Written Answers Nos. 101-123
101. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will implement all of the recommendations and or provide an update on her work on same (details supplied). [40475/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra102. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the actions she will take to implement the recommendations of the report titled 'The Development of Local and Community Arts' published by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40554/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together.
I welcome the Joint Oireachtas Committee's report on 'The Development of Local and Community Arts' which was recently published. The recommendations broadly align in many instances with policies and programmes in place in my Department in relation to areas such as local arts infrastructure, disability, and arts and health. The report is a helpful and positive contribution to policy development in these areas and the 16 recommendations set out therein continue to be reviewed by officials in my Department.
I sincerely thank the committee members for the time and effort they put into compiling this report and also thank the broad range of stakeholders who contributed through submissions and public engagement.
Question No. 102 answered with Question No. 101.
103. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the estimated revenue that could be raised by increasing the derelict site tax to 7%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40641/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
I understand that, following clarification, the question should have read “the estimated revenue that could be raised by increasing the derelict site tax by 7%”. On this basis, an increase in the derelict site levy by 7% in that year would have increased the amount due under the measure to in the order of €11m.
104. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of heat pumps that have been installed as part of his Department's local authority retrofitting scheme; the targets for his Department in each of the years between 2020 to 2030, in tabular form; how the number of installations compares to the targets in each of the years to date; how the number of installations compares to the targets in 2025 and in 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40355/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2021 a new holistic approach was applied to the Local Authority Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme (EERP), 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, together with a target of 400,000 heat pumps. Of note, 80% heat pump deployment is being achieved on the local authority home retrofit and in most cases exceeded.
The breakdown of heat pumps installed is identified in the table below:
|
Year |
No. of Units Retrofitted |
No. of Heat Pumps |
|
2021 |
1,038 |
750 (72%) |
|
2022 |
2,283 |
1,898 (83%) |
|
2023 |
2,445 |
2,215 (91%) |
An annualised breakdown of the units retrofitted under both the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme and Midlands Retrofit Programme, is available on my Department's website at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/668c1-energy-efficiency-retrofitting-programme-expenditure-output/
www.gov.ie/en/publication/b86b3-midlands-energy-retrofit-programme-expenditure-and-units/
In 2024, my Department announced that funding of €90 million is available under the Energy Efficient Retrofit Programme, which is subject to the annual Estimates process, for the retrofit of approximately 2,500 social homes. Work in relation to the 2024 programme is ongoing and current indicators show that the original target of 2,500 retrofits is expected to be completed this year. Full details in relation to delivery under the 2024 Energy Efficiency Programme will be available early in 2025.
105. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide an update on the ‘housing for all’ commitment to examine the creation of a system of deposit retention based on best international practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40400/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra110. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the report on deposit protection systems, produced in line with the commitment to examine the creation of a system of holding rental deposits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40507/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 110 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No 379 of 18 September 2024 which sets out the position in this matter.
106. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to the response to Parliamentary Question Nos. 128, 129, 130 and 131 of 2 October 2024, to provide a breakdown of the funding paid to the third parties listed in the response in lieu of each of the individual bird surveys conducted since 2022. . [40413/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of funding paid for bird surveys commissioned by the National Parks and Wildlife Service from 2022 to the present date are provided below. Some of these contracts are multifaceted and additional elements of conservation management work – e.g. wardening, data analysis, etc. – may be included as components.
