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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 May 2004

Vol. 585 No. 1

Written Answers.

The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies received from the Departments [unrevised].
Questions Nos. 1 to 9, inclusive, answered orally.

Money Laundering.

Joe Sherlock

Question:

10 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance the total number of suspicious financial transactions that might involve money laundering reported to the Revenue Commissioners during 2003; if he has satisfied himself that adequate procedures are in place to prevent money laundering; the work being undertaken by the money laundering steering committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12870/04]

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they have received 2,688 suspicious transaction reports, which may relate to money laundering, between 1 May 2003, the date the reporting obligation under section 57 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994 was extended to the Revenue Commissioners, and 31 December 2003. A dedicated office, the suspicious transactions reports office, has been set up to ensure these reports are comprehensively followed through by Revenue. That office and the Garda meet regularly to review the reports received and to ensure their respective actions are co-ordinated. Money laundering investigations are conducted by the Garda, and Revenue deals with cases of suspected tax evasion.

Irish legislation on money laundering is set out in the Criminal Justice Act 1994, as amended. Primary responsibility for legislation in the area of money laundering rests with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Under the legislation designated bodies are required to identify their customers, report suspicious transaction to the Garda and the Revenue, keep records and ensure that they have adequate anti-money laundering procedures, including staff training, in place.

The Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority requires all institutions which it supervises to comply with the anti-money laundering legislation and relevant sectoral guidance notes and to have in place the necessary procedures and controls to ensure such compliance. It reviews the adequacy of such systems in the course of its ongoing supervision. Furthermore, it too is obliged to make reports to the Garda and Revenue if it suspects that an institution has not complied with the legislation.

IFSRA ensures that institutions are informed of international developments in the area of prevention of money laundering, in particular in relation to recommendations and reports issued by the international financial action task force on money laundering.

The money laundering steering committee which was set up in 1994 under the chairmanship of the Department of Finance includes representatives of Departments, enforcement agencies and designated bodies. Its main function is to facilitate consistent application of the money laundering legislation provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1994 across the range of body's affected by it.

Ireland's law and procedures on money laundering were the subject of a favourable review by the financial action task force, in 1998, under that bodies procedure for the mutual evaluation of its members. The next mutual evaluation of Ireland is due in 2005.

Departmental Policies.

Paul McGrath

Question:

11 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if a review will be arranged of the policies and practices in relation to the disposal of equipment and stocks which are surplus to requirement by public sector bodies to ensure that value for money from such disposal is maximised. [12900/04]

Richard Bruton

Question:

102 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself that disposals of equipment or chattels by pubic bodies are arranged in such a way to maximise return to the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13035/04]

I propose to take Question Nos. 11 and 102 together.

Primary responsibility for the management and disposal of assets rests with Departments and public bodies under their aegis. As Accounting Officers, Secretaries General of Departments are personally accountable to the Committee of Public Accounts Committee for the regularity and propriety of transactions, including disposal of assets, and for economy and efficiency in the use of resources and systems in their Departments. My Department has a strong concern to ensure that all public assets are properly managed, accounted for and disposed of in a manner which secures maximum value for money for the taxpayer and there are a number of arrangements in place to ensure that this is the case.

The Department of Finance, Public Financial Procedures, or blue book, provides general guidance to Civil Service Departments on asset management. Departments are required to have asset management systems in place which ensure that assets are acquired only when needed, are adequately controlled and maintained, are properly safeguarded and disposed of, and that utilisation is monitored.

Each Department-office is required to maintain an assets register recording the description, historical cost, rate and method of charging for depreciation, present value, that is, depreciated historical cost or valuation, date of acquisition and physical location of each material capital asset, that is, an asset intended for use on a continuing basis for more than one year. The assets register must be available to the Comptroller and Auditor General during the annual audit of the Appropriation Accounts. A statement of capital assets, compiled from the assets register, including details of disposals, must be included in the Appropriation Accounts which are subject to annual examination by the PAC. Guidelines on internal audit standards provide that the range of activities conducted by internal audit functions in Departments and offices should include reviewing the compliance with procedures for the acquisition and disposal of assets and their safeguarding.

My Departments 1994 Guidelines on Public Procurement, or green book, which apply throughout the public sector, state that the disposal or letting of property should be dealt with by competitive tendering or by auction in order to ensure that disposals are both transparent and likely to achieve a fair price. It also provides for the possible disposal of surplus materials elsewhere in the public sector and directs that this possibility should be investigated before disposal by contacting other likely users.

In relation to IT disposal, Department of Finance circular 30/03 sets out the principles, intended to maximise value for money, which should be applied by Departments-offices. Among the requirements are that disposal of unwanted equipment should be carried out in the most financially advantageous manner possible, including minimising storage and removal costs and that it should be sold at market value, in accordance with the general guidelines for the disposal of State assets, regardless of the depreciated book value. This may include sale to staff.

As regards semi-State bodies, the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies addresses in considerable detail the disposal of assets by any State-sponsored body, whether commercial or non-commercial. The code was approved by Government in October 2001 and is binding on all State-sponsored bodies. Under the code it is necessary to ensure that transparency applies and that a fair market price is achieved. The disposal of assets with an anticipated value at or above a threshold of €70,000 should be by auction or competitive tendering. Any exceptional cases, where assets above the threshold have been disposed of without auction or competitive tendering, must be set out in detail and explained in the chairperson's annual report to the relevant Minister. Chairpersons are required to affirm, in their annual report to their respective Ministers, that the disposal procedures set out in the code have been complied with.

In relation to health boards and local authorities, I am informed that recent legislative changes should assist in better management of assets by these agencies. Accordingly, the arrangements which are in place in relation to the management and disposal of assets provide sufficient guidance to Departments and public bodies to enable them to secure value for money in relation to the management and disposal of their assets.

Promotions System.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

12 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself that the promotion systems operated within the Civil Service are achieving best international practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12874/04]

I am satisfied that the Civil Service is operating a best practice model for promotion systems. Best practice for both recruitment and promotion, as accepted internationally, involves the use of a process whereby each candidate is objectively assessed against the requirements of the job and selected on that basis. This selection process can involve a number of different methods, for example, aptitude testing, assessment of competencies and interviews.

In recent years, the Civil Service Commissioners and Departments have put in place a range of modern selection systems to improve interdepartmental promotion competitions at all grades, including key management levels within the Civil Service. The Civil Service Commissioners have carried out comprehensive job analysis studies in line with best practice models on all the main general service grades, and these are informing the selection process.

With regard to promotions within Departments, which are not handled by the Civil Service Commissioners, the modernisation programme outlined in the Sustaining Progress Agreement contains a number of important measures designed to improve promotion procedures. In particular, paragraphs 22.14 of the Agreement commits the Civil Service to "greater use of competitive, merit-based promotions within Departments".

In 2003, a cross-departmental group of Assistant Secretaries examined the area of competitive promotions within Departments, in the light of best practice in Ireland and elsewhere, and considered the steps which should be taken by Departments to meet the commitments in this regard. The group recommended that the personnel officers network, in consultation with the Civil Service Commissioners, draw up detailed guidelines on appropriate competitive processes, to further strengthen the internal promotion systems currently in operation in Departments. This is currently being done. In addition, my Department, in consultation with the Civil Service Commissioners, is also drawing up best practice guidelines on methods of selection which will be issued to Departments shortly. I am confident that the promotion procedures being used within the Civil Service are in line with international best practice.

Special Savings Incentive Scheme.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

13 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the aggregate value of money which will be released from SSIA accounts; the period over which it will be released; and if he has conducted any assessment of its impact on the economy in that period. [12890/04]

The SSIA scheme was opened on 1 May 2001 and entry to it closed on 30 April 2002. SSIA accounts must be held for five years from the date of the first subscription in order for the holders to get the full tax benefits. SSIA accounts are due to mature between 31 May 2006 and 30 April 2007.

It is not possible to give an estimate of the aggregate value of money which will be released from the SSIA accounts when they mature as the scheme has still two to three years to run and such aggregate value is also subject to a number of variables such as when participants die, withdraw from the scheme or vary their monthly contributions. In addition, the income or gains arising on the investment over the entire period will depend on whether the investment is in a fixed deposit account or variable deposit account or in equities and what returns these investments will provide over the entire five year period.

As regards the economic impact, my Department is keeping the issue under review in the context of the normal assessment of the economic and budgetary position going forward. Any assessment must take into account that there are a range of uncertainties in any assumptions to be made, in particular whether on SSIA maturity, account holders continue to save the amounts in whole or in part and if not, the use to which these funds will be put.

Tax Code.

Michael Ring

Question:

14 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Finance the number of houses which qualify for section 19 relief as heritage homes open to the public; and the total value of tax refunded under this scheme. [12935/04]

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of houses that qualify for tax relief under section 482 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, formerly section 19 of Finance Act 1982 is 171. The most recent annual cost available is that for the tax year 2000-01 and is estimated at €2.7 million. The estimated cost of the relief from the tax year 1982-83 to the tax year 2000-01 inclusive is €14.7 million.

A list of properties that qualify for relief under section 482 is available on the Revenue website. This information is also available in booklet form, a new edition of which will be available shortly.

European Council Meetings.

Dan Boyle

Question:

15 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Finance the areas of agreement reached between the ECOFIN Ministers meeting at Punchestown, County Kildare. [12955/04]

Tom Hayes

Question:

46 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Finance the agenda items which will be discussed at the ECOFIN meeting planned for Ireland. [12867/04]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

50 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the outcome of the recent informal meeting of EU Finance and Economics Ministers held in Punchestown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12969/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 46 and 50 together.

The Council of Economics and Finance Ministers of the EU, widely known as ECOFIN, held an informal meeting on 3 April last in Punchestown, County Kildare. I chaired the meeting as part of the Irish Presidency of the EU.

The Ministers from the 25 member states of the enlarged EU were joined at the meeting by the Central Bank Governors from those states. The participants also included President Prodi of the Commission and Commissioners Solbes, Bolkestein and Schreyer, President Trichet of the European Central Bank and President Maystadt of the European Investment Bank.

The agenda for the meeting focused on: the future provisions for the EU budget for the post-2006 period, known as the financial perspective 2007-13; the EU's general economic situation and economic policy stance; IMF-World Bank spring meetings in Washington and; the current state of financial markets and further promotion of the financial services action plan to establish a single market in financial services in the EU.

As is the case with all informal meetings of the Council, no formal decisions were taken at Punchestown. The progress made on each issue was as follows. With regard to future EU financing in the period 2007-13, the meeting saw a very comprehensive debate on a range of topics. President Prodi and Commissioner Schreyer provided ECOFIN with additional insights into the Commission's recent Communication on the future direction of the Union and its ideas on funding requirements. There was a wide range of views expressed on the Commission's communication which envisages a substantial increase in the size of the EU budget. Some member states believe that the growth of the Union's budgetary spending should not exceed the growth of the Union's economy. Others could support a more rapid increase in the budget.

The Commission reiterated its view that the increase in spending which it envisages is essential if the Union is to meet its existing commitments, including the requirements arising from enlargement, and maintain the impetus of the overall political project. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for a first full exchange of views between Council Members and for the Commission to explain the basis for its approach in advance of its tabling of its formal legislative proposals in this area in July.

Ministers and governors then discussed the current economic situation in the EU. They agreed that the economies of Europe, which have been recovering tentatively up to now, should gather momentum over the course of 2004, helped by the global upturn and by the expected strengthening in domestic demand. Ministers and governors also discussed the longer term strategies that will boost Europe's capacity to grow. These priorities for structural reform will be at the heart of EU economic policy-making into the future. There was a full discussion about the EU Presidency speech to be used at the IMF-World Bank spring meetings in Washington.

Ministers and governors also discussed financial market conditions and the progress made in relation to the integration of financial services in the EU. They noted that the financial services action plan, FSAP, which aims to promote financial markets integration in the EU, had significantly enhanced the regulatory and supervisory framework for the European financial markets. This topic will be revisited by ECOFIN next month when it considers the broad outlines for a strategy for the further integration of Europe's financial markets in the wake of the current FSAP.

Commissioner Bolkestein briefed Ministers and governors on the state of play on negotiations on the two outstanding international accounting standards, IAS 32 and 39. Ministers acknowledged the importance of the project for convergence of accounting standards and asked for a further update on developments to be given to them at a future meeting. Ministers also discussed the post of managing director of the International Monetary Fund, to which Mr. Rodrigo Rato, the former Spanish Finance Minister, has since been nominated. Overall, the Council had a very productive meeting that made substantial progress on the important issues on its agenda.

Tax Yield.

Joan Burton

Question:

16 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Finance the main features of the Exchequer returns for the first quarter of 2004; the way in which spending and the tax take for the first quarter compares with the projected levels; if he intends to review any of the budgetary targets for 2004 in view of these returns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12967/04]

The full, detailed Exchequer statement is published on my Department's website each month. The Exchequer balance for the first quarter of 2004 showed a surplus of €272 million. The current account balance showed a surplus of €942 million, while the capital account balance showed a deficit of €670 million. Tax receipts, at €8,012 million, were 4.1 % ahead of the Department's tax profile published in January. Overall net voted spending, at €7,082 million, was 5.4% below the Department's spending profile.

The Deputy will be aware that the April Exchequer statement was published yesterday. The Exchequer balance for the first four months of 2004 showed a deficit of €1,338 million. My Department's budget day forecast is for a deficit of €2,806 million for the year as a whole.

Tax receipts to end-April, at €9,876 million, were 5.5% ahead of the Department's tax profile published in January. The bulk of the €515 million excess over target for the first four months was due to a better than expected performance from capital gains tax, CGT, and income tax which were €227 million and €167 million, respectively, above target. From 2003, the payment dates for CGT were changed to bring payment to a largely current year basis. The bringing forward of the payment date and an apparent increase in transactions liable to the tax resulted in significant CGT revenues in 2003. These effects carried through into the first quarter of 2004 resulting in the performance recorded. However, CGT receipts are already slowing down and are expected to return to a more normal pattern by the year's end. The greater part of the excess over target on income tax was in the non-PAYE tax area.

Of the other significant tax subheads, VAT, corporation tax and excise were marginally below target in the period to end-April. Overall net voted spending, at €9,703 million, was 5.7% below the Department's spending profile. Current expenditure was €231 million behind profile, while capital spending was €311 million below profile. While the performance of taxes to end-April 2004 may provide some basis for expecting that targets for the year might be met, it is too early at this stage to be definitive about the overall trend in receipts for the year as a whole. On the expenditure side, at this time there are no projected excesses or savings on the spending totals in the Revised Estimates and the Government remains fully committed to staying within its spending targets. Therefore, I am not reviewing the targets set at budget time at this stage.

Decentralisation Programme.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

17 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he has finalised discussions with the public service unions on the proposed centralised applications facility; if he has identified each of the locations at which an existing building is to be acquired; and the locations at which site purchase is proposed. [12928/04]

There have been ongoing discussions with the unions representing civil servants in a sub-committee of the Civil Service general council. These discussions commenced almost immediately after the budget announcement. In addition there have been a series of discussions with the ICTU group of unions representing staff in the State agencies. The central applications facility, CAF, will be launched next week. The terms under which the CAF will operate take account of the discussions held with the unions. It will be made clear in the CAF that there will have to be further discussions between management and staff interests about whether certain types of transfer requests can be facilitated and, if so, what conditions would apply, for example, where a person wishes to move from a State agency to the Civil Service or vice versa, or where a person wishes to transfer from one agency to another.

The Office of Public Works is currently assessing the proposals it has received for each of the locations. Most of the proposals are for the provision of sites but the potential to purchase existing buildings is still an option in a small number of locations. If a site is purchased, the move to the new location could take between two and three years: if an existing building is purchased the move could take place within a nine to 15 month timeframe.

Tax Yield.

John Bruton

Question:

18 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the total value of tax revenue collected from the purchase, registration and use of motor vehicles, distinguishing the amount collected under different tax headings. [12936/04]

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the relevant information available is the amount of tax revenues collected as VAT, excise and VRT in respect of motor vehicles. The latest provisional figures for 2003 in respect of the yield of VAT, excise and VRT from various commodities associated with motoring are shown in the following tables:

VAT Yield 2003

€ million (estimated)

Petrol

290

Auto Diesel

32

Motor Oil & LPG

2

Cars

431

Motor Cycles

6

Car Repairs

47

Car Accessories

26

Car Hire

12

Driving Instruction

5

Haulage

28

Total

879

Excise Duty 2003

€ million (estimated)

Petrol

854

Auto Diesel

703

Auto LPG

0.10

Total

1557.10

VRT 2003

€ million (estimated)

Cars

807

Motor Cycles

3

Car Derived Vans

7

Commercial Vehicles

3

Total

820

I am informed by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government that the revenue collected in motor tax during 2003 was approximately €680 million.

I have clarified with the Deputy that he is also interested in the revenue received from toll roads. VAT returns are not required to be compiled in a manner which identifies the yield from particular goods and services. However, the estimated VAT yield on toll roads for 2003 is €6 million. The Exchequer also receives an annual fee, known as the gross toll revenue, GTR, and this was estimated at €8 million for 2003.

Wage Levels.

Eamon Ryan

Question:

19 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the level of wage increases that can at present be sustained without adding to inflationary pressures. [12963/04]

All wage increases add inflationary pressures unless they are fully compensated by increases in productivity. Over the five years to 2003, economy-wide employee earnings rose by 37% in Ireland, compared to about 14% in the euro area. The impact on our international competitiveness of relatively higher pay increases in Ireland was cushioned to a large extent by the weakness of the euro. However, we are now faced with a much stronger euro. If we are to take advantage of international recovery then we must ensure that our competitive position is not harmed by any decisions we make in the current pay talks. We must ensure that we do not price ourselves out of the market. We must address our loss of competitiveness and face the challenges for investment and jobs that are, and will continue to be, posed by other countries with lower cost bases. Pay increases which are out of step with our trading partners will result in job losses. The lower inflation rates of recent times need to be reflected in the next pay agreement in a moderate level of increases.

Tax Settlements.

Liz McManus

Question:

20 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the most recent list of settlements announced by the Revenue Commissioners in Iris Oifigiúl on 19 March 2004. [12981/04]

The criteria governing the compilation and publication of lists of certain tax defaulters are set out in section 1086 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as amended. This section imposes an obligation on the Revenue Commissioners to publish in Iris Oifigiúil a list, within three months of the end of each quarter, of the name, address and occupation of every defaulter who falls within the relevant criteria.

I understand from the Revenue Commissioners that the audit settlements referred to in the question posed by the Deputy are where the Revenue Commissioners accepted a specified sum in excess of €12,700 in settlement of any additional liability for tax, interest and penalties instead of instituting proceedings for the recovery of the penalties and where: a voluntary disclosure was not made by the taxpayer prior to the commencement of an audit and the amount of fine or penalty included in the settlement exceeded 15% of the tax. In the three month period to 31 December 2003 there were 182 settlements in excess of €12,700 which fell to be published. The settlements in these cases total €25.20 million.

Of the 182 published settlements, the Revenue have advised me that 62 were for amounts exceeding €100,000. Included in this figure are eight settlements with a yield in excess of €500,000, four of which had a yield in excess of €1 million. Of the 182 settlements: 141 settlements totalling €22.25 million related to bogus non-resident holders; one settlement totalling €0.58 million related to an Ansbacher account holder; and one settlement totalling €0.11 million related to Revenue's NIB investigation.

The publication of the names of defaulters has been in operation for 21 years. I have introduced changes to make the impact of the lists more effective. In that time the monetary limit of £10,000, €12,700, has not been increased although the Revenue powers group has recommended that it be increased to €50,000. I will review this and other recommendations of the group in the context of Finance Bill 2005.

National Development Finance Agency.

Mary Upton

Question:

21 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Finance the number of capital projects which have been referred to the National Development Finance Agency; the number which have been approved; the percentage that have been funded by PPP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12994/04]

The role of the National Development Financing Agency is to advise Departments about the optimum means of financing the cost of capital projects in order to achieve value for money, including those procured through a PPP approach or through traditional procurement. Departments and agencies, which are the decision-making bodies, are obliged to seek the advice of the National Development Finance Agency in relation to all capital projects valued in excess of €20 million. For projects valued under that amount the advice of the agency may be sought but is not obligatory. The National Development Financing Agency does not have a project approval role.

