Written Answers Nos. 134-155
134. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a foreshore licence was required for the survey activity referred to in marine notices Nos. 46 and 47 of 2023; if so, to provide the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42873/23]
View answerI can confirm that Foreshore Licences are required for the survey activities referred to in Marine Notices Nos. 46 and 47 of 2023 and Licences were granted for these activities, by my Department, on 1 September 2023.
On 17 July, 2023 the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, or MARA, was established under the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, as an independent agency with responsibility for Enforcement matters in the maritime area. Accordingly, I have been informed by MARA that they made contact with the company issuing these Marine Notices and were advised that there was no intention to carry out any of these survey works until such a time as a formal consents were in place.
MARA continued to monitor the situation until the necessary Foreshore Licenses required to undertake these activities were obtained by the company concerned. For that reason, my Department notified MARA once these Licences had been executed.
While these Marine Notices were issued in advance of the Foreshore Licences being granted, the Applicant informed my Department that they had done so in order to ensure that, if the Licences were granted, the Marine Notices would be in place to avoid them encountering any delays in carrying out these survey activities subject to weather and other operational constraints. In that context, I am satisfied that they were compliant at all stages of the Foreshore Application Process.
135. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department intends to issue guidance to local authorities on the installation of solar or PV panels on council-owned properties; if funding could be made available to local authorities for the installation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42876/23]
View answerIn 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the programme, designed around the Programme for Government's commitment led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications that calls for the 'retrofit' of 500,000 homes to a B2/Cost Optimal Equivalent (BER) standard by 2030, of which, approximately 36,500 are expected to be local authority owned homes, with grant funding provided by my Department for those local authority housing retrofits.
The 2023 EERP budget provides an increase in funding support from €85 million allocated in 2022 to €87 million in 2023 which will allow approximately 2,400 local authority owned social homes to be upgraded to a B2 or cost optimal equivalent (BER). With regard to the local authority properties which are selected to be retrofitted through funding available from the EERP, the selection of properties is a matter for each individual local authority.
Works eligible under my Department's revised EERP include attic/cavity wall insulation or external wall insulation where required, windows and doors replacement, heat pump installation and ancillary and associated works. The funded measures achieve the B2 or cost optimal equivalent (BER) as identified by the 2018 Cost Optimal calculations carried out under the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. In certain circumstances, my Department supports the installation of 1kWp solar PV for small social homes with a floor area less than 55 m2, with a maximum HLI of 2.6 on a pilot basis. In such cases local authorities are required to cooperate with SEAI as part of research monitoring the performance of heat pumps in these dwellings.
The cost optimal level is currently being reviewed with a view to being published later in 2023. It is intended that the Building Regulations will be further updated to adopt the 2023 cost optimal calculations no later than Q1 2025. In addition, a proposed revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is currently under negotiation. It includes ambitious requirements for solar energy installations which are supported by my Department.
Furthermore, under the Microgeneration Support Scheme led by the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Solar PV is available for all domestic premises.
137. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of general schemes referred by his Department to an Oireachtas committee for pre-legislative scrutiny from 1 January 2016 to date; the date each was referred; the date that the general scheme was published for the public to review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42953/23]
View answerThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
A list of the general schemes referred by my Department to an Oireachtas Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny from 1 January 2016 to date along with the date each was referred and the date that the general scheme was published for the public to review can be found in the table below:
|
Title |
Date of Referral |
Date of Publication |
|
General Scheme of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016 |
12 October 2016[1] |
29 September 2016 |
|
General Scheme of the Building Control (Construction Industry Register Ireland) Bill 2017 |
01 June 2017 |
01 June 2017[2] |
|
General Scheme of the Rates Bill 2017 (later named Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019) |
20 September 2017 |
General Scheme not published |
|
General Scheme of an Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2017 |
06 October 2017 |
General Scheme not published |
|
Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2018 |
10 May 2018 |
General Scheme not published |
|
General Scheme of the Prohibition of Certain Products Containing Plastic Microbeads Bill 2018 [Published as Microbeads (Prohibition) Bill 2019 - No. 41 of 2019] |
06 December 2018 |
6 November 2018 |
|
General Scheme of the European Parliament Elections (Amendment) Bill 2018 |
07 December 2018 |
General Scheme not published |
|
General Scheme of the Land Development Agency Bill |
09 July 2019 |
22 October 2020 |
|
Water Environment (Abstractions and Associated Impoundments) Bill 2022 |
06 October 2020 |
30 August 2018 |
|
Marine Planning and Development Management Bill 2019 |
02 November 2020 |
17 December 2019 |
|
General Scheme of the Tailte Éireann Bill 2020 |
07 January 2021 |
6 January 2021 |
|
General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill 2020 |
08 January 2021 |
08 January 2021 |
|
General Scheme of Affordable Housing Bill 2020 (Enacted and now Affordable Housing Act 2021) |
20 January 2021 |
20 January 2021 |
|
Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) Bill 2023 |
23 April 2021 |
22 April 2021 |
|
General Scheme of the Water Services Separation Bill 2021 |
27 April 2021 |
27 April 2021 |
|
General Scheme of Planning and Development (Amendment) (LSRD) Bill 2021 |
07 September 2021[3] |
13 July 2021 |
|
Revised General Scheme for the Monuments and Archaeological Heritage Bill (now entitled the Historic and Archaeological Heritage and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill) |
15 December 2021 |
02 December 2021 |
|
General Scheme of Housing and Planning and Development Bill 2019 (Judicial Review Reform) |
24 January 2022[4] |
10 December 2019 |
|
General Scheme of the Local Government (Maternity Protection and Other Measures for Local Authority Elected Members) Bill 2022 |
29 July 2022 |
29 July 2022 |
|
Planning and development and Foreshore Amendment Bill 2022 |
10 Nov 2022 |
09 November 2022 |
|
General Scheme of Marine Protected Areas Bill 2022 (amended to 2023) |
13 January 2023 |
16 December 2022 |
|
General Scheme Land Value Sharing and Urban Development Zones Bill 2022 |
17 April 2023 |
13 April 2023 |
|
General Scheme of the Electoral (Amendment) (Dáil Constituencies) Bill 2023 |
21 September 2023 |
General Scheme not published |
[1] Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government met on 12 October 2016 to complete pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill.
[2] Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act published in July 2022
[3] Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage met on 7 September 2021 to complete pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill.
[4] Draft bill did not make it to pre-legislative scrutiny.
138. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of plans for a marine national park, as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42965/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to achieving 30% Marine Protected Area (MPA) coverage of Ireland's Maritime Area by 2030, in line with the Programme for Government, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and a number of International initiatives such as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity's post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
My Department has been working closely with Parliamentary drafters over the past months to develop the Marine Protected Areas Bill, the General Scheme of which was published in December 2022. I anticipate that the forthcoming MPA Bill will be published before the end of the year.
Once enacted, this comprehensive legislation will be the primary mechanism by which our MPA network is expanded and by which we can create protected areas such as a national park.
At present 8.3% of our maritime area has protected area status. This area is made up of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives respectively.
139. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if additional funding can be provided to local authorities to support the installation of free public drinking fountains; if any related pathfinder projects are under review in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42988/23]
View answerPublic Drinking Water Fountains have been installed by many Local Authorities in recent years. In response to the Programme for Government commitment to install drinking water fountains two pilot projects are being undertaken. These projects are being led by Uisce Éireann and the National Federation of Group Water Schemes (NFGWS) respectively.
Any future funding from my Department will be decided after reviews of these pilot projects have been completed and the lessons learned from the initiatives are understood.
140. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify the position regarding local authority and Croí Cónaithe grant applicants drawdown where the local authority legal fees are in excess of €550; which party has the responsibility to pay the excess cost; if responsibility lies with the local authority, if he will allocate an additional discretionary budget to cover such additional costs above €550; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43019/23]
View answerIn July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.
The establishment of the charge on the property in respect of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is to protect the interests of the local authority. It is not expected that applicants would cover the legal fees associated with the registration of the charge. These should be covered by the local authority issuing the Grant. The Department will provide support to local authorities towards the costs of registration of the charge. The Department is satisfied that the current level of supports available are sufficient. The level of legal costs to local authorities and the level of support to be provided will be kept under review.
142. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a date has been set for a referendum on enshrining public ownership of Uisce Éireann in the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43030/23]
View answerPublic ownership is a core principle governing the development of water services and the Government has given its full commitment to holding a referendum on water ownership. It is important to note that the establishment of Uisce Éireann in public ownership is already firmly secured under the Water Services Acts 2007 to 2022.
I have previously committed to bringing forward a referendum proposal on public ownership of water for consideration by Government in conjunction with the anticipated recommendation of a proposed referendum on housing. The Housing Commission has recently submitted its report and recommendations to me in respect of a constitutional change on housing. I plan to bring these recommendations to Government in due course, together with my proposals for next steps in that process. I intend to take a similar approach for the proposed referendum on water ownership.
In this way, it is intended that definitive proposals, including next steps and timelines, for referenda on water and housing will be considered by Government in due course.
143. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a staff nurse who has returned to this country at the request of the HSE is being refused a local authority mortgage, because their previous two years of continuous employment was in Britain, rather than on the island of Ireland; if he realises that this policy is undermining stated Government policy of trying to recruit key staff within our health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43035/23]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan, which is available since 4 January 2022 is a Government-backed mortgage for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants, who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.
As part of the eligibility criteria, applicant(s) of the Local Authority Home Loan must have at least two years’ continuous employment in Ireland in order to be eligible. The continuous employment requirement applies to all applicants, regardless of nationality. Applicants for the Local Authority Home Loan are required to demonstrate a track record of employment that would enable them to repay any monies borrowed. Given that the mortgage would be a long-term financial commitment in Ireland, applicants are required to demonstrate this employment and earnings record in Ireland.
While I note the matter raised may pose issues in certain situations, it is important that all Local Authority Home Loan applicants demonstrate an adequate employment record. I will keep this matter under review.
The final decision on Local Authority Home Loan applications is a matter for the relevant local authority. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and lending local authority.
144. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 28 September 2023, if he can confirm and provide clarity on the reason the timeframe for the approval to completion of works under the Croí Cónaithe (towns) fund was reduced from 18 months to 13 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43044/23]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. In July 2022 the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant was launched to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use.
From 1 May 2023, a grant of up to a maximum of €50,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent, including the conversion of a property which has been previously used for commercial and public use heretofore, subject to appropriate planning permission being in place.
Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict or where the property is already on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000.
In order to support the timely delivery of properties, from May 2023, once a grant application receives approval, applicants must complete works applied for within a period of 13 months. Currently payment of grants is issuing some 12 months from date of approval, as works are completed.
In exceptional circumstances, where an applicant is experiencing particular issues and cannot complete the works applied for under the grant within the 13 month period, the Local Authority may consider and grant an extension of the approval period at their discretion.
145. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify if there are plans for a new fire station in Monasterevin; and if so, if he will provide a timeframe for same. [43097/23]
View answerThe provision of a Fire Service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs and the provision of fire station premises, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003. My Department supports the fire authorities through setting general policy, providing a central training programme, issuing guidance on operational and other related matters and providing capital funding for equipment and priority infrastructural projects.
In December 2020, I announced the Fire Services Capital Programme for the period 2021-2025, with a funding allocation of €61m. Following extensive engagement with fire authorities, a number of proposals for station works etc. were received. The proposals were evaluated and prioritised on the basis of the,
• Area Risk Categorisation of the fire station (population, fire risks, etc.);
• established Health and Safety needs;
• state of development of the project (is site acquired, etc.); and
• value for money offered by the proposal.
That Programme will see six new fire stations built, continued support for the construction of a further twelve new fire stations, nine fire station refurbishments as well as the allocation of ‘Class B’ fire appliances to all local authority fire services..
Any proposal received by my Department requesting further support from the Fire Services capital programme is considered with regard to national priorities and the totality of requests from fire authorities countrywide.
Project consideration stages in my Department include submission of preliminary and detailed appraisals; submission of design brief; selection of site; application for approval in principle; appointment of design consultants; submission of a preliminary design; planning application; submission of preliminary cost plan, detailed design and cost plans; and tender process and construction stages - each step subject to approval from my Department.
Kildare County Council previously indicated their top priority was the construction of a new fire station at Maynooth. My Department approved the council to seek tenders for a new Maynooth fire station in April 2023 and will continue to liaise closely on that project.