|
Contract |
Service Provider |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Seabird Tracking Study in Northwest Ireland |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
71,672.10 |
||
|
5th National Hen Harrier Survey |
Golden Eagle Trust |
58,716.70 |
11,333.00 |
|
|
Breeding Wader Survey support - LIFE on Machair |
BirdWatch Ireland |
3,184.20 |
8,380.00 |
1,350.00 |
|
Collation, organisation and analysis of boat-based seabird surveys in Irish marine waters |
Sally O'Meara |
6,125.00 |
||
|
Surveys of Ring Ouzel at selected sites in Co Donegal |
Dr Allan Mee |
5,949.65 |
||
|
Targeted monitoring of breeding Merlin at Slieve Aughty Mountains |
BirdWatch Ireland |
22,920.00 |
||
|
Breeding Wader Surveys |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
71,383.05 |
42,373.50 |
|
|
A Study on Cruagh Island's Manx Shearwater population |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
15,049.05 |
27,023.10 |
|
|
Seabird Tracking along the west coast of Ireland |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
6,150.00 |
||
|
Targeted monitoring of Twite in Co Donegal |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
15,375.00 |
||
|
Digital Aerial Surveys of Marine Birds |
APEM Ltd |
83,408.76 |
||
|
Kingfisher Survey |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
80,416.48 |
||
|
The Provision of a Breeding Survey of Lambay Island SPA |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
3,690.00 |
||
|
The Provision of a Breeding Seabird Surveys of a selection of SPAs in Donegal |
KRC Ecological Ltd |
10,578.00 |
4,935.00 |
|
|
Detailed Seabird Survey and Invasive Mammal Survey of Puffin Island |
Rory Dalton |
17,158.80 |
||
|
Ring Ouzel Monitoring 2024 |
Dr Allan Mee |
14,120.00 |
11,174.96 |
|
|
Specialist Drone Surveys to Support Monitoring of Breeding Hen Harriers |
BirdWatch Ireland |
9,968.00 |
||
|
Targeted Programme of Bird Monitoring (using thermal drones) for Breeding Merlin, Golden Plover and Cormorant in Connemara Bog Complex SPA |
BirdWatch Ireland |
21,497.00 |
||
|
Drone surveys of the seabirds of Green Lough, Lough Graney and Keeragh Islands SPA* |
BirdWatch Ireland |
|||
|
Bird Species Conservation Project on Rockabill Island |
BirdWatch Ireland |
60,000.00 |
66,266.00 |
78,261.00 |
|
Provision of targeted monitoring support (and training/upskilling as required) within the Stacks - Mullaghareirks (part of SPA) (Co. Cork & Co. Kerry) & Mullaghanish - MusheramoreSPA (Co. Cork) Special Protection Area. |
Dr Allan Mee |
17,450.00 |
||
|
Provision of targeted monitoring support (and training/upskilling as required) within the Slieve Aughty Mts SPA. |
Raptor Ecology Ltd |
5,766.91 |
||
|
Provision of targeted monitoring support (and training/upskilling as required) within the Slieve Beagh SPA |
Raptor Ecology Ltd |
3,680.80 |
*Pending receipt of invoice
107. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the funding, governance and accountability provisions in place for the Irish Wetland Bird Survey, including the amounts of money paid to non-State agency partners in the survey in each of the past ten years; the details of how non-State agency partners are selected; and the details of any independent assessments and value-for-money reviews conducted in relation to the funding provided to, and the services provided by, non-State agency partners in the survey. [40414/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Wetland Bird Survey (I-WeBS) is the national programme for monitoring population trends of wintering waterbirds and the habitats they use. The survey has been running for over 25 years, covering around 250 sites and 750 subsites per annum across the country. The I-WeBS surveys are completed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), by professional staff of the survey service provider and by volunteers. Due to the scale and effort required, the majority of surveying is completed by volunteers; this is crucial to making these long-term, nationwide surveys cost-effective. This citizen scientist approach brings many additional benefits, including increased awareness and value of birds and their habitats and increased capacity and skills for other bird surveys.
When procuring a third party/parties to provide the services required for the I-WeBS, the NPWS undertakes a public tendering process, in line with public procurement requirements and guidelines. In relation to the current contract for I-WeBS (which runs from November 2020 to November 2025), NPWS ran an open tendering competition in 2020 for external services for a nationwide citizen science-based bird monitoring programme, comprising both the Countryside Bird Survey (CBS) and I-WeBS. The Request for Tenders (RFT) was advertised on eTenders and in the supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU Notice number 2020/S 185-446899 of 18/09/2020. The RFT set out specific tasks and deliverables required for both CBS and I-WeBS, as well as data standards to be met. Selection and Award Criteria were set out in the RFT, as is required. To ensure value for money, contracts are awarded based on the most economically advantageous tender(s). The successful tenderer (BirdWatch Ireland) was selected following this competitive public procurement process. The Award Criteria used in the competition were qualifications and experience, service delivery and cost and a contract was agreed for delivery, as per Government contract requirements. NPWS Project Officers meet with the contractor on a regular basis to review programme progress and delivery of outputs, as per the contract agreement.
