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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Jul 2011

Vol. 738 No. 4

Written Answers

The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies as received on the day from the Departments [unrevised].
Questions Nos. 1 to 13, inclusive, answered orally.

Expenditure Reviews

Martin Ferris

Question:

14 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has discussed his instruction to heads of Departments to include further human resource or structural reforms beyond the Croke Park agreement proposals for cost-saving measures under the comprehensive review of expenditure with trade unions signed up to Croke Park or with the implementation body. [20332/11]

Under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, all Departments and Offices are required to take a root-and-branch review of every line of public spending, to assess whether previous spending programmes are still required to meet public service objectives; whether those objectives are still valid and relevant; and whether new, more efficient, and more modern ways of delivering public services can be brought to bear. The Comprehensive Review will not focus solely upon cuts and service reductions; the aim of the process is to ensure that public service reform is built into the whole process of allocating public resources. This will involve using the mechanisms set out in the Croke Park Agreement, with its inherent flexibility and openness to change, and requiring public service managers and staff to think critically and creatively about new ways of doing public business and to co-operate together to deliver on them.

The Taoiseach and I took the opportunity to emphasise this point to the Implementation Body for the Agreement when we met with them on 29th June last. Building on the fundamental flexibilities around redeployment and cooperation with change that have been signed up to under the Agreement will be critical to ensuring that the public service can manage with less resources and fewer staff while at the same time protecting services to business and to citizens, including the most vulnerable in our society. The Agreement allows for the pursuit of additional measures where necessary to support the maintenance of key public services. Once Government has taken decisions on the Comprehensive Review, it will be possible to identify those measures that are appropriate to be dealt with under the Agreement and consult with the public service unions on delivering those changes in the way that the Agreement sets out.

Departmental Estimates

Question:

15 Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the vote headings and subheading that he intends using for his own Department in the EstimatesVolume; the full-year baseline he is using to measure spending under each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20322/11]

The Estimate for my Department, which was this week presented by me to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, has been restructured on a Strategic Programme basis, consistent with the presentation of the Annual Output Statements. This new format will align resources with the High Level Goals in the Statement of Strategy and the Programmes set out in the Annual Output Statement. The information has been supplemented with certain performance information — the inputs (costs), outputs and impact indicators associated with each Programme.

This new Estimates structure is intended to strengthen the type of useful information available to Dáil Committees, and help to develop a stronger focus on the performance of all organisations, including this Department, in keeping with the Government's agenda. Under this new Performance Budgeting format, there are two Strategic Programmes for my Department:

Public Expenditure and Sectoral Policy Programme

Public Services Management Policy Programme

Within these Programmes, the Estimate is further broken down in a streamlined subhead format, with administrative costs (both Pay and Non-pay) apportioned to each Programme, together with the more specific individual subheads of expenditure. All Deputies have received the complete Estimate for my Department, showing the full list of subheads under each Programme.

The functions reflected in the Estimate for my Department were previously performed in the Department of Finance (Public Expenditure and Sectoral Policy and Public Service Management Policy), the Taoiseach's Department (Public Service Reform) and, in the case of the centralised Employee Assistance Service, in a number of Departments. Accordingly, the 2010 Outturn for these functions will continue to be the baseline for spending comparatives. The Estimate for 2011 in respect of the Change Management Fund/Reform Agenda includes provision for a number of important (new and existing) reform-related projects, which will yield net cost efficiencies over the longer-term.

Expenditure Reviews

Dessie Ellis

Question:

16 Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if and when he instructed Department heads to consider substantial savings in subsidised publicly provided transport and social housing supports for inclusion in the comprehensive review of expenditure; if he also instructed them to provide a risk-based analysis of the social impact of such cuts on citizens. [20339/11]

Under the Government's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure each Minister and Department is committed to a root and branch assessment of all Departmental spending. Over the course of the next few months Government will examine the findings and this will contribute to decisions being made in Budget 2012. All aspects of government expenditure are covered by this review, and I fully expect that Departments will consider the wider impact of any proposed reductions in departmental expenditure in their analysis.

With regard to the two areas mentioned by the Deputy, I did not issue any particular instruction about spending in these areas. However, these areas are included in a list of cross-cutting issues identified in an email issued by the Secretary General of my Department to Department Heads in May. The email invited suggestions on how savings might be generated in cross-cutting areas and as such is a normal expenditure management procedure employed in previous occasions.

Departmental Staff

Micheál Martin

Question:

17 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he held interviews for the position of Secretary General in his Department; the number of same; and the persons involved in conducting the interviews. [20315/11]

Michael Moynihan

Question:

22 Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the exact procedure he followed in evaluating applications for the position of Secretary General in his Department; if he sought advice from persons outside his Department in this task; and the persons who had access to the process. [20314/11]

Michael Moynihan

Question:

24 Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of applications he received for the position of Secretary General in his Department; the number of applicants from outside the staff of the Department of Finance; and the steps that he took to encourage applicants. [20313/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 22 and 24 together.

The post of Secretary General, Department of Public Expenditure & Reform forms part of a small number of appointments at Secretary General level which do not come within the remit of the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) and where arrangements for the filling of post are a matter for the Government. The position is that officers throughout the Civil Service were eligible to be considered for the post prior to a decision been taken by the Government. Expressions of interest were invited from senior officials in that context.

Public Service Reform

John Browne

Question:

18 Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the work he has carried out in respect of models of corporate governance within the civil and public service; and his plans regarding same. [20308/11]

Barry Cowen

Question:

32 Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on modernisation of the public sector and on the reform of the public sector. [20289/11]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

42 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the institutional reforms, if any, he intends to introduce across the civil and public service; if those reforms include taking account of service users; if there will be a consultation process for service users; if the service reform he intends will go beyond dealing with wage costs and will involve restructuring the civil and public service; if so, the arrangements that will be required between the affected Departments; if capacity assessments will form any part of any such changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20323/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 32 and 42 together.

As outlined in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to the most ambitious programme of Public Service Reform since the foundation of the State. This will take place in tandem with an equally significant programme of constitutional, political and institutional reform to ensure that there is a fundamental change in democratic and public governance, and a dramatic change in the cost efficiency and methods of delivery of public services. It is clear that the cost of delivering public services must be reduced further and that the Public Service must become better integrated and more customer-focused, as well as being leaner and more efficient. The Government wants to make progress on this issue quickly and detailed implementation plans are being developed at present, which will encompass the commitments to Public Service reform in the Programme for Government and priority areas from the existing Transforming Public Services programme.

My Department has been given a clear mandate to drive and enable reform, and the focus now is on the key reforms required and how and in what sequence they will be implemented, to ensure that substantive and tangible change is delivered within clearly defined timeframes. These plans will focus on actions to improve performance by organisations and individuals; ensure greater efficiency, effectiveness and economy; and ensure flexibility in the deployment of people and resources. The performance and governance of public bodies is a key issue, and the potential to enhance corporate governance arrangements across the Public Service will be assessed in the context of the relevant commitments in the Programme for Government.

The overall reform programme, including institutional reform, will of course have regard to the needs of service users and a range of other factors. The overall objective of the reform programme is to ensure that the Public Service does better for less and delivers quality services to citizens and businesses with the resources available. The ambitious programme of reform will be overseen by the recently established Cabinet Committee on Public Service Reform, which is chaired by the Taoiseach and which I convene. In addition, it is my intention to establish a dedicated office within my Department to facilitate, drive and support the reform programme. This office will work closely with organisations across the Public Service, enabling them to drive the delivery of reform at a local level, as well as leading on cross-cutting reform initiatives. The office will include appropriate expertise in areas such as shared services, business process improvement, and others as required.

State Agencies

Niall Collins

Question:

19 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of chief executives of commercial State companies that have voluntarily reduced their salary by 15%. [20293/11]

Billy Kelleher

Question:

38 Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will detail any positions in which it has been identified that his recent salary announcement may cause difficulties in recruiting suitable persons to senior positions within State agencies. [20312/11]

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

50 Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, following his recent announcement of his intent to cap the pay of CEOs of semi-State commercial companies at €250,000, if he intends to extend the review of the current performance bonus schemes for CEOs in commercial semi-State companies to all levels of senior management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20326/11]

Niall Collins

Question:

51 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the exceptional circumstances in which the new pay ceilings for chief executive officers of semi-State companies and senior public sector posts may be breached. [20294/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 38, 50 and 51 together.

I have recently written to my Ministerial colleagues with Commercial State Companies under their aegis requesting that they arrange to issue letters to the Companies concerned asking that the attention of any staff with salaries in excess of €250,000 be drawn to the Government's request for voluntary waivers of 15% of salary (or by a lesser amount if the application of a 15% waiver would bring their salary level to below the new general pay ceiling). It is far too early to know what the level of response to the request will be.

Any exception to the general pay ceilings of €200,000 and €250,000 for, respectively, senior public service posts and for CEO posts in Commercial State Companies will be subject to my prior consent as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I have not prescribed in advance what circumstances may give rise to such exceptions being granted as requests will be determined by the facts of each case.

It is imperative that the public service and Commercial State Companies retain the ability to be able to recruit and retain persons with the necessary skills, abilities and energy to drive the public service and such Companies forward. The potential impact of the imposition of general pay ceilings for senior public service posts and for CEO posts within Commercial State Companies on future recruitment to such posts was therefore a key consideration. However given the current economic challenges facing the country an appropriate balance must be struck. Whether the general pay ceilings will act as an impediment to the recruitment of persons of the necessary calibre or not will only become known when specific posts are advertised. Should difficulties arise they will be considered on a case by case basis.

The recent Government Decision on the introduction of general pay ceilings for senior public service posts and for CEOs of Commercial State Companies also provided for a review to be undertaken of the current system of Performance Related Award Schemes for CEOs of Commercial State Companies by my Department in conjunction with Departments with Commercial State Companies under their aegis. I would expect that the issue of PRAS for staff below this level will be informed by the outcome of this review. In this context it is to be noted that the 2006 Department of Finance Guidelines on "Contracts, Remuneration and Other Conditions of Chief Executives and Senior Management of Commercial State Bodies" states, inter alia, that any performance schemes of senior management below CEO level should be on similar lines to the Government policy in relation to performance pay schemes for CEOs and should not provide for greater benefits.

Public Expenditure

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

20 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he has identified the areas most prone to public expenditure overruns by reference to the figure for each of the past five years; the extent to which he is likely to be able to combat such excesses with the least negative impact on job retention and creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20369/11]

Robert Troy

Question:

46 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the significant changes which he expects in the outturn of public expenditure for 2011, net and gross; and the reasons behind these changes. [20305/11]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

131 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which he has identified potential overruns in public expenditure in the current year to date; his plans to address such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20640/11]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

132 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, based on the experience over the past five years, the most likely areas to incur expenditure in excess of budget; his plans to deal with any such issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20641/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 46, 131 and 132 together.

Revised Estimates for all Votes for 2011, updated for the restructuring of Departmental responsibilities, the Jobs Initiative and certain other minor technical adjustments, have been presented to the Dáil, and it is expected that the approval process for all of the Votes will be completed prior to the Dáil summer recess. In aggregate terms, the new Revised Estimates provide for gross voted expenditure of €57.5 billion in 2011, and €46.2 billion in net terms. This compares to €57.5 billion and €46.1 billion detailed in the indicative Revised Estimates Volume published in February.

These Estimates clearly set out the 2011 allocations within which all Departments must manage. A number of expenditure areas are experiencing particular challenges. These include Health, Social Welfare and Justice. Such pressures are not new from year to year. The key issue being that the pressures have to be managed effectively within the level of resources available for the relevant Vote, and I have instructed my officials to engage with the relevant Departments in identifying options to address them. It remains a matter for each Minister and their Departments to ensure that the Vote-level allocations are adhered to. I have no reason, at this stage, to believe that the overall Estimates will not come in more or less on target.

Public Service Provision

Catherine Murphy

Question:

21 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will carry out an assessment of the geographic imbalance in respect of the delivery of public services in which areas of consistent and rapid population growth are subject to the same embargo but in which front-line services are significantly below the national average; his plans regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20324/11]

The Government is committed to reducing overall public service numbers over the period to 2015, as part of the overall drive to consolidate the public finances, and having regard to the need to protect front-line public services insofar as possible. Departments are expected to examine all aspects of public sector expenditure under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure with a view to ensuring that, where State programmes do continue, all resources are used in the optimum manner to deliver public services to citizens. There are no intended geographical targets associated with the numbers reduction being sought. Departments retain their full flexibility to deploy their staff resources as they consider appropriate, to deliver a high standard of public service to citizens throughout the country. Sectors within the public service are expected to deliver reductions in the context of new Employment Control Framework targets.

Question No. 22 answered with Question No. 17.

Ministerial Functions

Question:

23 Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the delegation orders which he intends signing in respect of any Minister of State. [20321/11]

Under section 9(4) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011, the functions of the Minister for Finance in relation to the Commissioners of Public Works transferred to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. In addition, specific functions of the Minister for Finance in other legislation coming within the remit of the OPW will transfer to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the Transfer of Functions Order. It is intended that the Transfer of Functions Order will be presented to Government on Tuesday 19th July and become effective from 20th July following which I will consider the appropriate delegation orders to the Minister of State.

Question No. 24 answered with Question No. 17.

Departmental Bodies

Willie O'Dea

Question:

25 Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his involvement in the work of the tax strategy group. [20302/11]

Senior officials from my Department are on the Tax Strategy Group and will contribute to the deliberations of the Group.

Civil Service Recruitment

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

26 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason, despite the completion of the progress report on the Croke Park agreement which found that the total reduction in the number of public servants during the 12 months under review was 5,349, publicjobs.ie has in recent months embarked on a recruitment drive for temporary clerical officers across the State within the public service. [20331/11]

The Government is committed to the reduction of between 18,000 and 21,000 in overall public service numbers by 2014, relative to the end-2010 position, with a further 4,000 reduction in 2015, subject to there being no compulsory redundancies and to the protection of front line services. The measures necessary to give effect to these reductions will depend in part on the rate of natural wastage and the decisions taken under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure on the required future size of particular sectors and bodies. This reduction in overall public sector numbers covers a range of grades and represents a permanent reduction in numbers while, in contrast, Temporary Clerical Officer appointments are of short-term duration and do not represent an ongoing cost.

Vacancies for Temporary Clerical Officers arise from time to time in various Government Departments and Offices throughout the country. Such temporary vacancies are filled by way of recruitment campaigns undertaken by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). The most recent campaign was announced on 24th February 2011 and closed on 2nd March 2011. In excess of 13,500 applications were received and processed by PAS and as of 11 July 2011, 748 candidates have taken up offers of assignment. The majority of these temporary vacancies arise during the summer period to cover peak operational needs and unpaid leave arrangements that staff can avail of such as term-time and provide necessary flexibility in managing work-flows. Vacancies may also arise at various times during the rest of the year. The duration of these temporary contracts will vary from post to post and according to the needs of the appointing Department/Office.

Ministerial Functions

Timmy Dooley

Question:

27 Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the role he will play in representing Ireland at EU level. [20310/11]

As Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform I have overall responsibility for Ireland's EU Structural Funds Programmes under the National Strategic Reference Programme (NSRF), including the co-ordination of all EU Funds and the promotion of Ireland's interests in the debate on future EU Cohesion policy. In this capacity I will be representing Ireland at meetings of Ministers with responsibility for Cohesion Policy. My officials also take part in a range of EU working groups, principally the Co-ordination Committee of the Funds and the Council Structural Action Working Party.

My Department is also responsible for engagement at EU level in relation to EU public procurement policy and legislation. In addition, it represents Ireland in eGovernment/ICT related activities at EU level, including the Interoperability Solutions for European Public Administrations (ISA) EU programme 2010-2015, and participates in the EU Commission's eGovernment Benchmarking Exercise. It also contributes to the work of the Council Working Group and related groups dealing with the Staff Regulations for Officials of the EU Institutions. Finally, it participates in the European Public Administration network (EUPAN), an informal network of Secretaries General that facilitates the exchange of experience, ideas and information on matters relating to public administration in the EU Member States and the European Commission.

Willie O'Dea

Question:

28 Deputy Willie O’Dea asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the powers beyond those contained in the Act establishing his Department which he expects to have transferred to him in the coming months. [20301/11]

John Browne

Question:

33 Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has identified any errors or omission in respect of the provisions of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011. [20307/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 33 together.

As the Deputy is aware the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2011 was published on 20 May. The purpose of the Bill was to provide the legislative framework for the formal establishment of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to transfer of certain expenditure and public service functions from the Minister for Finance to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and to place public service reform functions on a statutory footing for the first time. The Bill passed all stages on Thursday 30 June, was signed into law by the President on 4 July and the Government meeting of 5 July approved 6 July as the appointed day for the purposes of the Act, bringing the new Department in operation.

The Explanatory Memorandum that accompanied the Bill pointed out that in most instances of transferring departmental functions, secondary legislation under section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act, 1939 is sufficient. However, in the case of this new department it was considered that primary legislation would be required to affect the transfer of some functions in light of the nature of the functions transferring and to ensure that there is a sound legal basis underpinning the new departmental and ministerial responsibilities. It is intended that the remaining statutory functions which are appropriate for transfer to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be transferred by way of Transfer of Functions Order, in the coming weeks. These include, for example, functions relating to Fees/Rates/Licences/Charges, the making of Regulations/Orders, the determination of functions of Agencies/Authorities, matters relating to audits and accounts, matters relating to state bodies etc. It is my attention that a further Explanatory Memorandum will be prepared and circulated giving more details of the powers and functions transferred by the Transfer of Functions Order, when the order is finalised.

As I have indicated already the appointed day for the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011 was 06 July 2011 which is just over a week ago. I would like to assure the Deputy that, to date, I have not identified or been made aware of any errors or omission in relation to the provisions of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011.

Over time, as new legislation is introduced, amending or replacing older Acts the appropriate references to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform will be included from the outset. Over the course of the next few months if any issues arise in relation to the transfer of further powers these can be addressed by way of minor amendments to existing legislation or an additional Transfer of Functions Order. In the meantime, if the Deputy is aware of any errors or omissions I would be very glad if he could bring them to my attention.

Official Engagements

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

29 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the meetings he has held with representatives of the trade unions and employers in the past three months. [20304/11]

Since my appointment as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in March 2011, I have met a number of Trade Union and Employer Bodies. Details of these meetings are set out in the following table.

Meetings

Body

Date of Meeting

ICTU

16 March 2011

SIPTU

19 April 2011

UNITE

05 May 2011

SIPTU/IMPACT

01 June 2011

IBEC

28 June 2011

In addition, I addressed the IMPACT delegate conference on 13 May 2011.

Employment of Agency Staff

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

30 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of agency staff employed in the public sector; the agencies being used; the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20372/11]

Information on the number of agency staff employed in the public sector is not reported to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. However, I should point out that the employment of agency staff would be subject to the terms of the public service moratorium on recruitment. Details of numbers of agency staff should be sought from individual Departments. In relation to my own Department no agency staff are employed.

Departmental Staff

Timmy Dooley

Question:

31 Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the name and terms for all non-established personnel in his Department. [20309/11]

There are currently 24 persons working in a non-established capacity in my Department, encompassing a combination of fixed term contracts and contracts of indefinite duration. The details are as follows:

13 Part-time language trainers in the Civil Service Language Unit

Sinead Kane, WAM*

Edmond Hearne, Evaluator

Eoin Dormer, Evaluator

Joan Curry, Accountant

Patricia Hennessy, Structural Funds IT Manager

Anne Byrne, Special Adviser

Rónán O'Brien, Special Adviser

Eugene O'Sullivan, Civilian Driver

Tony Brennan, Civilian Driver

Frances Kelly, Parliamentary Assistant

Marion Doyle, Personal Secretary

Employed under the Willing Able and Mentoring Programme

Question No. 32 answered with Question No. 18.
Question No. 33 answered with Question No. 28.

Secret Service

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

34 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform following the circulation of the 2011 Estimates for Public Services this week, if he will explain the reason the spend on the Secret Service is due to increase by €419,000 in 2011 in comparison to 2010; if the Secret Service will be accounted for in the comprehensive review of expenditure; and if the Secret Service has been subject to a value for money audit. [20343/11]

Thomas Pringle

Question:

53 Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will explain the purpose of the Secret Service; the reason its budget increased by 72% in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20680/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 53 together.

The 2011 Estimate for the Secret Service Vote is €1m, which is the same as the 2010 Estimate. It is not the practice to divulge information or explanations relating to expenditure or how the estimate is arrived at for this Vote. As regards reporting mechanisms, the Appropriation Account of the Vote for the Secret Service is audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General in accordance with section 3 of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act, 1993. The C & AG is furnished with certificates from the responsible Ministers which support the expenditure shown in the account. On the basis of these certificates, the C & AG expresses an opinion in the annual published Appropriation Accounts that the account properly presents the expenditure of the Vote for the particular year concerned. This arrangement has been accepted by the Committee of Public Accounts of the Dáil.

Public Service Recruitment

Michael Colreavy

Question:

35 Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the negative impact the ongoing recruitment embargo is having on the public services, his views on whether the employment of temporary staff, particularly in the health services, is the most expedient and cost effective way to tackle staffing shortages; if he will quantify the numbers of temporary staff across the public service; and the section in the Estimates from which these temporary workers are paid. [20342/11]

The moratorium on recruitment and promotion, introduced by the Government at end of March 2009 allows for certain general exemptions in the Education and Health Sectors for the filling of certain key posts as well as Local Authorities in relation to certain key posts. Information in relation to the posts covered by these general exemptions may be sought from the relevant Minister. As part of the Employment Control Framework 2011-2014 for the Health Sector, the HSE has discretion to fill a limited number of posts on exceptional grounds to support the development of integrated health care and its transformation programme.

The Government are committed to examining all aspects of public expenditure under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure with a view to ensuring that all resources are used in the optimum manner to deliver services to citizens. Information on the number of temporary staff across the public service and the section in the estimates that these temporary workers are paid from can be sought from the relevant Minister in each case.

Departmental Staff

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

36 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the changes he has made in the staffing of the units transferred to his Department. [20303/11]

There have been some recent changes in staffing assignments and responsibilities throughout the Department. The establishment of the Department also involved the integration of some former staff of the Department of the Taoiseach. However, as the Deputy will appreciate, the level of resources assigned to specific policy areas is determined by the business needs of the Department which, I can assure the Deputy, will continue to be kept under review.

Public Sector Pay

John McGuinness

Question:

37 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will give a commitment that there will be no further cuts to public service pay. [20298/11]

The Government has reaffirmed the key commitments under the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 on pay rates and job security for serving public servants. These commitments are contingent on delivery of the necessary flexibilities and reforms to public service delivery that are required under the Agreement.

Question No. 38 answered with Question No. 19.

Public Sector Recruitment

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

39 Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the programme for Government commitment that all appointments at principal officer level and above will be open to external competition and at least one-third of such appointments will be reserved for candidates from outside traditional Civil Service structures, his views on the appointment of his Secretary General from the Department of Finance. [20330/11]

The Programme for Government contains a commitment that 1 in 3 of all Principal level recruitment should be open and restricted to non-civil servants. The commitment gives rise to certain legal difficulties in the context of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and the Code of Practice of the Commission for Public Service Appointments for appointments to the civil service. Future policy on recruitment and promotions needs to take this commitment, the moratorium on recruitment and promotion and the operation of redeployment arrangements into account.

Robert Watt was appointed by the Government to the post of Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on 26 April 2011 on foot of a request for expressions of interest in appointment to the post throughout the civil service. He is required to fulfil the duties of a Secretary General as set out in the Public Service Management Act, 1997 and of an Accounting Officer under the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1997 and the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1866.

Question No. 40 answered with Question No. 10.

Official Engagements

John McGuinness

Question:

41 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the discussions he has had with the Croke Park agreement implementation body. [20297/11]

I took the opportunity to meet the Chair and members of the Croke Park Implementation Body on 23rd March last, in one of my earliest engagements as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. It was a useful opportunity to learn at first hand about the issues arising in the context of implementing the Croke Park Agreement. I was also able to brief the Body on plans to establish the new Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Government's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. I met with the Body again on Wednesday 29th June last, together with the Taoiseach. We had a constructive engagement on the key issues relating to driving the reform agenda across the public service. The meeting was a timely one in view of the recent publication of the Body's first report on progress under the Agreement.

While we welcomed the tangible progress that has been made in the first year, we were clear on the need for an acceleration of progress over the coming months. This is something the Implementation Body themselves have acknowledged in their Report. We also emphasised the need to build on the flexibilities already agreed to in the Croke Park Agreement. This is absolutely critical in view of the challenges facing the public service which will need to manage with substantially less resources and significantly fewer staff — while at the same time protecting services to business and to citizens, including the most vulnerable in our society. We made clear that the Government wishes to honour the commitments given in the Agreement but that this will only be possible if the Agreement is implemented in full. I intend to keep in close contact with the Implementation Body as it pursues its work over the coming months and I look forward to further significant progress over the next reporting period.

Question No. 42 answered with Question No. 18.

Departmental Staff

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

43 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number, grade and locations of staff in his Department and further changes to any of these details which he envisages for the next six months. [20319/11]

The number of Whole Time Equivalents, grades and location of staff employed in my Department is outlined in the following table.

Summary Grade

D/PER

IT **

Grand Total

Secretary General D/PER

1

1

Second Secretary

1

1

Assistant Secretary

7

7

Principal

35.7

35.7

Assistant Principal

78.6

1

79.6

Administrative Officer

18.6

18.6

Higher Executive Officer

51.53

2

53.53

Executive Officer

26.4

1

27.4

Staff Officer

10.23

1

11.23

Clerical Officer

31.9

31.9

Chief Medical Officer

1

1

Deputy Chief Medical Officer

0.6

0.6

Occupational Physician

2

2

Nurse

3

3

Driver

2

2

Grand Total

270.56

5

275.56

** Located in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform providing a service to the Department of Finance.

In addition, certain services are provided on a shared basis by the Department of Finance e.g Corporate Services, Human Resources, Facilities Management, Press Office. I am not in a position to comment on specific changes expected in the next six months. However, staffing issues will be kept under review in the context of the Department's business needs, while having due regard to budgetary provision, moratorium on public service numbers and the limit of the Department's Employment Control Framework.

Micheál Martin

Question:

44 Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the procedure for filling the vacant position of assistant Secretary General at his Department. [20316/11]

The Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) holds competitions for, and advises Ministers and the Government, on appointments to civil service posts at Secretary General, Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary and equivalent levels. Since early 2007, the policy has been that open competitions are held for Assistant Secretary, Deputy Secretary and equivalent posts. More recently this policy has been extended to Secretary General posts, with the exception of a limited number of Secretary General posts which are filled by the Government without a TLAC competition. Where open competitions are held, the normal practice is that the Public Appointments Service holds a preliminary competition and selects a shortlist of candidates for interview by the TLAC. I am satisfied that the Top Level Appointments Committee and the preliminary interview boards under the Public Appointments Service carry out their functions in a fair and objective manner.

Departmental Properties

Sean Fleming

Question:

45 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if consideration will be given to the sale of land and buildings or the surrender of leases even where this might have implications for previous decentralisation measures. [20287/11]

Having regard to the management of the State's property portfolio, the Office of Public Works (OPW) advises that the sale of land and buildings is the subject of constant review. OPW operates an active approach to the rationalisation of its lease stock through the ongoing surrender of leases. Properties and leases associated with the Decentralisation programme will be subject to Government review in 2011.

Question No. 46 answered with Question No. 20.
Question No. 47 answered with Question No. 10.

Expenditure Reviews

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

48 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will give details of the proposals sought for the rationalisation of grant and subsidy schemes to be included in the comprehensive review of expenditure. [20337/11]

The aim of the ongoing Comprehensive Review of Expenditure is to examine all areas of expenditure. The onus is on each Department to examine every expenditure area within its remit, including all grant and subsidy schemes, and then to identify and efficiently target savings. It is the responsibility of each Minister and Department to bring forward such proposals in the context of their Expenditure Review Reports.

These individual Departmental reports are now being submitted to the high level Steering Committee for evaluation. Once finalised, the reports will be presented to the Economic Management Council in September. The results of the Comprehensive Review process will then be brought before Government for consideration and decisions as part of the Budget and Estimates process. I do not propose to comment on individual proposals contained in the Departmental Reports until the process has been completed.

Sale of State Assets

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

49 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans regarding the sale of State assets; if he will provide a timeframe for same; and if the proceeds will be used to fund job measures. [20291/11]

As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government provides for the sale of non-strategic assets up to a value of €2 billion to fund investment in key networks of the economy. This will occur when market conditions are right and when adequate regulatory structures have been established to protect consumer interests. Following publication of the Report of the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities in April, my Department sought the considered views of relevant Departments on the Review Group's recommendations. Having considered these views, I intend to bring proposals to Government shortly on the matter. Under the EU/IMF Programme, the Government has agreed to discuss its plans with the European Commission, the IMF and the ECB when it has finalised its response to the Review Group Report. This is to take place by the end of the year.

