Note on changes to Materials & Training Grants re CE Schemes

Community Employment schemes provide a very important and valued contribution to social employment, training and progression for unemployed people. Furthermore, many Community Employment schemes provide vital community services right across the country.

There are currently 1,143 CE schemes in operation nationally with 23,300 participants. The overall estimated budget stands at €315,194 million for 2012.

The Department of Social Protection has recently taken over full responsibility for Community Employment schemes as the previous FAS Employment Services division joined the Department of Social Protection with effect from 1 January.

CE schemes play an important role in our communities, in particular by providing services which have an intrinsic social value like helping the disabled to live independently or delivering meals on wheels to our older citizens.  This point sometimes gets lost in a purely economic analysis of CE schemes, which views them as not delivering sufficient progression into the labour market.

While it is true that many CE schemes do need to improve the manner in which they provide labour activation services, there will always be a role for schemes that are primarily directed towards the provision of crucial social services, often for disadvantaged communities who are in dire need of services like childcare, elderly care and drug treatment programmes.

The Minister for Social Protection has stated that she is determined to ensure that the contribution of such schemes is recognised in any future decisions on the future operation, funding and role of community employment.

As this area has only recently come under the Department of Social Protection, Minister Burton has asked for an initial review of the financial resources of all schemes to be completed in March 2012. Standard templates have been developed and issued to the employment officers involved. The review will be carried out between local CE sponsors and the Departmental employment officer responsible for the scheme under local management.

The discussion that will be undertaken with schemes will be conducted in an enabling manner and all support possible will be provided to help the schemes to remain viable.  Employment officers are currently making initial contact with schemes. In addition to these local discussions, discussion and consultation with the main representative bodies and stakeholders involved in schemes will take place over the coming weeks in relation to funding.

Separately the former FÁS Research unit has been asked to complete a strategic value for money review of a number of schemes administered by the Department. Community Employment will be reviewed as part of this exercise. This outcome of this review will guide future policy development and is expected to be completed by the end of March.

Minister Burton has announced that she will engage in a stakeholder consultation event in order to better understand the role that Community Employment schemes play across the entire country and to obtain the views and feedback of scheme sponsors, supervisors and participants.

The outcome of these reviews will inform the overall approach to be taken by the Department of Social Protection in relation to how to secure the best outcomes for the schemes and for their participants taking account both of the large amount of money we spend on CE schemes and the valuable contribution that many of them make to their communities.

The purpose of the review by the former FÁS Research unit is to examine the income and funding of sponsoring organisations in terms of their ability to continue deliver the programme.  It is also being carried out in the context that there are community and voluntary sponsoring organisations that receive funding from a multiplicity of state agencies. Alternative sources of support will be examined, particularly with reference to funding from other state agencies to avoid duplication.

The review will also seek to establish if income is generated by scheme activity and the potential for utilisation of these funds to cover project costs.

This is a listening government and the Government has been listening carefully to the concerns raised by the community and voluntary sector about the impact that changes to the training and material grant could have on Community Employment Schemes pending the outcome of the review. Following on from changes to the training and materials grant for Community Employment schemes announced in Budget 2012 Minister Burton made a commitment that no Community Employment Scheme would close pending the completion of this review.

The Government has been clear that in the event that the changes in the training and material grant announced in the Budget create financial difficulties for schemes, the Department of Social Protection will continue to provide funding for those schemes and funding has been made available in this context.

Community employment participants can continue to avail of education and training programmes that are available to them free of charge from existing State funded providers. This facility will also form part of the arrangements that will be developed as part of the establishment of SOLAS.

Road closure - L-22091 (Raynestown Lane) from its junction with the R147 (old N3) at Powderloug

Meath County Council has made an order to temporarily close the following road: 

• The L-22091 (Raynestown Lane) from its junction with the R147 (old N3) at Powderlough to its junction with the L-2209 at Rathregan.

This closure is necessary to facilitate Eirgrid’s East West Interconnector Project.