Payments made in respect of the contract for delivery of the I-WeBS and CBS surveys from 2014 to 2024 are listed below.
|
Year |
Amount Paid |
Service Provider |
|
2014 |
€159,561.54 |
BirdWatch Ireland |
|
2015 |
€159,561.54 |
BirdWatch Ireland |
|
2016 |
€159,561.54 |
BirdWatch Ireland |
|
2017 |
€159,561.54 |
BirdWatch Ireland |
|
2018 |
€189,561.54 |
BirdWatch Ireland |
|
2019 |
€160,291.00 |
BirdWatch Ireland |
|
2020 |
€182,644.00 |
BirdWatch Ireland |
|
2021 |
€201,513.00 |
BirdWatch Ireland |
|
2022 |
€201,513.00 |
BirdWatch Ireland |
|
2023 |
€130,000.00 |
BirdWatch Ireland |
|
2024 |
€136,513.00 |
BirdWatch Ireland |
108. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the baseline allocation to County Cavan from the Equalisation Fund in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form. [40428/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal Property Tax (LPT) funding allocations are decided in advance of collection, based on estimates of the LPT yield in individual local authority areas for the following liability year. Every local authority is entitled to receive a minimum amount of funding under the LPT allocation process, known as the baseline. Cavan County Council’s baseline for each of the year’s 2020 to 2023 was €9,480,501.
Until 2022, 80% of the estimated LPT yield before variation, was retained locally and 20% used to provide equalisation funding to those local authorities with lower property tax bases. Where 80% of the estimated LPT yield in a local authority area was lower than an authority’s baseline, the authority was topped-up to that baseline. Equalisation funding came from a compulsory 20% contribution from all local authorities and where necessary, additional funding from the Exchequer.
In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future, the LPT allocation mechanism changed from 2023 onwards to allow for 100% of the estimated yield to be retained locally within the local authority area where it is collected. Equalisation funding is now met by the Exchequer, to ensure that all authorities continue to receive, at a minimum, an amount equivalent to their baseline.
Finally, it should be noted that as a result of a baseline review, Cavan’s baseline has increased to €11,783,496 from 2024 onwards. This increases equalisation funding provided by €2.3m per annum.
The table below sets out Cavan County Council’s LPT baseline and the amount of equalisation funding provided as part of that allocation in the years 2020 to 2023.
|
Year |
LPT baseline |
LPT retained locally (before any local variation of the base rate) |
Equalisation funding provided |
|
2020 |
€9,480,501 |
€3,571,524 (80% of estimated LPT yield) |
€5,908,977 |
|
2021 |
€9,480,501 |
€3,631,978 (80% of estimated LPT yield) |
€5,848,522 |
|
2022 |
€9,480,501 |
€3,639,652 (80% of estimated LPT yield) |
€5,840,849 |
|
2023 |
€9,480,501 |
€3,750,334 (100% of estimated LPT yield) |
€5,730,167 |
109. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to disregard half-rate carer’s allowance as means for the differential rent scheme. [40472/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraLocal authorities set and collect rents on their dwellings in accordance with section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such rent schemes is generally a matter for local authorities within broad principles set out by my Department, including that rent levels should be based on income and reflect tenants’ ability to pay.
Local discretion and flexibility are inherent in the devolved administration of rent schemes and different approaches are taken to rent setting across local authorities. Accordingly, decisions regarding the sources of income included and disregarded for rent assessment purposes, including half-rate Carer’s Allowance, are matters solely for individual local authorities. I have no role in this regard.
111. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will clarify the rationale for Met Éireann not providing flood forecasts or warnings for floods to the public via their website or broadcast media; and to outline plans to make provision for the dissemination of this information to the public. [40552/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe focus for the information developed during Stage 1 of the establishment of the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service (NFFWS), overseen by the OPW, was to provide information support to emergency management decision-makers. Further development of the NFFWS, including Ireland’s network of hydrometric observation systems, is required to support a public flood warning service. Met Éireann is successfully providing information and guidance to decision making stakeholders such as the Local Authorities, the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management and other agencies, who have received training to enable them to interpret the information and use the software system. The service information being provided operationally is tailored for these stakeholders and provides valuable information regarding the likelihood of river and/or coastal flooding. This information protects the public from flood risk as it is utilised by these emergency management stakeholders to manage flood risk and make decisions pertaining to emergency response measures. The NFFWS Service developed under Stage 1 is not at the level of maturity required to provide warnings for specific locations to the public.
112. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason, under the tenant purchase scheme, it is stated that only occupants of three-bedroom houses can purchase their homes through the incremental purchase scheme; if consideration would be given to amending the scheme to permit occupants of houses with less bedrooms to purchase their homes under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40610/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 is open to eligible tenants, including joint tenants, of local authority houses that are available for sale under the scheme. The scheme is governed by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 and Housing (Sale of Local Authority Houses) Regulations 2015, as amended.
While the regulations provide for specified classes of houses to be excluded from sale, they do not specifically exclude the sale of houses that have less than three bedrooms. That said, local authorities may, within the provisions of the regulations, exclude houses which they consider should not be sold for reasons such as proper stock or estate management. Such decisions are matters solely for local authorities having regard to their respective housing requirements.
113. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the total number of local authority biodiversity officers currently employed; the funding provided by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40625/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraBiodiversity Officers have been appointed by 28 local authorities. Funding from my Department, administered by the Heritage Council, provides a part subvention for 27 of these through the Heritage Council Biodiversity Officer Programme. Expenditure on salary and expenses by the Heritage Council for these Biodiversity Officers is expected to be €1.5 million by year end. In addition, 22 grants were offered to local authorities under the Local Biodiversity Action Plan Grant Scheme, to a total of €375,000. Contact details for LA Biodiversity Officers can be found here - www.heritagecouncil.ie/our-work-with-others/biodiversity-officer-programme.
114. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding provided to the community monuments fund, the historic structures fund and the built heritage investment scheme respectively in 2024, the estimated funding under Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40626/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra116. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding per scheme under the built heritage investment scheme, historic structures fund, and historic towns initiative respectively; the estimated funding under Budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40628/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 116 together.
My Department, through the National Built Heritage Service (NBHS), provides direct financial assistance for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS). For 2024 these schemes have a combined budget of €9 million.
Through the National Monuments Service (NMS), my Department also offers the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) for the protection and conservation of archaeological sites. In 2024 the CMF has a budget of €7.4m.
My Department also funds the Historic Towns Initiative (HTI) through the Heritage Council, which provides support for conservation works and planning in historic towns. Total funding allocated to this scheme by the Heritage Council for 2024 came to €1.5m.
While last week's Budget 2025 provided programme- and subhead-level estimates of expenditure for next year, the level funding to be allocated to individual grant schemes has yet to be finalised.
115. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost of employing an architectural conservation officers. [40627/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each Chief Executive is responsible for the staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authority for which he/she is responsible. My Department oversees workforce planning for the local government sector, including the monitoring of local government sector employment levels. To this end, my Department gathers aggregate quarterly data on staff numbers in each local authority on a whole time equivalent basis.
However, granular data, in terms of the detailed breakdown of the numbers and grades of staff allocated to specific work areas within local authorities is not collected and consequently is not available in my Department.
