Pat Deering
Question:44. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be a follow up grant to replace ICT equipment during this school year. [39953/12]
View answerComputerisation Programme Expenditure
Questions (44)
Written answers
My Department distributed more than €90m in ICT Infrastructure grants to schools in 2009 and 2010. These schemes prioritised the equipping of all classrooms with a digital projector, teaching computer and wireless keyboard and mouse. These ICT Infrastructure grant schemes are now fully disbursed. There are no plans to introduce a new ICT Infrastructure Grant Scheme in 2012 in view of budgetary pressures. I can assure you that the Department is continuing to prioritise work on the other aspects of the ICT in Schools Programme in order to help schools to make the best possible use of the very substantial infrastructural investment already made.
Integrating ICT into teaching and learning in schools is a major priority for this Government and work will commence shortly on development of a new ICT Strategy. The first step in this process is the completion of a new ICT infrastructure census in schools. Drafting of the census is currently taking place. The new ICT Strategy will address the new policy challenges and opportunities arising from major developments in curricular reform, digital publishing, digital content dissemination tools generally, cloud services, portable computing and student devices, and the deployment of high speed broadband at post-primary level.
Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme Numbers
Questions (45)
Bernard Durkan
Question:45. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if and when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is likely to qualify for VTOS and or other educational programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39988/12]
View answerWritten answers
My Department funds a range of Further Education programmes for adults returning to education. These include the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) and the Back To Education Initiative (BTEI). These programmes are provided locally by Vocational Education Committees (VECs).
The VTOS programme provides full-time second-chance education and training opportunities for unemployed adults who are over the age of 21 and in receipt of specified social protection payments for at least six months. Its primary target groups are the longer-term unemployed, the low-skilled and disadvantaged. People participating in VTOS who are in receipt of Job Seekers Benefit or Job Seekers Allowance receive a payment in lieu of this from the VEC for the duration of their course. Those in receipt of a Disability Allowance or One Parent Family Payment continue to receive their payment from the Department of Social Protection.
PLC provides full-time programmes at FETAC Levels 5 and 6 for school leavers and adults returning to education This is provided free apart from a €200 participant contribution charge from which learners with a medical card or maintenance grant entitlement are exempt. Participants in PLC could be entitled to The Back to Education Allowance administered by the Department of Social Protection.
The BTEI programme targets adults with less than upper second level education in a range of part-time learning opportunities which lead to certification at Levels 1 to 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. As this is a part time programme those in receipt of Department of Social Protection payments continue to receive their payment for the duration of the programme.
The person referred to by the Deputy should contact their local VEC, in this case Co Kildare VEC, for details of Further Education programmes in their area. The VEC will be able to advise them of their eligibility for any available Further Education programmes.
Judicial Pay
Questions (46)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:46. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total cost of judicial pay in 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39857/12]
View answerWritten answers
The total cost of judicial pay in 2010 and 2011 is set out below.
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2010 |
€27,168,740.87 |
|
2011 |
€26,712,154.00 |
In line with the favorable outcome of the referendum on the Twenty Ninth Amendment of the Constitution, which concerned judicial remuneration, legislation was enacted in 2011 to provide for the application of the two Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009 to both serving and new members of the Judiciary and military judges on the same basis as other public servants. This has resulted in reductions in remuneration for serving judges ranging from 23% to 16%.
In addition, for newly appointed judges, revised salary rates have been implemented to reflect the 10% reduction applied at the beginning of 2011 to new public servants appointed to the public service entry grades. These provisions effect reductions in remuneration for new appointees to the judiciary ranging from 31% to 25%. These measures came into effect on the 1st January 2012, and it is estimated that the total cost of judicial pay in 2012 will be €23.1 million.
Departmental Staff Rehiring
Questions (47, 55)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:47. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of new staff that have been hired within the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that have economic academic qualifications. [39870/12]
View answerMary Lou McDonald
Question:55. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons recruited to the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service; if he will provide a breakdown of the annual salaries awarded to each new recruit and their qualifications. [39884/12]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 55 together.
In relation to my Department, fifteen staff have been recruited to the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service. Of the fifteen staff recruited, seven will be seconded to other Departments/Offices. The recruits met the essential requirement of candidates to these posts which were:
(a) that they had achieved at least a Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications in Economics (pure Economics or Economics as a major subject in the final degree examination), or a relevant qualification which is acceptable to the Public Appointments Service as equivalent, and;
(b) in-depth knowledge of macro and microeconomics: and;
(c) strong qualitative and analytic skills, and
(d) familiarity with econometrics.
