Thomas Pringle
Question:113. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected revenue yield from an increase in the vacant site levy to 25% in a full year. [24143/24]
View answerDerelict Sites
Questions (113)
Written answers
Under the vacant site levy provisions in the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 (the Act), planning authorities were empowered to apply a vacant site levy of 3% of the market valuation of relevant properties which were listed on local authority vacant site registers in 2018, which relevant owners were liable to pay in January 2019. The rate of the levy increased to 7% for sites listed on local authority vacant sites registers from 2019 onwards which site owners became liable to pay in January of the following year.
Based on the current legislative provisions under the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015, the vacant site levy due nationally to local authorities in 2023, for properties on the register, in respect of 2022, at a rate of 7% of the market valuation of the properties listed on local authority vacant site registers was €9,171,525. Applying a rate of 25% in that year would have increased the amount due under the measure to €32,755,446.
It should be noted that the vacant site levy arrangements are due to be stood down and replaced by the new Residential Zoned Land Tax which is due to come into effect in 2025, with the Revenue Commissioners acting as collection agents. Under section 19 of the 2015 Act, unpaid vacant site levies due will remain a charge on the land in question until they are paid. My Department will continue to engage with local authorities to ensure that all outstanding levies due are paid.
Derelict Sites
Questions (114)
Thomas Pringle
Question:114. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the expected revenue yield from an increase in the derelict site levy to 20% in a full year. [24144/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Derelict Sites Act 1990 imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. Local authority powers include requiring owners or occupiers to take appropriate measures on derelict sites, acquiring derelict sites by agreement, or compulsorily, and applying a derelict sites levy on derelict sites.
Based on the current legislative provisions under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, the derelict site levy due nationally to local authorities in 2023 at a rate of 7% of the market valuation of the properties listed on local authority derelict site registers was €5,619,898. Applying a rate of 20% in that year would have increased the amount due under the measure to €16,056,851.
Vacant Properties
Questions (115)
Robert Troy
Question:115. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason no penalty system is in place for property owners who are leaving their properties unoccupied long-term, leaving them to fall into disrepair but not derelict, so they cannot be placed on the derelict sites register. [24158/24]
View answerWritten answers
Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. The Vacant Homes Action Plan Progress Report, which I recently published on my Department's website, outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes.
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, launched July 2022, is a key measure in returning vacant and derelict properties back into use. A grant of up to €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. 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 grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas, and which have been vacant for 2 years.
In addition, a Vacant Homes Tax was introduced in Budget 2023. The tax applies to residential properties which are occupied for less than 30 days in a twelve-month period and aims to increase the supply of homes for rent or purchase to meet demand, rather than be merely a revenue generating exercise.
In Budget 2024, the Minister for Finance announced an increase in the rate of the Vacant Homes Tax from three times to five times the property’s existing base Local Property Tax charge. This increase took effect from the beginning of the current chargeable period on 1 November 2023.
The Vacant Homes Tax operates on a self-assessment basis, where the number of properties in scope and the amount of tax payable depends on the self-assessed returns submitted by property owners, the number of properties declared as liable, and the number of property owners entitled to claim available exemptions from the tax.
The Derelict Sites Act 1990 (the Act) imposes a general duty on every owner and occupier of land to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the land does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The Act also imposes a duty on local authorities to take all reasonable steps, including the exercise of appropriate statutory powers, to ensure that any land within their functional area does not become, or continue to be, a derelict site. The enforcement and implementation of the provisions of the Act is a matter for individual local authorities.
A property can be placed on the derelict site register where it is deemed by a local authority to satisfy the criteria of a derelict site under the terms of section 3 of the Act i.e. (i) it is in a dangerous or ruinous condition; (ii) it is in a neglected or unsightly condition; or (iii) there is a presence of litter, waste or debris on the site. A property cannot be placed on the derelict site register of a local authority simply by being vacant.
