Written Answers Nos. 517-532
517. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the organisations, companies and persons that have received briefings about the new eTenders website; when these briefings were held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16457/13]
View answer518. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if any organisations, companies or persons that have requested briefings on the new eTenders website which are yet to take place; when these briefings will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16458/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 517 and 518 together.
The Government website www.etenders.gov.ie is a fully managed electronic tendering system that meets Ireland's requirements in relation to the European Union's requirements to meet the EU target for achievement of 100% capability for electronic tendering.
This website is the official Government website for public tenders for goods, services and works. It serves as a repository for notices above EU thresholds and which must be advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union. In accordance with policy guidelines from my Department contracting authorities are also obliged to publish all tender notices for goods and services with a value greater than €25,000 on the eTender website.
An upgrade to the site was launched on 12th November 2012. The new site, as well as publishing contract notices has a wide range of additional functionality that in effect will allow other aspects of the procurement process to be completed electronically, including assessment, awarding and contract management. This additional functionality is improving and generating efficiencies for both the public and private sectors.
Prior to launching the new site, the supplier representative bodies including Chambers Ireland, IBEC, ISME and the Small Firms Association were briefed on the new system and electronic copies of Supplier User Manuals were supplied to them for distribution to their respective membership. The National Procurement Service meets these bodies on a regular basis.
Also prior to the launch, registered Suppliers and Buyers on the system, in excess of 70,000 users, were informed about the proposed change of system and user manuals were sent to each of them electronically. Suppliers were also informed of the up-coming change of system at various Meet the Buyer events and other such seminars.
Prior to and since the launch of the new site, the NPS has organised a number of demonstrations for Buyers on the new site with several thousand buyers attending. Since the system went live on 12th November demonstrations of the new system have been given to suppliers at Meet the Buyer events. The National Procurement Service has also agreed with the Construction Industry Federation to give a seminar on the new system to them on a date to be agreed by them.
519. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider renaming the Wellington Monument in the Phoenix Park (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16518/13]
View answerIt is not proposed to bring forward any plans to rename the Wellington Testimonial in the Phoenix Park.
520. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when it is envisaged that the pilot water level monitoring exercise on Lough Ree and Meelick Weir involving controlled raising and lowering of weir boards at selected locations will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16539/13]
View answerThe OPW meets regularly with both organisations to review matters relating to the River Shannon. As part of these consultations and in the context of the ongoing work under the Shannon CFRAM study being undertaken for OPW by Jacobs Engineering, it was agreed to explore the possibility of carrying out a water level monitoring exercise, involving controlled raising and lowering of weir boards at selected locations, subject to favourable hydrological conditions.
For the monitoring exercise to go ahead three criteria have to be satisfied. The first is that the level downstream of Athlone must be sufficiently low not to cause flooding in the callows. The second is that the level on Lough Ree is not below the recently agreed ESB lower target operating level in early summer and the third is that a significant rainfall event is forecast.
At the moment only the first of the above criteria is clearly satisfied. The situation is being monitored closely so that when suitable conditions prevail the exercise can proceed.
521. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost incurred by his Department, in respect of this year’s overseas travel programme for St. Patrick’s Day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16612/13]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s query I can confirm that the flight costs incurred by my Department, for this year’s overseas travel programme for St. Patrick’s Day, amounted to €8,248.53 which covered the travel of my Private Secretary, Press Officer and I. Other costs amounted to €1,920.88 however I am still awaiting a small number of invoices which, due to timing delays, have not yet been submitted to my Department.
522. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps open to graduates who apply for a graduate placement in the Civil Service to gain experience, only to be refused on the grounds of lack of experience. [16659/13]
View answerI understand that the Deputy's question relates to the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) programme. The WAM programme is a work placement programme which aims to promote access to the labour market for graduates with disabilities and build the capacity of employers to integrate disability into the mainstream workplace. For the past seven years, Government Departments and Offices in the Civil Service have been supportive of and participated in the WAM programme. WAM is a paid mentored work placement programme which is organised by AHEAD (Association for Higher Education Access and Disability) and offers graduates with disabilities up to six months paid work.
