Written Answers Nos. 1195-1219
1195. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if regular social welfare payments will be advanced in order to reduce the need for persons to attend post and social welfare offices. [4990/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is taking all necessary measures, in line with the advice of the Department of Health, HSE and Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), to respond to the significant challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In March, in order to comply with social distancing requirements, the Department introduced fortnightly payments instead of weekly. The purpose of this change is to minimise the need for people to attend and queue in banks or post offices to collect payments and to help people restrict their movements to essential activities only.
1196. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration has been given to extending the fuel allowance period to the end of April 2020 to help persons with additional heating costs associated with self-isolation and illness. [4991/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe fuel allowance is a payment of €24.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €686 each year) from October to April, to over 370,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €261 million in 2020. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. It is not intended to meet those costs in full. Only one allowance is paid per household.
The fuel allowance is an important measure that assists pensioners and other welfare dependent householders to address income deficiency, especially during the winter when a household faces increased heating needs. The duration of the scheme is designed to coincide with the coldest periods of the year and it is for this reason the scheme runs from October to mid-April.
In the context of the COVID-19 emergency, the Government has already allocated c. €2.4 billion in a package of social protection measures. For example, enhanced Illness Benefit is available for employees or self-employed people who are medically required to self isolate or medically diagnosed with Covid-19. The personal rate of Illness Benefit has increased from €203 per week to €350 per week for such persons and the 6 day waiting period has been removed making payment available from the first certified day of illness. In addition to this, the normal social welfare conditionality requirements for access to Illness Benefit do not apply to these employees. Furthermore, self-employed persons who would not normally be able to access Illness Benefit will also be in a position to receive this income support. These measures will enable self-employed people or other workers who do not have the necessary social insurance history to receive the increased payment without having to undergo a means test.
As well as the above measures, I was delighted to announce on the 31st March that, in order to support vulnerable households during the COVID-19 emergency, especially at this time where the Government wishes people to stay at home to stay safe, the fuel season will be extended by four weeks for existing eligible customers on a once-off basis.
This extends the payment of €24.50 per week to c. 373,570 households from Friday 10 April (when it was due to expire) until Friday 8 May 2020 and will provide these vulnerable households with additional targeted financial supports in a timely, efficient and time bound manner.
In addition to the extension of the fuel allowance season, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme a special heating supplement may be paid to assist people in certain circumstances. Exceptional needs payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which an applicant is unable to meet from his / her own resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1197. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the working family payment will continue to be paid to families even if there is a reduction in their working hours. [4992/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is committed to playing its part in the overall Government, and indeed national, response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Department is very mindful of the situation of families and people during the current outbreak of COVID-19 and is continually reviewing the impact of and supports available to those affected.
The Working Family Payment provides support for employees with families who have low earnings in relation to their family size. The payment is provided tax-free and is paid weekly. As of December 2019 it is paid to over 54,000 families in respect of more than 119,000 children.
Currently, the Working Family Payment continues to be paid to customers who have experienced a temporary loss of employment, or a reduction in their working hours as a result of COVID-19. The Pandemic Unemployment Payment can also be paid concurrently with an employee's Working Family Payment.
The quickest and easiest way to apply for any support from the Department is through the mywelfare.ie site.
1199. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to pausing all energy disconnections and social welfare sanctions. [4994/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Parliamentary Question does not fall under the remit of my Department. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has no function in regard to disconnections and does not apply any sanctions of this kind. Disconnections and Sanctions for unpaid energy bills are a regulatory matter for the Independent Regulator.
I hope this clarifies the matter.
1200. Deputy Norma Foley asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an appeal for an invalidity pension by a person (details supplied). [5006/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for the gentleman concerned on 13 November 2019. His claim was disallowed on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. He was notified on 22 January 2020 of this decision, the reasons for it and of his right of review and appeal.
To date there is no record of a review or an appeal request of this disallowance decision from the gentleman in question.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1201. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to make more resources available to charities (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5093/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFEAD supports the actions of EU countries to provide material assistance to the most deprived. These activities are funded through the national Food and/or Basic Material Assistance Operational Programme.
My Department is the Managing Authority (MA) for the Operational Programme and has responsibility for the implementation of the programme in Ireland. Support provided through FEAD aims to help people take their first steps out of poverty and social exclusion. It also aims to help the most deprived people by addressing one of their most basic needs i.e. food and or basic materials for personal use.
