Written Answers Nos. 216-230
216. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the revised decision on the carer's allowance application by a person (details supplied) will be made and arrears issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52572/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that as a result they require that level of care.
An application for carer's allowance (CA) was received from the person concerned on 19 April 2018.
This application was disallowed on the grounds that the person concerned was engaged in employment outside the home in excess of 15 hours per week and also that they had failed to provide requested information that was required to determine if their means were below the statutory limit.
The person concerned requested a review of this decision and submitted additional evidence to support her claim and to show that she is no longer working in excess of 15 hours per week.
On this basis the person concerned was awarded CA from 13 September 2018. The first payment will issue to her nominated bank account on 20 December 2018.
Arrears of allowance due from 13 September 2018 to 19 December 2018 will also issue on 20 December 2018.
The person concerned was notified on 11 December 2018 of this revised decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
217. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 214 of 15 November 2018, if the review referred to is now complete; if so, the result of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52664/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe review referred to in Parliamentary Question No. 214 of 15 November 2018 is underway. The person concerned has been contacted and has been asked to provide further information to an officer of my Department.
Pending the receipt of this information and finalisation of the review, the weekly recovery of €25 per week has been temporarily suspended.
I trust that this clarified the matter for the Deputy.
218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the correct amount of jobseeker's allowance payable in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52667/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deciding Officer has reviewed the circumstances of the person concerned. From the 12th December 2018 he will be in receipt of a Jobseekers Allowance payment of €213.90 per week. This is comprised of a personal rate of €198.00 and ½ rate child dependent rate of €15.90. Arrears have been approved.
This is the correct level of Jobseekers Allowance payable.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
219. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons on RAS tenancies in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52485/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) was introduced in 2005 to meet the accommodation needs of people in receipt of Rent Supplement for 18 months or longer, and who were assessed as having a long-term housing need.
A total of €134.3 million was allocated to support RAS in 2018 and this funding is going towards supporting 600 additional RAS tenancies nationally in 2018 and the ongoing cost of supporting continuing RAS contracts in place at the end of 2017. As of 30 September 2018, there were a total of 906 tenancies supported by RAS in County Kerry, and of this number, 45 were new transfers from Rent Supplement to RAS in the period 1 January to 30 September 2018.
Looking forward, as the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme continues to be rolled out nationally and replaces Rent Supplement completely for those with a long-term housing need, it is expected that the number of new transfers to RAS will reduce considerably.
RAS continues to be an effective and secure form of social housing support, and remains a significant part of the suite of options currently available to those who are assessed as being in need of social housing.
220. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons on HAP tenancies in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52524/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. At the end of Q3 2018, there were more than 40,000 active tenancies in receipt of HAP support.
HAP commenced in County Kerry on 1 December 2016. At the end of Q3 2018, the total number of active HAP tenancies in Kerry County Council was 776.
221. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the level of funding provided to Cavan County Council in 2018 for the administration of the housing adaptation, the disabled persons grant and the mobility aids grant schemes; if his attention has been drawn to the need to increase the level of such grant aid in view of delays that occur in approving applications; if an increased level of funding will be provided in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52580/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor 2018, I announced funding of €66.25m nationally for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. This included an allocation of €1,457,964 for Cavan County Council, comprising exchequer funding of €1,166,371 and €291,593 from the local authority. Following a request for increased funding, the Council was approved additional exchequer funding of €160,000, bringing their total exchequer allocation to €1,326,371, to which €331,592 will be added from the resources of the local authority. The Council has drawn down €1,143,436 exchequer funding to date from my Department this year.
Funding for these schemes has been increasing year on year since 2014 and in addition to a series of annual increases over recent years, my Department continues to work closely with local authorities throughout each year, to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of the available funding. This allows any underspends to be redistributed to local authorities with high levels of grant activity who seek additional funding.