It is also worth noting that placing sites on the derelict sites register, and collecting levies in respect of those sites, is not the sole mechanism that local authorities apply under the Act in relation to bringing sites back into use. They often engage collaboratively with property owners with a view to necessary works being undertaken to bring sites back into use while also using their powers under the Act to compulsorily acquire derelict sites.
Question No. 116 answered with Question No. 109.
Defective Building Materials
Questions (117)
Joe McHugh
Question:117. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to list the recommendations made by the steering group comprised of officials from the relevant local authorities, his Department, the Housing Agency, and the homeowner's liaison officer for the first six months of the defective blocks scheme; if home owner representatives, aside from the HLO, were consulted during this six months review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24185/24]
View answerWritten answers
I commenced the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) on 22 June 2023 which contains the enhanced grant scheme and adopted the related Regulations on 29 June 2023.
The enhanced grant scheme was legislated for following extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders.
At the time of the Scheme launch, I established an Implementation Steering Group comprised of officials from the relevant Local Authorities, my Department, the Housing Agency, and the Homeowners' Liaison Officer (HLO) who have met several times over the last number of months and will keep the operation of the regulations and guidelines under review. In addition a subgroup of this group met in January and April of this year focusing on the financial aspects of the scheme and following these meetings my Department has issued updated guidance to local authorities that will enable eligible applicants have earlier access to grant funding for certain eligible works.
The Group assessed how the Scheme was operating in its first six months i.e. July to December 2023, within the legislative framework set down for it by the Oireachtas. They concluded that it is generally operating satisfactorily within these parameters. The Group made the following recommendations (see the table below.
|
- |
Recommendation |
Timeline |
|
1 |
The emerging financial issues should be dealt with as expeditiously as possible within the designated sub-group structure. |
ASAP |
|
2 |
A number of minor clarifying amendments to the Scheme Guidelines and the associated “Your Questions Answered” document need to be made in light of the issues raised in section 45 of this report. |
Q1 2024 |
|
3 |
A further targeted advert campaign to raise awareness of the Scheme in all relevant counties should be considered during 2024. |
2024 |
|
4 |
The propagation of best practice approaches within the local authority sector should continue and the Implementation Group will continue to help all authorities to actively seek to work with each other in this regard |
2024 |
|
5 |
The issue of incorrect/incomplete applications needs to be further analysed so that the unusually high number of Requests for Further Information (RFI) can be significantly decreased. |
Q1 2024 |
|
6 |
The Implementation Group should continue in its current form. It should meet with the same regularity as before until at least the end of 2024. |
2024 |
Question No. 118 answered with Question No. 109.
Housing Schemes
Questions (119)
Robert Troy
Question:119. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will examine the inclusion of housing association/body properties in the tenant purchase scheme (details supplied). [24251/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Schemes provide for the purchase, by eligible tenants, of local authority properties which are available for sale under the terms of the particular scheme. All applications must satisfy the requirements outlined in the relevant legislation. However, the schemes only provide for the purchase of local authority properties, and do not extend to properties owned by Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs).
Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) are independent, not-for-profit organisations which provide affordable rented housing for people who cannot afford to pay private sector rents or buy their own homes, or for particular groups, such as older people or homeless people.
My Department monitors schemes on an ongoing basis to ensure that they remain effective and sustainable. However, consideration cannot be given to extending the schemes to tenants residing in properties owned by AHBs, as it is a matter of general policy that AHB homes developed for social housing purposes are retained as such.
Septic Tanks
Questions (120)
Seán Sherlock
Question:120. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason a person cannot avail of the septic tank grant on a universal basis, given its part of their planning permission; will changes will be applied to the rules that state the existing tank or area must be a danger to a watercourse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24252/24]
View answerWritten answers
The policy of providing grant funding to households for work on Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems (DWWTS), including septic tanks, arises from the need to address damage being done to water quality in sensitive areas in particular.
The grants are focused on the areas of greatest environmental priority and are available only in circumstances relating to risks to water quality and/or human health and the environment, and are not general in application.
