Written Answers Nos. 64-73
64. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the number of legal cases taken against his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023; and the costs associated with same in each of those years. [45405/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has identified three legal cases which have been taken against the Department during the period in question. All three were individual claims taken against the Department and have all been concluded involving a small settlement and associated legal and ancillary costs. The costs for the three cases spread over four years are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2013 |
Nil |
|
2014 |
€22,909.30 |
|
2015 |
€3,650.12 |
|
2016 |
€1,630.35 |
|
2017 |
€502.05 |
|
2018 |
Nil |
|
2019 |
Nil |
|
2020 |
Nil |
|
2021 |
Nil |
|
2022 |
Nil |
|
2023 to date |
Nil |
65. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Taoiseach to outline the work completed on implementation of the Well-being Framework Policy post-Budget 2023 and prior to Budget 2024; the data sets used in that process; the outcomes of those processes, in tabular form [45485/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s Well-being Framework was launched in July 2021. It consists of 11 dimensions which are made up of different aspects of well-being and is supported by a dashboard of 35 indicators (available on the CSO website).
Analysis of these indicators is published annually since 2022, and the 2023 analysis was published on 9 June this year.
The Government has committed to featuring the Well-being Framework at relevant points in the Budgetary cycle. For Budgets 2023 and 2024 the Well-being Framework was a theme at the National Economic Dialogue, was part of the Summer Economic Statement, and associated analysis also featured in the publication ‘Budget 2024: Beyond GDP – Quality of Life Assessment’ as published on Budget Day.
The development of the Framework is led by the Department of Taoiseach and jointly sponsored by the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. This is a whole of Government initiative and an Inter-Departmental Group (which includes representatives from all Departments), chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, drives implementation of the Well-being Framework across Government. Departments are progressing work to further embed the approach into policy and decision-making. Examples of this include the development of sectoral indicator sets, and analysis of complex policy issues or cohorts using the Well-being Framework.
The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP delivery, and Reform is working to embed a well-being perspective into policy analysis and expenditure decisions. As outlined by the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in his budget statement to Dáil Éireann last week, his Department intends to publish in the coming days a paper that utilises the Well-being Framework to provide a cross-governmental presentation of the selected new measures set out in the Expenditure Report.
The pace of the development and integration of the Irish Well-being Framework reflects well in comparison with other countries. The Government will continue to review, identify and develop data and methods to support further use and integration of the Well-being Framework. As part of this, my Department is arranging a half-day seminar on Ireland’s Well-being Framework in November.
66. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Taoiseach how the people of Clare will benefit from his Department’s allocations in Budget 2024 [45782/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the Governments website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/a93a4-your-guide-to-budget-2024/) for detailed analysis of Budget 2024 and its benefits for all.
The €14 billion package is designed to help people, families, businesses and farmers equally across all counties in Ireland with the cost of living.
The focus on Child Poverty and Well-being in this year’s Budget will ensure that the people of Clare will benefit from, amongst other things,
·A €12 weekly increase in all social welfare payments;
·A double month of Child Benefit;
·A €100 lump sum for families receiving the Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) on top of that;
·A €400 lump sum for families receiving the Working Family Payment;
·A €400 Carer's Support Grant;
·A €300 Fuel Allowance Lump Sum;
·A January Social Welfare double-payment;
·An extension of the hot school meals programme to hundreds more primary schools;
·A €450 Electricity Credit for households;
·€100 Increase in the Home Carer and Single Person Child Carer Tax Credit;
·A €200 increase in the Incapacitated Child Tax Credit;
·An increase in the USC thresholds and a reduction in 4.5% band to 4%, and a further €100 increase for Personal, PAYE and earned income credits.
67. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of a passport application (details supplied), as the applicant's travel date is imminent and all requested supporting documentation has been submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45382/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the required supporting documents were received from the applicant on 10 October 2023. The turnaround time following receipt of additional documents is 15 working days. This application is within the turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date.
68. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of legal cases taken against his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023; and the costs associated with same in each of those years. [45397/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepending on the subject matter, litigation against my Department is dealt with by the Attorney General’s Office and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency.
The table below sets out the number of cases commenced against the Department over the past 10 years, as well as all legal costs paid by the Department each year.
|
Year |
Number of cases commenced each year |
Costs paid each year |
|
2023* |
9 |
€525,504 |
|
2022 |
15 |
€200,792 |
|
2021 |
5 |
€83,402 |
|
2020 |
6 |
€144,722 |
|
2019 |
13 |
€389,797 |
|
2018 |
13 |
€163,223 |
|
2017 |
3 |
€197,708 |
|
2016 |
4 |
€147,324 |
|
2015 |
1 |
€142,643 |
|
2014 |
7 |
€186,663 |
|
2013 |
4 |
€156,794 |
*Number of cases up to 30 September 2023
69. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide a detailed breakdown on the organisations in Australia that have made applications under the Emigrant Support Programme since January 2022, including the names and the funding amount approved for each applicant, in tabular form. [45428/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to supporting Irish communities all over the world, including in Australia, and the amount allocated under the Government's Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) to organisations working with the Irish community in Australia has steadily increased in recent years.
Since 2022, a total of €978,887 has been paid to Australia-based Irish community organisations.
In the 2021-2022 funding round, seventeen organisations applied for funding, thirteen of them successfully, sharing total funding of €442,293.