Questions Nos. 50 and 51 answered with Question No. 19.

Departmental Expenditure

Pearse Doherty

Question:

52 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide examples of reasonable co-payment mechanisms to offset in part costs associated with the delivery of public services, as proposed by his Secretary General in a recent memorandum to Department heads with regard to the comprehensive spending review. [20336/11]

My Department has not been prescriptive in setting out specific examples of co-payment mechanisms that are expected to be considered by individual Departments and their agencies as part of their overall Review of Expenditure in each area. However there are a wide range of possible mechanisms. For illustrative purposes, Departments may be able to identify new sources of funding for their activities through levies or tolls that can be reasonably applied in the markets for the activities.

Rather than commit expenditure upfront, public bodies may be able to partner with the private sector to make the upfront investments in return for a reasonable application of some form of gain-share model. Public bodies may be able to introduce differentiated administrative charges or rates for services dependent on the channel used by the customer — in other words, self-service or electronic channels may be free or lowest cost whereas staffed or manual channels may attract an administrative fee or higher service charges to assist the public service defray the cost to the taxpayer. There is no ubiquitously correct model which is why we have asked Departments and public bodies to consider every possible option.

Question No. 53 answered with Question No. 34.

Passport Applications

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

54 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the nature of any outstanding requirements in respect of the issue of a passport in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20652/11]

The position in this case was outlined previously to the Deputy in my reply to Question No. 83 of 17 May, 2011. This stated that the Passports Act 2008 requires that before issuing a passport to a person, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be satisfied as to the identity of each applicant and that the person is an Irish citizen. Documentary evidence such as birth certificates are among the standard documents that are required for all applications that involve children and persons, aged 18 and over the age, who are first-time applicants. These certificates are particularly critical to the passport process in terms of identity. In the case of the person in question, his application was supported, inter alia, by an affidavit about his birth details. In line with passport policy, the Department wrote to him on 31 March, 2011 requesting him to provide his birth certificate and to provide additional ID such as his Angolan passport.

The position is unchanged from my reply on 17 May in that the details of his birth affidavit remain to be verified. The Department has inquired into the status and completeness of civil records of births in Angola with the assistance of the Irish Embassy in Maputo which is accredited to that country. These are ongoing. As soon as this information is received by the Passport Service, the application in question will be finalised and the applicant will be advised accordingly.

Overseas Development Aid

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

55 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the grants available for the transportation of disused medical equipment to developing countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20420/11]

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

56 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if any grants are available through North South reconciliation bodies for the transportation of disused medical equipment to developing countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20421/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together.

The building of health services is an important element of the Government's aid programme, which is managed by Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Our support is aimed at ensuring sustainable provision of essential basic care to those most in need. Irish Aid works with a range of partners, including the Health Ministries in our Programme Countries, non-governmental organisations, mission health services, regional initiatives, UN funds and agencies and global partnerships.

Ireland has considerable experience in health development work and, based on past lessons, our programming is carefully designed to strengthen the systems in developing countries. Irish Aid works to avoid parallel and fragmented services and to fit as closely as possible with local policies and conditions. This is the best possible approach in order to ensure that improvements in health services are sustained and maintained.

I welcome the interest in the transfer of medical equipment to developing countries. Any such initiatives, however, should be based on the provision of quality equipment which is compatible with local needs and conditions. This is particularly important when dealing with sophisticated medical equipment. The provision of any equipment should be in response to a clear and explicit need. Every effort ought to be made to check compatibility with local equipment specifications and environmental conditions, including electricity, water and room temperatures. The need for servicing and re-supply of parts within the budgets of responsible authorities must also be addressed.

Irish Aid has supported a number of small health projects based in Ireland which have included transportation of decommissioned equipment to developing countries, with a fully funded and guaranteed equipment maintenance plan. Experience has shown that the more successful of these projects are based on twinning arrangements between facilities in Ireland and in the developing world.

There are no grants available either in the Irish Aid programme or through North-South reconciliation bodies specifically for the transportation of decommissioned medical equipment. However, through a programme of collaboration between Irish Aid and the Health Service Executive, work is underway to explore the establishment of a network of twinning initiatives that may include transfer of useful equipment.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

57 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if companies (details supplied) are employed by his Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20502/11]

Shane Ross

Question:

60 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20909/11]

Shane Ross

Question:

62 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; the details of the projects. [20937/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 60 and 62 together.

My Department does not currently employ the services of any of the four companies referred to in the questions. In the timeframe available it is not possible to provide information earlier than 2004. From 2004 to date, my Department has contracted the services of KPMG on two occasions and PwC on one occasion. In 2007 and 2008 payments of €35, 406.12 and €35,978.76 respectively were made to KPMG for a Value for Money review of the Passport Service. In 2008, €995.00 was paid to PwC for a senior management workshop. In addition, Missions abroad have, from time to time, engaged the services of the local franchise partnerships of some of these international companies.

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

Question:

58 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide full details of all appointments made at his Department since he took up office. [20575/11]

Since taking up office as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have appointed the following staff to my Department.

Staff

No.

Temporary Clerical Officers (for the Passport Service)

85

Personal Assistants

4

Civilian Drivers

4

Interns

4

Special Advisers

3

Personal Secretaries

3

Temporary Cleaner

1

In addition to the above, in April 2011, I appointed the members of the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (ESAC), for a term to run until 31 December 2012. The primary role of the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) is to advise on the allocation of grants to Irish community organisations in Britain under the Emigrant Support Programme.

The Committee consists of thirteen members including two officers from our Embassy in London, who act as Chair and Secretary to the Committee. The additional eleven members of the committee serve in a voluntary capacity. After consultation with our Embassy in London and the Irish Abroad Unit in my Department, I made the following appointments to the Committee:

Mr. Michael Forde — Chairman of the Irish Diaspora Foundation (first appointed 1999).

Mr. Séamus McGarry — Member of the Ireland Fund of Great Britain; Board of Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith (appointed 2004).

Mr. Jim O'Hara — Vice Chair, Irish Youth Foundation UK, Chair of Irish Cultural Centre, Hammersmith (appointed 1996).

Cllr. Sally Mulready - Councillor in the London Borough of Hackney; Irish Elderly Advice Network (appointed 2008).

Tony Cusack — Manager of Irish Centre in Leicester (appointed 2008).

Breege McDaid - Chief Executive, Irish Community Care Merseyside (appointed 2008).

Tony Corcoran — Tyneside Irish Festival and Secretary of the Tyneside Irish Centre (appointed 2008).

Des Hurley — Chief Executive, Irish Arts Foundation (appointed 2008).

Bridie Nugent - Board Member of the Irish Welfare and Information Centre in Birmingham (appointed 2009).

John Gormley - Former President of the GAA in Britain (new appointment 2011).

Joe Brown - Chair of the Irish Travellers Movement (new appointment 2011).

Departmental Properties

Shane Ross

Question:

59 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total value of the property portfolio of his Department including all embassies abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20591/11]

All property owned by the State in Ireland is the responsibility of the Office of Public Works. One such property, Iveagh House, is occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The State owns 36 properties abroad. These premises are situated in locations where the Government considers it necessary that Ireland should be represented and where there is a clear economic advantage in owning rather than renting accommodation. Their current estimated book value is of the order of €148 million. However, I would caution that this value will have been affected by the downturn in the property market in many countries.

These properties have been acquired for use as office premises and official Residences of Heads of Mission. They provide platforms to enable our Missions to raise Ireland's international profile and fulfil their varying responsibilities. These include promoting Irish economic interests abroad, providing services to the public and representing the State in international organisations.

Question No. 60 answered with Question No. 57.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

61 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by his Department over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20923/11]

In the timeframe available it is not possible to provide information earlier than 2006. Since that time, my Department has engaged the services of external public relations companies for a limited number of specific projects, including assistance with events relating to the Irish Aid programme and promoting awareness of the EU. The total amount paid to these companies was €880,544.

Question No. 62 answered with Question No. 57.

Departmental Expenditure

Shane Ross

Question:

63 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21129/11]

A number of trade unions and related bodies have received funding from my Department through the Irish Aid programme and the reconciliation and anti-sectarianism funds. My Department operates reconciliation and anti-sectarianism funds, the objective of which is to assist individuals and organisations involved in reconciliation work and to encourage and facilitate better relations within and between the Nationalist-republican and Unionist-loyalist traditions on the island of Ireland and also relations between Ireland and Britain. Each year, applications to the funds are received from a broad range of organisations and groups.

Over the past decade, funding has been awarded in support of ongoing initiatives by the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to promote anti-sectarianism within workplaces and at community levels, including through training of community leaders in areas of weak infrastructure. In consultation with my Department, this funding has also been directed towards other small projects, run by local community organisations, which are designed to foster reconciliation and combat sectarianism in and between communities. The total amount of funding awarded to the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions since 1999 is €690,230 and the last such award from the Reconciliation Fund was made in 2010.

Further grants from the Reconciliation Fund have also been awarded to the Northern Ireland Trade Union Education and Social Centre (also incorporating Belfast Unemployed Resource Centre) as established in 1984 by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Law Centre (NI), the Workers Education Association and Belfast City Council. NITUESC promotes reconciliation by offering cross community and cross-Border education opportunities in relation to common social and economic issues and specific conflict-related issues. The total amount involved is €300,000 and the last such award was also made in 2010.

The Irish Aid programme is administered through my Department's Development Cooperation Division.

Prior to 2004, State funding for development education was provided through the National Committee for Development Education. The funding was provided to promote deeper public understanding of global development issues. It includes support for the Global Solidarity Programme of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) which aims to deepen understanding within the trade union movement of global development and labour-related issues, including child labour. In 2008, funding to the ICTU included an allocation of €20,000 to strengthen the capacity of trade unions in Lesotho.

Funding of €74,022.65 has been provided to the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) to develop educational programmes and resources for primary schools and to deliver courses on development education for teachers on themes including child labour, human rights and trade. The INTO also received funding of €103,042 in 2005 for an education and training project in Nicaragua.

Support of €56,487.39 has also been provided through Irish Aid for the education programme of the Irish Coalition for the Campaign for Global Education. The coalition is chaired by the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland and involves trade unions and non-governmental organisations. The aim of the education programme is to increase awareness and understanding of global issues among post-primary students and teachers with a particular emphasis on the second Millennium Development Goal — education. Other unions involved in the coalition include the INTO, ICTU and the Teachers Union of Ireland.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) as a specialised agency of the UN works with national governments, employers' and workers' organisations to promote decent work for all. Irish Aid has had a Partnership Programme with the ILO since 2001. The overall objective of the programme has been to create greater opportunities for women and men to secure decent employment and income in developing countries. Irish Aid has provided €20.8 million to activities under the Partnership Programme since its initiation.

The first two phases of the programme (2001-2008) provided support in three key areas: women's entrepreneurship; employment and entrepreneur opportunities for persons with disabilities and action against forced labour. Support for the elimination of child labour has been added as a new element in the third phase of the programme (2008-2011). Developing countries supported under the Programme include Ethiopia, Tanzania, Zambia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR.

Irish Aid also has had ongoing contacts with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC) in relation to the Partnership Programme. Further funding of €750,000 in 2009 and €1.6 million in 2010 was provided to the ILO by Irish Aid for labour market and business opportunity development programmes in Timor-Leste.

Tax Code

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

64 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the reduction in VAT for Irish newspapers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20396/11]

The Finance (No. 2) Act 2011 provided for a second reduced VAT rate, of 9%, on a temporary basis in respect of certain services and goods, including newspapers, for the period 1 July 2011 to end 2013. All newspapers sold on or after 1 July 2011 are subject to VAT at the new 9% rate and the total retail price charged should be inclusive of tax at that rate.

Tobacco Smuggling

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

65 Deputy Patrick O’Donovan asked the Minister for Finance the number of illegal cigarettes that were confiscated by the Customs Service in 2010 and to date in 2011; his plans to tackle the illegal importation and sale of illegal cigarettes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20399/11]

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that 178 million illicit cigarettes were seized in 2010 and 63.8 million were seized in the period January to June 2011. I know that the Revenue Commissioners regard the tackling of the illicit trade in cigarettes and tobacco products to be a high priority. Their strategy includes the development and sharing of intelligence on a national, EU and international basis; the use of analytics and detection technologies; and the optimum deployment of resources at points of importation and inland to intercept contraband tobacco product and to prosecute those involved.

Interception at the point of importation is achieved through a combination of risk analysis, profiling, intelligence, and the screening of cargo, vehicles, baggage and postal packages. Revenue enforcement officers also target this illicit trade at the post-importation level by carrying out intelligence-based operations and random checks at retail outlets, markets and private and commercial premises. Revenue and An Garda Síochána also carry out regular multi-agency operations, particularly in relation to large maritime importations and in checks at inland markets.

The Revenue Commissioners have established a high level internal group, chaired at Commissioner level, to examine the risks related to tobacco products tax and to oversee and optimise the detection of counterfeit and contraband tobacco products. This group has promoted a number of initiatives aimed at counteracting the illicit trade in tobacco. These include adoption of a comprehensive tobacco strategy and action plan, improved profiling of passengers and freight to identify tobacco smugglers and the establishment of a confidential tobacco hotline via which members of the public and the retail trade may report illicit trade. This group also co-ordinates national blitz-style operations. To date, Revenue has conducted six such blitz-type operations, resulting in the seizure of in excess of 31.9m cigarettes. Further large-scale nationwide operations are scheduled to take place during the second half of 2011. Additionally, an ongoing programme of regional-level operations is targeting local markets and other distribution points.

In 2010 forty-one convictions for illegal selling of unstamped tobacco products were secured by Revenue, with total fines of €107,750 together with seven custodial sentences and two community service orders imposed. There were a further ninety-seven convictions for cigarette smuggling secured by Revenue with total fines of €50,380 and fifteen custodial sentences imposed. In the period January to June 2011, nineteen court convictions for illegal selling of unstamped tobacco products have been secured by Revenue with total fines of €48,200 and two custodial sentences imposed. An additional sixty-four convictions for cigarette smuggling have been secured with total fines of €81,450 and twenty custodial sentences imposed.

Increases in penalty for tobacco smuggling for commercial purposes will be considered in the context of the Finance Bill 2012.

National Asset Management Agency

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

66 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether it is equitable that a company is permitted to resume development of a site under National Asset Management Agency supervision while it has debts outstanding to suppliers for a development (details supplied); his views on the implications of importing goods from abroad rather than using the Irish manufactured goods from the supplier who is owed money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20402/11]

There are some cases where additional monies are requested of NAMA by debtors in order to complete developments. NAMA makes the decision to advance funds to an individual development project based on its commercial viability. In these cases NAMA is typically a secured creditor as it has a mortgage charge, usually over the property that was security for a loan. That property may be land, an unfinished development of houses or offices, or some similar form.

The question appears to relate to an instance where unsecured creditors have supplied goods or services to a developer or the company of a developer. As a consequence of the economic downturn there have been instances of individuals and companies having difficulty collecting money owed to them as suppliers. Where a debtor and an unsecured creditor have an issue in dispute it is for the two parties to attempt to resolve the matter between themselves. Where that is not possible, and agreement cannot be reached, then the courts would appear to be best equipped to judge the merits of each case and determine the outcome.

NAMA was not established to settle commercial disputes or to adjudicate on the rights and wrongs in these cases. Such a role is beyond the functions of NAMA set out in statute in the National Asset Management Agency Act 2009. The prime function of NAMA is to manage acquired loans efficiently, effectively and expeditiously and in the best interests of the State. In doing so, it aims to attain the best achievable financial return subject to acceptable financial risk.

Financial Services Regulation

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

67 Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Finance if he will issue guidelines to the banks for dealing with residential borrowers who are in negative equity; his views on outlining to the banks the manner in which they should deal with borrowers in negative equity who wish to sell their home and provide a time-frame to the banks within which they must consider any application for a sale from a borrower who is in negative equity. [20406/11]

I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government is conscious of the difficulties that many homeowners are having in meeting their mortgage repayments in respect of their principal private residence. There are a number of existing measures in place to support those homeowners struggling with their repayments. These measures include the Mortgage Interest Supplement, the Money Advice Budgeting Services, and the Central Bank of Ireland's Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears.

The Mortgage Interest Supplement is managed by the Department of Social Protection and provides assistance where the mortgage relates to a person's home. The Deputy will be aware of the important support provided by the Money Advice and Budgeting Services (MABS). MABS provides a national, free, confidential and independent service operating from 53 offices nationwide. I would encourage anyone who is in financial difficulty to contact their local MABS office.

The Central Bank of Ireland's Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears has been substantially revised to implement the recommendations of the Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt Expert Group which published its final Report in November 2010. The Code sets out how mortgage lenders must treat borrowers in or facing mortgage arrears with due regard to the fact that each case of mortgage arrears is unique and needs to be considered on its own merits. An important recommendation of the Expert Group was that lenders would make available a Deferred Interest Scheme (DIS) to borrowers who cannot afford to pay the full interest on their mortgages but can pay at least 66% of the amount due. The borrower would have to pay the deferred interest at some agreed future date.

Lenders representing the majority of the market have already indicated their willingness to make available deferred interest schemes. These are Allied Irish Bank, AIB Mortgage Bank, Bank of Ireland, ICS Building Society, EBS, Haven Mortgages, Irish Nationwide Building Society, Permanent TSB, Springboard Mortgages and Start Mortgages. While the making available of Deferred Interest Schemes is voluntary for all lenders, those who have signed up in support of the scheme will be monitored by the Central Bank to ensure compliance.

The Expert Group on Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt published its final Report last November. Since the publication of the Group's Report, the Central Bank has revised its Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears to reflect many of the Expert Group's recommendations including key recommendations relating to the introduction by all regulated lenders of a standardized Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP). It is important to point out that borrowers who are in financial difficulties, but not in arrears, are allowed to come under the MARP.

I also refer to the Deputy to the Expert Group's comments on the potential to improve the position of some mortgage holders who are in negative equity where households would be willing to trade-down. Trading down would produce a reduction in mortgage debt and more affordable monthly payments. The Group noted that “for some mortgage holders who are in negative equity, trading down would produce a reduction in mortgage debt and more affordable monthly payments. The Group recommends that further consideration should be given by lenders to facilitating trading down by borrowers in this situation. Such options would have to meet relevant prudential standards, with appropriate controls in place, and be in the customers’ best interest.”

Trading down involves selling a current property and buying a cheaper one. Trading down may be an option to reduce the level of mortgage repayments, resulting in more affordable monthly repayments. The Group's recommendation was aimed at helping mortgage holders remain as home owners while reducing their level of repayments. There will also be situations where mortgage holders in negative equity may wish to move home, for example, to take up new employment opportunities. There is merit in facilitating house moves by those in negative equity in certain situations and subject to certain criteria set down by the Central Bank. Ultimately, these are matters for lenders and the Central Bank to decide upon. Any lender planning to provide a negative equity type product must notify the Central Bank in advance to ensure that appropriate measures and controls are taken, as the Central Bank must be satisfied that such a product meets relevant prudential standards and does not lead to consumers being over exposed.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to help homeowners who are facing difficulty with their mortgage repayments and the Government will examine a number of proposals in relation to this commitment. In this context, the Government Economic Management Council recently asked that further work be carried out to address the situation of over indebted mortgage holders with a view to identifying a range of responses appropriate to individual circumstances. The work concerned will be carried out by a group chaired by Mr. Declan Keane, seconded to the Department of Finance by KPMG and will report by end September.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

68 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Finance if companies (details supplied) are employed by his Department; and if so, the capacity of same. [20501/11]

At present, my Department has engaged one person, from one of the companies listed by the Deputy, to provide expert advice and assistance in relation to the banking area. There are no other contracts in place at present with any of the other companies mentioned.

Tax Reliefs

Stephen S. Donnelly

Question:

69 Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a list of tax expenditures and tax breaks currently in place; the total number of tax expenditures and tax breaks; the number of tax expenditures and tax breaks for which Revenue Commissioners have accurate annual costs; the latest figures or estimates of the annual cost to the Exchequer of tax expenditures and tax breaks; his plans to amend or phase out these tax expenditures and tax breaks; if he will provide details of any that have been amended or phased out since he took office; and if he will provide details of the duration for which such tax expenditures and tax breaks typically produce cost to the Exchequer after they have expired or been withdrawn. [20531/11]

Robert Dowds

Question:

73 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will list the tax breaks which were available to Irish citizens during the period June 2009 to February 2011. [20549/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 73 together.

Tax Relief Provision

(i) Estimated cost for

2007

2008

INCOME TAX

€m

Numbers

€m

Numbers

Exemption limits:

General Exemption (2)

0.0

0

0.0

0

Child Addition (2)

0.2

800

0.3

900

Age Exemption (2)

75.3

51,500

90.8

57,700

Married Person’s Credit (3)

2,776.7

834,900

2,944.9

853,100

Single Person’s Credit (3)

2,392.0

1,552,800

2,406.8

1,503,300

Widowed Person’s Credit (3)

171.3

79,500

184.3

81,100

Additional Credit to Widowed Person in Year of Bereavement

4.8

4,000

4.9

4,000

Additional Bereavement Credit to Widowed Parent

6.6

2,400

6.9

2,300

Additional Personal Credit for Lone Parent

199.0

122,200

197.4

116,700

Homecarer Credit

68.5

92,200

79.5

93,100

Additional Credit for Incapacitated Child

31.7

11,700

39.0

12,300

Employee (PAYE) Credit

3,153.1

1,732,000

3,253.8

1,710,200

Dependent Relative Credit

1.8

17,600

2.0

18,700

Person Taking Care of Incapacitated Taxpayer

4.6

1,070

5.8

1,260

Age Credit

33.7

82,900

42.3

88,100

Blind Person’s Credit

2.0

1,240

2.1

1,320

Medical Insurance Premiums (4)

300.3

1,195,300

321.0

1,322,400

Health Expenses

225.7

496,300

266.8

542,600

Contributions Under Permanent Health Benefit Schemes, after Deduction of Tax on Benefits Received (5)

3.6

26,300

4.0

29,200

Employees’ Contributions To Approved Superannuation Schemes (6)

590.0

708,500

655.0

792,600

Employers’ Contributions To Approved Superannuation Schemes (6)

150.0

364,700

165.0

362,700

Exemption of Investment Income and Gains of Approved Superannuation Funds ( 6) *

900.0

N/A

685.0

N/A

Exemption of employers’ contributions to Approved Superannuation Schemes from employee BIK

540.0

364,700

595.0

362,700

Tax Relief on “tax free” lump sums (6)

130.0

N/A

140.0

N/A

Retirement Annuity Premiums

407.9

121,300

352.8

116,000

Personal Retirement Savings Accounts

61.1

46,600

73.8

53,900

Interest paid:

Loans relating to Principal Private Residence

542.7

720,000

704.6

778,100

Other ( 7)

46.9

5,300

48.5

5,400

Rent Paid in Private Tenancies

82.1

206,000

96.5

222,100

Expenses Allowable to Employees under Schedule E

69.8

894,400

75.2

835,900

Third Level Education Fees

18.1

34,500

19.9

36,000

Exemption of Certain Earnings of Writers, Composers and Artists

27.4

2,650

21.8

2,630

Dispositions (Including Maintenance Payments made to Separated Spouses)

20.5

7,220

22.3

7,820

Exemption of Interest on Savings Certificates, National Installment Savings & Index Linked Savings Bonds

130.3

N/A

88.1

N/A

Rent a Room

4.7

3,180

5.6

3,600

Exemption of Income of Charities, Colleges, Hospitals, Schools, Friendly Societies, etc. (8) (10)

30.7

N/A

35.8

N/A

Retirement Relief for certain Sports Persons.(9)

0.2

20

0.2

17

Exemption of Irish Government Securities where owner not ordinarily resident in Ireland ( 10) *

240.8

N/A

320.8

N/A

Exemption of Statutory Redundancy Payments

87.6

25,000

85.4

29,800

Service Charges

24.4

413,100

27.1

455,200

Top Slicing Relief — Reduced Tax Rate for Payments in Excess of Exemption Amounts Made as Compensation for Loss of Office

27.8

3,020

44.7

3,790

Revenue Job Assist allowance

0.3

360

0.2

330

Allowance for seafarers

0.3

170

0.3

160

Trade Union Subscriptions

20.7

316,300

26.4

341,900

Exemption From Tax of Certain Social Welfare Payments:

Child benefit *

355.0

347,760

435.3

401,200

Early childcare Supplement*

84.3

193,200

98.3

195,200

Maternity allowance *

15.2

20,950

18.2

23,420

Foster Care Payments

29.4

3,330

28.1

3,470

Exemption of Income arising from the Provision of Childcare Services

0.7

400

0.8

440

Approved Profit Sharing Schemes *

107.6

98,870

99

111,180

Savings-Related Share Option Schemes *

11.9

2,600

1.3

2,800

Approved Share Option Schemes *

3

1000

0.08

280

Reilief for New Shares Purchased by Employees

0.2

210

0.3

280

Investment in Corporate Trades (BES)

17.5

1,900

55.7

3,200

Investment in Seed Capital

2.3

63

1.7

56

Stock Relief *

2

N/A

2.0

N/A

Relief for expenditure on significant buildings and gardens

5.0

210

5.9

290

Donation of Heritage items

5.3

4

4.7

5

Donation of Heritage property to the Irish Heritage Trust

1.9

7

3.6

4

INCOME TAX AND/OR CORPORATION TAX (11)

Donations to Approved Bodies

47.6

110,700

52.4

131,100

Donations to Sports Bodies. (9)

0.4

700

0.3

850

Employee Share Ownership Trusts*

4.4

26,000

8.4

29,200

Total Capital Allowances: (12)

2,019.2

270,900

2,176.6

270,200

Rented Residential Relief — Section 23 (13) *

133.6

2,920

74.7

2,429

Effective Rate of 10% for Manufacturing and Certain Other Activities (14)

406.9

2,667

160.9

1,046

Double Taxation Relief

610.8

17,600

596.5

18,000

Investment in Films*

31.1

3,000

32.8

3,200

Group Relief

254.1

1,936

450.3

2,430

Research & Development Tax Credit (15)

165.6

479

146

582

Notes on Table IT6

(1) Figures accompanied by an asterisk * are particularly tentative and subject to a considerable margin of error.

(2) The cost figures for the exemption limits are based on the excess of the exemption limits over the basic personal tax credits. They include the cost of marginal relief for taxpayers whose incomes are not greatly in excess of the exemption limits.

(3) The figures shown for the basic personal tax credits (married, single and widowed) are the costs of these tax credits as if all other tax credits and the exemption limits did not apply. They do not include individuals who are not on Revenue records because their incomes are below the income tax thresholds.

(4) Arising from the change over to Tax Relief at Source the figures relate to the number of policies issued. These include policies where subscriptions were paid by businesses on behalf of their employees.

(5) Part of the cost of contributions to Permanent Health Benefit Schemes is not identifiable as a result of the move to a "net pay" basis for contributions by PAYE taxpayers from 6 April 2001.

(6) See the following note on "Green Paper on Pensions" for background commentary on the basis of the cost figures.

(7) "Other" relates to borrowings for purposes such as acquiring an interest in a company or partnership.

(8) The income on which the cost of exemption for charities, colleges, hospitals, schools, friendly societies, etc. from income tax is based includes repaid income tax that has been deducted at source on dividends, other investment income and payments received under covenant, donations and associated tax relief by the PAYE sector to approved bodies and donations by the self-employed and corporate sectors to approved bodies and approved sports bodies. Information is not available about other income received gross.

(9) The cost figures for relief for donations to Approved Sports Bodies and for certain Sports Persons are based on self assessment returns.

(10) In the absence of other information, tax has been assumed at the standard rate of income tax even though a different rate might be appropriate in many cases.

(11) The costs included for corporation tax are by reference to accounting periods which ended in the years 2007 and 2008.

(12) 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 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. It is estimated that €2820 million and €3587 million of unused capital allowances were claimed in respect of 2007 and 2008 accounting periods respectively 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.

(13) The tax cost shown for section 23 type relief is the estimated ultimate tax cost relating to the total allowable expenditure in respect of claims made in 2007 and 2008 tax returns for the first time. The cost shown is for income tax cases only.

(14) The cost shown for manufacturing relief for 2008 is compiled using the basic data available but for technical reasons associated with a system redesign it is understood to be understated by at least €100m.

(15) The costs shown for R&D is for claims for R&D on corporation tax returns for accounting periods ending in 2007 and 2008. However, the cost includes the cost associated with claims where the company was entitled to the credit but was unable to absorb it in that accounting year.