Currently there are 156 approved charities operating the programme, each group is allocated credits which entitles them to collect FEAD food product. SVP Tralee collect their FEAD product through FoodShare Kerry. Foodshare Kerry have recently requested additional credits through the FEAD programme and these additional credits have been granted.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
1202. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the position regarding retired post office workers whose only income is their post office pension; if they have an entitlement to the State pension (contributory) and other related benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5116/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraEligibility for the State Pension (Contributory) is determined on a case by case basis based on an individual's social insurance record built up over their working lifetime.
Specifically, the State Pension (Contributory) is available for those who have paid at least 520 reckonable social insurance contributions and who have reached their 66th birthday. It should be noted that not all classes of PRSI are reckonable for state pension purposes including Classes B and D, the rate at which most public servants hired prior to 6 April 1995 pay, including those who worked in semi state organisations such as An Post.
Provisions also exist for the award of a mixed insurance pro rata state pension, where a person has substantial periods of PRSI coverage that are not reckonable for pension purposes. Whether or not such a pension is more advantageous to a person depends upon their individual circumstances.
For those with insufficient contributions to meet the requirements for a State Pension (Contributory), they may qualify for a means tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum personal rate for which is currently €237 (over 95% of the maximum rate of the contributory pension). This rate of payment does not include rent allowance, household benefits or fuel allowance. Alternatively, if their spouse is a State pensioner and they have significant household means, their most beneficial payment may be an Increase for a Qualified Adult, based on their personal means, and amounting up to 90% of a full contributory pension.
Corporate governance of An Post is the responsibility of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment. More generally, responsibility for pension policy relating to public servants rests with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1203. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of a disability payment review in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5164/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned requested a review of their disability allowance (DA) rate if payment which has now been completed.
The person concerned was notified in writing of this decision on 6 April 2020 and was also notified of their right to request a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office (SWAO).
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1204. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the period a person spends on homekeeping duties will be taken into consideration to reach the 520 contributions that are necessary to obtain the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5182/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April 2012, the number of paid PRSI contributions required to qualify for a State Pension (Contributory) increased from 260 to 520. The enabling legislation was contained in the Social Welfare Act 1997.
Given that the actuarial value of the State Pension is estimated at over €300,000, it is considered reasonable to require people who claim a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years of paid contributions over 50 years of a working age life.
On 23 January 2018, the Government agreed to a proposal that allows pensioners affected by the 2012 changes in rate bands to have their pension entitlement calculated on an interim Total Contributions Approach basis. This approach includes provision for up to 20 years spent homecaring to be taken into account. The period a person spends on homecaring duties is not taken into consideration to reach the 520 paid PRSI contributions threshold.
The Total Contributions Approach (TCA), when it is introduced, is intended to be a fairer and more transparent system where the person’s lifetime contribution will be more closely reflected in the benefit received. Having carefully examined the outputs of a consultation process, officials in the Department are designing the scheme. It is anticipated that there will be significant recognition for homecaring periods in the new model. The intention is to bring a proposal to Government setting out that design in the near future.
For those with insufficient contributions to meet the requirements for a State Pension (Contributory), they may qualify for a means tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum personal rate for which is currently €237 (over 95% of the maximum rate of the contributory pension). This rate of payment does not include rent allowance, household benefits or fuel allowance. Alternatively, if their spouse is a State pensioner and they have significant household means, their most beneficial payment may be an Increase for a Qualified Adult, based on their personal means, and amounting up to 90% of a full contributory pension.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1205. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to introduce legislation to protect workers' right to disconnect outside paid working hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5186/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe importance of electronic communications to the success of many businesses and organisations has been highlighted by the Covid-19 crisis. The increased use of mobile technology, which is already a well-established aspect of the modern workforce, has enabled many workers to remain connected and in employment, despite the closure or reduction of workspaces.
However, a long-acknowledged, potential downside to the use of mobile and other electronic communication devices is the expectation that workers are always ‘switched on’.
First and foremost, Ireland already has a comprehensive body of employment legislation, including the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which sets out maximum working time and minimum rest periods for employees. It is understood that proper compliance with that Act should in fact be sufficient to ensure an appropriate work-life balance.