I am advised by the agency, which was established just over one year ago, that it has completed or substantially completed its input on six major infrastructure projects with a combined value of over €700 million. To date, all but one of the six projects have been approved. Two of these projects are PPPs involving private finance of €470 million. As I mentioned in my budget 2004 speech in December last I have initiated a major change in the financial treatment of capital spending by introducing a system of five year multi-annual capital investment envelopes. These envelopes include a commitment to keep the level of Exchequer funded capital investment at close to 5% of GNP over the period 2004 to 2008. A significant development of these capital envelopes is the setting of specific targets for projects financed through public private partnership or by the NDFA. These targets increase from 3% of total spending in 2004 to 15% by 2008 and amount to €3.6 billion in total. This is in addition to a target of €1.3 billion for PPPs funded by user charges over the same period, giving a total target for PPP-NDFA funded investment of almost €5 billion by 2008. The NDFA will have an important role to play in advising Departments and agencies in regard to the optimum financing of these projects to achieve value for money.

Tax Code.

Jack Wall

Question:

22 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Finance the progress made by the Revenue Commissioners into allegations that tax improprieties may surround trust operations in a bank (details supplied) in Jersey; if the Revenue has reached a determination regarding whether these trusts facilitated tax evasion as distinct from tax avoidance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12985/04]

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that substantial progress has been made in relation to this inquiry. Arising from a voluntary disclosure initiative the Deputy will be aware that 254 individuals came forward and made voluntary disclosures and to date the Revenue Commissioners have recovered €105 million for the Exchequer. The current phase of this programme is to pursue those individuals who have failed to come forward. It is clear from some of the disclosures and the amount collected to date that some trusts were used to evade tax.

Decentralisation Programme.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

23 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance if, in regard to his decentralisation proposals, a survey has been carried out generally to establish the number of public servants willing to transfer to new locations; if not, if such a survey is planned; if the move will be voluntary and no public servant will suffer in regard to career options or promotional opportunities if they do not wish to move to a new location; if his attention has been drawn to the serious concern that has been expressed by various trade unions representing virtually all grades in the public service at the implication of the proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12973/04]

No central survey of civil and public servants has been carried out to date to ascertain the number seeking transfer to the decentralised locations. In accordance with the recommendations of the decentralisation implementation group, a central applications facility will be opened next week to receive applications from those willing to relocate. This facility will also provide information on the towns to which the organisations will transfer. As the Government has made clear from the outset participation in the programme is voluntary and any public servant not wishing to relocate will be offered an alternative public service post in Dublin. The same number of promotion opportunities will continue to exist across the public service but in the future will reflect the geographical spread of staff.

Since the budget announcement of the decentralisation programme regular discussions have been taking place not only with the Civil Service unions but also with the ICTU group of unions representing staff in the State agencies. These discussions will continue with a view to addressing the concerns of the unions in the ongoing implementation of the programme.

Evaluation Unit.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

24 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Finance his views on the proposal of an evaluation unit within his Department for independently evaluating capital projects as proposed by the ESRI. [12859/04]

The key responsibility for the evaluation, planning and execution of capital projects rests with line Departments and the relevant implementing agencies. My Department has a strong concern to promote the pursuit of optimal value for money by Departments and has provided guidance to Departments in this regard. This guidance is set out in the 1994 capital appraisal guidelines. My Department is currently drafting revised capital appraisal guidelines in the light of experience of the operation of the existing guidelines and of the implementation of infrastructure projects in recent years.

As regards the specific proposal to establish an evaluation unit in my Department, as I have advised previously, the NDP-CSF evaluation unit is an independent evaluation unit under the aegis of my Department which is co-financed by the Exchequer and the EU and has responsibility under the direction of the technical assistance monitoring committee for evaluation of the NDP operational programmes and related issues. It has engaged in, or overseen, a number of evaluations since the commencement of the current NDP, including the evaluation of investment in key capital programmes such as the road network and in public transport. The NDP-CSF evaluation unit has also been engaging with my Department in relation to the ongoing work on the revision of the capital appraisal guidelines.

My Department co-ordinates the expenditure review initiative under which Departments conduct internal evaluations or reviews of their key expenditure programmes or policy areas on the basis of centrally agreed criteria. Final responsibility for conducting reviews, submitting them for external quality assessment, disseminating their findings and implementing their recommendations rests with each individual Department. My Department also provides the secretariat to the expenditure review central steering committee, ERCSC, a committee chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and comprising a number of Secretaries General and an external expert. The ERCSC supports the expenditure review process at a strategic level. This includes making recommendations on future reforms to the process.

The issue of the evaluative capacity of my Department will be kept under review in the context of the arrangements for implementing the five year rolling capital envelopes framework which I announced in the 2004 budget, the ongoing work programme of the NDP-CSF evaluation unit and the ERI and the review of the capital appraisal guidelines.

Tax Code.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

25 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Finance his views on the desirability of capping the aggregate value of special tax reliefs which can be claimed by an individual. [12857/04]

Enda Kenny

Question:

80 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Finance his views on the desirability of capping the aggregate value of special tax reliefs which came be claimed by an individual. [12858/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 80 together.

There is no cap on the aggregate value of special tax reliefs which can be claimed by an individual. However, as the Deputies may be aware, in budget 1998 I announced, as and from 3 December 1997, that an annual cap of €31,750 would apply on the amount of capital allowances that an individual passive investor could claim against non-rental income in relation to capital expenditure incurred on certain industrial buildings. Any unrelieved capital allowances can be carried forward for offset against the individual's rental income. Industrial buildings such as factories, docks, hotels, etc., are affected by this provision as well as buildings under the area-based schemes such the urban, rural and town renewal schemes and a range of other schemes such as multi-storey car parks, private hospitals, etc. There is also a cap of €31,750 on the annual amount that can be claimed by individual investors under the business expansion scheme and as well as cap of €31,750 on the maximum annual amount that can be claimed in respect of a qualifying film under the scheme of relief for investment in films. In the case of the latter scheme, this is further restricted as only 80% of total investment is eligible for relief under the scheme.

In my response to the Dáil debate on the Second Stage of the 2004 Finance Bill, I referred to the fact that the special reliefs provide undoubted economic and social benefits. On the other hand, they narrow the tax base, have a cost, and inevitably are used by high earners to reduce their tax bill. A judgment must be made as to whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Imposing an overall cap on the aggregate value of special tax reliefs, other than the caps already applying to specific reliefs, which can be claimed by an individual could undermine the effectiveness of many incentive schemes in providing the economic and social benefits referred to above. However, as I have stated previously, I will be keeping the various tax reliefs under review in the context of annual budgets and Finance Bills.

Stability and Growth Pact.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

26 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Finance if the Irish Presidency has made progress towards the reform of the stability pact. [12895/04]

Ireland supports the stability and growth pact and during Ireland's Presidency of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council, ECOFIN, our priority is the continued implementation of the pact. In principle, I am in favour of introducing more flexibility into certain aspects of the pact. As of now, the general view among my colleagues in ECOFIN is that there should be a period of reflection, so that we can consider in a thoughtful and deliberate way how the EU economic governance system operates. We need to ensure that any proposed changes to the pact are developed on the basis of consensus, so that any reforms can command the broad level of support that is required.

The Commission is expected to bring forward, in the months ahead, its own initiative on improving economic governance in the EU, including proposals for improving the workings of the pact. I anticipate that this initiative will contribute to the ongoing deliberations on this matter.

International Monetary Fund.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

27 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Finance the reasons the Government supported the recent selection of a new managing director for the International Monetary Fund. [12956/04]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

42 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance the procedure whereby he nominated Rodrigo Rato for the vacancy of managing director of the International Monetary Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12998/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 42 together.

The representative of Ireland at the International Monetary Fund made the formal nomination of Senor Rato on behalf of the European Union. Following community wide consultation, the EU member states had decided that Senor Rodrigo Rato, the former Minister for Finance in Spain, would be the nomination of the European Union for the post of managing director of the IMF. I supported the nomination of Mr. Rato. Mr. Rato was also supported publicly by a number of non EU states, particularly from Latin America. The appointment of the managing director of the IMF is a matter for the board of the IMF. Yesterday, Senor Rodrigo Rato was formally appointed as managing director of the International Fund for a period of five years.

European Central Bank.

Joe Sherlock

Question:

28 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the decision of the Finance Ministers on 25 March 2004 to nominate a Spanish candidate to fill the vacancy on the board on the European Central Bank. [12970/04]

The decision on appointments to the executive board of the European Central Bank is taken by common accord of Heads of State or Government of euro area member states, on the basis of a recommendation of the ECOFIN Council. The European Parliament and the European Central Bank have to be consulted beforehand on the recommended candidate prior to the final decision by the Heads of State or Government.

Candidates for the executive board must be persons of recognised standing and professional experience in monetary or banking matters and nationals of member states. On this occasion there were three candidates nominated for consideration by the ECOFIN Council. Following consideration of the candidates, the Council reached a consensus on the person to be recommended, which was Mr. González-Páramo, a Spanish national.

The procedures leading to Mr. González-Páramo's appointment have now been completed and he will take up his post with effect from 1 June 2004, for an eight year term of office.

Ordnance Survey Posts.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

29 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Finance the number of posts in the Ordnance Survey which are proposed for decentralisation indicating the number with specialist technical qualifications; and the key issues which are being evaluated in the risk assessment process. [12930/04]

As I stated in my reply to Question No. 241 of 4 February 2004, there are approximately 200 posts in Ordnance Survey Ireland, OSI, which are to decentralise to Dungarvan. In accordance with the recommendations of the decentralisation implementation group the OSI is preparing a decentralisation implementation plan, including risk assessment and mitigation strategies. Currently, the organisation is assessing all of its posts with a view to determining their specialist nature, having regard to the business continuity requirements of the organisation.

EUROSTAT Proposals.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

30 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the implications of the proposals from EUROSTAT to change the method of calculation of the general Government balance; the way in which the forecast general Government balance for 2004, 2005 and 2006 would be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12991/04]

The EUROSTAT decision of 11 February 2004 gives guidance as to how public private partnership projects should impact on the general Government balance, GGB. The EUROSTAT decision means that an asset is off balance sheet and, therefore, does not affect the GGB upfront, provided the private sector partner carries the construction risk and carries either availability or demand risk. This means that some projects' costs previously included up-front in the GGB can now be treated as off the Government's balance sheet. Annual payments made by Government to the private operators of such public private partnership projects will impact on the GGB as they are made.

If a public private partnership project is on the Government's balance sheet, then the full construction costs count against the GGB upfront. The capital element of the subsequent annual payments by Government does not affect the GGB but the interest and service charge element does.

The fact that some public private partnership projects which hitherto were on balance sheet might now be off it does not in any sense obviate the need for value for money assessment of all public private partnership projects. Evaluation and value for money appraisal is just as important for projects involving annual payments as it is for other projects. The overall framework for the delivery of all public private partnership projects, involving annual payments, whether on or off balance sheet is the five year rolling multi-annual capital investment envelopes which I set out in the Budget Statement 2004.The multi-annual envelopes will be subject to review in budget 2005.

As regards specific budgetary impact the EUROSTAT decision will leadto a minor disimprovement in the 2004 budgetary arithmetic of about €2 million in respect of capital payments made by Government in relation to the bundle of schools public private partnership project. This arises because the capital costs which up to now were charged to the GGB upfront will now be a charge on the GGB over the life of the public private partnership agreement.

The general Government budgets for 2005 and 2006 had provided for more public private partnership projects impacting on the GGB upfront than is now likely to be the case. Under the EUROSTAT decision the GGB for 2005 and 2006 may improve by about 0.1% — €100 million to €150 million — or so, assuming that nothing else in the budgetary arithmetic changes, with these costs being spread over subsequent budgets.

Public Service Contracts.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

31 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Finance if he has received the results of the independent investigation into concerns expressed in relation to the procurement of certain goods and services by the OPW in connection with the EU Presidency; the main findings of the investigation; if it is intended to publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13002/04]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

51 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the position in regard to the investigation being carried out on behalf of his Department into the circumstances in which contracts were awarded by the Office of Public Works to a company (details supplied) whose managing director was a business associate of an OPW official; the main findings of the investigation; if it is intended to publish the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13001/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 51 together.

The report on the investigation into the matter to which the Deputy refers was presented to me on Tuesday, 4 May 2004. A copy of the report was made available to the Deputy on Wednesday, 5 May. I welcome the report and acknowledge the comprehensive work undertaken by PriceWaterhouse Coopers in compiling the report. I accept the findings of the review and I am committed to implementing, in full, the recommendations contained in the report.

State Revenues.

John Bruton

Question:

32 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the circumstances in which the provision of Article 11 of the Constitution have been used to exempt revenues of the State from inclusion in one central fund. [12822/04]

The central fund is provided for under Article 11 of the Constitution which states:

All revenues of the State from whatever source arising shall, subject to such exception as may be provided by law, form one fund, and shall be appropriated for the purposes and in the manner and subject to the charges and liabilities determined and imposed by law.

In general, State revenues, including tax revenue, non-tax revenue and Exchequer borrowing, are paid to the central fund, being paid first into accounts, for example, the accounts of the Revenue Commissioners, from which they are transferred to the central fund. However, in accordance with the provisions of Article 11, exceptions have been provided for over the years. Examples of such exceptions, along with the legislation which provides for them, include: appropriations-in-aid, section 2 of the Public Accounts and Charges Act 1891; the social insurance fund, Social Welfare Act 1952; the health levy, Health Contributions Act 1979; the capital services redemption account, Finance Act 1988; the tobacco excise levy, Appropriation Act 1999; the national pension reserve fund, National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000; the national training fund, National Training Fund Act 2000; the horse and greyhound racing fund, Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001; and the environment fund, Waste Management (Amendment) Act 2001.

Seirbhís Trí Ghaeilge.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

33 D’fhiafraigh Mr. O’Shea den Aire Airgeadais an bhfuil sé ar intinn aige ardú pá a thabhairt do státseirbhísigh atá in ann agus toilteanach seirbhís a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina leith. [12069/04]

Is í an scéim chomhréititgh agus eadrána don Státseirbhís an córas comhaontaithe caidreamh tionsclaíoch atá ann chun éilimh ar arduithe pá agus ar leasuithe ar choinníollacha státseirbhíseach a phlé. Níl aon éileamh ar luach saothair breise ann i láthair na huaire ó aon cheann de cheardchumainn na státseirbhíse dóibh siúd atá in ann agus toilteanach seirbhís a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge.

Bheinnse go mór in aghaidh aon íocaíochtaí breise le státseirbhísigh as gnó oifigiúil a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. Chomh maith leis sin ní bheadh éileamh ar íocaíochtaí dá leithéid ag teacht leis an gcomhaontú pá a ghabhann le Ag Coinneáil an Dul chun Cinn. Forálann an Comhaontú seo nach ndéanfaidh ceardchumainn ná fostaithe éilimh ar arduithe pá ná leasuithe ar choinníollacha fostaíochta a chuirfeadh le costais, lasmuigh d'arduithe a tharlaíonn faoin gcomhaontú.

Question No. 34 answered with QuestionNo. 9.

Tax Code.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

35 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if, in regard to the comments to the Committee of Public Accounts on 22 April 2004 by the Secretary General of his Department, he will outline the review it is proposed to take of the State’s tax incentive and exemption schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12977/04]

As the Deputy may know, tax based schemes are regularly reviewed and are invariably looked at in the context of the annual Budget Statement and Finance Bill process to ensure they continue to meet the purpose or purposes for which they were introduced. What the Secretary General said to the PAC was that it is important that data be improved to facilitate assessments of such expenditures and reliefs. In this context, my Department has been working closely with the Revenue Commissioners to investigate information and data capture issues arising with a view to producing possible solutions.

I am conscious that capturing additional information on tax return forms requires balancing the manner of obtaining the information with due regard to not overburdening compliant taxpayers and, bearing this in mind, the Revenue Commissioners will be introducing a number of changes to the forms relating to the annual return of income in respect of the tax year 2004 and to the P35 form which is returned to Revenue at end year with totals for earnings and deductions for each employee — in respect of the tax year 2005.

These changes will yield additional information regarding the cost of various tax reliefs and relief in relation to pensions. I included provisions in the Finance Act 2004 to underpin these changes. In addition the use of the Revenue on-line system, ROS, has been increasing and will continue to be encouraged. Returns filed in this way can readily accommodate information data capture in relation to tax reliefs being claimed without overburdening the taxpayer.

Detailed reviews of the costs and benefits of various tax reliefs are carried out from time to time. Examples of this are the reviews carried out on tax reliefs for urban renewal, films and the business expansion scheme.

Tax Collection.

Simon Coveney

Question:

36 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Finance his estimate of the total value of tax revenue collected from the sites, construction, sale and purchase adaptation, rental, repair and bequest of housing, distinguishing the amount collected under different tax headings. [12888/04]

I have been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the information furnished on tax returns does not, generally, require the yield from a particular sector or sub-sector of trade to be identified. Except for value added tax, VAT, and stamp duty, the amount of tax collected from the various activities specified in the question cannot be readily identified from the overall taxation yield. Accordingly, the specific information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in the form he requires.

In the case of stamp duty, the total collected from residential property in 2003 was €528 million. However, data is not collected in a manner which would allow for a more detailed breakdown of this yield. Stamp duty is also chargeable on transfers of sites at the appropriate rates for non-residential property but it is not possible to determine what proportion of the total stamp duty yield on non-residential property relates to site transfers.

In the case of the sale of a new house or apartment to a purchaser, VAT applies at the reduced rate of 13.5 % both on its construction and on the site, where these are connected contracts and is included in the final price of the property to the purchaser. No VAT applies in respect of the purchase of a second-hand house. The relevant information available in respect of VAT is the estimated yield. With regard to 2003, the VAT yield from the sale of new housing is estimated at approximately €1,250 million and the VAT yield from the maintenance andrepair to all housing is estimated at approximately €320 million.

With regard to inheritance tax, it is not possible to separately identify the yield relating to bequests of house property from within the overall tax yield. The net receipts associated with all inheritance tax was €131 million in 2003.

Capital Projects.

Gerard Murphy

Question:

37 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he has proposals to make the Departments and Ministers promoting capital projects shoulder greater responsibility for their delivery on time and within budget. [12881/04]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

58 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he has proposals to eliminate cost overruns on State contracts or procurements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12938/04]

Paul Nicholas Gogarty

Question:

72 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Finance the changes likely within his Department following the report of the Committee of Public Accounts on funding for a National Equestrian Centre at Punchestown, County Kildare. [12958/04]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

108 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which his Department approves or authorises project expenditure in other Departments or his own; if a particular sector or section within his Department has particular responsibilities in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13104/04]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

109 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the procedures applicable in respect of Government approval of State funded projects; the personnel whose approval is sought within the respective Department for such projects; and other checks or balances involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13105/04]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

111 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the procedures that are currently in place to prevent cost overruns on State funded projects, contracts or procurements and the sanctions applicable for non-compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13107/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 58, 72, 108, 109 and 111 together.

Primary responsibility for the evaluation, planning and execution of capital projects rests with line Departments and the relevant implementing agencies. Accounting officers in the relevent Departments are accountable to the Public Accounts Committee for expenditure under their Votes on such capital projects.

The Department of Finance's role is to agree with Departments, subject to the direction of the Government, the policy framework for capital programmes and projects, to make global provision for the resources required and to put in place best practice guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital projects. Line Departments and their agencies are primarily responsible for managing their programmes and projects within budget and in compliance with the policy framework and with guidelines laid down by my Department. In general therefore, most Departments have delegated sanction to execute projects. My Department has a role in relation to the sanctioning of resources for individual projects not covered by the delegated sanction given to line Departments or not within approved programme budgets. Line Departments in turn, generally act as the sanctioning authority for projects promoted by public bodies under their aegis.

