Written Answers Nos. 252-276
252. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of students studying MEd (details supplied) who are in receipt of the back to education allowance. [42481/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe back to education allowance scheme (BTEA) provides people with a second chance education that will improve their prospects of securing employment. It enables eligible people to pursue approved education courses and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to meeting certain conditions.
The BTEA is not intended to provide a basis for a long-duration participation in extended education. In this regard, it mirrors the approach to general education grants such as the Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI).
BTEA is not awarded for students looking to pursue the the Masters in Adult Community Education. The BTEA can be approved where the applicant intends to undertake studies leading to a Higher Diploma (H.Dip) in any discipline or the Professional Masters in Education. The Professional Masters in Education differs from the Masters in Adult Community Education as it is required to qualify for a general teaching role, unlike the qualification referred to by the Deputy. However, BTEA support may be awarded for a Master’s degree based solely on life experience where the applicant holds no other third level qualification.
I trust this clarifies the position.
253. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the decision was made to roll out the front office back office model; if consultations took place ahead of the roll-out; the reason for the move; the amount of savings that will be made from this model change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42485/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra254. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the roll-out of the front office back office model will lead to a reduction in staff; if so, the number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42486/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra255. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which the roll out of the front office back office model will occur; the timeframe in place for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42487/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 253 to 255, inclusive, together.
A new operating model which seeks to make best use of resources by balancing workloads across the Intreo network is currently being introduced. The new model utilises recent ICT developments implemented in Intreo Centres – collectively known as the digital claim - which have removed the location constraints of the previous paper based system and deliver the capability to distribute work to available resources across the Intreo network regardless of location. This enables the separation of Front Office customer facing functions and Back Office processing of claims and decision making which can now be undertaken via a back office that can utilise resources from across the country.
The new operating model was successfully piloted in late 2017 and early 2018 and the model has been approved for national implementation. It has now been implemented across the Department's Branch Office network and in eight Intreo Centres with rollout across the remainder of the Intreo network planned to complete in mid 2020.
There has been full and ongoing consultation with staff and unions in the development, piloting and implementation of the new model. It is not envisaged that the introduction of the model will lead to a reduction in overall staffing numbers in my Department.
256. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry received a carer's allowance payment for the 12 weeks after the passing of the person for whom the person was caring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42492/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraCarer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment, made to persons who are providing full-time care and attention to a person who has such a disability that they require that level of care.
Where a care recipient dies, there is a continued payment of carer's allowance for 12 weeks after the death. However, the department informs me that there is no application by the person concerned for CA registered. Therefore, there is no provision for an after death payment to the the person concerned in this instance.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
257. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision on an application for a fuel allowance can be reviewed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42493/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuel allowance is a means-tested payment to assist householders on long-term social welfare payments towards the cost of their heating needs.
The main eligibility conditions that apply to the fuel allowance scheme are that a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment, must satisfy a means test and must either be living alone or with other qualifying persons. The fuel allowance means test is linked to the maximum rate of the state pension (contributory). The applicant can have weekly income of €100.00 above the maximum rate for state pension (contributory) and remain eligible for a fuel allowance.
The person concerned is in receipt of an occupational pension in addition to their State pension entitlements, which brings their assessable means over the permissible weekly means for fuel allowance qualification purposes. Their application for fuel allowance was disallowed and they were notified in writing of this decision on 25 September 2019.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
258. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to changes in budget 2020, the estimated cost of extending carer's and illness benefit to eligible self-employed class S PRSI contributors in 2021; and the first year and the full year cost of extending these benefits in tabular form. [42496/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra259. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated take-up in the first full year of extending carer's and illness benefit to eligible self-employed class S PRSI contributors. [42497/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 259 together.
The issue of extending additional social insurance benefits to the self-employed paying class S PRSI was considered in the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund (SIF) as at 31 December, 2015, which was published on 18 October 2017. The review, required by legislation, was carried out by independent consultants, KPMG. It examined the projected income and expenditure of the SIF over the course of the 55 year period from 2016 to 2071.