Kildare County Council had also previously indicated that the replacement of Monasterevin Fire Station would be priority going forward, however my Department has not received a proposal for works in relation to Monasterevin fire station to date. While this project is not currently included in my Department's construction programme, all projects in the capital programme can be reassessed on an annual basis to maximise available capital programme funding. Priority may be adjusted to bring forward projects offering best value-for-money and to take account of the state of readiness of the projects, based on ongoing engagement with local authorities in respect of prioritisation and the totality of requests from all fire authorities.
146. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views in response to the confirmation from a person (details supplied) speaking at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform on Wednesday 27 September 2023 that mortgages can only be issued for a home built to current building regulations; the reason the enhanced defective concrete block grant scheme only provides grant aid for homeowners to remediate or rebuild their homes to previous building regulations that are out of date and that are not mortgageable or re-mortgageable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43128/23]
View answerI am aware of recent views expressed by the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform on 27 September, 2023.
The BPFI advised the committee that only homes remediated to current building regulations would be mortgageable in the future.
Officials from my Department met with the BPFI on 28 September, 2023. Banks are now in the process of clarifying their position on this issue. My understanding is that once a home has been certified as being remediated under the Scheme that it will be viewed by banks in the same way as other properties and therefore homes will not be required to be remediated to current building regulations.
147. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will commit to increasing the carer’s allowance income disregard from €750 to €1,000 for couples and from €350 to €500 for single carers, with subsequent increases in the following years. [42872/23]
View answerThe Government acknowledges the important role that family carers play and is fully committed to supporting carers in that role. This commitment is recognised in both the Programme for Government and the National Carers’ Strategy.The key role of my department is to provide income supports where an income need may arise due to unemployment, illness/disability and caring responsibilities. The payments provided are an income support to people who cannot earn, or can only earn a limited income, and who have no other means or resources to rely upon.Since my appointment as Minister, I have made a number of significant improvements within the social welfare system to enhance the supports available for our carers.
The income and capital disregards for Carer's Allowance were last increased in Budget 2022. These were the first changes to the means test in 14 years:
• The capital and savings disregard for the Carer’s Allowance means assessment was increased from €20,000 to €50,000, aligning it with the capital means test for Disability Allowance.
• For carers who work, the weekly income disregard was increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person, and from €665 to €750 for carers with a spouse/partner.
The current Carer's Allowance disregards are the highest income disregards in the social welfare system and mean that, in the case of a couple, earnings of up to €41,500 a year are disregarded.
It must be noted that any increase to the disregards would result in people who may have higher sources of income benefitting while reducing the scope for the Department to provide income supports to lower income households. Carers whose sole income is the Carer’s Allowance would not benefit from increases to the disregards.
In addition to Carer's Allowance, my department also provides a non-means tested payment to those carers who have to leave the workforce or reduce their hours in the form of Carer’s Benefit. For those providing ongoing care and attention for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability, Domiciliary Care Allowance is available and is also not means-tested. Furthermore, the annual Carer's Support Grant - which I increased to its highest-ever rate of €1,850 - is also available to carers who are not on a social welfare payment.
Notwithstanding the increased level of support already in place for carers, I have asked my department to keep these measures under review as part of the annual budgetary process.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
148. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection if the PRSI contributions of parents can be made applicable for the provision of glasses, optician services and dental services to their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43099/23]
View answerIn general, medical or health related benefits fall within the remit of the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive. However, my Department administers the Treatment Benefit scheme which provides dental, optical, and medical appliances benefits to insured workers, the self-employed and retired people.
The Treatment Benefit scheme is an insurance-based scheme which provides benefits to eligible contributors towards the provision of treatment and appliances. These treatments are also available to their dependent spouse or partner, if applicable.
Eligibility for Treatment Benefit is based on age and social insurance contributions. Pay Related Social Insurance classes A, E, H, P and S count towards the scheme. Benefits under the scheme are only available to adults and cannot be claimed in respect of their children.
Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
149. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures she would consider putting in place to assist those older people with disabilities who are ageing, in addition to having a disability, who are already living in, or in imminent danger of, falling into poverty due to the cost-of-living crisis, compounded with the additional costs that having a disability incur. [43100/23]
View answerThe Indecon Cost of Disability report highlighted that there is not a single typical ‘cost of disability’; rather there is a spectrum from low additional costs to extremely high extra costs of disability, depending on the individual circumstances of the person concerned. It also highlighted that the cost of disability is significantly broader than the income support system and includes housing, equipment, transport, medicines and care. The report therefore suggested that the issue needs a whole-of-government response.
On 20th September I published a Green Paper on Disability Reform and launched the associated public consultation. The Green Paper on Disability Reform was developed as a response to commitments under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion, the Pathways to Work Strategy and the Make Work Pay Report and taking account of the Cost of Disability Report.
In response to the cost of living challenges the Government provided the following supports for older persons:
October 2022
• Autumn Cost of Living Double Payment will be paid to Social Protection recipients including all Pensioners, Carer's and people on Disability Payments
November 2022
• €400 Lump Sum Fuel Allowance Payment to all households receiving the Fuel Allowance
• €200 Lump Sum Payment for pensioners and people with a disability receiving the Living Alone Allowance
December 2022
• Christmas Bonus Double Payment will be paid to Social Protection recipients including Pensioners, Carer’s & People with Disabilities
Additional Improvements for Pensioners
• €12 increase in the maximum weekly rate of all State Pensions and proportionate increases for qualified adults and for people receiving a reduced rate
• New Means Test disregard for Fuel Allowance for people aged over 70 - €500 (single person) and €1,000 (couple)
• Normal means assessment threshold for Fuel Allowance increases from €120 to €200 with effect from January 2023
My department will continue to keep the range of supports for older people with disabilities under review.
150. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify if there are plans to provide an additional payment to those diagnosed with coeliac disease who have to follow a strict gluten free diet as prescribed by their doctor, and the substantial extra costs that entails when in receipt of a social welfare payment; if she will provide advice as to what those on State benefits/low incomes should do in these situations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43170/23]
View answerDiet supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, is payable to qualifying persons, in receipt of the supplement prior to February 2014, who have been prescribed a special diet because of a specified medical condition. There are currently 1,131 people in receipt of diet supplement.
A review of the costs of healthy eating and specialised diets by the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute was commissioned by the Department during 2013. The research showed that the average costs across all the retail outlets of the diets supplemented under the scheme could be met from within one-third of the minimum personal rate of social welfare payment, i.e. the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) rate, which was then paid at €186 per week (and is currently paid at €206 per week). The diet supplement scheme was discontinued for new applicants from 1 February 2014 based on this evidence.
Recipients continue to receive the diet supplement at their existing rate of payment for as long as they continue to have an entitlement to the scheme or until their circumstances change. This ensured that nobody was immediately worse off by the closure of the scheme.
The Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme is the safety net within the overall social welfare system in that it provides assistance to eligible people in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs and those of their dependents. Supports provided under the scheme can consist of a basic weekly payment, a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of certain expenses, as well as single Additional Needs Payments (ANPs).
Under the SWA scheme, a supplement can be awarded to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from the client’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. In addition, officers can make a single ANP to help meet essential, once-off expenditure, which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. Decisions on ANPs and SWA supplements are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case.
Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to financial support should contact their local Community Welfare Service for assistance. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818 607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
151. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an appeal in the name of a person (details supplied) has been approved. [42933/23]
View answerThe Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision making functions.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 29 March 2023. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought from the Department of Social Protection. The case was referred to an Appeals Officer on 21 August 2023.
I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision in writing on 5 September 2023.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
152. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide a list of general schemes referred by her Department to an Oireachtas committee for pre-legislative scrutiny from 1 January 2016 to date; the date each was referred; the date that the general scheme was published for the public to review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42957/23]
View answerThe Government approved an expansion and reinforcement of the arrangements for pre-legislative scrutiny in September 2013. A number of new Standing Orders to underpin these new arrangements came into effect on 5 November 2013.