In my 2004 Budget, I announced a number of initiatives aimed at achieving better value for money from infrastructural investment, in particular, the introduction of rolling five year multi annual capital envelopes and significant proposed changes in the area of public sector contracts for construction and construction related services. These initiatives seek to address the issues of improved project management and to reduce the potential for project costs overruns etc.

The Department of Finance is currently in the process of entering into framework agreements with each Department to underpin the capital envelopes. The framework agreements will, among other things, put a system in place to require Departments to report to management regularly on their capital projects, to carry out spot checks of projects to ensure compliance with the Department of Finance capital appraisal guidelines, and to report the findings of such spot checks annually to the Department of Finance.

The Department of Finance's 1994 capital appraisal guidelines are being reviewed and updated to complement the new capital framework agreements and to reflect recent developments. Both the framework agreements and the revised capital appraisal guidelines will take account of the report of the PAC referred to in Parliamentary Question No. 72.

Cost overruns can occur for a number of reasons. In the procurement of public sector construction contracts, national guidelines on best practice are set out in the Department of Finance's guidelines, Public Procurement — 1994 edition — green Book. As indicated above, I announced in broad outline in budget 2004, significant proposed changes in the area of public sector construction contracts to help reduce the scale and scope of cost over runs on public sector construction contracts. These will be advanced following the recent agreement on the principles involved at Government.

Voluntary Disclosure Scheme.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

38 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Finance the number of High Court orders sought to date by the Revenue Commissioners under the Finance Act 1999 to require financial institutions to supply names, addresses and other relevant information regarding holders of bogus accounts at the latest date for which figures are available; the number of cases in which orders have been granted; the general progress made to date in identifying the holders of such accounts who did not avail of the recent voluntary disclosure scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13003/04]

Authorised Revenue officers are empowered to make an application to a judge of the High Court seeking an order requiring financial institutions to supply names, addresses and other relevant information concerning account holders who may have held bogus non-resident deposit accounts. Such applications are made under section 908 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as amended by the Finance Act 1999.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that 18 applications for orders under section 908 have been made and have been granted. When one includes institutions which have been taken over or amalgamated with other institutions, these orders seek information in respect of accounts in 26 financial institutions. No further applications for such orders are pending in regard to the bogus non-resident account inquiries.

A large volume of information has been reported to Revenue under the High Court orders. Inquiry work in the examination of the first batch of taxpayers commenced on 11 October 2002. Further general issues of inquiry letters were made in January, May, July, September, October 2003 and January 2004. These general inquiry letter issues relate to 91,000 non-resident accounts that had Irish addresses connected to them. A total of 177,000 inquiry letters have been issued to taxpayers in respect of these non-resident accounts. The final general inquiry letter issue took place in January 2004.

While it is clear that Revenue is facing a long programme of investigations over a number of years, the Revenue Commissioners have informed me that they are satisfied that significant progress has been made in this the final phase of the investigations. Since 15 November 2001, payments of €285 million have been made to Revenue by taxpayers who held bogus non-resident accounts.

National Pension Reserve Fund.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

39 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered the approach advocated by the ESRI for the deployment of funds set aside for the National Pension Reserve Fund. [12862/04]

I am aware of various views expressed by individuals and institutions concerning the national pensions reserve fund, NPRF. The NPRF was established in April 2001 with the objective to meet as much as possible of the cost to the Exchequer of social welfare and public service pensions to be paid from the year 2025 until at least 2055. I have no plans to alter the basic levels at which contributions are made to the NPRF.

As explained in answers to other parliamentary questions on the National Pension Reserve Fund, I am committed to the investment mandate of the fund as set out in section 19 of the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000. This provides that, in investing fund moneys, the Commission shall seek to optimise total financial return provided the level of risk is acceptable to the Commission. Therefore the Commission is required to adopt a standard commercial investment policy and it does not have discretion to choose not to invest in particular sectors or companies for anything other than commercial reasons. Accordingly there is nothing to prevent the Commissioners from investing in projects in Ireland should they be satisfied that such investments are likely to yield a commercial return.

I note that the ESRI has stressed the importance of infrastructural spending. It should be clear that the Government is fully committed to the development of the national infrastructure. As I announced in my recent Budget Statement, the Government will implement multi-annual capital investment envelopes over the period 2004-2008, providing for investment of about 5% of GNP per annum, which is twice the EU average.

Report of Ansbacher Inspectors.

Seán Ryan

Question:

40 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons, companies and trusts being investigated by the Revenue Commissioners arising from the Ansbacher accounts at the latest date for which figures are available; the number of cases in which settlements have been agreed and the total amount paid to date; the number of cases still outstanding; if additional action has been taken by the Revenue Commissioners arising from the Report of the Ansbacher inspectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13004/04]

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that their Ansbacher review team has inquired into 289 cases to date and 72 of these cases have concluded settlements with Revenue. The 289 cases, taking account of spouses and connected companies, consist of 300 names. The 289 cases are made up of 179 cases listed on the High Court inspectors' report and 110 similar cases discovered by Revenue or listed on the authorised officer's report.

A total of 211 cases have been under active investigation. The remaining cases consist of 62 non-resident persons, including 17 former Irish residents, 12 individuals who claimed the 1993 amnesty provisions and four cases with insufficient identity information.

The investigation includes examining the tax position of disclosed entities and accumulating and assembling information on other connected entities. The number of connected entities in relation to cases under investigation is now nearly 700.

Revenue continues to make use of its legislative powers to seek books, records, documents and information in the cases being investigated. Where appropriate, prosecutions will be considered but these will depend on the level of evidence available. Revenue has made five successful applications to the High Court for the production by financial institutions and third parties of books, records and other documentation, which are relevant to liabilities of Ansbacher account holders. Some 150,000 documents have been received under the terms of the High Court orders. Advanced investigative computer software is used in controlling and managing the documentation.

To date a total of €42.15 million has been received, mostly by way of payments on account, in respect of 83 cases. This is made up of:

€million

Cases involving Ansbacher or Ansbacher type arrangements

73 Cases

34.43

Other cases involving offshore funds or deposits

10 Cases

7.72

Total

83 Cases

42.15

The 72 cases which have concluded settlements with Revenue consist of 37 cases which were settled on payments of €25.17 million, included in the amount above, 25 non-resident cases which are covered by the provisions of double taxation agreements, eight which had no additional liability and two which were covered by the 1993 amnesty provisions.

Revenue made an application under section 11 of the Companies Act 1990 for a copy of the High Court inspectors' report which was made available to Revenue on 6 July 2002. The information in this report has been carefully considered as regards the tax liabilities of the persons concerned. In addition, Revenue has made a further application to the High Court for access to the supporting papers to the High Court inspectors' report. The matter was heard by the High Court on 26, 27 and 28 November 2002 and judgment is reserved. Revenue have informed me that the investigations are time-consuming and complex and are likely to continue for some time to come.

Freedom of Information.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

41 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Finance the percentage of requests under the Freedom of Information Act which proceed to internal appeal in his Department; the way in which that percentage compares with the percentage in previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12993/04]

Emmet Stagg

Question:

52 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Finance the number of requests under the Freedom of Information Act received by his Department in the first quarter of 2004; the way in which this compares with the number of FOI requests received in a similar period in previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12992/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 52 together.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. It should be borne in mind that the number of FOI requests and internal reviews received in any specific period can vary due to a number of factors, including which issues are topical at a particular time. My Department is committed to providing an efficient and helpful response to FOI requests and to assisting the public with their information inquiries.

The percentage of FOI requests received by the Department of Finance that proceeded to internal review in 1998 to 2004 is as follows:

Year

Number of requests received by the Department

Internal Reviews received

Percentage of requests that went to Internal Review

%

1998

205

26

12.7

1999

349

32

9.2

2000

342

34

9.9

2001

326

30

9.2

2002

326

24

7.4

2003

305

34

11.1

2004 to end April

31

2

6.5

Total

1,884

182

9.7

Number of FOI requests received by the Department of Finance in the first quarter of 1999 to 2004.

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

January

38

39

22

30

36

5

February

31

35

24

31

53

11

March

11

29

35

29

71

8

Total First Quarter

80

103

81

90

160

24

Question No. 42 answered with QuestionNo. 27.

EU Funding.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

43 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the consideration of proposals from the EU Commission for financing of the EU in the post 2006 period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12988/04]

Damien English

Question:

49 Mr. English asked the Minister for Finance the impact on the net flow of funds between Ireland and the EU if the proposals of the Commission for a multi-annual framework for the EU budget were adopted; and Ireland’s key objective in negotiations surrounding this framework. [12877/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 49 together.

The Commission communication on the post-2006 financing of the European Union was published in February this year. Since then there have been preliminary discussions of the proposals set out by the Commission. The Irish Presidency has set in motion a detailed examination of the Commission's proposals with a view to preparing an analytical report in advance of the European Council next month.

In the past, Ireland has received large transfers from the Structural and Cohesion Funds. This generous support reflected Ireland's relatively low levels of prosperity compared to other member states. Ireland's economic progress in recent years has been spectacular. This enhanced prosperity will in time axiomatically lead to Ireland's moving from being a net beneficiary of the EU budget to being a net contributor. The great improvement in Ireland's prosperity means that we can expect less structural assistance from the EU. Indeed, this move has already commenced with the current Agenda 2000 agreement, covering the period 2000 to 2006, under which Ireland's southern and eastern region is in transition from full Objective One status.

Ireland has also exceeded the eligibility threshold for support from the Cohesion Fund and commitments from the Cohesion Fund ceased at the end of 2003. Ireland's increased prosperity also results in Ireland's bearing an increased role in the financing of the EU. It is important to emphasise that this evolution of Ireland's position would happen even without the recent enlargement of the European Union.

The relatively significant part of our economy engaged in agriculture means that large transfers from the Common Agricultural Policy, as renewed under the mid-term review last year, will support Irish agriculture for the foreseeable future.

The Commission's proposals, if agreed, would not change the fundamental direction in which Ireland's budgetary relationship with the EU is going. However, the extent and timing of Ireland's move to being a net contributor will be influenced by the outcome of the negotiations. Like all member states, Ireland will pursue the best possible outcome for itself in the context of what is the best outcome for the EU as a whole. Of particular interest to us will be to protect our substantial interests under the Common Agricultural Policy. We will also seek an acceptable and equitable outcome for Ireland with regard to future cohesion policy, particularly in respect of the BMW region. Ireland's approach will also be influenced by its prospective net contributor status and the need to keep our contributions at the level appropriate for the financing of agreed EU policies.

While we will pursue our own best interests, we also strongly support the need for convergence of the new member states in the interests of a strong and dynamic Europe. We appreciate therefore that the development needs of the new member states must be reflected in the new financial framework, which will underpin the success of the enlarged Union over the coming years.

Decentralisation Programme.

Eamon Gilmore

Question:

44 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Finance the number of civil servants, as distinct from public servants working in Dublin; the breakdown by headquarters offices and local offices; the number of Dublin based civil servants who have expressed an interest in decentralisation within their current Department; the number of Dublin based civil servants who have expressed an interest in decentralisation to another Department; the number of Dublin based civil servants who will move with their job to the proposed decentralisation location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12975/04]

The number of civil servants working in Dublin as at June 2003, the latest information available was 18,338. A breakdown of these staff by Department-office is set out below. It is not possible to accurately provide a further breakdown between staff attached to the headquarters of organisations and those serving a Dublin customer base. The central applications facility which will receive applications from civil and public servants to participate in the Government's decentralisation programme will not commence operation until next week and therefore it is not possible to state how many Dublin based civil servants will apply to move with their job to each of the decentralised locations.

Dublin Based Staff.

Department Title

Office Title

Wholetime Equivalent

Agriculture & Food

1,185.20

Arts, Sport & Tourism

425.7

Attorney General

110

Central Statistics Office

183.4

Chief State Solicitor

219.8

Civil Service Commission

156.9

Communications, Marine & Natural Resources

526.2

Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs

178.1

Comptroller & Auditor General

161.8

Courts Service

567.56

Defence

228.15

Director of Public Prosecutions

161.8

Education & Science

609.8

Enterprise, Trade & Employment

Head Office

957.8

Enterprise, Trade & Employment

Labour Relations Commission

34.5

Environment Heritage & Local Government

1,010.99

Finance

625.62

Foreign Affairs

Head Office

712.5

Foreign Affairs

International Co-Operation

93

Health & Children

612.66

Justice, Equality & Law Reform

Asylum Service

372.05

Justice, Equality & Law Reform

Data Protection Commissioner

16.6

Justice, Equality & Law Reform

Forensic Science Laboratory

57.4

Justice, Equality & Law Reform

Garda Civilians

441.2

Justice, Equality & Law Reform

Garda Complaints Board

19

Justice, Equality & Law Reform

Irish Prison Service

120.5

Justice, Equality & Law Reform

Land Registry

449.05

Justice, Equality & Law Reform

Office H.Q.

674.7

Justice, Equality & Law Reform

Probation and Welfare Service

235.9

National Gallery

31

Office of Public Works

457.23

Oireachtas

328.7

Ombudsman

80.3

President’s Establishment

18.5

Revenue Commissioners

3,292.08

Social & Family Affairs

Head Office

2,160.63

State Laboratory

93.9

Taoiseach

240

Transport

362

Valuation Office

125.3

Total

18,337.52

National Pension Reserve Fund.

Mary Upton

Question:

45 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Finance the reason, in view of the recent statement by the National Pension Reserve Fund that it has made €200 million available for participation in PPP projects but has as yet received no proposals, that Departments have failed to take up this opportunity to fund much needed projects. [12995/04]

The National Pension Reserve Fund is managed by commissioners who are independent of Government. They control and manage the fund with discretionary authority to determine and implement an investment strategy for the fund. This investment strategy is based on a commercial investment mandate with the objective of securing the optimal return over the long-term, having regard to the purpose of the fund as set out in section 18(1) of the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000, and the payment requirements of the fund as provided for under section 20 of the Act, provided the level of risk to the moneys held or invested is acceptable to the commission.

Section 19 of the National Pensions Reserve Fund Act 2000 provides that, in investing fund moneys, the commission shall seek to optimise total financial return provided the level of risk is acceptable to the commission. The commission is, as a result, required to adopt a standard commercial investment policy.

Question No. 46 answered with QuestionNo. 15.

Insurance Levy.

Gerard Murphy

Question:

47 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if it is planned to reduce or eliminate the insurance levy. [12864/04]

Dinny McGinley

Question:

71 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Finance if it is planned to reduce or eliminate the insurance levy. [12863/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 71 together.

I have no plans to reduce or eliminate this levy, which forms part of stamp duty receipts, and yielded about €100 million in 2003 and is forecast to yield a similar amount in 2004.

Tax Code.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

48 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the number of breaches of the Waiver of Certain Tax, Interest and Penalties Act 1993 detected in respect of each year since 1994; the number of prosecutions initiated and convictions secured arising from such detections; if he has satisfied himself that the law is being applied in the manner intended by the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12987/04]

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that there are two ways in which a taxpayer may have been in breach of the amnesty, first, in making a declaration under that Act he-she did not comply with the terms of the declaration or secondly a declaration was not made when it should have been made. I am informed that Revenue does not have figures for the number of breaches of the amnesty. Given the confidentiality conditions built into the 1993 amnesty legislation, such breaches are difficult to identify and prove. No individual has been successfully prosecuted to date for failure to comply with the obligatory provisions of the Waiver of Certain Tax, Interest and Penalties Act 1993.

Growing numbers of individuals and companies have been successfully prosecuted in recent years as a result of Revenue investigations, and although these investigations have in some instances involved consideration of possible amnesty breaches, it was not possible in any of them to obtain the evidence necessary to meet the required standards of beyond reasonable doubt, in relation to those offences. Revenue's criminal investigation programmes have been refocused recently with the establishment of an investigations and prosecutions division, one of whose functions is to increase the number of prosecutions for serious tax evasion. Where in the course of investigations, amnesty offences are identified they will be investigated with a view to taking a criminal prosecution.

Given the evidential difficulties which arise in successfully bringing a case through the courts for amnesty non-compliance, I am satisfied that the Revenue Commissioners are making every effort to ensure the law is being applied in the manner intended by the legislation as passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Question No. 49 answered with QuestionNo. 43.
Question No. 50 answered with QuestionNo. 15.
Question No. 51 answered with QuestionNo. 31.
Question No. 52 answered with QuestionNo. 41.

Decentralisation Programme.

John Gormley

Question:

53 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance the numbers of civil servants who have been working in Dublin and are now working in another location after his recent Budget Statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12961/04]

Immediately after the Budget announcement on decentralisation an implementation group was set up to drive the process forward. In its report to the Government on 31 March 2004, the implementation committee recommended the setting up of a central applications facility to receive all applications from civil and public servants to decentralise. This facility will be launched next week and, in the interim, no applications have been sought from civil or public servants for transfer. Consequently, no staff have yet been transferred out of Dublin under the programme to date.

Question No. 54 answered with QuestionNo. 9.

Central Bank Quarterly Review.

Brendan Howlin

Question:

55 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the Central Bank’s first quarterly review for 2004. [12978/04]

I can confirm to the Deputy that I have received the spring quarterly bulletin of the Central Bank and have taken note of its contents, in particular the economic forecasts. The Central Bank is forecasting GDP and GNP growth of 3¾% and 3¼% respectively this year. These forecasts are slightly higher than my own Department's budget day forecasts last December of 3.3% and 3%, for GDP and GNP respectively this year.

The bank forecast that inflation, as measured by the CPI, will average 2% this year. I very much welcome the continued moderation of the rate of inflation and the improved inflation outlook. I also agree with the bank that our competitiveness is a concern going forward, and that moderate pay increases are crucial if we are to improve our competitive position. However, I am confident that if we continue to manage our economy and public finances prudently we will continue to benefit from the emerging global economic recovery.

Tax Code.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

56 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date by the large cases division established within the Revenue Commissioners. [12980/04]

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the division was established last October. It is responsible for ensuring the highest possible level of tax and customs compliance by 340 of the largest business enterprises. This means firms with an annual turnover in excess of €125 million. The division is also responsible for 250 of the wealthiest individual taxpayers or those with an estimated net worth in excess of €125 million. It also deals with the entire financial services sector. Business units have been built around the main economic sectors and high wealth individuals and two further specialist units concentrate on counter-avoidance work.

The division operates a two-pronged strategy to ensure compliance. This involves audit and control programmes based on assessment of the risks in any area of tax or customs. There is also direct contact with the management of large businesses to encourage and support high compliance practices. An explanation is giving on the downsides of non-compliance in terms of interest, penalties, publication and potential prosecution.

To date the division has written to all its large businesses and wealthy individuals explaining its strategy. It has met senior management of around 150 businesses as part of a programme that will involve meeting them all over the next year. Bilateral meetings have taken place with the main accountancy or tax advisory firms that deal with large businesses. Recently a seminar was held for the accountants or tax advisors.

Contact persons have been assigned to all of the large businesses and wealthy individuals and they are now working with them. This is to help ensure the growth in Revenue of knowledge of these businesses and of their sectors to allow greater understanding of the main risk areas. The office want to ensure that the taxpayer and the tax advisor's interpretation of tax, customs law and practice corresponds with its interpretation

Profiles of the risks associated with each tax and with customs have beet compiled. At present profiles of the business sectors, businesses and individuals, including risk profiles, are being assembled to ensure that the audit programmes are directed at the areas of highest risk.

Substantial training and retraining of the division's staff has been under way for some months. They are being equipped to deal with the business and technical complexities presented by large taxpayers across the entire range of taxes, duties and customs. The training includes specialised training in computer auditing and forensic auditing.

Audit and control programmes are under way in all the business units. They focus on issues associated with the risk areas identified.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

57 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Finance the response received to date by the Revenue Commissioners to the letters sent by ten top banks to 120,000 customers warning them to regularise their tax affairs by the end of March; the number of responses received; and the amount collected to date. [12979/04]

Liz McManus

Question:

81 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date by the offshore assets group of the Revenue Commissioners in their investigations into the use, for the purposes of tax evasion, of offshore bank accounts and trusts by Irish residents; the total number of such funds identified to date; and the total amount of tax collected in respect of these accounts. [12982/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 81 together.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that substantial progress is being made in the inquiry. Arising from an earlier part of the inquiry 254 individuals with trust operations in a particular offshore institution came forward, made voluntary disclosures and to date have paid €105 million. Subsequently 1,300 individuals with accounts in another offshore institution came forward, made voluntary disclosures and paid €45 million to date.