Green Paper on Pensions — Review of Estimates of Cost

As part of the work on the Green Paper on Pensions, a review was carried out of the current regime of incentives for supplementary pension provision with a view to developing more comprehensive and reliable estimates of the cost of reliefs in this area. The review examined, among other things, the current reliefs and incentives for investment in supplementary pensions and the data available on which to base reliable estimates of the costs in revenue foregone to the Exchequer.

The review drew on newly available 2006 aggregate data on contributions to pension schemes by employers and employees arising from a P35 initiative introduced on foot of provisions that were included in Finance Act 2004 with a view to improving data quality. Estimates of the cost of tax for private pension provision updated for 2007 and 2008 are included in table IT6.

The breakdown and make-up of these estimated costs of reliefs differ from presentations of costs in this area for years prior to 2005 in a number of respects and are not directly comparable. Further details on the cost of tax and other reliefs and the changes in the methodology are contained in pages 106 and 107 of the Green Paper on Pensions which is available at www.pensionsgreenpaper.ie.

Certain property-based tax incentives and incomes exempt from tax — uptake and estimated potential cost to the Exchequer in terms of income tax and corporation tax forgone based on 2007 and 2008 tax returns

Provisions were included in the Finance Acts of 2003 and 2004 to enable new statistical data on the uptake of tax relief for certain property-based tax incentives and incomes exempt from tax to be obtained from tax returns. This information, derived from changes introduced by the Revenue Commissioners to income tax returns and corporation tax returns for 2007 and 2008, is set out in the following tables.

The figures shown include the amounts claimed in the year but exclude amounts carried forward into the year either as losses or capital allowances, and include any amounts of unused losses and/or capital allowances which will be carried forward to subsequent years.

2007 Tax Incentive/Income Exemption

Amount Claimed €m

Assumed maximum tax cost €m

Number of claimants

Urban renewal

280.0

109.3

3,501

Town Renewal

86.1

34.6

1,128

Seaside Resorts

20.3

8.0

1,231

Rural Renewal

121.9

48.6

2,807

Multi-storey car parks

24.0

9.6

147

Living Over the shop

8.0

3.0

93

Enterprise Areas

7.0

2.8

137

Park and Ride

3.3

1.4

33

Holiday Cottages

30.7

12.4

832

Hotels

307.1

118.0

1,893

Nursing Homes

45.3

18.3

687

Housing for the Elderly/infirm

6.3

2.6

166

Hostels

1.8

0.72

24

Guest Houses

0.1

0.02

8

Convalescent Homes

1.2

0.5

27

Qualifying Private Hospitals

29.6

12.1

330

Qualifying sports injury clinics

4.3

1.8

59

Buildings Used for certain childcare purposes

24.2

9.8

420

Qualifying Mental Health Centres

0.0

0.0

1

Student Accommodation

108.7

42.0

941

Exemption of profits or gains from Greyhounds

0.4

0.1

13

Exemption of profits or gains from Stallions

59.6

11.2

226

Exemption of profits or gains from Woodlands

21.8

8.5

1,886

Exempt Patents (Section 234, TCA 1997)

528.2

90.9

1,251

Totals

1,719.8

546.5

17,841

2008 Tax Incentive/Income Exemption

Amount Claimed €m

Assumed maximum tax cost €m

Number of claimants

Urban renewal

224.6

84.5

3,271

Town Renewal

60.5

23.7

965

Seaside Resorts

14.5

5.7

1,051

Rural Renewal

84.6

34.2

2,634

Multi-storey car parks

16.8

6.6

136

Living Over the shop

6.1

2.5

81

Enterprise Areas

6.2

2.5

138

Park and Ride

1.7

0.7

19

Holiday Cottages

26.8

10.8

833

Hotels

300.6

114.7

1,966

Nursing Homes

47.6

19.4

725

Housing for the Elderly/infirm

7.4

3.0

179

Hostels

1.62

0.66

21

Guest Houses

0.3

0.11

10

Convalescent Homes

1.3

0.5

33

Qualifying Private Hospitals

30.2

12.3

340

Qualifying sports injury clinics

3.7

1.5

58

Buildings Used for certain childcare purposes

29.9

12.0

511

Qualifying Mental Health Centres

0.1

0.0

3

Student Accommodation

58.0

22.7

790

Caravan Camps

1.5

0.6

10

Mid Shannon Corridor Tourism Infrastructure

1.8

0.7

12

Exemption of profits or gains from Greyhounds

0.0

0.0

9

Exemption of profits or gains from Stallions

91.4

14.8

183

Exemption of profits or gains from Woodlands

49.4

13.0

2,357

Exempt Patents (section 234, TCA 1997)

187.2

50.2

1,184

Totals

1,302.4

455.0

18,089

These figures do not take account of the application of the restriction of reliefs originally provided for in section 17 of Finance Act 2006 and which took effect from 1 January 2007. The restriction was extended by Section 23 Finance Act 2010.

Notes:

The figures shown relate to the various reliefs/incentives and exemptions as specified in the 2007 and 2008 form 11 and CT1.

There were concerns that in some instances the new, separately categorised data on property incentives may not have been correctly entered on the Tax returns. Revenue drew the attention of the relevant tax practitioner bodies to these deficiencies to rectify them in future returns and also increased awareness among its own staff involved in processing tax returns of the need to ensure, through closer examination of the returns, that they are correctly completed.

The estimated costs have assumed tax foregone at the 41% rate in the case of income tax and 12.5% in the case of corporation tax. This means the figures shown correspond to the maximum Exchequer cost in terms of income tax and corporation tax. However, the actual Exchequer cost could be lower, particularly in relation to the exempt income items, as the income could be subject to deductions for allowable expenses and other costs thereby reducing the level of income that would be actually subject to tax.

Some of the costs shown above are included in the costs shown for capital allowances and section 23 relief in Table IT6. For example, exempt income included above is not part of capital allowances.

Reliefs in respect of which costs are not currently quantifiable or are negligible or are not identifiable within total aggregates.

Relief from averaging of farm profits;

Exemption for income arising from payments in respect of personal injuries;

Exemption of certain payments made by Hemophilia HIV Trust;

Exemption of lump sum retirement payments;

Relief for allowable motor expenses;

Tapering relief allowable for taxation of car benefits in kind;

Reduced tax rate for authorised unit trust schemes;

Reduced tax rate for special investment schemes;

Exemption of certain grants made by Údarás na Gaeltachta;

Relief for investment income reserved for policy holders in life assurance companies;

Relief for various business related expenses such as staff recruitment, rent, legal fees, and other general expenses;

Exemption in certain circumstances on the interest on quoted bearer Eurobonds;

Exemption of payments made as compensation for loss of office;

Exemption of scholarship income.

There are a number of different tax expenditures within the Irish Taxation system. These have been introduced for a number of different reasons: providing a basic level of income before taxation; correcting market failure or attracting mobile investment. The Commission on Taxation in its 2009 report made a comprehensive study of all tax expenditures. The full report is available on the Commission's website at www.commissionontaxation.ie “Legacy” property-based tax relief schemes, due to their nature, continue to impose ongoing costs on the Exchequer in terms of tax foregone. All tax reliefs and incentives are reviewed regularly, in line with the annual Budget and Finance Bill process.

Tax Code

Robert Dowds

Question:

70 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance his views on the practice of certain newspapers of failing to pass on the entirety of the recent cut in VAT to their customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20545/11]

The Finance (No. 2) Act 2011 provided for a second reduced VAT rate, of 9%, on a temporary basis in respect of certain services and goods, for the period 1 July 2011 to end 2013. This included the supply of printed matter, including newspapers, magazines, brochures, leaflets, programmes, maps, catalogues and printed music. Businesses must account for VAT at the 9% rate on these specified goods and services provided by them on or after 1 July 2011.

Where the goods and services are supplied to another VAT-registered business a VAT invoice must be issued, charging VAT at the new rate. However, where the supplies are to unregistered customers there is no obligation to show the VAT separately. Businesses dealing with unregistered customers, as would be the case with the sale of newspapers, are not legally obliged to reduce their (VAT-inclusive) pricing to reflect the post-1 July 2011 lower rate, but would be expected to do so.

The VAT reduction will be kept under review and evaluated before end 2012 in order to determine its effectiveness in aiding the industry. If it is shown that the VAT reduction has little or no effect in aiding industry then the measure is open to being reformed or abolished. In addition, checks on the correct operation of VAT, including the rates of VAT applied are integral parts of Revenue's audit and compliance programmes.

Robert Dowds

Question:

71 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance the number of tax exiles Ireland has; the measures he may implement in order to bring them into the tax net; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20546/11]

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that there is nothing in Irish tax law that makes reference to the term "tax exile" status. I am assuming in referring to "tax exiles" the Deputy is thinking of Irish citizens or Irish domiciled individuals claiming to be non-resident for tax purposes and who are living abroad primarily for tax reasons. For the 2009 tax year, the latest year for which statistics are available, 8,493 non-resident individuals filed Irish tax returns in respect of their Irish source income or income derived from working here. However, many of these non-residents are foreign nationals or have a foreign domicile; and many of the non-resident Irish citizens or Irish domiciled individuals included in this figure may have become non-resident for reasons unrelated to taxation, but have retained Irish investments such as rental property. Such individuals could not be categorised as "tax exiles" under any reasonable definition of that term.

The taxation of individuals in the State is broadly in line with that prevailing in most other OECD jurisdictions, that is to say —

(a) Individuals who are resident in the State for tax purposes (based on the number of days of presence in the State) are taxable here on their worldwide income; and

(b) Individuals who are not resident here for tax purposes pay tax here only on income arising in the State and on income derived from working here.

In addition, in general non-resident individuals are also liable to Irish Capital Gains Tax on disposals of land, buildings in the State, or shares deriving their value from these assets and certain or other assets such as minerals in the State or other assets related to exploitation of such assets. They are not liable to Irish Capital Gains Tax on assets outside of this category, for example, share or equities in companies not deriving their value from land, buildings in the State, etc. There are variations on this position if the non-resident individual is ordinarily resident and/or domiciled in Ireland.

The Domicile Levy was introduced in Finance Act 2010 and is charged on an individual:

who in any year is Irish domiciled and an Irish citizen,

whose worldwide income in the year exceeds €1m,

whose Irish located property in the year is greater than €5m, and

whose liability to Irish income tax for the year is less than €200,000.

The levy will apply to both resident and non-resident individuals who meet the above criteria. The levy will be charged for 2010 and subsequent years, but the payment for each year can be made at any time up to 31 October in the year following the valuation date, which is 31 December of each year. The first valuation date was 31 December 2010 and the tax return and payment of the levy for 2010 is not due until 31 October 2011.

As with other areas of taxation, these rules are constantly kept under review. The level and timeframe of any taxation changes in this area will be determined in the context of Budgets over the lifetime of the Government.

Robert Dowds

Question:

72 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance if he will estimate the amount of money the country is losing because of tax exiles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20547/11]

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that there is nothing in Irish tax law that makes reference to the term "tax exile" status. I am assuming in referring to "tax exiles" the Deputy is thinking of Irish citizens or Irish domiciled individuals claiming to be non-resident for tax purposes and who are living abroad primarily for tax reasons. Individuals who are non-resident in Ireland for tax purposes are obliged to file Irish tax returns only in respect of:

income arising in Ireland (e.g., income from directorships, a trade or profession, rented properties, etc.);

gains from the disposal of land, buildings or shares which derive their value from these assets, and certain other assets such as minerals in the State or other assets relating to the exploitation of such assets; and

the Domicile Levy, if it applies to them.

There is no statutory obligation on these individuals to return details of income or gains arising anywhere else in the world. Therefore, it is not possible to establish the amount of these incomes or gains, or any associated tax.

Question No. 73 answered with Question No. 69.

Tax Reliefs

Robert Dowds

Question:

74 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Finance his plans to eliminate tax breaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20550/11]

All tax reliefs and incentives are subject to regular review as part of the annual Budget and Finance Bill planning process. Any decisions taken by the Government in this regard are usually announced on Budget Day.

Ministerial Staff

Shane Ross

Question:

75 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of all appointments made at his Department since he took up office. [20574/11]

The following individuals have been appointed at my Department of Finance since I took office.

Mary Kenny, Special Adviser

Denis Dwyer, Civilian Driver

Gerry Rigney, Civilian Driver

Alan Kavanagh, Constituency Office (Limerick)

John Moran, Second Secretary

Neil Ryan, Assistant Secretary

Aidan Carrigan, Assistant Secretary

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

76 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by the State to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20582/11]

Shane Ross

Question:

77 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by the State to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20583/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 77 together.

The following tables show amounts that were paid to the company referred to in question 20582 by my Department and the Comptroller and Auditor General in the past decade.

Department of Finance

Year

Amount €

Detail (Company Mentioned in 20582)

2002

26,156

Training Course

2002

103,697

BFI Regulatory Structures & Disposal

2002

9,218

Change Control (9 Depts)

2002

9,095

PPP Training

2002

9,438

5% Verification Checks

2002

10,255

Peace Interreg Program

2003

3,479

Audit of Technical Assistance Measures

2003

26,620

Peace Interreg Program

2003

12,480

Training

2003

7,650

PPP Training

2004

1,785

Audit of Czech Twinning

2004

12,100

PPP Consultancy

2004

50

Progress Fee PWC Publication

2006

47,739

Risk Management Service

2006

303

Salary Survey

2007

1,885

Risk Management Service

2010*

118,050

Advice in relation to Banking

2011*

NIL (to date)

*In 2010-2011 this company were paid 70,080 for the secondment of an external expert to the Commission of Enquiry into Banking

Comptroller and Auditor General

Year

Amount €

Detail (Company Mentioned in 20582)

2002-2007*

172,783

Software licences and support

219,736

Audit Services

17,952

Training

15,252

Consultancy Services

8,376

Internal Audit Services

In the past decade Revenue paid €3,138,939 to the company mentioned in question 20582 in respect of liquidation services, training, consultancy services and software maintenance.

The Appeals Commissioners made no payments to the companies mentioned.

The following tables show amounts that were paid to the company referred to in question 20583 by my Department and the Comptroller and Auditor General in the past decade.

Department of Finance

Year

Amount

Detail (Company Mentioned in 20583)

2002

25,774

Secondment Payments

2002

2,396

Consultancy Service

2002

70,078

HRMS Contract

2002

23,958

HRMS Support Fees

2002

5,000

Training

2002

20,365

HRMS-CORE Install

2002

15,573

HRMS Upgrade

2002

71,390

Contract Documents for Water Services

2002

17,332

Secondment of Solicitor

2002

11,979

HRMS Post Upgrade Development

2002

2,682

People Soft Training

2002

12,952

Consultancy Fees

2003

8,591

Secondment Payment

2004

11,023

Review of CAF Resource

2005

84

Refund of FOI

2006-2011

NIL (to date)

Comptroller and Auditor General

Year

Amount

Detail (Company Mentioned in 20583)

2002-2011

384,447

Audit of Post Office Savings Bank

154,785

Audit Quality and Training Project

In the past decade Revenue paid €997,818 to the company mentioned in question 20583 in respect of liquidation services, training, consultancy services and software maintenance. The Appeals Commissioners made no payments to the companies mentioned.

National Asset Management Agency

Shane Ross

Question:

78 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details of the up to date estimates of payments of fees to consultants, advisers and other professionals by the National Asset Management Agency over the life of the body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20584/11]

I am informed by NAMA that the contractual details of all contracts between the agency and individual service providers are negotiated on a case-by-case basis, are commercially sensitive and are confidential. I am advised by NAMA that legal and consultancy fees incurred in 2009 in setting up NAMA were €1.63m and relate to legal and consultancy expenses associated with the establishment of NAMA.

The aggregate costs for the year 2010 and the first quarter of 2011 is set out in the following table:

2010 €m

Q1 2011 €m

Financial Adviser and Consultancy Fees

5.01

0.17

Portfolio Management

5.09

0.57

Legal and Tax Fees

3.78

0.88

Consultancy incurred by NTMA in set up

0.83

-

Audit

0.70

0.54

IT Costs

-

0.29

Treasury

-

0.18

Total

15.41

2.63

Fees and expenses incurred by NAMA are recovered through the operating activities of the agency. They are published in the quarterly reports of NAMA, which are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and published on the NAMA website.

The financial advisor and consultancy fees incurred in 2010 include fees paid for accounting, financial and business process advice over the period from the incorporation of NAMA to the end of 2010. NAMA employed staff seconded from external consultancy firms and financial advisers to assist in the initial set-up of business units and the development and implementation of processes and policies, until NAMA officers were recruited by the NTMA.

The portfolio management fees incurred in 2010 relate to the review of debtor business plans.

The legal and tax costs incurred in 2010 relate to fees paid to professional service firms in respect of legal and tax advice and the secondment of staff for legal due diligence.

It is expected that the level of professional and consultancy costs in future will not be as significant as the costs incurred during 2010 given that the latter included costs associated with the establishment of NAMA, particularly relating to the secondment of staff prior to the recruitment of NAMA's own staff.

In addition to the above figures, NAMA incurs due diligence costs as part of the process of acquiring loans and related derivatives from the participating institutions. These costs include legal, valuation and property due diligence fees together with the fees of the audit co-ordinator. NAMA incurred due diligence costs of €29.6 million in 2010 and €9.0 million for the first quarter of 2011. NAMA had, however, factored these costs into the acquisition price of the assets and these were recovered from the participating institutions in the form of a reduced payment for the assets.

Parliamentary Questions

Shane Ross

Question:

79 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance the most up to date estimate of the cost of answering a parliamentary question; the estimated cost to the Exchequer of this service per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20585/11]

I am not aware of any study having been carried out into the cost to the Exchequer of answering a Parliamentary Question. Whether such a study would produce meaningful financial information is debatable. The cost of answering a Parliamentary Question will vary considerably according to the nature of the question asked. This would inevitably result in significant differences in the costs among Departments and indeed within a Department from time to time. As the processing of individual Parliamentary Questions is undertaken as part of the normal day to day work of individual sections within Departments it would be unnecessarily burdensome to isolate the administrative costs of processing Parliamentary Questions from the overall administrative costs of each Department.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

80 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance the total cost of hiring external public relations companies to all Government Departments over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20586/11]

I take it that the Deputy is referring solely to public relations costs and not to advertising costs that would be incurred by my Department in the normal course of business, such as entries into telephone directories, the placing of advertisements in national newspapers, recruitment advertising, advertising associated with the national development plans, e-tenders etc. The following table outlines details of this spend from 2002-2011:

Year

Amount

Detail

2011

NIL

2010

NIL

2009

NIL

2008

NIL

2007

NIL

2006

NIL

2005

NIL

2004

23,700

Q4 — PR advice for ECOFIN meeting during Irish Presidency

2003

NIL

2002

37,394

Carr Communications — PR advice to Euro Changeover Board

Banking Sector

Shane Ross

Question:

81 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance the reason he voted for the re-election of five directors of the Bank of Ireland at the AGM despite their service having commenced before 2008, the cut-off point chosen by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20587/11]

I would point out to the Deputy that as part of the Programme for Government we committed to restructuring bank boards and to replacing all directors who presided over the failed lending practices in the period to September 2008. As the Deputy is aware, Bank of Ireland is engaged in an ongoing programme of change, including renewal at management and board level. In the interests of facilitating further board renewal and a reduction in the size of the Group board, three non-executive directors retired from the board at the conclusion of the AGC on 15 June last. Reflecting the smaller size of the board and the balance between executive and non-executive directors, it was appropriate to reduce the complement of executive directors. Consequently, two executive directors did not offer themselves for re-election to the Group board.

Following the recent AGC, four directors are still in situ who were appointed to the board before 2008 — two executive directors and two non-executive directors. The two non-executive directors remain in situ as a transitional matter given their key committee roles. I have asked the Chairman of the bank to prepare a management renewal plan which will provide for all senior management positions including the remaining executive directors. These, along with all other directors irrespective of date of appointment, who intend to be in office on 1 January 2012 will be subject, as announced by the Central Bank of Ireland, to assessment against the new fitness and probity standards for such appointments which the CBI envisages being implemented by 1 September 2011.

Departmental Bodies

Shane Ross

Question:

82 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance the method of selection for the appointment of the fiscal council; the way members were chosen; if they were personally selected by him or recommended by staff at his Department; the stipend given to the members of the council; and their terms of reference. [20588/11]

The composition of a body such as a Fiscal Advisory Council is critical to its independence and credibility. A significant number of potential candidates from backgrounds such as academia and public finance was considered against a range of criteria. In this regard, appropriate technical knowledge and expertise as well as the background and experience of the potential nominees and the desirability of having a significant overseas representation on the Council were considerations. As would be normal practice, the process by which potential nominees were identified, considered and selected involved officials from my Department. The final decisions regarding the appointments were made by me following consultations with Cabinet colleagues and others.

While there have been informal contacts on the question of payment for service on the Council, this issue has yet to be formally addressed in conjunction with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. I am aware that the Chairperson of the Council answered questions on this matter in a recent radio interview.

The Government decided that the Council will have a role comprising the following functions for an initial period of 2 years following its establishment:

(a) to provide an assessment of the soundness of the economic and budgetary projections and forecasts set out by the Government in the annual Budget and the Stability Programme Update,

(b) to provide an assessment of the appropriateness of the fiscal stance set out by the Government in the Budget and Stability Programme Update, including, the Government's stated medium-term budgetary objective, with particular regard to whether they are conducive to prudent economic and budgetary management, including by reference to the provisions of the European Union Stability and Growth Pact,

(c) to provide an assessment of whether the budgetary plans set out in the Budget and Stability Programme Update are consistent with the fiscal rules which it is proposed to publish as part of a Fiscal Responsibility Bill by the end of the year, and

(d) to perform such other functions, including an assessment of the implications of budgetary plans for economic growth, investment and employment, as may be assigned by the Minister for Finance.

The Government also decided that in carrying out its role, the Council will maintain within its structures a technical ability to provide an informed assessment and critique of the official macroeconomic forecasts, in line with its mandate.

The Government is satisfied that the appointed members have the ideal mix of skills and experience to ensure that the Council will be highly effective in fulfilling its mandate.

Banking Sector

Shane Ross

Question:

83 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding the selection process for appointment of new board directors to the banks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20590/11]

Some 480 expressions of interest were received by the closing date specified in response to the advertisement to the commitment in the Programme for Government to construct a pool of experienced directors to be inserted into non-executive positions in banks receiving State support. The shortlisting and evaluation work on this large volume of applications is at an advanced stage. The Deputy can expect new and fresh appointments to be made as the months progress to ensure that the boards are fit for purpose to play their vital role in the necessary restructuring of the pivotal banking sector.

Any proposed appointments will, as the advertisements stated, be subject to regulatory approval. The Deputy will be aware that the Central Bank of Ireland has announced that it intends to assess candidates, for such director appointments, against the new fitness and probity standards which the CBI envisages being implemented by 1 September 2011.

Frank Feighan

Question:

84 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Finance the amount a person (details supplied) is being paid; if they are in receipt of a bonus; if so, the basis on which they have been granted same; and in view of the fact that they are a public servant being paid by the public purse and in line with recent Government recommendations in regard to transparency, if he will give full disclosure of these details. [20670/11]

At the outset, I should state that the relationship between Anglo and the Quinn Group is a commercial one. Under the Relationship Framework put in place under the Anglo Irish Corporation Act 2009, which governs the relationship between the bank and its shareholder the State, issues relating to commercial activities at the bank are a matter for the board in respect of which, as Minister for Finance, I have no role in day to day management decisions. Consequently, I am not privy to the information that the Deputy is requesting in relation to the remuneration details of the individual in question. It should also be noted that I have been advised that the person in question is not a public servant as he is not employed by a State entity. His appointment was a matter for the board of Quinn Group Ltd in conjunction with key stakeholders namely the Banks, Bondholders and Anglo.

Frank Feighan

Question:

85 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Finance the cost of the entire situation that Anglo Irish Bank has created in regard to the Quinn Group to the taxpayer to date, including legal fees for Anglo Irish Bank, including those in a foreign jurisdiction, and the cost of all the consultants engaged (details supplied). [20671/11]

At the outset, I should state that the relationship between Anglo and the Quinn Group is a commercial one. Under the Relationship Framework put in place under the Anglo Irish Corporation Act 2009, which governs the relationship between the bank and its shareholder the State, issues relating to commercial activities at the bank are a matter for the board in respect of which, as Minister for Finance, I have no role in day to day management decisions. Consequently, I do not have any information in relation to Anglo's costs to date in its effort to recover the debt owed by the Quinn Group. However, I would expect Anglo to be conscious of obtaining best value and before engaging advisors to make comparative choices as part of their procurement process. In relation to the Deputy's second question, it should be noted that in assessing the bids for the business of QIL, the Joint Administrator's were required to consider how best the interests of policyholders could be protected and how the company could be returned to a sound commercial footing. These were the criteria on which the decision to opt for Liberty/Anglo deal was made by the Joint Administrators under the powers given to them by the 1983 Insurance (No. 2) Act. Consequently, the recovery of the money owed to Anglo by the Quinn Group would not have been a factor in their considerations.

The Joint Administrators did however conclude that the Quinn proposal was highly conditional in nature as it depended, amongst other things, on the State intervening to facilitate the transfer of €2.8bn of debt from Anglo to one of the viable banks and to require that bank to provide a further €500m loan to the Quinn Group, as well as agreement with the bondholders. As such they saw no likelihood for such a proposal being facilitated in the current economic climate, as the taking on of such loans by other banks was likely to compound their already difficult position and in addition would also be likely to contravene European State Aid rules. They were also of the view that reaching agreement with the bondholders in relation to the releasing of the guarantees over QIL assets was going to be extremely difficult if not close to impossible. Accordingly, in this context it is difficult to see how the Quinn proposal could be seen to be more effective in recovering the Anglo debt.

Company Administration

Frank Feighan

Question:

86 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) in relation to the Quinn Group. [20672/11]

The Deputy should note that the Joint Administrators have indicated to my Department that no proposal was received from the Quinn family until the 5/4/2011 nearly 6 months after the deadline for expressions of interest. The Joint Administrators responded to the family on the 11/4/2011 setting out their concerns surrounding their proposal. They say that the proposal was highly conditional in nature as it depended among other things on the State intervening to facilitate the transfer of €2.8bn of debt from Anglo to one of the viable banks and to require that bank to provide a further €500m loan to the Quinn Group, as well as agreement with the bondholders. As such they saw no likelihood for such a proposal being facilitated in the current economic climate, as the taking on of such loans by other banks was likely to compound their already difficult position and in addition would also be likely to contravene European State Aid rules. They were also of the view that reaching agreement with the bondholders in relation to the releasing of the guarantees over QIL assets was going to be extremely difficult if not close to impossible.

On the question of the NTMA assessment of the Quinn proposal, it should be noted that NTMA reviewed the proposal and concluded that the assumptions within the proposal were significantly more optimistic than the Anglo base case. However, they make the point that the assessment of the bids was the business of the Joint Administrators. The NTMA role was confined to assessing and approving any proposal by Anglo to acquire the Quinn Insurance business from the Joint Administrators. The assessment and approval was conducted solely on the basis of the commercial terms of any proposed acquisition by Anglo of the Quinn Insurance business. They say their role did not extend to, nor were they mandated to, assess any bids from any other party for the Quinn Insurance business, as this was a matter for the Joint Administrators.

Banking Sector

Frank Feighan

Question:

87 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Finance if he provide details of the amount that bondholders were paid (details supplied). [20673/11]

The information supplied by the Deputy is not precise enough to allow for his question to be addressed. If he wishes to be more specific in his request I will see what data can be procured for him. Whilst it is difficult to address this question precisely, it can be said that, as agreed with the Trokia, steps have been taken by the Department to reduce the cost to the State through burden sharing with subordinated bondholders.

Liability Management Exercises, in relation to subordinated debt, by the banks have resulted in the generation of some €4.4bn in Core Tier 1 Capital, reducing accordingly the amount required to be contributed by the State to the €24bn PCAR capital requirement. With the exception of the merged Anglo Irish Bank and INBS where the matter remains open, burden sharing with the senior bondholders of the banks does not form part of the Government's banking strategy .

Company Administration

Frank Feighan

Question:

88 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Finance if he will guarantee the citizens of Ireland that proper procedures were followed at all times in relation to the take-over of the Quinn Group and the administration of Quinn Insurance and that the Financial Regulator did not inappropriately interfere with this process; and in view of the amount of taxpayers’ money that is at stake, if he is confident that these procedures will stand up to any scrutiny in a court of law. [20674/11]

At the outset, it should be noted that the Joint Administrators were appointed by the High Court at the request of the Central Bank because of concerns about the solvency position of the company under the 1983 Insurance No. 2 Act. These concerns have proved to be valid based on the recently published financial results for QIL for 2009 which indicated very serious losses much of which was related to underwriting. Therefore the Minister is of the view that the right decision was made by the Central Bank at the time to go to the Courts as policyholder protection is of paramount importance in such a situation. Once the Joint Administrators were appointed, it was they who were responsible for deciding on how best the interests of policyholders could be protected and how the company could be returned to a sound commercial footing. In this regard they were required to update the High Court on a regular basis. The sale of the business was an integral part of their overall strategy and as you are aware all interested parties were invited to submit bids which were duly considered leading ultimately to the selection of a preferred bidder. During this process neither the Minister nor the Government had any role in the selection of who this preferred bidder should be.

