Wednesday, 23 Jan 2013

Written Answers Nos. 28 to 36

Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure

Questions (28)

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

Question:

28. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will explain where the sum of €270,000 which was allocated to Roscommon County Council in 2010 for the purpose of flood prevention for Athleague Town, County Roscommon, has been spent; the reason the weir which was proposed for Lisnatea on the River Suck has not been constructed; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the residents of Athleague cannot get flood insurance in view of the fact that their houses are considered uninsurable by the insurance companies due to the high risk of flooding from the River Suck. [54052/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The Office of Public Works approved funding of €270,000 to Roscommon County Council in June 2010 under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works Scheme to undertake flood alleviation works in Athleague, Co. Roscommon. Under the scheme local authorities are responsible for the planning, procurement, detailed financial management and day-to-day implementation of the works.

I am advised that, before undertaking works, the Council engaged a firm of Consulting Engineers to study and assess the catchment of the River Suck in the vicinity of Athleague and to recommend flood alleviation measures.

The following works were undertaken by the Council:

- Site investigation works,

- The clearance of existing drainage channels within the village, particularly to the north of the main street,

- The reinstatement of a drainage channel between the Creamery and old Church (now a craft centre) just west of the Suck River bridge,

- The clearance of two existing large diameter pipes, just to the east of the Suck River bridge,

- Accommodation works connected with the reconstruction of the Silver Stream under existing walls, and tree cutting and removal.

I am advised that the Council did not proceed with the construction of a diversion weir and channel upstream of Castlestrange bridge as the report it commissioned prior to works commencing concluded that this would not provide an appropriate level of flood protection to Athleague. The flood level of the River Suck within Athleague is significantly influenced by the backwater effect from capacity restrictions within the existing channel of the river and the proposed works upstream of Athleague would not have alleviated this.

Regarding insurance, I am aware of the difficulties some people are experiencing in securing insurance cover for flood risk at affordable prices or at all. It must be acknowledged that the provision of new flood cover or the renewal of existing flood cover is a commercial matter for insurance companies based on their assessment of the risks they are accepting. These are generally considered on a case-by-case basis and an insurance company cannot be compelled to accept a particular insurance risk. The Irish Insurance Federation say that insurers try to provide flood cover wherever possible but that flood insurance is sometimes not economically viable.

In March 2012, I had a very constructive engagement with the insurance industry about the scope and scale of the work undertaken by the OPW on flood risk management, on the alleviation schemes being undertaken in many of our large cities and towns and, in particular, on the mapping of areas subject to flood risk nationally which will emerge from the CFRAM programme.

I indicated then that I wished to see an agreement reached as quickly as possible between the OPW and the IIF on a sustainable system of information sharing particularly for locations vulnerable to flooding and for identifying flood alleviation schemes and works completed and where the standard of protection afforded by these works could be verified.

A working group has been established between OPW, the IIF and representatives of several insurance companies to progress the work in this area in order that the insurance industry can be better informed as to the extent of the OPW's investment in flood protection measures over the last decades and to ensure that that investment is taken into account in assessing flood risk for insurance purposes.

Question No. 29 answered with Question No. 10.

Question No. 30 answered with Question No. 6.

Capital Expenditure Programme Issues

Questions (31)

Niall Collins

Question:

31. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if more effective procedures will be put in place to ensure that the overall Exchequer capital budget is spent in line with the annual published profile and, as occurred in the early part of 2012, is avoided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2805/13]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The actual roll-out of capital expenditure is a matter for line Departments, operating within the multi-annual budgetary allocations decided by Government and within delegated sanction arrangements issued by my Department.

As the Deputy will be aware, capital spending has general characteristics which influence the allocation drawdown pattern. Expenditure on capital projects typically occurs in large tranches at fixed milestones, unlike current expenditure which is generally continuous throughout the year. Obviously, this affects the phasing and profiling of capital expenditure. In addition, public financial rules require that payments are only made on foot of matured liabilities, so payments made in the later parts of the year are made on foot of work that has already been satisfactorily completed. The trend is therefore that the bulk of capital expenditure takes place in the final quarter of the year.

All Departments are required to report to my Department on a monthly basis on their actual expenditure (both capital and current) compared with their published profiles and to explain variances where they arise. My officials liaise with Departments to ensure that any issues are addressed promptly in order that there are no expenditure overruns and, in relation to capital expenditure, that projects and programmes are progressed in a timely manner. I am happy that the arrangements for monitoring capital expenditure which are presently in place are effective and robust.

Question No. 32 answered with Question No. 6.