Duration:The intended road closure is from 2^nd February 2012 to 15^th March 2012.

Alternative Routes:The diversion routes are as follows:

Traffic normally travelling south on L22091: Continue south-east along the R147 (old N3) for approximately 4.3km, then take the third exit at the Black Bull roundabout at the junction with the R154. Continue north-west along the R154 for approximately 4.7km and then turn right onto the L2209 to arrive at the south end of the L22091.

Traffic normally travelling north on L22091: Continue south-east along the R154 for approximately 4.7km, then take the first exit at the Black Bull roundabout at the junction with the R147 (old N3). Continue north-west along the R147 (old N3) for approximately 4.3km to arrive at the north end of the L22091.

Diversion signs will be in place.

Local Access:Access for residents and property holders will be facilitated throughout the closure period.

Operation Transformation Walk in Meath

RTE Cameras to film Operation Transformation Walk this Saturday in Trim

Join us on

Saturday 14th January 2012 at Trim Castle at 12pm

 Meath LSP will host a 3.7km walk on the Trim Sli na Sláinte route. 

This is a great chance to get active with family and friends.
All ages and abilities welcome 

New Year – NEW YOU! Start your New Year’s transformation with us!

 We welcome all ages and abilities along on the day and particularly would like to see families getting involved.

The event is ideal for beginners to come out and give it a go and remember no matter what age you are it is never too late to change your thinking on physical activity.

Come on! Let`s show the nation what Meath can do!!

Meath Local Sports PartnershipPh: 046-9067337 Email: mlsp@meathcoco.ie Web: www.meathsports.ie

List of unfinished housing estates in Meath

According to www.householdcharge.ie the following is the list on unfinished housing estates in Meath

Even if your property is exempt from the household charge you are still required to register your property

Doherty pays tribute to pioneering work of journalist Mary Raftery

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has expressed her sympathy at the death of journalist Mary Raftery and paid tribute to her pioneering work.

“It was with great sadness that I learnt of the death of Mary Raftery this morning. Her work as a journalist is unparalleled in this country, and I believe we all owe her a great service for making us face the most difficult and disturbing facts about who we are as a society, and how we treat our most vulnerable members.

“Anyone who watched Mary Raftery’s pioneering documentary Cardinal Secrets on its first broadcast will remember being stopped in their tracks. The country was brought to a halt by the programme’s devastating revelations. For the first time we were presented with the horrendous realities of how our children in State and Church run institutions were abused, and how this abuse went unchecked and unreported for decades.

“The States of Fear series led to the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry into Child Abuse, which has carried out some of the most important investigations in the history of this State. Mary Raftery’s work shone a light upon Irish society and forced all of us to consider how we view many of the institutions which were previously held at an untouchable remove.

“It is impossible to measure where we would be as a society without the work of Mary Raftery. Through her journalism, survivors of abuse were given a voice and a legitimacy that was previously denied to them. And through the establishment of the Commissions of Inquiry, perpetrators were held accountable and the public was exposed to the harrowing details of the abuse they carried out. Thanks to the work carried out by the Inquiries, this Government has placed the protection of children central to its agenda and this year will we see major advances in the areas of child protection.

“Mary Raftery’s colleagues and peers have described her as tireless and unrelenting. These qualities were at all times evident in her work, which, despite its damning content, was always presented in a considered and calm manner. Her death has left a chasm on the landscape of Irish journalism. She will be remembered for her incredible journalistic legacy and the great service she carried out to the benefit of Irish society.”

Bruton Delivers on Employment Rights and Industrial Relations Reform

Mr. Richard Bruton, T.D. Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation announced today [Friday] that as part of his overall plans to reform and consolidate the five existing employment rights institutions into two simplified and streamlined bodies, significant progress has been achieved to date. New initiatives, which have been delivered on time, include the introduction of a single complaint form, a single point of contact and a new website.

An interim Website (www.workplacerelations.ie) will provide information on employment, equality and industrial relations legislation and associated public services.

