Written Answers Nos. 827-847
827. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide details for the new Garda divisional headquarters announced under the stimulus package; the status and expected timelines for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48714/12]
View answerThe provision of three new Garda Divisional Headquarters for the Dublin North, Galway and Wexford Divisions was included in the special Government stimulus package announced in July. It is intended that these projects will be delivered by means of a Public Private Partnership and discussions are taking place between the relevant agencies regarding the follow-up action to be undertaken in the light of the Government announcement. As the arrangements to be put in place for Public Private Partnerships are complex, it is not possible at this stage to indicate when the projects will be completed. However, I can assure the Deputy that they are being treated as a priority.
828. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will refrain from closing additional Garda stations in rural areas; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the elderly and those living alone are now living in constant fear and are feeling increasingly isolated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48736/12]
View answerAny proposals for the closure of Garda stations must be contained in the annual Policing Plan prepared by Commissioner and submitted to the Minister for Justice. While the policing plan for 2013 has not yet been finalised, it will be laid before the House in due course. Until then it would be premature to speculate on what it might contain.
In preparing the policing plan, the Garda Commissioner reviews all aspects of the Garda Síochána's policing model, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the operation of Garda Districts and Stations, in terms of resource allocation, the opening hours and possible closures. In addition, all Divisional Officers are asked to assess the level of activity in each Garda Station in their area. It must be stressed that the key objective of the review is to promote the more efficient and effective deployment of resources rather than secure modest cash savings so that as many Gardaí as possible are deployed on front line operational duty rather than based in Garda Stations.
In addition to this, the Garda Commissioner has introduced a range of measures aimed at tackling gangs involved in burglaries. These measures are encompassed in Operation Fiacla, which is particularly focused on identifying and targeting mobile gangs involved in burglaries around the country so as to disrupt their activities and bring them before the Courts. Specific burglary related initiatives are being implemented in each Garda Region in support of Operation Fiacla. This is a coordinated, intelligence led strategy designed to maximise organisational resources in order to proactively target prolific offenders. Under this operation, between February 2012 and October 2012, approximately 2,500 persons have been arrested and over 1,400 persons have been charged, reflecting the very substantial efforts being made to tackle this problem by the Gardaí.
829. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the sectors of the public sector that are currently employed on a roster basis and if there are any plans to remove employees from the rostering system. [49076/12]
View answerTwo bodies under the aegis of my Department - an Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service (IPS) - operate rostering systems. Prisons must function on a 24/7 and therefore it is necessary to operate a rostering system. The IPS uses rostering to schedule an officer’s basic working week over the periods outside normal working hours and is developing and implementing more efficient rosters. There are no plans to remove employees from the rostering system.
An Garda Síochána also provides a 24/7 service and members of An Garda Síochána including Garda reserves and some civilian staff in the organisation work on a roster. As the Deputy will be aware, a new roster system was introduced this year in An Garda Síochána which more closely matches the deployment of resources with policing demands while at the same time protecting the health and welfare of the members. Out of hours cover and on call arrangements which would not ordinarily be considered as employed on a roster basis are utilised across the Justice sector. Such arrangements will continue to be a feature in the areas where they apply.
830. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding an Army unit (details provided) in County Cork if it is possible to have the personnel involved in this unit re-assigned to other units within their Barracks rather than relocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47596/12]
View answerThe implementation of the reorganisation of the Defence Forces is currently underway and an accurate picture of the extent to which it will be necessary for personnel to move from their current geographic locations is not yet fully apparent. At this juncture there may be a requirement for a significant number of personnel based in Collins Barracks, Cork to be relocated rather than reassigned. As part of the implementation process, personnel have been given the opportunity to indicate their preferred options in relation to relocation and these will be taken into account in the implementation of the reorganisation plan. In addition, a review system has been put in place whereby personnel who are unhappy with a proposed relocation can seek a review of a decision in this regard. While the maintenance of Defence Forces operational requirements must be prioritised within the reorganisation implementation process, within that context, all practical alternatives, including redeployment within an individual’s existing location will be explored to minimise the requirement for geographic relocation.
