Written Answers Nos. 350-366
350. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage how local authorities are resourced to implement the Water Framework Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56167/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy) establishes a common framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwater. The overall aim of the Directive is to maintain high and good status waters where they exist and to restore waters that do not currently reach these standards. River basin management planning, structured in six-year cycles, along with its associated Programme of Measures, is the tool prescribed by the Directive for achieving these aims.
Building on the successful elements of the first River Basin Management Plan cycle, the Government introduced new high-level structures for implementation of the WFD as part of the second-cycle river basin management plan that covered the period 2018-2021. These new implementation bodies are supported by regional local authority structures, comprising of 5 regional committees, which drive the delivery of supporting measures at local level.
These structures are further supported by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO). Funded by my Department (€9,157,875 in 2023), LAWPRO acts as a local government national shared service and is responsible for;
• Coordinating efforts by local authorities, public bodies and other stakeholders to achieve the water quality objectives of the EU Water Framework Directive
• Supporting local communities to get involved in caring for their local waters and participate in decision making and river basin management plans, and
• Applying catchment science to identify the issues impacting on water quality in a number of Priority Areas for Action and to refer them to the relevant bodies for action.
A significant element of the engagement by the Local Authorities in implementing the WFD is through nitrates inspections. In March 2022, the Fifth Nitrates Action Programme was published and it committed to increasing Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine inspections and to developing an enhanced local authority inspection and enforcement programme by Local Authorities.
Within the local authority sector, this resulted in the establishment of the local authority National Agricultural Inspection Programme, which is an inspection and enforcement programme, managed and co-ordinated by local authorities with guidance and oversight by the EPA. The EPA is responsible for firstly, providing guidance for local authorities on targeting inspections where water quality is impacted or at risk of being impacted from agriculture, secondly, tracking the progress of the programme and thirdly, ensuring that appropriate guidance and training are provided to local authority inspectors.
To ensure the resources are in place for this programme, my Department has been working with the City and County Managers Association (CCMA) to identify the existing local authorities’ resources available to undertake agricultural inspections and follow-up enforcement, and to determine the additional staffing resources required to deliver the target of over 4,000 inspections per year.
As part of this process, the CCMA has undertaken a review of resources for agricultural inspections and enforcement in each local authority to assess existing resources and skillsets, and to identify additional staffing requirements.
Prior to completion of the review, in 2022, my Department allocated funding of €60,000 to 10 local authorities to support the programme.
The review has identified that 57 additional staff are required. My Department has taken the review findings on board and, as an initial step, has allocated funding to 17 local authorities to recruit 21 additional inspection posts under the programme. Funding of additional posts will be kept under review.
My Department is currently preparing the third River Basin Management Plan for Ireland, to cover the WFD third cycle, and which will be published shortly. A key commitment in the Programme for Government, a new revised and strengthened River Basin Management Plan is a strategic plan that will outline the national policies and high-level goals that will protect and restore our natural waters, and will advance Ireland’s commitment to the implementation of the WFD.
351. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total value of procurement overseen by local authorities as a central purchasing body; the percentage of compliant and non-compliant procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56172/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not have direct involvement in executive functions such as procurement, carried out by a local authority. Under Section 149 of the Local Government Act 2001, the Chief Executive of a local authority is responsible for the executive functions of the local authority, and for that purpose to manage and control generally, the administration and business of the authority, subject to law.
My Department does not hold the specific information requested. However, local authorities are required to publish details of payments over €20,000 in relation to goods or services procured, on a quarterly basis. These registers are published on the respective websites of each local authority.
352. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the number of public servants servicing on State boards since 2006 in an independent capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55910/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, the Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
Public servants serve on the boards of the Citizens Information Board (CIB), the Pensions Authority and the Pensions Council in their capacity as ex-officio appointments and in the case of the CIB, as a staff representative under Section 9.4 (c) of Comhairle Act 2000 (as amended). The Social Welfare Tribunal consists of a Chairperson and four ordinary members, two appointed on the nomination of Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and two nominated by Irish Business and Employers' Confederation (IBEC). Legislation provides that the four ordinary members of the Tribunal are appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the two relevant bodies. The Social Welfare Tribunal has not sat since 2014 but no member was a public servant.
In making appointments to these boards, my Department operates in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, published in November 2014. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) has responsibility for managing an open, accessible and transparent system to support Ministers in making State board appointments.
Details of the current membership of the state boards operating under the remit of my Department are published on the State boards website www.Stateboards.ie.
353. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person in County Cork (details supplied) will receive child benefit. [55847/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraChild Benefit is a monthly payment to the parents or guardians of children under 16 years of age. Child Benefit can also be claimed for children aged 16 and 17 if they are in full-time education or full-time training or have a disability and cannot support themselves.