Last December, following these disclosures, the chairman of the Revenue Commissioners met the chief executive officers of the ten main Irish financial institutions who have offshore subsidiaries or branches. They agreed to co-operate with Revenue in a major initiative to tackle tax evasion by Irish residents using offshore accounts and structures.

The financial institutions arranged to notify their customers that the investigation would commence on 29 March 2004. Accordingly, they were advised that if a customer was in a default position they should ask them to avail of the opportunity to make a voluntary disclosure prior to the commencement of the formal investigation.

By the time the deadline was reached in excess of 15,000 individuals indicated that they would make a disclosure. The voluntary disclosure programme allows taxpayers a further 60 days to compute their liability and to make a payment. Therefore, payments on foot of these disclosures will be made in the period up to 28 May 2004.

From January 2003 to date payments of about €206 million, inclusive of the amounts referred to earlier, have been made in connection with inquiries into offshore assets.

Question No. 58 answered with QuestionNo. 37.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

59 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Finance the progress that has been made by the Revenue Commissioners in their discussions with the Portuguese authorities with a view to closing off a tax loophole that allows those who sell off assets here to avoid tax by taking up residence in such countries as Portugal. [12983/04]

In response to earlier parliamentary questions on the matter I stated that a first round of negotiations between the authorities in Portugal and the Revenue Commissioners for a protocol to amend certain provisions of the Ireland-Portugal double taxation convention was held in Lisbon last May. A further round of negotiations was rescheduled twice. Unfortunately, the negotiations had to be deferred until the week commencing 10 May 2004 as the Portuguese delegation was not available to travel to Dublin on the previous dates. It is not possible at this stage of the negotiations to comment further on their likely outcome.

As I also mentioned in my previous replies to questions on the matter, section 69 of the Finance Act 2003 amended Irish domestic law to impose a charge to capital gains tax on an individual in respect of a deemed disposal of certain assets on the last day of the last year of assessment for which the individual is taxable in the State. This is prior to becoming taxable elsewhere and where the individual disposes of these assets while resident outside the State and returns within five years. I announced this anti-avoidance measure in my 2003 budget on 4 December 2002 with effect from that date.

Freedom of Information.

Eamon Ryan

Question:

60 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Finance the number of freedom of information requests made to the information commissioner on an annual basis since 1997. [12962/04]

The number requests received by the Office of the Information Commissioner on an annual basis since 1997 are as follows: 1997 — 0; 1998 — 3; 1999 — 5; 2000 — 8; 2001 — 9; 2002 — 3; 2003 — 11; and 2004 — 3 to date.

Decentralisation Programme.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

61 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the first report of the group (details supplied) to oversee the decentralisation programme. [12974/04]

The decentralisation implementation group was appointed immediately after the 2004 budget to move the decentralisation programme forward. It delivered its first report on 31 March. The full text of the report is available on the decentralisation homepage of my Department's website www.finance.gov.ie

The Government considered its contents and has accepted all of the recommendations. Work is already progressing on them. The group will deliver a further report to Government at the end of July.

Freedom of Information.

Willie Penrose

Question:

62 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date with regard to efforts to clear the backlog of appeals in the Office of the Information Commissioner; and the number of appeals outstanding at the latest date for which figures are available and the average time being taken to hear an appeal. [12999/04]

The Office of the Information Commissioner supplied my Department with the following information.

Number of valid review applications increased by 58% between 2002 and 2003 from 585 to 924. There were 729 completed reviews during 2003, compared to 534 cases in 2002, an increase of 37%.

Year

No. of Review Applications Received

1999

6

2000

62

2001

81

2002

143

2003

437

2004

Total

729 completed reviews during 2003

Date

Valid Reviews

% increase on previous year

31 January 2004

796

up 28%

31 January 2003

622

Year

No. of Cases Received

1999

2

2000

19

2001

182

2002

130

2003

451

2004

12

Total

796 cases on hand on 31 January 2004

At present figures on the average time taken to conclude reviews or appeals are not available. The commissioner is dealing with applications and older cases, including some applications received in 2000. She hopes to give more details on case completion timescales in her annual report for 2003.

Fiscal Policy.

Denis Naughten

Question:

63 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to introduce new procedures for the presentation of proposals for spending and taxation in Dáil Éireann that would be more meaningful and more timely. [12861/04]

Damien English

Question:

76 Mr. English asked the Minister for Finance if he plans to introduce new procedures for the presentation of proposals for spending and taxation in Dáil Éireann. [12860/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 76 together.

The Government's spending proposals are outlined in the two Estimates Volumes presented to Dáil Éireann in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Dáil. I normally present the pre-budget or Abridged Estimates Volume to Dáil Éireann approximately two weeks before budget day. The post-budget or Revised Estimates Volume is normally presented to the Dáil within eight weeks of the start of the fiscal year to which it relates. The Estimates by departmental Vote are then subject to scrutiny and approval by the relevant Oireachtas committee.

The financial statement on budget day outlines the main taxation measures proposed. The details are contained in the accompanying budget book that is distributed to Members on budget day. I presented my first budget, 1998, on the first Wednesday in December so that the details were announced before the start of the fiscal year. I continued the practice for the following six budgets. The budget and Finance Bill debates provide the House with an opportunity to give its views on these measures.

I do not have any plans to amend the arrangements. Some reforms were introduced and ongoing considerations are under way that are of relevance to these questions.

In my Budget Statement on 3 December 2003 I announced a major change in the financial treatment of capital spending through the introduction of rolling five year multi-annual capital envelopes. In implementing the new envelope system, Departments can carry over to the following year, subject to Dáil approval, any unused Exchequer capital allocations up to a maximum of 10% of each year's voted capital allocation.

The capital envelopes, including the carryover arrangement, lead to improvements in the management of capital programmes and changes in the presentation of voted capital moneys to the Dáil. The Finance Act 2004 made provision for the new carryover arrangement. Under the new arrangements, as envisaged in the Finance Act, the Dáil will be apprised of the amounts to be carried over in the AEV. It will be asked to approve the amounts on three separate occasions: the Appropriation Act of the carryover year; a ministerial order that must be approved by the Dáil in the following year; and in the REV of the following year. The 2004 public capital programme included material on the multi-annual capital envelopes and more project level information on major capital projects.

Changes by way of tidying up or rationalisation of subheads and Votes have been made in the REV in recent years in consultation, as appropriate, with the Committee of Public Accounts. The 2004 REV contained a revised presentation of the subheads in the Vote for the Department of Agriculture and Food so that the Vote better reflects its main goals outlined in its strategy statement. It also facilitates a match between the subheads of the Vote and the main programmes or strategic areas of the Department.

Work is ongoing on a pilot project, under the aegis of my Department, involving the Departments of Agriculture and Food, Social and Family Affairs and Transport. Its purpose is to examine ways of improving the links between departmental strategy statements, business planning and resource allocation and performance measurement. The results will be evaluated and consideration will be given to whether the approach should be mainstreamed across Departments. If it is considered that the pilot project should be further developed and mainstreamed, I will bring proposals to Government and, if approved, to the Committee of Public Accounts.

Tax Information Exchange Agreement.

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

64 Ms B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date with regard to the negotiations between the Revenue Commissioners and the authorities in the Cayman Islands with a view to the conclusion of a tax information exchange agreement. [12984/04]

In response to a parliamentary question on 23 March I stated that first round negotiations between the Cayman Islands authorities and the Revenue Commissioners for a tax information exchange agreement were held in Dublin on 24 November 2003. A second round of negotiations took place on 7 April 2004. A date has not yet been fixed for a further round of negotiations. At this stage it is not possible to comment on their outcome.

Question No. 65 answered with QuestionNo. 9.

Tax Collection.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

66 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Finance the progress made by his Department and the Revenue Commissioners in their consideration of the recommendations of the Revenue Powers Group; and when he expects a decision will be made on its recommendations. [12986/04]

I established the group and it is chaired by Mr. Justice Frank Murphy. It must examine Revenue's main statutory powers and report any necessary changes to me. As I have pointed out to Deputies in my response to several parliamentary questions on the group over the past few months, I have decided to allow a period for debate and public reflection on the many and varied issues with which the report deals. I published the group's report on 4 February in order to facilitate such a debate.

I implemented one of the group's recommendations in this year's Finance Bill, the power to allow Revenue access to information held by a non-resident entity over which a domestic financial institution has control. The matter would have arisen anyway. I will review all of the group's recommendations for next year's Finance Bill.

My Department and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners are examining the contents of the report. Given my view that these issues should be considered it is not appropriate to comment on the recommendations.

Special Savings Incentive Scheme.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

67 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on the special savings investment accounts. [12964/04]

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

70 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the number of SSIAs opened at the latest date for which figures are available; the average amount of savings per investor per month; and the likely cost to the Exchequer of the scheme on the basis of such figures. [13000/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 70 together.

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, based on the analysis of the 2003 returns and declarations furnished to date by all qualifying savings managers, the total number of active accounts at 31 December 2003 was 1,113,317. The average monthly subscription at that date was €165. Revisions may be necessary if amendments are received at a later date.

It is not possible to give a definitive answer as to the eventual cost of the scheme as it is subject to a number of variables such as participants dying, withdrawing from the scheme or varying their monthly contributions. The cost of the scheme in 2003 was €531.9 million. If the current average monthly payment for the first four months of 2004 continues for a full year the annual cost in 2004 will be approximately €540 million. It is not a conclusive figure and the final figure may be different if account holders change their monthly contributions. The total gross cost for the period will be reduced by the exit tax to be received at the end.

Tax Harmonisation.

Bernard Allen

Question:

68 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Finance his views on the proposal by the French Finance Minister to harmonise corporation taxes among some member states under the enhanced co-operation provision of the EU treaties. [12866/04]

As I said in my reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 15 and 46 on 23 March, the Commission issued a communication in 2001 setting out its twin track approach in the company taxation area as follows: targeting particular obstacles in the short to medium term by taking a direct approach to each of the issues and finding a specific answer to the problem; and adopting a long-term comprehensive measure, a common consolidated corporate tax base for companies for their EU-wide activities. The Commission made it clear that this did not involve harmonising rates.

In November 2003 the Commission updated its position with a communication entitled An Internal Market without company tax obstacles — achievements, ongoing initiatives and remaining challenges. The common consolidated tax base was discussed at EU conferences and was the subject of a Commission consultation paper.

Ireland does not see the Commission's proposals for a common consolidated base as an appropriate way forward. We support efforts to eliminate unfair business tax practices within the EU and the removal of barriers to cross-border trade and business.

It is now suggested that member states who favour the common consolidated corporate tax base should proceed under enhanced co-operation. Ireland would not favour such a course of action. However, it is a matter for each member state to decide on whether to participate in an enhanced co-operation procedure. Ireland does not intend to do so. It has not been established that we are in a position of last resort where the adoption of enhanced co-operation would be appropriate.

Ireland's opposition to the harmonisation of corporation tax is well known and clear. It is important that the tax rights of member states are retained at the national level.

Decentralisation Programme.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

69 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if a report on leases of public service units proposed for removal from Dublin was considered as part of the decision on decentralisation. [12865/04]

At present the State rents 200,000 sq. m. of office space in the Dublin area at a cost of €70 million per annum. It also uses 230,000 sq. m. of State owned office accommodation in Dublin.

Under the decentralisation programme in excess of 200,000 sq. m. of office accommodation will be required in the regions for staff leaving Dublin. As a result an equivalent amount of space will no longer be required in the Dublin area.

The issues surrounding the disposal of surplus Dublin space, both owned and leased, are being addressed. The following considerations will be taken into account: the specific circumstances associated with each building including location, quality and design, tenure, office area and whether its leasehold or freehold; the relocation of Departments or offices within the Dublin portfolio with a view to the optimum consolidation of Dublin office space; and the timing of property disposals. The market value of a building can be greatly affected by prevailing market conditions, including a significant influx of properties to the market

Question No. 70 answered with QuestionNo. 67.
Question No. 71 answered with QuestionNo. 47.
Question No. 72 answered with QuestionNo. 37.

Dan Boyle

Question:

73 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Finance the number of Government offices that have already been relocated outside of Dublin. [12954/04]

The following tabular statement gives details of Civil Service offices relocated during previous phases of the Government's decentralisation programme. It excludes local offices of various State agencies that exist to serve a local customer base in a particular county or region.

List of Previously Decentralised Offices.

Department

Department-Agency

Centre

Agriculture and Food

Department

Cavan

Department

Castlebar

Department

Wexford

Department

Portlaoise

Communications, Marine and Natural Resources

Department

Castlebar

Department

Galway

Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Department

Furbo

Defence

Department

Galway

Education and Science

Department

Athlone

Department

Tullamore

Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Patents Office

Kilkenny

Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Department

Ballina

Department

Shannon

Wexford

Finance

Office of Public Works

Kilkenny

Revenue Commissioners

Ennis

Revenue Commissioners

Limerick

Revenue Commissioners

Nenagh

Revenue Commissioners

Dundalk

Revenue Commissioners

Rosslare

Foreign Affairs

Department

Cork city

Health and Children

General Registration Office

Roscommon

Clane, Kildare

Naas

Cork

Cork

Justice

Department Land Registry

Killarney

Legal Aid Board

Waterford

Cahirciveen

Social and Family Affairs

Department

Letterkenny

Department

Longford

Department

Sligo

Taoiseach

Central Statistics Office

Cork city

Transport

Driver Licensing & Testing

Ballina

Disabled Drivers.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

74 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance when he expects to act on the recommendations contained in the interdepartmental report on the disabled drivers and disabled passengers tax concessions regulations 1994 which is currently before his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12939/04]

As I have said in a reply to a previous parliamentary question, the interdepartmental report of the review group on the disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme is under consideration in my Department. The report is a substantive one and needs to be studied carefully. On completion of this process, I envisage that the report will be made available publicly.

As the Deputy may be aware, in the context of debate in the Dáil on the Finance Bill, 2004, I stated that I intended that the report would go to Government and would be published this year.

Tax Clearance Certificates.

Seán Ryan

Question:

75 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Finance if he has concluded his consideration of correspondence received from the Standards in Public Office Commission drawing his attention to limitations in the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995, arising from consideration of a case (details supplied); if he has decided on the steps to be taken to address the issues raised by the Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12990/04]

As I informed the House in previous replies on this matter, it was suggested to me by the Standards in Public Commission — the Commission — in December 2003 that consideration be given to amending section 21(4) of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 to provide the Commission with additional powers of investigation in relation to evidence of compliance with the Tax Acts provided to it by Members of each House under that section. Such evidence must be supplied to the Commission in the form of a tax clearance certificate and a statutory declaration within certain time periods either side of the Member's election.

The Commission's suggestion raised a number of broad and complex issues relating to the functions of the Revenue Commissioners and in particular to information obtained in the course of an investigation that may already have been undertaken by the Revenue Commissioners on the tax affairs of an individual concerned.

Having had regard to these considerations, I do not anticipate bringing forward legislation to amend section 21(4) in line with the suggestion made to me by the Commission at this time. However, the suggestion from the Commission will be kept under review in the context of further experience of the operation of the Standards in Public Office Act 2001.

The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is considering, in consultation with my Department, a separate suggestion made by the Commission for possible amendment of the Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act 1851 relating to the timescale within which a possible offence under section 6 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1938 could be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Question No. 76 answered with QuestionNo. 63.

Official Engagements.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

77 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance if he will report on his participation in the special high level meeting of ECOSOC with the Bretton Woods Institutions and the World Trade Organisation at New York on 26 April 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12996/04]

On behalf of the European Union member states I made a speech to the ECOSOC high level dialogue meeting in the United Nations on Monday 26 April. This meeting with the Bretton Woods Institutions and the World Trade Organisation was held one day after the spring meetings of the IMF and the World Bank in Washington. The speech was prepared in consultation with our EU colleagues and it covered a number of issues. In particular, it dealt with the millennium development goals and the concern of the European Union about the situation in sub-Saharan Africa.

Tax Collection.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

78 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons, companies and trusts being investigated by the Revenue Commissioners arising from the Clerical Medical Insurance-NIB inquiry at the latest date for which figures are available; the number of cases in which settlements have been agreed and the total amount paid to date; the number of cases still outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13005/04]

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that arising from the Clerical Medical Insurance-NIB inquiry, 452 cases have been targeted for investigation. To date, 287 cases have been settled on payment of tax, interest and penalties amounting to a total of €44.46 million. A further 111 cases have been finalised with no additional liability arising. The remaining 54 cases are the subject of ongoing investigation, in respect of which €4.58 million has been paid on account.

In the course of 2003, three cases were prosecuted, with fines being imposed in two cases and a suspended sentence imposed in the other. The individuals concerned have also settled their tax affairs and paid the outstanding tax, together with interest and penalties. A further case is currently under investigation with a view to prosecution.

Aggregate results of the ongoing investigations have been published each year since 1998 in the annual reports of the Revenue Commissioners. Individual details of settlements have also been published where the provisions of section 1086 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 applied.

Interdepartmental Committees.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

79 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance when the tax strategy group last met; its programme of work for the remainder of 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12997/04]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

103 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance when the tax strategy group last met; its programme of work for the remainder of 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13099/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 103 together.

The tax strategy group is an interdepartmental committee chaired by the Department of Finance, with membership comprising senior officials and advisers from the Departments of Finance, Taoiseach, Enterprise Trade and Employment, Social Community and Family Affairs and the Revenue Commissioners.

The precise terms of reference of the group are: to examine and develop proposals for measures in the areas of taxation, PRSI and levies, for the budget and Finance Bill within agreed Government parameters for the overall budget position and in the context of the framework of a medium-term and longer-term strategy set out in the Government's programme, and to examine the strategic approach for a general social welfare package and to assess the interaction of income tax-PRSI-levies proposals with social welfare proposals including child income support, and in particular the impact of this interaction on the labour market and income distribution.

Under its terms of reference, the group will be examining, over the course of the coming year, a range of issues, with a particular focus on budget 2005 and the subsequent finance Bill and social welfare Bill.

Many of the past policy papers and minutes of the meetings of the group can be found on the Department's website, www.finance.gov.ie. It is intended that further documents relating to the budget and Finance Bill 2004 will be made available this month.

Question No. 80 answered with QuestionNo. 25.
Question No. 81 answered with QuestionNo. 57.

Tax Code.

Michael D. Higgins

Question:

82 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Finance if he intends to introduce new procedures to ensure that Irish citizens claiming residency abroad for tax purposes comply with the requirement to be out of Ireland for a minimum of 183 days; if the large cases division of the Revenue Commissioners is putting together recommendations as to the way in which to best monitor the situation in regard to those who claim residency abroad for tax purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12976/04]

The administration of the validation procedures for claims of non-residency is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners and I am informed by them that these procedures are kept under constant review.

John Gormley

Question:

83 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Finance the number of tax expenditure currently made available; the estimated annual tax foregone from each measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12960/04]

I presume the Deputy when referring to tax expenditures means certain provisions that represent spending within the tax code, for example, the homecarers' credit, but not to those which are part of the structure of the income tax system, such as the personal tax credits.

Tax expenditures and tax reliefs are spread through the tax system and are found under all tax headings, including income tax and corporation tax, the capital taxes and the indirect taxes. The number is dependent on the interpretation of what constitutes a tax expenditure. A wide definition would be that it is a provision that reduces or eliminates the tax due to be paid in certain circumstances and there are very many examples of these in the tax code. An example might be the exemption from capital gains tax which is granted to transfers of assets between spouses. A narrower definition would be a tax provision which has a clear public policy aim separate from the tax system and that there could be alternative measures for promoting this aim such as grants, an example here might be the business expansion or film relief schemes.