Where an individual believes they are being deprived of their employments rights, they may refer a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), where the matter can be dealt with by way of mediation or adjudication, leading to a decision that is enforceable through the District Court.
That said, there has been significant debate across Europe in recent years regarding the ‘right to disconnect’ and Government officials have been monitoring the matter closely.
Officials from my Department met with Eurofound earlier this year to discuss its report “Telework and ICT-based mobile work; flexible working in the digital age”, which examines, inter alia, the right to disconnect throughout the EU. The report found that only a few Member States have adopted legislation related to the ‘right to disconnect’ and that there is a lack of consensus about the need for legislation in the area and how it should be regulated.
The topic was also discussed at the most recent Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF), following which I wrote to ICTU and IBEC seeking submissions in order to contribute to the debate.
Officials in the Department of Justice and Equality have also conducted a public consultation on the broader theme of developing a national flexible working policy. The policy will take into account the needs of families, individuals, employers and the broader economy. The results of the consultation are currently being analysed and I look forward to its publication.
In December 2019, the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation published the 'Remote Work in Ireland' Report. The report focussed on understanding the prevalence and types of remote working arrangements within the Irish workforce and the attitudes towards such arrangements. It identified the need for further guidance for employers to support the adoption of remote work across a number of areas, including the right to disconnect. The WRC is the primary source of information on employment rights in Ireland.
My Department continuously monitors existing employment rights legislation to ensure that it continues to be relevant and fit for purpose. My officials will continue to do so in relation to the right to disconnect and will strive to ensure that an appropriate balance is struck between the exigencies of businesses, organisations and workers.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1206. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5272/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWorking Family Payment (WFP) formerly known as Family Income Supplement , is a weekly tax free payment which provides additional income support to employees on low earnings with children.
The person concerned is currently in receipt of WFP at a rate of €180 per week. This payment will not be affected if she has been laid off work due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
The Covid 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is not available to those residing outside the state. As the person concerned lives in Northern Ireland she does not qualify for this payment. Her employer may continue to keep her on under the wage subsidy scheme operated by Revenue. Further details on this scheme are available at www.revenue.ie
Under EU rules, the Member State of residence is competent for the payment of unemployment benefits in the case of wholly unemployed frontier workers, i.e. a person who works on one side of a border but lives on the other, and returns home at least once a week. The competent State for a person who is laid off, and is wholly unemployed, who lives in Northern Ireland and was working in Ireland is Northern Ireland.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
1207. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to re-examine the issue of pro rata pensions for persons who do not have the required number of PRSI contributions to obtain the State pension (contributory); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5283/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn April 2012, the number of paid PRSI contributions required to qualify for a State Pension (Contributory) increased from 260 to 520. The enabling legislation that brought about this change was contained in the Social Welfare Act 1997.
The actuarial value of the State Pension is estimated at over €300,000 which requires people who claim a contributory pension to have made at least 10 years of paid contributions over 50 years of a working age life.
For those with insufficient contributions to meet the requirements for a State Pension (Contributory), they may qualify for a means tested State Pension (Non-Contributory), the maximum personal rate for which is currently €237 (over 95% of the maximum rate of the contributory pension). This rate of payment does not include rent allowance, household benefits or fuel allowance. Alternatively, if their spouse is a State pensioner and they have significant household means, their most beneficial payment may be an Increase for a Qualified Adult, based on their personal means, and amounting up to 90% of a full contributory pension.
The Total Contributions Approach (TCA), when it is introduced, is intended to be a fairer and more transparent system where the person’s lifetime contribution will be more closely reflected in the benefit received. Having carefully examined the outputs of a consultation process, officials in the Department are designing the scheme. It is anticipated that there will be significant recognition for homecaring periods in the new model. The intention is to bring a proposal to Government setting out that design in the near future.
My Department regularly reviews its supports and payment schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives. However, any improvements or additions to these supports can only be considered in the overall budgetary context and in the light of available financial resources.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1208. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of protected disclosures her Department has received since the legislation was introduced; the number of protected disclosures examined to conclusion by year in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5304/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing from the enactment of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Department has put a policy and procedures in place to provide information to and assist workers who wish to make protected disclosures. The Policy and procedures are made available on www.gov.ie.
All submissions made are assessed by a designated group of senior managers and investigations are then carried out where deemed necessary.