An application from the person concerned has not been received. When an application is received, the claim details will be examined and a deciding officer will make a decision on entitlement or seek further information if necessary.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
354. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social Protection whether there has been any communication between her Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on how retired gardaí have to draw the jobseeker’s payment for nine months in order to avail of their supplementary pension; if she is aware of the issues that this raises for retired gardaí; if she is open to starting a dialogue to change the manner in how this process is managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55850/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe terms and conditions of the Supplementary Pension available to retired public servants, including Gardaí, are determined under the rules of the occupational pension scheme, which is a matter for the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. The Department of Social Protection has no role in determining that a retired public servant should apply for a social welfare payment. Any changes in this regard is a matter for that Department.
Any person who retires before pension age, including public servants, may qualify for the social insurance contribution-based Jobseeker’s Benefit or the means-tested Jobseeker’s Allowance if they satisfy the qualifying conditions for these schemes. One of the statutory qualifying conditions for the jobseekers’ schemes is that a person must be available for and genuinely seeking full-time employment. The qualifying conditions are designed for universal applicability, regardless of the previous employment or profession. These universal qualifying conditions cannot be amended for one sector or group of retired employees.
There has been communication with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in relation to these matters including contact from officials from that Department to discuss improvements to the administration of supplementary pensions.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
355. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to a State pension (contributory) on the basis of contributions paid from their farm income and off farm employment. [55938/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned will reach pension age on 26 January 2024.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has not applied for State Pension (contributory).
Under current eligibility conditions, an individual must have 520 full-rate paid contributions in order to qualify for standard State pension (contributory). 520 full-rate contributions equate to 10 years of full-rate insurable employment. According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a total of 247 full-rate contributions which falls short of the requisite 520 full-rate contributions for the standard State pension (contributory).
To qualify for a mixed insurance pension based on their full-rate and modified rate contributions, 520 employment contributions are required, of which at least 260 must be full-rate employment contributions with the remainder made up of modified rate contributions. As the person concerned has 247 full-rate contributions, this falls short of the requisite 260 full rate contributions required for the mixed insurance pension.
As the person concerned is a public servant paying PRSI at Class B, their self-employed income is liable for PRSI contributions at Class K which is not reckonable for the State Pension (contributory).
I have arranged for a copy of their social insurance record to issue to them along with a detailed explanatory note to assist in understanding their record, and information on how to calculate entitlement to State pension (contributory). If they consider that there are additional contributions or credits that have not been recorded, it is open to them to forward documentary evidence to Social Welfare Services, College Road, Sligo, F91 T384.
I am introducing a number of changes and flexibility to the pension system from January 2024. The person concerned can decide what best suits their needs and circumstances. It will be open to them to work longer and defer drawing down their pension in order to accumulate sufficient contributions to qualify for the State Pension (contributory). Further information in relation to the changes to State pension (contributory) is available on the Government website at gov.ie/pension.
Where a person aged 66 or over does not satisfy the conditions to qualify for a State pension (contributory) or qualifies for less than the maximum rate, they may instead qualify for one of the following:
• The means-tested State Pension (Non-Contributory) which is a means-tested payment (based on their share of household means) with a maximum payment of 95% of the State pension (contributory); or
• An increase for a qualified adult (based on their own means), amounting up to 90% of a full rate State Pension (contributory) pension where their spouse has a contributory pension; or
• Where their spouse/civil partner is deceased, a widow's/widower's/civil partner's contributory pension, which they may claim either based on their spouse's or their own social insurance record.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
356. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made on a disability allowance application review (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55943/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged 16 or over and under the age of 66. This disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject to a medical assessment, means test and Habitual Residency conditions.
My Department received correspondence from the person concerned on 9 and 16 November 2023, notifying a change of circumstances regarding their DA.
I can confirm the application for the person concerned was referred to a Social Welfare Inspector (SWI) on 6 December 2023 by a Deciding Officer (DO) for a report on the person’s means and circumstances. Once the SWI has submitted their report, a decision will be made on the application as quickly as possible and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
357. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify the situation regarding the allocation of funding for the hot meals programme to a school (details supplied) in Dublin mid-west which currently receives cold meals funding. [55945/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe School Meals Programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,700 schools and organisations benefitting 300,000 children. The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policies to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement.
Budget 2023 provided €94.4 million for the programme. In February, the Government approved an additional €14.5million to allow access to the Hot School Meals scheme for all remaining DEIS schools from September 2023. Budget 2024 has increased the funding by an extra €42.5 million to extend Hot School Meals in 2024 to non-DEIS primary schools, from April 2024.