In line with the Programme for a Partnership Government and the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan, I will give further consideration to increasing this funding over the coming years, as I am conscious of the social benefit accruing from these grants in terms of facilitating older people and people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes.
222. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the level of funding provided to Monaghan County Council in 2018 for the administration of the housing adaptation, the disabled persons grant and the mobility aids grant schemes; if his attention has been drawn to of the need to increase the level of such grant aid in view of delays that occur in approving applications; if an increased level of funding will be provided in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52581/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor 2018, I announced funding of €66.25 million nationally for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. This included an allocation of €1,237,425 for Monaghan County Council, comprising exchequer funding of €989,940 and €247,485 from the local authority. Following a request for increased funding, the Council was approved additional exchequer funding of €487,013, bringing their total exchequer allocation to €1,476,953, to which €369,238 will be added from the resources of the local authority. The Council has now drawn down the full €1,476,953 of exchequer funding from my Department.
Funding for these schemes has been increasing year on year since 2014 and in addition to these annual increases, my Department continues to work closely with local authorities throughout each year, to monitor spend and to achieve a full drawdown of the available funding. This allows any underspends to be redistributed to local authorities with high levels of grant activity who seek additional funding.
In line with the Programme for a Partnership Government and the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan, I will give further consideration to increasing this funding over the coming years, as I am conscious of the social benefit accruing from these grants in terms of facilitating older people and people with a disability to remain living independently in their own homes.
223. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government when the review of income eligibility limits for social housing will be published; when the limits will be increased; if his attention has been drawn to the particular difficulties in areas such as in counties Cavan and Monaghan in which income limits are very low; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52583/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy.
The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band were based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country. It is important to note that the limits introduced at that time also reflected a blanket increase of €5,000 introduced prior to the new system coming into operation, in order to broaden the base from which social housing tenants are drawn, both promoting sustainable communities and also providing a degree of future-proofing.
As part of the broader social housing reform agenda, a review of income eligibility for social housing supports in each local authority area, including Cavan and Monaghan, is underway. The Housing Agency is continuing to carry out the detailed statistical work, which will underpin this review on behalf of my Department.
The review will have regard to current initiatives being brought forward in terms of affordability and cost rental and will be completed when the impacts of these parallel initiatives have been considered.
224. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to introduce amendments to the tenant purchase scheme; if tenants that were allocated council houses provided under Part V regulations can avail of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52585/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra227. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the review of the tenant purchase scheme; if same will be published before the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52589/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 227 together.
The provisions of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, are designed to enable the development of mixed tenure sustainable communities. Part V units are excluded from the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 to ensure that units delivered under this mechanism will remain available for people in need of social housing support and that the original policy goals of the legislation are not eroded over time. The continued development of mixed tenure communities remains very important in promoting social integration.
Local authorities may also, within the provisions of the Regulations, exclude certain houses which, in the opinion of the authority, should not be sold for reasons such as proper stock or estate management. It is a matter for each individual local authority to administer the Scheme in its operational area in line with the over-arching provisions of the governing legislation for the scheme, and in a manner appropriate to its housing requirements.
In line with the commitment given in Rebuilding Ireland, a review of the first 12 months of the Scheme’s operation, including the issues referred to, has been undertaken. The review is now complete and a full report has been prepared setting out findings and recommendations.
I hope to be in a position to publish the review shortly, following completion of consideration of a number of implementation issues arising.
225. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the level of funding provided to Cavan County Council in 2018 for social housing programmes including construction, acquisition and upgrading of social housing; his plans to increase this level of funding for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52587/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra226. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the level of funding provided to Monaghan County Council in 2018 for social housing programmes including construction, acquisition and upgrading of social housing; his plans to increase this level of funding for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52588/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together.