There was considerable interest in the Civil Service WAM positions advertised earlier this year. 65 applications were received for 21 positions. Due to the level of interest, a competitive process, including shortlisting of candidates, was required.
The shortlisting process, which was difficult due to the overall high calibre of the candidates, was carried out against two criteria. The first was a qualification in the relevant area and the second was relevant work experience. In this competitive process, each application and position was considered on a case by case basis. Of the 65 applicants, 33 were shortlisted for interview by the Public Appointments Service.
523. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way in which an effective and legally robust parliamentary banking inquiry will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16734/13]
View answer533. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he intends to establish an inquiry into the events in the days and weeks leading up to the State bank guarantee scheme, the crisis which emerged in the banking sector in Ireland and the political response to this crisis; when he envisages such an inquiry being established; the mechanism which could be used to conduct such an inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17174/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 523 and 533 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, I strongly support the objective of undertaking an effective and legally robust parliamentary banking inquiry. I wish to advise the Deputies that the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2012 is currently at an advanced stage in the drafting process and I expect to present the Bill to Government for publication in the coming weeks.
The Bill envisages a central role for the Oireachtas in both initiating and conducting a parliamentary inquiry. Under the Bill, responsibility is assigned exclusively to the Houses of the Oireachtas to determine the requirement for a formal inquiry, the terms of reference of that inquiry, the appropriate committee to conduct an inquiry and the procedural and organisational aspects of the inquiry.
The Bill contains extensive provisions in relation to fair procedures and the conduct of members of committees to avoid any perception of bias. Additionally, inquiries conducted under this statutory scheme will be governed by and subject to guidelines that may be issued by the Houses of the Oireachtas.
524. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the actuarial assessments of public service pension costs will commence; or if it has commenced, when it will be completed and made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16763/13]
View answerIn commenting on the C & AG's 2011 recommendation that such actuarial reviews of the cost of public service pensions should be carried out regularly to inform debate, the Accounting Officer, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, made clear the Department's commitment to carrying out these reviews.
It is proposed to use the actuarial analysis in the 2009 C &AG report on public service pensions as a starting point and my Department has had discussions with the C & AG's office on the matter.
The Deputy will be aware of the many changes in both pay and public service pensions in recent years which will have to be taken account of in any new review. As the longer-term evolution of public service pay is a particularly important factor in determining pension costs, it will be more appropriate to start the actuarial assessment once the position on public service pay is clarified in the coming months.
525. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of pension schemes that have applied to PIPS to date; the number of those applications that have been approved by him; the rates quoted by the National Treasury Management Agency for each of the applicants; the date of the NTMA quotation; the way those rates compared to the long-term borrowing costs of the Irish State on the date the application was first received by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16954/13]
View answerThe Pension Insolvency Payment Scheme (PIPS) was introduced on 1 February, 2010. Under PIPS the State offers to sell annuities on an Exchequer cost-neutral basis to certain defined benefit pension schemes where the scheme is winding-up in deficit and where the parent company is insolvent (the double insolvency condition).
Normally when a scheme winds up the trustees buy annuities in respect of current pensioners from an insurance company. Under PIPS the trustees of a defined benefit scheme that satisfy the double insolvency condition are given the alternative of buying out the pensions with the Exchequer. The Exchequer should be able to provide pensions at a lower cost than an insurance company. The saving from this lower cost would then go to reducing the shortfall of those members who have yet to retire.
The technical calculations involved in PIPS are carried out by the National Treasury Management Agency so as to make PIPS cost neutral to the Exchequer. Once a pension scheme has applied, my Department requests the NTMA to quote a cost for providing annuities to existing pensioners. Under the SI governing PIPS the appropriate interest rate for this quote is set by the National Treasury Management Agency based on the long-term cost of borrowing to the State at the time.