Opportunities will also be given for personnel to retrain and re-skill so as to be able to fill vacancies in their current locations, and this is being incorporated into the Defence Forces Training directive for 2013. However, it must be accepted that there is no painless way to fundamentally reorganise the Defence Forces whilst maintaining essential military capabilities and, undoubtedly, it will be necessary to mandatorily move some personnel whose units are being disestablished or relocated and who cannot be accommodated in their current location. This is a difficult process for many serving members of the Defence Forces, officers and enlisted personnel, who are being required to make decisions under the current reorganisation which they would not otherwise make or in different times have had to consider. However, this is the reality of the public service today and of the reforms taking place across the public service.
831. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 641 19 July 2012, if he will provide details relating to professional fees paid by his Department. [47258/12]
View answerProfessional fees paid by my Department since March 2011 amount to €1,303,739. Details of the companies or persons providing a professional service to my Department since March 2011, and the amount invoiced by each, are set out in the tabular statement attached. These include professional services such as ICT, engineering, architecture, accounting and legal services. In addition to the professional services referred to above, my Department also engages the services of civilian medical practitioners to provide primary care for the Permanent Defence Force when medical officers are not available or where specialist medical expertise is required. Since March 2011, my Department has paid €6.5m to some 670 civilian medical service providers.
|
Company Name |
Invoiced Total € |
|
A & L Goodbody |
6,274.25 |
|
A J McCaul & Associates T/A McCauls |
3,087.92 |
|
AQ Consulting |
200.00 |
|
Arup Consulting Engineers |
8,733.00 |
|
Baynes & Co Solrs |
4,533.78 |
|
Bianconi Research Ltd T/A RITS |
18,204.00 |
|
Callaghan Engineering |
3,218.60 |
|
Cathal Crimmins Architect |
37,135.79 |
|
Clarke & Assoc Consulting Eng. Ltd |
3,241.24 |
|
Coll & Co Chartered Accountants |
366.54 |
|
Cork Marriage Counselling Centre |
1,105.00 |
|
Crean Salley Architects |
94,794.52 |
|
Crowleys DFK |
23,123.68 |
|
D L Martin Partners |
8,288.50 |
|
Diarmuid Collins, B.L. |
8,572.50 |
|
Donnachadh O'Brien & Associates |
16,536.00 |
|
Energy Services Ltd |
100,559.23 |
|
Enovation Solutions |
27,033.00 |
|
Fitzgibbon McGinley Architects Ltd |
11,196.98 |
|
Fujitsu (Ireland) Ltd |
640,147.37 |
|
Gavin Elliot Bl |
550.00 |
|
Geraldine Biggs Bl |
3,469.50 |
|
Hanley Pepper |
1,485.35 |
|
Hardy Partnership |
21,713.45 |
|
Heavey Kenny & Associates |
22,141.75 |
|
HGL O'Connor & Company |
22,112.64 |
|
HMD Architects Ltd |
6,655.00 |
|
In2 Eng. Design Partnership |
18,134.78 |
|
Jennings O'Donovan & Partners |
1,512.50 |
|
John O'Donovan & Associates |
5,730.08 |
|
M.J. Turley & Associates |
5,270.76 |
|
Mackin Consultancy Ltd |
190.00 |
|
Malachy Walsh & Partners |
6,060.59 |
|
Mcardle McSweeney Associates |
7,865.00 |
|
Mccarthy O'Hora Associates |
5,677.32 |
|
Mcgahon Surveyors |
1,638.34 |
|
Morgan Meenan Architects |
14,925.99 |
|
Mulcahy McDonagh & Partners |
4,541.86 |
|
Murphy Surveys Ltd |
25,331.80 |
|
PPM Consultants Ltd |
737.75 |
|
Ray Keane & Associates |
1,633.50 |
|
Ray Motherway Bl |
5,878.88 |
|
Real Estate Alliance Ltd |
1,520.85 |
|
Roderick Maguire B.L. |
1,833.00 |
|
RPS Consulting Engineers Ltd |
240.00 |
|
Ryan Hanley Ltd |
26,739.16 |
|
Synergy Engineering Ltd |
9,196.00 |
|
Tim Wrafter Associates |
3,630.00 |
|
Tricia Sheehy Skeffington Bl |
6,631.50 |
|
V M R A Consulting Engineers |
1,725.46 |
|
Van Dijk Architects |
12,705.00 |
|
Viv Lavan Bl |
2,544.00 |
|
Wilson Architects Ltd. |
9,559.00 |
|
WYG Engineering (Ireland) Ltd |
4,201.12 |
|
WYG Engineering (Ireland) Ltd |
5,324.00 |
|
WYG Engineering (Ni) Ltd |
14,610.75 |
|
WYG Environmental & Planning (Ireland) Ltd |
3,670.54 |
832. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Defence the names of each staff member within his Department that has been rehired since March 2011 and the cost involved in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47291/12]