The Government’s Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is firmly focused on increasing supply to meet social housing needs under a range of programmes in all counties, including Cavan and Monaghan, with 50,000 social homes to be delivered through build, acquisition and leasing in the period to 2021, as well as meeting the housing needs of an additional 87,000 households through the Housing Assistance Payment scheme and the Rental Accommodation Scheme. The Action Plan is supported by over €6 billion in funding, which means that local authorities have the financial support available to them to deliver on their local targets.
There is no precise amount of funding notified to individual local authorities for their social housing programmes on an annual basis. Instead, my Department provides funding for individual projects as they are advanced by the authorities against their social housing delivery targets. Earlier this year, I wrote to all local authorities, including Cavan and Monaghan, setting out their individual social housing targets for 2018 across all delivery streams, including build, and details are available on the Rebuilding Ireland website at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/minister-murphy-publishes-social-housing-delivery-targets-for-local-authorities-2018-2021/.
The final position regarding the funding provided to Cavan and Monaghan County Council for 2018 will not be known until after the end of the year, when all project activity is completed and validated.
In relation to funding to be provided for 2019 for housing activities in Cavan and Monaghan, this will once again relate directly to the level of projects that are advanced by the authorities against their social housing delivery targets. I will issue 2019 targets for all local authorities, including Cavan and Monaghan, in the new year based on the increased national social housing targets for 2019. An overall housing budget of almost €2.4 billion is available in 2019 to support delivery by local authorities and others against these targets. I look forward to their good progress and have assured them that the funding is in place and available to support their delivery.
228. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a matter will be addressed regarding water supply in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52594/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the planning, delivery and operation of public water and wastewater services at national, regional and local levels. As Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, I have no direct role in relation to the planning, delivery and operation of water and wastewater services, and I must respect the statutory authority that the Oireachtas has conferred on Irish Water in this regard.
I understand from my Department, which has made contact with Irish Water in relation to this issue, that Irish Water is taking steps to address public health and safety risks associated with the Glenderry water supply. Consequently, Irish Water plans to connect customers to the adjacent Ballyheigue public water supply. Irish Water is aware that customers may have concerns about the hardness of the water supplied from the Ballyheigue water supply; however, it should be noted that hard water poses no health risk to consumers.
I am advised that the Glenderry water supply, which has its treatment plant located in the school yard of the local national school, poses a significant health and safety risk.
The Deputy may wish to note that Irish Water has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 1890 578 578.
229. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he is satisfied that the new urban development and building heights guidelines for planning authorities under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 will not lead to significant delays in the development of strategic development zones; if a regulatory impact assessment has been carried out to assess the potential impact of these guidelines in terms of planning delays and land pricing; and if SDZs were specifically assessed as part of this process. [52643/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 7 December 2018, I issued ’Urban Development and Building Height’ Guidelines for Planning Authorities and An Bord Pleanála, pursuant to Section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). Publication of the guidelines, which were called for widely in the wider planning and development sector, followed a period of public consultation and consideration of over 100 submissions and a thorough assessment by my Department.
The development of the guidelines specifically addressed their application to areas covered by Strategic Development Zone Planning Schemes, and therefore the SDZ aspects were fully considered. SDZs can be reviewed at any stage by their respective development agencies to reflect changing implementation and policy circumstances and development agencies frequently go through these review mechanisms.
Accordingly, I do not anticipate significant delays in SDZ implementation as a result of these guidelines which are also focused on securing the best strategic planning outcomes for generations to come as well as addressing issues of a more immediate nature.
The guidelines build upon the strategic policy framework set out in Project Ireland 2040 and the National Planning Framework. In particular the guidelines:
- develop policy outlined in the National Planning Framework, in particular National Policy Objectives 1 and 13;
- outline wider and strategic policy considerations and performance criteria that planning authorities should apply, alongside their statutory development plans, in assessing proposals for taller buildings; and
- support the accommodation of anticipated population growth and development needs, whether for housing, employment or other purposes, by building up and consolidating the development of our existing urban areas.
