Written Answers Nos.146-157
146. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of all companies or persons providing an external professional service to his Department such as ICT, legal advice, advertising, project management and including any other external professional service not listed; the amount invoiced by each company to him over the past 12 months, in tabular form. [45336/12]
View answerThe following is a list of all companies or persons providing an external professional service to my Department such as ICT, legal advice, advertising, project management and including any other external professional service not listed; the amount invoiced by each company to my Department over the past 12 months
|
Person or Company |
Amount invoiced over past 12 months. |
|
DQ Networks |
€228,986.94 |
|
The Innovation value Institute, N.U.I, Maynooth |
€15,375 |
|
Siobhan Browne & Associates, |
€1,045.50 |
|
Step Performance Group (Donal Twomey) |
€2,290.00 |
|
People Resources (Deirdre Murray) |
€2,910.00 |
|
SEVEN (Johanna Fullerton Ltd) |
€4,587.55 |
|
PCS (Psychological Consultancy Services Ltd.) |
€3,810.00 |
|
Accenture Consulting |
€2,089,234.00 |
|
Bearing Point |
€117,236.84 |
|
Copper Reed Studio |
€2,450.16 |
|
Canavan and Byrne |
€8,046.50 |
|
James McCabe |
€700 |
|
Karen Ward |
€375 |
|
Melissa Darmody |
€560 |
|
Michael O’Mahony |
€300 |
|
Olive Bourke |
€380 |
|
Deloitte |
€39,548.85 |
|
IPAG (Ireland) Ltd |
€1,678.95 (paid) €3,377.90 (invoiced and to be paid) |
|
Davy Corporate Finance |
€615 |
|
Grant Thornton |
€31,586.40 |
|
Brindley Advertisement Ltd., |
€3,719.83 |
|
Red C Research & Marketing Ltd. |
€41,043.20 |
|
Richard Humphreys, Barrister |
€43,404.55 |
|
Ciara Kennedy, Barrister |
€8,058.40 |
147. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form, in respect of 2011, the number of payments issued by his Department and each agency within the remit of his Department to suppliers in respect of the supply of goods and services; splitting the payments between those issued within 30 days of receipt of the invoice; between 30 and 60 days of receipt of the invoice; between 60 and 90 days of receipt of the invoice; between 90 and 120 days of receipt of the invoice; and in excess of 120 days of receipt of the invoice. [45021/12]
View answerThe details of payments issued by my Department in 2011 in respect of the supply of goods and services are set out in the table below. With regard to such expenditure by the Agencies under the aegis of my Department this is a day-to-day administrative matter for those Agencies in which I have no function. However, I have referred the Question to the Agencies for direct reply to the Deputy.
|
- |
Number |
% |
|
Total number of payments issued |
6,694 |
100 |
|
Number of payments issued within 30 days of receipt of invoice |
6,381 |
95.3 |
|
Number of payments issued between 30 and 60 days of receipt of invoice |
231 |
3.5 |
|
Number of payments issued within 60 and 90 days of receipt of invoice |
34 |
0.5 |
|
Number of payments issued within 90 and 120 days of receipt of invoice |
19 |
0.3 |
|
Number of payments issued in excess of 120 days of receipt of invoice |
29 |
0.4 |
148. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the level of engagement and integration between the institute of technology colleges and Industrial Development Agency in the current national and international employment opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45269/12]
View answerIn accordance with national strategy to create a knowledge driven economy, IDA Ireland engages with third level institutions in the development of research, development and innovation (R,D&I) programmes and skill sets requirements programmes for its client companies. The Agency also works closely with our higher education institutions to ensure that Ireland has a workforce with skills that support advanced R,D&I activities. Moreover, the work of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, which is serviced by Forfás, and which has representatives from the key enterprise agencies and the education sector, is critically important in advising Government on the future skills needs of the economy.
I am confident that the work being done by both the enterprise development agencies and the higher education institutions will continue to provide us with a skilled workforce to meet the needs of inward investors. In this context, I can confirm that, to date in 2012, there have been 66 IDA Ireland supported investments with the potential to create almost 8,000 jobs.
149. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 the total amount of expenditure on consultancy by his Department, any body under his aegis or State agency for which he has responsibility; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; the nature of the work concerned; the fees paid to each consultant; if the matter was advertised for competitive tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45300/12]
View answer150. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide details in tabular form for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 inclusive, of the arrangements entered into by him, any body under his aegis or State agency for which he has responsibility for the obtaining of advice from a senior or junior counsel and or a firm of solicitors; the subject matter for which advice was sought; the names of the barristers' and solicitors' firms concerned and the fees paid; the nature of the work concerned; if in each case the matter was advertised for competitive tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45317/12]
View answer151. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide a list of all companies or persons providing an external professional service to his Department such as ICT, legal advice, advertising, project management and including any other external professional service not listed; the amount invoiced by each company to him over the past 12 months, in tabular form. [45334/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 149 to 151, inclusive, together.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to all three questions put down for answer today is not immediately available for my Department and its offices. Collation of the material on all aspects involves significant input for my Department and the offices and it has not, despite best efforts, been possible within the short timeframe for reply to collate all of the information requested.
I can commit however to providing all of the information directly to the Deputy within a short timeframe.
152. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if a conflict of interest exists between his former employment and current shareholding in a major integrated construction materials manufacturer and his role as the relevant Minister for Competition considering his refusal to ask the Competition Authority under Section 30 (2) of the Competition Act 2002 to carry out a market study or analysis of the cement, concrete and aggregates industry especially in view of recent revelations where the company of his former employment and current shareholding is accused of conducting a market eviction strategy at the cost of taxpayers and independent producers which has led to a loss of jobs to the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter which does not include the citing of sections 29 (3) and 30 (1) (b) of the Competition Act 2002. [45371/12]
View answerI am satisfied that no conflict of interest arises in this situation. The obligation on me as a Minister is to declare my interests which I have done. These interests are well known. The situation where a Minister might be required to step aside from a decision making process is set out by the Guidelines for Office Holders prepared by the Standards in Public Office Commission.
Accusations against any business of breach of competition law is matter for the Competition Authority and I have no function in this matter. The Competition Authority is the statutory body responsible for the enforcement of competition law in the State. Section 29 (3) of the Competition Act 2002 provides that the Authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Under section 30(1)(b) of that Act, the Competition Authority is responsible for investigating alleged breaches of the Act. Investigations and enforcement matters generally are part of the day-to-day operational work of the Authority and I have no direct function in these matters.
Separately, under section 30 subsection (1) of the 2002 Act, the Authority can study and analyse any practice or method of competition affecting the supply and distribution of goods or the provision of services or any other matter relating to competition. Availing of this provision the Authority has carried out a number of in-depth market studies in various sectors of the economy including professions, banking, transport, private health insurance and the grocery sector. The Authority has published its reports into these sectors and made recommendations aimed at improving competition in these areas. This work which is often referred to as a market study generally involves a detailed economic analysis of a sector in its entirety.
Under section 30 subsection (2), I, as Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, can request the Competition Authority to carry out a study or analysis of any practice or method of competition affecting the supply and distribution of goods or the provision of services. Such a request however is not a request to carry out an investigation into alleged criminal behaviour. One exercise involves an in-depth economic analysis of a market; the other involves a criminal investigation into alleged breaches of the law.
In its 2011 Annual Report the Competition Authority acknowledges that allegations of anti-competitive activities in the concrete and cement industries are being investigated by it on foot of information received. Furthermore, I understand court cases are ongoing in relation to these matters. In these circumstances it is inappropriate for me to request the Authority to carry out a market study in this area or to comment further on the matter.
153. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is still case that hospital consultants who treat private patients in public beds pay no PRSI on that income; if this is still the case her plans to change this situation and provide a timeline for same; the amount this will be worth to the State on an annual basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45348/12]
View answerPermanent and pensionable employees in the public service, other than those who were recruited after 6 April, 1995, are liable to pay social insurance contributions at modified PRSI rates.
Subject to having the required number of PRSI contributions, employees who pay modified contributions may be entitled to the following payments:-
(a) - widow’s/widower’s (contributory) pension;
(b) - guardians payment (contributory);
(c) - bereavement grant, and
(d) - carer’s benefit.
Modified rate contributions are not reckonable for establishing entitlement to State pension (contributory).
While these workers currently pay modified rate of PRSI on earnings derived from their civil-public service employment, they do not pay PRSI on any other streams of income, whether that additional income is earned from a trade or profession or from unearned sources such as income from dividends, deposits and savings and from overseas investments.
It is not possible at this stage to give any reliable estimate of additional revenue to be raised from such measures. Any proposal to bring additional sources of income within the base on which PRSI is charged would have to be considered taking account of all of the implications, including the potential for providing access to additional social insurance entitlements.
However permanent and pensionable employees in the public service recruited after 6 April 1995 are liable to pay social insurance contributions at the class A rate on all their earned income.
155. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason rent supplement in respect of a person (details supplied) has not been paid to them. [44986/12]
View answerOn 26th July 2012, a claim for rent supplement from 16th January 2012 was submitted to my Department from the person concerned. Requests for further information in support of his were sent to him on three occasions, the most recent of which was 13th September 2012, but no response has been forthcoming. Upon receipt of the required information, the claim from the person concerned will be assessed.
156. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will amend the legislation to allow community welfare officers to have more leniency and to be able to make decisions on a discretion basis towards larger families on rent supplement, as current legislation is restricted to two adults with three children. [44988/12]
View answerThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme 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. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 90,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €436 million for 2012.
Rent supplements are subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant for rent supplement may incur. Maximum rent limits are set out for certain family categories in regulations. Families with more than three children are not covered by these regulations. Such families are advised to contact the Department’s officer dealing with their rent supplement claim who will assist the family and determine the appropriate accommodation and rent limit for their circumstances.
157. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide in tabular form, in respect of 2011, the number of payments issued by her Department and each agency within the remit of her Department to suppliers in respect of the supply of goods and services; splitting the payments between those issued within 30 days of receipt of the invoice; between 30 and 60 days of receipt of the invoice; between 60 and 90 days of receipt of the invoice; between 90 and 120 days of receipt of the invoice; and in excess of 120 days of receipt of the invoice. [45024/12]
View answerThe Department of Social Protection endeavours to make payments to its suppliers within the shortest timescale possible. The following table outlines the number of payments for the supply of goods and services issued by my Department in 2011:
|
- |
No. of Payments |
% |
|
Within 30 days |
16,794 |
95.22 |
|
31 - 60 |
772 |
4.38 |
|
61 - 90 |
35 |
0.19 |
|
91 - 120 |
14 |
0.08 |
|
121 days or more |
22 |
0.13 |
|
Total |
17,637 |
100 |
The Agencies under my remit are compiling the information sought by the Deputy. My officials will transmit this information in the next week.