View answerSince March 2011, my Department has engaged two retired public servants to act as civilian drivers to the Minister of State, Mr. Paul Kehoe T.D. These appointments are temporary, unestablished positions in the Civil Service on a fixed-term contract basis. The post of Civilian Driver attracts an annual salary of €32,965. My Department has also employed three retired public servants as civilian employees attached to military installations, in the positions of Storekeeper Clerk (2) and Craft Worker (1) since March 2011. The current salary scales for these posts are €21,776 - €30,314, and €31,351 - €33,169 respectively.
833. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence the number of times the bomb disposal team were called out to incidents in Dublin for the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48018/12]
View answerPursuant to their role in rendering aid to the civil power, the Defence Forces have a number of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams on call, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to respond to requests received from An Garda Síochána for assistance in dealing with a suspect device or for the removal of old ordnance. The number of times that EOD teams from the Defence Forces were called out in response to incidents in Dublin for the years 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012 is set out below.
EOD Callouts in the Dublin Area
|
2009 |
126 |
|
2010 |
85 |
|
2011 |
141 |
|
2012 to date |
97 |
834. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding a pardon for World War II soldiers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48161/12]
View answerThe position is that the legislation to give effect to the Government decision in this matter is currently at an advanced stage of drafting. I expect that it will be published by the end of November.
835. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Defence the date on which the Value for Money Report of the Reserve Defence Forces will be published. [48190/12]
View answerThe Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force was completed and submitted to myself and the Secretary General of my Department last month. In advance of its publication, and in line with the guidelines and normal procedure for Value for Money Reviews, the responses to the recommendations are currently being developed. When this process is completed, the Review will be published on my Department’s website. Whilst I do not have a specific date for its publication, I anticipate that this will take place in the near future.
836. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Defence item 6.10 vote number 36 Defence 2011 refers to payment totalling €1,461,965 which was made to the Offices of the Revenue Commissioners in 2011 in settlement of the liability which arose in respect of the taxation of the Reserve Defence Forces Cadre daily allowance for the period January 2007 to February 2011; If he will explain the way a personal tax liability for each of those in receipt of this allowance was paid to the Revenue Commissioners from the Exchequer; if he will confirm the number of personnel involved, their rank and advise if they were in receipt of other taxable or un-taxable allowances for this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48217/12]
View answerThe Reserve Defence Force Cadre daily allowance was introduced many years ago to compensate members of the Permanent Defence Force who were attached to the Reserve Defence Force for expenses incurred in training reservists and ancillary administrative duties. Historically, due to the nature of the allowance, it was not regarded as being subject to tax or income levy. During the course of a routine Revenue audit, when the Deputy was Minister for Defence, the taxation status of the allowance was raised as a possible issue. Following technical assessment, the Revenue Commissioners determined that the allowance, as then paid, constituted a ‘round sum’ and was liable to taxation. The Revenue Commissioners determined the liability on the Department as employer for the years in question based on this ‘round sum’ determination and payment was made in settlement. The allowance was re-configured as a taxable allowance from 1st March 2011 and since that date any personal tax liability is met by the individual members of the PDF who are in receipt of the allowance.