Householders can avail of the grants if their defective DWWTS has failed an inspection under the National Inspection Plan and an Advisory Notice has been issued, or if the DWWTS is located in either a Prioritised Area for Action or a High Status Objective Catchment Area, as identified in the River Basin Management Plan.
I approved significant improvements to the terms and conditions of the grants available which came into effect from 1 January 2024 and I have no plans to make further changes.
Housing Policy
Questions (121)
Catherine Connolly
Question:121. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 645 of 9 April 2024, the status of the development of the new rural housing guidelines; the timeline for the publication of the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24261/24]
View answerWritten answers
Since the publication of the current Sustainable Rural Housing Guidelines in 2005 (which continue to have effect in addition to subsequent clarifications and national policy changes in the NPF) there have been important changes to our planning system. Most notably, obligations under European Directives and international agreements relating to the management and protection of the environment and adapting to and mitigating climate change have become more central to the operation of the planning system.
Updated Rural Housing Guidelines are currently being prepared by my Department. The updated guidelines will expand on the high level spatial planning policy of the National Planning Framework (NPF), in particular on National Policy Objective (NPO) 19 which relates to rural housing. This objective makes a clear policy distinction between rural areas under urban influence (i.e. areas within the commuter catchment of cities, towns and centres of employment) on the one hand, and structurally weaker rural areas where population levels may be low or declining, on the other. NPO 19 is also aligned with the established approach whereby considerations of social or economic need are to be applied by planning authorities in rural areas under urban influence.
The draft Rural Housing Guidelines will set out relevant planning criteria to be applied in local authority development plans for rural housing, based on the high level policy framework set by the NPF. The guidelines will continue to allow county development plans to provide for housing in the countryside based on the considerations detailed in NPO 19 of the NPF, and will also highlight the need to manage development in certain areas, such as the areas around cities and larger towns and environmentally sensitive areas, in order to avoid over-development.
While planning policy is a national, as opposed to an EU competence, due care is being taken to ensure the updated guidelines will not operate to conflict with fundamental EU freedoms, comply with EU environmental legislative requirements and have due regard to decisions of the European Court of Justice. The draft planning guidelines will address these complex environmental and legal issues, while also providing a framework for the sustainable management of housing in rural areas.
Having regard to these complex considerations, the draft guidelines are subject to legal review and Ministerial approval, following which it is intended that the draft guidelines will be published for a period of public consultation.
Wastewater Treatment
Questions (122)
Cathal Crowe
Question:122. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he intends to launch a multi-annual scheme for providing sewage schemes in unsewered small villages and towns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24286/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department recognises that continued investment in water infrastructure is required across urban and rural Ireland.
With regard to our rural communities, my Department is committed to support take-up of Uisce Éireann’s Small Towns and Villages Growth Programme to provide water and wastewater growth capacity in smaller settlements and also to continued non-Uisce Éireann investment in rural water infrastructure.
Under the National Development Plan €50m has been committed to a funding measure for the provision of waste water collection and treatment needs for villages without access to public waste water services. I recently approved funding for a number of demonstration projects under this funding measure and their progress will inform future approaches to the waste water collection and treatment needs of such locations. I do not have plans to launch a new multi-annual scheme.
Wastewater Treatment
Questions (123)
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:123. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement to date with Cork County Council in advancing the Crossbarry wastewater treatment plant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24365/24]
View answerWritten answers
There are a number of housing estates across the country that rely on developer provided infrastructure for their water services networks. These estates have not been taken-in-charge and their water services networks are not, currently, connected to the public (Uisce Éireann) network. The water services infrastructure, provided by the developer of such estates, is more commonly called DPI.
My Departments’ Multi-annual Developer Provided Water Services Infrastructure Resolution Programme (DPI Programme) has provided funding to assist in progressively resolving issues with DPI in a number of locations across the country.