The Department has received thirty eight submissions, a large proportion of which were from one individual, since the legislation was introduced in 2014. The submissions have been examined as follows.
|
Year |
Assessed & concluded |
Comment |
|
2014 |
0 |
|
|
2015 |
2 |
|
|
2016 |
0 |
|
|
2017 |
7 |
|
|
2018 |
20 |
|
|
2019 |
9 |
|
|
2020 |
0 |
All cases to date examined/concluded |
|
Total |
38 |
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is fully committed to fostering an appropriate environment for addressing concerns relating to potential wrongdoing in the workplace and to providing the necessary support and protections for staff that raise genuine concerns.
1209. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the status of an application for a non-contributory pension by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5335/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, decided to disallow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision on 22 April 2020. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
1210. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the recent report No. 19 by the NESC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5475/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn a response to a request from the Government, the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) has published Report No.19: ‘Addressing Employment Vulnerability as Part of a Just Transition in Ireland’. This very comprehensive report presents an examination of the vulnerability for workers, firms and sectors to the transition to a low-carbon and more digital, automated future.
In framing it recommendations, NESC sets out the proposed drivers to the Government’s response to the employment vulnerability created by transitions. These drivers are: continuous, pre-emptive workforce development; building resilient enterprises; and delivering high-impact targeted funding to support transition. The 12 strategic recommendations, in turn, address issues pertaining to policy, implementation and communication. These include increasing Ireland’s ambition for workforce development, extending appropriate enterprise supports to viable but vulnerable firms, and examining the inclusion of social clauses in relevant state transition funding.
The Council’s report underlines the importance of lifelong learning, training and education, effective support for viable but vulnerable companies, and ensuring that funding has the greatest possible local impact.
The transition to a low-carbon and more digital, automated future will present challenges to Ireland’s economy and labour market, particularly for vulnerable but viable firms and their employees. My Department will continue to work with the Departments for Education and Skills and Business, Enterprise and Innovation on the development of the labour force and providing opportunities for jobseekers, as the economy transitions to a low carbon and more digital automated future.
As you will be aware, I established a Labour Market Advisory Council earlier this year with a mandate that includes providing advice on general employment and labour market issues. I envisage that the Just Transition will be one area for which the Advisory Council can play a useful role going forward.
1211. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she has consulted with the Minister for Education and Skills with regard to report No. 19 of the NESC; if they have discussed plans to engage the higher education institutions in identifying and providing mechanisms for delivery of critical skills as identified by the NESC report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5477/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn a response to a request from the Government, the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) has published Report No.19: ‘Addressing Employment Vulnerability as Part of a Just Transition in Ireland’. This very comprehensive report presents an examination of the vulnerability for workers, firms and sectors to the transition to a low-carbon and more digital, automated future.
In framing it recommendations, NESC sets out the proposed drivers to the Government’s response to the employment vulnerability created by transitions. These drivers are: continuous, pre-emptive workforce development; building resilient enterprises; and delivering high-impact targeted funding to support transition. The 12 strategic recommendations, in turn, address issues pertaining to policy, implementation and communication. These include increasing Ireland’s ambition for workforce development, extending appropriate enterprise supports to viable but vulnerable firms, and examining the inclusion of social clauses in relevant state transition funding.
The Council’s report underlines the importance of lifelong learning, training and education, effective support for viable but vulnerable companies, and ensuring that funding has the greatest possible local impact.
The transition to a low-carbon and more digital, automated future will present challenges to Ireland’s economy and labour market, particularly for vulnerable but viable firms and their employees. My Department will continue to work with the Departments for Education and Skills and Business, Enterprise and Innovation on the development of the labour force and providing opportunities for jobseekers, as the economy transitions to a low carbon and more digital automated future.
Officials from my Department are continuing to engage with the Department of Education and Skills on how best to engage the higher education institutions and to provide for the delivery of the skills identified as being critical in Report No. 19 by the NESC.
1212. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are vacancies in the offices of her Department at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5497/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, like all Government departments and agencies is required to operate within a staff ceiling figure and a commensurate administrative staffing budget, which for this Department has involved reductions in staff numbers.
The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, taking account of workloads, management priorities and the ongoing need to respond to new demands across a wide range of services. This is to ensure that the best use is made of available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.