I am committed to continuing to expand the School Meals Programme and building further on the significant extension of the programme that has taken place in recent years. As part of this significant expansion plan, all remaining primary schools were contacted and requested to submit an expression of interest form if their school is interested in commencing the provision of hot school meals.
Expressions of interests were received from over 900 Primary Schools in respect of 150,000 children and last week these schools were invited to participate in the Hot School Meals Programme from April 2024.
My officials advise me that no expression of interest was received from the school referred to by the Deputy.
358. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 7 December 2023, the names of the disability stakeholders and disabled persons organisations that her Department engaged with prior to the launch of the green paper. [55956/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Green Paper on Disability Reform is my department’s response to our commitment under the Roadmap for Social Inclusion to develop and consult on proposals to restructure long-term disability payments and to simplify the system.
The Green Paper is a consultation document. It is not a final reform design. The proposals are intended to invite discussion, debate, and suggestions from individuals, Disabled Persons’ Organisations, and disability groups.
Prior to the launch of the Green Paper, on 6 September 2023, my officials engaged with disability stakeholders to discuss and plan how to make the written documents and consultation process as accessible as possible. The proposals in the Green Paper were not outlined or discussed at this meeting.
Members of Disabled Persons’ Organisations attended this meeting, including representatives from AsIAm, Mental Health Reform and Voice of Vision Impairment. Representatives from other disability groups also attended this meeting, including Chime, the Irish Deaf Society, Disability Federation Ireland, Inclusion Ireland, the National Disability Authority and Vision Ireland.
My department incorporated stakeholders’ feedback and published the Green Paper in plain English, easy-to-read and screen reader friendly formats. Upon request, two Braille formats are also available. As a result of this engagement, we are also accepting submissions not only in writing but also by video.
I also originally set a 12-week consultation period based on feedback from this meeting. Stakeholders outlined how at least 12 weeks would be required to allow for meaningful consultation with their members. However, following requests for an extension and to allow individuals and groups sufficient time to compose their submissions, I have extended the closing date for the consultation until 15 March 2024.
The Green Paper is designed for public consultation and no final decisions have been taken.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
359. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other scheme payments, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55959/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated full year cost of increasing all weekly social welfare payments by €1 is set out in the table below. It should be noted that costs include proportionate increases for qualified adults and for those on reduced rates of payment, where relevant.
|
Scheme |
€1 Increase |
|
|
€m |
|
Social Insurance Schemes |
|
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
27.9 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension (Under 66) |
1.5 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension (Over 66) |
4.8 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit (Under 66) |
0.1 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit (Over 66) |
0.1 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
3.0 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
0.1 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
0.1 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
0.0 |
|
Disablement Pension |
0.2 |
|
Illness Benefit |
2.8 |
|
Injury Benefit |
0.0 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
0.1 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
1.9 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) |
0.0 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
0.2 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
0.0 |
|
Maternity & Adoptive Benefit |
1.0 |
|
Paternity & Parent's Benefit |
0.4 |
|
|
|
|
Social Assistance Schemes |
|
|
State Pension (Non Con) |
5.2 |
|
Blind Person's Pension |
0.1 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension |
0.1 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
0.0 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
2.3 |
|
Carer's Allowance (Under 66) |
2.6 |
|
Carer's Allowance (Over 66) |
0.1 |
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance (Under 66) |
0.7 |
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance (Over 66) |
0.4 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
0.0 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance Max Rate |
7.7 |
|
JA age 18 to 24 |
0.8 |
|
Disability Allowance |
8.9 |
|
Farm Assist |
0.3 |
|
Employment Support Schemes (BTWA & BTEA) |
0.3 |
|
Employment/Internship Schemes (CE, Tús, RSS etc.) |
1.6 |
|
Work Placement Experience Programme |
0.0 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
0.7 |
|
TOTAL |
76.0 |
* Rounding may impact total
These costings are subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of beneficiaries.
360. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of introducing a child benefit double payment. [55960/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated additional cost of a double Child Benefit payment month in 2024 is €180.5 million, per double payment month. This would be in addition to the current estimated expenditure of €2,166.1 million on Child Benefit in 2024.
This costing is based on the estimated number of recipients in 2024, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.
361. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of raising the earnings disregard for the one parent family payment by €1. [55961/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra362. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of raising the earnings disregard for the jobseeker’s transitional payment by €1. [55962/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 361 and 362 together.
