Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:1 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach the role of the social policy unit in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31185/09]
Ceisteanna — Questions.
Departmental Programmes.
Eamon Gilmore
Question:2 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the role of the social policy unit in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32534/09]
Enda Kenny
Question:3 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach the remit of the social policy unit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35604/09]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.
The primary role of the social policy unit is to support and advise me on social policy matters. Through facilitating a "whole of Government" approach it seeks to add value to social policy considerations and actions by promoting co-ordination and cohesion across sectoral policies and strategies. This is pursued particularly through the management of the work of the various Cabinet committees and senior officials groups across a range of social policy issues such as social inclusion, labour market, health and disability.
In addition, the social policy unit represents my Department and actively contributes to several interdepartmental groups covering a range of social policy matters including the national women's strategy, positive aging strategy, national drugs strategy and Travellers. The unit maintains ongoing liaison with Departments and contacts with stakeholder interests such as the community and voluntary pillar of social partnership. In addition, the work of the steering group on active citizenship is supported from within the social policy unit.
The unit is also involved on an ongoing basis with a wide spectrum of activity covering social policy matters, including the preparation of briefings for me on proposals in Government memorandums for meetings and correspondence as well as the range of administrative responsibilities relevant to Government offices.
I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. He has said the social policy unit works closely with other Departments to advance social inclusion. Is the Department of Finance one of the Departments it works closely with and if so, has the social policy unit had an input into decision making as regards the social welfare provisions of the budget next week? If it did, what weight did it carry? Was it a case of it just saying, in effect, "We need to be careful about the social inclusion aspect of the removal of the Christmas bonus and its impact on pensioners, children and so on". Was this conveyed strongly by the social policy unit to the Minister for Finance, to emphasise the enormous negative impact this will present for pensioners and children, in particular, around Christmas time?
The social policy unit deals with all of these issues and there are Cabinet committees that some of its personnel attend, as I do. The unit interacts on an ongoing basis with various groups representing stakeholder interests on all of these issues. The question of the budget, obviously, is determined ultimately by the Minister of Finance based on consultations and discussions with colleagues. I am proud that over many years we have seen social welfare budgets increase way in excess of the cost of living, as the budgetary position allowed. We have to look at all areas of expenditure in the context of next week's budget to meet the €4 billion savings objective necessary in the present circumstances.
I have a brief supplementary question. Is it just a token unit? We know it was established as part of the social partnership initiative. Is it just there for the purpose of ticking a box, or does it have any weight? Does the Taoiseach require the other Departments to have any regard for what the social policy unit in his Department says to them? I specifically ask this about the Department of Finance, because that is the most critical one.
The role of the Department of the Taoiseach is to co-ordinate, in many instances, various policy strands or interdepartmental responsibilities in terms of evolving policy and preparing memorandums for Government and so on for the various Ministers in charge of particular areas. The social policy unit is an active participant in all of that work. It is very well regarded and has done excellent work.
Has the social policy unit produced any assessments of the proposals that have been floating around in respect of the social welfare measures that might be taken in the budget? Has it, for example, done an assessment on the proposal I understand the Government intends to proceed with, namely, to cut in some form or other the levels of child benefit? Did it carry out any assessment of the Government's decision to abolish the Christmas bonus for pensioners and others? What assessment has it done on the rapid rise in unemployment over the course of the past year?
While I am on that subject, I understand the live register figures are due to be published at 11 a.m. Could the Taoiseach please tell the House what the live register figures are, which will be published in the next few minutes and what assessment the social policy unit has given of that level of unemployment?
I do not have those figures with me, this morning. From memory, however, having looked at them last night, I understand there is an increase of 7,000.
An increase of 7,000.
I believe so, but I shall have to check. It might be less, but I shall have to check, because I have been reading quite a number of documents in the last while. In any event, the live register figures will be published at 11 a.m., as the Deputy says.
In the Department of the Taoiseach a "whole of Government" approach is adopted. When assessing impact on social welfare measures, for example, this will be done in the normal manner by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, and such data will be provided on the day as part of the budgetary documentation in many instances.
On the question of the Christmas bonus, that was a decision which was taken and outlined in the last budget. Taking into account the increases that have been made in social welfare in the past two budgets, the net increase has been well in excess of the decrease in the cost of living, which has been witnessed this year for the first time in many decades. Those points will have been made. One must also take into account a background since 2004-05 of inflation of less than 12% where the increase in the pension has been more than 51% in that period, equivalent to 4.5 times the increase in the cost of living.