The following table shows the estimated cost of extending illness and carer's benefits to the self employed in the first year and the estimated cost in a full year as follows -
|
|
Illness |
Carer’s |
|
1st year |
€43.2m |
€2.4m |
|
Full year |
€54m |
€3m |
Latest Departmental estimates show that in the first full year of extension of illness and carer's benefit to the self-employed it is expected that there will be approximately 8,300 extra recipients of illness benefit and 400 extra recipients of carer's benefit at year end. These estimates assume the same incidence rate of illness/caring as for the general insured population.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
260. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated number of self-employed contributors who will be eligible for the jobseeker’s benefit when introduced in late 2019 and over a full year; the estimated number of eligible contributors who will avail of the benefit in late 2019 and over a full year; the cost of extending the benefit in late 2019; the allocation made by her Department towards same; the estimated allocation for extending the benefit over a full year; and the allocation made by her Department for extending the benefit in 2020. [42498/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is my intention that the new scheme of jobseeker's benefit for the self-employed, which I announced as part of the Budget 2019, will be introduced from November this year. This scheme will provide a social insurance contribution-based benefit to the self-employed who lose their self-employment and consequently are not engaged in self-employment.
The Social Welfare Bill 2019 introducing the new scheme on a statutory basis was published on the 28 June. It has completed all stages in the Seanad and will be introduced to the Dáil this week.
As with any new demand led scheme it is difficult to forecast the numbers that will apply and qualify for this benefit. Labour market conditions and the prevailing economic conditions will affect the take up of this scheme and as a consequence the costs. My Department has provided €0.7 million for 2019 in the estimates and €15.8m for 2020 which will be the first full year of the scheme. The expected number of claimants for the jobseeker’s benefit (self-employed) scheme is 650 for 2019 and 2,600 in 2020.
This measure is part of the Government's stated aim of creating a supportive environment for entrepreneurship, including providing an income safety net to both employees and self-employed people. The addition of this new scheme builds on other significant improvements for self-employed people in recent years such as access to invalidity pension and treatment benefits in 2017. All these improvements to entitlements are a real advance in the level of cover available to the self-employed.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
261. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to budget 2020 the allocations to both the rural social scheme and the farm assist scheme in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42503/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allocation for the Rural Social Scheme in 2020 is €54m, as published in the 2020 Budget Estimates on Budget Day.
The allocation for the Farm Assist Scheme in 2020 is €61m, as published in the 2020 Budget Estimates on Budget Day.
262. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the details of her returnships for women announced in budget 2020; the funding that has been allocated to this initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42506/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraNotwithstanding the very positive and consistent developments in the labour market, there is an ongoing need to target activation interventions at those who are distant from the labour market. Recent research from the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service found that women represented the majority of inactive working age adults, despite the fact that the number of females in the labour force has been consistently increasing over the last decade. These trends also indicate females have a higher propensity to be outside the labour market than males as they grow older. As at Q2 2018, Ireland’s female participation rate stands at 55.7% while the male rate is 68.4%.
A number of measures are being designed as pre-employment supports to target these returners and others who are distant from the labour force. The total allocation for these measures will be €2.5m during the coming year.
I trust this clarifies the situation for the Deputy.
263. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of meetings held and the progress made regarding the issue of pensions for community employment supervisors following the postponement of industrial action by supervisors in May 2019 for the final resolution of this dispute; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42530/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am currently engaging with representatives of Community Employment supervisors to discuss issues arising following the 2008 Labour Court Recommendation. All parties to this process have agreed that the detail of the discussions should remain confidential while the engagement is ongoing. I would ask Deputies to respect these wishes and allow the talks to continue free from speculation which might prove unhelpful at this stage.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
264. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the purpose of her proposed research project to examine funeral poverty here; the amount allocated in budget 2020; the details of the person or body carrying out the research; the range of matters to be addressed; the expected or planned timescale for completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42531/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe sadness surrounding the bereavement of a loved one can be further compounded by the financial worries that some families can endure at this time. A report by Senator Mary Louise O’Donnell “Finite Lives - An examination of State Services in Ireland” (Part 2 of which was published in 2017), set out recommendations for a whole of Government approach to supporting end-of-life issues. One of the recommendations of this report was to conduct research on the socio-economic impacts of the costs associated with death, dying and bereavement.