I can confirm that in June 2023 I approved over €3.3 million of funding, under the DPI Programme, to Cork County Council to deliver this project to resolve the DPI issue in Crossbarry.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (124)
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:124. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of applications that were received in 2022 and 2023 under the renewal or repair of thatched roof grant scheme for County Cork; the measures being taken to encourage homeowners to renew or repair thatched roofs given their heritage value rather than replacement to another more modern type of roof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24367/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department’s grant scheme for the renewal or repair of a thatched roof provides funding of up to €6,350 or up to 80% of the approved cost, whichever is the lesser, in respect of necessary works to renew or repair the thatched roofs of private houses situated on the mainland where the private owner holds a medical card. A higher level of assistance of up to €8,252 is available for houses on specified offshore islands, where the owner holds a medical card. In the case of private owners without a medical card, funding of up to €3,810 or two thirds of the approved cost, whichever is the lesser, may be payable in respect of necessary works to renew or repair the thatched roofs of private houses situated on the mainland, rising to €5,714 where the house is situated on a specified off-shore island. Details in relation to this grant scheme is available at the following link: gov - Thatching Grant (www.gov.ie)
Details of the number of applications received by my Department for 2022 and 2023 in respect of private houses located in Cork are set out in the following table:
|
Year |
No. Applications Received |
|
2022 |
4 |
|
2023 |
9 |
My Department also oversees a number of schemes to assist in the conservation of protected structures, which may include repairs to historic roofing. These schemes are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund, under which a combined total of €9 million is available for 2024. This year, as in 2023, a dedicated €500,000 has been ring-fenced under the BHIS for conservation repairs to historic thatched structures. This aims to maximise the availability of financial assistance to owners of such properties, helping them offset other costs. These schemes are administered through the local authorities and details are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/32ae3-financial-assistance-for-architectural-heritage/.
My Department recently issued guidelines for safeguarding thatched houses against fire which is available at the following link: Fire-Safety-in-Thatched-Properties.pdf (buildingsofireland.ie)
To assist with the implementation of this fire safety guidance, my Department is running a pilot scheme where thatch owners and occupiers can request a visit to their property by a Housing Inspector from my Department. The inspector will assess the fire risks in each individual property and will make building-specific recommendations to improve fire safety based on the published guidance.
My Department has also been engaging closely with the Department of Finance and the insurance sector to identify potential providers and improve the situation for owners of thatch properties.
Wildlife Regulations
Questions (125)
Brendan Smith
Question:125. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will ensure that there is proper consultation with all stakeholders when consideration is being given to amendments to the Open Seasons Order; if he will ensure that mechanisms are put in place in his Department to meet such commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24384/24]
View answerWritten answers
I recently appointed Mr Teddy Cashman as Chair of the Sustainable Hunting of Wild Birds Stakeholder Forum. A series of bilateral meetings with relevant stakeholders has commenced and the first full Forum meeting of all relevant stakeholders will take place by the end of Q3 2024.
Paternity Leave
Questions (126)
Catherine Connolly
Question:126. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending paternity leave by two weeks. [24135/24]
View answerWritten answers
Paternity Benefit is a payment for employed people who are on Paternity Leave from work and who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions and for self-employed people who satisfy the contribution conditions. It is paid for two weeks at €274 per week, the same rate as Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit and Parent’s Benefit. Paternity benefit was paid to 27,111 recipients in 2023 at a cost of approximately €14.71 million.
Any decision to extend the period of Paternity Leave for employees is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, who has policy and legal responsibility for Paternity Leave. An extension of this leave would require careful consideration and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The cost of extending Paternity Benefit by 2 weeks which would double the existing duration to 4 weeks is approximately €14.34 million which would result in an annual expenditure on the scheme of approximately €28.68 million.
These estimates are based on a full year basis and on the number of recipients in 2023. It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated number of recipients.