The following table which details major tax incentives-expenditures, that is, those where estimates can be made and are estimated to cost in excess of €20 million per year, under the headings: provisions; numbers benefiting; cost — € million — per annum; and year to which the costing refers. Each figure represents the reduction in tax liabilities arising from the existence of the tax incentives-expenditures and should not be regarded as the yield that would be secured should the tax incentives-expenditures be withdrawn. I draw the Deputy's attention to the footnotes to the table, which are important.

In addition, I refer the Deputy to table IT6 on page 63 of the most recent Revenue statistical report for 2002 which sets out the cost of income tax and corporation tax allowances and reliefs for the tax years 1999-2000 and 2000-01, the most recent for which data are available. It is available to be downloaded from the website of theOffice of the Revenue Commissioners at www.revenue.ie/publications/corppubs/anreports.htm. Due to the substantial number of footnotes I regret that this table cannot be reproduced in this reply.

The Deputy may also be aware that the Revenue Commissioners will be introducing a number of changes to the forms relating to the annual return of income by PAYE and self-employed individuals and companies in respect of 2004 as well as to the P35 form, which is returned to Revenue by employers at end year with totals for earnings and deductions for each employee, in respect of the tax year 2005. The changes to the return of income forms will, over time, yield additional information regarding the cost of various tax reliefs particularly in the area of capital allowances. The P35 return will supply additional data concerning tax relief on pensions. To underpin this work, the Finance Act 2004 made legislative changes to require an employer to provide the aggregate pension data sought on the P35 form and which will mean that if a taxpayer declines to fill in the additional sections of the return of income form, they will be liable to the usual surcharge and penalties for making an incomplete return.

Tax-based schemes are kept under constant review, especially in the context of the annual Budget Statement and Finance Bill process, to ensure they continue to meet the purpose or purposes for which they were introduced.

Major Tax Incentives-Expenditures.

Numbers benefiting

Estimated Cost (€ million)

Year of Costing

Notes

Corporate

Capital Allowances (includes business capital allowances and capital allowances to incentivise certain behaviour such as urban and rural renewal)

n/a

1,720

2000/01

(1)

Group Relief

1,789

337

2000/01

Resort Relief

n/a

106*

2000

(2)

Pensions/Savings

Exemption of the Income of Approved Superannuation Funds (Net of Pension Payments)

n/a

1,292*

2000/01

(3)

Employers’ Contributions to Approved Superannuation Schemes

n/a

645*

2000/01

Employees’ Contributions to Approved Superannuation Schemes

n/a

472*

2000/01

Special Savings Investment Accounts

1,143,400

433

2002

(4)

Retirement Annuity Premiums by Self-Employed

109,300

205

2000/01

Pension Lump Sums

n/a

124

2000/01

(3) (5)

Exemption of Interest on Savings Certificates, National Instalment-Savings and Index-Linked Savings Bonds

n/a

124

2000/01

Personal

Child Benefit — exemption from income tax

730,000

315*

2003

Loans relating to principal private residence — interest relief

488,400

211

2003

Relief in respect of Medical Insurance Premiums

600,000

192

2003

Expenses allowable to Employees under Schedule E (work related)

845,500

61

2000/01

Health Expenses Relief

107,800

41

2000/01

Rented Residential Accommodation

n/a

28*

2000/01

Investment in Corporate Trades (BES)

n/a

17

2000/01

(6)

Investment in Films

n/a

29

2000/01

(7)

Capital Taxes

Principal Private Residence — CGT exemption

n/a

1322

2002

(8)

Stamp Duty Relief for new homes

n/a

112

2001

Indirect Tax

Exemption from CGT on occasion of Death

n/a

47

2002

(8)

Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Tax Concessions

7,500

38

2002

(9)

Farm Buildings and Land (VAT Refund)

n/a

31

2002

Excise relief for local public transport vehicles

n/a

20

2002

Other Income Tax

Exemption of income of Charities, Colleges, Hospitals, Schools, Friendly Societies etc.

n/a

34

2000/01

(10)

Artists Relief

1,200

37

2000/01

Donations to Charitable Organisations

n/a

13

2000/01

Relief under Profit Sharing Schemes

n/a

31*

2000/01

NOTES ON TABLE
Figures accompanied by an asterisk * are particularly tentative and subject to a considerable margin of error.
(1) The cost shown for capital allowances does not include any cost associated with unused capital allowances, that is, capital allowances which are not absorbed by a company in the accounting period in which they arise because they exceed the amount of the company's profits of that accounting period and which are available for offset. Unused capital allowances can be offset as losses against taxable profits arising in the previous accounting period and against certain profits arising in future accounting periods and can be offset against the profits of another company in the same group of companies. Approximately, €2,270 million of unused capital allowances were claimed for carry forward in respect of 1999-2000 accounting periods but as the proportion of this item which is included in previous years losses and in group relief is not separately identifiable a reliable estimate of the cost of the capital allowance element cannot be provided.
There are no statistics available on urban renewal for 1999-2000 because Revenue figures on urban renewal are merged with figures for other reliefs under existing computer codes and the urban renewal segment is not distinguishable. However, an exercise was done to estimate the urban renewal element. Based on 1998-99 figures the urban renewal element of the total capital allowances figure of €1,406 million was estimated to be €68 million. This cost represents a tentative estimate of the cost of capital allowances derived from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government's estimates of expenditure on new construction and refurbishment projects for urban renewal. These statistics do not include any estimate in relation to seaside resorts, island resorts, Custom House Docks and certain Temple Bar projects. The cost is mainly based on expenditure figures for 1997.
Budget 2003 announced the termination of a range of capital allowance schemes on 31 December 2004, including the urban, rural and town renewal schemes, the multi-storey car park scheme and the park and ride scheme. The immediate termination of the capital allowance schemes for hotels and for holiday cottages was also announced.
(2) The resort relief figure relates to an exercise carried out by Revenue and is a very tentative estimate. The figure for the cost of the relief from its introduction until September 2000, the scheme was introduced in January 1995, is estimated at €317 million; the figure shown is an annual estimate.
(3) In the absence of other information, tax has been assumed at the standard rate even though a different rate might be appropriate in many cases.
(4) For the period January 2003 to September 2003, tax credit payouts amounted to €398 million. Based on this level of payout, the expected full year cost in 2003 is €531 million. The cost of the scheme is affected where participants die, withdraw from the scheme or vary their monthly contributions and this estimate for 2003 assumes that these variations will broadly cancel each other out. The SSIA scheme will end five years from when the first contribution was made, that is, between 1 May 2006 and 30 April 2007.
(5) This is the most recent estimate provided by Revenue; it is not currently possible to capture this figure by way of tax returns.
(6) Due to an increase in the BES investment limit, there will be an additional cost of €3.7 million in 2002.
(7) Budget 2004 brought forward the termination of the film relief scheme by one year to 31 December 2008.
(8) CGT is not payable where the capital gain is in respect of the disposal of a person's principal private residence. The figure for the cost of this relief makes no allowance for the number of cases where the disposal of the property was on death, and would therefore be exempt from CGT even in the absence of this relief. The Revenue Commissioners have no basis upon which to estimate the proportion of disposals of principal private residences which are sales on the death of owners. If this relief was abolished it would however, in all probability, be necessary to introduce a form of rollover relief for taxpayers changing residence, though rollover relief for business assets was abolished in budget 2003.
(9) Benefits here include refunds of VRT and VAT on the purchase of the vehicle, VAT, subject to a limit, on the cost of adaptations carried out, repayment of excise duty up to a maximum of 600 gallons and anyone with a primary medical certificate is exempt from road tax.
(10) The cost of exempting the income of charities, colleges, hospitals, schools, friendly societies, etc. from income tax includes the sums repaid in respect of tax credits and income tax deducted at source, certain dividends, other investment income and payments received under covenant. It also includes the cost of exempting certain bodies from the deduction on income arising from Government securities.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

84 Mr. Kehoe asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of staff that have been made permanent in her Department since 1994 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13084/04]

Recruitment to permanent posts in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is undertaken primarily by the Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners. The Department also fills permanent posts by effecting transfers for existing civil servants from other Departments via agreed transfer schemes. Since 1994 the Department has recruited 960 staff to permanent positions.

Departmental Projects.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

85 Mr. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13204/04]

My Department has entered into a very significant number of contracts, projects and procurements during the past five years in order to fulfil its administrative functions. The Deputy tabled a similar question to this one earlier this year, and at that time I informed him that assessing all contracts and procurements, and establishing whether or not overruns occurred and the nature of those overruns, would require considerable staff time and resources, and could not be provided within the time available. I instructed officials of my Department to compile the details for the Deputy. I wrote to the Deputy on 9 March 2004, and forwarded a complete list of overruns during the previous seven years, together with details of the reasons for the overruns, and the actions taken to prevent reoccurrence.

Establishing whether any further cost overruns have occurred since my reply last March to the Deputy will take some time, and, in order to ensure the accuracy of the reply, will not be available within the current timescale. I have therefore again instructed officials of my Department to compile details of any overruns since my letter to the Deputy last March, and have them forwarded to him as soon as possible.

Legislative Programme.

Jack Wall

Question:

86 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence when the Curragh of Kildare Bill will be brought before Dáil Éireann; if the heads of the Bill have been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13015/04]

Heads of the Bill on the proposed Curragh of Kildare Bill have recently been circulated to all Government Departments and to the Office of the Attorney General for observations and it is anticipated that they will be submitted for the approval of Government in the near future. The draft Curragh of Kildare Bill will be presented to Dáil Éireann at the earliest possible opportunity.

Defence Forces.

Jack Wall

Question:

87 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the plans his Department has to produce a film highlighting the record of the Army as representatives of the United Nations in all of its tours of duty since such tours began; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13016/04]

Jack Wall

Question:

88 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence if he has plans to assist in the production of a film on the history of the Defence Forces; if parties have expressed an interest in such a production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13017/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together.

There are no plans at this time to produce a film on the history of the Defence Forces or on the United Nations tours of duty. My Department has not received any request for assistance in any such production.

Overseas Missions.

Jack Wall

Question:

89 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the position on Defence Force Reserve members acting on the tours of duty of United Nations peace keeping forces as determined by the Department and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13018/04]

On 15 January, 2003 I approved, in principle, the report of the Reserve Defence Forces Review Implementation Board for the implementation of the recommendations of the special steering group on the reserve. As indicated in the White Paper on Defence, an important change recommended by the study of the reserve is that members of the FCA should be considered for participation in overseas peace support missions subject to suitable qualifications, personal availability and appropriate advance training. Service by reservists on overseas peace support missions in other countries is quite common.

General criteria governing selection for overseas service come within the scope of representation and any matters relating to overseas service by members of the reserve which come within the scope of representation will be raised with the representative associations at the appropriate forum. The question of the security of civilian employment for the members of the reserve who may wish to serve overseas will be considered as part of the ongoing implementation process.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

90 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Defence the number of staff that have been made permanent in his Department since 1994 to date and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13085/04]

Other than civil servants recruited through the Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners, a total of 17 staff, in the grades of services officer, night-watchmen and cleaner, have been appointed in a permanent capacity in my Department since 1 January 1994.

In addition, 198 State industrial employees, working with the Defence Forces, have been appointed in a permanent capacity since 1 January 1994.

Departmental Projects.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

91 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13205/04]

As I indicated in my reply to the Deputy on 17 February 2004 the position is that the type of detailed statistical information sought is not readily available in my Department.

It would take a disproportionate amount of time to compile this information as it would necessitate examination of all procurement files over the five year period mentioned. I regret, therefore, that again I cannot accede to the Deputy's request.

Grant Payments.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

92 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the Acts and the sections of those Acts under which the decision on the Punchestown centre was grant aided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13115/04]

I took the decision to provide funding for the Punchestown centre as part of my functions as Minister for Agriculture and Food under the Ministers and Secretaries Act 1924, as amended, to aid, improve and develop agriculture. A separate subhead was provided for the project in the Department of Agriculture and Food's Estimates in each of the years 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. This particular provision came before Deputies on eight separate occasions, first in the House and then in select committees. The basis for the expenditure came from the Dáil resolution on the spending Estimates in each of these years. This annual resolution is confirmed statutorily in the Appropriations Act.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

93 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of new staff who have been taken on by his Department from 1994 to the end of July 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13059/04]

The numbers of staff recruited by my Department from 1994 to the end of July 1998 are as follows: 1994, 226; 1995, 310; 1996, 140; 1997, 198; and 1998, 214. The total number is 1,088. These figures do not include temporary staff employed by my Department.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

94 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of new staff of all grades who have been taken on by his Department from 1 August 2003 to the present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13060/04]

The numbers of staff of all grades recruited by the Department of Agriculture and Food from 1 August 2003 to 4 May 2004 are as follows:

Number

Clerical Officer

33

Executive Officer

7

Staff Officer

1

Higher Executive Officer

6

Assistant Agricultural Inspector

6

Assistant Agricultural Insp. — Chemist

2

Chemist

1

Veterinary Inspector

7

Administrative Officer

1

Technical Agricultural Officer

2

Farm Operative

1

Farm Worker

1

Laboratory Technician

6

Total

74

* The above figures do not include temporary staff employed by my Department or the 93 staff who were transferred to my Department from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on 1 January 2004.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

95 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his Department has temporary staff such as technical agricultural officers and cleaners; the number of technical agricultural officers who have been made permanent from 1994 to the present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13061/04]

My Department employs a number of cleaners from time to time on a temporary basis. My Department has currently no officers serving in the technical agricultural officer, TAO, grade on a temporary basis.

Since 1994 approximately 48 officers, while serving as temporary technical agricultural officers, were appointed to unestablished positions of technical agricultural officer from competitions held by the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners. A number of these officers have since been appointed to established positions.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

96 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of staff that have been made permanent in his Department since 1994 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13086/04]

The numbers of staff recruited by my Department from 1994 to date are as follows: 1994, 226; 1995, 310; 1996, 140; 1997, 198; 1998, 412; 1999, 269; 2000, 266; 2001, 538; 2002, 369; 2003, 108; and 2004, 34. The total is 2,870. A number of these would have been made permanent in the service before being taken on by my Department. This figure does not include temporary staff.

Grant Payments.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

97 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason there is no payment due to a farm (details supplied) in County Cork under the disadvantaged areas compensatory allowance scheme 2003. [13100/04]

The closing date for receipt of 2003 area aid applications was 7 April 2003. Late applications could still have been accepted with a penalty until 1 July 2003. Applications received after 1 July 2003 carried a 100% penalty.

The 2003 area aid application of the person named was not received in the area aid unit until 24 September 2003 and therefore a 100% penalty was imposed.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

98 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork at an early date in respect of the balance of payment due for the slaughter premium 2003 and the special beef premium 2003. [13101/04]

Balancing payments due to the person named under the 2003 special beef premium and 2003 slaughter premium schemes will issue shortly following resolutions of a problem involving the recording of incorrect movement dates for two animals on the CMMS database.

Cost Overruns.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

99 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13206/04]

There have been no cost overruns on contracts or procurements in the strict sense during the past five years. However, on occasion my Department has approved some additional costs, mainly arising from changes in specifications. These relate in particular to IT projects and the Punchestown event and exhibition centre.

On IT projects, it is the practice when outsourcing bespoke software development to do so on the basis of a fixed price for the specified work. To this extent, the cost of the work set out in the request for tender does not vary. However, in such tenders the supplier is normally asked to quote a daily rate for additional work or changes that arise during the duration of the contract. The option of having additional work carried out at these rates is included in the contract. Any such additional work or changes to existing work is controlled under and must be approved by my Department before being carried out by the supplier.

An exception to this practice, was the new accounts system for agriculture projects, my Department's new accounting system. It became clear that the software delivered did not meet the Department's requirements, especially regarding Government cash accounting. My Department had to renegotiate the contract to have a suitable solution delivered. As a result of the extended implementation timescale, there were increased costs for external management consulting. The total external costs of the project came to €6.4 million excluding VAT. The total overrun on the original contract together with consequential costs in additional contracts for management consultancy comes to €3.3 million excluding VAT.

Major IT projects carry inherent risks that some specified functionality may not be deliverable by the solution providers. In order to minimise these risks, my Department has revised its policy on such projects and current policy includes the following: minimising the customisation of packaged software solutions; and the segmenting of major projects into smaller phases, each of which is signed off and delivered before proceeding with further phases.

On 1 August 2000, the Punchestown event and exhibition centre was provided with funding which would not exceed €13.3 million. This was increased by €1.5 million on 3 October 2001 to meet local authority planning requirements — sewage treatment and additional car parking. In the end, a total of €14.6 million was paid for the project.

Election Costs

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

100 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance the estimated cost of the election process in Dublin city and county with regard to the forthcoming local and European Parliament elections and referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13039/04]

An estimate of the costs of the elections in Dublin city and county for the forthcoming local and European Parliament elections, and the referendum, is not available, as estimates are not disaggregated in such a way. The Deputy might wish to note that the Central Fund costs for Dublin city and county in 1999 of the European Parliament and local elections, and the referendum about recognising the role of local authorities in the Constitution, amounted to approximately €1.5 million, £1.2 million. This figure is based on the returns of expenditure incurred by the relevant returning officers.

Tax Yield.

Joan Burton

Question:

101 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Finance the main features of the Exchequer returns for the first quarter of 2004; the way in which spending and the tax take for the first quarter compares with the projected levels; if he intends to review any of the budgetary targets for 2004 in view of these returns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13013/04]

The full, detailed Exchequer statement is published on my Department's website each month. The Exchequer balance for the first quarter of 2004 showed a surplus of €272 million. The current account balance showed a surplus of €942 million, while the capital account balance showed a deficit of €670 million. Tax receipts, at €8,012 million, were 4.1% ahead of the Department's tax profile published in January. Overall net voted spending, at €7,082 million, was 5.4% below the Department's spending profile.

The Deputy will be aware that the April Exchequer statement was published yesterday. The Exchequer balance for the first four months of 2004 showed a deficit of €1,338 million. My Department's budget day forecast is for a deficit of €2,806 million for the year as a whole.

Tax receipts to the end of April, at €9,876 million, were 5.5% ahead of the Department's tax profile published in January. The bulk of the €515 million excess over target for the first four months was due to a better than expected performance from capital gains tax, CGT, and income tax, which were €227 million and €167 million, respectively, above target. From 2003, the payment dates for CGT were changed to bring payment to a largely current year basis. The bringing forward of the payment date and an apparent increase in transactions liable to the tax resulted in significant CGT revenues in 2003. These effects carried through into the first quarter of 2004 resulting in the performance recorded. However, CGT receipts are already slowing down and are expected to return to a more normal pattern by the year's end. The greater part of the excess over target on income tax was in the non-PAYE tax area.

Of the other significant tax subheads, VAT, corporation tax and excise were marginally below target in the period to the end of April. Overall net voted spending, at €9,703 million, was 5.7% below the Department's spending profile. Current expenditure was €231 million behind profile, while capital spending was €311 million below profile.

While the performance of taxes to the end of April 2004 may provide some basis for expecting that targets for the year might be met, it is too early at this stage to be definitive about the overall trend in receipts for the year as a whole. On the expenditure side, at this time there are no projected excesses or savings on the spending totals in the Revised Estimates and the Government remains fully committed to staying within its spending targets. Therefore, I am not reviewing the targets set at budget time at this stage.

Question No. 102 answered with QuestionNo. 11.
Question No. 103 answered with QuestionNo. 79.

Tax Code.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

104 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that injured children awarded money by the courts, on foot of a legal claim, are taxed on the interest of the capital sum of the award which is invested on their behalf by the courts until they reach the age of 18; if the Revenue Commissioners are automatically entitled to deduct DIRT from these deposits; if, in consultation with the Revenue Commissioners and the courts, he will put arrangements in place ensuring that DIRT will not be applied to awards invested by the courts on behalf of minors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13024/04]

In a response to parliamentary questions on 4 May 2004, I explained that I had been informed by the Revenue Commissioners that Part 8 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for the levying of deposit interest retention tax, DIRT, on certain interest paid or credited on deposits held with banks, building societies and certain other financial institutions. Subject to certain statutory exceptions, financial institutions are required to deduct the tax from interest paid or credited in respect of the income on deposit.