The decision in relation to the appointment of the Share Receiver by Anglo to the broader Quinn Group was very much a commercial one and I in my role as Minister for Finance had no input into this matter. My understanding is that other scenarios might well have prompted court action to put the Group into receivership with the potential for immediate significant job losses. By comparison the appointment of a Share Receiver gives the Group grounds for considerable hope of a viable future. This viable future however depends to a large degree on the willingness of everybody, particularly those engaged in several recent negative events, to engage wholeheartedly with the new ownership arrangements, because if this does not materialise then over time it is likely to have a negative impact on the trading performance of the Group.

In conclusion, I believe that the recent steps taken to sell the QIL business to the Liberty Mutual/Anglo joint venture and the decision to appoint a share receiver to the wider group were the only feasible options particularly from a job protection perspective.

Banking Sector Staff

Sean Fleming

Question:

89 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the recent salary cap, he supports the position that a person who is in receipt of a substantial salary from a commercial semi-State body is also being paid additional fees by virtue of being a public interest director on the board of AIB and would be in receipt of further additional payments for serving on the board’s remuneration sub-committee; and if he supports the double and treble pay for a key State employee. [20518/11]

The Deputy will be aware that the individual in question was nominated to be a public interest director by my predecessor under the provisions of the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) 2008 legislation and was subsequently appointed by AIB to their board in accordance with the rules and regulations for such appointments with effect from 22 January 2009. Eleven other public interest directors were likewise nominated and appointed in a similar fashion to the respective boards of the covered institutions around that time. These public interest directors were nominated by my predecessor on the basis of the Minister's assessment of their civic mindedness and sense of where the public interest lies to inform their view of what was in the institution's interest.

Paragraph 32 of the above Scheme stipulated that the covered institutions would remunerate these posts and that continues to be the position. The Deputy may wish to note that following the recent mergers involving EBS & INBS that six public interest directors now remain in office. The Deputy will be aware that, not withstanding the large State shareholding, the respective covered institutions have been and continue to be run at arms length from the Government in relation to operational matters. Details for the relevant years — up to 2010 — of the fees payable to all public interest directors are available in the Annual Reports of the respective bodies.

EU-IMF Programme

Sean Fleming

Question:

90 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide details on his involvement in the latest quarterly review by the troika of Ireland’s financial assistance package; and if he will provide details of the particular elements that were on the agenda for renegotiation. [20519/11]

Quarterly reviews such as the one which started last week are a standard feature of financial support programmes. The purpose of the reviews is to assess the progress of the programme to date, and in particular to determine if the targets for the relevant quarter had been met. It also considered progress on targets which are due in subsequent quarters, to ensure sufficient progress is being made. The review process includes a mission by the EU, ECB and IMF staff to Ireland and the preparation of reports on their findings. The disbursement of further funds is conditional on positive assessments of compliance and approval by the Eurogroup, the ECOFIN Council and the IMF Executive Board as appropriate.

The mission element of the third quarterly review of the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland started last week on the 6th of July and concludes today — the 14th of July 2011. The remainder of the review — the assessment and approval of our performance by the Eurogroup, the ECOFIN Council and the IMF Executive Board — is expected to be completed by end August or early September this year.

I met with the Troika delegation during the current mission. The mission comprised a series of meetings to evaluate all the elements of the programme including fiscal developments, the macro-economic outlook, progress on commitments in the restructuring of the financial sector and structural reform. The meetings ranged from technical to policy discussions and were conducted, under my direction and that of the Minister of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Governor of the Central Bank as appropriate, by senior officials from my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Central Bank and the Financial Regulator, the National Treasury Management Agency and the Office of the Attorney General.

The Government has repeatedly stated its commitment to the Programme targets. Meeting these conditions on time and on target, is the best way to ensure that we emerge successfully from this programme. That will mean that we can return safely to the financial markets for funding in as timely a manner as possible. This is one of the principal objectives of the programme. The Government's commitment to the Programme does not stop us from seeking and agreeing changes to aspects of the programme. We have already done this successfully. The Government will continue to do so at the appropriate time.

For the third review, the primary focus is on our performance against the targets due by the end of the second quarter of 2011 and assessing progress on targets due in subsequent quarters. I have already signalled that notwithstanding the substantial consolidation already carried out, in particular the amount being delivered by this government this year, difficult decisions in relation to future consolidations remain. There is no doubt that Budget 2012 will be another difficult Budget that will require an adjustment of a minimum of the €3.6bn already indicated. Final decisions in relation to Budget 2012 will be made by the Government in due course in the light of the latest relevant information available at that time.

Departmental Expenditure

Shane Ross

Question:

91 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21128/11]

The Department of Finance makes no payment directly to any trade union. Any funding or contribution made prior to the establishment of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will be covered in the response being provided by that Department. The Office of the Revenue Commissioners does not pay or supply funding directly or indirectly to trade unions or related bodies or causes. However for a number of years, a small number of staff in the Office of the Revenue Commissioners have worked without recoupment of their salary, in a liaison capacity between Revenue management and four Revenue trade unions dealing with Industrial Relations, Human Resource Management and change management matters relating to Revenue staff.

School Relocation

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

92 Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application by a school (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20404/11]

The school to which the Deputy refers is located within a hospital. I understand that the school wishes to relocate to another area within the hospital building. My Department considers that it is a matter for the hospital authorities to fund any such arrangement and has conveyed this advice to the school.

School Transport

Martin Ferris

Question:

93 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school transport routes that will be affected after September by the changes in the school transport scheme. [20411/11]

Martin Ferris

Question:

94 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school transport routes in counties Limerick and Kerry that will be affected after September by the changes in the school transport scheme. [20413/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together.

Changes in the School Transport Scheme were announced by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government and derive from recommendations in the Value for Money Review of the scheme. I take it the Deputy is referring to the increase in the minimum number of eligible children required to establish or retain a school transport service.

Bus Éireann, which operates the Scheme on behalf of my Department has identified over 120 services nationally, with some 550 eligible children, where applications from eligible children have fallen below the minimum required. Six of these services are in Limerick and a further six are in Kerry. Bus Éireann are monitoring the situation and these figures may change if late applications are received or current applicants do not purchase tickets.

It should be noted that over 123,000 pupils on 6,000 routes availed of school transport services in the 2010/11 school year. As is currently the position, families of eligible pupils, for whom there is no school transport service available, may apply for the remote area grant towards the cost of making private transport arrangements.

Vocational Education Committees

Frank Feighan

Question:

95 Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the grounds on which it was decided to change the previous proposed amalgamation of Roscommon and Galway vocational education committees and now amalgamate Roscommon with the two Galway VECs; the reason it was decided to cut the number of VECs in Connacht from six to two; if the headquarters will be in Roscommon; if all staff in the three VECs have to move to these new headquarters; and if there will there be sub-offices. [20417/11]

On entering office, I invited the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) to submit alternative rationalisation proposals following their expression of concerns regarding the configuration of the revised entities decided by the previous government. The IVEA subsequently submitted a proposal that involved a reduction to 20 in the number of VECs including a merger of Co. Roscommon VEC with Co. Mayo VEC. I am satisfied that having regard to cost and critical mass considerations, a reduction to 16 new entities is appropriate. Consequently, while the new configuration takes account of the IVEA submission to the greatest extent possible, a number of the new entities differ from those suggested by the IVEA.

The merger of Co. Roscommon VEC with the two Galway VECs while Leitrim is joined with Mayo and Sligo results in two VECs which are cohesive in a provincial context. This new VEC structure fits with the Government's policy of reducing the number of agencies and is consistent with the strategic objectives of the transforming public service agenda through service delivery by a smaller number of agencies, each benefiting from efficiencies of greater scale. This change will better position the sector for future development and will facilitate the required reductions, under the public service Employment Control Framework, of administrative staff employed in VECs, while protecting the services provided by VECs.

At this point the only firm and absolute decisions taken by the Government are the decision to reduce the overall number of VECs from 33 to 16, the decision on the merger of particular counties (i.e. the revised configuration) and the decision to approve in principle the consolidation of the existing VEC legislation. I am currently giving consideration to the question of where the headquarters of the new entities will be located. The outcome of these deliberations will be announced in the coming period.

Many of the detailed aspects of the restructuring, including the deployment of staff in the new entities will fall to be considered and worked through by my Department in conjunction with the VECs involved in any one merger before decisions are taken. Implementation will involve consultation and negotiations with the unions representing employees in the sector and other stakeholders. The Croke Park Agreement provides the backdrop for these negotiations.

Schools Refurbishment

Dessie Ellis

Question:

96 Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools that were approved funding under the summer works scheme 2010 in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number of applications received from counties Cavan and Monaghan for the 2011 summer works scheme; the number approved for 2011; the projects submitted under the 2011 summer works scheme that have been considered and will be included in view of further funding being made available under the jobs initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20426/11]

I wish to advise the Deputy that a total of 68 schools in Cavan and Monaghan were approved funding under the Summer Works Scheme 2010. A total of 99 schools from Counties Cavan and Monaghan made applications under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, of these, 20 primary and post primary schools were successful under this year's Scheme and details are available on the Department's website www.education.ie.

I am also pleased to advise the Deputy that a further 24 schools in Counties Cavan and Monaghan were successful under the Jobs Initiative announced on 10th May 2011, details of which may also be viewed on the Department's website. The extent of funding that was made available under the Summer Works Scheme 2011 and the Jobs Initiative has already been allocated to schools and the schools have been advised accordingly.

Noel Coonan

Question:

97 Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for building works in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20481/11]

I am please to inform the Deputy that construction work on the project referred to by him commenced at the end of June.

Noel Coonan

Question:

98 Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding funding for a resource room in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if same funding will be provided; when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20482/11]

I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has made an application for capital funding to construct a Resource Room. The application is currently under consideration and a decision will issue shortly to the Board of Management of the school.

Noel Coonan

Question:

99 Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for building works for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when a decision will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20483/11]

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved funding on a devolved basis to construct two mainstream classrooms and carry out other associated works. The school authority was advised of this by letter at the beginning of June.

Schools Building Projects

Noel Coonan

Question:

100 Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary has made an application for additional funding or any building works; the status of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20484/11]

The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large-scale capital funding for an extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building projects and assigned a Band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the project referred to by the Deputy, is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.

All large-scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase are being progressed in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme and the available financial resources. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of my Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Noel Coonan

Question:

101 Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for building works in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if he will provide a timeframe for completion of works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20485/11]

The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an Extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including the project referred to by the Deputy, is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie.

All large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase are being progressed in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme and the available financial resources. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of my Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

102 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Education and Skills if companies (details supplied) are employed by his Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20499/11]

The information requested is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

Third Level Courses

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

103 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will assure the public that places on the springboard scheme in university are additional to previously existing college places and are not displacing places previously available to students who have completed their leaving certificate in the past; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20530/11]

Springboard is a specific initiative to provide 6,000 part time higher education places targeted at unemployed people who have lost jobs in sectors where employment levels will not return and who will need new qualifications and skills to re-enter employment as the economy recovers. These part time places were selected following a competitive tender process and are being funded as part of the Government's Job Initiative. The Springboard places are being provided by a range of public, private and not for profit higher education providers throughout the country. The 6,000 places being provided through Springboard are in addition to the number of full-time higher education places available for school leavers and adults who wish to return to full time education

School Transport

Ciara Conway

Question:

104 Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the decision in relation to primary school transport charges regarding a family (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20535/11]

Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme, pupils who reside 3.2 kilometres or more from, and are attending, their nearest national school as determined by my Department, are eligible for school transport. The pupils referred to by the Deputy reside less than 3.2 kilometres from their school of attendance and are therefore not eligible for school transport. It is open to ineligible pupils to apply for concessionary transport, subject to a number of conditions, including the payment of the annual charge which is currently €200. This charge is subject to a family maximum of €650 per annum and may be paid in two instalments in July and December.

School Staffing

Brendan Griffin

Question:

105 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) has been placed on a supplementary panel for County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20540/11]

The primary redeployment panel rules agreed between the relevant education partners and my Department provide supplementary panel rights to eligible fixed-term teachers with between three and five years reckonable teaching service. The teacher referred to by the Deputy has been offered these rights in respect of the 2011-2012 school year. The rules governing the operation of the primary panels are published on my Department's website. It is the intention of the Department to restore recruitment from fixed-term teachers on the supplementary redeployment panels and public advertisement as appropriate at the earliest possible opportunity after all the surplus permanent teachers have been redeployed.

School Accommodation

Brendan Griffin

Question:

106 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount the State spends per annum on temporary school accommodation at primary and secondary level; the measures being taken to reduce this figure; if there are plans to significantly reduce this figure in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20562/11]

The amount spent on renting temporary accommodation at primary and post-primary level, including — but not limited to — prefabricated accommodation since 2008 is as follows:

2008 €53 million

2009: €39million

2010: €29million

2011 €29million (allocation)

My Department is currently developing new procedures and systems for the provision of temporary accommodation with a view to achieving best value for money. These include the development of standard specifications for temporary accommodation, the development of new contractual terms to incorporate buy-out and relocation options to cater for individual local circumstances and appropriately protect the interests of my Department and school authorities.

A change in policy implemented by my Department is to provide devolved grant aid for the purchase (rather than rental) of additional accommodation where the need for such accommodation is likely to exist for more than 3 years. Furthermore, since July 2008, it is also policy to offer schools being approved for devolved grant aid for additional accommodation the option to use their capital grant aid to build a permanent classroom(s) rather than purchase a prefab. These policies will reduce the usage of prefabricated accommodation and, particularly, the incidence of long term rental of prefabs.

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

Question:

107 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide full details of all appointments made at his Department since he took up office. [20572/11]

Since I was appointed as Minister for Education & Skills on the 9th, March 2011 the following appointments have been made at the Department:

Legal Services Unit Mr. Ed Kent, Chief State Solicitors Office has been assigned to the Legal Service Unit of my Department.

Minister's Office.

Mr. John Walshe, Special Adviser.

Ms. Deirdre Grant, Special Adviser.

Mr. Ian O Mara, Personal Assistant.

Mr. Neil Ward, Personal Secretary.

Mr. Nashie Grady, Civilian Driver.

Mr. Seamus Cosgrove, Civilian Driver.

Minister of State's Office.

Ms. Martina Forde, Personal Assistant.

Ms. Niamh Lawless, Personal Secretary.

Mr. Liam Lawless, Civilian Driver.

Mr. Brendan Glynn, Civilian Driver.

School Staffing

Pearse Doherty

Question:

108 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) in the Donegal Gaeltacht is unable to provide the Sruth Gaelach for the school year 2011-12; if this is of concern to him in view of the Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20598/11]

Teacher allocations to secondary school are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. In addition to this, schools can be allocated concessionary posts for a number of reasons eg., curricular concessions, special needs, language support etc. The Post Primary Allocations section of my Department have allocated one teaching post to Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola in respect of the Sruth Gaelach in the school. Four additional hours have also been allocated to the school in respect of the "Muinteoir i bhFeighil" post of responsibility attached to the Sruth Gaelach. I understand that this allocation was notified to the school in a revised staffing schedule which issued in late June.

Higher Education Grants

John Paul Phelan

Question:

109 Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has any plans to increase vocational education committee grants for mature students in view of the fact that the grant as it stands does not cover expenses incurred by students and as a result many are dropping out of college or not taking up places. [20610/11]

I regret that the economic circumstances of the country are such that I am not in a position to alter the rates of grants paid to students. However, students on particularly low incomes will continue to receive a "top-up" in the special rate of grant and the Student Assistance Fund at some €5 million continues to be made available through the access offices of third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional financial need. The access offices themselves will also provide support and advice to students to help them to continue with their studies.

Schools Refurbishment

Pearse Doherty

Question:

110 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the current classroom overcrowding problem at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason this school has not to date been provided with the necessary funds for an extension and/or refurbishment; when such funds will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20619/11]

I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers applied for significant capital funding for the provision of an extension and refurbishment of its existing accommodation. As this is a major capital project, further information has been sought from the school to allow the application to be assessed and considered in the context of my Department's Building and Modernisation Programme having regard to competing demands on the available capital budget. In the meantime, funding was approved in February last for the provision of a resource room which represented the immediate deficit of accommodation at the school. No funding has been drawn down by the school to date in respect of this grant.

Departmental Bodies

Michael McCarthy

Question:

111 Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the number of quangos which are currently affiliated to his Department; the name and location of each in tabular form; the amount of funding awarded to each in the years 2009, 2010 and 2011 separately; the number of staff in each; the pay levels and pension structures in each quango; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20636/11]

My Department's officials have confirmed that the Deputy is referring to bodies under the aegis of my Department. I attach for the Deputy's information the details requested relating to funding and staff numbers for these bodies. With regard to the location of each of the bodies under the aegis of my Department details are available from agency websites. As matters relating to pay and pensions are an administrative matter for the bodies themselves the information requested by the Deputy is not collated centrally.

The following table provides (a) a breakdown on funding provided by/through the Department and (b) staffing level details (WTE) for bodies currently under the aegis of the Department. The funding figures provided cover the operating costs of the individual agencies and in some instances may include other costs such as payments of awards, scholarships, etc.

€000s (Outturn)

Body Name

2009

2010

2011 Estimate

Staffing Levels (WTE) Qtr 1 2011

An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta

1,194

1,715

2,300

3.00

Commission into Child Abuse

3,570

2,261

3,800

7.20

Education Finance Board (See Note 1)

3.60

Foras Áiseanna Saothair (See Note 2)

1,019,325

1,030,150

472,088

1939.71

Further Education & Training Awards Council

5,900

5,200

5,168

37.00

Grangegorman Development Agency

1,032

1,042

2,080

4.00

Higher Education and Training Awards Council

5,900

5,200

5,168

28.80

Higher Education Authority (See Note 3)

1,032

1,042

2,080

53.20

Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology (See Note 4)

26,100

21,800

22,600

5.00

Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (See Note 4)

14,400

11,200

10,400

4.60

Léargas — The Exchange Bureau

1,195

1,195

1,195

34.00

National Centre for Technology in Ireland

5,449

5,581

5,612

17.00

National Centre for Guidance in Education

775

775

712

6.00

National Council for Curriculum and Assessment

4,637

3,837

3,812

25.80

National Council for Special Education

9,250

8,216

9,015

107.60

National Qualifications Authority of Ireland

2,579

2,438

2,533

25.00

Residential Institutions Redress Board (See Note 5)

95,244

43,193

45,000

28.90

Skillnets Ltd

16,595

14,330

14,500

19.00

State Examinations Commission (See Note 6)

56,943

54,286

54,310

153.30

The Teaching Council (See Note 7)

34.50

Note 1: The operation of the Education Finance Board is funded by €12.7 million of the original contribution made by the religious congregations in the context of the 2002 Indemnity Agreement. The only financial contribution that the Department has made to the EFB relates to monies paid in respect of Travel & Subsistence due to some Board Members.

Note 2: The Department of Social Protection will also provide €481.697 million to FÁS in 2011 in respect of Employment Services and Employment Programmes.

Note 3: These figures relate only to the administrative costs of running the Higher Education Authority.

Note 4: Figures provided for both of the Irish Research Councils relate primarily for research scholarships.

Note 5: Residential Institutions Redress Board (inclusive of Residential Institutions Review Committee, Board awards and 3rd Party Legal Costs and payments under the Indemnity Agreement). WTE figure of 28.9 includes 2 staff relating to Review Committee.

Note 6: The figures from the State Examinations Commission are net of income from fees.

Note 7: The Teaching Council has been self-financing since 28th March 2008.

Note 8: Both FÁS and Skillnets Ltd were under the aegis of the then Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment until May 2010.

Special Educational Needs

John McGuinness

Question:

112 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs assistants employed by schools in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; if he will provide the list of these schools; the number of SNAs that will lose their jobs or will be cut; the schools at which they are currently employed; the number of appeals to retain the SNA he has received; the time frame for a decision in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20676/11]

The information requested by the Deputy on the number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) employed by schools in Counties Carlow and Kilkenny is not readily available.

Firstly, I wish to clarify for the Deputy that SNAs are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities in an educational context. SNA allocations are not permanent as the level of SNA support allocated to a school may be increased or decreased as pupils who qualify for SNA support enrol or leave a school or where a child's care needs may have diminished over time. The allocation of SNAs in each school can therefore alter from year to year. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating SNAs to schools.

10,575 whole time equivalent posts are being provided for the coming school year. To manage this limited resource, 475 of these posts will be retained for allocation over the coming school year to address significant emergency cases; new entrants with special needs; or new assessments or injuries acquired during the school year. The NCSE will advise schools early in the new school year of a review process to review allocation decisions to ensure that correct procedures were followed and that they comply with my Department's policy. The merits of individual allocation decisions will not be open to appeal under this mechanism. It will be expected that schools, before requesting a review, will be in a position to demonstrate that they have made every effort to manage their allocation of SNA posts to best effect.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

113 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20906/11]

Shane Ross

Question:

115 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; the details of the projects. [20934/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 115 together.

As my Department's current Financial Management System was introduced in June 2003, the information requested by the Deputy prior to this date is not readily available and would involve a very significant amount of administrative time to compile. Accordingly, the relevant information for the period from June 2003 to date is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Shane Ross

Question:

114 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by his Department over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20920/11]

As my Department's current Financial Management System was introduced in June 2003, the information requested by the Deputy prior to this date is not readily available and would involve a very significant amount of administrative time to compile. The relevant information for the period from June 2003 to date is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Question No. 115 answered with Question No. 113.

Departmental Expenditure

Shane Ross

Question:

116 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21126/11]

In 2001, my Department agreed through the Teachers Conciliation Council to provide £7,500 annually to each of the three teacher unions towards the cost of substitution, enabling the release of executive members to conduct union business. This payment is reviewed in line with pay movement affecting teachers' salaries. The total cost of this measure from 2001 to date is €283,300. My Department funds professional development courses for teachers organised by teacher unions. The total cost of this funding from 2001 to date was €1.9 million. The amounts paid in each year to each union are in the following table. It has not been possible in the time available to include details for FÁS which will be supplied to the Deputy in the near future.

Details of Funding provided to Unions for the Provision of continuing Professional Development

Year

Union

Amount €

2003

INTO

205,000

2004

INTO

150,000

2005

INTO

300,094

2006

INTO

400,000

2007

INTO

413,710

2008

INTO

42,172

2009

INTO

12,500

2003

ASTI

79,305

2004

ASTI

30,000

2005

ASTI

90,000

2008

ASTI

63,391

2004

TUI

58,356

2005

TUI

60,000

Employment Rights

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

117 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding plans by him to bring about an increase in inspections by the National Employment Rights Authority in respect of compliance by contractors employing workers to carry out publicly funded building projects, it being vital that if State money is paid to such contractors that the contractors should be fully compliant in respect of their obligations and that sufficient oversight is exercised in regard of their obligations and sufficient oversight is exercised in that regard on behalf of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20532/11]

The National Employment Rights Authority which has responsibility for monitoring employment conditions through its inspection services and which can enforce employment rights compliance and seek redress — comes under the aegis of my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. If anyone is aware of specific instances where firms may not be complying with relevant statutory pay and conditions of employment, the matter can be referred to NERA for investigation.

Under the Public Works Contracts there are provisions which impose an obligation on Contractors and their sub-contractors to comply with the legal requirements in relation to the pay and conditions of all employees working on a public sector project. Main contractors are required to provide a certificate of compliance (titled ‘Rates of Pay and Conditions of Employment Certificate') with each interim statement submitted (normally on a monthly basis). Failure to provide this compliance certificate will result in payment not being made by the contracting authority. If a main contractor provides a certificate of compliance and it is subsequently found to be untrue or partly untrue the contracting authority has the right to deduct the money relating to the work or part of the work covered by the certificate from any sums due to the main contractor. This money can be withheld until the pay and conditions of employment issue is made right. The ultimate sanction if a main contractor continues to be non-compliant is for the main contract to be terminated.

Also under a Public Works Contract a contracting authority has the right, whenever it is deemed necessary, to access data and records on pay and conditions for work persons employed on the site. In the case of capital works projects in excess of €30 million and with a contract duration in excess of 18 months, contracting authorities provide in their contracts for random checks of the records of contractors and sub-contractors to assess compliance with the requirements of the Registered Employment Agreement, as appropriate.

Departmental Expenditure

Shane Ross

Question:

118 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20594/11]

Department of Public Expenditure and Reform makes no payment directly to any trade union. Since 1982, a small annual contribution has been made towards the operating expenses of the Civil Service General Council Staff Panel. The Staff Panel is the umbrella body for all the civil service unions who participate in the Civil Service Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme (C&A scheme), through which civil service industrial relations matters are handled. It performs a co-ordinating function in relation to civil service union representation at the Civil Service General Council. Details of the contributions to the Civil Service General Council Staff Panel are set out in the following table:

Year

2001-2004

2006-2007

2008-2010

Annual contribution

€15,237

€20,000

€22,000

The Department also supports the operation of the implementation mechanism under the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014. The cost of that amounted to €8,738 in 2010. In addition, under an EU Technical Assistance Programme 2000-2006, a contribution was made to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. The funding was provided for training, etc. on Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the social partners (ICTU and IBEC). A total of €20,390 was paid in 2004 and €27,214 was paid in 2005.

I am aware that the Special EU Projects Body, a North/South Body established under the Good Friday Agreement, has provided EU funding to trade union organisations under the PEACE and INTERREG programmes. In relation to trade union organisations in the South, the following is the position in relation to funding provided to organisations which acted as the lead partner:

Programme

Round

Lead Partner

Project

Amount

INTERREG IIIa

2000-2006

ICTU

New Pathways to Essential Skills

€195,033

PEACE III

2007-2013

ICTU

May Festival

£24,780

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

119 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20908/11]

Shane Ross

Question:

121 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; the details of the projects. [20936/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 121 together.

In the past decade, my Department has not made any payments to the companies mentioned in the Deputy's Questions. With regard to the Agencies under the aegis of my Department, I am informed that the State Laboratory, the Office of the Ombudsman and the CPSA also made no payments to the companies covered by the Deputy's question. The Public Appointments Service has made payments to the company mentioned in Question 20908 of €192,000 in 2005 and 2006 for Executive Recruitment Services.

The following tables show amounts that were paid by the Office of Public Works to each of the companies in question during the years 2002 — 2011 together with the details of each project.

Year

Amount €

Detail (Company Mentioned in Question 20908)

2002

19,748

Consultancy Preparing Fin Statements

2002

30,805

Consultancy

2003

1,275

Training

2004

7,373

Consultancy

2004

1,815

Manual — Personnel

2004

7,575

Consultancy Corporate Services

2004

65,741

Risk Assessment Workshops

2004

45,139

Consultancy Dublin Castle

2005-2007

NIL

2008

5,050

Consultancy Internal Audit

2009-2011

NIL

Year

Amount €

Detail (Company Mentioned in Question 20936)

2002

1,515

Consultancy Canteen Tax Issues

2002

2,788

Review of Procurement Practice Projects

2003-2004

NIL

2005

16,554

Advice on wind up of Public Property Development Ltd

2006

1,854

Advice on wind up of Public Property Development Ltd

2007

8,430

Advice on wind up of Public Property Development Ltd

2008-2011

NIL

Shane Ross

Question:

120 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by his Department over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20922/11]

I take it that the Deputy is referring solely to public relations costs and not to advertising costs that would be incurred by my Department in the normal course of business, such as entries into telephone directories, the placing of advertisements in national newspapers, recruitment advertising, advertising associated with the national development plans, e-tenders etc. My Department has had not incurred expenditure in this area over the past decade.

Question No. 121 answered with Question No. 119.

Departmental Functions

Sean Fleming

Question:

122 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the division of responsibilities between his Department and the Department of Finance. [20520/11]

Under the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 2011, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was formally established on 6th July. Broadly, the responsibilities of my Department include:

Functions relating to gross voted expenditure management and general sanctioning powers in relation to expenditure

Functions relating to public service functions i.e. superannuation, remuneration, terms and conditions, appointments

New statutory powers relating to public service reform functions

Functions relating to borrowing by State bodies, with a consent role for the Minister for Finance (exceptions include borrowing by the Housing Finance Agency and matters relating to the Local Loans Fund)

Functions relating to bodies under the aegis of the Department

A role for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in requesting or approving payments which will be made by the Minister for Finance from the Central Fund.

Functions in relation to economic and social planning and development, previously assigned to the Minister for Economic Planning and Development are vested in both Ministers

Functions relating to shares in State bodies

The responsibilities of the Minister for Finance include:

All Functions relating to Financial Services, Banking, Budget & Economic matters, Taxation, Treasury matters, etc.

