Skip to main content
Normal View

Wednesday, 27 Feb 2013

Written Answers Nos. 279-287

Departmental Staff Rehiring

Questions (279)

Joan Collins

Question:

279. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the number of public sector workers who have retired in the past three years within his Department or any office or body under his aegis who have been reinstated; if he will provide details on the pay rates they are receiving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10996/13]

View answer

Written answers

Four Public Servants (2.7 wholetime equivalent) who retired in the last three years are currently employed in my Department and are on the payroll.

Three former members of my Department were rehired on a temporary basis in line with a Government Decision on the arrangements for dealing with our EU Presidency requirements. In addition to this Minister of State Alex White appointed one retired Public Servant as a Civilian Driver.

For ease of reference I have set out below the information requested by the Deputy in tabular format.

Grade

Current Annual Salary Rate

1 Principal Officer (50% of full time)

€40,025

1 Assistant Principal (50% of full time)

€30,983

1 Assistant Principal (70% of full time)

€43,376

1 Civilian Driver

€32,965

The pensions of these staff are subject to pension abatement rules.

The information in respect of the Non-Commercial State Agencies is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available. With regard to the Health Service Executive, they have been asked to collate the data sought as soon as possible and it will be provided directly to the Deputy by them when available.

Question No. 280 answered with Question No. 278.

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Questions (281)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

281. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reasons an application for funding under the sports capital grant could be made invalid; where these conditions are published; the way an application can be deemed invalid for reasons that they were not made aware of prior to submission of the application and for reasons that were not published with the application form; the appeals process available where an application is deemed invalid for unfair reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10451/13]

View answer

Written answers

Under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme an application could have been deemed invalid for the following reasons:

Reasons

Reasons

Insufficient own funding

No evidence of freehold/leasehold/letter from landlord

No evidence of required amount of own funding

No evidence of planning application

No supporting documentation supplied

No quotations/estimates submitted

Insufficient sporting content

Amount sought unrealistically high and project cannot be broken down

School application not meeting requirements

Private/commercial club

No feasibility study (where required)

No evidence of non-discrimination

Work on project already started

Amount being sought over €300,000 for local project

All applicants who made an invalid application have received a letter indicating the reason(s) why their application was deemed invalid.

It is my view that applicants were given extensive information to complete the application form and provide the necessary supporting documentation to make a valid application. All of the reasons set out above relate in one way or another to conditions and guidelines where were given to all applicants.

As all of the €31m available for the 2012 programme has been allocated there is no appeals process under the Programme.

All valid applicants signed a statement stating that “I/we understand that decisions on allocations are final”.

Public Transport Provision

Questions (282)

Finian McGrath

Question:

282. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will return the maximum numbers of carriages on the DART at peak times (details supplied). [10553/13]

View answer

Written answers

The issue raised is a matter for Iarnrod Eireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority and I have forwarded 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.

Sports Capital Programme Applications

Questions (283)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

283. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the next sports capital programme will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10659/13]

View answer

Written answers

No decision has been taken on the timing of the next round of the Sports Capital Programme.

Road Network

Questions (284)

Micheál Martin

Question:

284. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to proceed with the Newlands Cross upgrade; the schedule to be followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10671/13]

View answer

Written answers

As Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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 don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.

Driving Licence Issues

Questions (285)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

285. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 791 of 19 February 2013, if he will establish with the Road Safety Authority the tendering process which was used to award the contract to the National Driver Licence Service; and the reason pharmacies were excluded from this process. [10681/13]

View answer

Written answers

Following a Government decision in May 2011, the driver licensing service has been centralised under the Road Safety Authority (RSA). With effect from 12th January 2013, the RSA is now the sole driver licensing authority for the State. The RSA has decided to operate this function under the title National Driver Licence Service.

The service will be provided through three service contracts and by the establishment of a specialist unit within the RSA. The three contracts will provide for a card production facility, a 'back-office' processing service and a 'front-office' customer interface. The RSA has awarded these contracts following open, competitive tendering processes conducted in accordance with national and EU procurement rules.

I understand that the issue of photo identification formed part of the specifications for the 'front-office' tender.

Road Network

Questions (286)

James Bannon

Question:

286. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the proposed N4 Mullingar to Longford, Roosky, motorway project; the consultants engaged for the project; if the project will go ahead within the next two years; if not, if the restrictions will be lifted from the farm of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath which is located in the route area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10691/13]

View answer

Written answers

As Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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.

The scale of the reductions in the allocations to the NRA under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework 2012-2016 means that I do not expect any major new projects directly funded by the Exchequer  to commence construction in next few years.  The key priority is the protection of the existing investment in road infrastructure as against major new expenditure on road building.

As the detailed information sought by the Deputy in relation to the current status of planning and design work on this project is a matter for the NRA I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.

Departmental Staff Rehiring

Questions (287)

Joan Collins

Question:

287. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of public sector workers who have retired in the past three years within his Department or any office or body under his aegis who have been reinstated; if he will provide details on the pay rates they are receiving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11001/13]

View answer

Written answers

No retired staff member has been reinstated permanently in my Department since the change of government.

A number of retired staff members and former public servants were rehired in the past three years on a contractual basis or engaged to undertake a specific task. Of these there is currently only one rehired public servant working for the Department with the remainder having completed their work. The one remaining individual is employed in connection with the preparation and attendance at the State’s defence of High Court proceedings due to their specialised knowledge of the legislation concerned.

Of the others, five Radio Officers were rehired to fill essential vacancies in the Coast Guard until such time as recruitment processes for replacements could be completed.  One aeronautical engineer was rehired temporarily for the Air Accident Investigation Unit.  The other retired officials were contracted to carry out specific short term exercises.  These have all completed their work and are no longer employed in the Department.

The details of rehired staff and their renumeration are set out in the table. The salaries are gross amounts and before taxation, etc.  

Table 1:

Grade

Amount

Secretary General

€9,950

Inspector of Air Accidents

€38,302.11

Radio Officer Grade III

€29,687.80

Radio Officer Grade III

€32,578.36

Radio Officer Grade III

€19,806.99

Radio Officer Grade III

€12,953.52

Radio Officer Grade III

€10,385.76

Principal Officer

€1,256

Assistant Secretary

pro bono

Principal Officer

€607

Principal Officer

Abatement principal

I have asked the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department to provide the Deputy with the information requested.  If you do not receive a reply from the agencies within ten working days, please advise my private office.

Top
Share