Salary details are as follows:
|
Grade |
Number |
Salary per annum |
|
Administrative Officer |
12 |
€29,922 |
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
€33,247* |
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
€35,485* |
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
€51,581* |
* Salary based on previous civil or public service
Legislative Programme
Questions (48)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:48. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he intends to publish the Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest Bill. [39874/12]
View answerWritten answers
The Government approved the drafting of the Protected Disclosures in the Public Interest Bill, 2012 in February 2012. The General Scheme of the Bill was published on my Department’s website and referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform for its views. The Committee’s report containing its detailed observations on the General Scheme based on its deliberations and meetings with various experts and interested parties were submitted to me last July. Drafting of the Bill by the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel is continuing and the Bill is included in the Government’s Legislation Programme with an expected publication date early in 2013.
Legislative Programme
Questions (49, 53)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:49. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he intends to publish the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill. [39875/12]
View answerMary Lou McDonald
Question:53. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when will he publish the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012 Regulatory Impact Assessment undertaken and completed by his Department earlier this year. [39879/12]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 53 together.
The Deputy will be aware of the significant commitments given in the Programme for Government to restore the Freedom of Information Act, to extend its remit to other public bodies. To this end the Government has recently approved plans to reform and extend Freedom of Information and I have submitted the General Scheme of the Freedom of Information Bill to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for its views and recommendations. I believe that the Committee can on its own account and drawing on the perspectives, experience and expertise of a broader range of relevant parties make a very significant contribution to the further development and refinement of these important legislative proposals. I expect to be in a position to publish the Freedom of Information Bill following careful consideration of the views of the Joint Oireachtas Committee received on the legislative proposals and the drafting of the Bill by the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel in due course.
The Deputy may wish to note that the General Scheme of the Freedom of Information Bill is available on my Department’s website and it is my intention to publish the associated Regulatory Impact Assessment on the website shortly.
Legislative Programme
Questions (50)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:50. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he intends to publish the National Lottery Act 1986 (Amendment) Bill. [39876/12]
View answerWritten answers
The Government has approved the General Scheme of the National Lottery Bill 2012. The General Scheme has been sent to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government. It is my intention to seek Government approval for the Bill in the current Dáil session and, subject to approval, the Bill will be published shortly afterwards.
Legislative Programme
Questions (51)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:51. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he intends to publish the Regulation of Lobbying Bill. [39877/12]
View answerWritten answers
A consultation process was carried out by my Department earlier this year, based on the broad OECD principles, to inform the development of proposals for lobbying regulation in Ireland. Following this process policy proposals were published drawing on the outcome of the consultation.
A public seminar was then held in early July to discuss the proposals, following which a further consultation phase on lobbying took place focusing on some specific issues. This phase has recently concluded. A General Scheme of a Bill is currently being drafted by my Department and I intend to bring this Scheme to Government as soon as possible. Subject to the views of Government, I would anticipate that the General Scheme will be published and sent to the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform for their consideration.
I expect to be in a position to publish the Bill following careful consideration of the views of the Joint Oireachtas Committee received on the legislative proposals and the drafting of the Bill by the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel in due course.
Legislative Programme
Questions (52)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:52. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he intends to publish the Public service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill. [39878/12]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is currently finalising the Draft Heads of the Bill to amend the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and I expect to bring proposals to Government for agreement very shortly. My officials will be liaising with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) with a view to having the Bill drafted and published at the earliest possible date.
Question No. 53 answered with Question No. 49.
Departmental Reports
Questions (54)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:54. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a progress report on the seven organisations currently being reviewed under the Organisational Review Programme. [39883/12]
View answerWritten answers
The Third Report of the Organisational Review Programme (ORP) was published on 26th January 2012. That report contains the findings of reviews of four Departments as well as comprehensive follow-up action plans prepared by each of these organisations and by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. A Progress Report on Implementation, covering the seven organisations reviewed in the first and second rounds of the ORP, was also published on 26th January 2012. A table outlining the organisations reviewed in the course of the three rounds is below. Each of the eleven organisations will progress implementation of their own action plans within the context of their ongoing reform programmes.
The Organisational Review Programme has been paused for 18 months with effect from 26th January in order to allow resources to be prioritized on key elements of the Public Service Reform Plan.
Departments and Offices reviewed under the Organisational Review Programme
First round
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (now Agriculture, Food and the Marine)
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (now Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation)
Department of Transport (now Transport, Tourism and Sport)
Composite report including action plans published in November 2008
Second round
Department of Health and Children (now two separate Departments)
Office of the Revenue Commissioners
Central Statistics Office
Property Registration Authority
Composite report including action plans published in September 2010
Third round
Department of the Taoiseach
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Department of Education and Skills
Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
Composite report including action plans published in January 2012
Question No. 55 answered with Question No. 47.