The number and rank of personnel in receipt of the allowance during the years in question and the duration for which the allowance was held varied according to postings into and out of Reserve Units. The numbers and ranks for the years in question are shown in the table.
Number and rank of PDF Cadre attached to the RDF (includes Naval Service equivalents) in receipt of RDF allowance
|
Year |
Numbers |
Rank |
||||||||
|
Lt Colonel |
Comdt |
Captain |
Lieut |
Coy Sgt |
CQMS |
Sgt |
Cpl |
Private |
||
|
2007 |
365 |
4 |
22 |
17 |
0 |
5 |
82 |
79 |
58 |
98 |
|
2008 |
366 |
7 |
22 |
9 |
0 |
6 |
81 |
91 |
56 |
94 |
|
2009 |
335 |
6 |
13 |
18 |
1 |
4 |
78 |
86 |
50 |
79 |
|
2010 |
325 |
4 |
18 |
23 |
1 |
1 |
70 |
84 |
49 |
75 |
|
2011 to end Feb |
321 |
3 |
18 |
23 |
1 |
2 |
68 |
84 |
49 |
73 |
Some of the personnel would also have been in receipt of other taxable and un-taxable allowances during the period in question, depending on the nature of their duties and other factors. The Department has tax compliance procedures in place and as part of those procedures it is reviewing all non-taxable allowances in order to ensure that payments made to employees are fully tax compliant.
837. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on the conclusions and recommendations on foot of an investigation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48380/12]
View answerThe Air Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is carrying out an investigation following the heavy landing incident involving the Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service helicopter which occurred on 19 June 2012. This investigation is ongoing.
838. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of the type and frequency of North South engagement his Department undertakes; the current priorities in this area; the number of whole time equivalent staff assigned to these matters; the grades involved and the amount of time each grade spends on North South Activities as a proportion of their WTE employment; the co-ordination arrangements that have been put in place; if there are any current vacancies in North South Co-operation unites; the duration of this vacancy and the steps being taken to fill the vacancy. [48542/12]
View answerMy Department is not involved in North/South engagement and therefore does not have a North/South Cooperation Unit.
839. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence if he will justify the recent announcement to stop the payment of allowances to all new army personnel; his views on the fact that the removal of ten allowance schemes will impact negatively on already low army incomes and create a two tiered system among the rank and file of the defence forces. [48560/12]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform undertook a review of allowances and premium payments across the public sector and proposals were brought to Government for decision. Further to this, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform published the results of this review of allowances and the outcome of the Government decision on its website at www.per.gov.ie.
The types of allowances included for priority elimination include the Ration Allowance for Cadets and the Search & Rescue Allowance for which no payments were made in 2011 or 2012 to date; Entertainment Allowance and Principal Military Appointments Entertainment Allowance which are payable only to certain high ranking Officers; Housekeepers Allowance which is payable to Defence Forces Chaplains to employ a Housekeeper and NCO Account Holders payable to non commissioned Officers.
In the interests of bringing these savings to the paybill forward, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform wrote to my Department instructing management to immediately engage with staff interests with a view to securing their early agreement to the elimination of these Defence Forces allowances. This is currently the subject of discussions between management and the Representative Associations under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for the Defence Forces. The Deputy will appreciate that as discussions under this Scheme are confidential to the parties involved it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on this issue at this juncture.
840. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent to which his Department has quantified savings accruing from budgetary, administrative or operational changes made in each of the past two years; the effect on budget on an ongoing basis in the future; if he can take any steps to address any negative impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48728/12]
View answerThe Gross Provision for the Defence Vote (36) has reduced from €756m in 2010 to €727m in 2011 and €688m in 2012, representing a reduction of €68m over the two year period. These reductions followed on the significant reductions achieved over previous years on this Vote. Arising from the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, the Government’s decision to stabilise the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at 9,500 personnel has resulted in sustainable pay savings as reflected in the figures above. In addition, there were reductions in the number of Civilian Employees and Civil Servants employed.