In the case of individuals, entitlement to repayment of DIRT deducted is limited to situations where: (i) he or she or his or her spouse is either aged 65 years or over at any time during the tax year or permanently incapacitated by reason of mental or physical infirmity from maintaining himself or herself, or became so incapacitated, at any time during the tax year; and (ii) the income of the individuals, inclusive of the deposit interest, is below the appropriate income exemption limit for tax purposes.

Partial refund may be due to the individuals outlined in (i) above whose income, inclusive of the deposit interest, does not greatly exceed the appropriate income exemption limit. There is no automatic entitlement to minors for a refund of DIRT even where their income is under the relevant income thresholds for tax purposes.

In addition to the foregoing, as regards awards in respect of personal injuries, section 189 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides that certain income, including deposit interest, arising to individuals, including minors, from the investment of compensation payment awarded by the courts, or under an out of court settlement, in respect of a personal injuries claim is exempt from tax. However, the following conditions apply to this exemption: as a result of personal injuries, the individual is permanently and totally incapacitated by reason of mental and physical injury from maintaining himself or herself; and the income from the investment of the compensation awarded is the sole or main income of the individual.

Accordingly, a minor who, as a result of personal injuries, is permanently and totally incapacitated by reason of mental and physical injury from maintaining himself or herself has a statutory entitlement to repayment of DIRT deducted from the investment of compensation awarded where his or her income is below the income threshold for tax purposes.

However, a minor who, as a result of personal injuries, is not permanently and totally incapacitated by reason of mental and physical injury from maintaining himself or herself does not have a statutory entitlement to repayment of deposit interest retention tax deducted from the investment of compensation awarded even where his or her income is below the income threshold for tax purposes. DIRT is applied on a very wide basis, there are very few repayment situations and I have no plans at present to extend the present DIRT repayment rules to cover the cases referred to in the by the Deputy.

Joan Burton

Question:

105 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Finance his views on the granting of VRT exemptions for vehicles for a family (details supplied) in Dublin 13 who have a blind teenage child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13082/04]

The disabled drivers and disabled passengers (tax concessions) scheme is open to people with disabilities that meet the specified criteria and have obtained a primary medical certificate to that effect. The senior area medical officer attached to the relevant local health board is responsible for both the medical assessment and the issue of the medical certificate.

The medical criteria for the purposes of the tax concessions under this scheme are set out in the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations 1991. Six different types of disablement are listed under the regulations and a qualifying person must satisfy one or more of them. The six types of disablement are as follows: persons who are wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs; persons who are wholly without the use of one of their legs and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that they are severely restricted as to movement of their lower limbs; persons without both hands or without both arms; persons without one or both legs; persons wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg; persons having the medical condition of dwarfism and who have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.

Only an individual who qualifies under the medical criteria as set out above may be issued with a primary medical certificate. Possession of a certificate provides for remission or repayment of vehicle registration tax, VRT, plus a repayment of VAT on the purchase of the vehicle, plus a repayment of VAT on the cost of adaptation of that vehicle. Repayment of the excise duty on fuel used in the motor vehicle, and exemption from payment of annual road tax to local authorities, are also provided for.

The Revenue Commissioners are unable to consider an application for the reliefs without the issue of a valid primary medical certificate. Application for the primary medical certificate should be made in the first instance to the appropriate health authority. In the event that a certificate is issued, application for relief should then be made to the Revenue Commissioners, Central Repayments Office, Coolshannagh, County Monaghan, contactable by telephone at 047 82800.

Schools Building Projects.

Batt O'Keeffe

Question:

106 Mr. B. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance when the purchase of the site for the proposed national school at Ballygarvan, County Cork, will be completed. [13083/04]

The Commissioners of Public Works act as agents for the Department of Education and Science in the acquisition of sites for primary schools. A report has issued to the Department from the OPW setting out proposals and we are awaiting a reply to same.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

107 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff who have been made permanent in his Department since 1994 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13087/04]

A total of 631 people were appointed to permanent positions in my Department in the period 1 January 1994 to date. A number of these appointments were made on promotion to officers previously serving, in permanent positions in other Government Departments and offices. The number of people appointed to permanent positions in recruitment grades — for example, clerical officer, executive officer, administrative officer, service officer and service attendant — in my Department in this period was 340. Recruitment can also take place at higher grades.

Questions Nos. 108 and 109 answered with Question No. 37.

Departmental Expenditure.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

110 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13106/04]

As indicated in my most recent response to the Deputy on this matter, Parliamentary Question No. 234 of 17 February 2004, contracts in my Department are generally of limited cost and of an advisory nature. Significant cost overruns are, therefore, not a frequent feature.

My Department has identified two contracts in which overruns occurred. A contract with the IPA for a review of the internal audit function in the Department saw an increase of €5,445 on an original contract price of €3,620. The cost increase arose because it became clear, after the commencement of the project, that more in-depth interviews were necessary to complete a satisfactory review. In the NDP-CSF information unit, which operates under the aegis of my Department, a contract with Drury Communications Ltd. for public awareness research saw an overrun of €2,767 on a contract of €48,567 because the survey questionnaire finally agreed was significantly longer than originally estimated.

Presumably, the Deputy's main interest is in capital projects. In view of this and although the Office of Public Works is not funded directly or indirectly by my Department, that office will communicate any relevant information on its contracts or procurements during the past five years direct to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Question No. 111 answered with QuestionNo. 37.

Decentralisation Programme.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

112 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the number of civil servants who have so far agreed in accordance with announcements in the budget 2003 in respect of decentralisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13108/04]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

113 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the proposals for decentralisation as announced in his Budget Statement 2003 with particular reference to the number of civil and public servants who have so far agreed to relocate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13109/04]

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together.

The decentralisation implementation group delivered its report to the Government on 31 March 2004. One of the group's recommendations was the setting up of a central applications facility. This facility will allow public servants to make applications for transfer to the various locations and provide information on each location and the organisation relocating to it.

In accordance with the group's recommendation, this facility will open next week. In advance of the operation of this facility no applications have been invited for transfer and, therefore, it is not possible to ascertain the numbers willing to relocate at this point.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

114 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the branch or branches of the Civil Service likely to be decentralised to County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13110/04]

Details of the organisations and most of the locations to which they will transfer are set out in pages B18 to B24 of the budget 2004 book. Locations have yet to be decided in respect of the ICT and health staff included in the programme. Under the terms of the programme the headquarters of the Department of Defence will move to Newbridge while the headquarters of the Defence Forces will transfer to the Curragh. In addition, 250 staff from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners will be relocated in Athy.

Price Inflation.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

115 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which he or his Department monitors price increases which are not reflected in the CPI and consequently do not affect inflation rates but do have a seriously negative impact on the consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13111/04]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

116 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he or his Department have investigated the impact on the economy of price increases excluded from the CPI but seriously eroding disposable income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13112/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together.

The director general of the Central Statistics Office, CSO, has sole responsibility for and is independent in deciding, the statistical methodology and professional standards to be used in compiling the consumer price index, CPI. The latest CPI release shows inflation in March was 1.3%, down from 4.9% in March last year, its lowest level in over four years. This is a very welcome development.

Departmental Expenditure.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

117 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which spending by each Government Department to date is in accordance with projections at budget 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13113/04]

The budget 2004 spending projections for each Government Department were updated in the 2004 Revised Estimates for public services, REV, which were published last February. The REV provided that net voted spending on departmental services will be €32.9 billion in 2004. The end April Exchequer returns showed that net spending by Departments and offices is some €0.5 billion below profile — of which €0.2 billion is current and €0.3 billion is capital spending. This was primarily due to timing factors. My current expectation is that the overall and departmental spending outturn for 2004 will be broadly in line with the REV target.

Economic Competitiveness.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

118 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance if he and his Department propose to take any action to address price increases which are rendering the economy less competitive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13114/04]

The latest CPI release shows inflation in March was 1.3%, down from 4.9% in the same month last year. This is its lowest level in over four years and is a welcome development. Maintaining a moderate rate of inflation remains a key priority of economic policy because of its importance in regaining competitiveness. Keeping public expenditure within target is essential in this regard and our recent record in this area speaks for itself. Expenditure came in on target in 2003 and we continue to be vigilant in our monitoring and management of the public finances.

I made only limited changes to indirect taxes in the budget in 2004 because the goal of keeping inflation low took precedence on that occasion. These increases in excise duties are estimated to add less than 0.4% to the rate of inflation this year. The excise changes will raise €243 million in revenue. This revenue is required to continue to fund public services.

My Department is participating in the anti-inflation initiative which forms part of Sustaining Progress. Since the publication of the anti-inflation action plan in November 2003, a successful national information campaign, Price Awareness Pays, has been carried out. The Office of the Director of Consumer Affairs oversaw the campaign, which involved TV, radio and newspaper advertisements to encourage consumers to be more price conscious. This initiative is ongoing.

A moderate pay agreement is essential if we are to safeguard our competitiveness and maintain control of the rate of inflation.

Northern Ireland Issues.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

119 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to support the call of a person (details supplied) for an inquiry into the case of two persons that was dropped by the Crown in the Belfast Laganside court on 28 November 2003. [13068/04]

This matter is currently under investigation by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. It would not be appropriate, therefore, to make any comment on the issue until the ombudsman has concluded her investigation and has issued a report.

Foreign Conflicts.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

120 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that five Israeli conscientious objectors are serving the second year of confinement in Israeli jails due to their refusal to serve the Israeli occupation in the Palestinian territories. [13069/04]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

121 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the case of five persons (details supplied), who have offered to do community instead of military service, has been recognised both by Amnesty International and the working group on arbitrary detention established by the UN. [13070/04]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

122 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make representations to the Israeli authorities for the release of persons (details supplied) on humanitarian grounds. [13071/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 to 122, inclusive, together.

I am aware of the cases raised by the Deputy. I am also aware of the international respect and support for the persons named. However, as their position is the subject of further legal action within Israel, I do not feel that it would be appropriate for me to make representations to the Israeli Government concerning their cases at this time.

The position of the European Union concerning the situation in the Middle East, including in regard to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, is reflected in the statement issued by the quartet following its meeting in New York this past Tuesday, 4 May. As President of the Council of Ministers, I led the EU delegation in that meeting and I have arranged for the statement to be placed in the Oireachtas Library.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

123 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of staff that have been made permanent in his Department since 1994 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13088/04]

The total number of staff appointed to permanent positions in this Department since 1994 is 1,080. This figure includes replacements for staff who have retired, resigned or left the Department for other reasons such as promotion, transfer or career break. It also includes officers who previously served in permanent positions in other Departments or offices.

It should be noted that the above figure relates to people and not posts, as over the period in question a significant number of people would, successively, have been appointed to the same permanent post, due to promotions, leaving the service and so forth.

Departmental Expenditure.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

124 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13208/04]

The Department of Foreign Affairs is not aware of any cost overruns on contracts, projects or procurements for the period referred to by the Deputy. The Office of Public Works has responsibility for engaging contractors for major works in buildings occupied by this Department at headquarters as well as for the substantial procurement of furniture and furnishings. The Department has three major IT related projects underway — the automated passport production system, an upgrade of the IT infrastructure and an upgrade of communications links to missions abroad. All three projects are on time and within budget.

Departmental Schemes.

Michael Ring

Question:

125 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans his Department has in regard to the continuation of the giving children an even break scheme; if he has plans to continue and improve the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13036/04]

Any decision to expand or extend any of the initiatives aimed at tackling educational disadvantage is being considered in the context of a broad review of all such initiatives, which is currently nearing completion

Special Educational Needs.

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

126 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application for funding to provide a special classroom for pupils with learning disabilities for a school (details supplied) in County Louth. [13037/04]

An application to provide a special class for pupils with learning difficulties for the school in County Louth referred to by the Deputy is under consideration in the special education section of my Department. The school authorities will be contacted on this matter as soon as possible.

School Closures.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

127 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Education and Science the arrangements made between the boards of management, his Department and those schools whose premises are used as polling stations for elections, if the two school days lost as a result of the electronic voting will be replaced by the teachers or if the standardisation of the school term year results in teachers being on the payroll but not teaching in those schools that are used for electoral purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13038/04]

The agreement reached between the parties to the Teachers' Conciliation Council on the standardisation of the school year covers only the breaks at Christmas and Easter and the mid-term breaks in the first and second terms.

Schools are required to be open for a minimum number of tuition days each year — 183 days in the case of primary schools and 167 days in the case of second level schools. However, where a school is used as a polling station for elections on a day on which the school was scheduled to be open, the school authorities concerned are allowed to count the day of polling as a day of exceptional closing and are not required to make up that day for the purposes of meeting the appropriate 183 or 167 day requirement.

Special Educational Needs.

John Deasy

Question:

128 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Education and Science when a special needs assistant will be appointed for a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13051/04]

My Department received an application on 24 March 2004 for special educational resources, SER, for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003 are being considered at present. More than 5,000 such applications were received. Priority was given to cases involving children starting school last September and all these cases were responded to at or before the commencement of the current school year.

The balance of more than 4,000 applications has been reviewed by a dedicated team comprising members of my Department's inspectorate and the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. These applications are being further considered in the context of the outcome of surveys of SER provision conducted over the past year and the data submitted by schools as part of a nationwide census of SER provision.

The processing of the applications is a complex and time-consuming operation. However, my Department is endeavouring to have this completed as quickly as possible and my officials will then respond to all applicant schools. Pending a response, schools are advised to refer to circular 24/03, which issued in September 2003. This circular contains practical advice on how to achieve the most effective deployment of resources already allocated for special educational needs within the school.

It is intended that all schools, which applied for additional posts, including applications for next September, will be notified of the outcome before the end of the current school year.

Adult Education.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

129 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Education and Science the specific actions that have been taken, and staff and funding allocated, to implement the recommendations of the McIver Consulting report commissioned by his Department. [13081/04]

The recommendations of the McIver Consulting report on PLC provision are wide-ranging and encompass proposals that have implications for the shaping of structures for the delivery of further and adult education into the future. Having regard to the number and scope of the recommendations in the report, consultations have been held with management and staff interests with regard to the prioritisation of recommendations.

Further discussions are scheduled over the coming weeks. PLC provision in further education colleges is only one aspect of my Department's overall strategy in the field of further and adult education. The potential for greater coherence in the organisation and management of the total provision for further and adult education needs to be taken into account in the consideration of the recommendations for the McIver report.

The report included a recommendation that organisations involved in the further education sector should form a council of further education colleges with the specific composition of that body to be discussed further. As an initial step the Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, addressed a meeting of the stakeholders in the PLC sector on Tuesday, 4 May with a view to having them agree proposals for submission to the Department about the composition and remit of the council.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

130 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff that have been made permanent in his Department since 1994 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13089/04]

There were approximately 1,300 officers appointed in a permanent capacity in the Department of Education and Science from 1994 to date. The figure represents all grades of staff, both administrative and non-administrative, including professional and technical grades. Officers appointed to the Department in a permanent capacity may be new entrants to the civil service or may be assigned to the Department on promotion or on transfer from another Department. The above figure takes no account of officers who left the Department during the period in question.

Special Educational Needs.

Ned O'Keeffe

Question:

131 Mr. N. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will arrange to appoint a special needs assistant for a person (details supplied) in County Cork due to commence their education in September 2004 and who will require a one on one assistant. [13103/04]

My Department received an application on 24 March 2004 for special educational resources, SER, for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003 are being considered at present. More than 5,000 such applications were received. Priority was given to cases involving children starting school last September and all these cases were responded to at or before the commencement of the current school year.

The balance of more than 4,000 applications has been reviewed by a dedicated team comprising members of my Department's inspectorate and the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. These applications are being further considered in the context of the outcome of surveys of SER provision conducted over the past year and the data submitted by schools as part of a nationwide census of SER provision.

The processing of the applications is a complex and time-consuming operation. However, my Department is endeavouring to have this completed as quickly as possible and my officials will then respond to all applicant schools. Pending a response, schools are advised to refer to circular 24/03, which issued in September 2003. This circular contains practical advice on how to achieve the most effective deployment of resources already allocated for special educational needs within the school.

It is intended that all schools, which applied for additional posts, including applications for next September, will be notified of the outcome before the end of the current school year.

Grant Payments.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

132 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will consider the application for a grant for a playground facility at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16 at which there are specific play needs for the handicapped children’s unit and the autistic unit in addition to the mainstream national school children. [13128/04]

The works required at the school referred to by the Deputy are appropriate for consideration under the summer works scheme, SWS. The school did not make an application for a playground under the scheme for 2004. It is planned to invite applications under the 2005 SWS later this year. It will be open to the school to make an application for the required works under the new scheme.

Special Educational Needs.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

133 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science when he will provide information on the weighting system for the allocation of special needs teachers; if the new arrangements will not result in existing special needs posts being lost; if he will take steps to ensure that this will be available in time for school principals to arrange classes and allocate teachers well before the start of the summer holidays 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13129/04]

My Department received an application on 24 March 2004 for special educational resources, SER, for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003 are being considered at present. More than 5,000 such applications were received. Priority was given to cases involving children starting school last September and all these cases were responded to at or before the commencement of the current school year.

The balance of more than 4,000 applications has been reviewed by a dedicated team comprising members of my Department's inspectorate and the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. These applications are being further considered in the context of the outcome of surveys of SER provision conducted over the past year and the data submitted by schools as part of a nationwide census of SER provision.

The processing of the applications is a complex and time-consuming operation. However, my Department is endeavouring to have this completed as quickly as possible and my officials will then respond to all applicant schools. Pending a response, schools are advised to refer to circular 24/03, which issued in September 2003. This circular contains practical advice on how to achieve the most effective deployment of resources already allocated for special educational needs within the school.

In the case of teacher resources, the outcome for each applicant school will be based on a new weighted system of allocation, which I announced recently. This system, as part of which an additional 350 teaching posts will be allocated, will involve two main elements: making a staffing allocation to schools based on a predicted incidence of pupils with special educational needs; and making individual allocations in the case of children with more acute lower-prevalence special educational needs.

It is expected that the change to a weighted system will bring with it a number of benefits. The new system will: reduce the need for individualised educational psychological assessment; reduce the volume of applications to my Department for additional resources for individual pupils; and give greater flexibility to schools, which will facilitate the development and implementation of improved systems and procedures in schools to meet the needs of pupils with low achievement and pupils with special educational needs.

The detailed arrangements for processing applications for resources, including those for special needs assistants and those received after 31 August last, will be set out in a circular to be issued to schools before the end of the current school year. It is intended, also, that schools due to receive the additional posts will be notified within this timeframe.

Schools Building Projects.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

134 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that Donabate-Portrane Educate Together school will receive permission to proceed with building a permanent school before planning permission expires in August 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13130/04]

Donabate-Portrane Educate Together national school received permanent recognition from my Department with effect from 1 February 2004. Since that date the school is eligible for consideration for the provision of permanent accommodation. A number of factors including competing demands for the capital allocation will determine the rate of progress on the delivery of such accommodation for the school. On being granted provisional recognition, the school was made aware that it would remain the patron's responsibility to provide interim accommodation until my Department is in a position to provide a permanent solution.

Educational Projects.

David Stanton

Question:

135 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science his further plans following the Your Education System meetings, which he held throughout the year; if he will make a report on these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13131/04]

Following the series of 17 public meetings held throughout February and March a number of organisations, namely, the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools, the National Parents' Council — Primary, the Local Authorities Members' Association, the Irish Vocational Education Association and the Joint Managerial Body, have hosted consultation sessions for their members. I hope that a number of other organisations will host similar sessions.

Preparations are being made to hold a survey on people's attitudes to education, which will supply statistical data to complement the anecdotal data gathered through the meetings and from the website. A number of meetings focused on specific topics, including special education and disadvantage, will be held. This will allow these topics to be discussed in more depth than is possible in an open public forum. I also intend to hold a number of meetings for young people of school-going age to ensure that their perspective is brought into the discussion.

The secretariat for the process has produced reports on each of the events that has taken place. These can be accessed on www.youreducation.ie. Reports of other events will be produced and posted on the website as these take place. When the consultation process finishes at the end of this year, the secretariat will produce a final report, drawing together all of the elements that formed part of the discussion during the year.