On basic rates, the percentage there for inflation at the rate of 11.9% for that period is more than 37%. Quite rightly, at times when resources were available, we sought to assist those on welfare payments, significantly. Whatever decisions have to be taken on welfare rates now or in the future will be taken against a background of that significant advance during times when resources were available.
For the accuracy of the record, I understand that the November live register will see a month on month increase of 1,100 or 0.3% since October 2009.
It is very disappointing to hear again that there is an increase in the level of unemployment. Last month's figures suggested that there might be some bottoming out in the unemployment level and job losses. Now we are hearing again of an increase — 1,100 on last month — and we have had announcements of job losses in recent weeks. It is a story of continuing economic difficulties here, while there are some signs of recovery in other economies.
I am unclear as to what the social policy unit in the Department of the Taoiseach does. What does it do that the Department of Social and Family Affairs cannot do? Will the Taoiseach give the House some idea as to the size of the unit, and what it costs?
I do not have the cost of it. It is a unit in the Department headed by an assistant secretary. She and her staff do excellent work and are well regarded in the whole social policy area. She advises me, as Taoiseach, on social policy matters and helps in the preparation of Cabinet committee meetings in the areas of responsibility that come under the aegis of the unit.
She also provides, ensures and seeks to promote a whole of Government approach to all issues such as the national disability strategy or the question on how Travellers' policy is dealt with. There has been much improvement on the disability issue and the bringing forward of offices led by Ministers of State to provide cross-departmental functions has been a success. I refer in particular to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and the office pertaining to disabilities. Issues regarding the labour market or broad social inclusion are obvious areas for which any Department of the Taoiseach would be obliged to have a competence and capacity. It does its work well.
As for the live register, the year-on-year increase continues to fall. The year-on-year increase was 194,000, 189,000 and 146,000 in June, August and November 2009, respectively. While one would wish to see a continuation of this trend, it is taking place against a serious rise in unemployment rates, as has been evident in the past 12 months.
It means that more people are out of work than was the case last month.
The point is that when seasonal factors are taken into account, the month-on-month increase is 800, whereas it is important to note that the equivalent month-on-month increase for November last year was approximately 16,200. If the Deputy is asking whether something approaching a bottoming-out is evident, thankfully we are not experiencing the rate of job losses that took place this time 12 months ago. This of course constitutes a continuing challenge for this country as it seeks to regain competitiveness in a context in which international markets are less buoyant than was the case previously.
One stated aim of the social policy unit within the Department of the Taoiseach is the identification "of emerging trends and policy issues and proposing new initiatives and responses". What evidence has the social policy unit provided to the Taoiseach of emerging trends and what policy issues have been identified? What new initiatives have been proposed by the unit?
As I stated previously in respect of issues such as disability, health, the fair deal scheme and the national drugs strategy, the social policy unit has played a role in this regard. It ensures the views of the Department of the Taoiseach are inputted into all the aforementioned areas. Basically, that co-ordinating role, using the authority of the Department of the Taoiseach is its function. Policy regarding social and family affairs or health and children is dealt with by the relevant line Minister. However, the job of the social policy unit of the Department of the Taoiseach is to advise the Taoiseach on all these issues as they arise and to use its office and position as a means of bringing together a whole of Government approach, where necessary, in the event of initiatives being taken in a particular area.
I was interested in what new initiatives the unit has proposed to the Taoiseach, as one of its stated aims is to propose new initiatives to the Taoiseach. Has the unit provided the Taoiseach with new initiatives or has it made proposals in that regard? Following on from the Taoiseach's reply to Deputy Gilmore, I am sure he is aware of the difficulties that so many people now face. It appears as though the words of the Minister for Finance no longer will have any meaning. On the issues of social inclusion and social welfare, it is clear that some categories of welfare recipients simply cannot work because of their circumstances. I refer, for example, to children, pensioners, the disabled, carers and so on. Has the unit within the Taoiseach's Department identified the pressures on such people to ensure they will not receive a savage hit in the budget next week? At the same time, has the unit advised the Taoiseach that, in view of the increase in the numbers of unemployed people, unless some fiscal stimulus is injected into the economy for the protection and creation of jobs, the position will worsen? Has the unit proposed new initiatives to the Taoiseach in this regard, which is central to its supposed aim? Unless the Government gets this right, the numbers of unemployed people will continue to grow.