There are three grades of Architectural Conservation Officer in the local government sector - Assistant Architectural Conservation Officer, Executive Architectural Conservation Officer and Senior Executive Architectural Conservation Officer. It is a matter for each Chief Executive to decide the appropriate staffing complement at these grades. The salary scales applicable to these grades from 1 October 2024 are attached.
Local Government Sector Pay Scales @ 1st October 2024
Senior Executive Architectural Conservation Officer
€76,772 - €79,125 - €80,252 - €82,622 - €85,011 - €87,394 - €89,793 - €92,808 (LSI1) - €95,815 (LSI2)
Executive Architectural Conservation Officer
€57,909 - €60,017 - €62,124 - €64,235 - €66,345 - €68,454 - €70,565 - €72,663 - €74,784 - €76,887 - €79,311 (LSI1) - €80,498 (LSI2)
Assistant Architectural Conservation Officer
€45,802 - €48,444 - €50,384 - €52,367 - €54,397 - €56,461 - €58,544 - €60,627 - €62,710 - €64,796 - €66,894 - €69,038 (LSI1) - €71,185 (LSI2)
117. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the average cost of purchasing and designating a new national park since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40629/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department has established two new National Parks in the time period specified
Brú na Bóinne National Park, Co. Meath in 2023
Páirc Náisiúnta na Mara, Ciarraí in 2024.
The aggregate cost involved, primarily in land purchase costs, was of the order of €23m.
118. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if cross-departmental plans are being developed to alleviate the pressure on the retail industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41005/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMany traditional town centres have suffered from a decline in retail activity due to the loss of their immediate population base and shifting retail patterns, including an increase in on-line sales. This has led to increased rates of vacancy and can have a major impact on the vibrancy and vitality of a town centre. Retailing is shifting away from being solely reliant on the purchasing of goods toward more ‘experience-led’ retail that includes a blend of retail services (including food and drink), leisure, entertainment and cultural uses. City and town centres are in an optimal position to take advantage of the shift toward more blended retailing and the Government is progressing a number of initiatives and investment programmes to support the regeneration of retail environments in city and town centre locations.
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has established the Retail Forum which is developing dynamic strategies to support retail business across the Country. The purpose of the forum is to allow key issues of relevance to the retail sector to be discussed, with a view to identifying practical actions which could be taken by government, or by industry itself, to support the sector with particular emphasis on achieving sustainable jobs growth in the sector.
The Night Time Economy (NTE) Taskforce, established in 2020 and led by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (DTCAGSM) is also supporting initiatives in core retailing areas to increase footfall and activity in central retail core areas of our towns and cities. In addition to focussing on the development of new community, cultural and outdoor spaces across the Country, the NTE Taskforce has established new festivals and late night event programmes in national cultural institutions, and appointed new Night-Time Economy Advisors and Night-Time Economy Committees in 9 urban centres across Ireland, including Kilkenny, Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick City.
In managing new retail development, our planning system continues to implement the objectives of the Retail Planning Guidelines (2012) in ensuring that important new retail development is sustainably located, enhances local retail provision and coordinates with wider strategic national planning policy. Local retail policies in statutory city and county development plans and decision-making on new retail planning applications confirm the importance of the appropriate sequential development of retail facilities, favouring support for established core retail areas with new development in preference to creating competing new retail locations at the edge or periphery of our cities and towns which can undermine existing retail businesses and activity.
Enhanced place making through quality parks, squares, streets and other outdoor spaces that make up the public realm are also key to promoting and sustaining retailing. A high quality public realm is supported by the Town Centre First Policy Approach for Irish Towns (2022) and through the related funding schemes such as the €2 billion Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS). Currently, URDF, which is administered by my Department, part-funds 132 projects and almost 400 sub-projects across the country. Public realm improvements are also supported though various transport initiatives developed and managed by the National Transport Authority including under the Active Travel Investment Programme.