School Staffing.

David Stanton

Question:

136 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science his views on the request by the joint managerial body of the Association of Management of Catholic Secondary Schools to appoint chaplains to all voluntary secondary schools; if he will be able to accede to this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13132/04]

Ex-quota chaplain posts are allocated in respect of community and comprehensive schools and designated community colleges. Discussions are taking place with the relevant authorities on the allocation of ex-quota chaplain posts to other second level schools. However, the allocation of such posts must be considered in the context of priority needs and available resources.

Schools Building Projects.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

137 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the schools that have made application to the building unit of his Department for construction or refurbishment work which have been refused or not yet sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13133/04]

The school planning section of my Department is currently reviewing all large-scale projects, which were not authorised to proceed to construction as part of the 2004 school building programme, with a view to including them as part of a multi-annual school building programme from 2005 onwards. I expect to be in a position to make further announcements on this matter in the course of the year.

Special Educational Needs.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

138 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of children waiting for special needs assistance or resource teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13134/04]

My Department received an application on 24 March 2004 for special educational resources, SER, for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003 are being considered at present. More than 5,000 such applications were received. Priority was given to cases involving children starting school last September and all these cases were responded to at or before the commencement of the current school year.

The balance of more than 4,000 applications has been reviewed by a dedicated team comprising members of my Department's inspectorate and the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. These applications are being further considered in the context of the outcome of surveys of SER provision conducted over the past year and the data submitted by schools as part of a nationwide census of SER provision.

The processing of the applications is a complex and time-consuming operation. However, my Department is endeavouring to have this completed as quickly as possible and my officials will then respond to all applicant schools. Pending a response, schools are advised to refer to circular 24/03, which issued in September 2003. This circular contains practical advice on how to achieve the most effective deployment of resources already allocated for special educational needs within the school.

In the case of teacher resources, the outcome for each applicant school will be based on a new weighted system of allocation, which I announced recently. This system, as part of which an additional 350 teaching posts will be allocated, will involve two main elements: making a staffing allocation to schools based on a predicted incidence of pupils with special educational needs; and making individual allocations in the case of children with more acute lower-prevalence special educational needs.

It is expected that the change to a weighted system will bring with it a number of benefits. The new system will: reduce the need for individualised educational psychological assessment; reduce the volume of applications to my Department for additional resources for individual pupils; and give greater flexibility to schools, which will facilitate the development and implementation of improved systems and procedures in schools to meet the needs of pupils with low achievement and pupils with special educational needs.

The detailed arrangements for processing applications for resources, including those for special needs assistants and those received after 31 August last, will be set out in a circular to be issued to schools before the end of the current school year. It is intended, also, that schools due to receive the additional posts will be notified within this timeframe.

Schools Building Projects.

Jack Wall

Question:

139 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the 20 projects under the devolved capital scheme which commenced in 2003; if the projects reached completion; if all of the projects drew down funding; if such a scheme is planned for 2004; the maximum size which was permitted under the scheme; the number of rooms permitted; if, as a result of the pilot project, it is envisaged by him to extend the permitted qualifying criteria to include new schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13136/04]

My Department selected 20 schools to take part in the pilot initiative to which the Deputy refers. The initiative is contained within section 8 of the 2003 school building programme. This initiative allows small and rural primary schools to operate on a devolved basis and allows boards of management address their accommodation priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding. The initiative gives the boards total control over the provision and timing of accommodation within the terms of the initiative.

To date construction has commenced on 18 projects, with works to begin shortly on the remaining two. The amount of the grant aid ranges from €100,000 to €350,000, depending on the pupil enrolment and the size of the school. This initiative is aimed at schools with a maximum of four mainstream classrooms. A further 44 schools were invited to partake in the scheme in 2004, the details of which are contained within section 2 of the 2004 school building programme.

School Accommodation.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

140 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the huge overcrowding of many schools in the Gorey area; the way in which he intends to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13137/04]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

141 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding Gorey community school, Gorey, in the building programme; when he expects building work to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13138/04]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

143 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the overcrowding in Gorey community school; the action he intends to take to alleviate this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13140/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 140, 141 and 143 together.

An application for grant-aid for additional accommodation for Gorey community school has been received from the management authority of the school. The application is currently being assessed in the school planning section of my Department. As soon as the assessment is complete, contact will be made directly with the school management authority.

School planning section is also currently examining education provision at primary level in the Gorey area. Factors under consideration include population growth, demographic trends, current and projected enrolments, recent and planned housing developments and the capacity of existing schools to meet the demand for places. When the examination is completed, a decision will be taken on how best to meet the accommodation needs of the area into the future.

Schools Building Projects.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

142 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding Loretto Convent primary, Gorey, in the building programme; when he expects building work to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13139/04]

The large-scale building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie This project is at stage 3, developed sketch scheme, of architectural planning. It has been assigned a band 2 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects. It is planned to progress this project to advanced architectural planning during 2004.

Indicative timescales have been included for large-scale projects proceeding to tender in 2004. The budget announcement regarding multi-annual capital envelopes will enable me to adopt a multi-annual framework for the school building programme, which in turn will give greater clarity regarding projects that are not progressing to tender in this year's programme including Loretto primary school. I will make a further announcement in that regard during the year.

Question No. 143 answered with QuestionNo. 140.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

144 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding Riverchapel national school, Gorey, in the building programme; when he expects building work to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13141/04]

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a building project comprising a new general purpose room and refurbishment for Riverchapel national school, Gorey, County Wexford is listed for proceeding to tender and construction as part of the 2004 school building programme.

The indicative timescale in the programme for this project proceeding to tender is the first quarter of 2004. The tendering process has commenced and the school authority has been authorised to progress this project to construction subject to certain conditions.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

145 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding Kilmuckridge vocational school, Gorey, in the building programme; when he expects building work to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13142/04]

The large-scale building project for Kilmuckridge vocational school, Gorey, County Wexford is listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie This project is at stage 4, detail design, of architectural planning. It has been assigned a band 2 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects.

Indicative timescales have been included for large-scale projects proceeding to tender in 2004. The budget announcement regarding multi-annual capital envelopes will enable me to adopt a multi-annual framework for the school building programme, which in turn will give greater clarity regarding projects that are not progressing to tender in this year's programme including Kilmuckridge vocational school. I will make a further announcement in that regard during the year.

Capital Projects.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

146 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13209/04]

The vast bulk of contracts in my Department are for school building projects. The policy of my Department in relation to these projects is to tender for them on a fixed price basis. This policy protects the Exchequer from cost overruns that may arise due to wage increases and construction price inflation during the course of a building project.

The Deputy will appreciate that building projects by their nature are not an exact science. Additional costs on projects may occur if unforeseen items arise during the course of a building project, for example, larger amount of rock to be excavated than was originally foreseen. Generally, a contingency sum of 2% of the contract value is included in contracts to deal with these type of unforeseen items that may arise during the course of a building project. If the Deputy wishes to request information on specific projects I will be happy to facilitate his request.

Decentralisation Programme.

Enda Kenny

Question:

147 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he will form a central agency to deal with all industry related issues pertaining to aquaculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13064/04]

I announced earlier this year that the Government had decided to decentralise the five divisions of my Department which deal with the seafood sectors, coastal zone management and marine engineering to Clonakilty, County. Cork. This decentralised branch of the Department will deal, among other things with all policy and management issues relating to the sea fisheries and aquaculture industry and will provide a one-stop shop location for Government services to the seafood sectors generally, including the aquaculture industry.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

148 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of staff that have been made permanent in his Department since 1994 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13090/04]

The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department, as the Department only came into existence in 2002. I will arrange to collate the necessary information and I will forward details to the Deputy when the data has been compiled.

Capital Projects.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

149 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13210/04]

My Department has been working to finalise the data sought by the Deputy and a detailed reply will issue directly to the Deputy in the next two weeks.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

150 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of staff that have been made permanent in his Department since 1994 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13091/04]

Since its establishment in 2002 my Department, which includes the cultural institutions, namely, the National Museum, National Library and the National Archives, recruited a total of 47 staff to permanent positions.

All these staff were recruited through competitions organised by the Civil Service Commission or by my Department and their appointments were subject to the relevant probationary conditions.

Capital Projects.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

151 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13211/04]

Since its establishment in 2002 my Department has not been directly involved in any significant State contracts, procurements or projects where cost overruns have occurred.

My Department operates a number of programmes through which financial assistance is provided to organisations towards the development of arts and sporting infrastructural projects throughout the country. Taking into account the nature of the funding and the conditions attached to such funding any question of cost overruns would be the responsibility of the project promoters.

Hospital Waiting Lists.

Jack Wall

Question:

152 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive their appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13020/04]

Responsibility for the provision of health services to persons residing in Counties Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has, therefore, asked the regional chief executive of the authority to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to him directly.

Benchmarking Awards.

Jack Wall

Question:

153 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the anomaly between child care workers and registered nurses in the intellectual disability sector; the plans he has to overcome the anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13021/04]

Jack Wall

Question:

154 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding benchmarking for child care workers and registered nurses in the intellectual disability sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13022/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 together.

The Labour Court recently considered a claim from the Alliance of Nursing Unions for a 10.55% pay increase for nurses working in the intellectual disability sector, to restore a 'differential' they asserted existed between nurses and social care professionals prior to the determination of the Public Sector Benchmarking Body. The Labour Court hearing took place on 25 March 2004.

While the Labour Court accepted that registered mental handicap nurses, RMHN, had traditionally been paid more than social care professionals, it stated that no formal pay 'differential' existed between the two grades. The court noted that an understanding had been reached at the Labour Relations Commission on 3 September 2003 between the employers and the Alliance of Nursing Unions, and that both parties had accepted that the report of the PSBB severed all pay links and established new absolute levels of pay for benchmarked grades. There was also an acceptance that any future benchmarking exercise, or whatever subsequent arrangements are put in place for determining public service pay, is the appropriate forum to examine the position of RMHNs vis-à-vis other social care professionals. The court also noted that this understanding was rejected by members of the Alliance of Nursing Unions leading to the referral of the matter to the court.

The court issued its recommendation on 1 April 2004. Having considered the written and oral submissions, the court was of the view that the claim could not be dealt with outside of the established agreements. Accordingly, the court recommended that the matter be dealt with in accordance with the understanding reached between the parties at the conciliation conference on 3 September 2003, and that it be given priority in this exercise.

National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Michael Ring

Question:

155 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called for treatment under the national treatment purchase fund. [13053/04]

The national treatment purchase fund has asked health boards to identify public hospital patients waiting longest on in-patient lists, so that they can be offered treatment under this initiative. Public patients who satisfy the criteria can apply to their general practitioners, medical consultants or to their local health board to seek to have their treatment carried out under the national treatment purchase fund.

My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the position in relation to national treatment purchase fund and the person's eligibility and to reply directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Waiting Lists.

Michael Ring

Question:

156 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when will a person (details supplied) in County Mayo be called for a knee replacement to Merlin Park Hospital, Galway. [13054/04]

The provision of hospital services for people living in County Mayo is a matter for the Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the matter raised.

Michael Ring

Question:

157 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children when will a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be called to Merlin Park Hospital, Galway for a hip operation. [13055/04]

The provision of hospital services for people living in County Mayo is a matter for the Western Health Board. My Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to reply directly to the Deputy in relation to the matter raised.

Services for People with Disabilities.

Denis Naughten

Question:

158 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will allocate funding to the County Roscommon association for the mentally handicapped for the refurbishment of Ivy House, Castlerea, County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13056/04]

Responsibility for the provision of funding for services to persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism in the Castlerea area lies, in the first instance with the Western Health Board. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive officer of the board to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply directly to him.

Hospital Waiting Lists.

John McGuinness

Question:

159 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Health and Children the reasons for the delay in arranging a hip operation for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if this matter will be expedited in view of the fact that their circumstances have worsened as indicated by their general practitioner. [13057/04]

Responsibility for the provision of services for residents of County Kilkenny is, in the first instance, a matter for the South Eastern Health Board. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive officer of the South Eastern Health Board to investigate the matter and reply directly to the Deputy.

Health Board Report.

Dan Neville

Question:

160 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 4 February 2004 and a letter from the deputy chief executive officer of 12 February 2004 stating that an independent report would be available on the death of a person (details supplied) at the end of February or early in March 2004, the reason for the delay in producing the report. [13058/04]

Responsibility for the matter referred to by the Deputy rests with the Mid-Western Health Board. My Department has therefore asked the chief executive officer to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and reply to him directly.

Traveller Health.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

161 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason for the apparent cuts in financial provision for the national Traveller health strategy in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13073/04]

Since 1997 my Department has allocated €8.1 million for the development of Traveller health initiatives. Traveller Health — A National Strategy 2002-2005 was launched in 2002 and €3.015 million has been allocated since 2002 for its implementation. My Department is committed to the continued implementation of the Traveller health strategy.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

162 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Health and Children if his Department has carried out, or intends to carry out an investigation into the health and safety of Traveller children. [13074/04]

The Department of Health and Children and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Northern Ireland, are jointly committed to carrying out a Travellers' all-Ireland health study to develop and extend the indicators collected in the 1987 study of Travellers' health and to inform appropriate actions required in the area of Travellers' health, including the health of Traveller children. This study was designed by the Institute of Public Health in Ireland and the study is expected to commence by end 2004.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

163 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of staff that have been made permanent in his Department since 1994 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13092/04]

Verifiable data indicates that approximately 630 staff were assigned to permanent posts in the Department from 1996 to date. Data is not accessible in this format for previous years. These staff were assigned as replacements for existing vacancies or newly sanctioned posts.

Due to the high level of staff mobility as a result of resignations, lateral transfers, promotions and retirements during the period 1996 to date, it would be difficult to provide a more accurate figure.

Cancer Treatment Services.

Martin Ferris

Question:

164 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the effect which the shortfall in funding for Tralee General Hospital is having on the provision of cancer treatment services. [13118/04]

Responsibility for the provision of services at Tralee General Hospital is, in the first instance, a matter for the Southern Health Board. My Department has, therefore, asked the chief executive officer of the Southern Health Board to investigate the matter and reply directly to the Deputy.

Departmental Correspondence.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

165 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will respond to correspondence from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13119/04]

I understand that a final reply will be issued to the named person this week.

Dental Services.

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

166 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 is not covered by the dental section of the health board for the condition of hypoplastic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13120/04]

Responsibility for the provision of dental treatment to eligible persons in Dublin 24 rests with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department has asked the regional chief executive to investigate the matter raised by the Deputy and to reply to her directly.

Community Care.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

167 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Health and Children if the funding provided for Birr community nursing unit in 2004 will facilitate the opening of the hospital in 2004; the number of beds which will be provided in this unit on opening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13143/04]

Issues relating to the appropriate levels of staff for the new unit are the subject of ongoing discussion between the Midland Health Board and staff representatives. I am hopeful that these discussions can be completed at an early date so that the Midland Health Board can proceed with the opening of the unit. No decision has been made at this stage about the number of beds which will be available in the unit when it opens but I am hopeful that the Midland Health Board will be able to maximise the use of the available facilities.

Departmental Expenditure.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

168 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13212/04]

The information requested by the Deputy is at present being sought and collated by my Department from the ERHA, health boards and other appropriate health agencies. My Department will arrange for the information to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Public Transport.

Denis Naughten

Question:

169 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport the reason Dublin Bus does not use its website to caution passengers regarding possible delays (details supplied); his views on whether there should be a centralised traffic website for Dublin at which commuters can obtain relevant information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13044/04]

I wish to advise the Deputy that while any particular delay in a bus service is an operational matter for Dublin Bus, I am concerned to see improved information provided to the bus customer on a real-time basis.

I understand that at present Dublin Bus operates a limited real-time passenger information service at a number of bus stops on routes operating out of Conyngham Road. The next step is to invest in an automatic vehicle tracking system to enable a more widespread system to be developed. In the meantime, the company uses AA Roadwatch as a means of alerting the travelling public to delays.

Dublin City Council provides a service alerting the travelling public to traffic disruption at www.dublincity.ie and has a free phone number at 1800 293949 for obtaining updated information. I understand Dublin Bus will be putting in place shortly a link between this site and their own.

Road Safety.

Denis Naughten

Question:

170 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Transport when the next national review of road categories will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13045/04]

It is not proposed at present to undertake a major review of the roads classification as set out in Statutory Instrument (S.I. 209 of 1994 — Roads Act 1993 (Declaration of National Roads) Order 1994 and S.I. 400 of 1994 — Roads Act, 1993 (Declaration of Regional Roads) Order 1994. My Department is currently working on an update of these statutory instruments to take account of road improvements and route changes since 1994.

Pension Provisions.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

171 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the steps he has taken to ensure that Aer Lingus management addresses long outstanding issues relating to the pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13062/04]

The current pension scheme for general employees in Aer Lingus (Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme) is a multi-employer scheme which also includes Aer Rianta and a private sector company, FLS Aerospace. The administration of this scheme is a matter for the trustees of the scheme and the company concerned having regard to the rules of the scheme.

A key issue in relation to the scheme is that it cannot be amended without the consent of all participating employers and a majority of members so that no employer is in a position to negotiate exclusively with its employees as to their pension entitlements.

The recently enacted Aer Lingus Act 2004 contains enabling provisions which allow Aer Lingus to establish new pension schemes for its own employees and pensioners. The Act also ensures that the benefits granted under such a scheme or schemes shall not be less favourable than those granted under the existing scheme.

In the context of any new scheme or schemes being established by Aer Lingus, the Act provides that existing pensioners who come within the scope of the new scheme will be transferred to that scheme unless they elect to remain in the existing scheme. It is a matter for Aer Lingus to decide if and when a new pension scheme or schemes are to be established and the terms of any such schemes would be a matter for negotiations with unions.

Road Traffic Offences.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

172 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the penalty points system; the start date (details supplied) of the points on a licence. [13063/04]

The penalty points system, which is provided for in the Road Traffic Act 2002, was introduced with effect from 31 October 2002 for the offence of breaching a speed limit, from 1 June 2003 for insurance offences and from 25 August 2003 for seat belt wearing offences. Penalty points are applied to the driving licence records of those convicted of such offences, and to those who pay a fixed charge, in the case of speeding and seat belt wearing offences, to the Garda to prevent the instigation of court proceedings.

I intend to introduce penalty points for careless driving with effect from 1 June 2004. This measure should have a further positive influence on the driving behaviour of those who have little regard for road traffic law. As of 29 April 2004 more than 144,000 drivers had received penalty points since the introduction of the system in October 2002, including one driver who had reached the 12 point threshold which leads to automatic disqualification.

Section 2 of the Act provides that the endorsement of penalty points can only occur following the receipt of a notification that a person has been convicted of the commission of a penalty point offence or has paid a fixed charge. Penalty points only apply 28 days after the date of that notice. Responsibility for the issue of notification following a conviction for a penalty point offence rests with the Courts Service and, where a fixed charge is paid, with the Commissioner for the Garda Síochána.

As soon as my Department is notified that a fixed charge has been paid or that a court conviction has been secured in respect of a penalty point offence, this information is processed and the notice is issued to the person concerned on behalf of my Department by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which administers the national driver file. This process is normally carried out in about two weeks.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

173 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport the number of staff that have been made permanent in his Department since 1994 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13093/04]

My Department was established in June 2002. Since 1 January 1994, 201 of the staff currently serving in my Department have been made permanent in the Civil Service.

Departmental Expenditure.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

174 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13234/04]

My Department is directly responsible for a relatively small amount of contract expenditure out of our total annual expenditure on road and public transport programmes. Procurement arrangements, contracts and the delivery of capital infrastructure are primarily the responsibility of the State bodies under the aegis of my Department. These bodies comply with the requirements of the code of practice for the governance of State bodies, including conformity with the guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure in the public sector.

My Department has in place an investment monitoring unit charged with overseeing the financial and physical progress of rail and bus infrastructure projects and ensuring the effective and timely financial reporting of capital expenditure by the CIE group of companies to the Department. The investment monitoring unit also engages consultants to carry out an audit of expenditure claims submitted to the Department seeking draw down of Exchequer and EU funding under the National Development Plan 2000-2006.