The Deputy will hear from the Minister for Finance next week on all these issues regarding Government decisions and plans. This particular unit has been involved in the activation of areas pertaining to enterprise supports and support for the unemployed. It has an input in such questions and has helped to bring together various Departments, such as the Departments of Social and Family Affairs, Education and Science and Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as a means of bringing forward proposals for the Government to consider in the context of what is an extremely tight budgetary situation. Moreover, to suggest that the policy unit is in some way superfluous to requirements is to miss the point completely.
I did not suggest that.
I am making the point——
I am asking the Taoiseach what new initiatives it has proposed.
As for the initiatives it has dealt with, it was, for example, centrally involved in the disability strategy, as well as in the policy for travellers and so on. It also has been involved in implementing such initiatives and ensuring that they can be dealt with by liaising with Departments to ensure that such issues continue to be part of their policy goals and how resources are spent. While it has that brief, it is not in the business of initiating the policy of the Department of Social and Family Affairs or of doing everyone else's job. It is a question of co-ordinating the jobs of various Departments in order that a coherent position exists across all these issues with regard to disability and social inclusion generally, as well as assisting with that process of policy development.
This unit within the Taoiseach's Department could play an important and useful role if, for instance, it was to address the issue of the growing rate of unemployment of young people. I understand that at present, somewhere between one fifth and one quarter of those on the live register——
Can we have a question please?
Allow me to continue. Between one fifth and one quarter of those on the live register are young people under 25, most of whom are male. A crisis also exists regarding the governance of FÁS, to which €1 billion will be allocated in next week's budget. The Taoiseach referred to this unit as being cross-cutting and as identifying emerging trends and policy issues. It is able to give the stamp of a Taoiseach in power to efforts to pull together different Departments, which is not a bad idea. Should the Taoiseach not lead a drive against what is happening to young people who are only being offered the dole by the Government? There are very few places, no internships, no training and nothing for the private or public sectors or NGOs to take on young people and give them a chance for working opportunities. Would this unit not be the ideal mechanism under the Taoiseach's leadership to further such a drive? I note that Professor Blanchflower of the IMF was in Dublin two weeks ago. All the evidence from the last recession and recessions globally is that if a young person, particularly a young man, goes on the dole at 18 or 19, six months of unemployment turns into a year, which then becomes a year and a half. Those affected do not build up experience and consequently cannot get work, even when the upturn comes, because they are not fitted for it.
It has been suggested that no training is available. There has been a substantial increase in the number of places provided this year. As for FÁS, the agency now is under the leadership of a new chief executive and is proceeding with its work. It is dealing with the issues that arose in respect of the governance questions and is getting on with its business. The new incumbent should be allowed to do so and I am sure he has the support of all Members in bringing forward that organisation in a way that will assist public confidence in it. Since the beginning of the year, there has been a reallocation of substantial additional resources to boost job search, training, work experience and educational opportunities. The Government effectively has doubled the job search referral capacity from 6,500 to 12,250 per month, bringing the total number of places for referral by the Department of Social and Family Affairs to 147,000 per year. The Government has increased the total number of training places provided by FÁS for this year to a total of 128,000, as against 66,000 cases taken up last year. Specific provisions have been made for apprenticeships to further their apprenticeships and provision has been made of more than 6,000 additional places in further and higher education. There has been significantly improved access to supports for individual enterprises through back-to-work and back-to-education schemes, which the Deputy is aware have seen a good take-up. It is not correct to claim initiatives have not been taken in this area. They continue to be taken——
The Taoiseach should walk around some housing estates to see young men outside on the roads. It has not been like that for years.
Deputy Burton please.
I am explaining the facts.
The Taoiseach should walk around some large housing estates.
Deputy Burton please, we have spent much time on these questions already.
I am making the point. I am not suggesting that everyone who wants a place gets one. There has been a serious increase in resources in this area which Deputy Burton is not prepared to acknowledge.
There are massive social problems in these housing estates.
In his reply to me earlier, the Taoiseach sought to put a gloss on the live register figures by representing them as though they were an improvement. I have the new figures released just a few minutes ago. The seasonally adjusted figure for the numbers on the live register for November 2009 stands at 423,400. That is the highest November figure ever. It is 236,000 more than were on the live register at the time of the general election. There is no basis for the Taoiseach putting a gloss on these figures or trying to suggest to the House that somehow they represent some kind of an improvement. It is a disgraceful and scandalously high level of unemployment. This large increase has taken place on the Taoiseach's watch.
I did no such thing. The Deputy asked a question unrelated to the subject of the original questions——
It is not unrelated. What is the social policy unit to do if it cannot deal with unemployment?