In Budget 2020, I announced funding to support a research project by the Irish Hospice Foundation which intends to examine funeral poverty in Ireland and the wider economic impact of bereavement. The amount which I have allocated as a once off contribution to the cost of this research is €60,000 for 2020, and will support the Irish Hospice Foundation in carrying out this independent research.
This research will examine how bereavement affects people, particularly the economic impact of death. It will seek to trace the dynamics of bereavement in Ireland, identify immediate and longer-term impacts on families, identify the costs and deficits, and explore ways to mitigate against economic impact.
I am happy to provide support to the Foundation in conducting research in this important area, which will serve to further inform future Government policy in this matter.
Officials in my Department will continue to engage with the Foundation on the methodology and timescale for completion of the research during 2020.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
265. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the impact on the income disregard for the carer's allowance was given consideration in view of the increase in the hours permissible to work as announced as part of budget 2020; if the income disregard for carers will be revised in view of the increase in the hours that they can work (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42551/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of Budget Measures 2020, I announced that those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Benefit and the Carer’s Support Grant could increase the number of hours they can work, study or attend a training course outside the home from 15 to 18.5 hours. Over 1,200 family carers are expected to benefit from this change at a cost of €11.6 million.
I particularly prioritised this measure in response to the carers I have met who have told me that they found the current number of 15 hours to be too restrictive.
An increase from 15 hours to 18.5 will accommodate increased participation by carers in work or training to strengthen their connection with the labour force, while also serving the additional purpose of reducing the social alienation experienced by many carers. This measure will have a positive impact in the lives of many carers, particularly women; at the end of 2018 over 76 per cent of carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance were women.
In its pre-Budget submission, Family Carers Ireland proposed an increase in the disregard for Carer's Allowance of €117.50 (single) and €235.00 (couple) per week. My department costed this proposal using the ESRI SWITCH, which estimated a cost of approximately €73 million p.a. With income tax and Working Family Payment offsets, net expenditure is estimated in the order of €55 million p.a.
Changes to schemes have to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context and from an evidence based perspective. In that respect it is worth noting that 70 per cent of the current recipients of Carer’s Allowance have no means, while a further 18 per cent have means of less than €7.60 per week. In addition, the existing income disregard and means test for Carer’s Allowance is the most generous within the social welfare system, with the amount of weekly earnings disregarded is €332.50 for a single person and €665 for a couple.
I hope this clarifies the issue for the Deputy.
266. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the case of a person (details supplied) regarding the calculation of means for an adult dependent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42599/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor contributory schemes based on the claimant's social insurance record (such as State Pension Contributory), an increase for a Qualified Adult is payable at the maximum rate of payment where the means of the spouse/partner is €100 a week or less. Reduced rates are payable where the means are over €100 and less than €310 per week. No increase is payable where the means of the spouse/partner are in excess of €310 per week.
The means assessed are those of the spouse/partner only and generally include:
- Income from employment and self-employment;
- Income from other private, occupational or foreign pensions;
- Income from any other sources including insurance policies such as life assurance, a trust fund, a deed of covenant, social welfare payments other than payments made in respect of a minor (e.g. child benefit, guardians, foster child etc.), maintenance payments from a former spouse/civil partner, and various other forms of periodic payment;
- Income from capital, property, investments, as well as savings. If a second property is owned jointly or by the spouse/partner, the rental income from this property is assessed. The capital value (less any outstanding mortgage) will be assessed if the property is not rented.
It should be noted that the value of the family home, regardless of who is the legal owner, is never taken into account in this assessment.
Means of the claimant are not included in the assessment. Where, for example, a couple has a joint savings account, the value of half of the capital amount is assessed against the spouse/partner.
The general rule for assessment of pension funds or annuities is that money invested in a pension fund is not assessable for means purposes until it is accessible. However, this must specifically be a pension fund, and not a general savings account being used by the spouse/partner as savings for their retirement. The rules of a pension scheme will determine what and when benefits are payable from the scheme.
The value of any cash which is available as a regular income from a pension fund is assessed on the basis of the weekly value of that income. Where regular pension payments are received and treated as income for means purposes, the capital valuation of that fund is not included in the means assessment.
Depending on the circumstances of this case, the person concerned may wish to consider submitting an application to the Scope Section of my Department for decision on a retrospective partnership.
267. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a family (details supplied) is eligible for the new two week paternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42600/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraParent’s Benefit is a new scheme which will provide two weeks paid leave to both parents, who are on parent's leave from work and covered by social insurance. It will be available for the first year of a child’s life and will be paid at the same rate as that for maternity or paternity leave. This leave will be available to parents of children born or placed with their adoptive parents on or after the implementation of the new scheme, effective from 1 November 2019.
This new scheme does not impact on the paid or unpaid leave entitlements already in place and is in addition to that already available under maternity benefit (26 weeks paid and 16 weeks unpaid), paternity benefit (2 weeks paid) and unpaid parental leave (22 weeks). The leave can also be taken immediately after maternity or paternity leave where this is certified by the employer. Parent's leave can be taken in a single block or in 2 individual weeks which allows flexibility to parents to decide when best to avail of the leave.
Based on the information provided by the Deputy, it would appear that the family concerned will be able to avail of this new support. Applications for the scheme will become available once the necessary legislation is enacted, which I expect will be the case over the coming weeks.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
268. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he is taking to support businesses concerned about the impact of commercial rates increases on the future of their businesses due to the national review; if he has consulted with other ministerial colleagues in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42464/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra269. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of plans to support businesses concerned about the impact of commercial rates increases on the future of their businesses due to the national review; if he has consulted with other ministerial colleagues in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42536/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra274. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of plans to support businesses concerned about the impact of commercial rates increases on the future of their businesses due to the national review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42478/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 268, 269 and 274 together.
As Minister with special responsibility for Local Government and having served as a member of Kilkenny County Council I know first-hand the vital role local businesses play in supporting local authorities to deliver critical services to their communities. Commercial Rates, at approximately €1.5bn per annum, make up roughly a third of local government current (revenue) income.
Recognising the critical importance of commercial rates I prioritised the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 and it was enacted earlier this year. The Act modernises the rates system for both ratepayers and local authorities.
Local authorities are required by legislation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes, in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015.
The annual rate on valuation (ARV) is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function. The ARV is then applied to each property’s valuation to obtain the amount payable in rates.
The independent Commissioner for Valuation is currently conducting a national programme of revaluation to provide consistent, up-to-date valuations so that rates are equitably distributed. Revaluation results in a redistribution of the commercial rates liability between ratepayers. While an individual occupier’s rates liability may increase or decrease, the revaluation will not increase the overall commercial rates income of the local authority. It is not the purpose of a revaluation to increase the commercial rates collected.
After a revaluation of a local authority area the Minister is required to make a Rates Limitation Order (RLO) to ensure that the overall rates collected in that area for the following year, does not increase beyond normal inflation and buoyancy to take account of new valuations. RLOs have been made for each of the local authorities that have undergone a revaluation to date and will be made in the coming weeks in respect of the eight local authorities where revaluations have concluded this year.
To date, revaluations have been fully completed in 16 local authorities, a further eight were completed in 2019 and the final tranche should be completed by 2021. At all stages of the process, ratepayers are consulted and informed and can bring relevant information to bear on the valuation. Ultimately ratepayers have a right of appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. In terms of revaluations to date, I understand that the trend is that approximately 60% of ratepayers have experienced a decrease.
Local authorities work closely with ratepayers experiencing difficulties with the payment of commercial rates. In this regard, local authorities may facilitate the payment of commercial rates by instalments, and work with businesses to put in place flexible payment options. The Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019 will further facilitate such flexible approaches, provided ratepayers engage with the local authority concerned.
Importantly, the Act also provides for new rates vacancy abatement and rates alleviation schemes, to be decided by local authority members in order to promote national and/or local policy objectives. My Department is currently preparing supporting regulations and working with local authorities on implementation with a view to commencing these provisions. These new provisions will add to the suite of options already available to local authorities to support local businesses and ratepayers.
270. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason tenants of Traveller specific homes are excluded from consideration under the terms of the incremental tenant purchase scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42363/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015, provide the basis for the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme for existing local authority houses. The Scheme is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the Scheme. To be eligible, tenants must meet certain criteria, including having a minimum reckonable income of €15,000 per annum and having been in receipt of social housing support for at least one year.