Functions relating to borrowing guarantees

Functions relating to bodies under the aegis of the Department of Finance in relation to superannuation or remuneration, with the exception of those bodies where the Minister for Finance will now be required to consult with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Functions relating to the Revenue Commissioners.

Question No. 123 withdrawn.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael McGrath

Question:

124 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 30 June 2011, the items procured for the establishment of his Department under the heading fit-out of office at a cost of €31,350; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20395/11]

The items procured by me in relation to the fit-out of my office, to which the reply to Parliamentary Question 79 referred are set out in the following table.

Description

4 LCD TV sets

3 TV Cables

2 x Mount Walls for TV sets

3 x LG DVD Players

2 x Stereos

Expresso machine

New Kettle

Photo Copier

Carpet for one room

New Furniture charges; supply and deliver of Tambour Units with 4 File Chassis and 2 Shelves

New Tea Station

4 Mobile phones

The total cost of €31,350 included the cost of electrical, plumbing, painting and other work related to the installation of these items.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

125 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if companies (details supplied) are employed by his Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20508/11]

At present, my Department has engaged one person, from one of the companies listed by the Deputy, to provide expert advice and assistance in relation to the public sector reform agenda. There are no other contracts in place at present with any of the other companies mentioned.

Semi-State Bodies

Michael McCarthy

Question:

126 Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will specify the number of semi-State companies that paid bonuses to second-tier management staff in each of the years 2009, 2010 and 2011 separately; if he will outline on an annual basis the full name of each company concerned, the corresponding individuals who each received bonuses, their title within the company, the amount of each bonus paid, the date on which the bonus was paid and if any bonuses which were approved by boards were subsequently turned down by individuals in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20513/11]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

135 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he has reviewed performance related payments throughout the State and semi-State sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20644/11]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

136 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if performance related payments have been made in cases in which the performance was below par; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20645/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 126, 135 and 136 together.

Performance Related Award Schemes for the Civil Service, the Permanent Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána, the Health Service and the Local Authorities were suspended in 2009. In relation to those Non Commercial State Sponsored Bodies (NCSSBs) who have approved PRAS in place, decisions on performance-related bonuses for chief executives and, where relevant, other senior staff are a matter for the Boards concerned. However, Secretaries General of Government Departments were informed (April 2009) that, notwithstanding the contractual issues involved, it would be appropriate that consideration of any bonus payments should be suspended. Secretaries General were asked to convey this position to the bodies and agencies under the aegis of their Departments. The suspension of such schemes was subsequently agreed in the overwhelming number of cases. Where suspended, PRAS may not be reintroduced without my prior consent.

In relation to the position of PRAS for CEOs in Commercial State Companies, my Department is in the process of writing to all Departments with Commercial State Companies under their aegis in the context of conducting a review of the current system. In the interim the position of this Government that — notwithstanding the contractual issues involved — performance payments are not appropriate in the current climate is well known.

As I have no direct role in the making of awards under any PRA Scheme, I am not aware of any awards having been made where the relevant Board/Remuneration Committee considered that an individual's performance was below par. As all PRA Schemes are, and where suspended were, based on achieving pre determined performance targets and goals, awards should not arise in such circumstances. In the case of, for example, CEOs of Commercial State Companies, the "Guidelines on Contracts, Remuneration and Other Conditions of Chief Executives and Senior Management of Commercial State Bodies" (March 2006) provide inter alia for performance related payments to be paid only where the performance criteria set by the relevant Boards have been met in full, that such criteria must impose challenging and demanding performance standards on the CEO and that a CEO should not be rewarded for results which are attributable primarily to external factors. As I have no statutory role in the remuneration, including the provision or otherwise of PRAS, for 2nd tier management in Commercial State Companies I do not have the information requested.

Departmental Staff

Shane Ross

Question:

127 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide full details of all appointments made at his Department since he took up office. [20581/11]

The following individuals have been appointed at my Department since I took office:

Anne Byrne, Special Adviser

Rónán O'Brien, Special Adviser

Eugene O'Sullivan, Civilian Driver

Tony Brennan, Civilian Driver

Marion Doyle, Constituency Office (Wexford)

Frances Kelly, Parliamentary Assistant

Robert Watt, Secretary General

Deirdre Hanlon, Assistant Secretary.

Public Service Staff

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

128 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it is expected that budgetary requirements appertaining to the public service in terms of employment levels are likely to be met by natural wastage and voluntary redundancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20637/11]

The Government are committed to reducing public service numbers in accordance with the Programme for Government. From a budgetary point of view we have already achieved 40% of the required numbers reduction for 2011 in the first quarter of the year. The targets set to date are achievable by the mechanisms of natural wastage and voluntary redundancy. I will, of course, be reviewing these targets at Budget time to see if further reductions are necessary. The Comprehensive Expenditure Review will inform our policy decisions in this regard.

Public Sector Reform

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

129 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his priorities in respect of public sector reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20638/11]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

134 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he has identified areas of public sector reform likely to yield greatest benefit with minimum negative impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20643/11]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

137 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the practices identified by him as being most in need of reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20646/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 129, 134 and 137 together.

As outlined in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to the most ambitious programme of Public Service Reform since the foundation of the State. This will take place in tandem with an equally significant programme of constitutional, political and institutional reform to ensure that there is a fundamental change in democratic and public governance, and a dramatic change in the cost efficiency and methods of delivery of public services. It is clear that the cost of delivering public services must be reduced further and that the Public Service must become better integrated and more customer-focused, as well as being leaner and more efficient.

The Government wants to make progress on this issue quickly and detailed implementation plans are being developed at present, which will encompass the commitments to Public Service reform in the Programme for Government and priority areas from the existing Transforming Public Services programme. The focus is on the key actions now required and how they will be implemented to ensure that substantive and tangible change is delivered within clearly defined timeframes.

These plans will focus on actions to improve performance by organisations and individuals; ensure greater efficiency, effectiveness and economy; and ensure flexibility in the deployment of people and resources. Particular priority areas will include eGovernment, shared services, public procurement, and business process improvement. The priorities and practices to be addressed will, of course, also be informed by the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure which is underway across all Government Departments.

This ambitious programme of reform will be overseen by the recently established Cabinet Committee on Public Service Reform, which is chaired by the Taoiseach and which I convene. In addition, it is my intention to establish a dedicated office within my Department to facilitate, drive and support the reform programme. This office will work closely with organisations across the Public Service, enabling them to drive the delivery of reform at a local level, as well as leading on cross-cutting reform initiatives. The office will include appropriate expertise in areas such as shared services, business process improvement, and others as required.

Public Service Staff

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

130 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which reduction in the number of public sector employees as intended by the previous Administration is on target to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20639/11]

Based on the information supplied to this Department, staff numbers have been reduced by almost 16,500 between the end of 2008 and the end of March this year. The breakdown across each sector is set out in the table and shows considerable progress has been achieved across the public service during this period. The Government is committed to achieving the targets set out in the Programme for Government over the period 2011 — 2015 as a minimum requirement towards achieving a modern, efficient and cost effective Public Service which can continue to deliver a high quality of public services.

Public Sector Numbers Quarter 1 2011 vs Quarter 4 2008

2008

2011

Qtr4

Qtr1

Change from Q4 2008 to Q1 2011

Civil Service

38,817

36,763

-2,054

Defence Sector

11,265

10,445

-820

Education Sector

95,024

93,607

-1,417

Health Sector

111,025

105,664

-5,361

Justice Sector

15,692

14,686

-1,005

Local Authorities

35,008

30,416

-4,591

NCSA

13,060

11,876

-1,185

Total

319,891

303,457

-16,434

Questions Nos. 131 and 132 answered with Question No. 20.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

133 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which he intends to review personnel numbers throughout the public sector with a view to ensuring that such redeployments take place as required in order to protect the integrity of the services, that areas or sectors experiencing greatest natural wastage or voluntary redundancy can be met with such reorganisation as necessary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20642/11]

The Government are committed to the reduction in public service numbers in accordance with the programme for Government. The actual exit mechanisms to be used will depend in part on the rate of natural wastage and decisions taken under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure on the required future size of particular sectors and bodies. In regard to the redeployment of staff in order to ensure continuity regarding the provision of essential public services, the Public Service Agreement 2010-14 (Croke Park Agreement) sets out separate redeployment arrangements for the Health, Education, Local Authority, Civil Service and non-commercial semi-State body sectors. In general, redeployment opportunities are to be sought first within each sector and thereafter in the wider public sector. The Health, Education and Local Authority redeployment processes are managed by the relevant line Department or agency. The Agreement envisages redeployment taking place for a number of reasons mainly related to rationalisation and reorganisation.

Under the Agreement, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) operates a system of Resource Panels for the Civil Service and State Bodies to support redeployment within and between those sectors. The system itself is now available to employers within those sectors. The PAS is currently developing a supporting website to include background and explanatory material for employers and staff.

Significant redeployment of staff and reassignment of work has already taken place within Departments and other bodies to meet operational priorities in response to the reduction in staff numbers. In addition, redeployment is ongoing within and between the Civil Service and other sectors. To date, this has largely been in the context of structural re-organisation or levies, both of which are specifically recognised in the Agreement. For instance over the past two years or so almost 500 staff transferred, mainly under levies and trawls for volunteers to the Department of Social Protection and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) for Census 2011. A further 2,000 or so HSE and FÁS staff are transferring to the Department of Social Protection with their functions.

Question No. 134 answered with Question No. 129.
Questions Nos. 135 and 136 answered with Question No. 126.
Question No. 137 answered with Question No. 129.

Health and Safety Regulations

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

138 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if his attention has been drawn to the danger posed to young children from looped cord window blinds which have resulted in the deaths of children here and worldwide; if he will consider recommending restrictions on the sale of such blinds on health and safety grounds, up to and including an outright ban; if his attention has been drawn to any such restrictions in other States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20446/11]

The EU's General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC), transposed into Irish law by S.I. No. 199 of 2004, places the onus on all operators, manufacturers, distributors, importers etc. to ensure that only safe products are placed on the market. If operators become aware that products on the market present a potential hazard they must take appropriate measures up to and including recall of the items, to ensure that the risk is removed. Any action taken by an operator must be notified to the relevant Market Surveillance Authority: in Ireland this is the National Consumer Agency (NCA).

On the specific issue of window blinds a new European standard has been in place since February 2009 which has been adopted as ‘Irish standard I.S. EN13120 — Internal blinds — Performance requirements including safety". As well as specifying the requirement for the fitting of internal blinds, this standard deals with the construction, transport, installation, operation and maintenance of window blinds. If operators are compliant with the safety measures built into this European standard they would be regarded as meeting the safety requirements of the General Product Safety Directive and in these circumstances there would be no grounds for introducing a ban.

The NCA has produced a useful ‘Consumer Guide to the Safety of Window Blinds' which includes advice on making blinds and curtains safe in order to minimise risk of accident as well as guidance on ensuring that blinds or curtains being purchased comply with the Irish standard I.S. EN13120. This leaflet is available on the NCA's website: www.nca.ie

Work was initiated by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) in 2010 to revise the European Standard EN 13120 in order to strengthen requirements in relation to risks of strangulation by young children. Ireland has actively participated in the working group responsible for this revision. More recently work has taken place to draw up a parallel support-standard relating specifically to the testing of such products. Both the revised standard EN 13120 and the new support-standard are expected to be published in 2012.

In order to take account of national concerns in this area it is proposed that a national standard, more comprehensive than the European standard, will be published late in 2011 on providing guidance for manufacturers and installers as well as consumers on safe window blind products. This standard will include other important guidance such as installation of corded window products and information on installation, including safety aspects, as well as training requirements for installers, manufacturers and sales representatives. To this end a committee has been established by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) comprised of representatives of the manufacturing and installation sectors as well as the NCA. A draft standard will be available for public consultation in the forthcoming weeks.

Industrial Relations

Catherine Murphy

Question:

139 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the specific concerns that were voiced at his recent meeting with the Communications Workers’ Union; the specific actions that he will commit to undertake to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20398/11]

I met with representatives of the Communications Workers' Union on 4th July regarding the Union's concerns around the recent announcement by Vodafone to offshore 139 jobs from its Irish call centres. I understand that Vodafone Ireland, which is not an IDA or EI client, has announced this as a part of a review of its European operations and which will also impact on its operations in other EU Member States. I am advised, as part of this process, that the company has been in discussions with unions and its Irish Call Centre contract partner, Rigney Dolphin. I am aware that Vodafone has decided that a portion of the existing contracted call centre operations in Dundalk and Dublin will be moved to other locations — Egypt and India — within the Vodafone Group and to other specialist contractors in Ireland.

This decision will impact 45 Vodafone roles and 139 in Rigney Dolphin — the 139 staff are employed by Rigney Dolphin but are in-sourced to Vodafone and are based at its sites in Dublin and Dundalk. I have been assured that Rigney Dolphin will work through the implications of the redundancies with their employees.

I also understand that all impacted Vodafone employees will be offered the opportunity to transfer to alternative roles within Vodafone Ireland, and voluntary redundancy packages will be offered. A consultation process is now underway with all Vodafone employees affected by the decision to finalise the alternatives available. The changes to Vodafone Call Centre operations will take place in late 2011 and early 2012. My officials and Minister of State Sean Sherlock recently met with Vodafone. The company explained that in the current market environment, cost efficiencies are a prerequisite so as to ensure their continued ability to compete in the Irish market where they employ over 1,000 people.

While Vodafone is not an IDA Ireland client, I understand from IDA Ireland that it has an ongoing relationship with Vodafone Ireland with a view to identifying potential corporate opportunities to expand the Irish operation, and that IDA Ireland's London office is fostering relationships with Vodafone at a corporate level. In support of these efforts to attract new employment opportunities from Vodafone, I am myself meeting with the Vodafone Group CEO next week.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

140 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if companies (details supplied) are employed by his Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20503/11]

None of the named companies are currently employed by my Department.

Job Creation

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

141 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the way ready access to the provisions of the jobs initiative can be made in the case of a person (details supplied) to create a number of jobs which will involve import substitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20523/11]

The Jobs Initiative, which was announced by the Government on 10 May, represented a positive intervention to support those entrepreneurs and business people that will create jobs and rebuild our economy. The measures announced in the Jobs Initiative included the halving of Employer's PRSI on employee earnings up to €356 per week, reductions in the lower rate of VAT from 13.5% to 9%, and commitments on access to credit, procurement and microfinance. The extent to which these measures impact on a particular enterprise will depend on the nature and specific situation of the enterprise in question.

I also indicated, as part of the Jobs Initiative, that I will seek to increase the awareness and take up of existing State supports to businesses, including Revenue's Job Assist and the Employers PRSI Incentive Scheme. In this context, my Department's website, www.djei.ie, now includes links to some of the main supports available to businesses for job creation and productivity. Some of these supports are available from the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) and Enterprise Ireland, both of which come under my Department’s remit.

With regard to the specific enquiry made by the Deputy, I would advise the promoter in question to contact his local CEB — the Kildare County Enterprise Board — in the first instance, to discuss what options may be available to him and his proposed business venture. Kildare County Enterprise Board is located at:

The Woods,

Clane,

Co. Kildare.

Phone No: 045-861707, Fax No: 045-861712:

Email: info@kildareceb.ie

Website: www.kildare.ceb.ie

The core activities of the Board include:

provision of financial interventions to support business development;

provision of business advice and mentoring;

delivery of programmes aimed at improving the skills of owner managers so as to assist business survival rates and facilitate future growth;

creating local enterprise awareness and developing an enterprise culture.

The criteria under which financial assistance is available is based on factors such as the sector of the economy in which an enterprise is operating or intends to operate, and the size, or proposed size, of the enterprise. The enterprise must be in the commercial sphere, must demonstrate a market for the proposed product/service, must have a capacity for growth and new job creation and must not employ more than 10 people. Kildare County Enterprise Board must give priority to enterprises in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sector and must always give consideration to any potential for deadweight and displacement arising from a proposed enterprise. The provision of non-financial assistance can take the form of a wide range of business advice and information services, management capability training and development programmes, e-Commerce training initiatives etc.

Ministerial Staff

Shane Ross

Question:

142 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide full details of all appointments made at his Department since he took up office. [20576/11]

Since taking up office on the 9th March 2011 the following appointments have been made at my Department.

Appointments made by Minister Richard Bruton

Name

Appointed

Title

Salary Scale

Mr. Patrick Cluskey

9th March 2011

Personal Assistant

€43,715 — €52,925 (Personal Assistant payscale)

Ms Gabrielle Noble

9th March 2011

Personal Secretary

€456.50p.w — €880.41p.w (Personal Secretary payscale)

Mr. Conor Quinn

30th March 2011

Press Adviser

€80,051 — €92,672 (Principal Officer payscale)

Mr. Sean Divilly

6th May 2011

Civilian Driver

€631.75 per week

Mr. John Murray

16th May 2011

Civilian Driver

€631.75 per week

Appointments made to Minister Sean Sherlock's Office

Name

Appointed

Title

Salary Scale

Ms Davina Hickey

10th March 2011

Personal Assistant

€43,715 — €52,925 (Personal Assistant payscale)

Ms Úna Willis

10th March 2011

Personal Secretary

€456.50p.w — €880.41p.w (Personal Secretary payscale)

Mr. Liam Carroll

11th April 2011

Civilian Driver

€631.75 per week

Mr. Dan Ryan

9th May 2011

Civilian Driver

€631.75 per week

Appointments made to Minister John Perry's Office

Name

Appointed

Title

Salary Scale

Mr. Francis Brennan

10th March 2011

Personal Assistant

€43,715 — €52,925 (Personal Assistant payscale)

Mr. Peter Gerard Mullin (.5 work/sharing)

10th March 2011

Personal Secretary

€456.50p.w — €880.41p.w (Personal Secretary payscale)

Mr. Christopher Murphy (.5 work/sharing)

10th March 2011

Personal Secretary

€456.50p.w — €880.41p.w (Personal Secretary payscale)

Mr. Dermot Browne

11th April 2011

Civilian Driver

€631.75 per week

Mr. Thomas Walsh

18th April 2011

Civilian Driver

€631.75 per week

Skill Shortages

Shane Ross

Question:

143 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of US multinationals that have expressed concern about the lack of adequate training in the science, innovation and mathematics area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20589/11]

Ireland is a successful major centre for Industrial operations. In the ICT sector nine of the top ten software companies in the world have substantial operations here. The ready availability of top quality talent has been an important contributing factor to the success of both multinational and indigenous companies in Ireland. The cluster of internationally renowned firms and smaller Irish companies offer a range of attractive career opportunities for professionals.

I am aware of the skills shortage currently being experienced by industrial employers, and particularly within the ICT industry. As part of frequent discussions which I and my Department and agencies have with Industry, I recently met with ICT Ireland, the ICT arm of IBEC along with my colleague, Mr Ruairi Quinn, T.D., Minister for Education and Skills. Industry representatives outlined their concern at the shortage of skilled graduates for the vacancies that currently exist in this industry.

The Minister for Education and Skills outlined his plan for meeting the needs of the ICT Sector in the short and medium term. This includes the Springboard programme, which will provide approximately 6,000 part time higher education places for unemployed people. The programmes are in areas where skills shortages or potential employment growth opportunities have been identified by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN). Nineteen public and private higher education providers will offer a total of 65 ICT courses, with a target enrolment of 2,074 students. This is the single biggest area of provision (31%) supported through Springboard.

I also met on 11 July with the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland, which represents US Business in Ireland, and this was one of the issues raised. The Chamber has recently done a survey of its members which indicates a number of vacancies which are difficult to fill, arising mainly from skill shortages in the ICT and Engineering fields. The number of vacancies revealed in this survey was similar to the number identified by the EGFSN. The Chamber had also discussed the matter with the Minister for Education and Skills. It very much welcomed Minister Quinn's proposed Action Plan on the issue, and indicated that industry is anxious to play its part in implementing this. The Chamber also expressed the view that, for the longer term, initiatives in second level education in mathematics and science would be crucial to addressing the matching of skills with Science, Technology and Engineering employment opportunities.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

144 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details of the total amount paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20910/11]

Shane Ross

Question:

146 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details of the total amount paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; the details of the projects. [20938/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 146 together.

In the time available since this Question was tabled my Department was unable to compile the information requested, which extends back ten years. Once my staff have collated the information I will forward it to the Deputy.

Shane Ross

Question:

145 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by his Department over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20924/11]

Answering this question will involve an extensive check of the Department's records over the past 10 years which it is not possible to complete in the time available. I will communicate with the Deputy further when this exercise is complete.

Question No. 146 answered with Question No. 144.

Departmental Expenditure

Shane Ross

Question:

147 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21130/11]

The information requested is as follows.

Year

Beneficiary

Purpose

2000-2003*

ICTU

Project Funded through National Framework Committee for Work Life Balance Policies

202,154

SIPTU

Project Funded through National Framework Committee for Work Life Balance Policies

10,300

2001

ICTU

Grant towards Education, Training and Advisory Service

1,008,172

2002

ICTU

Grant towards Education, Training and Advisory Service

1,043,000

2003

ICTU

Grant towards Education, Training and Advisory Service

1,043,000

2004

ICTU

Grant towards Education, Training and Advisory Service

1,080,000

2005

ICTU

Grant towards Education, Training and Advisory Service

1,773,000

ICTU

Project Funded through National Framework Committee for Work Life Balance Policies

247

2006

ICTU

Grant towards Education, Training and Advisory Service

1,801,000

ICTU

Project Funded through Workplace Innovation Fund

153,104

2007

ICTU

Grant towards Education, Training and Advisory Service

1,827,000

Impact

Grant towards expenses incurred in amalgamation/transfer of engagements

42,937

ICTU

Project Funded through National Framework Committee for Work Life Balance Policies

192

2008

ICTU

Grant towards Education, Training and Advisory Service

1,510,000

Independent Workers’ Union & Seamen’s Union of Ireland

Grant towards expenses incurred in connection with amalgamation efforts of IWU and SUI

9,737

ICTU

Project Funded through National Framework Committee for Work Life Balance Policies

5,000

2009

ICTU

Grant towards Education, Training and Advisory Service

1,200,000

ICTU

Project Funded through Workplace Innovation Fund

231,788

2010

ICTU

Grant towards Education, Training and Advisory Service

804,750

Independent Workers’ Union & Seamen’s Union of Ireland

Grant towards expenses incurred in connection with amalgamation efforts of IWU and SUI

14,780

* The Committee's activities were funded from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform Vote from 2000 to end 2003.

Civil Registration

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

148 Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20403/11]

The procedures for registering births in the State are contained in the Civil Registration Act 2004. Under that Act, there is no provision to provide for the amendment of an existing birth entry, or for the creation of a new birth entry to reflect the acquired gender of persons who wish to have their new gender recognised in the State. The provision of births certificates to transgendered persons reflecting their acquired gender will have to be catered for in legislation.

The matter was the subject of consideration by the Gender Recognition Advisory Group which was established to advise on the legislation required to provide for legal recognition of the acquire gender of transsexual or transgendered persons. The report of the Group, which I received on 15 June 2011, was submitted to the Government this week and is being published today. I cannot be definitive at this stage about when I will be in a position to introduce legislation to give legal recognition to transgendered persons, but I would hope to do so later in the year.

Social Welfare Benefits

Brendan Griffin

Question:

149 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be awarded rent by the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20415/11]

The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. Under the legislative provisions governing rent supplement, the Department's relationship is with the tenant; the tenant makes the application for rent supplement and payment is made to the tenant. Rent supplement is specifically for the benefit of tenants to assist them with their accommodation needs. There is no direct relationship between the landlord and the Department in the administration of the scheme.

It is open to the landlord to bring to the attention of the HSE any instance where a tenant is receiving Rent Supplement but is not paying their rent. Where a Community Welfare Officer becomes aware that a person receiving Rent Supplement is not using that supplement to meet housing costs, payment of the supplement is suspended and the matter investigated. Any overpayment of Rent Supplement incurred in circumstances of this kind may be recoverable from the tenant.

Where a landlord has a grievance in relation to the non payment of rent by a tenant, s/he may apply to the Private Residential Tenancies Board to have the dispute resolved through the board's dispute resolution process. The tenant of the landlord concerned may contact the Community Welfare Services if he wishes to pursue an application for rent supplement.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

150 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when a back to education allowance will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20665/11]

According to the records of the Department no application for a back to education allowance has been received from the person concerned.

Question No. 151 withdrawn.

Pension Provisions

Jack Wall

Question:

152 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is on a reduced rate of pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20409/11]

The qualifying conditions for State pension (contributory) require the applicant to have entered insurable employment before attaining the age of 56 years; have at least 260 paid contribution weeks, from employment or self-employment, since entry into insurance and; satisfy the yearly average condition.

The person concerned satisfies the above conditions and has a total of 884 reckonable (paid and credited) social insurance contributions. When this total is divided by 51 (the number of years from date of entry into insurance to the end of the last tax year prior to reaching age 66), this gives a yearly average of 17 contributions, and entitles her to a reduced State pension (contributory) of €172.70 per week (75% of the maximum rate). In order to qualify for a maximum rate pension, a yearly average of 48 or more would be required.

Question No. 153 withdrawn.

Social Welfare Appeals

Paul Connaughton

Question:

154 Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social Protection when an appeal for disability allowance will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20425/11]

The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 9th March 2011. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 21st April 2011 and the appeal will be referred to an Appeals Officer, in due course, who will decide whether the case can be decided on a summary basis or whether to list it for oral hearing. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Social Welfare Benefits

Tom Fleming

Question:

155 Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be awarded rent allowance. [20428/11]

The Health Service Executive has advised that it has awarded a rent supplement of €61.00 per week to the person concerned from 6th June 2011 and that payment will issue in due course.

Robert Troy

Question:

156 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a claim for supplementary welfare allowance and rent allowance will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20433/11]

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that it has received no application for rent supplement from the person concerned. However, the HSE has stated that the person concerned has recently provided documentation requested in relation to her application for a mortgage interest supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. A decision on entitlement will be made shortly. The HSE has further advised that it has no record of any other application from the person concerned for assistance under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

Robert Troy

Question:

157 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a claim for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20436/11]

The administrative arrangements for the 2011 Scheme differ from those that applied in previous years. For this year, the majority of back to school clothing and footwear allowance entitlements were fully automated with no application form required from customers. According to the information available to the Department the person in question has already been paid their full entitlement under the 2011 scheme.

Question No. 158 withdrawn.

Robert Troy

Question:

159 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a claim for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (detail supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20438/11]

The administrative arrangements for the 2011 back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme differ from those that applied in previous years. For this year, the majority of back to school clothing and footwear allowance entitlements were fully automated with no application form required from customers. Those customers who did not receive an automated payment are required to complete an application form that is available for download from www.welfare.ie or by texting “Form BTSCFA”, followed by their name and address to 51909.

Processing has begun on the manual applications already received and it will take 4-6 weeks to process applications. In all cases a letter will issue to applicants informing them of the decision and, where payment has been awarded, when and where they can collect the payment. In the case of refusal of the allowance the procedures for review of the decision will be outlined to customers. Due to the large volume of applications received, information regarding the receipt or progress of individual applications will not be available until such time as the applications have been examined and a decision taken.

Robert Troy

Question:

160 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if a claim for supplementary welfare allowance will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20439/11]

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that the person concerned made an application for a Travel Supplement on 7 July 2011. The HSE further advised that a decision on this case will be made shortly.

Social Welfare Appeals

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

161 Deputy Patrick O’Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal on a recent decision regarding illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [20452/11]

Payment of illness benefit, to the person concerned, was disallowed by a Deciding Officer following an examination by a Medical Assessor of the Department who expressed the opinion that she was capable of work. An appeal was registered on 12 July 2011 and the Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that, in accordance with statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officer's comments on the grounds of the appeal. In that context, an examination by another Medical Assessor will be carried out. The person concerned will be notified when arrangements for the examination have been completed. The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

162 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Social Protection if companies (details supplied) are employed by her Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20506/11]

The Department has a major programme of business, organisational and technological change underway to enable it to modernise the services which it provides to its customers. The Department uses external consultancy firms to assist with information technology work. The Department also engages consultants for work which comes within the definition of ‘consultancy' set out in Department of Finance guidelines — where a person or organisation provides intellectual or knowledge based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice) through delivering reports, studies, assessments, recommendations, proposals, etc. that contribute to decision making or policy making. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. KPMG or PwC are not presently engaged by the Department in a consultancy capacity.