Political Reform

Questions (33)

John Browne

Question:

33. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for political reform in 2013; the proposals he has for constitutional amendments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2801/13]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Significant progress was made in 2012 on the commitments for political reform contained in the Programme for Government falling into my area of responsibilities, including for example the most significant reform of the Ombudsman legislation in the last thirty years. I expect that progress will be further intensified in relation to a number of key reform priorities in the course of 2013.

The Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2012 is currently at an advanced stage of drafting by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and is due to be published in the spring Oireachtas session. This legislation will provide a comprehensive statutory framework for inquiries carried out by the House(s) of the Oireachtas consistent with the current constitutional framework.

Drafting of the Public Interest Disclosure Bill is also at an advanced stage which will provide comprehensive protections for whistleblowers in the workplace. The Bill is included in the Government’s programme of legislative priorities for the current Oireachtas session. The pre-legislative scrutiny of the Government’s proposals for the reform and extension of FOI by the Oireachtas, Finance, Pubic Expenditure and Reform committee has commenced and drafting of the Bill is also underway in parallel, with the objective of publishing the Bill by the end of this quarter. This legislation will also deal with the issues of confidential communication with public representatives.

Following the publication of the Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal in March 2012, I committed to examining how the existing legislative framework for ethics could be reformed. Substantial preparatory work has been carried out by my Department in relation to this significant legislative project to date. I propose to advise Government of the proposed legislative approach in the coming months and expect to initiate a wider consultative process at that time.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to introduce a statutory register of lobbyists and rules governing the conduct of lobbying. The Final Report of the Mahon Tribunal also recommended the introduction of lobbying regulation and a code of practice governing the conduct of lobbying. My Department has engaged in extensive consultation on these matters over the past 12 months with stakeholders. I published a policy paper last July setting out my broad policy proposals and the General Scheme of a Bill was circulated to Government Departments at the end of last year for their observations. It is my intention to bring the final proposal to Government shortly for approval to commence drafting of the Bill.

The Government Reform Unit in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is currently preparing a policy paper on civil service accountability which will examine the current legislative framework underpinning civil service accountability, as well as the current administrative accountability arrangements in place. To inform this policy development, a consultation process is being undertaken, initially including academics, civil servants and international commentators. Following publication of the policy paper, this consultation process will be expanded to include a broad spectrum of stakeholders and other experts.

As part of the reform of the political expenses regime, in the context of the Expenditure Estimates for 2013, I announced further changes to the system of allowances and expenses payable to members of the Oireachtas. There has been a 10% reduction - 25% in the case of Dublin members - in travel and accommodation expenses and the public representational allowance will be vouched and the vouched amounts reduced. It also intended to reduce by 50% the number of pre-paid envelopes available to members and the unvouched elements of the secretarial scheme.

The Government has also decided that a 10% reduction will be applied to the Party Leaders’ Allowance rates payable to qualifying leaders of political parties and to qualifying independent members. In addition, I announced my intention to amend the legislation to improve the transparency of the allowance by providing for auditing provisions to apply to independent members in receipt of such payments.

The 10% reduction will be applied to the rates of the Party Leader’s Allowance in parallel with the other changes announced to the Party Leaders Allowance in my address to Dáil Éireann on the Expenditure Estimates for 2013, and my Department has already commenced preparations on the changes to primary legislation necessary to effect these changes. In addition, as I announced in the Expenditure Estimates, severance payments to Ministers and other Officeholders will be abolished.

I do not intend at this time to bring forward my proposals on constitutional reform in so far as my own area of responsibilities are concerned.

Equality Issues

Questions (34)

Michael Colreavy

Question:

34. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the equality audits carried out by his Department in relation to any area of public expenditure since his Department was set up in 2011. [3071/13]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Programme for Government contains a clear commitment that all public bodies would take due note of equality and human rights in carrying out their functions. The State and its bodies must, of course, comply with all provisions of equality legislation in the development and delivery of policies and services.

On a Departmental level, it is the responsibility of individual Ministers and their officials to manage expenditure whilst also ensuring that appropriate consideration is given to matters of equality.

Equality audits as referred to by the Deputy in the question do not form part of the Expenditure Code as published on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

The Equality Authority, which is under the auspices of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, has the powers under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2011 to carry out equality reviews.

Question No. 35 answered with Question No. 17.