• A Single Complaint Form for all first instance individual complaints and referals to the Rights Commissioner Service, the Employment Appeals Tribunal, National Employment Rights Authority, the Equality Tribunal and the Labour Court. This new form will replace 30 existing complaint forms that currently accommodate over 80 specific complaint types.
• A Single Point of Contact, to be called the Workplace Relations Customer Services of the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, will have the responsibility for:
  • information provision in relation to employment, equality and
    industrial relations rights and obligations
  • the receipt and registration of all first instance complaints currently referred to the five workplace relations bodies
  • dealing with enquiries concerning the status of complaints and associated procedures and processes

Minister Bruton said: “This is an important step in the delivery of a world-class workplace relations service that is simpler, faster and cheaper.

“My plan will streamline the existing structures, procedures and mechanisms. My overall objective is to encourage early resolution of disputes, the vindication of employee rights and minimisation of the costs for employees, employers and Government, in terms of money, time and workplace productivity.

“A range of further structural and procedural reforms are planned for 2012. These will include the establishment of a Workplace Relations Early Resolution Service, the objective of which will be to seek resolution of complaints as an alternative to a formal adjudication hearing or an inspection. Work is currently underway on the design and implementation of a Pilot Early Resolution Service to commence in the first quarter of 2012.

“I am more determined than ever to proceed to a two tier structure i.e. a single Workplace Relations Commission of first instance and a separate appeals body. This will mean effecting changes to bring about the ultimate merger of the existing five institutions into two. In parallel with the ambitious administrative reforms which are being delivered, my Department is developing the legislative proposals necessary to establish the new structure on a statutory footing.

“I would also like to recognise the leadership and commitment of the current heads of the institutions (and their Boards, where such exist) to effect meaningful change in this area” Minister Bruton concluded.

Doherty urges concerned pensioners to get in touch with Revenue

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has urged any pensioners who are concerned about their tax liabilities to get in touch with the Revenue Commissioners on their specially extended helpline, which is open to take calls tomorrow. Deputy Doherty also moved to reassure elderly people that the vast majority of pensioners are tax compliant, and have nothing to worry about.

“Thousands of elderly people are understandably concerned and confused after receiving letters from the Revenue Commissioners regarding their tax liabilities. This is not about a witch hunt; it is simply about ensuring that everyone is tax complaint. It’s worth pointing out that the vast majority (80%) of pensioners that were analysed by Revenue are paying the right amount of tax.

“It’s also important to add that those affected are people in receipt of a private pension, as well as the State pension, and it’s the additional income that means they will have to pay some extra tax. Many of the 115,000 people who have been underpaying tax will have to make a very small adjustment, so we are only taking about modest sums of money in most cases here. In other instances, where people have much bigger pensions, larger sums will be involved.

“Now is the time for any uncertainty on this issue to be cleared up. The Revenue Commissioners is opening a helpline this weekend, and I would urge anyone who is concerned to get in touch. Revenue have said today that there will be no general arrears programme, so most people shouldn’t be worried that they will be pursued for years of back tax. The Commissioners are focussed on making these adjustments from this year onwards.

“While it is essential to ensure that everyone is tax complaint, I think there are certainly lessons to be learnt from this episode. It can be very unsettling for an elderly person, who is possibly living alone, to receive an unexpected letter in the post about their financial affairs. I would urge Revenue to consider the methods they use in the future when they have such important information to impart to a large section of the public.”

Doherty welcomes high take up of HPV vaccine for girls

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has welcomed the high take up rate for the first year of the nationwide HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccination campaign for schoolgirls. New figures released by the HSE show that there’s been an 82% take up in the jab, which protects against cervical cancer.

“The nationwide rollout of the HPV Cervical Cancer Vaccination was a commitment in the Programme for Government. The programme started on small scale in May, and a catch up programme was subsequently launched in September to ensure as many girls as possible in secondary school could avail of the vaccine.