The Town Centre First policy is also putting in place a suite of supports and tools to help businesses and local communities deliver on the regeneration potential of their towns to ensure that they are vibrant, viable and attractive places to live, work, invest in, and visit. A new National TCF Office was established in 2022 that is working with a network of 26 Town Regeneration Officers (TROs) within the local authorities, who are leading local regeneration and urban renewal at a local level. They are identifying and progressing local regeneration opportunities and directing investment to improve the physical and environmental quality of town centres and the attractiveness of their retailing locations.
119. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Social Protection if there will be an increase to the standard eye examination payments claimed by dispensing opticians and optometrists under the treatment benefit scheme; the timeframe set for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40398/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Treatment Benefit Scheme provides dental, optical, aural and hair replacement products and services to insured workers, the self-employed, retired people and their dependent spouse/partner who have the required number of social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
The Department has commenced a review of the Optical Benefit scheme including examination payments claimed by opticians and optometrists.
The review is likely to be concluded in the coming months.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
120. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address the matters raised in the enclosed correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40435/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Back to Education Allowance provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments who pursue full-time courses of education at further or higher level. The focus of the scheme is to assist people improve their qualifications and as a result improve their access to sustainable employment. The Government has provided €35.7 million for the scheme in 2024.
In limited circumstances post-graduate courses can be supported under this scheme. Back to Education Allowance may be approved where the applicant intends to undertake studies leading to a Higher Diploma in any discipline or the Professional Masters in Education. Additionally, Back to Education Allonwace may be awarded for a Master’s degree based solely on life experience where the applicant holds no other third level qualification.
The specifics provided by the Deputy refers to a post graduate course delivered through blended learning which is not included under the Back to Education Allowance scheme.
Policy in relation to the Student Grant Scheme is a matter for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
I trust this clarifies the position.
121. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Social Protection how a person (details supplied) who has a retirement pension from the HSE (Mercy Hospital, Cork) after 40 years' employment as a nurse and who is presently still working, can enhance their pension entitlement; if their current employment is of any benefit in that regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40339/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned reached pension age on 25 May 2024. An application for State Pension (contributory) was received on 21 February 2024.
In general, public servants who joined prior to 6 April 1995 paid modified contributions which are not reckonable for the standard state pension (contributory). However, such employees generally have an occupational pension, the level of which is related to a number of factors, including years of service.
To be eligible for the standard state pension (contributory) an individual must have at least 520 full-rate contributions. To qualify for a mixed insurance pension, 520 employment contributions are required, of which at least 260 must be full-rate contributions with the remainder made up of modified contributions.
According to the records of my Department, the person concerned has a total of 316 full-rate contributions. As this falls short of the requisite 520 full-rate contributions for the standard State pension (contributory), their entitlement to a mixed insurance pension was examined. The person concerned has a total of 316 full-rate contributions, 120 full rate credits, 2,008 modified contributions and 14 modified credits from 1976 to 2024. This gave entitlement to a mixed insurance pension at the currently weekly rate of €49.20.
Where a person qualifies for less than the maximum rate of state pension (contributory), it is open to them to apply 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.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
122. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) who is in receipt of invalidity pension and whose husband is on supplementary welfare allowance has been refused the fuel allowance; if she will address this issue immediately; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40341/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuel Allowance is available to persons in receipt of long-term Social Welfare payments, who satisfy a means condition and who are living alone or who only with the persons who come within certain categories.
Fuel Allowance is not payable where a household member is in receipt of certain non-qualifying payments from my Department.
An application for Fuel Allowance was received from the person concerned on 29 August 2024. The application was refused. The information available to my Department indicates the spouse of the person in question is in receipt of a Supplementary Welfare Allowance payment while awaiting the award of another social welfare payment. As such, they are not deemed to be an exempted person within the household for the purposes of the Fuel Allowance scheme. The person referred to was notified of the decision to refuse her application on 14 September 2024.
It is open to the person in question to apply again for Fuel Allowance if her household circumstances change.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
123. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will take steps to ensure that the carer's allowance appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) which was submitted in April 2024 is immediately determined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40342/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 referred to an Appeals Officer on 3rd October 2024, who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if necessary, hold an oral hearing.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