Company

Consultancy

Deloitte & Touche

Provision of Information Systems internal audit services

Deloitte & Touche

Provision of Forensic Investigation Services

Ernst & Young

Provision of assistance in the development and implementation of various information security projects and protocols

Social Welfare Benefits

John Lyons

Question:

163 Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that an application for back to school clothing and footwear allowance has been received in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [20512/11]

The administrative arrangements for the 2011 back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme differ from those that applied in previous years. For this year, the majority of back to school clothing and footwear allowance entitlements were fully automated with no application form required from customers. Those customers who did not receive an automated payment are required to complete an application form that is available for download from www.welfare.ie or by texting “Form BTSCFA”, followed by their name and address to 51909.

Processing has begun on the manual applications already received and it will take 4-6 weeks to process applications. In all cases a letter will issue to applicants informing them of the decision and, where payment has been awarded, when and where they can collect the payment. In the case of refusal of the allowance the procedures for review of the decision will be outlined to customers. Due to the large volume of applications received, information regarding the receipt or progress of individual applications will not be available until such time as the applications have been examined and a decision taken.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

164 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection when it is likely an application for jobseeker’s allowance will be assessed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if the application has been urgently considered with a view to payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20514/11]

The inspector's report in this case has been forwarded to a deciding officer for decision and the person concerned will be notified of the decision shortly.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

165 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the extent, if any, to which rent support entitlements have been reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20515/11]

The Health Service Executive has advised that on 24 May 2011, the designated Appeals Officer upheld the decision of the Community Welfare Officer not to award a rent supplement to the person concerned on the grounds that the rent payable was in excess of the prescribed limit for a single person.

Proposed Legislation

Stephen S. Donnelly

Question:

166 Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection if she has brought the report of the gender recognition advisory group to the Cabinet this week; if a timetable has been agreed for its publication; and if she will provide a provisional estimate of when the resulting legislation will be drafted [20525/11]

The Gender Recognition Group was established last year to advise on the legislation required to give legal recognition to the acquired gender of transsexual or transgendered persons. The report of the group, which I received on 15 June, was submitted to Government this week and is being published today. I cannot be definitive at this stage about when I will be in a position to introduce legislation to give legal recognition to transgendered persons but I would hope to do so later on in the year.

Social Welfare Benefits

Robert Troy

Question:

167 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if an application for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20529/11]

The administrative arrangements for the 2011 back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme differ from those that applied in previous years. For this year, the majority of back to school clothing and footwear allowance entitlements were fully automated with no application form required from customers. Those customers who did not receive an automated payment are required to complete an application form that is available for download from www.welfare.ie or by texting “Form BTSCFA”, followed by their name and address to 51909.

Processing has begun on the manual applications already received and it will take 4-6 weeks to process applications. In all cases a letter will issue to applicants informing them of the decision and, where payment has been awarded, when and where they can collect the payment. In the case of refusal of the allowance the procedures for review of the decision will be outlined to customers. Due to the large volume of applications received, information regarding the receipt or progress of individual applications will not be available until such time as the applications have been examined and a decision taken.

Ministerial Staff

Shane Ross

Question:

168 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide full details of all appointments made at her Department since she took up office. [20579/11]

Details in respect of all staff who have been assigned to my Department since my appointment as Minister for Social Protection in March 2011 are as follows:

The position in relation to permanent staff is that 68 staff have transferred to the Department from other Government Departments with a further two staff transferring from public sector organisations to fill critical vacancies. Two Medical Assessors have also been recruited to fill critical vacancies.

The position in relation to temporary staff is that 60 temporary clerical officers have been recruited to provide cover for staff availing of statutory leave such as maternity leave, carers leave and long-term sick leave. A further 287 temporary clerical officers have been recruited to provide cover for staff who are availing of unpaid leave under the shorter working year scheme.

In addition to the staff outlined above I have appointed, for the duration of my term of office as Minister for Social Protection, a Personal Secretary, a Personal Assistant and 2 civilian drivers. In my role as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party I also have a further support person, employed by the Labour Party. Also, arrangements are at an advanced stage to appoint a Special Adviser and a Press Adviser.

The three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. In addition, the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of this Department. Since my appointment as Minister for Social Protection I have not made any appointments to the boards operating under the aegis of my Department.

Social Welfare Benefits

Pearse Doherty

Question:

169 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for the respite grant to date in 2011; the number of applications which have not been processed and awarded; the average time it is currently taking her to process respite grant applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20596/11]

The Respite Care Grant is an annual payment made to all persons providing full-time care, regardless of means or PRSI contributions, but subject to certain conditions. The grant is payable from the first Thursday in June of the year in question.

Details of the number of stand-alone applications, from carers not in receipt of Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance, for the period January 2011 to end-June 2011 are set out as follows. In addition to these cases payments have been made in respect of the circa €75,000 people in receipt of carers allowance/carers benefit and domiciliary care allowance. The average time taken to process an application in this period was 19 weeks.

Stand-alone Respite Care Grant applications 2011

Month

Undecided at start of month

Received

Decided

Undecided at end of month

January

361

89

219

231

February

231

123

107

247

March

247

141

160

228

April

228

2,254

87

2,395

May

2,395

2,258

72

4,581

June

4,581

551

2,144

2,988

Civil Registration

Seán Kyne

Question:

170 Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the review of the Civil Registration Act 2004 to enable the registration of the deaths of Irish persons abroad; and if she has examined the legislation as it stands in the UK which was suggested during the adjournment debate of 24 May 2011 on the issue. [20617/11]

The provisions and procedures governing the registration of deaths in Ireland are contained in Part 5 of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 and these are as follows.

Where a death occurs in the State it is the duty of a qualified informant (normally a relative of the deceased) to attend at a registrar's office and register the death on foot of a certificate of cause of death supplied by a registered medical practitioner. Where a death is referred to a coroner, the death is registered by a registrar on foot of a coroner's certificate. In general, only deaths which occur within the State are registerable. However, Section 39 of the Act, provides for the following exceptions:

1. deaths of members of the Garda Síochána or the Permanent Defence Force or of the spouse or specified members of the family of such a member outside the State while the member is serving outside the State as such member,

2. deaths of persons on board an Irish aircraft or an Irish ship,

3. deaths of Irish citizens on board a foreign ship or a foreign aircraft travelling to or from a port, or an airport, as the case may be, in the State.

Section 38 of the Act makes provision for the registration of a death of an Irish citizen domiciled in the State in certain specific circumstances. Where the death of an Irish citizen domiciled in the State occurs abroad, the death may be registered here if there was not at the time of the death a system of registration of deaths in the place where the death occurred, or such a system that applied to such a death, or it is not possible to obtain copies of or extracts from civil records of the death ie. a death certificate. In other words, if the death could not be registered or if a death certificate could not be obtained, the death can be registered here. Although the number of such cases is extremely small it is considered reasonable to make provision for them.

The reasoning behind these provisions is simply to ensure that where deaths cannot be registered abroad, they can be registered here and that in all cases the relatives of the deceased have available to them a certificate of the death for personal, legal and administrative purposes. Usually, when an Irish citizen dies abroad, the death is registered by the civil authorities of the place where the death occurred, and a certified copy of the death registration is obtainable. This certificate, translated, if necessary, is normally sufficient for all legal and administrative purposes here and for these reasons alone there is no necessity for the death to be registered in the State.

Any broadening of the current provisions will require careful consideration. It will be appreciated that the number of people who live and die in other countries and who have or are entitled to have Irish citizenship is very large. This would have implications both for the registration process itself and for the vital statistics relating to deaths which are derived from registered events.

A death certificate is readily available in the overwhelming majority of these cases. However, I do appreciate that many families of the deceased feel strongly that by registration of the death, the person's death is given recognition in his/her own country and also that this fact would assist during a period of considerable grief.

The Department will therefore have this matter reviewed in the context of future amendments to the Civil Registration Act, 2004. A general review of the provisions of the Civil Registration Act, 2004 is expected to be completed later this year. The procedures and legislation on this issue, as it stands in the UK, will be considered as part of the review.

Questions Nos. 171 to 173, inclusive, withdrawn.

Social Welfare Benefits

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

174 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review proposals to recover over-payment of social welfare payments in view of the fact that the person (details supplied) in question was entitled to a higher level of payment based on the number of dependants, such payments being about equal to amount of alleged over payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20662/11]

The person concerned had been assessed with an overpayment of one parent family payment for the amount of €14,226.60 in respect of the period from 27 October 2005 to 20 June 2007. She subsequently claimed one parent family payment from 24 September 2009 until she withdrew her claim with effect from 5 May 2011. However, a payment up to 11 May 2011 had issued to the person concerned resulting in an overpayment of €289.70.

The person concerned was informed of her right to appeal the decision to assess this latter overpayment but no appeal has been received to date. In any such appeal, it is open to her to provide any new facts or evidence to support her contentions. The combined overpayments assessed against the person concerned total €14,516.30 and she has been requested to make arrangements for the repayment, over a period if necessary, of this sum.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

175 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by her Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20913/11]

Shane Ross

Question:

177 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide details of the total amount of money paid by her Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; the details of the projects. [20941/11]

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 175 and 177 together.

The following payments were made to PriceWaterhouseCoopers in the past decade in respect of projects:

Year

Projects

2001

Child Benefit Review

23,797

2002

Child Benefit Programme — Service Delivery Model Project

494,363

2003

Financial Management System

153,670

2005

Officer Identity & Access Management policy

29,040

2005

Embedding a structure, methodology and tools for managing Information Risk

50,000

2006

Consultancy regarding level of risk posed by the Department’s critical IT-based information systems

257,047

There were other non-project payments made to PriceWaterhouseCoopers as follows:

Year

Projects

2002

Software Support & Maintenance— Appeals Office

72,460

2003

Publication of (Technology Forecast 2003-2005) — Reach Unit

50

2007

Risk Assessment Workshop

12,100

2008

External Training

1,990

2008

Senior Management Accountability Workshop

2,786

There were no payments made to KPMG in the past decade.

Shane Ross

Question:

176 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Social Protection the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by her Department over the past decade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20927/11]

Over the past decade, expenditure of some €6,500 was incurred by my Department on the hiring of public relations companies. This arose in 2002 when my Department's Press Office engaged the services of a public relations company to give advice on a public relations strategy. The Department's press office generally deals with all media queries and public relations matters.

Question No. 177 answered with Question No. 175.

National Parks

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

178 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding repairs to roadways to Muckross House (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20555/11]

The works referred to by the Deputy are included in the programme of capital works planned for Killarney National Park this year. Having completed a number of the necessary stages of the normal procurement procedure, this project has now gone to tender and it is hoped that it will commence very shortly. These works follow on from considerable work undertaken over recent years on the maintenance and improvement of the extensive network of paved and unpaved roadways in Killarney National Park.

Brendan Griffin

Question:

179 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will prioritise the repairing and resurfacing works for a park (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20416/11]

The works referred to by the Deputy are included in the programme of capital works planned for Killarney National Park this year. Having completed a number of the necessary stages of the normal procurement procedure, this project has now gone to tender and it is hoped that it will commence very shortly. These works follow on from considerable work undertaken over recent years on the maintenance and improvement of the extensive network of paved and unpaved roadways in Killarney National Park.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

180 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if companies (details supplied) are employed by his Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20495/11]

Shane Ross

Question:

184 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20902/11]

Shane Ross

Question:

186 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; the details of the projects. [20930/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 180, 184 and 186 together.

My Department was established on 2 June 2011 and, therefore, the Deputy will appreciate that the information sought by him can only be provided from this date. I am advised the companies referred to are not employed by my Department and that no payments were made to them since the establishment of my Department.

Turbary Rights

Charles Flanagan

Question:

181 Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht regarding Coolrain or Windsor Bog, County Laois, in view of the fact that the site was adopted by the European Commission on 7 December 2004 and notified through publication in The Official Journal of the European Union on 29 December 2004, having regard to SI No. 94/1997 European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997, when and the means by which the owners and-or occupiers were notified of the candidate status of the bog in question; when and the means by which the owners and-or occupiers were notified of the decision that the site was so adopted; the date the notification of the designation was published in Iris Oifigiúil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20522/11]

The then Minister's intention to designate Coolrain Bog in County Laois as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) was originally notified in December 2002. Landowners were notified directly at that time and, in addition, the proposal to designate the site was advertised in the Leinster Express on 21 December 2002 and displayed in public access points throughout the County. Protective mechanisms in respect of SAC sites are effective from the date of initial notification of these sites. My Department is currently in the process of drafting Statutory Instruments for each of the SAC sites and Coolrain Bog, along with the other SACs, will be put on a statutory basis with individual instruments drafted for each site. Landowners will then be notified of the designation of the site and public notice will be given in Iris Oifigiúil and by other means.

Ministerial Staff

Shane Ross

Question:

182 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide full details of all appointments made at his Department since he took up office. [20568/11]

I assume that the Deputy is referring to appointments made by me to state bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group since I took up office. Details of these appointments are reflected in the following table.

Board

Name

Date of Appointment

National Gallery of Ireland

Fred Krehbiel

7th June 2011

National Concert Hall

Dearbhla Collins

11th July 2011

John McGrane

11th July 2011

Laurie Cearr

11th July 2011

Gina Menzies

11th July 2011

Bruce Arnold

11th July 2011

Margaret Ryan

11th July 2011

Ray Bates

11th July 2011

Alma Hynes

11th July 2011

Artemis Kent

11th July 2011

Deborah Kelleher

11th July 2011

Peter McEvoy

11th July 2011

Pat Heneghan

11th July 2011

Rachel Holstead

Re-appointed 11th July 2011

Patricia Slavin

Re-appointed 11th July 2011

School Curriculum

Pearse Doherty

Question:

183 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) in the Donegal Gaeltacht is unable to provide the Sruth Gaelach for the school year 2011-12; if this is of concern to him in view of the Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20597/11]

I understand that this matter is one for the Minister for Education and Skills. A reply will issue from him today to an identical question from the Deputy.

Question No. 184 answered with Question No. 180.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

185 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by his Department over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20916/11]

My Department was established on 2 June 2011 and, therefore, the Deputy will appreciate that the information sought by him can only be provided from that date. I am advised that a payment of €5,445 was made since the establishment of my Department to Zoetrope PR for the provision of press and communications services in respect of Culture Ireland's Imagine Ireland initiative in the United States.

Question No. 186 answered with Question No. 180.

Departmental Funding

Shane Ross

Question:

187 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21122/11]

My Department was established on 2 June 2011 and, therefore, the Deputy will appreciate that the information sought by him can only be provided from that date. I am advised that no funding of the nature referred to by the Deputy was provided by my Department since 2 June.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

188 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if companies (details supplied) are employed by his Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20496/11]

Of the companies listed, KPMG is currently employed by my Department for the provision of a professional accountant, on a full time secondment basis, to provide financial advice across a range of issues.

Ministerial Staff

Shane Ross

Question:

189 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide full details of all appointments made at his Department since he took up office. [20569/11]

The following appointments have been made at my Department since I took up office:

Name

Position

Appointed By

Date of Appointment

Mr Finbarr O’Malley

Special Adviser to Minister Rabbitte

Government

28 March 2011

Mr Simon Nugent

Special Adviser to Minister Rabbitte

Government

11 April 2011

Mr Stephen Nolan

Personal Assistant

Minister Rabbitte

10 March 2011

Ms Linda Brien

Personal Secretary

Minister Rabbitte

10 March 2011

Mr John Kennedy

Civilian Driver

Minister Rabbitte

2 May 2011

Mr Kevin Eager

Civilian Driver

Minister Rabbitte

2 May 2011

Ms Marie Cullen

Personal Assistant

Minister of State O’Dowd

10 March 2011

Ms Geraldine Meegan

Personal Secretary

Minister of State O’Dowd

10 March 2011

Mr Michael Foley

Civilian Driver

Minister of State O’Dowd

18 April 2011

Mr Andrew Hewitt

Civilian Driver

Minister of State O’Dowd

18 April 2011

Exploration Licences

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

190 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the processes that would have to be gone through and the permissions that will have to be granted to enable a company (details supplied) to extract natural gas in County Leitrim and the body that will grant such permissions; if fracking will be considered a suitable method of extraction in principal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20605/11]

The principal authorisations required from my Department for a petroleum production project would be a Petroleum Lease and an approval for the developer's plan of development. The plan of development would set out the basis for the project and the rationale for the selection of the appropriate development option. The Plan of Development would be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment including a public consultation phase. In preparing an Environmental Impact Statement to support a plan of development application, the developer would have to assess the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project.

A petroleum production project would also be likely to require consents from other statutory authorities including the planning authorities and the Environmental Protection Agency. With regard to the licensing options issued in respect of the Northwest Carboniferous Basin, it is too early to conclude whether or not these authorisations will proceed to the exploration licence stage and it is certainly too early to anticipate a commercial discovery that would potentially lead to a petroleum production project.

Remediation Works

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

191 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if it is intended to carry out further remedial works at the old Silvermines site in County Tipperary; if the €10.6 million provided by the previous Government is still available for this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20606/11]

By decision dated 28 June 2005 the then Government agreed that the State would undertake rehabilitation of the former mine sites at Silvermines County Tipperary, and in 2008 the Minister advised Government of the updated cost estimate of €24 million, which would be incurred over a number of years. By end 2011, expenditure on the project will have amounted to approximately €11.3m.

In the context of decisions in Budget 2011, which provided for an overall reduction of nearly €49 million in the Department's capital provision for 2011, funding for Silvermines has reduced and in consequence necessitates a rephrasing of previously anticipated project elements, particularly the Garryard element of the project, which amongst other things would, once started, have to be brought to completion as a single phase whereby guaranteed financing of the entirety of the works would be necessary. Officials of My Department will continue to engage with Tipperary North County Council, the State's agent for the project, to ensure the protection of the investment already made, the bringing of conclusion of current elements and the long term approach to the project.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

192 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20903/11]

The total amount of money paid to PWC by my Department since the formation of the Department in June 2007 is €242,600. This expenditure was incurred in respect of financial and economic advice received in the following areas:

Project

Amount

Communications

€15,125

Broadcasting

€114,043

Natural Resources

€103,532

Administration

€9,900

Shane Ross

Question:

193 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by his Department over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20917/11]

As my Department was established in its present form in 2007, the identification of records prior to January 2007 cannot be facilitated without undue commitment of staff resources and administrative cost. However, if the Deputy has a question in relation to a specific item I will make appropriate enquiries. The total amount paid to external public relation companies from 2007 to date, by my Department is €399,729. The bulk of this expenditure (€370k) was in relation to the Power of One (The National Energy Efficiency Awareness campaign) during 2007 and 2008. That campaign has been managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, since 2009.

Shane Ross

Question:

194 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; the details of the projects. [20931/11]

The total amount of money paid to KPMG by my Department since the formation of the Department in June 2007 is €516,671. This expenditure was incurred in respect of financial and economic advice received in the following areas:

Project

Amount

Communications

€56,621

Natural Resources

€181,500

Administration

€278,550

The expenditure on Administration in the table above relates to a professional accountant seconded to the Department on a full-time basis to provide financial advice across a range of issues.

Departmental Funding

Shane Ross

Question:

195 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21123/11]

As my Department was established in its present form in 2007, the identification of records prior to January 2007 cannot be facilitated without undue commitment of staff resources and administrative cost. However, if the Deputy has a question in relation to a specific item I will make appropriate enquiries. Since its establishment my Department has not provided monies to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes.

Departmental Agencies

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

196 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of persons employed by the Environmental Protection Agency who had a basic salary in excess of €100,000, €150,000, €200,000, €250,000 in 2009 and 2010; the bonus payments that were payable to these staff; the remuneration packages available to the chief executive officer and board members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20414/11]

The number of persons employed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (including the Director General and members of the Executive Board) who had basic salaries in excess of the amounts referred to in the Question are as follows:

Year Ending

>€100,000

>€150,000

>€200,000

>€250,000

2009

9

2

1

0

2010

6

1

0

0

The EPA does not pay any bonuses to staff. The board of the EPA is executive in nature and its members are full time salaried positions. Members are appointed by the Government under section 24 of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. The current salary of the Director General is €182,787 and the salary scale for Directors is €127,588 to €145,952.

Waste Management

Dominic Hannigan

Question:

197 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the grants available for organisations to remove disused or obsolete medical equipment from the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20424/11]

Medical equipment, with the exception of implanted or infected medical devices, relying for its functioning on a source of electrical energy or any source of power, other than that directly generated by the human body or gravity, at end of life is categorised as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and is subject to the provisions of the Waste Management (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2005, as amended. Under the terms of the WEEE Regulations, financing the environmentally sound management, including recycling, of waste electrical and electronic equipment is solely a producer responsibility.

There are no grants available from my Department for organisations to remove disused or obsolete medical equipment. Where an end-user of obsolete medical equipment under the scope of the WEEE Regulations is replacing it with new equipment, the producer of the new equipment must provide free take back for the end-of-life equipment, and finance its environmentally sound management as WEEE. This requirement stands irrespective of the brand of the old equipment or the brand of the new equipment being supplied. In the case of such replacements, it also does not matter when the old equipment was originally placed on the market.

There may be situations where a final end-user of the equipment may wish to discard it and not replace it with new equipment. In such situations, the final end-user is responsible for ensuring that the end-of-life equipment is managed properly as WEEE, where the equipment was originally placed on the market before 13 August 2005. My Department does not have a role in regard to the disposal of non-electrical or non-electronic medical equipment.

Fire Services

Niall Collins

Question:

198 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the fire fighting services for the community of Castlegregory, County Kerry, that covers the environs of Stradbally, Brandon and surrounding areas, will be restored in order to protect the lives of persons in these communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20440/11]

The provision of a fire service in its functional area, including the establishment and maintenance of a fire brigade, the assessment of fire cover needs, the provision of a premises and the making of such other provisions as it considers necessary or desirable, is a statutory function of individual fire authorities under the provisions of the Fire Services Act 1981. Accordingly, the question of whether the voluntary fire service referred to in the question should be restored is a matter for the Kerry fire authority.

Kerry County Council's fire services are provided by a retained staffing system. Retained fire-fighters are employees of fire authorities, and are organised to provide a full professional fire service throughout the county, including for the communities referred to in the question. The retained fires services are appropriately trained, equipped, supervised and operate to proper procedures. Volunteer fire units operate in a relatively small number of areas, but outside the direct control of the fire authority. The volunteer unit in question does not have the requisite training to attend certain types of incidents. While it has received some training, equipment and funding from the Council in the past, it does not report to and is not under the control of the Council's Fire Section.

I would again like to re-iterate that the most effective measure to protect the lives of persons in these, as in all communities, is to ensure that each dwelling is fitted with proper smoke alarms. I encourage all households in Kerry, as throughout the country, to ensure that this is the case.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

199 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if companies (details supplied) are employed by his Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20500/11]

In the context of relevant commitments in the EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support and the Programme for Government, Price Waterhouse Coopers have been engaged as part of a consortium contracted to provide consultancy services on the establishment of a National Water Utility. This contract runs from June 2011 to end October 2011 at a cost of €118,580. None of the other companies referred to in the Question is contracted to my Department.

Unfinished Housing Estates

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

200 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to circulars HFPD and PSSP2/11 Unfinished Estates and Public Safety, if he will confirm the allocation and breakdown to Monaghan County Council under Category 4 estates. [20510/11]

The following table sets out details on funding sought by Monaghan County Council for public safety measures to be undertaken on Category 4 developments.

Development

Location

Funding Sought

Recommendation

Forest Walk

Monaghan Town

€3,405

Full amount

Chapel Court

Carrickroe

€5,700

Full amount

Wylies Hill

Ballybay

€211,715

See Note below

Note: Further information has been sought in respect of this application. A decision will issue promptly following consideration of this information, when received.

Mortgage Schemes

Ray Butler

Question:

201 Deputy Ray Butler asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of mortgages provided and the total amount of mortgage funding lent through the home choice mortgage scheme; the total cost of establishing this scheme; the running costs to date, inclusive, of salaries paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20524/11]

To date 10 Home Choice Loans have been issued, with a total value of €2,007,080. A further 6 Home Choice Loans have been approved but not yet drawn down, with a total value of €1,192,840.

The total cost to date of administering the scheme is approximately €305,925. These costs include the setting up of the central processing unit (CPU) within the Housing & Sustainable Communities Agency (HSCA), formerly the Affordable Homes Partnership. The costs were met fully from within existing resources within the HSCA. A significant element of the staffing costs was incurred in the development of the loan processing model which applies to the Home Choice Loan but which has also now been used in the development of revised systems for processing and credit checking of standard local authority house purchase loan applications under other schemes such as tenant purchase, shared ownership etc. The HCL scheme is intended to be a temporary one which will be withdrawn once conditions in credit markets return to normal patterns.

Planning Issues

Joe Carey

Question:

202 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the rationale behind the provision of the facility whereby under the planning and development regulations 2001-10, only an applicant and not an observer or objector may submit unsolicited additional information on a planning application before decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20526/11]

Section 33(2)(c) of the Planning and Development Act 2000 makes provision for a person to make a submission or observation on a planning application on payment of the prescribed fee and within the prescribed period. Under the Planning Regulations the prescribed fee is €20 and the prescribed period is 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt of the planning application by the planning authority. Where a submission or observation (other than from a prescribed body) is received outside of this period, or is not accompanied by the €20 fee, the planning authority return the submission and notify the person that his or her their submission or observation cannot be considered. I have no plans to amend the Regulations in this regard at present.

Robert Dowds

Question:

203 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the fact that current legislation states the removal of site planning application notices is at the discretion of the applicant, if he has any plans to provide legislation for the removal of site planning notices after the period of planning application has elapsed and a decision on the application has been taken by the local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20543/11]

Article 20 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 provides that a site notice shall be maintained in position on the land or structure concerned for a period of 5 weeks from the date of receipt of the planning application by the planning authority, shall be renewed or replaced if it is removed or becomes defaced or illegible within that period and shall be removed by the applicant following the notification of the planning authority decision on the planning application under article 31. I have no proposals to amend the legislation in this regard.

Local Authority Funding

Brendan Griffin

Question:

204 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the extraordinarily high rate multiplier being applied by Kerry County Council, which is by far the highest in the country by a county council, and the relatively high multipliers applied by Tralee and Killarney Town Councils, if he will review the level of funding being provided to Kerry County Council and Tralee and Killarney Town Councils in order to allow these councils to make a significant reduction in rates for business or if he will explore other options that would allow for reduced rates for business in these council areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20560/11]

The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. The Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV), which is applied to the valuation of each property to obtain the amount payable in rates, is decided by the elected members of each local authority in the annual budget and its determination is a reserved function of a local authority. However, I have urged local authorities to exercise restraint in setting the ARV in this and previous years and they have responded positively in this regard. In this context, both Kerry County Council and Tralee Town Council have not increased their ARVs since 2009 while Killarney Town Council has reduced its ARV in 2011 to a level below that which pertained in 2008. I recognise that these are difficult economic times for many businesses and I will continue to keep matters relating to commercial rates under regular consideration in my Department.

Significant levels of funding continue to be provided to local authorities by central government, including through General Purpose Grants from the Local Government Fund. In 2011, General Purpose Grants of €23,238,216 have been allocated by my Department to Kerry County Council, while €1,603,506 has been allocated to Killarney Town Council and €2,694,458 to Tralee Town Council. These grant allocations are determined having regard to a wide range of factors, including the overall level of funding available, the cost to each authority of providing a reasonable level of service, the income that should accrue to each authority from local services and specific grants and the need to ensure that each authority will receive a grant that will ensure financial stability in all local authorities.

These significant grant allocations have reduced the burden that would otherwise have fallen on local charges and commercial rates and have ensured that the funding needs of local authorities have been met in a balanced way. Other sources of local revenue include the non-principal private residence charge, housing rents, environmental and other waste charges and charges for non-domestic water services which, together with commercial rates, provide over half the current funding needs of local authorities. The balance of funding is provided through specific State Grants, the most important of which are local and regional road grants through the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own spending priorities in the context of the annual budgetary process having regard to locally identified needs. I am satisfied that the level of funding provided to these local authorities through their general purpose grant payments, together with the income available from other sources, makes a significant contribution towards enabling the Councils to provide a reasonable level of services to the public. Unfortunately, and in light of the current financial situation, there is no additional grant funding available for these local authorities in 2011.

Proposed Legislation

Brendan Griffin

Question:

205 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a timeframe for the passage of the environment Bill through the Oireachtas; the implications of the environment Bill for the restoration of the bilingual name of Dingle-Daingean Uí Chuis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20564/11]

It is my intention that the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill will proceed through all stages in both the Dáil and Seanad before the end of July. I intend introducing an amendment to the Bill at Dáil/Report stage to substitute a revised and updated Part 18 of the Local Government Act 2001 which sets out the procedures for changing the names of towns, townlands, non-municipal towns, streets and localities.

The new Part 18 will restate large elements of the existing Part 18 but with significant changes and some new provisions. It will provide that any proposal adopted by a local authority to change a placename must specify the proposed name in Irish only or in English and in Irish; there will be an explicit requirement that any plebiscite held must be by way of secret ballot; and it will provide that any change of placename made under local government law will supersede any order made by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under section 32 of the Official Languages Act 2003.