These estimates do not reflect any additional costs which may be incurred by employers who provide substitution or salary top-ups which, in the Civil and Public Sector, would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Parental Leave
Questions (127)
Catherine Connolly
Question:127. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of extending parental leave by two weeks. [24136/24]
View answerWritten answers
Parental Leave allows parents to take 26 weeks unpaid leave for each eligible child before their twelfth birthday. My colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth holds responsibility for Parental Leave. There is no associated benefit payable with Parental Leave.
There is a separate scheme called Parent's Leave which is also the responsibility of Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. However, there is an associate benefit payment for which I have responsibility.
Parent's Leave and Benefit are currently available for seven weeks to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019 and must be availed of within the first two years of the child’s life or adoption. Parent’s Benefit is paid at €274 per week - the same rate as Maternity, Paternity and Adoptive Benefits.
Budget 2024 provided for the number of weeks of Parent's Leave and Benefit available to each eligible parent to be increased from seven weeks to nine weeks from August 2024. The estimated cost of this increase in Parent's Benefit is €10.3 million in 2024 and the overall cost for a full year is €25.6 million.
This is based on the estimated number of recipients in 2023. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients. There would be further additional costs to the Exchequer as these estimates do not include the costs for staff substitution which, in the Public Sector, would be a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Any decision regarding the extension of Parental Leave would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Departmental Data
Questions (128)
Catherine Connolly
Question:128. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other weekly schemes and other schemes payments, in tabular form (details supplied). [24152/24]
View answerWritten answers
The estimated full-year cost of a €1 increase in each of the social insurance schemes, social assistance schemes, other schemes is set out in the table below.
The costs are on a full year basis and are based on the estimated number of recipients in 2024. It should be noted that these costings are subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients.
It should also be noted that these costings include proportionate increases for qualified adults where relevant.
|
Payment |
|
Personal |
Qualified Adult |
Total |
|
|
|
€ million |
€ million |
€ million |
|
Social Insurance Schemes |
|
|
|
|
|
State Pension (Contributory) |
|
€ 25.44 |
€ 2.49 |
€ 27.93 |
|
Widow/er's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Con) Pension |
Under 66 yrs |
€ 1.48 |
|
€ 1.48 |
|
|
Over 66 yrs |
€ 4.81 |
|
€ 4.81 |
|
Deserted Wife's Benefit |
Under 66yrs |
€ 0.08 |
|
€ 0.08 |
|
|
Over 66Yrs |
€ 0.14 |
|
€ 0.14 |
|
Invalidity Pension |
|
€ 2.84 |
€ 0.17 |
€ 3.01 |
|
Partial Capacity Benefit |
|
€ 0.12 |
€ 0.00 |
€ 0.12 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Contributory) |