There are a number of vacancies my Department's office in Longford at the CO grade. I am advised that there are currently no vacancies in the Department’s offices in Westmeath.
In accordance with the Civil Service Mobility Scheme approved posts at Clerical Officer level are filled by a mixture of recruitment via the Public Appointments Service and transfer/mobility of existing civil servants. In order to be deemed eligible for mobility, in addition to satisfying attendance and performance criteria, an officer must have served for a minimum period of 2 years in their current grade in their current location and Department. The mobility lists are maintained strictly in date of application order and the Department has no discretion to deviate from the order of the lists.
The individual in question is currently number 13 on the mobility list for my Department’s office in Longford having applied on 27.08.2018 and is number 30 on the mobility list for Athlone having applied on 23.06.2019.
You may wish to note that the Civil Service Mobility Scheme has been temporarily suspended owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
1213. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his Department will recognise an organisation (details supplied) as a key stakeholder and will involve it in the consultation process for new design projects or redesign to ensure that the needs of persons who are blind or vision impaired are taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4586/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s publication Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities (2007) sets out best practice for the use of all involved in the provision of housing, including architects, urban designers, engineers, planners, quantity surveyors, developers, practitioners and housing authorities.
The guidelines identify the principles and criteria that are important in the design of housing in order to facilitate the delivery of better homes, better neighbourhoods and better urban spaces.
The guidelines provide advice on site selection in areas with good access to a wide range of services, including shops, schools and other facilities, and without creating an overconcentration of a single tenure type. A range of key design priorities are emphasised in the guidelines, including the need to ensure designs are socially, environmentally and architecturally appropriate, safe, secure and healthy; affordable; durable; and accessible and adaptable. Such themes are amplified in the later Design Manual for Urban Spaces (DMURS).
These design guidelines for local authorities seek to promote quality and value for money in publicly funded housing and seek to maintain this level of quality, including where other funding streams are fully or partially involved.
In relation to the guidelines, my Department is in regular contact with local authorities where design proposals for social housing developments are considered for consistency with the Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities guidelines and I am satisfied that the appropriate arrangements are in place.
In regard to the DMURS, this was jointly published by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in 2013 and was followed by a series of nationwide information seminars in early 2014 and 2015. The purpose of this manual is to ensure that the welfare and needs of pedestrians are prioritised in the design of streets in urban areas, so that roadways for cars do not dominate our towns and cities. It also promotes systems to better facilitate and encourage pedestrian movement, and is fully consistent with our planning intentions to create more compact settlements.
The manual contains specific design guidance intended to assist persons with visual impairment navigate public spaces, specifically in respect of clear pathways, reduced clutter, street furniture in specific zones, and the use of tactile pavement and contrasting materials to aid navigation.
My Department is committed to actively engaging with all key stakeholders to facilitate the delivery of better homes, better neighbourhoods and better urban spaces.
1214. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the measures being taken to ensure that homeless persons and families will be able to self-isolate if and when they are required to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4774/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1239. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the health and safety measures he is planning to protect persons in respect of short-term emergency accommodation provided by State agencies for families coming through the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4337/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1244. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons registered as homeless who sleep in dormitory-style or shared-bedroom spaces, excluding situations in which members of the same family share a bedroom space exclusive of non-family members. [4444/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1245. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funds will be made available to facilitate self-isolation for homeless persons who sleep in dormitory-style or shared-bedroom space accommodation. [4445/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1279. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if resources will be put in place to allow homeless hostels to be accessible 24 hours per day, seven days per week in order that homeless service users do not need to attend day services, which would make self-isolation easier if required. [4775/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1214, 1239, 1244, 1245 and 1279 together.
The role of my Department in relation to homelessness involves the provision of a national framework of policy, legislation and funding to underpin the role of local authorities in addressing homelessness at local or regional level. Responsibility for the provision of emergency accommodation and related services for homeless persons is a matter for the local authorities.
As part of the response to COVID-19, my Department is working closely with the Dublin Regional Homelessness Executive (DRHE), local authorities and the HSE to ensure the necessary arrangements are in place to protect individuals and families accessing emergency accommodation. This has included regular meetings and conference calls with the DRHE, local authorities and the Chief Executives of homeless NGOs. My Department is also working with the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) subgroup for vulnerable persons.