I initiated a major re-organisation of the Defence Forces in order to maximise the operational capabilities of the PDF within the revised strength level. The organisational structures that were in place for a PDF strength of approximately 11,500 personnel were clearly outmoded and no longer fit for purpose. In July this year, I accepted the Chief of Staff and Secretary General’s recommendation regarding new PDF structures and announced the details. Implementation of these revised organisational structures is ongoing.
Measures to reduce costs and deliver greater efficiencies over the past three years have also included a further rationalisation and consolidation of the Defence property portfolio. Regarding the recent closure of the four military barracks - Clonmel, Cavan, Mullingar and Castlebar - military personnel occupied on security and support functions within these installations have been released for operational duties leading to a manpower efficiency gain of around €5 million p.a. In addition, there are direct cash savings of approximately €1.3m per annum arising from utilities, maintenance and security duty allowances in the four barracks. Despite the reductions in funding, a key focus has been the prioritisation and maintenance of PDF operational capacity in order to ensure that the PDF retain the capacity to fulfil all roles assigned.
841. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied regarding the ability of the Defence Forces to provide the full scale of back up requirements to the civil authorities in the short and medium term; if he expects the full scale of emergency services to continue to develop with particular reference to activation and coordination of national emergency plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48729/12]
View answerMy priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible. Whilst the Defence Forces are not a Principal Response Agency, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or severe weather emergency in its Aid to the Civil Authority (ATCA) role under the multi-agency Framework. Representation on the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, by both my Department and the Defence Forces, ensures the fullest coordination and cooperation in the event of an emergency. The Defence Forces are also represented on the eight Regional Working Groups that have been established under the Framework and, on an ongoing basis, designated members of the Defence Forces, based around the country, act as Liaison Officers to Local Authorities.
The various procedures that are in place, both nationally and locally, were seen to operate very effectively during the Winter of 2010 as the Defence Forces made all assets, resources and capabilities available to the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning and responded to all requests for assistance received from the civil authorities during the periods of severe weather that occurred that Winter.
Emergency planning in this country is structured around the ‘Lead Department’ principle, which means that the Department that is responsible for an activity in normal conditions will maintain that responsibility in an emergency. While there is no one national emergency response plan, there are robust processes in place for the inter-agency cooperation at the national, regional and local levels. In April 2011, the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning approved guidelines for the activation and coordination of a national-level emergency/crisis response. I am satisfied that the Defence Forces have the ability to fulfil all roles that are assigned to them by Government including provision of Aid to the Civil Authorities (ATCA) in any emergency situations that may arise.
842. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Defence the sectors of the public sector that are currently employed on a roster basis and if there are any plans to remove employees from the rostering system. [49071/12]
View answerAs the Permanent Defence Force operates on a 24/7/365 basis, it is necessary to have a rostering system in place. In addition, a small number of civilian employees of my Department currently work on a roster basis to ensure that essential services can be provided outside of normal working hours. There are currently no plans in place to change the rostering system.
843. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Defence the exact number of public servants who are back in employment in the public service, who are on pensions and have accepted lump sums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49083/12]
View answerThe Defence organisation comprises the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces and the agencies under the aegis of my Department; i.e. the Army Pensions Board and the Civil Defence Board. Records of past employment and related pension arrangements of staff recruited have not been captured in such a way as to provide a dedicated basis for compiling the information requested by the Deputy. Accordingly, the specific information requested is not available.
844. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered the Report of the High Level Group on the jobs initiative for the Killybegs region; his plans he has to create jobs in the alternative industries identified in the report to lessen the economic dependence of the region on the highly seasonal seafood sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47597/12]
View answer867. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the Report of the High Level Group on the Jobs Initiative for the Killybegs region presented to him in October of 2011; the number of jobs that have been created in the Killybegs region as a result of the initiative; the total amount of moneys invested in the region by Government agencies through grant aid or otherwise as a result of the recommendation of the report for the purpose of job creation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47605/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 844 and 867 together.