|
€ 0.06 |
|
€ 0.06 |
|
Death Benefit Pension |
|
€ 0.02 |
|
€ 0.02 |
|
Disablement Pension |
|
€ 0.24 |
|
€ 0.24 |
|
Illness Benefit |
|
€ 2.72 |
€ 0.09 |
€ 2.82 |
|
Injury Benefit |
|
€ 0.03 |
€ 0.00 |
€ 0.03 |
|
Incapacity Supplement |
|
€ 0.04 |
€ 0.00 |
€ 0.05 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit |
|
€ 1.83 |
€ 0.07 |
€ 1.90 |
|
Jobseeker's Benefit (Self Employed) |
|
€ 0.03 |
€ 0.00 |
€ 0.04 |
|
Carer's Benefit |
|
€ 0.20 |
€ - |
€ 0.20 |
|
Health and Safety Benefit |
|
€ 0.00 |
€ - |
€ 0.00 |
|
Maternity Benefit |
|
€ 0.98 |
€ - |
€ 0.98 |
|
Adoptive Benefit |
|
€ 0.00 |
€ - |
€ 0.00 |
|
Paternity Benefit |
|
€ 0.05 |
€ - |
€ 0.05 |
|
Parent's Benefit |
|
€ 0.30 |
€ - |
€ 0.30 |
|
Social Assistance Schemes |
|
|
|
|
|
State Pension (Non Con) |
|
€ 5.11 |
€ 0.11 |
€ 5.22 |
|
Blind Person's Pension |
|
€ 0.05 |
€ 0.00 |
€ 0.06 |
|
Widow/ers or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Con) Pension |
|
€ 0.06 |
|
€ 0.06 |
|
Deserted Wife's Allowance |
|
€ 0.00 |
|
€ 0.00 |
|
One-Parent Family Payment |
|
€ 2.33 |
|
€ 2.33 |
|
Carer's Allowance |
Under 66yrs |
€ 2.55 |
€ - |
€ 2.55 |
|
|
66yrs or Over |
€ 0.10 |
€ - |
€ 0.10 |
|
Half Rate Carer's Allowance |
Under 66yrs |
€ 0.70 |
|
€ 0.70 |
|
|
66yrs or Over |
€ 0.43 |
|
€ 0.43 |
|
Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory) |
|
€ 0.03 |
|
€ 0.03 |
|
Jobseeker's Allowance Max Rate |
|
€ 6.90 |
€ 0.82 |
€ 7.73 |
|
JA age 18 to 24 |
|
€ 0.76 |
€ 0.01 |
€ 0.77 |
|
Disability Allowance |
|
€ 8.32 |
€ 0.56 |
€ 8.88 |
|
Farm Assist |
|
€ 0.20 |
€ 0.06 |
€ 0.26 |
|
Back To Work Enterprise Allowance |
|
€ 0.12 |
€ 0.04 |
€ 0.16 |
|
Back To Education Allowance |
|
€ 0.14 |
€ 0.01 |
€ 0.15 |
|
Community Employment Programme |
|
€ 0.98 |
€ 0.13 |
€ 1.11 |
|
TÚS - Community Work Placement |
|
€ 0.25 |
€ 0.03 |
€ 0.28 |
|
Rural Social Scheme |
|
€ 0.15 |
€ 0.03 |
€ 0.18 |
|
Jobs Initiative |
|
€ 0.04 |
|
€ 0.04 |
|
Work Placement Experience Programme |
|
€ 0.02 |
€ 0.01 |
€ 0.03 |
|
Supplementary Welfare Allowance |
|
€ 0.63 |
€ 0.06 |
€ 0.69 |
|
TOTAL |
|
€71.28 |
€4.72 |
€75.99 |
Note - Rounding may affect totals.
|
Changes to other Schemes/Payments |
Total € million |
|
€1 change in the monthly rate of Child Benefit |
€14.78 |
|
€1 change in the rate of Fuel Allowance |
€12.48 |
|
Change to the duration of the Fuel Allowance - cost of an additional week |
€14.71 |
|
€1 change in the rate of Qualified Child Increase - age under 12 |
€12.01 |
|
€1 change in the rate of Qualified Child Increase - age 12 and over |
€4.46 |
|
€1 change in the rate of Living Alone Allowance (for everyone) - Pensioners only Other schemes (Invalidity Pension, Disability Allowance, Blind Pension |
€12.28 €10.47 €2.26 |
Note - Rounding may affect totals
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (129)
Catherine Connolly
Question:129. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of making the fuel allowance available for 32, 40 and 52 weeks per annum. [24153/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €33 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €924 each year) from late September to April, at an estimated cost of €382 million in 2024. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. Only one allowance is paid per household.