To date seven pension schemes have applied to participate in PIPS. The NTMA have provided quotes for six schemes. Two schemes – the Waterford Crystal Staff and Waterford Crystal Factory Schemes - have paid the quoted price and have entered PIPS. The following sets out the dates of calculations and interest rates used for the two Waterford schemes:
|
Scheme |
Date of Calculation |
Interest Rate for Quote |
|
Waterford Crystal Staff Scheme |
27/08/2012 |
5.849% |
|
Waterford Crystal Factory Scheme |
27/08/2012 |
5.849% |
The NTMA have provided quotes for a further four schemes. These quotes have been given to the trustees of the schemes in question and they are now under consideration by them.
The remaining scheme is in the process of finalising its application to PIPS. When this application is finalised the NTMA will be asked to provide a quote for this scheme.
526. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to legislate in the event of the rejection by unions of Croke Park II; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16991/13]
View answerAs noted in the proposals issued by the Labour Relations Commission following an intensive period of negotiations between public service employers and the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, significant elements, including those relating to remuneration and working hours, will require legislation. The Labour Relations Commission proposals are currently subject to ballot by Union members. The Government will await the outcome to the ballot but has indicated that it will take all necessary measures to secure the savings required in the public service pay bill which form part of the budget allocations and estimates for 2013 to 2016.
527. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when public sector pay scales will be restored; if time served on existing pay scale points will be taken into account when increments resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17106/13]
View answer528. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way the new pay scales in the public sector will be determined, taking into account shift allowances and bank holiday payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17107/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 527 and 528 together.
Under the Labour Relations Commission proposals, which are currently the subject of ballot, for those on salaries of €65,000 to €100,000 (inclusive of certain fixed allowances) will see the regular pay scales, at existing levels, reinstated in 2016, and incremental progression will resume. The model for the resumption of pay progression will be the subject of further discussion and agreement between the parties in the event of the LRC proposals being ratified. For the purpose of determining who will be subject to this measure, certain fixed allowances in the nature of pay will be taken in to account. Premia payments are addressed separately in the proposals.
529. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline what will happen to retired public servants pensions under Croke Park II; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17109/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware it is the Government’s intention to secure a reduction in public service pensions. In this connection it has been decided that, w.e.f. 1 July 2013, public service pensioners on pensions in excess of €32,500 should be required to make a fair and proportionate contribution to proposed consolidation measures, with the largest reductions being borne by those on higher pension rates.
It is intended to increase and extend the existing Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) so that all public service pensioners who have retired, or will retire before end August 2014, on pensions in excess of €32,500, experience an additional or a new pension reduction of between 2% and 5%. Pensions below €32,500 will not be affected. The precise details of the proposed new pension reduction, including the revised and new PSPR rates, will be set out in legislation to be brought forward before July 2013.
530. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the performance against profile and estimate analysis is no longer provided in the monthly Exchequer statements under Appendix II - Analysis of Net Voted Expenditure for the current and capital spending of ministerial vote groups; if he will update the publications from January, February and March with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17133/13]
View answer531. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that the performance against profile analysis is included in future monthly Exchequer statements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17134/13]
View answer532. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the projected profile of estimates for capital and current spending on a monthly basis for each ministerial Vote group for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17135/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 530 to 532, inclusive, together.
Gross voted current and capital profiles were published on an aggregate basis with the end-February Exchequer figures at the beginning of March. Gross current expenditure was profiled at €12,899 million and gross capital expenditure at €437 million giving an overall gross aggregate profile of €13,336 million at end-March 2013. In aggregate terms, gross expenditure is very slightly above profile by €97 million. On the current side, the main reason for this was the timing of certain grant payments which arose in March but were profiled to happen in April.
These profiles were provisional and based on the allocations made to Departments at Budget time. The Revised Estimates Volume (REV) will be published tomorrow, 17th April. Revised profiles for all Ministerial Vote Groups based on the allocations set out in the Revised Estimates Volume will be published later this month.