In order to clarify the operation of these new Standing Orders, an Agreed Protocol for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny of the Heads of Bills by Oireachtas Committees was published in September 2014. This Agreed Protocol provides that certain Bills are exempted from the requirements for pre-legislative scrutiny, including Bills which are required to implement Budget changes such as the Finance Bill and the Social Welfare (Budget) Bill, “emergency” Bills and Bills that were at an advanced stage of drafting at the time the Standing Orders were adopted. For example, the Social Welfare Bills enacting amendments arising from the various Budgets and the Social Welfare (COVID-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020 (Bill No. 14 of 2020) which was an emergency bill were exempt from pre-legislative scrutiny.
A list of a list of general schemes referred for pre-legislative scrutiny from 1 January 2016 from the Department of Social Protection to date is set out in the table below (in reverse chronological order):
Bills Initiated by Minister for Social Protection which have received Pre-Legislative Scrutiny
|
Title of Bill |
Date Heads of Bill referred to Committee for Pre-Legislative Scrutiny |
Status |
|
Social Welfare - State Pensions Reform Bill 2023 |
4 August 2023 |
Department published General Scheme on 21 September 2023. |
|
Social Welfare (Child Maintenance & Liable Relatives) Bill 2023 |
13 July 2023 |
Department published General Scheme on 28 August 2023. |
|
Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Bill 2023 |
1 June 2023 |
As per Section 4.18 of Cabinet handbook the General Scheme was not published by the Department. |
|
Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Bill 2022 |
17 January 2023 |
General Scheme was published by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands on 14 February 2023. |
|
Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2017 |
1 June 2017 |
As per Section 4.18 of Cabinet handbook the General Scheme was not published by the Department. |
153. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if a statement of non-contributory pension paid to a person (details supplied) for the year 2022 can issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42963/23]
View answerState pension non-contributory is a means-tested payment for people aged 66 and over, legally and habitually residing in the State, who do not qualify for a state pension contributory, or who only qualify for a reduced rate contributory pension based on their social insurance record.
A statement of the person’s state pension non-contributory payments has issued to them in respect of the year ending 31 December 2022.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
154. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will be approved for a person (details supplied) to cover the cost of their grandmother’s funeral as this person was their carer for the past five years and has limited means and cannot be expected to cover any of the cost; and if she will expedite a positive response. [42975/23]
View answerUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) scheme, my Department may make an Additional Needs Payment (ANP) to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income. An ANP application can be made for assistance with funeral and burial expenses where there is an inability to pay these costs, in part or in full, by the family of the deceased person without causing hardship.An ANP is an overarching term used to refer to Exceptional and Urgent Needs Payments, and certain Supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary. ANPs are administered by Designated Persons in the Community Welfare Service in my Department. The person concerned applied for an ANP requesting assistance with funeral expenses in respect of a deceased family member. Having considered the circumstances of the person’s application, the Designated Person determined that the need was not exceptional as they had sufficient savings to cover the cost. The person was advised of the outcome on 17/08/2023 and of their right to request a review.Determinations made in relation to claims made under Sections 200, 201 and 202 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation Act) 2005, namely allowances-in-kind, ENPs and UNPs, can be reviewed by a SWA Review Officer under Section 323 of that Act.Following a request from the person, a review of the decision was undertaken by a SWA Review Officer. After consideration of the person’s circumstances as outlined in their request for a review, the Review Officer awarded an ANP of €2,600 to assist with funeral expenses. This payment issued directly to the funeral director by Electronic Funds Transfer on 03/10/2023. A letter issued to the person concerned advising them of the outcome.I trust this clarifies the matter.
155. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Social Protection if a pay claim submission for its staff, and a request for extra staff for 2024, has been received by her Department from the Citizens Information Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42978/23]
View answerThe Citizens Information Board (CIB) is the statutory body under the aegis of my Department, with responsibility for supporting the provision of information, advice (including money and budgeting advice) and advocacy on a wide range of public and social services.
CIB provides some services directly to the public, and funds and supports a number of Service Delivery Companies to provide services on its behalf.
My Department allocates annual Exchequer funding to CIB to deliver its services. This funding, and any additional requests from CIB, are considered and reviewed annually by my Department, and wider Government, as part of the overall Government Estimates process.
As part of the Government's Estimates process for 2024, I can confirm that CIB has submitted a request for additional resources to cover a wide range of issues, including pay and additional staff. These will be considered in the context of the overall Government's Estimates process.