The One-Parent Family Payment is a means tested payment for lone parents, under 66, whose youngest child is under seven. The Jobseekers Transitional Payment is a special arrangement under the means tested Jobseekers’ Allowance for lone parents, under 66, whose youngest child is between 7 and 14 years old.
Resulting from measures introduced in Budget 2024, from January the maximum weekly personal rate of both payments will have increased to €232 per week, with additional increases payable for each Qualified Child of €46 per week in respect of each child aged under 12 and €54 per week in respect of each child aged 12 or over.
The current earnings disregard for One Parent Family Payment and the Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment is €165 per week. In addition, 50% of earnings above this figure is also disregarded in the assessment of means.
Increasing the disregards by €1, to €166 per week, would not have a material effect or cost as such an increase would result in little or no change to the lone parent’s personal rate of payment. This is because, where a person has means their personal rate of payment is determined using the relevant scheme payment rate table, with payment rates grouped into bands. In the case of these payments, these bands are in increments of €2.50.
For example, one of the rate bands is ‘over €90.10 up to €92.60’. Therefore, a person who is assessed as having means of €90.10 per week after all disregards have been applied receives the same personal rate of payment as a person assessed with means of €92.60 per week, after all disregards. In this case, the personal rate of payment is €135 per week. The applicable Increases for a Qualified Child are paid in addition.
The payment rates and bands for all schemes are published in the SW19 booklet ‘Social Welfare Rates of Payment 2023’, which is available on Gov.ie.
I trust this clarifies the position.
363. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost to the exchequer of the JobPath scheme. [55963/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraJobPath is a payment by results model and all set-up and day-to-day operational costs are borne by the companies. Referrals to the JobPath service ceased in June 2022 and the service is now in a run-off phase. Research into JobPath, including by the OECD, indicates that the programme led to positive employment and earnings outcomes across a variety of hard-to-reach groups.
The companies providing the JobPath service are paid on the basis of performance and, with the exception of the initial registration fee, payments are made only when a client has achieved sustained employment. The overall cost of JobPath is determined by the number of people who participate in the programme and the number who get sustainable jobs.
The total cost of JobPath in 2022 was €43.6m, and in 2023 to date was €22.4m. Please note this is gross expenditure and does not take into account the savings made in welfare payments for those who secured sustained employment, or any resulting increase in tax receipts.
364. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of reintroducing the State pension for 65-year-olds who choose to retire. [55965/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is important to note that the State Pension age was never 65 years of age. The State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Non-Contributory) were never paid at 65 years of age.
The State Pension (Transition) was a payment available to those aged 65 and who were retired from employment. It was not available to self-employed workers and so many manual workers could not qualify. The contributions requirements for the Transition Pension were also more onerous than for the State Pension with claimants required to have a minimum yearly average of 24 social insurance contributions, in contrast to the minimum average of 10 that is required for the State Pension (Contributory). The Social Welfare & Pensions Act 2011 provided for the State Pension (Transition) to be to be discontinued from 1 January 2014.
The State Pension (Transition) scheme does not exist anymore. While it would be possible to estimate the potential cost of reintroducing the State Pension (Transition) on the exact same legislative basis as it previously existed (which included specific rate-band structures and a Yearly Average method of payment calculation), it would not be possible to reintroduce it on that basis because of the changes in how the State Pension (Contributory) is now calculated. It is further proposed that the yearly average method be phased out of the calculations related to the State Pension (Contributory) from 2025 onwards.
Therefore, introducing such a scheme would require significant design changes to the previous State Pension (Transition) to modernise it in line with the Total Contributions Approach method of payment calculation and the availability of HomeCaring Periods. As no such design work has been done, it is not possible to estimate the cost as requested.
The estimated cost of reducing the State Pension age to 65 for everybody would be in the region of €370 million for one year only at 2024 rates. In light of changing demographics, this cost would grow exponentially in the years ahead.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
365. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost to the Exchequer of the benefit payment for 65-year-olds. [55966/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds is provided for under Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Benefit (Self-Employed) schemes. Estimates are not prepared separately for those age 65 years and is included in the overall scheme costs. There are approximately 4,000 people in receipt of the Benefit Payment for 65-Year-Olds.
The estimated average weekly payment value for recipients of Jobseeker's Benefit in 2023 is €231.83. Based on this average payment value, the estimated full year cost for this group to the Exchequer is approximately €48.2 million.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
366. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing the qualified child increase by €1 for children under the age of 12 years and €1 for children over the age of 12 years, respectively. [55967/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated full year cost of increasing the qualified child increase by €1 per week is €11.8 million for children aged under 12 and €4.4 million for children aged 12 and over.
This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2024 and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of beneficiaries.