Local authorities nationally have been working to put in place additional accommodation to allow for the isolation of confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. Significant additional accommodation is also in place to support the appropriate levels of social distancing in emergency accommodation. In Dublin, where over 70% of all homeless individuals are located, over 1,000 additional beds have been put in place to ensure adherence to HSE guidance, in addition to providing beds for individuals in emergency accommodation who are required to self-isolate. Outside Dublin, additional beds are also in place, or available for use, for the same purpose. The DRHE has also confirmed to my Department that all hostels in Dublin are operating on 24-hour basis and that meals are being provided. Additional funding is being provided to local authorities to deliver these measures.
My Department does not hold details of individuals in emergency accommodation who are sharing a bedroom.
1215. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the local infrastructure housing activation fund, LIHAF; the amount of funding awarded to date; and the amount of funding awarded per project to date. [5707/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1249. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding allocated and drawn down under the LIHAF to date; the number of recipients; the details of each; the number of units delivered; the number of discounted units delivered; and the price of each. [4478/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1215 and 1249 together.
As an initiative of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF) is primarily designed to fund the provision of public off-site infrastructure to relieve critical infrastructure blockages and enable housing developments to be built on key sites at scale.
30 projects received final LIHAF approval with an overall budget of €195.7m, of which €146.8m will be Exchequer funded, with the remainder funded via local authorities. Of the 30 projects, Kildare County Council has confirmed that its project on the Naas Inner Relief Road will not now progress, although an element of the housing that was associated with the project has taken place.
Details of the approvals by local authority area, budget allocation, project description and projected housing delivery are available at www.rebuildingireland.ie/LIHAF .
Currently, 3 LIHAF projects have completed infrastructure construction. Of the remaining 26, up to the end of April (and excluding the Naas project), 14 projects have been approved to go to, or are already at, infrastructure construction stage. Of the remaining 12 projects, 3 are expected to have tenders approved and go to construction before the end of Q3 2020. Nine are not yet ready to go to infrastructure tender stage which is required in order to receive approval to proceed to construction. My Department is reviewing these projects and considering requests from local authorities for extensions to the funding agreements as and when they arise.
In terms of LIHAF funding drawdown, thus far, most infrastructure projects have been at the design, planning and procurement stages, and the bulk of expenditure will arise during the construction phase. This is reflected in the level of expenditure to end Q1 2020, with approximately €37.731 million in Exchequer funds drawn down (matched by a further 25% local authority funding bringing the total expenditure to €50.308m). The following table details the exchequer funding drawn down up to end of Q1 2020.
|
Local Authority |
Project name |
Drawdown of LIHAF funding Exchequer Contribution to end of Q1 2020 (€) |
|
Clare |
Claureen, Ennis |
157,919 |
|
Cork City |
Old Whitechurch Road |
5,316,356 |
|
Cork City |
South Docks |
714,798 |
|
Cork City |
Glanmire |
490,751 |
|
Cork County |
Midleton (Water-rock) |
358,044 |
|
Cork County |
Carrigaline |
450,000 |
|
Dublin City |
Dodder Bridge |
473,487 |
|
Dublin City |
Belmayne and Clongriffin |
325,710 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Cherrywood |
2,738,281 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Woodbrook Shanganagh |
0 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown |
Clay Farm |
0 |
|
Fingal |
Donabate Distributor Road |
10,780,000 |
|
Fingal |
Oldtown Mooretown |
2,724,266 |
|
Fingal |
Baldoyle Stapolin |
274,561 |
|
Kildare |
Naas |
470,190 |
|
Kildare |
Maynooth |
390,556 |
|
Kildare |
Sallins |
654,584 |
|
Kilkenny |
Ferrybank |
225,435 |
|
Kilkenny |
Western Environs |
4,267,655 |
|
Limerick |
Mungret |
2,010,471 |
|
Louth |
Newtown Drogheda |
80,672 |
|
Louth |
Mount Avenue Dundalk |
114,789 |
|
Meath |
Ratoath |
814,063 |
|
Meath |
Farganstown, Navan |
1,953,988 |
|
South Dublin |
Kilcarbery/Corkagh Grange |
818,081 |
|
South Dublin |
Clonburris SDZ |
23,658 |
|
South Dublin |
Adamstown |
753,735 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
Gracedieu |
112,234 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
Kilbarry |
154,590 |
|
Westmeath |
Brawny Road, Athlone |
82,500 |
In terms of homes delivered, the following table details the number of completed homes up to Q4 2019. Figures in respect of Q1 2020 are currently being collated. Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 emergency, local authorities had estimated that a further 4,000 homes would be delivered in 2020; it is not yet clear what impact the pandemic will have on LIHAF delivery.