“The HPV vaccine is a wonderful example of what can be achieved through advances in modern medicine. Every year in Ireland, 250 women get cervical cancer, and 80 women die from the disease. It’s estimated that 70% of cervical cancers are caused by strains of the Human Papilloma Virus. Now, thanks to this vaccine, young girls can be protected from these strains, greatly reducing their chance of developing cervical cancer in later life.

“Today’s HSE figures show the rollout programme has been a major success in its first year of implementation. There has been an 82% take up, and in the Dublin North East region that figures rises to almost 85%.

“The HPV vaccine is given in three doses, and it’s most encouraging to see that 97% of girls who got the first dose went on to complete the three dose schedule. I would like to commend the parents around the country who have opted to allow their daughters to receive the vaccination. Credit must also be given to the HSE immunisation teams who have rolled out the programme so efficiently and effectively.

“This programme will help save lives, and prevent young girls from going through a devastating illness later in life. The decision by the Minister for Health, James Reilly, to extend the vaccination programme was a progressive move and one that will significantly benefit the health of women in this country in the years ahead.

“I would encourage the parents of schoolgirls who have not yet received the vaccine to take a close look at the information pack they should receive from the HSE, and think carefully about the benefits the vaccine can offer. It’s also important to add that the vaccine protects against seven out of ten cervical cancers, so girls will still need to get regular smear tests when they are older.”

Ratoath GAA club Table Quiz, Firday 13th January

Government announces measures to improve affordability of Private Health Insurance for Older People

The Minister for Health Dr. James Reilly has announced changes to the Private Health Insurance system which will help to make Private Health Insurance (PHI) more affordable for older people. With the agreement of the Minister for Finance, Mr. Michael Noonan TD, there will be extra age-related income tax credit for insured persons aged 60 years and over, from 1 January 2012. This credit is provided as a tax relief at source – that is, the cost of the policy is reduced by the amount of the age- related income tax credit. The age- related credit is in addition to the standard rate income tax credit on all health insurance policies. The new rates will be included in the forthcoming Finance Bill.


The measures are designed to result in no overall increase of premiums paid in the market and to spread the risk more evenly between the healthy and the less healthy, the old and the young.


These measures are being taken under the Government’s Interim Scheme of Risk Equalisation.


Minister Reilly said:

Health insurance is becoming harder to afford for older people as insurers increasingly tailor their insurance plans towards younger, healthier customers. The Government is strongly committed to protecting community rating, whereby older and less healthy customers should pay the same amount for the same cover as younger and healthier people. The changes I am announcing will provide further necessary support to community rating. Community rating of health insurance is at the very heart of our system. It will remain so under Universal Health Insurance. The PHI market has become increasingly segmented over recent years with insurers offering tailored packages to younger people that are designed to be unattractive to older people, while at the same time increasing the price of plans they offer to meet the needs of older people. I am very unhappy about this trend and I have raised the issue directly with the insurers. This measure I am announcing today is designed to support the protection of older, less healthy people.

The Minister said that the action he is taking now is in line with his plans to move to a system of Universal Health Insurance from 2016. Under UHI, everyone will be insured for health care, and the current unfair distinction between public and private patients will be removed. In the meantime, the Minister is focusing on addressing the problems of the current Private Health Insurance market, where insurers have a considerable financial incentive to cover younger, better risks rather than older, poorer risks.


A key concern for the Minister will be to reduce the cost of claims experienced by health insurers, so that we can achieve a more cost effective market with greater competition. Minister Reilly said:

I firmly believe that health insurers have the scope to reduce their costs significantly, and I am happy to work with them to identify how this can be done. Costs in recent times have been allowed to increase unnecessarily and I want to see these brought back to more sustainable levels in order to keep health insurance affordable for as many people as possible. The Consultative Forum on Health Insurance which I announced last week has great potential in this regard.


