errors in the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which will facilitate the subsequent commencement of Parts 2 & 3 of the Act. There are important administrative and operational arrangements to be put in place to facilitate the implementation of Parts 2 & 3, including the establishment of the National Donor-Conceived Person Register and the appointment of authorised persons under the Act. I know that it is Minister for Health's intention that Parts 2 & 3 of the Act will be commenced as soon as possible.
In order to progress this, officials from the General Register Office, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and the Department of Health are working together to ensure that the appropriate legislative, regulatory, and operational, mechanisms are in place to allow for the earliest possible commencement of all of the relevant legislation that will allow for birth registrations of donor-conceived children.
273. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applicants for a State contributory pension since 2012 who have been refused a a contributory pension due to the fact that they did not have 520 contributions; and the number who had over 260 contributions. [51471/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra274. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applicants for the State contributory pension who failed to qualify due to the fact they did not have 520 contributions but over 260 and failed to qualify for a non-contributory pension due to a means test. [51472/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 273 and 274 together.
According to the records of my Department, 12,003 applicants for state pension (contributory) have been disallowed because they did not satisfy the minimum paid contribution requirement of 520. Of these, 6,085 applicants have 260 or more contributions but fewer than 520.
The Department's records indicate that 331 applicants disallowed state pension (contributory) since 2012 were disallowed state pension (non-contributory), as their weekly means exceeded the statutory limit. Of these, 192 applicants have 260 or more contributions but less than 520.
In April 2012, the number of paid contributions required to qualify for state pension (contributory) increased from 260 to 520. The change, which took effect in 2012, was signalled well in advance. In 1993, "Developing the National Pension System - Final Report of the National Pensions Board” was published. It recommended that the number of paid contributions required to qualify for a contributory pension should be increased to 520 contributions, in recognition of the expansion of PRSI coverage over the decades.
The necessary legislation to effect this recommendation was contained in Section 12 of the Social Welfare Act 1997, which provided for the implementation of the change in two stages, with the paid contribution requirement being standardised at 260 from 2002 (5 years after its introduction in law), and rising to 520 from April 2012 (15 years after its introduction in law). It is reasonable to require people who seek a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years paid contributions into the Social Insurance Fund, which finances contributory pensions, over 50 years of working age life.
Those who do not satisfy the qualifying conditions for contributory pension, because they have paid few or no contributions into the Social Insurance Fund, may instead qualify for State Pension (non-contributory). This is a means-tested payment (based on their share of household means), with the maximum payment set at 95% of the state pension (contributory) rate.
The Government plans to put in place a new Total Contributions Approach for all new pensioners from 2020. Under a “Total Contributions Approach”, a set total of social insurance contributions paid and credited will be required to qualify for a maximum rate state pension (contributory) and people with less than this set total will receive a pro rata entitlement. This approach was subject to a recent public consultation. The analysis of that consultation is almost finalised and when complete, will help inform a proposal to go to Government on the future total contributions approach for new pensioners from 2020.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
275. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a community employment scheme (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51486/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork Schemes such as Community Employment (CE) are positive initiatives that enable long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst upskilling themselves for prospective future employment. However it is important to note that participation on these schemes is intended to be for a temporary fixed-term and the positions offered are not full-time sustainable jobs. Participation limits are set on these schemes to allow for the maximum utilisation of places amongst qualifying persons.
The welcome increase in the number of people at work and the continued reduction in Live Register numbers is a factor in recruitment to all work programmes. In this regard, the Department has implemented a number of changes to the terms and conditions of participation on CE, the purpose of which is to broaden the availability to a greater number of people on the Live Register and to standardise other conditions around the length of time a person can participate on a programme.
The Department is very mindful of the large number of work programme places involved in service delivery and other valuable services around the country. In this regard if any scheme is experiencing particular recruitment difficulties, they should contact their local Department Intreo Centre for assistance.
276. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 631 of 27 November 2018, if the project has a full local authority inhouse design team; if not, if the project has inhouse architectural services and outsourced the remaining design team externally; the potential local authority fees on this project at each stage through to construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51244/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra278. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 631 of 27 November 2018, the amount to date of staged transfer of funds to the local authority relating to this housing project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51284/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 278 together.