In the 2022-2023 funding round, twelve organisations applied for funding, eleven of them successfully, sharing total funding of €536,594.
The 2023-2024 round is still in progress.
A full tabular breakdown for the 2021/2022 and the 2022/2023 funding rounds are provided below.
Australia Emigrant Support Programme 2021-2022:
|
Canberra Irish Club |
€6,195 |
|
Fenians Fremantle and Freedom Inc |
€5,281 |
|
Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce |
€26,640 |
|
Irish Australian Support Association of Queensland |
€101,605 |
|
Irish Screen Projects Australia |
€5,176 |
|
Irish Support Agency NSW |
€153,102 |
|
Moyne Celtic Traditions Assoc Inc (Formerly Lake School Celtic Music & Dance) |
€3,098 |
|
Queensland Irish Choir |
€2,093 |
|
St Patrick's Day Festival WA |
€9,284 |
|
St Patrick's Day Parade Association Inc |
€9,293 |
|
Sydney Queer Irish |
€9,320 |
|
Sydney St Patricks Day Organisation Incorporated |
€12,391 |
|
The Claddagh Association |
€98,815 |
|
|
€442,293 |
21/2022 Applicants Not in Receipt of Funding
Irish Booker
Gaelic Games Victoria
Irish Australian Association Inc.
St Patrick’s Day Hobart Committee
Australia Emigrant Support Programme 2022-2023:
|
Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce |
€27,877 |
|
Irish Australian Support & Resource Bureau (Melbourne) |
€83,069 |
|
Irish Australian Support Association of Queensland (Brisbane) |
€116,961 |
|
Irish Screen Projects Australia |
€5,483 |
|
Irish Support Agency NSW (Sydney) |
€162,075 |
|
Melbourne Irish Festival Committee |
€1,945 |
|
Moyne Celtic Traditions Assoc Inc |
€4,998 |
|
St Patricks Day Festival WA |
€9,724 |
|
Sydney Queer Irish |
€13,266 |
|
Sydney St Patricks Day Organisation Incorporated |
€9,950 |
|
The Claddagh Association (Perth) |
€101,246 |
|
€536,594 |
2022/2023 Applicants Not in Receipt of Funding
Canberra Irish Club Limited.
70. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45632/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service records show that a refund was issued on 22 February 2023. The Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the refund.
71. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement of solidarity with people of Gaza and Palestine during this terrible time for them and to condemn the illegal actions of Israel in its continuing regime of occupation, land theft, apartheid and collective punishment which has led to nearly one million Gazan children being without food, water and power. [45755/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am deeply alarmed by what is happening in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory.
The brutal attack by Hamas in Israel on 7 October was appalling. Under international law, Israel has a right to defend itself from attack, but this must be done within the parameters of international humanitarian law. I am also concerned about rising violence and deaths in the West Bank, including increased incidents of settler violence and displacement of Palestinian communities.
We are in contact with the UN and other partners on an ongoing basis in relation to the urgent need to create humanitarian corridors from Egypt, to get vital supplies to people in need in Gaza, such as food, water and power. I am fully committed to continuing Ireland’s own development and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people. The programme is designed to support the maintenance of space for a two-state solution and reflects our long-standing commitment to the peaceful development of a viable Palestinian state.
I refer the Deputy to the statement I issued on 15 October. The rules of war exist to help preserve humanity in its darkest moments, and they desperately need to be followed today.
We have a moral and political obligation to chart a way towards a future in which these events cannot be repeated. This requires us to put protection of civilians at the heart of our objectives and to strive towards an international effort that can deliver a just and sustainable peace.
72. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that workers at the Passport Office are not receiving their entitled pay increments; and if he will investigate the matter and ensure workers receive the pay they are entitled to. [45764/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe payment of staff in my Department, including in the Passport Service, is administered by the National Shared Services Office (NSSO).
The NSSO ensure Civil Servants in my Department are paid in accordance with their point on the appropriate pay-scale as advised by the Human Resources Division.
Increments are awarded to staff provided they have not reached the top of their pay-scale, and meet the standard criteria for the award of an increment. Criteria considered include performance, attendance, and compliance with the Civil Service Performance Management and Development System.
I can confirm that there are currently no general issues with the payment of Passport Service staff. If, however, any individual member of staff is experiencing an issue in terms of payment, I suggest that they contact the Human Resources Division of my Department for assistance.
73. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs how the people of Clare will benefit from his Department’s allocations in Budget 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45774/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe mission of the Department of Foreign Affairs is to serve Ireland, promote Ireland's values and advance Ireland's prosperity and interests abroad, as well as to provide the government with the capabilities, analysis and influence to ensure that Ireland derives the maximum benefit from all areas of its external engagement.
Officials of my Department work with all State Agencies to promote Ireland across the globe, and they do so on the basis of promoting all regions in all sectors including, for example, in tourism, trade and investment. Additionally, my officials oversee the Passport Service and provide consular assistance to Irish citizens overseas and to their families in Ireland during what may often be very distressing episodes. Given the nature of the Department's work and how it broadly benefits the people of Ireland both at home and abroad, it is not possible to determine the benefit that might accrue to a specific region or sector of the population.
I will take this opportunity to reassure the Deputy that the people of Clare, alongside the wider population of Ireland, will as in previous years, benefit from my Department's Budget 2024 allocation.