The implementation of the national roads and public transport investment programmes is further monitored by my Department through the monitoring committee of the economic and social infrastructure operational programme which is representative of Departments, implementing agencies and social partners and which meets twice yearly to consider progress reports on the implementation of the investment programmes. If the Deputy has any concern about a particular programme of expenditure under my Department's aegis, I would be happy to provide him with the relevant details.

Departmental Bodies.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

175 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the person who is on the high level working group on Travellers; the remit of the group; and if there are Travellers or Travellers’ representatives on this group. [13076/04]

The high level group on Traveller issues is a working group under the senior officials' group on social inclusion which, in turn, reports to the Cabinet sub-committee on social inclusion. The high level group is made up of members of the senior officials' group and other senior public servants with responsibility for key areas of service delivery for Travellers. The high level group is intended to provide a forum for senior policy makers and service providers to meet to discuss barriers to service delivery and explore possibilities of approaching service delivery in a more integrated way. In this regard, the group is considered as an extension of the strategic management initiative process, an attempt to join up service delivery and to ensure that intended service outcomes for Travellers under the various sectoral strategies are achieved.

The high level group is a short-term initiative to improve outcomes. It is trying to explore best practice with a view to eliminating the social exclusion which Travellers experience. A list of members of the high level group follows.

Travellers are represented on the Traveller monitoring committee which monitors progress on the recommendations of the task force on the travelling community. The chairman of the monitoring committee and other officials on the monitoring committee are also members of the high level group. The high level group does not duplicate or supplant the work of the monitoring committee.

Membership of the High Level Group on Traveller Issues.

Grade/Position

Department

Assistant Secretary

Equality Division, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Chair)

Assistant Secretary

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Assistant Secretary

Department of Education and Science

Assistant Secretary

Department of Health and Children

Assistant Secretary

Department of the Taoiseach

Principal Officer

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Principal Officer

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Principal Officer

Department of the Taoiseach

Principal Officer

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Principal Officer

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Chair of Monitoring Committee)

Assistant Principal Officer

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Assistant Principal Officer

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Assistant Principal Officer

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

County Manager

South Dublin County Council

County Manager

Clare County Council

C.E.O.

South Western Area Health Board

C.E.O.

Western Health Board

Prison Governor

Irish Prison Service

Assistant Commissioner

Garda Síochána

Garda Strength.

Denis Naughten

Question:

176 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí currently appointed to Lanesboro Garda station, County Longford; the numbers based there in 2002, 1997, 1994, 1992 and 1989; the plans there are to increase the complement of gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13041/04]

I have been informed by the Garda authorities which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength — all ranks — of Lanesboro Garda station, County Longford as at 31 December 2002, 1997, 1994, 1992, 1989 and currently is as set out as follows:

Year

Strength

1989

4

1992

11

1994

10

1997

7

2002

7

4 May, 2004

6

The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of Lanesboro Garda station will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda divisions throughout the country.

Residency Permits.

Pat Breen

Question:

177 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedure required for non-nationals to process their residency claim after their five year work permit; if their spouses can apply for residency and work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13042/04]

Persons who have been legally resident in the State for more than five years on the basis of work permit conditions may apply to the immigration division of my Department at 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, for a five years' residency extension. In that context, they may also apply to be exempted from employment permit requirements. Their spouses may apply to their local registration officer for permission to remain as dependants of the work permit holders. The work permit holders must be in a position to support their spouses without recourse to public funds.

It is open to the spouse of a work permit holder to seek an employer who will apply for a work permit in respect of him or her. In the event of the approval of the work permit application, the spouse may be registered on work permit conditions.

Colombia Three.

Finian McGrath

Question:

178 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will apologise to the families of the Colombia three for his inflammatory and prejudicial statements during their trial. [13047/04]

I do not consider that any comments I may have made regarding this case were inflammatory or prejudicial and, accordingly, the issue of an apology does not arise.

Public Order Offences.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

179 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps the Garda Síochána is taking to deal with an ongoing law and order problem (details supplied) in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13050/04]

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the area in question is patrolled regularly by both uniform and plain clothes community gardaí. It is also patrolled by the local drugs unit and the divisional task force and they will continue to do so.

I have been further informed that they are aware of complaints made regarding public order and domestic issues at this location. In the past two months, gardaí have made three small seizures of drugs and, following a number of house searches, one seizure of a controlled drug was made.

I understand from the Garda authorities that gardaí responded to a number of complaints during the week ending Sunday, 25 April 2004 in the area in question. Youths engaged in anti-social behaviour were moved on under the Public Order Act and two incidents of intimidation were attended to and are now under investigation.

Garda Regulations.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

180 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if gardaí are required to wear seat belts in the course of their duties. [13079/04]

I have been informed by the Garda authorities that under the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicle) Regulations 1991 members of the Garda Síochána are not required to wear a seat belt. However, Garda regulations require that all occupants of official vehicles wear their seat belts except in exceptional circumstances.

Refugee Status.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

181 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of unaccompanied minors who have arrived in the State in the past 12 months and have been assessed as being over 18 years by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner; and the expertise that is employed in making these assessments. [13080/04]

I am informed that in the 12 month period to end March 2004, a total of 792 persons presented to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner as unaccompanied minors seeking asylum. Of these, 114 were assessed by the office to be over 18 years and were admitted to the asylum process as adults.

Under section 8(5)(a) of the Refugee Act 1996, as amended, where it appears to an authorised officer of the commissioner that a person under the age of 18 has arrived in the State and is not in the custody of any adult, that child shall be referred to the relevant health board to determine whether an application for asylum should be made on his or her behalf.

It is, however, the case that some persons present to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner who claim to be minors but appear in fact to be older. In these cases, an age assessment is carried out by experienced staff of the office following an interview with the person and by reference the account provided of his or her background and apparent intellectual and physical maturity. Due to the considerable difficulty of determining age with any certainty, a large benefit of the doubt is applied and the decision can subsequently be reviewed at the request of applicants and-or their legal advisor, including if additional relevant information is forthcoming. The Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner will also reassess the case if, following referral to the health board, the relevant officials of that board express the opinion that the applicant is in fact an adult.

The Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner is continuing to examine possible means of supplementing this assessment process using medical age determination techniques. A pilot project was carried out in 2002 based on a medical assessment of bone density and the results of this project suggested that the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner's doubts concerning the age of the applicants in question were well-founded in a majority of cases. This project was followed up during 2003 by further detailed research among other EU member states as to reliable age testing systems in use elsewhere. This research indicated that there is no universally accepted indisputable medical age determination system but a number of approaches have merit and I am informed that these will be considered further by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner in 2004.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

182 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of staff that have been made permanent in his Department since 1994 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13094/04]

I understand the Deputy is interested in staffing figures for 1994 and the numbers currently serving in my Department. The number of civil servants of whole-time equivalent currently serving in my Department and associated agencies is approximately 3,500. This figure excludes staff from the Courts Service, the Prison Service and members of the Garda Síochána. The number of staff recorded as serving in what was the then Department of Justice in 1994 was approximately 1,500.

The increase in staffing can be broadly attributed to a significant number of organisational changes in the intervening period, for example, the incorporation of the then Department of Equality and Law Reform and the establishment of a number of independent agencies such as those in the broad equality and asylum and immigration areas of the Department.

Registration of Title.

Michael Ring

Question:

183 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the dealings on folios for persons (details supplied) in County Mayo will be expedited. [13121/04]

I am informed by the Registrar of Titles that this is an application for aLand Commission vesting order which was lodged on 14 April 1995. Schedule number V0000SM0092618V refers. Land Commission schedule applications are deemed to be registered as of the date of vesting which is prior to the date of lodgement of the documents in the Land Registry. Accordingly, registration in the Land Registry of Land Commission cases is afforded a lower priority than the registration of other dealings.

I am further informed that this application is associated with an application for a charge which was lodged on 19 February 2001. Dealing number D2001SM001168P refers. I am also informed that this application is dependent on the completion of Schedule number V0000SM0092618V which was lodged prior to dealing number D2001SM001168P. However, I assure the Deputy that both applications are receiving attention in the Land Registry and will be completed as soon as possible.

Medical Call-out Services.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

184 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of doctors or medical general practitioners who are enlisted on panels for call-out to Garda stations in the Dublin metropolitan district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13123/04]

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

185 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of doctors or medical general practitioners who are enlisted on panels for call-out to Garda stations in the greater Dublin area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13124/04]

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

186 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the payments or expenses which have been made to doctors or medical general practitioners who are enlisted on panels for call-out to Garda stations in the greater Dublin area and the Dublin metropolitan district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13125/04]

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

187 Mr. J. O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the identity of the ten doctors who received the payments or expenses which have been made to doctors or medical general practitioners enlisted on panels for call-out to Garda stations in the greater Dublin area and the Dublin metropolitan district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13126/04]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 to 187, inclusive, together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that a list of 11 doctors and medical practitioners who make themselves available for call out to Garda stations in the Dublin metropolitan region is maintained at the Garda communications centre at Harcourt Square. The following doctors are on this list:

Dr. Hooper

Dr. Moloney

Dr. Kirke

Dr. Fakih

Dr. Williams

Dr. De Bulbh

Dr. Curry

Dr. Zatari

Dr. Harkin

Dr. Wheeler

Dr. Nathan.

The Dublin metropolitan region encompasses all of Dublin city, together with a number of satellite towns stretching to the south as far as Kilcoole in the north of County Wicklow, to the north to Swords in north County Dublin, and to the West as far as Leixlip in County Kildare. As regards the Balbriggan district, which is outside the Dublin metropolitan region, the position is that for a number of years a general practitioner living in Slane, County Meath, has been responding to requests from gardaí. In the event of this general practitioner not being available, a local doctor would be utilised. Available figures indicate that €207,242.53 has been paid to doctors on the list maintained for the Dublin metropolitan region in respect of medical services provided in the period 1 January 2004 to 30 April 2004.

Probation and Welfare Service.

Phil Hogan

Question:

188 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason for the establishment of a probation office at Donaghmede shopping centre, Dublin; his views on whether this location is an appropriate place for such a centre; the amount of rent being provided for the provision of this centre; when the contract for such a facility was in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13127/04]

The mission statement of the probation and welfare service is to foster public safety and promote the common good by reducing the level of re-offending and this is achieved through the management of offenders on supervision orders from the courts in their local and-or immediate surrounding areas. The service aims to reduce victimisation of members of local communities by developing positive relationships with offenders in order to reduce and-or eliminate offending. Local service delivery enhances the chances of co-operation from offenders and facilitates contact between the service staff, the families of the offenders and the staff of health boards and other agencies which are locally based.

It should be noted that in the Dublin area, the probation and welfare service has been successful in localising its offices in Dun Laoghaire, Ballyfermot, Tallaght, Finglas, Crumlin and Clondalkin. No complaint has been received to date from any member of the public, nor has any complaint been brought to the attention of any officer of the service by the gardaí about the behaviour of those attending a local office.

Regarding the location of the Donaghmede probation and welfare office in the Donaghmede shopping centre, I wish to advise the Deputy that I consider the location of the office appropriate. Clients of the service are not stigmatised when attending the office for appointment as they could be visiting any one of a number of public services available in the shopping centre such as the library, post office, doctor's clinic, solicitors office, etc.

The annual rent for the premises referred to by the Deputy at Donaghmede Shopping Centre is €152,368.57. The lease for this premises commenced on 1 June 2000.

Departmental Expenditure.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

189 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13235/04]

In the time available for answering parliamentary questions it has not been possible to compile the detailed information requested by the Deputy. The information sought is being compiled at present and I will forward it to the Deputy shortly.

Local Authority Housing.

Jack Wall

Question:

190 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of independent living units built by each local authority in each of the past three years; the meetings he has had in the past year with interested groups, in relation to such relationships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13019/04]

The number of dwellings constructed and acquired by local authorities in each of the years 2001, 2002 and 2003 was 5,022, 5,074 and 4,972 units, respectively. Detailed information on a local authority basis for 2001 and 2002 is published in my Department's annual housing statistics bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. Similar information for 2003 will be published shortly in the annual housing statistics bulletin for 2003. My Department maintains regular and continuing contacts with all local authorities and other interest groups in relation to the implementation of various social and affordable housing programmes.

Election Issues.

Ruairí Quinn

Question:

191 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the disruption to schools due to the holding of elections on a weekday and during the school term, future elections will be held on a Sunday in order to minimise the disruption to the academic year for primary school children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13040/04]

While there is no restriction in law regarding the day of the week which the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government may specify as polling day, the appointment of a Sunday would require careful consideration of a range of matters: among these are objections on religious grounds, people being away from home, the likelihood of competition with sporting events, difficulty in obtaining election staff and increased staff costs.

All relevant factors are taken into account in a decision to appoint a particular day as polling day, including the need to facilitate the maximum number of voters while minimising any interruption to school work. The appointment of polling stations is a matter for the appropriate returning officer who may, under electoral law, use any school or room in a school for the taking of a poll or the counting of votes. Returning officers have been advised by my Department to ensure, in co-operation with school authorities, that school closure and disruption of school work are kept to a minimum.

Environmental Policy.

Eamon Ryan

Question:

192 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has adopted a position on the contraction and convergence model of response to the threat of climate change; the level of debate at a European level on this proposal; and the role the Government has taken in advancing such a debate. [13066/04]

Contraction and convergence is a proposal for achieving global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, promoted primarily by the London based Global Commons Institute, a non-governmental organisation. It is one of many potential models towards its stated purpose. The discussion at European level on necessary action to prevent dangerous interference with global climate systems is a more widely based one, and has been advanced during the Irish Presidency.

On 2 March 2004, the Environment Council, in preparing an input for the European Council and in reference to the development of medium and longer term emission reduction strategies, including targets, highlighted, inter alia, the need to ensure that overall global temperature increase should not exceed 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and to take into account the findings of the intergovernmental panel on climate change.

The European Council on 25-26 March 2004 confirmed that it looks forward to considering such emission reduction strategies, including targets, at its spring meeting in 2005. The Commission has been invited to prepare a cost benefit analysis which takes account both of environmental and competitiveness considerations.

Consideration of options for further action after 2012, which marks the end of the first Kyoto period, underway since autumn 2002, continues to be undertaken by a working party reporting to the environment council.

Homeless Persons.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

193 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will consider honouring the commitment made in the report, Making it home: An action plan on homelessness in Dublin 2004-2006 vision, to eliminate homelessness in Dublin by 2010; and if he will provide sufficient funding to SONAS housing association for its proposed additional 48 beds. [13075/04]

As part of the Government's integrated and preventative strategies on homelessness, local authorities, together with health boards and other statutory and voluntary bodies, were required to draw up local action plans to tackle homelessness in their areas. The homeless agency is charged with the implementation of the action plans drawn up by the four Dublin local authorities. With regard to the action plan for Dublin, I understand that the homeless agency is at present finalising this plan.

The Government is committed to continue to support local statutory and voluntary bodies in tackling the issue of homelessness. I am satisfied that significant progress has been made in addressing the issue in Dublin since the publication of the homeless strategies. My Department's provision for the recoupment to local authorities of 90% of the cost of providing accommodation and related services for homeless persons in 2004 is €51 million. This brings to €190.6 million the total provided for this purpose since 2000. Further funding is provided by the local authorities and, in the case of care related services, by the health boards. This week, I allocated funding of €36.8 million for the provision of accommodation and related services for homeless persons in the Dublin area. These allocations are based on the recommendations of the homeless agency and the amount allocated to the SONAS housing association in this context is €389,231. Should SONAS wish to seek additional funding for an extension of its activities, application should, in the first instance, be made to the relevant local authority in respect of capital projects or to the homeless agency which assesses all applications for current funding in relation to the provision of homeless services.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

194 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of staff that have been made permanent in his Department since 1994 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13095/04]

A total of 819 staff have taken up permanent posts in this Department since 1994. Included in this figure are staff who transferred from other Departments on promotion and on lateral transfers and who would have been in permanent posts in other Departments. However, it does not include approximately 680 administrative and professional and approximately 1,000 industrial staff who transferred here as a result of the re-allocation of functions between Departments in 2002.

Local Authority Housing.

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

195 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the allocation he has given to Drogheda Borough Council in his recent announcement for funding for housing projects. [13144/04]

A capital allocation of €6.825 million for 2004 was recently notified to Drogheda Borough Council in respect of their main local authority housing construction and acquisition programme as well as their remedial works and traveller accommodation programmes.

Departmental Expenditure.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

196 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13236/04]

The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

197 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of staff that have been made permanent in his Department since 1994 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13096/04]

The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was established in June 2002 and since that date no temporary employees were made permanent.

Irish Language.

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

198 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will consider extending grant incentives to Irish language users who live on the periphery of the Gaeltacht. [13102/04]

The Deputy will appreciate that the specific grant incentives operated by my Department within the Gaeltacht are focused on Irish speakers resident within such areas as defined in the Gaeltacht areas orders 1956-1982. There are no plans at present to extend such grant incentives to Irish language users who live outside the Gaeltacht.

Decentralisation Programme.

Michael Ring

Question:

199 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a survey has been carried out of personnel within his Department on a possible decentralisation to County Mayo; the details of this survey; and the measures which have been taken to procure sites or buildings for the decentralisation in County Mayo. [13135/04]

As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 167 of 27 April 2004 no survey has been undertaken in my Department regarding decentralisation. The central applications facility system, as announced in the Flynn report, will carry out this task on a Civil Service wide basis. The Deputy will be aware that responsibility for matters relating to sites and buildings rests with the Office of Public Works.

Departmental Expenditure.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

200 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13239/04]

I would refer the Deputy to my reply to his Parliamentary Question No. 496 of 17 February 2004.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Paul McGrath

Question:

201 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the details of the mechanism by which persons in receipt of the lone parent allowance have their rent allowance reduced if they take up part-time employment; and if there are regional differences in the way in which this calculated. [13026/04]

Rent supplements, which are provided for under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, are subject to a means test and are normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to his or her family circumstances, less a minimum contribution, currently €13, which recipients are required to pay from their own resources.

In addition to the minimum contribution, recipients are also required to contribute towards their rent, any additional assessable means that they have over and above the appropriate basic supplementary welfare allowance rate.

In the case of a rent supplement recipient who takes up part-time employment the means test provides for a disregard of up to €50 per week. However, any additional income above the €50 is assessable in full and will have the effect of reducing the amount of rent supplement payable.

The maximum amount of rent supplement payable varies between health boards in recognition of the regional differences in rent levels. However, the €50 disregard, which is a standard feature of the rent supplement means test, is not subject to regional variations.

Departmental Staff.

Paul Kehoe

Question:

202 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of staff that have been made permanent in her Department since 1994 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13097/04]

The number of permanent posts in the Department on 1 January each year since 1994 is as follows: 1994 — 4,202; 1995 — 4,312; 1996 — 4,415; 1997 — 4,268; 1998 — 4,184; 1999 — 4109; 2000 — 4,184; 2001 — 4,217; 2002 —4,439; 2003 — 4,416; and 2004 — 4,306.

Departmental Expenditure.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

203 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of State contracts, projects or procurements in respect of which cost overruns have occurred in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13241/04]

My Department enters into, on average, 36 contracts for procurements of services and supplies annually. My Department's policy is that all procurement is carried out in strict adherence to relevant legislation and that resulting contracts are drawn up on a fixed price basis. This facilitates best value in terms of cost, and also enables a degree of predictability on project budgets.

There are well-established project management processes in place within my Department for managing and monitoring the progress and cost of all projects. One of the objectives of these project management processes is to detect and provide indications, as far in advance as possible, of upcoming circumstances or contingencies which may necessitate changes to project timescales or resources. The application of the project management process enables such changes to be flagged, and their effects on projects managed, in a controlled manner. These processes are constantly being refined and new structures put in place as experiences encountered during the currency of projects demand.

In the past five years, cost overruns were incurred by my Department in three projects. The reason for each of these overruns was specific to the individual project concerned and their effects were managed within the project management process I have described above.

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