My Department approved funding of €1.1m for this scheme in July 2018 and it is now a matter for Wicklow County Council to progress the scheme to construction. Architectural and Assigned Certifier Services for this project were provided by the local authority while other services were externally resourced and appointed.
Funding in relation to in-house professional services for new social housing build projects is based on a percentage of the construction costs excluding VAT and is stage payable as follows:
i. 5% on Stage 1 approval;
ii. 20% on Stage 2 approval;
iii. 40% on Stage 3 approval;
iv. 7.5% on Stage 4 approval;
v. 25% over the construction period; and
vi. 2.5% on Department sign-off of the final account.
A total of €307,639.25 has been provided to date to the Council in respect of fees, site costs and local authority administration costs.
277. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to include Traveller-specific accommodation developments in the quarterly social housing construction pipeline report. [51252/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes a quarterly Social Housing Construction Status Report, which provides information on the status of many of the various social housing new build projects underway nationally. The report includes details of schemes being progressed by the local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies.
A dedicated budget is in place to fund the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation, based on the requirements identified in the local Traveller Accommodation Programmes (TAPs). The funding supports the delivery of various types of accommodation including group housing, halting sites and the refurbishment of existing units.
In line with the commitment in Rebuilding Ireland, and reflecting the disappointing level of overall funding drawdown in recent years, in 2017 the Housing Agency commissioned a review of funding for Traveller-specific accommodation to date. This review had regard to targets contained in local authority TAPs and actual delivery, the current status of accommodation funded and funding provided for accommodation maintenance and other supports. Following its consideration of the review, the National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee recommended that an Independent Expert Group be established to examine and make recommendations on issues regarding Traveller accommodation policy, strategy and implementation. The work of this Expert Group is now underway with a report from the Group expected early in 2019.
In the context of this work, my Department will also review the reporting arrangements on the delivery of Traveller-specific accommodation.
279. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding will be provided for Louth County Council to carry out repairs to 91 homes as reported (details supplied). [51285/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that it is not the case that there are 91 existing social homes that are vacant and in need of funding to allow them to be re-let by Louth County Council. In fact, the majority of the 91 properties referred to have been acquired by Louth County Council under the Buy & Renew Scheme and are being upgraded so they can be let for the first time as new social housing. The costs related to both the acquisition of vacant private properties and their remediation as new social homes under the Buy & Renew Scheme, are fully funded by my Department.
With regard to vacancies and the re-letting of existing social homes, responsibility for the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock lies with each individual local authority, under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. However, my Department recognises the importance of bringing vacant stock back to use as quickly as possible at a time of significant housing need. Through focused measures such as the voids programme, Exchequer funding is provided to local authorities to remediate their vacant housing stock over and above the Council's own investment.
I understand that a minority of the 91 properties referred to are existing social homes that have become vacant. These have not been the subject of a funding application to my Department and I understand that Louth County Council was using its own resources to repair and re-let such properties as part of the normal management of their social housing stock but do not have a sufficient funding provision to cover this work. I hope that the Council will make provision in its 2019 Budget for an increased level of funding for the maintenance of the Council's housing stock next year.
My Department is now in dialogue with Louth County Council regarding the existing vacant social homes and it is open to the Council to seek funding support, if required, for refurbishment works to be carried out before the homes are re-let. I am also keen to see the properties acquired by Louth County Council under the Buy & Renew Scheme refurbished and made available as new social housing as soon as possible and funding is available from my Department for this purpose.
280. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of loans applied for to date in 2018 from the home purchase scheme provided through Louth County Council and Meath County Council; and the final amount approved in each county following the applications. [51322/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes information on the overall number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Information up to Q2 2018, including in relation to number and value of mortgage drawdowns, is available on the Department's website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/statistics/house-prices-loans-and-profile-borrowers/local-authority-loan-activity, and this information will be updated on a quarterly basis as additional data is compiled.
In addition, the Housing Agency provides a central support service which assesses loan applications that are made to the local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities as to whether loans should be offered to applicants. I have asked the Agency to centrally compile figures on the numbers of applications that it has assessed and recommended for approval.