These were not specific questions to unemployment figures. I accept the Deputy is entitled to ask a supplementary question, which he did about unemployment, but I did not put any gloss on the live register figures. I explained them when I got them from the Chief Whip. I gave the Deputy the figures as presented in front of me. I have never suggested there is a gloss to be put on unemployment figures. Anyone out of work is one too many as all Deputies know. I gave the figures as was requested by Deputy Gilmore. If I did not give them to him, it would be another problem.
I am sure the social inclusion unit in the Taoiseach's Department makes some valuable recommendations. Deputy Catherine Byrne reminded me of the Liberties recycling programme which trains those who were once involved in drugs. When the community employment or FÁS scheme for these trainees ends, no other programmes are available to them.
Deputy Kenny, it seems to me that some of these questions are more appropriate to the line Ministers.
A Cheann Comhairle, it is in cases such as this on which the social policy unit of the Taoiseach's Department should be focused. Those in the Liberties recycling programme have been weaned off drugs, received an element of re-training and have a new focus in their lives. When their programme finishes, however, no other programmes are available to them and the danger is that they will drift back into their previous cycle of drug misuse. Does the social inclusion policy unit focus on groups such as the Liberties recycling programme, highlighted on television the other evening, and the value of such courses? Does it make recommendations to the Taoiseach that such programmes have real impact on people's lives for their benefit and should be continued?
The national drugs strategy was launched by the Minister of State, Deputy Curran, on 10 September last. Its overall objective, which was developed following an extensive consultation process, is to continue to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. The strategy's budget of €275 million is spent directly on drugs services and programmes across a range of Departments and State agencies. There have been 100 drug-specific projects in 24 local and regional drugs taskforce areas covering the country. The new Office of the Minister for Drugs, in operation since 1 September, streamlines service administration and further improves co-ordination across the statutory, community and voluntary pillars.
Significant moneys, €275 million, have been allocated in tackling this serious problem for many communities. A strategy is in place after extensive consultation with all groups and stakeholders involved. The policy approach is extensive, updated and relevant to the needs identified by the stakeholders.
Public Relations Contracts.
Enda Kenny
Question:4 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the recent work of the committee in his Department which oversees the awarding of public relations contracts by Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35236/09]
Eamon Gilmore
Question:5 Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the work of the committee in his Department charged with overseeing the awarding of public relations contracts by Ministers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37271/09]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:6 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if the committee in his Department charged with overseeing the awarding of public relations contracts by Ministers is still in operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44304/09]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together.
The question relates to the findings of the Quigley report, published in 2005. It highlighted the need for special care in cases where a proposed consultancy comprises an element of direct service to a Minister or Minister of State, particularly in the public relations or communications area, and where a Minister or a Minister of State suggests the name of a person or enterprise as being suitable.
Following publication of the Quigley report, additional guidelines to be followed in such cases were approved by the Government and are published on my Department's website. The guidelines were brought to the attention of all Secretaries General, who were asked to implement them and to bring them in future to the attention of all newly-appointed Ministers, Ministers of State where relevant, in their Department or office.
The guidelines give the Secretary General to the Government and the Government secretariat a role in examining certain procurements. However, there is no special committee in my Department to oversee the awarding of public relations contracts by Ministers. Any workload arising from the application of these additional guidelines is handled within existing resources in the Government secretariat.
In July 2008, the Minister for Finance said all expenditure by Department and State agencies on consultancies, advertising and public relations contracts would be cut by at least 50%. I note radio advertisements costing over €23,000 were recently put out by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government announcing the special protection of seven areas in County Dublin. This was one of several campaigns run by his Department which has spent over €3 million on advertising in 2009 alone.
Were these contracts, and others like them, approved by the public relations contracts committee? Is there ever an evaluation of media advertising campaigns as to their impact, how many people were reached, whether they made sense to people or had consequential benefits? Has the public relations committee any capacity to evaluate the effect and the value for money of advertising campaigns carried out by Ministers, Ministers of State and Departments?
No, those assessments are carried out by the line Departments. There are many public information notices and campaigns which are necessary to bring to the attention of citizens. They cover issues such as statutory requirements and matters of public importance in particular areas.
In July 2008 the Minister for Finance announced a 50% reduction in departmental consultancy expenditure. It should also be noted that in February 2009 he announced a further reduction across Departments of €25 million in expenditure on advertising, public relations and consultancies.
If the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy Cullen, wants to launch a campaign about, say, new sports facilities and wishes to award a contract to a public relations agency for it, what process must he go through? Does he have to contact the Taoiseach's Department? Does he just consult with his Secretary General and award a contract on the basis of tenders received by his Department?