At the end of December 2023, 411,395 household were in receipt of the Fuel Allowance payment. Based on similar numbers of households qualifying for the Fuel Allowance Payment during the 2024/25 fuel season and a weekly rate of payment of €33 the estimated cost of making the fuel allowance available for 32, 40 and 52 weeks per annum is as follows: -
|
Number of Additional weeks |
No. of Recipients |
Weekly Rate of Fuel Allowance |
Estimated Yearly Cost |
|
4 (32 weeks) |
411,395 |
€33 |
€54.304 million |
|
12 (40 weeks) |
411,395 |
€33 |
€162.912 million |
|
24 (52 weeks) |
411,395 |
€33 |
€325.824 million |
The provision of any additional supports such as extending the Fuel Allowance season would have cost implications and could only be considered while taking account of the overall budgetary context and the availability of financial resources.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Social Welfare Payments
Questions (130)
Catherine Connolly
Question:130. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of reinstating the bereavement grant at a rate of €850. [24154/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Bereavement Grant, which was a once-off payment of €850 for funeral costs, was discontinued in January 2014. The number of bereavement grant claims in 2013 was 23,716 at a cost of €20.3 million. It is estimated that the cost of reintroducing the grant would be close to €31 million per annum and would increase annually. Accordingly, any decision to reinstate such a universal grant would have to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context, including its actual effectiveness in helping people with funeral costs.
It is worth noting that there are a range of supports available for people following bereavement which provide more significant support than the former grant.
These include weekly-paid Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory and Non-Contributory) pensions, which are based on contributions or a means test, and a once-off Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner grant of €8,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including State Pension, continue in payment for six weeks following a death, extending to 12 weeks in respect of Carer’s Allowance. Guardian payments are available where someone cares for an orphaned child. A special funeral grant of €850 is paid where a person dies because of an accident at work or occupational disease.
Under the Supplementary Allowance scheme, the Department may make an Additional Needs Payment to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income, which may include help with funeral and burial expenses. This is a more targeted and efficient manner of assisting people with bereavement expenses in addition to the range of supports already set out.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Legislative Measures
Questions (131)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:131. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that no legislation exists to allow certain precedential group/class decisions to be made (details supplied). [24165/24]
View answerWritten answers
Social Welfare legislation provides for the payment of PRSI by way of employment contributions in respect of employment under a contract of service or apprenticeship. Self-employed persons who are employed under a contract for service pay PRSI by way of self-employment contributions.
The Courts have long held that in determining whether a contract of employment is a contract of service or a contract for service the entire facts of the relationship must be looked at.
Decisions with respect to insurability of employment decisions are made through the application of criteria agreed with the Social Partners and published in the Code of Practice on Determining Employment Status. These criteria were developed from a review of a number of cases in the 1990s. The examination of these cases, taking account of case law from the courts, allowed the identification of five criteria that could be used by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers when making decisions in relation to the correct class of PRSI applying to a worker’s employment. The objective in doing this was to ensure consistency in decision making, something which I am sure the Deputy will accept is a necessary part of public administration.
These criteria are applied by Deciding Officers in my Department and Appeals Officers in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on each occasion that they assess the PRSI status of a worker’s employment. Employment status decisions are not made by the Department or the Social Welfare Appeals Office without an investigation having been carried out into the actual circumstances of the person's employment with each decision being based on the application of the five criteria to those circumstances. Cases where a worker preforming a particular type of occupation is assessed to be either employed or self-employed is not determinative of a decision with respect to the employment of another worker in the same type of occupation.
Separately, the Department is open to taking a ‘sample cases’ approach to determination of insurance classification, using the criteria set out in the Code of Practice for the Determination on Determining Employment Status, in cases involving multiple workers of a single employer. In indicating its openness to this approach, the Department has always stressed that it would only do so where both the employer and the workers concerned agree with the approach and on the basis that each worker can seek, and will always have the option of having, their case determined on an individual basis and will also have the option of appealing any decision on an individual basis.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
International Protection
Questions (132)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:132. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the payment method of the daily expenses allowance to applicants of international protection in Ireland; whether the recipient has discretion in this regard; the choices that are available to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24191/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department administers the Daily Expenses Allowance (DEA) which is paid to International Protection applicants who reside in accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth or who are on a waiting list to move into this accommodation.
The DEA is paid to these applicants to allow them to meet incidental and personal expenditure and the current sole payment method for this payment is through provision of a cash amount at a post office.