The most recent figures, as at the end of November, for Louth and Meath, are provided in the following table.
|
Local Authority |
Applications Received |
Recommended to approve by Housing Agency |
|
Louth County Council |
67 |
29 |
|
Meath County Council |
185 |
115 |
Each local authority must have in place a credit committee and it is a matter for the committee to make the final decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations, having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.
281. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number, date of publication and details of post-enactment reports published by his Department since March 2011, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51376/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra282. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of Acts passed since March 2011 that his Department is responsible for; the date each act was signed into law in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51392/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 281 and 282 together.
39 Acts, for which my Department had responsibility, were passed in the period since 2011. Details are set out in the following table, including the date that each Act was signed into law. Some of these Acts, or parts of certain Acts, are no longer the responsibility of my Department due to subsequent changes in the functional responsibilities of Departments.
My Department has not published any post-enactment reports since March 2011.
|
YEAR |
TITLE OF ACT |
DATE SIGNED INTO LAW |
|
2011 |
Electoral (Amendment) Act - No. 14 of 2011 |
25th July 2011 |
|
2011 |
Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act - No. 20 of 2011 |
2nd August 2011 |
|
2011 |
Local Government (Household Charge) Act - No. 36 of 2011 |
19th December 2011 |
|
2012 |
Water Services (Amendment) Act - No. 2 of 2012 |
2nd February 2012 |
|
2012 |
Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Act - No. 10 of 2012 |
2nd April 2012 |
|
2012 |
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act - No. 17 of 2012 |
8th June 2012 |
|
2012 |
Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act - No. 23 of 2012 |
11th July 2012 |
|
2012 |
Electoral (Amendment) Act - No. 27 of 2012 |
18th July 2012 |
|
2012 |
Electoral (Amendment) Political Funding Act - No. 36 to 2012 |
28th July 2012 |
|
2013 |
Water Services Act - No. 6 of 2013 |
20th March 2013 |
|
2013 |
Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act - No. 7 of 2013 |
20th March 2013 |
|
2013 |
Motor Vehicle (Duties and Licences) Act - No. 9 of 2013 |
28th March 2013 |
|
2013 |
Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act - No. 16 of 2013 |
4th June 2013 |
|
2013 |
Housing (Amendment) Act - No. 22 of 2013 |
2nd July 2013 |
|
2013 |
Electoral, Local Government and Planning and Development Act - No. 27 of 2013 |
22nd July 2013 |
|
2013 |
Water Services (No. 2) Act - No. 50 of 2013 |
25th December 2013 |
|
2013 |
Pyrite Resolution Act - No. 51 of 2013 |
25th December 2013 |
|
2014 |
Local Government Reform Act 2014 - No. 1 of 2014 |
27th January 2014 |
|
2014 |
European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Act 2014 - No. 2 of 2014 |
5th February 2014 |
|
2014 |
Electoral (Amendment) Act 2014 - No. 8 of 2014 |
16th April 2014 |
|
2014 |
Radiological Protection (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 - No. 20 of 2014 |
23rd July 2014 |
|
2014 |
Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 - No. 21 of 2014 |
28th July 2014 |
|
2014 |
Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 2014 - No. 24 of 2014 |
26th July 2014 |
|
2014 |
Water Services Act 2014 - No. 44 of 2014 |
28th December 2014 |
|
2015 |
Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 - No. 29 of 2015 |
27th July 2015 |
|
2015 |
Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 - No. 33 of 2015 |
28th July 2015 |
|
2015 |
Motor Vehicles (Duties and Licences) Act 2015 - No. 41 of 2015 |
2nd December 2015 |
|
2015 |
Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Act 2015 - No. 42 of 2015 |
4th December 2015 |
|
2015 |
Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 - No. 46 of 2015 |
10th December 2015 |
|
2015 |
Dublin Docklands Development Authority (Dissolution) Act 2015 - No. 55 of 2015 |
24th December 2015 |
|
2015 |
Electoral (Amendment) Act 2015 - No. 62 of 2015 |
29th December 2015 |
|
2015 |
Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2015 - No. 63 of 2015 |
29th December 2015 |
|
2016 |
Electoral (Amendment) Act 2016 - No. 5 of 2016 |
25th July 2016 |
|
2016 |
Water Services (Amendment) Act 2016 - No. 7 of 2016 |
26th July 2016 |
|
2016 |
Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016 - No. 17 of 2016 |
23rd December 2016 |
|
2017 |
Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2017 - No. 20 of 2017 |
19th July 2017 |
|
2017 |
Water Services Act 2017 - No. 29 of 2017 |
17th November 2017 |
|
2017 |
Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Act 2017 - No. 39 of 2017 |
23rd December 2017 |
|
2018 |
Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018 |
19th July 2017 |
283. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the grant and funding schemes operated by his Department; the value of each scheme; and the basis or criteria used for the allocation of funding in respect of each scheme. [51408/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has a wide and diverse business agenda which includes a range of social housing programmes under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan, private housing grants, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund, funding of Irish Water, and the Local Government Fund, as well as a range of smaller scale programmes such as rural water schemes, fire services, foreshore regulation, the electoral and planning systems, and Met Éireann. The Revised Estimates for Public Services 2018, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, gives an overview (at Vote 34) of the programmes within my Department's remit; this is available on that Department's website at the following link: https://www.per.gov.ie/en/rev/. If a more specific question is tabled relating to a particular area of funding from my Department, I will endeavour to provide the detailed information sought.
284. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number, date of publication and details of post-enactment reports published by her Department since March 2011, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51369/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra285. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of Acts passed since March 2011 for which her Department is responsible; the date each Act was signed into law, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51385/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to those Acts passed by the Oireachtas in the time specified by the Deputy, for which my Department, is responsible is set out in the following table. I am advised that Post-Enactment reports have not been published in respect of any of these acts.
|
Name of Act |
Date Act signed into law |
|
Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2012 |
24 July 2012 |
|
Acht na Gaeltachta 2012 |
25 July 2012 |
|
National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Act 2015 |
10 December 2015 |
|
National Archives (Amendment) Act 2018* |
14 June 2018 |
|
Heritage Act 2018 |
18 July 2018 |
*Act has not yet been commenced
286. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the grant and funding schemes operated by her Department; the value of each scheme; and the basis or criteria used for the allocation of funding in respect of each scheme. [51401/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBoth my Department and the bodies under its aegis operate a wide range of funding schemes in the areas of arts, culture and heritage. Details of these schemes are made available on my Department's website and the individual website of the bodies concerned.
For the Deputy's convenience a summary of the various funding areas and the links to detailed information in respect of funding is set out in the following tables.
Arts, Culture and Heritage Funding Schemes available from the Department
|
Programme Area |
Details available at: |
|
Arts Film and Investment |
http://www.chg.gov.ie/about/information-requests/freedom-of-information/foi-publications-scheme/services-provided-by-the-department/arts-unit/#grantfunding |
|
Cultural Policy and Institutions |
http://www.chg.gov.ie/about/information-requests/%20freedom-of-information/foi-publications-scheme/services-%20provided-by-the-department/cultural-policy-and-institutions-unit/#grantfunding |
|
Gaeltacht Support Schemes |
https://www.chg.gov.ie/gaeltacht/the-gaeltacht/language-support-schemes-programmes/ |
|
Culture Ireland |
http://www.cultureireland.ie/funding |
|
Built Heritage & Architectural Policy |
http://www.chg.gov.ie/about/information-requests/%20freedom-of-information/foi-publications-scheme/%20services-provided-by-the-department/built-heritage-%20and-architectural-policy-unit/#grantfunding |
|
National Monuments Service |
http://www.chg.gov.ie/about/information-requests/freedom-of-information/foi-publications-scheme/services-provided-by-the-department/national-monuments-service/#grantfunding |
Funding available from bodies under the aegis of the Department
|
Body |
Details available at: |
|
Arts Council |
http://www.artscouncil.ie/funding/ |
|
Irish Film Board |
http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/funding_programmes/ |
|
Heritage Council |
http://www.heritagecouncil.ie/funding |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
http://www.udaras.ie/en/forbairt-pobail/tionscnaimh-ealaion-chulturtha |
|
Waterways Ireland |
https://www.waterwaysireland.org/heritage-grant |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
http://www.forasnagaeilge.ie/sceimeanna-maoinithe/ |