Budget Targets

Questions (36, 101, 102, 106, 107, 108, 109, 112)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

36. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he expects to meet his budgetary targets in 2013 having regard to progress made to date and the options available to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3056/13]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

101. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he has compared the performance of the various Government Departments and or bodies under their aegis in their respective endeavours towards public expenditure reduction; if he has identified any particular Department and or sectors capable of greater effort in this context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3294/13]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

102. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which he has identified the Departments and or bodies under their aegis throughout the public sector that have so far contributed most towards meeting the budgetary targets set in the Memorandum of Understanding; if cognisance is likely to be taken of their efforts in this regard in current and future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3295/13]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

106. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the targets in respect of public expenditure reform and or the elimination of waste and duplication throughout the public service have been achieved in each of the past three years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3299/13]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which reforms throughout the public service have contributed to cost reductions in each of the past two years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3300/13]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which pay cuts, reform and the elimination of waste have each contributed to cost-cutting required in accordance with necessary economies arising from the economic situation inherited from his predecessors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3301/13]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

109. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied that the various reforms, savings and cost-cutting undertaken to date are in accord with the expectations and approval of the Troika; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3302/13]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

112. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the factors featuring most prominently as being obstacles in his efforts to achieve savings throughout various Government Departments and their respective subordinate bodies or agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3305/13]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 101, 102, 106 to 109, inclusive, and 112 together.

The Government is making good progress on achieving all of our targets and priorities, as articulated in the Government programme. We are bringing public expenditure back to a sustainable level and driving forward the public service reform agenda to ensure that efficiencies and reformed work practices play a full part in contributing to the overall budgetary consolidation effort.

The Government began the process of medium-term expenditure management with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE) exercise in 2011, which was carried out by all Departments to identify ways of reducing expenditure, in line with commitments under the Joint EU/IMF Programme of Financial Support for Ireland, while minimising the impact on service delivery.

Ministerial expenditure ceilings for 2012 - 2014 were introduced on an administrative basis in the Comprehensive Expenditure Report, published in December 2011. The CRE exercise forms the foundation of these ceilings and is the basis for all subsequent decisions on expenditure. The precise composition of the 2013 budgetary consolidation was set out in the Expenditure Report 2013, published on 5 December, 2012.

As regards discussions with the Troika, there has been a series of meetings held with the Troika to appraise all the elements of the programme covering fiscal developments, the macroeconomic outlook, progress on commitments regarding restructuring of the financial sector and structural reform.

In keeping with an EU/IMF Programme commitment, the expenditure ceilings are to be put on a statutory footing, which will ensure that this reform measure becomes a permanent structural feature of Ireland’s budgetary framework. The necessary legislative change to introduce the Medium Term Expenditure Framework is included in the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2012, which was published on 28 September. In essence, the Bill provides for the power of the Government to set out an overall ceiling for aggregate current expenditure for each of the following three years and for the aggregate ceilings to be apportioned into Ministerial expenditure ceilings. The annual Estimates of Expenditure must, in turn, not exceed the overall limits set out by the Government.

With reference to reform delivery, the Government’s ambitious Public Service Reform Plan was published in November, 2011 and sets out the basis for the comprehensive and strategic reform of the Irish Public Service. Effective structures to drive and monitor the implementation of the reform plan have been put in place. The Cabinet Committee on Public Service Reform is driving the reform agenda at political level.

Last September, a statement on the progress on the implementation of the reform plan was published. The Reform and Delivery Office is working closely with organisations across the Public Service and good progress continues to be made in the implementation of the reform plan. For example:

- The new approach to public procurement will involve integrating procurement policy, strategy and operations in one office; strengthening spend analytics and data management; much greater aggregation of purchasing across public bodies to achieve better value for money; evaluating demand levels to assess how demand (volume) can be reduced; and strengthening vendor and category management.

- Government approved the establishment of a HR Shared Service Centre for the Civil Service called PeoplePoint. The centre will provide routine high volume HR and Pensions Administration for 40 public bodies on one HR Management System. Pensions shared service will be integrated with the HR shared service. Following a baselining study on Civil Service payroll arrangements, a business case for the development of a Civil Service payroll is at an advance stage. Baselining of finance management and banking arrangements across the Civil Service is also underway.

-Following a Government decision last year, all proposed new services across the public service will be first tested for external service delivery before any approval to provide the service internally will be granted. A shortlist of potential major projects for priority implementation is being prepared and the main sectors are also developing their own external service delivery plans.

- The Croke Park agreement will continue to be an essential element in enabling the comprehensive reforms that are taking place across the system. The agreement is supporting a significant and sustainable reduction in payroll costs in the public service as well as supporting the implementation of measures aimed at reducing operating costs and generating greater administrative efficiencies. The implementation body has reported total savings in the order of €1.5 billion over the first two years of the agreement, which comprises of approximately €810m and €680m in pay and non-pay savings, respectively. This is happening in a climate of industrial peace in the public service, the value of which is often overlooked.

While good progress has been made on delivering savings and implementing change, it remains a matter for each Minister and their Departments to ensure that the Vote-level allocations are adhered to and at the same time ensure that they continue to provide essential frontline services and respond to increasing demands.