In relation to Dingle/An Daingean, the amendment will undo the impact of the Placenames (Ceantair Ghaeltachta) Order 2004 made under the 2003 Act, as it applies to An Daingean, and will provide that the official name of the town in the Irish language will be Daingean Uí Chúis and in the English language will be Dingle.

Ministerial Staff

Shane Ross

Question:

206 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide full details of all appointments made at his Department since he took up office. [20573/11]

I appointed Ms Claire Langton as Special Adviser to my office with effect from 10 March 2011 with an annual salary of €80,051 and I am currently arranging for the appointment of a second Special Adviser. In addition, with effect from the 10 March 2011, I appointed a Personal Secretary and Personal Assistant, both with an annual salary of €51,365, and two Civilian Drivers, each with an annual salary of €32,965, were appointed in May 2011.

My colleague, Minister of State Mr Willie Penrose, appointed Mr Aidan Culhane as his Special Adviser on 23 May 2011 with an annual salary of €80,051. In addition, with effect from the 10 March 2011, he appointed a Personal Secretary and Personal Assistant with an annual salary of €47,755 and €52,925 respectively. One Civilian Driver on an annual salary of €32,965 was appointed on 21 March 2011 and a second driver, on the same salary, was appointed on 9 May 2011. There have been no appointments in respect of Minister of State Mr Fergus O'Dowd.

Other appointments made in my Department since March 2011 include a Meteorological Officer with an annual salary of €27,464, Assistant Director of Met Éireann with an annual salary of €94,770, and Meteorologist with an annual salary of €30,218. Also, and subject to sanction from the Department of Finance, a variable number of seasonal staff, mostly based in the National Parks, are recruited annually mainly for guiding and park maintenance work. Responsibility for the heritage function, including the National Parks, has now transferred to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Departmental Agencies

Shane Ross

Question:

207 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is satisfied with reports of wasteful spending by the Environmental Protection Agency; and the measures he intends to take to end such extravagance. [20592/11]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a statutorily independent body which receives funding from my Department through the Environment Vote and from the Environment Fund. The EPA also derives income directly from some of its activities, particularly licensing activities.

The Agency is subject to the requirements of the Code of Practice on the Governance of State Bodies. It is statutorily required to prepare an annual report of its activities each year and to present this to me with its annual accounts, which are subject to external audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. In this regard, the Comptroller and Auditor General has not identified any issues for concern in regard to the Agency's financial management and it is understood that the 2010 audit process is almost complete. Following submission of the annual report and accounts to the Government, they are then laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Director General of the Agency is also accountable to the Public Accounts Committee.

One of the Agency's many important functions is to inform and educate the public, including young people, about Ireland's environment in order to achieve behavioural change in key areas such as waste minimisation, water conservation and climate change. This is a particularly challenging role given our changed economic environment and the EPA does this through various awareness-raising initiatives which aim to promote thought, debate and action on the environment. I believe awareness-raising initiatives and programmes, particularly for primary and secondary schools, are the way forward in addressing attitudes and behaviour in Ireland today and for its future generations. I will be asking the EPA to prioritise its core funding for 2012 and in that context to consider the usefulness of expenditure on awareness-related and promotional materials.

The changed economic circumstances and the application of the Employment Control Framework arrangements have affected all public bodies, including the EPA. Nonetheless, the EPA has continued to deliver a vital service with fewer resources in recent years and to meet its obligations under a wide range of EU and national legislation.

Building Regulations

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

208 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he intends amending the building regulations to ensure that providers of waste water products will be responsible for the design and supply of same and to ensure consumer protection in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20604/11]

The design and installation of wastewater treatment systems for single houses is addressed in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Code of Practice in respect of Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems Serving Single Houses (2009). Part H — Drainage and Wastewater Disposal — of the Building Regulations has recently been amended to reflect relevant parts of the EPA's Code of Practice. The accompanying Technical Guidance Document (TGD H 2010) further stipulates that the design and commissioning of wastewater treatment systems should be carried out and/or supervised by a suitably qualified person and that the owner of the building should be provided with sufficient, clear and comprehensive information on any continuing maintenance required to facilitate the effective operation of the system in order to protect human health and the environment.

Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

209 D’fhiafraigh Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil an bhfuil feidhmeannach neamhspleách ainmnithe do MFG mar a sonraíodh i bhFreagra Scríofa Parlaiminte den 10 Bealtaine 2011, an tréimhse a bhfuil sé ceaptha ina leith, na socruithe gearrthéarmacha airgid atá socraithe idir Pobal agus MFG; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [20607/11]

Is eol don Teachta go ndearna Pobal, a dhéanann reachtaíocht ar an gClár Forbartha Áitiúil agus Pobail ar son mo Roinn, iniúchadh ar Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta (MFG) i Mí Eanáir 2010. Cé gur cuireadh toradh an iniúchadh agus na moltaí gaolmhara in iúl do MFG i Mí Meitheamh 2010, tá aghaidh le tabhairt ag MFG fós ar chuid de na ceisteanna a ardaíodh sa tuairisc.

Ceapadh feidhmeannach neamhsplách do MFG ar an 30ú Meitheamh 2011 chun scrúdú a dhéanamh ar na ceisteanna atá fós gan réiteach agus le meicníochtaí feiliúnach a aithint leis na ceisteanna seo a réiteach. Tá sé i gceist ag an gcoiste a gcinntí eatramhacha a chur faoi bhráid Pobal i lár Mí Lúnasa 2011.

Tá maoiniú sealadach faoin gClár Forbartha Aitiúil agus Pobail curtha ar fáil do MFG (go dtí Meán Fómhair 2011) chun tacú le críochnú na tuairisce eatramhach. Cuirfidh Pobal togra faoi bhráid mo Roinn bunaithe ar an méid atá le rá sa tuairisc sin. Tá súil le tuairisc deiridh an choiste faoi dheireadh Mí Meán Fómhair 2011, nuair a chuirfear faoi bhráid Bord Pobal é. Cuirfear moltaí i leith na tuairisce in iúl do mo Roinn ina dhiaidh sin.

Waste Disposal

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

210 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding steps he has taken to ensure that household waste collectors, including private companies and local authorities, that weigh the waste, comply with any legal requirements including those provided for under the Synopsis of Metrology Act, including section 26; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20628/11]

Part IV of the Waste Management Act 1996 and associated secondary legislation provides for the regulation of household waste collection services. However, the Legal Metrology Service of the National Standards Authority of Ireland is the statutory body responsible for regulating and supervising weights and measures.

Measuring instruments used by private companies or local authorities for waste weighing are subject to the Metrology Act 1996 as instruments in trade use. The Metrology Act provides that such instruments must be designed, approved and individually verified at all times. Verification requires the application of seals, the removal of which for repair or adjustment requires a further verification of the instrument. Instruments in use are inspected from time to time by Legal Metrology Service inspectors of the National Standards Authority of Ireland.

Where a measuring instrument is provided so that it can be used by a member of the public at their request, e.g. to determine the weight of a vehicle for tax purposes, and where a charge is made for providing such a facility, Section 26 of the Metrology Act requires that the operator of the instrument must hold a certificate of competency under the Act. Waste collection services using trucks that weigh domestic waste when collecting such waste from households do not fall within the provisions of Section 26 of the Act.

I have recently published a discussion document to help inform a public consultation process on the Government's commitment to introduce competitive tendering for household waste collection, whereby service providers will bid to provide waste collection services in a given area, for a given period of time and to a guaranteed level of service. The discussion document, which is available on my Department's web site, provides details of how such a reorganisation of household waste collection might work, identifies potential benefits and presents some questions to which it is hoped consultees will respond. The document also makes reference to fee structures, including pay by weight pricing. I look forward to all relevant interests engaging with the consultation process, which is open until 2 September 2011.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

211 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20907/11]

Shane Ross

Question:

213 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; the details of the projects. [20935/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 213 together.

Information in relation to these Questions is currently being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Shane Ross

Question:

212 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by his Department over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20921/11]

Information in respect of my Department is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Questions No. 213 answered with Question No. 211.

Departmental Expenditure

Shane Ross

Question:

214 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21127/11]

The information requested is set out in the following table.

Year

Amount €

Organisation

Reason for Funding

2003200420052006200720082009

15,00010,00091,857179,264271,564181,74639,273

SIPTU funding via the Local Authority National Partnership Advisory Group (LANPAG)*

Training of SIPTU trade union representatives in areas relevant to the partnership process. These funds were paid by LANPAG into the SIPTU National Health and Local Authority Levy Fund Account.

2007200820092010

55,00055,00052,80048,576

Congress Centres Network

Social partnership related funding in respect of the Community and Voluntary Pillar

* The payments to SIPTU include €200,000 which was granted to the organisation for the purposes of training in relation to the introduction and use of PPPs and which has since been refunded.

Ground Rents

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

215 Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the issue of existing ground rents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20405/11]

The position is that section 2 of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act 1978 prohibited the creation of new leases reserving ground rents on dwellings. As regards existing leases, Part III of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No. 2) Act 1978 made provision for a statutory scheme whereby any person could, at reasonable cost, acquire the fee simple in his or her dwelling. The scheme is operated by the Property Registration Authority and over 80,000 applicants have availed of it since 1978 to acquire the freehold title to their property.

As regards property other than dwellings, the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act 1967 contains provisions which allow individuals, on application to the Circuit Court, to acquire the fee simple in their property subject to the provisions of that Act. A High Court judgment upholding the constitutionality of the ground rents legislation was delivered in early 2006 but was subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court. The appeal has since been heard and the Supreme Court has reserved its judgment. The operation of the law in this area continues to be monitored in my Department.

Citizenship Applications

Jack Wall

Question:

216 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20397/11]

A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) in July 2010. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.

In that context, I can inform the Deputy that I recently announced a series of measures within my Department to provide for speedier processing of citizenship applications to bring about a substantial reduction in the processing timescale. The new arrangements include improved application forms that came into force on Friday, 24th June 2011, and are currently available online with an associated online residence checker, streamlined and accelerated procedures for certain types of application and plans to recruit interns under the new Internship Programme. These measures are targeted at clearing the backlog of applications awaiting a decision in excess of six months by spring of next year and from that time on the aim is, save in exceptional circumstances, that persons applying for citizenship will be given a decision on their application within six months.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

I remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Proposed Legislation

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

217 Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when it is expected that the Sale of Alcohol Bill will come before Dáil Éireann; and if it is envisaged that a minimum pricing clause will be put in place in relation to the sale of alcohol. [20401/11]

The position is that the Government Legislation Programme provides for publication of the Sale of Alcohol Bill in late 2011. As regards the introduction of minimum pricing for alcohol products, the position is that the Steering Group which is developing proposals to integrate alcohol into the National Substance Misuse Strategy has been examining a range of issues relating to alcohol pricing. The Group, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Health, is due to submit its report, including policy recommendations, later this year.

Citizenship Applications

Seán Crowe

Question:

218 Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason the process of naturalisation for non-Irish citizens can take up to 26 months to process. [20429/11]

The average time taken to process applications for a certificate of naturalisation has been impacted by the substantial increase in the volume of applications over recent years. Upon coming into office I immediately commenced a review of the system of processing naturalisation applications and in that regard I recently announced a series of measures to bring about a substantial reduction in the processing timescales.

The new arrangements include improved application forms that came into force on Friday, 24th June 2011, and are currently available online with an associated online residence checker, streamlined and accelerated procedures for certain types of application and plans to recruit interns under the new Internship Programme. These measures are targeted at clearing the backlog of applications awaiting a decision in excess of six months by spring of next year and from that time on the aim is, save in exceptional circumstances, that persons applying for citizenship will be given a decision on their application within six months.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

Legal Services

Patrick Deering

Question:

219 Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he will appoint an Ombudsman for the Bar Council and the Law Society. [20442/11]

The Government Legislation Programme indicates that a Legal Services Bill expected to be published in 2011 will provide for regulation of the legal professions and give effect to the Report of the Competition Authority on Solicitors and Barristers and the Report of the Legal Costs Working Group. Since the Legal Services Bill will have substantial implications for the Legal Services Ombudsman provided under legislation in 2009 to, amongst other matters, oversee the handling by the Law Society and Bar Council of complaints against solicitors and barristers, I have delayed the appointment of a person to that Office.

Proposed Legislation

Patrick Deering

Question:

220 Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he will bring the Judicial Council Bill before Dáil Éireann. [20443/11]

As indicated in the Government Legislation Programme for the Summer Session announced by the Chief Whip on 5 April 2011, the Judicial Council Bill is in the course of being drafted with a view to being published in late 2011.

Legal Services

Patrick Deering

Question:

221 Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to deal with the number of complaints against solicitors and their reluctance to comply with section 68 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20444/11]

Under the law as it stands a breach of the requirement of a solicitor to provide details of charges to his or her client under section 68 of the Solicitors (Amendment) Act 1994 constitutes misconduct for which a solicitor can be subject to disciplinary proceedings by the Law Society or the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. A function of the Legal Services Ombudsman, provided under legislation of 2009, is to oversee the handling by the Law Society and Bar Council of complaints against solicitors and barristers respectively. However, the Legal Services Bill, the proposals for which are at an advanced stage of development in my Department, will have substantial implications for the Office of the Ombudsman and regulation of the legal professions. I have, therefore, delayed the appointment of a person to the Office.

Patrick Deering

Question:

222 Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to deal with the consistent refusal of barristers to disclose their charges prior to taking a case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20445/11]

The Code of Conduct for the Bar of Ireland requires a barrister, on taking instructions, to provide an instructing solicitor, or the client in the case of access under the Direct Professional Access Scheme, with particulars of charges in writing. Contravention by a barrister of any provision of the Code may result in disciplinary proceedings by the Bar Council's Professional Conduct Tribunal. A function of the Legal Services Ombudsman, provided under legislation of 2009, is to oversee the handling by the Bar Council and Law Society of complaints against barristers and solicitors respectively. However, the Legal Services Bill, the proposals for which are at an advanced stage of development in my Department, will have substantial implications for the Office of the Ombudsman and regulation of the legal professions. I have, therefore, delayed the appointment of a person to the Office.

Citizenship Applications

Noel Coonan

Question:

223 Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when an application for naturalisation will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20468/11]

A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) in February, 2011. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.

In that context, I can inform the Deputy that I recently announced a series of measures within my Department to provide for speedier processing of citizenship applications to bring about a substantial reduction in the processing timescale. The new arrangements include improved application forms that came into force on Friday, 24th June 2011, and are currently available online with an associated online residence checker, streamlined and accelerated procedures for certain types of application and plans to recruit interns under the new Internship Programme. These measures are targeted at clearing the backlog of applications awaiting a decision in excess of six months by spring of next year and from that time on the aim is, save in exceptional circumstances, that persons applying for citizenship will be given a decision on their application within six months.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process. I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

224 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if companies (details supplied) are employed by his Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20505/11]

I can inform the Deputy that none of the companies (as per the details supplied) are employed by my Department.

Legal Costs

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

225 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details of the average cost of judicial reviews for decisions made in District and Circuit Courts; the number of such judicial reviews undertaken in 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011; and if he will list the judges against whom decisions have been fought. [20516/11]

I am advised by the Courts Service that statistics on Judicial review applications and orders are not compiled on the basis of the respondent details. However, the following table sets out details of Judicial reviews generally (excluding asylum related matters) for 2009, 2010 and 2011 to date. A more detailed breakdown is available in the annual reports of the Courts Service.

2009

2010

2011 (to end June)

Applications received

568

645

201

Final Orders made

183

165

88

Costs in the case of Judicial reviews are spread across a wide range of public bodies including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Government Departments and State agencies. The costs obviously vary depending on the nature of the particular case. Since the information required by the Deputy is not readily available it would require a disproportionate amount of staff time and resources across many organisations to compile the information.

Citizenship Applications

Tom Fleming

Question:

226 Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when an application for a certificate of naturalisation will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [20556/11]

A valid application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) in June, 2009. The application is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.

In that context, I can inform the Deputy that I recently announced a series of measures within my Department to provide for speedier processing of citizenship applications to bring about a substantial reduction in the processing timescale. The new arrangements include improved application forms that came into force on Friday, 24th June 2011, and are currently available online with an associated online residence checker, streamlined and accelerated procedures for certain types of application and plans to recruit interns under the new Internship Programme. These measures are targeted at clearing the backlog of applications awaiting a decision in excess of six months by spring of next year and from that time on the aim is, save in exceptional circumstances, that persons applying for citizenship will be given a decision on their application within six months.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process. I remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

Question:

227 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide full details of all appointments made at his Department since he took up office. [20578/11]

I can inform the Deputy that since I took up office have made the following appointments:

Judicial Appointments Advisory Board

Dr. Simon Boucher

Ms Karen Dent

Dr. Valerie Bresnihan

All of the above have been appointed for a period of three years with effect from 7 June, 2011.

Criminal Assets Bureau

Mr. Francis Cassidy, appointment made to extend term as Bureau Legal Officer.

Confidential Recipient under the Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice) Regulations 2007

Mr. Oliver J. Connolly was appointed as the Confidential Recipient with effect from 1 July, 2011.

Internal Audit Committee Ms Carol Bolger was appointed on 20 June, 2011 for a period of 3 years

The Thornton Hall Prison Review Committee

Mr. Tom Cooney, Lecturer in Law, UCD (and now advisor to me at my Department — see also below)

Mr. Brendan Murtagh, Partner in LHM Casey McGrath, Chartered Accountant

Mr. Brian Purcell, Director General of the Irish Prison Service

Judge Catherine McGuinness, retired President of the Law Reform Commission and former Judge of the Supreme Court, High Court and Circuit Court.

This Committee was appointed on 5 April, 2011 to examine the need for new prison accommodation and to advise by 1 July, 2011 on whether work on Thornton Hall should proceed.

Investigation and Report

Judge Michael Reilly, Inspector of Prisons was appointed on 28 March, 2011 to investigate an issue of concern and produce a report on the matter.

Inter-departmental Committee to establish the facts on the Magdalene Laundries

Senator Martin McAleese was appointed as Chairperson of this Committee on 1 July, 2011. The Committee is charged with establishing the facts in respect of any possible involvement on the part of the State, including State interaction, with the Magdalen Laundries.

Property Registration Authority

Mr. Frank Branigan (staff representative)

Ms Teresa Pilkington (Bar Council nominee)

Citizenship Ceremony

Justice Bryan McMahon agreed to my request to be the presiding officer at the recent pilot event held in Dublin Castle.

My Private Office at my Department

Ms Jane Lehane as Special Adviser with effect from 10 March, 2011

Ms Cleo Lambert as Personal Secretary with effect from 10 March, 2011

Mr. Tom Cooney as Special Adviser with effect from 4 April 2011

In addition, Ms Lorraine Hall's appointment as my Personal Assistant is still pending.

Private Security

Finian McGrath

Question:

228 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of intruder alarm installations that are carried out by installers in each of the turnover bands in 2010. [20629/11]

Finian McGrath

Question:

232 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if any efforts are being made to reduce the cost of compliance for small operators in regard to licence costs under the Private Security Authority similar to the situation in the United Kingdom where the regulatory body has been abolished and the costs of the licence are significantly less than here. [20633/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 232 together.

The Private Security Authority, an independent body under the aegis of my Department, is responsible for the licensing and regulation of the Irish security industry. I have been informed by the Authority that it does not receive data on the number of intruder alarm installations undertaken by alarm installers and therefore the information sought by the Deputy in this regard is not available. I understand, however, that approx. 95% of contractors are in the under 625,000 euro turnover per annum bracket. Included in this figure are new entrants to the industry who do not yet have a turnover and who account for 20% of contractors.

With regard to licensing costs, the licence fee, which is valid for a two year period, was set by the Authority in 2005 and has not been increased since that time. The provision of a regulatory environment understandably has cost implications but the public and the industry itself both benefits from regulation and it is in line with Government policy that industry should fund such regulation. The licence fee is, however, monitored on a regular basis and the Authority has taken every effort to ensure that costs are kept to a minimum. In order to assist contractors with paying their licence fee, the Authority has also introduced an instalment payment option.

On the matter of costs and the regulatory environment in the United Kingdom, I think it is important for the Deputy to note that the Security Industry Authority (SIA), the regulatory authority in the United Kingdom, has not been abolished and continues to function. Furthermore, it would be inappropriate to compare the licensing costs associated with the private security industry in the State with those in place in the United Kingdom, given the significant differences that exist in the regulation of security contractors in each jurisdiction. In comparison to the mandatory licensing system which is operated by the Private Security Authority, the SIA operates a voluntary scheme of registration for contractors in the security industry.

This voluntary scheme is not in fact open to contractors involved in the installation of intruder alarms as this sector was precluded from the legislation establishing the SIA. Any direct comparison of costs between the two schemes would therefore be fundamentally flawed, when one considers the voluntary nature of the SIA scheme against the standards based mandatory licensing scheme administered by the Private Security Authority, with its associated regulatory responsibilities, including substantial enforcement costs.

Private Security Authority Licences

Finian McGrath

Question:

229 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons licensed by the Private Security Authority in each of the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 that were nationals; and the number that were non-nationals. [20630/11]

Finian McGrath

Question:

233 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the vetting that has taken place by the Garda in regard to applications from Irish nationals for Private Security Authority licences, and in regard to non-nationals for Private Security Authority licences. [20634/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 233 together.

The Private Security Authority, an independent body under the aegis of my Department, is responsible for the licensing and regulation of the Irish security industry. I have been informed by the Authority that there are currently 26,780 individuals licensed to provide certain security services. The first licences for individuals were issued by the Authority in 2008. The table outlines the number of licences in operation at the end of each year between 2008 and 2010 and the breakdown of licences between Irish nationals and non-nationals.

Individual Licences in operation between 2008 and 2010

Year

Irish Nationals

Non Nationals

Total

2008

12,116

5,863

17,979

2009

17,203

9,739

26,942

2010

16,458

8,894

25,352

The vetting of applicants is an integral part of the licensing system provided for in the Private Security Services Act 2004. All applicants for a licence, both Irish nationals and non-nationals, are vetted by the Central Vetting Unit of An Garda Síochána. In the case of those applicants who have resided outside of the State for a period of six months or more, a criminal record certificate from the foreign jurisdiction is also required. This condition applies to both Irish nationals who have lived abroad and to non-nationals who come to this country. It is a condition of licensing that this requirement is fulfilled before a licence is issued. The domestic and foreign criminal record requirements also apply to sole traders, partnerships, company directors and shareholders with a holding of 20% or more in the case of applications for contractor licences.

I am informed that the Authority has robust procedures in place for dealing with information which comes to light arising from both domestic and foreign criminal record checks. These procedures include the application of the Authority's guidelines on criminality, with applications being refused where convictions are deemed relevant in accordance with the guidelines.

Departmental Agencies

Finian McGrath

Question:

230 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the salary of the chief executive officer of the Private Security Authority; and the salary scale of inspectors of the Private Security Authority. [20631/11]

The Chief Executive Officer of the Private Security Authority is remunerated at the level of a Principal Officer Higher (€85,957 — €105,429) plus a Director's allowance of €11,978 per annum. The Inspectors in the Private Security Authority are Executive Officers on a salary scale of €29,024 — €47,975. They also receive an annual flexibility allowance ranging from €8,484 to €8,930 in respect of the requirement to carry out inspections outside normal office hours.

Proposed Legislation

Finian McGrath

Question:

231 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the new legislation on the new private securities Act will be published. [20632/11]

I assume the Deputy is referring to the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2011 which is in fact currently before this House. Part 4 of this legislation amends certain parts of the Private Security Services Act 2004 which will, once enacted, improve the effectiveness of the Private Security Authority. The Bill was published on 24 June 2011.

Question No. 232 answered with Question No. 228.
Question No. 233 answered with Question No. 229.

Citizenship Applications

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

234 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current and likely position in regard to determination of citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20647/11]

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) in March 2008 and the Minister decided in his absolute discretion to refuse the application. The person concerned was informed of this in a letter issued on 30th November, 2010. It is open to the person concerned to lodge a new application for a certificate of naturalisation if and when she is in a position to meet the statutory requirements.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Residency Permits

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

235 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in the determination of residency and-or citizenship entitlement in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; when he expects matters to be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20648/11]

The person concerned is the subject of a Deportation Order, signed on 9 July 2008, following a comprehensive and thorough examination of their asylum claim, and a detailed examination of the representations submitted by the applicant for consideration under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). The effect of the Deportation Order is that the person concerned must leave the State and remain thereafter out of the State. The enforcement of the Deportation Order is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau. Officials in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) inform me that there is no record of an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

236 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding determination of residency status and future likelihood in this regard in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20649/11]

The person concerned has been granted Leave to Remain in the State for the period to 5th September, 2011. This decision was conveyed in writing to the person concerned by letter dated 6th October, 2010. The person concerned is required to apply in writing for the renewal of this permission. My Department's records show no evidence of such a renewal application having been made to date. As a result, it is recommended that the person concerned should do so in the coming weeks.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Citizenship Applications

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

237 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the currentand-or anticipated residency and citizenship status and entitlement based on the progress to date in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20650/11]

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) in January, 2010. The application is at an advanced stage of processing and will be finalised as expeditiously as possible.

In that context, I can inform the Deputy that I recently announced a series of measures within my Department to provide for speedier processing of citizenship applications to bring about a substantial reduction in the processing timescale. The new arrangements include improved application forms that came into force on Friday, 24th June, 2011, and are currently available online with an associated online residence checker, streamlined and accelerated procedures for certain types of application and plans to recruit interns under the new Internship Programme. These measures are targeted at clearing the backlog of applications awaiting a decision in excess of six months by spring of next year and from that time on the aim is, save in exceptional circumstances, that persons applying for citizenship will be given a decision on their application within six months.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

238 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in the determination of residency and-or citizenship entitlement in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20651/11]

Arising from the refusal of his asylum application, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the person concerned was notified, by letter dated 21st March, 2006, that the Minister proposed to make a Deportation Order in respect of him. He was given the options, to be exercised within 15 working days, of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a Deportation Order or of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why a Deportation Order should not be made against him. Representations have been received on behalf of the person concerned.

The position in the State of the person concerned will now be decided by reference to the provisions of Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and Section 5 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) on the prohibition of refoulement. All representations submitted will be considered before the file is passed to me for decision. Once a decision has been made, this decision and the consequences of the decision will be conveyed in writing to the person concerned.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

239 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress made to date in the matter of determination of citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20653/11]

An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Section of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) in May, 2011. On examination of the application it was determined that the person concerned did not meet the statutory requirements as set out in the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. A letter informing the applicant of this was issued on 7th June, 2011. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

240 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current position on determination of entitlement in respect of residency and-or citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20654/11]

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the person referred to by the Deputy claimed asylum in the State on 20th March, 2000 and had their claim examined by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner who recommended that they be recognised as a refugee. Based on this recommendation, a formal declaration of refugee status was issued on 20th March, 2002 and the person concerns continues to hold the status of refugee in the State. Full details in relation to the eligibility criteria for naturalisation including recently introduced streamlined application forms and a naturalisation residency calculator are available on the INIS website (www.inis.gov.ie).

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

241 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding determination of citizenship in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20655/11]

I am advised that an application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy was received in the Citizenship Division of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) in February, 2006 and the Minister decided to refuse the application on 22nd July, 2008. The person concerned was informed of this and the reasons for it in a letter issued on 28th July, 2008. It is open to the person concerned to lodge a new application for a certificate of naturalisation if and when they are in a position to meet the statutory requirements. However, in doing so they should bear in mind the reasons for refusal of his previous application.

The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Residency Permits

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

242 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position on an application for family reunification in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20656/11]

I am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the person referred to by the Deputy made an application for family reunification which was approved in July, 2004. I am further informed that there are no further applications for family reunification outstanding in respect of the person concerned.

I should remind the Deputy that queries in relation to the status of individual Immigration cases may be made direct to INIS by Email using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. The service enables up-to-date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek this information through the more administratively expensive Parliamentary Questions process.

Criminal Prosecutions

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

243 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the present location, status and future intentions in regard to the use, ownership or disposal of the motor vehicle owned by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20657/11]

The vehicle in question was used in the commission of an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Acts and is the subject of forfeiture proceedings currently before the Courts. In such circumstances it would be inappropriate to comment further on the matter.

Prison Education Service

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

244 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if or when it might be possible for a person (details supplied) to avail of training, educational facilities or appropriate duties to facilitate the person’s proposal to commence a four year open university course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20658/11]

I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that applications for Open University courses are reviewed twice a year. The next review will take place in September and an application on behalf of the person referred to will be assessed at that point. The final selection of candidates will take into account the availability of funding and overall demand for courses.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

245 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20912/11]

Total payments by my Department to PWC in the period 2004 to 2011 was €9.2m. These payments were primarily in respect of IT services and support.