I am fully aware of the Report of the High Level Group which I established and I am anxious to see the potential for job creation in the Killybegs region identified in the Report materialise and I want to see the greatest possible number of the actions identified in the five Key Areas deliver on that potential. The overall aim of the initiative is to create 250 jobs in the Killybegs area by 2014. The five key areas identified for detailed consideration by the Group were:
- Promote Seafood Value Added Activity
- Enhance Ancillary Supports
- Develop Offshore Supports
- Promote Tourism and Marine Leisure and
- Promote Green Economy/Renewable Energy.
Since the outset it has been accepted that any progress is dependant upon an integrated collaborative approach between private and public sectors. Investments from both sides should deliver real jobs for Killybegs between now and 2014.
At this point I can only report in detail on progress in the seafood sector, for which I have direct responsibility. I have recently consulted with BIM on this matter and have been advised that significant additional landings of Norwegian Blue Whiting were attracted to Killybegs this year and were processed in local pelagic processing plants. This was made possible because of the landing facilities provided at Killybegs and the work done by the local processing industry, with BIM, to pioneer the processing of Blue Whiting for human consumption. Annual landings of Blue Whiting in Killybegs are currently estimated at approx. 80,000 tonnes per annum with an estimated value of approx. €41 M. I am confident that increased quotas for this species can be secured for 2013.
BIM has, in recent years, grant-aided equipment to facilitate the processing of this additional blue whiting. The position is that in 2011, seven Killybegs processing companies invested €4.9m in their operations. Of this amount, approved grant aid amounted to almost €1.2m. This year so far, six Killybegs processing companies have invested a total of €8.5m. Of this amount, approved grant aid amounted to just over €1.5m. It is expected that this investment combined with the increase in throughput will directly result in 47 new jobs by the end of this year and will be of continuing benefit to Killybegs in future years. BIM is actively working with industry and processing equipment companies to develop new product formats which will increase the added value processing of this key stock. I am anticipating that these new product trials will be significantly advanced during 2013.
In addition to the welcome progress on the Blue Whiting fishery, work is ongoing on developing human consumption markets for the large quota of 58,866 tonnes of Boarfish which we have secured in recent years. This fishery holds very significant promise for the processing industry in Killybegs. During my trade mission to China earlier this year, trial shipments of this product were agreed between Irish processors and Chinese importers. I am pleased to report that, as a result of these trial shipments, repeat orders have been secured by Irish companies from the Chinese market. BIM, Bord Bia and the industry are this week developing further contacts in the Chinese markets at a trade fair in Dalian in China. I understand from BIM that they expect 1400 tonnes of Boarfish to be processed for human consumption during 2012. These orders will be delivered to both the Chinese and the African markets.
I am also aware that the group met earlier this week to further review progress across a range of other areas outside of the Seafood area, for which I have direct responsibility. I am awaiting an update from that meeting on how matters are progressing in relation to these other key areas.
845. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an area aid payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47224/12]
View answerProcessing of the application concerned has recently been completed and payments under the Single Payment Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.
846. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the names of each staff member within his Department that has been rehired since March 2011 and the cost involved in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47287/12]
View answerOne Assistant Secretary General was re-engaged by my Department on a part-time contract basis. The cost from March 2011 to date is €127,708.96. A Principal Officer has been re-engaged for a limited period to work on specific matters related to the Irish Presidency of the EU. The cost from October 2012 to date is €1,392.12. One Superintending Senior Research Officer and one Senior Research Officer were engaged on a contract for services basis for a limited period. The cost to my Department to date is €15,969.90. These contracts have now expired. One Senior Research Officer is currently engaged on a contract for services basis for a limited period. His contract is due to expire on 1 March 2013. The cost to my Department to date is €21,708.60. Normal pension abatement rules have been applied in these cases.
847. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the disadvantaged area scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47347/12]
View answerWhile the person named applied for derogation under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas scheme, the application was unsuccessful. The applicant was notified of this decision in writing on 16 October and advised of the right of appeal to the recently established independent DAS Appeals Committee.