The Minister said that the legislation passed earlier this month extended the present Interim Scheme of Risk Equalisation for a further year, into 2012. The increased rates to be applied under the scheme from 1 January 2012, which he is now announcing, will ensure that insurers have greater incentive to offer policies aimed at older customers.

The analysis carried out by the Health Insurance Authority, which makes recommendations on the rates that should be applied each year, estimates that the changes will have only a modest impact on insurance premiums. The increased support for community rating will mean an average rise of approximately €30 for insurers with the better risks in the market and a corresponding fall of some €30 per insured person for those with poorer risks. Any negative impact on premiums paid by the consumer would be further reduced by 20% due to the standard rate income tax credit on all health insurance policies. The Minister will shortly announce details of a new permanent Risk Equalisation Scheme to be introduced from 1 January 2013. This will build further on the impact of the Interim Scheme to close further the gap between costs in insuring older and younger customers. It will continue the objective of making health insurance more affordable for older people.

The Minister today announced revised rates for 2012 which will increase the support levels in respect of older customers, so that health insurance will be made more affordable for them. Without this support, health insurers have a strong financial incentive to ‘segment’ the market by offering policies targeted at younger people. This has the effect, if unchallenged, of driving a wedge between young and old, the healthy and the less healthy. It means that insurers can make huge profits on younger, healthier lives while charging more and more for the very policies which older people need. The revised rates have been recommended by the industry regulator, the Health Insurance Authority and they are summarised in the table below. The table shows the tax credits by age group, which are funded by a community rating levy on every health insurance policy.

It is important to emphasise that, even with these changes there is a significant additional cost for an insurer to insure an older person. For example, these measures will reduce the average net claims cost to an insurer for an 80 year old from €1,580 in 2011 to €835 approximately in 2012. Under UHI it would be the intention to ensure that these additional costs are shared as evenly as possible across the population. The overall impact of the measures is designed to Exchequer neutral.

VHI STATEMENT:


Vhi Healthcare response to changes to the Levy and Age Related Tax Relief at source - Welcomes increased support for the healthcare costs of older customers 4th January 2012 - Vhi Healthcare has welcomed the Department of Health’s announcement regarding amendments introduced for 2012 to the levy and age related tax relief at source system in the private health insurance market calling it a step in the right direction to safe-guarding the future of community rating and therefore keeping health insurance affordable for all.


According to Declan Moran Chief Executive, Vhi Healthcare “Today’s announcement, while by no means 100% effective in funding the healthcare costs of older customers, is a step in the right direction towards the implementation of a proper risk equalisation scheme to under-pin the social policy of community rating. Community rating was intended to ensure that the cost of healthcare should be shared proportionately by everyone who was insured. A robust and effective risk pooling system is absolutely essential to protect community rating and support older customers. As the Government moves toward the implementation of a universal health system this is an absolute imperative.”


Recent figures from the HIA show that at the end of September 2011, some 2,174,000 customers or 47.5% of the Irish population had private health insurance. Vhi Healthcare has 1,246,000 customers or 57%; Quinn Healthcare has 458,000 customers or 21%; Aviva Health Insurance has 382,000 customers or 18%; and restricted membership undertakings have 88,000 customers or 4%. Competition remains solely focused on younger lives and the most recent HIA statistics support this view. Vhi Healthcare’s market share has consistently fallen and this has been mainly in the younger age groups. Quinn Healthcare and Aviva Health Insurance combined currently have 47% of market share in the 30 to 39 years age group but only 9% of the over 80s. Vhi Healthcare now has eight times the proportion of members in the over 80 years age group than Quinn Healthcare has and six times the proportion in this age group that Aviva Health Insurance has.


According to Declan Moran, Chief Executive, Vhi Healthcare “In order to have a truly competitive marketplace you need to regulate the market in such a way that it is equally attractive to insure an 80 year old as it is to ensure a 30 year old. It is only then that you will see the market function correctly. As it stands new entrants to the market basically cherry pick younger customers leading to market segmentation and ultimately older customers paying more.“