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme came into operation on 1 January 2016 and provides for the sale of existing local authority houses only. The 2015 Regulations governing the Scheme provide for a number of specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, including houses provided to local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, houses specifically designed for older persons, group traveller housing and houses provided to facilitate people with disabilities transferring from institutional care to community-based living. The exclusion of these property types ensures the continued availability within the social housing stock of properties that are in short supply.
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.
271. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to take action on illegal dumping on a foreshore (details supplied) without a foreshore licence; the reason for the delay in dealing with the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42364/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is awaiting final legal advice on this matter and, once received, will determine the appropriate next steps.
272. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the engagement he or his officials have had with the European Commission on the general scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019; the nature, frequency and substance of this engagement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42389/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department’s approach, based on advice to date, is that the economic functions of the LDA do not give rise to an advantage either to the LDA or other parties under State Aid rules. The General Scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill 2019 was developed taking account of legal advice in relation to State Aid.
The European Commission was informed at the time of the establishment of the Land Development Agency in 2018. A structured engagement with the European Commission will take place in tandem with the legislative process, supported by necessary information on the LDA. This structured engagement is consistent with the approach taken in relation to other commercial state bodies and reflects the specific nature of the LDA.
273. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 708 and 709 of 2 July 2019, if the revaluation of the commercial rates base for County Donegal will commence in the final quarter of 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42392/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraDecisions with regard to the selection of rating authority areas for revaluation are a matter for the independent Commissioner for Valuation, who has responsibility under the Valuation Acts 2001 to 2015 to maintain a valuation list for each Local Authority, of all rateable properties in that Local Authority area, which is used to calculate the rates due from individual ratepayers.
Consultation between the Commissioner of Valuation, Donegal County Council and my Department has taken place and I understand that the Commissioner intends to sign a Valuation Order to commence the revaluation of all rateable properties in the rating authority area of Donegal County Council in early November and that it is intended that the valuation date by reference to which all rateable properties in Donegal will be revalued is 16 September 2019 with the new valuation list to be published on or around 15 September 2021, and to be effective for rates purposes from 2022 onwards.
275. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of the €27 million reduction to local government as detailed in budget 2020. [42483/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is providing €156 million to support local authorities through the exchequer contribution to the Local Government Fund (LGF) in 2020. On a like-for-like basis local authorities will be in receipt of €23 million more in funding in 2020 when compared to 2019. The extra €23 million represents an increase of 27% in exchequer support for local authorities to meet additional pay and pension costs arising from national pay agreements.
While there is a headline reduction on the 2019 budget allocation of €185m, this is due to a reduction in the exchequer supports required by local authorities in 2020. The realignment of support for Local Government in 2020 is largely as a result of the valuation of Irish Water as a global utility liable for commercial rates from 2020. As a consequence of this, there is no longer a requirement for general water rates compensation in 2020. The Department is actively monitoring the financial impact of this transition on individual local authorities in the context of their overall financial position.
It is expected that the LGF will make Local Property Tax (LPT) allocations of €516.8m in 2020 (up from €503m in 2019). The increase in LPT allocations is accounted for, in the most part, by the decisions of 19 local authorities to increase their LPT rates above the basic rate for 2020.
276. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason for the delay in implementing the new three-year investment programme for water services in rural areas that was announced in February 2019 to be in place by the end of April 2019; when the changes will be rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42546/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 8 February this year, I announced details of the measures being funded through my Department under the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme 2019-2021.
Local authorities were subsequently invited to submit their bids for the funding of schemes or projects in their functional areas. An Expert Panel was put in place to support the evaluation process and its membership includes Departmental, stakeholder and independent representation. The Expert Panel has made recommendations to my Department on the suitability of schemes and projects for funding based on objective criteria which are set out in the framework document issued to local authorities when requesting proposals.
Earlier this week, on 14 October, and based on the recommendations of the Expert Panel I announced approval of projects and schemes under the multi-annual programme. Local authorities were informed of the details on the same date.
Work is also at an advanced stage of development for 2 new schemes to replace existing schemes which assist householders, in certain circumstances, in the provision of on-site domestic water supplies and waste water treatment systems. I expect that the process will be completed shortly when the necessary regulations dealing with the financial assistance arrangements and related administrative matters are put in place. This will enable a circular letter, terms and conditions, guidance and the application form to issue to local authorities shortly thereafter.