A parliamentary question to the relevant Minister might be more helpful.
A Cheann Comhairle, let us wait and see.
It might do the Taoiseach to look into his own conscience.
This is about the awarding of public relations contracts, a Cheann Comhairle and I am asking the Taoiseach about the statement by the Minister for Finance with regard to how these contracts would be reduced by 50%. Has the Taoiseach put his oar into other Departments? Must they obtain authorisation and permission from the Taoiseach's Department before awarding or renewing public relations contracts? In other words, what is the current procedure in this regard?
I refer the Deputy to the Quigley report and the recommendations and conclusions therein which set out the advice and procedures to be adopted in various circumstances. The purpose of this report was to bring clarity to the issue and to ensure that Ministers and officeholders are aware of arrangements for the future. I refer the Deputy to the conclusions of that report.
Does the Taoiseach have the overall figure for expenditure in 2009 by members of the Government on public relations contracts? If the work of the committee is to oversee the awarding of public relations contracts, does the Taoiseach have an overall figure for what will be spent be end 2009 by line Departments and the Government in general on public relations contracts?
The guidelines given to the Secretary General of Government and Government secretariat relate to the examination of certain procurements. As such, there is no committee overseeing the awarding of public relations contracts by Ministers. The matter is dealt with by the secretariat. I do not have available the figures requested by the Deputy.
In July 2008, the Minister for Finance sought a reduction of 50% in consultancy expenditure and, in February 2009, brought in an additional requirement for a further €25 million reduction in expenditure and advertising in respect of public relations and consultancy contracts.
My understanding of the guidelines published in 2005 following the Quigley report is that the appointment of a particular person, consultant or public relations firm by a Minister would be referred to the Government secretariat for consideration and that if it had some issues it wished to raise in that regard, the Secretary General would make a recommendation to the Taoiseach as to whether any special procurement procedures should be observed in the procurement process.
On how many occasions has the appointment of a particular person or public relations firm been considered by the Government secretariat in line with the guidelines published in 2005? Also, on how many occasions has a recommendation been made to the Taoiseach in regard to whether any special procurement arrangements should be applied?
I do not recall any instances having been brought to my attention. The guidelines are being observed.
Departmental Offices.
Enda Kenny
Question:7 Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress made in relation to the implementation of the recommendations made in the Nally report on the reorganisation of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35238/09]
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:8 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Taoiseach if all of the recommendations made in the Nally report on the reorganisation of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor have now been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44305/09]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together.
As my predecessor indicated to the House on 3 October 2007 and on 8 April 2008, and as I indicated on 12 November 2008 and on 27 May 2009 in response to similar questions, the implementation of the relevant recommendations of the Nally report in regard to the reorganisation of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor was completed in 2007.
In regard to the Director of Public Prosecutions——
I remind Deputy Kenny that questions in regard to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions are outside the scope of questions.
How many people are currently employed in the Office of the Chief State Solicitor? What is the position in terms of that office meeting the Taoiseach's demands for a reduction in staffing levels?
The following is the situation in respect of the Office of the Chief State Solicitor as a result of the Nally report. Approval was given in January 2007 for the recruitment of 16 additional staff. The office currently has an authorised staffing level of 249 full-time equivalents and has a total of 233 full-time equivalent staff serving in the office and is carrying two vacancies. Like all Departments and offices, the Office of the Chief State Solicitor is subject to reductions in expenditure, staff numbers and retirements under the early retirement scheme. The office has reduced its staff by 14 posts and is currently carrying two vacancies. As such, 249 less 14 plus the two vacancies equates to 233 serving staff.
Is work from the Chief State Solicitor's office being outsourced? Is all of the body of work carried out by that office undertaken in-house or is it being contracted to outside agencies and so on?
The Deputy will be aware that much work in a solicitor's office is dealt with by counsel in terms of the preparation of briefs where cases in litigation are being taken and that this may require the employment of barristers and so on. Obviously, this type of work — if one wishes to call it that — is outsourced. The office conducts its own administrative arrangements and legal requirements, as in the case of any other solicitor's office.
An bord snip nua made recommendations in respect of the Office of the Chief State's Solicitor to the effect that savings of €400,000 be achieved through the suppression of vacancies and efficiencies in external legal services and other administrative expenses. What consideration has been given to this recommendation and how will its implementation be squared with the conclusions of the Nally report?
All of those issues are considered in the context of there being fewer staff than authorised in that office. A reduction by way of 14 qualified staff, depending on their grade and work, would equate to that amount.