A copy of the Guidelines and associated Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Statement, are available on my Department’s website at the following links:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/urban_development_and_building_height_guidelines_for_planning_authorities_december_2018_0.pdf and
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/final_sea_statement.pdf
The SEA Statement has been prepared as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Guidelines in accordance with the relevant national and EU legislation. This document provides information on the decision-making process and records how environmental considerations have been integrated into the Guidelines. Furthermore it summarises how the SEA environmental report and submissions and observations made by the public and designated statutory consultees have been taken into account during the preparation of the Guidelines.
In determining planning policy and making planning decisions around appropriate building heights, the planning process has to strike a careful balance between on the one hand enabling long-term and strategic development of relevant areas, while ensuring the highest standards of urban design, architectural quality and place-making outcomes on the other. I am satisfied that these guidelines are necessary and appropriate to give clear context and direction to the overall requirement to promote increased density and building height in appropriate locations within our urban centres.
230. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she is taking in conjunction with Westmeath County Council to designate part of the Mayne high bog as a protected area due to its historical and archaeological significance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52608/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with general practice for peat extraction, a rolling series of survey work, investigation and excavations have been carried out at Mayne Bog over a number of years. In 2006, with the co-operation of the landowners, my Department commissioned a full survey of the then known togher (constructed of planks) followed by the excavation of a single cutting across the togher. During the course of this excavation, a second togher (of brushwood construction) was identified slightly to the north of the plank togher and running parallel to it. This was also fully surveyed and recorded.
In 2013, the landowners commissioned an environmental impact statement in connection with a peat extraction licence application to the Environmental Protection Agency. As part of the assessment process, the peatlands were fully examined by a qualified archaeological consultant and, aside from the plank togher, no further finds or features of archaeological significance were identified at that time.
In 2014, at my Department’s request, another inspection was commissioned by the landowners to assess the status of both toghers. During 2015, and also at the request of my Department, the landowners commissioned a series of excavations which were carried out at three separate locations on both toghers.
In 2016, with the permission of the landowners, my Department commissioned an Induced Polarisation Survey (an advanced geophysical technique) to examine an area of high bog to the east of the open industrial bog at Mayne. This methodology was previously used successfully at Edercloon, County Longford, to identify wooden structures outside the road corridor where other parts of the structures were under excavation by the National Roads Authority. Due to the heavily waterlogged nature of the high bog at Mayne, the geophysical survey was inconclusive in tracking the togher into the higher peatlands. During 2017, my Department commissioned a further survey using metal probes inserted through the peat, as developed and employed successfully in research at Céide Fields in North Mayo. The survey successfully identified that the togher continues to the east from the edge of the high bog for a minimum distance of 200 metres at depths from the surface varying from 1 to 2.4 metres.
In the course of 2018 my Department licensed a further assessment by the landowners of the archaeological potential of the area of the bog that is subject to peat extraction. The fieldwork component of this project has been completed and under the conditions of the licence, the archaeologist is obliged to submit a report to the Department's National Monuments Service which will be shared with the local authority.
My Department also hopes to commission a further survey in 2019 of the area of Mayne Bog which has not been subject to peat extraction, with a view to further clarifying the location and state of preservation of the area of trackway in that part of the bog. The Department is and will continue to engage with all stakeholders, including the local authority and the landowners, to progress the preservation of the togher in the high bog.
I am satisfied that the measures being taken with regard to the protection of the toghers uncovered at Mayne represent the best approach to securing an optimal outcome. Unlike cases involving delivery of key infrastructure which are supported by the Codes of Practice agreed and in place between my Department and the various State utility providers, archeological discoveries arising from private development have to be dealt with on a case by case basis. In such instances the practice is to seek the co-operation of private landowners with the protection and recording of monuments in line, for example, with my Department’s engagement with farmers under Glas, the current agri-environmental scheme. Such engagement is undertaken in a collaborative and transparent manner and I am satisfied that it is proving to be the best mechanism for guaranteeing the survival of these monuments into the future.