|
Local Authority |
Project Name |
Residential Units Delivered to Date |
Social/Part V |
Cost Reduced/More Affordable |
|
Cork County |
Carrigaline |
180 |
0 |
0 |
|
Fingal |
Oldtown/Mooretown |
379 |
8 |
211 |
|
Kildare |
Naas |
190 |
15 |
150 |
|
Meath |
Ratoath |
106 |
2 |
10 |
|
South Dublin |
Adamstown SDZ |
1,202 |
120 |
459 |
|
Cork City |
Glanmire |
13 |
0 |
3 |
|
Fingal |
Donabate |
66 |
0 |
66 |
|
Limerick |
Mungret |
26 |
0 |
26 |
|
Total |
2,162 |
145 |
925 |
The individual sales price of homes that are delivered following the construction of the LIHAF facilitating infrastructure is not available in my Department. However, by way of example, Meath County Council has confirmed it will be offering units at Ratoath at a discount of 10% to the relevant open market prices. In Cork City, the LIHAF project at Glanmire will see 110 homes delivered with a discount of approx. €20,000 each on the open market price.
1216. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps that will be taken to expedite an application for the registration of properties (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3919/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraPursuant to the Registration of Deeds and Title Act 2006, the Property Registration Authority (PRA) is the registering authority in relation to property registration in Ireland and, subject to the aforementioned Act, is independent in the performance of its functions.
Arrangements have been put in place by all State bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. The contact e-mail address in respect of the PRA is reps@prai.ie.
1217. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there are funding or grant schemes available to a private company that has secured partial but significant private funding for the provision of social housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3996/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1218. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if there are grant schemes by which a private company can apply for partial funding to add to significant private funding already secured for the provision of social housing in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3997/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1217 and 1218 together.
There are no funding or grant schemes of the type referred to as private companies do not provide social housing directly. Funding is provided to local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) for social housing through which they can, in certain circumstances, acquire or lease housing built by private companies in order to use it for social housing.
The Deputy may also wish to note that Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI), which comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Finance, was established in December 2018 to lend to small and medium sized builders and developers for commercially viable residential developments, particularly those situated outside the State's major urban centres. HBFI has been provided with access to €750 million of funding from the Irish Strategic Investment Fund, which is expected to facilitate the delivery of 7,500 homes over the next five years.
Since its formal launch, I understand that HBFI has engaged actively with small and medium sized builders and developers. Information in relation to HBFI is available at www.hbfi.ie/.
1219. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount expended on access to online and hard copy media publications in each of the years 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020; the breakdown of online and hard copy subscriptions including the publications that his Department subscribes to; if consideration has been given to using a banded set of IP addresses for online subscriptions rather than individual accounts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4010/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the provision of all hard-copy newspapers to my Department is operated as a single service with one invoice covering all titles, a breakdown by publication is not possible. The total spent on all media subscriptions is as follows:-
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
||
|
1 |
Newspapers |
€6,173 |
€8,009 |
€8,682 |
€2,080 |
|
2 |
Online Newspaper Subscriptions |
€313 |
€508 |
€683 |
€448 |
|
3 |
Media Monitoring Service |
€6,698 |
€6,504 |
€6,673 |
€4,705 |
A breakdown of payments relating to online newspaper subscriptions is as follows:
|
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
||
|
1 |
The Irish Times |
€144 |
€144 |
€144 |
€60 |
|
2 |
Sunday Business Post |
€169 |
€169 |
€169 |
€149 |
|
3 |
The Times (UK) |
- |
€195 |
€260 |
€87 |
|
4 |
Financial Times |
- |
- |
€110 |
€110 |
|
5 |
The Irish Independent |
- |
- |
- |
€42 |
To date, my Department has not considered using a banded width of IP addresses for online subscriptions as my Department only has one subscription to the newspapers listed above for use by its Press Office.