Shane Ross

Question:

246 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by his Department during the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20926/11]

I wish to inform the Deputy that the information requested is not readily available. Given the period of time concerned and the fact that my Department neither classifies nor records companies by type, for example, public relations, the information requested could only be compiled by the use of a disproportionate and inordinate amount of staff time and effort.

Shane Ross

Question:

247 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and the details of the projects. [20940/11]

No records of any payments to KPMG by my Department were found in the period 2004 to 2011.

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

248 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Defence if companies (details supplied) are employed by his Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20498/11]

None of the companies listed by the Deputy are currently engaged to provide services by my Department.

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

Question:

249 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide full details of all appointments made at his Department since he took up office. [20571/11]

Since I took up office, my Department has engaged two civilian drivers to assist the Minister of State, Mr. Paul Kehoe T.D., in carrying out his official duties. These appointments are to temporary, unestablished positions in the Civil Service on a fixed-term contract basis.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

250 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20905/11]

Shane Ross

Question:

252 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and the details of the projects. [20933/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 252 together.

None of the companies listed by the Deputy are currently engaged to provide services by my Department.

Shane Ross

Question:

251 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Defence the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by his Department during the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20919/11]

It has not been possible in the time available to compile the information requested by the Deputy. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Question No. 252 answered with question No. 250.

Departmental Expenditure

Shane Ross

Question:

253 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Defence the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21125/11]

Details of assistance provided by my Department to the public service unions and military representative associations are as follows. In accordance with Partnership arrangements, from February 2001 to February 2002 and from February 2003 to July 2006 my Department bore the salary costs for one member of staff seconded to the Civil and Public Services Union on a non-recoupment basis. These salary costs totalled approximately €100,000 for the duration of the secondment. Since 2006, the salary costs of staff on secondment have been recouped from the Union.

With regard to the military representative associations, in accordance with Agreed Arrangements under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme my Department provides the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) with serviced office accommodation without charge and access to the Department's telephone network without charge. The Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) receives an annual subvention of €68,568.

In addition to the above payments, personnel are seconded to RACO and PDFORRA on a non-recoupment basis. Currently there are two officers seconded to RACO and three enlisted personnel to PDFORRA. During the past decade, there was an additional officer seconded to RACO up to 31 January, 2009 and an additional enlisted person seconded to PDFORRA up to 31 October 2008. The Reserve Defence Forces Representative Association (RDFRA) is provided with office accommodation and receives an annual subvention of €52,694.31.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

254 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if companies (details supplied) are employed by his Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20494/11]

The appointment of an independent Certifying Body to annually certify the Department's European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) accounts is required under EU Regulations. Following an open tender, Deloitte were appointed as Certifying Body for this Department for the period 2010-2013. My Department employs contracting computer programmers from a company called Curach which was acquired by Deloitte in December 2010.

Deloitte is currently examining, on a pro bono basis, the recommendations in the Report of the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities, as they apply to State Sponsored Bodies under the aegis of my Department. KPMG is also examining the administration of the Direct Payment Scheme on a pro bono basis. The other two companies mentioned are not employed by the Department.

Departmental Agencies

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

255 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made to date with the Department of Finance in lifting the moratorium on Teagasc hiring extra staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20534/11]

The moratorium on recruitment in the public service remains in place in line with commitments made in the National Recovery Plan and the Programme for Government to reduce public service numbers by 2015. Any exceptions to the moratorium can only be considered in very limited circumstances in respect of mission critical posts and in full compliance with annual ceilings on staff numbers. In that regard, I have had discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the impact of the moratorium on the delivery of the Teagasc education programme. Following consultations, I have agreed to prioritise six new contract teaching posts in the Agricultural Colleges for a three year period as an exception to the moratorium.

Third Level Courses

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

256 Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to deal with the 700 applicants who have been turned away by agricultural colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20536/11]

Following consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have agreed to prioritise six new contract teaching posts in the Agricultural Colleges for a three year period as an exception to the moratorium. I expect that this exceptional approval of new posts will be matched by further initiatives by Teagasc to devote more resources to the Agricultural Colleges including redeploying staff from other areas of the organisation, examining class sizes in certain programmes and use of remote teaching. I am confident that the combined impact of these measures will allow Teagasc offer a significant number of additional places to students over the coming weeks.

Irish Horseracing Industry

Robert Dowds

Question:

257 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of State financial support going into horse racing; the reasons for such State support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20548/11]

The horse racing industry received €47.4m in financial support from the State in 2010 through funding provided to Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) via the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. HRI is a commercial State company, established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. HRI has a regulatory and developmental role in the thoroughbred industry.

The functions of HRI are defined in The Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 (in addition to its functions under The Irish Horseracing Industry Act 1994) and include: the overall administration of Irish horseracing, the development and promotion of the Irish horseracing industry (including the development of authorised racecourses, the guaranteeing of prize money at race-fixtures and the costs of integrity services), the control of the operations of authorised bookmakers, the allocation of race-fixtures and the setting of race-programmes, the operation of racecourses which are owned or leased by HRI, the promotion of the Irish thoroughbred horse, the making of grants or loans to authorised racecourses and to any subsidiary of HRI, Registry Office functions in accordance with the Rules of Racing, the provision and maintenance of track equipment, representing Irish horseracing internationally in respect of its functions, negotiating all income from media rights, the provision of any financial support for purposes specified in legislation.

The activities of Horse Racing Ireland activities are very broadly based and encompass all elements of horse racing in Ireland. In addition to the above functions HRI also negotiates contracts in relation to income from media rights and represents Irish horseracing internationally in respect of its functions.

State Funding is pivotal to the survival of the horse racing industry. Monies from the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund have facilitated Ireland develop into a world centre of excellence for horseracing and has allowed HRI to undertake a capital investment programme that has underpinned growth in the sector.

Horse racing and breeding is a very significant industry in rural Ireland, supporting approximately 16,000 private sector jobs, often in areas where alternative employment opportunities are limited. The industry has a regional spread with 26 racecourses, over 780 licensed trainers and some 7,700 breeders spread throughout the country. Each of these generates direct employment and supports a diverse network of local suppliers, including vets, farriers, feed merchants, transporters, grooms, jockeys etc.

Ireland is the third largest producer of thoroughbreds in the world; exports of thoroughbred horses to over 35 countries are worth some €149 million in foreign earnings. The industry's value to the economy is estimated at €0.9 billion per annum and the industry generates very significant foreign investment in this country.

Ministerial Appointments

Shane Ross

Question:

258 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide full details of all appointments made at his Department since he took up office. [20567/11]

I appointed Philip Meaney chairman of Bord na gCon on 12th April 2011, pursuant to Section 8 of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, after consultation with the Minister for Finance. This is the only appointment I made, since taking office, to any of the State Bodies that come within the aegis of my Department.

Grant Payments

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

259 Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when agri-environment options scheme payments for 2010 will be made; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20603/11]

Under the EU Regulations governing the Agri-Environment Options Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. I expect that payments to participants in the scheme in respect of the first year will commence in August and that payments in respect of year two will commence in October. I am working with my officials to bring the payments forward if at all possible as I can understand the need for expediency.

Bovine Disease Controls

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

260 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the criterion in place for the allocation of bovine herd numbers in cases where the herdowner is deceased and is not the owner of the relevant farmland; if he will set out the usual requirements in order to obtain a herd number by the landowner or others in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20666/11]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

261 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the conditions under which a person may apply for or obtain or both a temporary or caretaker herd number in circumstances when the registered herdowner, not the landowner is deceased; if the landowner is contacted or notified regarding the issue of a herd number in such circumstances; if the landowner or representatives of the registered herdowner is the appropriate person to make an application for a herd number in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20667/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together.

A herd number is an administrative arrangement under the disease eradication schemes and does not denote ownership of stock or lands. Thus the person in whose name the herd number is registered, being the (nominated) keeper of the animals, may or may not be the legal owner of the animals held under that herd number or the holding where the animals are held.

In cases where a herdowner is deceased, it is necessary first for my Department to establish the legal succession in respect of the herd before assigning the herd number role to another person. Where the successor is identified through grant of probate or letters of administration, the herdowner role can be assigned to the applicant subject to the necessary evidence being provided. Where legal succession is not established, such as where there is an absence of a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration because of a delay in processing, in exceptional circumstances the applicant can be nominated in writing by a Solicitor as the herdowner if evidence is produced that the applicant is entitled to be assigned the herd number for the animals, for example, by way of a Solicitor's letter informing my Department that he/she is acting as representative of the deceased and that Probate or Letters of Administration are being taken out in favour of the applicant and indemnifying the Department against any damages or claims arising from the assignment of the herd number to their client. However, if there is any doubt as to the legal succession, the role of herdowner cannot be assigned until all legal documentation is submitted to the DVO.

With regard to the condition under which a person may apply for and or obtain a temporary or caretaker herd number in circumstances when the registered herdowner, not the landowner, is deceased, the procedure for issuing a herd number for use on a temporary or caretaker basis is the same as outlined above regarding the legal succession. The legal representative or the legal successor of the deceased herdowner is the appropriate person to make an application for a herd number for the herd concerned. In these circumstances, it is normal practice for my Department to contact the personal representative of the deceased in order to nominate a keeper of the animals and establish who has the use of the lands. The issues raised by the Deputy are complicated in view of the fact that the owner of the holding (land) is not the owner or keeper of the herd in question and herd numbers are issued in respect of animals in relation to a particular holding. If the Deputy has a particular case in mind, he should ask the person concerned to seek advice from my Department's District Veterinary Office in the area concerned. Further, my Department has set up an Inheritance Enquiry Unit for dealing with any payments from my Department due to the estate following the death of a farmer.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

262 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20901/11]

It is not possible to provide this information in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Shane Ross

Question:

263 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by his Department over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20915/11]

My Department does not employ external public relations companies and has not for the years in question. Public relations advice, where required is provided by my Department's Press Office. It is not possible to provide costs for this service, as the work is carried out as part of the standard duties of the staff involved.

Shane Ross

Question:

264 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; the details of the projects. [20929/11]

It is not possible to provide this information in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Departmental Expenditure

Shane Ross

Question:

265 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21121/11]

My Department part funds the secondment of a full time officer from this Department to the position of Branch Secretary with IMPACT. The cost of funding this secondment for the last 10 years (2001-2010 inclusive) was €127, 585. Also, during the past ten years a total of €14,254,152 was paid to unions/staff associations in respect of subscriptions deducted from staff pay on my Department's payroll.

Youth Services

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

266 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to any application for the establishment of a community café in Carrigaline, County Cork; the procedures that are necessary to make such an application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20432/11]

The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA), now Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA), operated a specific competitive youth café funding scheme in 2010, jointly with POBAL. Applications for the scheme closed in June 2010 and all awards made under the scheme were announced in December 2010. My Department does not currently operate any new specific youth café funding schemes.

My Department also funds a Local Youth Club Grant Scheme which is administered by the relevant Vocational Education Committees (VECs) around the country. The allocation for this scheme is €1.035m in 2011 and VECs have been notified of their particular allocations this week. The scheme will be advertised by the VECs over the coming two months. The maximum grant available under this scheme is €3,000 per club.

National Lottery Funding

Brendan Griffin

Question:

267 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a charity (details supplied) in County Kerry will qualify for national lottery funding in order that it can continue its valuable work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20563/11]

My Department has received an application for funding from the 2011 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. This is one of a large number of applications currently being assessed by my Department. The Deputy will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

268 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if companies (details supplied) are employed by her Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20497/11]

The information sought by the Deputy is being collated by the Department of Health and Children and I will write to the Deputy in this regard.

Ministerial Staff

Shane Ross

Question:

269 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide full details of all appointments made at her Department since she took up office. [20570/11]

Since 09 March 2011, I have appointed the following staff at my Department:—

Job Title

Numbers (whole time equivalent)

Special Adviser

1.5

Personal Assistant

1

Civilian Driver

2

Adoption Services

Catherine Murphy

Question:

270 Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason the Health Service Executive has refused to accept adoption files from a centre (details supplied) in County Cork; if she will undertake to make these files available in order that the adoptees are given the opportunity to trace their birth parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20612/11]

John McGuinness

Question:

271 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she or the Health Service Executive control the adoption files relative to a centre (details supplied) in County Cork; if the files will be made available to persons who wish to access their personal information; if the State can arrange such access; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20675/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together.

My Department has concluded talks with the HSE on the issue of adoption files from Bessboro and the HSE has agreed to take responsibility for these files. Accordingly, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

272 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide details of the total amount of money paid by her Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20904/11]

As the Department of Children and Youth Affairs was only established in June of this year I have no information relevant to the Deputy's question.

Shane Ross

Question:

273 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by her Department over the past decade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20918/11]

As the Department of Children and Youth Affairs was only established in June of this year I have no information relevant to the Deputy's question.

Shane Ross

Question:

274 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide details of the total amount of money paid by her Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; the details of the projects. [20932/11]

As the Department of Children and Youth Affairs was only established in June of this year I have no information relevant to the Deputy's question.

Departmental Expenditure

Shane Ross

Question:

275 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21124/11]

As the Department of Children and Youth Affairs was only established in June of this year I have no information relevant to the Deputy's question.

Medical Cards

Jim Daly

Question:

276 Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card which was cancelled in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20669/11]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Heather Humphreys

Question:

277 Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will be allocated a nursing home bed under the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20394/11]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

278 Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue under the nursing home support scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) [20400/11]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Driving Licences

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

279 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health his views that the costs associated with obtaining a medical certificate in order to obtain a driving licence for a person over 70 years of age should be covered by the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20423/11]

Under the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, a general practitioner (GP) is expected to provide his/her patients who hold medical cards or GP visit cards with all proper and necessary treatment of a kind generally undertaken by a GP. The contract between the HSE and GPs under the GMS Scheme stipulates that fees are not paid to GPs by the HSE in respect of certain medical certificates which may be required, for example, "under the Social Welfare Acts or for the purposes of insurance or assurance policies or for the issue of driving licences". I have no plans to alter this provision.

Consultation fees charged by general practitioners to private patients and to GMS patients outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and the patients. While I have no role in relation to such fees, I would expect clinicians to have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees. I should add that General Practitioners who hold GMS contracts with the HSE must not seek or accept money from medical card or GP visit card holders in respect of routine treatment.

Mental Health Services

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

280 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if it is the case that St. Ita’s, Portrane, County Dublin, has been instructed that there can be no further admissions for acute mental health care after 31 August 2011; if this has arisen because planned development work to upgrade the admissions unit was not done; the contingencies in place to meet the needs of service users from the populous catchment area of the hospital if such cessation of admissions proceeds; the steps he will take to prevent this loss of service taking place and to ensure that the facilities at Portrane meet the required standards to allow admissions to continue or to ensure that equivalent or improved facilities are made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20447/11]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

281 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when the psychiatric unit at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, will be developed, now that the planned co-location development on the site which delayed the development of the unit has been set aside; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20448/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together.

The Mental Health Commission has attached a condition to the registration of St. Ita's Hospital which requires the closure of the existing Male and Female Acute Units by 31st August 2011. Officials and Clinicians from North Dublin Mental Health Services had meetings with the Commission regarding requirements to address this condition and a plan involving the refurbishment of part of an existing building at the hospital was developed as an interim solution pending the completion of the new Acute Unit at Beaumont Hospital. The refurbishment work has not yet been undertaken and I understand that the HSE is in discussions with the Commission with a view to agreeing alternative arrangements for patients. The HSE has assured me that access to appropriate Acute Mental Health Services will continue to be provided for the people of North Dublin beyond 31 August 2011. The contract for the new Acute Admissions Unit at Beaumont Hospital has been awarded subject to planning approval. It is hoped that construction will commence in the last quarter of 2011.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

282 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health if companies (details supplied) are employed by his Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20504/11]

The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated within my Department and will be forwarded as soon as it is available.

Health Services

Terence Flanagan

Question:

283 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding orthodontic treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20527/11]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospitals Building Programme

Joan Collins

Question:

284 Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the long-term plans for Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin, if the new proposed children’s hospital at the Mater Hospital, Dublin, site goes ahead to competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20537/11]

The Deputy will be aware that I announced the outcome of the Independent Review of the location of the National Paediatric Hospital on 6 July 2011. The decision to locate the new children's hospital on the Mater Campus has been confirmed and I have requested the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board to submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanála.

At the time of announcing my decision I also stated that the Government will make a final decision on proceeding with the project in the context of its overall review of capital spending, which will be completed in September. In the meantime I have asked the three children's hospitals in Dublin to work very closely together, and to continue their discussions on forming a single governance structure well in advance of the opening of the new hospital. Until such time as a final decision is made on the project I do not intend to comment on long term plans for Crumlin Children's Hospital.

Hospital Services

Robert Troy

Question:

285 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his plans as part of the rationalisation of hospitals to provide additional funding to the remaining hospitals that will be providing the services to increased numbers. [20541/11]

The HSE National Service Plan 2011 which was approved in December 2010 requires the HSE to operate within the limits of its voted allocation of €13.456 billion. This represents a net reduction of €683m on the 2010 provision. The HSE National Service Plan also commits the HSE to delivering service levels for 2011 which are broadly in line with 2010 levels. All hospitals are required to operate within their allocated budgets for 2011 and to meet the service level activity targets that the hospital has agreed for 2011.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme

Robert Troy

Question:

286 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when the fair deal scheme will be fully functional again in view of the fact that inpatient beds are currently being used in various hospitals for patients waiting approval onto the fair deal scheme. [20542/11]

The HSE is currently clearing the backlog of applications that accrued while the Nursing Homes Support Scheme was suspended. Approvals are being issued to those applicants processed to final stage in the chronological order in which they were received in the Central Office in Tullamore. Almost 500 applications were dealt with in June and a further 504 applications have been dealt with since the 1st July. There are approximately 360 further applications awaiting funding approval. It is, therefore, anticipated that the number of delayed discharges in acute hospitals will decrease over the coming weeks. The latest Delayed Discharge Report already shows a reduction in the number of delayed discharges nationally.

Medical Aids and Appliances

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

287 Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding children with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20557/11]

Requests for funding for footwear are made by Health Service Executive (HSE) approved clinicians on a standardised application form on behalf of clients with medical cards or long-term illness cards. Approval for funding is based the detailed information received and prioritised to ensure that people with the most urgent assessed needs have their needs met first, within budget. The HSE has informed the Department that, the current waiting time for priority cases is 13 months.

The National Procurement department of the HSE is currently reviewing its contracts arrangements for the supply of orthoses, footwear and orthopaedic appliances. As a result of this review, the HSE will present to the market as a single entity, harnessing the purchasing power of individual locations. This approach will facilitate the introduction of standardised pricing across the HSE within orthotics ensuring that value for money is achieved whilst maintaining quality standards and clinical choice in compliance with international best practice. The provision of new contracts will in turn ensure that waiting times for the supply of devices will be reduced.

Accident and Emergency Services

Brendan Griffin

Question:

288 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress report on the building of the new accident and emergency unit at Kerry General Hospital; the position regarding staffing levels in the existing accident and emergency unit; if the current complement of staff will be sufficient to fully operate the new accident and emergency unit; when the new accident and emergency unit is expected to become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20559/11]

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Hospital Services

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn

Question:

289 Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health the cost to Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal, of securing laundry services including collection and distribution throughout the hospital from the private sector as opposed to the previous in-house laundry operation. [20565/11]

As this is a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Ministerial Staff

Shane Ross

Question:

290 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health if he will provide full details of all appointments made at his Department since he took up office. [20577/11]

Since 09 March 2011, I have appointed the following staff at my Department:—

Minister Reilly's Office

Job Title

Numbers (whole time equivalent)

Special Adviser

1

Press Adviser

1

Personal Assistant

1

Personal Secretary

2*

Civilian Driver

2

* One Personal Secretary is employed on a temporary contract to cover absence on sick leave

Minister of State Róisín Shortall

Job Title

Numbers (whole time equivalent)

Personal Assistant

1

Personal Secretary

1

Minister of State Kathleen Lynch

Job Title

Numbers (whole time equivalent)

Personal Assistant

1

Personal Secretary

1

Clerical Officer (on secondment)

1

Civilian Driver

2

General Medical Services Scheme

Clare Daly

Question:

291 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the amount paid by the Health Service Executive to health centres (details supplied) for general medical card services under the primary care reimbursement service for each of the years 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010; and the number of medical card holders registered at each of those clinics in the respective years. [20601/11]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Services

Clare Daly

Question:

292 Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will reassure us that the deficit of €5.1 million for Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24, this year to date will be bridged from the €16.4 million reported to be owed to Tallaght Hospital by private medical insurance companies; and if he expects most of the money owed to be paid up in the next few months. [20602/11]

The hospital raises charges for private patient treatments which are later reimbursed by the relevant private health insurance company. There is a timing difference between the bills being raised by the hospital and reimbursement by the private insurance companies. The €16.4m represents the bills raised on private health insurers that are due for payment but not yet paid. The income for private patient treatments has already been taken into account when arriving at the €5.1m.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Jack Wall

Question:

293 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive a hospital placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20614/11]

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Health Service Staff

Pearse Doherty

Question:

294 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that a community hospital (details supplied) in County Donegal run by the Health Service Executive is operating at half its capacity due to the public sector recruitment embargo; his further views that this service is acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20615/11]

Under the Health Act 2004 the day to day operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health services is a matter for Health Service Executive. As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Medical Cards

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

295 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20663/11]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

296 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20664/11]

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

297 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20911/11]

Shane Ross

Question:

298 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by his Department over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20925/11]

Shane Ross

Question:

299 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; the details of the projects. [20939/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 to 299, inclusive, together.

The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated within my Department and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Departmental Expenditure

Shane Ross

Question:

300 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Health the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21131/11]

Officials in my Department are currently gathering this information in conjunction with the Health Service Executive. I will respond to the Deputy directly when this material is collated.

Search and Rescue Service

Brendan Griffin

Question:

301 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will co-ordinate a multi-departmental approach to financing Mountain Rescue Ireland, in view of the recent significant increase in mountain climbing here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20008/11]

I wish at the outset to acknowledge the excellent work done by voluntary rescue organisations which include Mountain Rescue Ireland. (MRI). The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is responsible for administering payment of grants to all the mountain rescue teams in Ireland. This scheme is managed by the Irish Coast Guard as Chair of the National Co-ordinating Committee for Mountain and Cave Rescue. The Coast Guard similarly administers payments of grants to other rescue organisations such as the Community Rescue Boats of Ireland (CRBI) and the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation (ICRO).

In some instances organisations such as Mountain Rescue Ireland (MRI) can make applications to other Departments and agencies under various funding schemes. I understand, for example, that the MRI will received significant funding this year from the Deptartment of Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs under the framework for supporting voluntary activity, in addition to the €191,000 received from my Department. It is important that voluntary organisations that meet qualifying criteria can seek funding from a variety of sources. As such I do not see an advantage for MRI in changing the current arrangements.

Departmental Agencies

Ciaran Lynch

Question:

302 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons employed by the National Roads Authority who had a basic salary in excess of €100,000, €150,000, €200,000, €250,000 in 2009 and 2010; the bonus payments that were payable to these staff; the remuneration packages available to the CEO and board members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20419/11]

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Salary levels of staff employed by the Authority is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007.

I understand from the NRA that the number of persons employed by the NRA who had a salary in excess of €100,000 in 2009 and 2010 was 22 and 7 respectively. With the exception of the Chief Executive Officer no staff employed by the Authority had a salary in excess of €150,000 in 2009 or 2010. I also understand from the NRA that no bonus payments were made to such staff in either year. The remuneration package for the Chief Executive Officer in 2009 was €385,857, including a salary of €302,121 and in 2010 was €330,208, including a salary of €257,301. The Chief Executive voluntarily waived his contractual entitlement to a bonus payment for 2009 and subsequent years.

Fees payable to Board members in 2009 were €9,000 reduced to €8,100 (May 2009) and €7,695 in 2010. Fees payable to the Chairman in 2009 were €14,000 reduced to €12,600 (May 2009) and €11,970 in 2010. In accordance with government policy, I have written to the CEO requesting that he take a further pay cut.

Sports Funding

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

303 Deputy Patrick O’Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that there is no conflict of interest on the board of the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority arising either from the employment of an individual board member within a sports organisation or having any contract arrangement with any sports organisation funded by him or the Irish Sports Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20430/11]

In addition to the requirements under the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 and the Standards in Public Office Act 2001 the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies states that:

"On appointment, each Board member should furnish to the Secretary of the body details relating to his/her employment and all other business or professional interests including shareholdings, directorships, professional relationships etc., that could involve a conflict of interest or could materially influence the member in relation to the performance of his/her functions as a member of the Board."

All Members of the Irish Sports Council (ISC) and the National Sports Campus Development (NSCDA) are required to furnish this information. Both Bodies have written Codes of Business Conduct for their directors which includes procedures for addressing conflict of interest.

Rail Services

Seán Kenny

Question:

304 Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the method of booking seats on Irish Rail inter-city trains; if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that passengers have with the seat reservation system; the steps being taken to rectify these problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20449/11]

The issue raised is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Public Transport

Seán Kenny

Question:

305 Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the method of fare calculation on Dublin Bus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20450/11]

The issue raised is an operational matter for Dublin Bus. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Seán Kenny

Question:

306 Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it will be possible for Dublin Bus to make it more convenient for their customers by allowing surplus fare tickets to be redeemed at authorised Dublin Bus ticketing agents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20451/11]

The issue raised is an operational matter for Dublin Bus. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Consultancy Contracts

Anthony Lawlor

Question:

307 Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if companies (details supplied) are employed by his Department; and if so the capacity of same. [20507/11]

Deloitte and Touche are currently engaged by my Department to undertake a financial and economic appraisal of the implications of an aviation growth incentive scheme at a cost of €35,000 (ex VAT). Deloitte and Touche are also currently engaged to produce a report on the adequacy of existing procedures relating to the procurement of goods and services for the National Vehicle and Driver File in Shannon (NVDF) at a cost of €9,850 (ex VAT).

Anti-Social Behaviour

Joanna Tuffy

Question:

308 Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the recent increase in anti-social behaviour incidents on the Luas red line; if his further attention has been drawn to the urgent need to increase security on this line for the safety and protection of passengers using this form of travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20509/11]

Robert Dowds

Question:

309 Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to have security improved on the Luas red line in view of the reports of anti-social behaviour seriously intimidating passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20544/11]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together.

The safety and security of passengers and staff including arrangements to deal with anti-social behaviour on the Luas is a matter for the transport operator (Veolia) in conjunction, as appropriate, with the Gardaí. I have referred the Deputy's question to the Railway Procurement Agency, who have contracted Veolia to operate Luas services, for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Tourism Industry

Brendan Griffin

Question:

310 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Iarnród Eireann will investigate the possibility and viability of running return trips on a steam locomotive out of Killarney railway station, on the existing line through the Kerry countryside, as a visitor attraction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20561/11]

The issue raised is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Road Network

Brendan Griffin

Question:

311 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if statistical data exists for the number and types of vehicles travelling each way on the N22 from Ballyvourney to Ballincollig, Coolcour, on a daily basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20566/11]

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Ministerial Staff

Shane Ross

Question:

312 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide full details of all appointments made at his Department since he took up office. [20580/11]

The details of the appointments made in my own office and those of the two Ministers of State in my Department are set out in Table 1. The appointments are in keeping with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Guidelines on the staffing of Ministerial Offices. In the case of one of the Ministers of State, the Personal Assistant post is filled by 2 work-sharing staff and counts as one post.

Table 1 — Appointments to non-established posts February to June 2011

Position

Minister Leo Varadkar

Minister of State Micheal Ring

Minister of State Alan Kelly

Special Advisors

2

0

0

Personal Assistant

1

1

0.75/0.25

Personal Secretary

1

1

1

Civilian Drivers

2

2

2

Semi-State Bodies

Shane Ross

Question:

313 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he intends to take to ensure that the accounts of CIÉ, Iarnród Éireann and Dublin Bus are more transparent in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20593/11]

The legislation establishing CIÉ and its subsidiaries requires that their accounts be audited annually by an auditor or auditors appointed by their Boards with my consent. The report and accounts of State bodies must also comply with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies issued by the Department of Finance. If the Deputy has any suggestions regarding the form of the accounts of CIÉ, Iarnród Éireann and Dublin Bus I would be happy to receive them.

Consultancy Contracts

Shane Ross

Question:

314 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and details of the projects. [20914/11]

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

Shane Ross

Question:

315 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total cost of hiring external public relations companies by his Department over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20928/11]

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

Shane Ross

Question:

316 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of the total amount of money paid by his Department to a company (details supplied) in the past decade; and the details of the projects. [20942/11]

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

Departmental Funding

Shane Ross

Question:

317 Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of State funding directly or indirectly that has been paid to fund trade unions, related bodies or trade union interests or causes in the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21132/11]

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

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