Written Answers Nos. 397-414
397. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the outcomes of the recent Open Government Partnership Meeting held in Dublin; if future meetings are to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34362/13]
View answerThe inaugural public meeting of the citizen and civil society Open Government Partnership network took place at the Wood Quay Venue beside Dublin City Council offices on Wednesday, 10 July 2013. This was organised by Transparency International Ireland to commence the co-ordination of civil society input for the development of Ireland’s Open Government Partnership national action plan.
I participated in the first session of the meeting and was very encouraged by the strong and constructive engagement by the network with the objectives of the OGP. I look forward to receiving a report on the proposals of the network for the national action plan in the early autumn.
A blog on the main highlights and key themes discussed at the meeting can be found together with presentations, videos and other material at www.ogpireland.ie.
I understand that two further public meetings will be held on 8 August and 5 September. Members of the public and civil society organisations are also invited to send submissions or proposals for the national action plan. Further details can also be found on the above website.
398. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the name, costs, date of commission, date or expected date of publication and name of the external consultant of all external reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011. [34408/13]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question the following table outlines the name, costs, date of commission, date or expected date of publication and name of each external consultant of all external reports commissioned by my Department since its inception in 2011:
|
Name of External Report |
Costs |
Date of Commission |
Date or Expected Date of Publication |
Name of External Consultant |
|
Independent verification of savings arising under the Public Service Agreement |
€35,819.80 |
16 May 2011 |
June 2011 |
MKO Partners Ltd |
|
Report on Reasons Behind Voter Behaviour in the Oireachtas Inquiry Referendum 2011 |
€41,043.20 |
23 November 2011 |
January 2012 |
Red C Research and Marketing Ltd. |
|
Independent verification of savings arising under the Public Service Agreement |
€31,586.40 |
23 March 2012 |
13 June 2012 |
Grant Thornton |
|
Independent verification of savings arising under the Public Service Agreement |
€24,206.40 |
4 February 2013 |
3 July 2013 |
Grant Thornton |
|
Capacity and Capability Review of Central Procurement Function |
€30,750.00 |
May 2012 |
14 August 2012 |
Accenture |
|
Options for the next National Lottery licence |
€615 (including VAT) |
7th February 2012 |
N/A (The final Report was completed and submitted to the Department in March 2012) |
Davy Corporate Finance |
In the course of its normal business activity, the Office of Public Works engages external technical consultants on many of its projects, primarily architectural and engineering. The costs of these consultants would be included in the overall project costs. The Office of Public Works has not engaged any external consultants for the purposes of producing external reports for publication.
399. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual net and gross saving to the Exchequer, following implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement if TDs' salaries were capped at €75,000 per annum. [34463/13]
View answer400. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual net and gross saving to the Exchequer, following implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement, if Senators' salaries were capped at €60,000 per annum. [34464/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 400 together.
The remuneration of members of the Oireachtas was reduced on 1 July 2013 in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013. This represented a further 5.84% reduction in remuneration for TDs, from €92,672 to €87,258. Senator’s salaries have been reduced to €65,000, in line with the legislation, which provides that the reductions in the legislation shall only operate to reduce remuneration to that level.
The estimated gross saving to the Exchequer should a cap of €60,000 be applied to the basic pay of all Senators and a cap of €75,000 be applied to all TDs, as suggested by the Deputy, is set out in the following table:
|
Positions |
Current Cost per annum |
Capped Cost per annum |
Gross Annual Saving |
|
TDs |
€14,484,828 |
€12,450,000 |
€2,034,828 |
|
Senators* |
€3,900,000 |
€3,600,000 |
€300,000 |
*There are currently 59 Senators, but the estimate has been calculated for the full complement of 60.
It is not possible to estimate the net saving to the Exchequer which would arise from the application of the suggested pay caps as deductions, such as PRSI and income tax, are calculated on an individual basis.
401. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual saving to the Exchequer if all State Agency board fees were reduced by 25% under the aegis of his Department. [34465/13]
View answer412. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the fees and expenses paid to each member of each State board, to include the chair and board members, and the number of members on each State board under the aegis of his Department. [34518/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 412 together. In response to the Deputy’s questions I can only provide information on behalf of my Department only but I understand a copy has already been submitted to other Departments in the meantime. The following table gives a breakdown of the fees and expenses paid to each member of each State board under the aegis of my Department in 2012:
|
State Board |
Number of Members |
Name of Member |
Fees Paid |
Expenses Paid |
|
Civil Service Arbitration Board - Civil Service, Defence Forces, Gardaí and Teachers Arbitration Boards |
6 |
John Doherty, Chairperson |
€552 per day wef 1 July 2013 |
Nil |
|
Gerard Barry |
€392 per day wef 1July 2013 |
Nil |
||
|
Tom Wall |
€4,346 per annum wef 1 July 2013, for 11 sitting days |
Nil |
||
|
George Maybury |
€392 per annum wef 1 July 2013 |
Nil |
||
|
Hugh Flaherty |
€392 per annum wef 1 July 2013 |
Nil |
||
|
Brendan Duffy, Adjudicator |
€295 wef 1 July 2013 |
Nil |
||
|
National Lottery Board |
7 (6 Serving) |
Donal Connell |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Dermot Griffin |
€11,000 |
€6,911 |
||
|
Micheál Ó’ Muircheartaigh |
€12,600 |
Nil |
||
|
Oliver Wilkinson |
€12,600 |
Nil |
||
|
Caroline Murphy |
€12,600 |
Nil |
||
|
Peter Quinn |
Nil |
Nil |
||
|
James Hyland |
Nil |
€3,165 |
||
|
Public Appointments Service |
9 (2 vacancies at present) |
Eddie Sullivan, Chairman |
€11,970 |
Nil |
|
Des Dowling, Assistant Secretary – Dept of Environment, Community and Local Government |
Nil |
Nil |
||
|
Dr. Deirdre O’Keeffe, Assistant Secretary – Dept of Justice & Equality |
Nil |
Nil |
||
|
Patricia Coleman, Director – Dept of Public Expenditure & Reform (resigning from Board) |
Nil |
Nil |
||
|
Seán McGrath – National Director of HR in the HSE (resigned and replaced by) Barry O’Brien – National Director of HR in the HSE in September 2012 |
Nil Nil |
Nil Nil |
||
|
Judith Eve – former Chairperson of the Civil Service Commissioners, Northern Ireland |
€7,695 |
€286.99 (in respect of travel from Belfast for Board meetings) |
||
|
Dr. Eddie Molloy – Management Consultant |
€7,695 |
Nil |
||
|
Dan Murphy – former General Secretary of the PSEU |
€7,695 |
Nil |
||
|
Bryan Andrews as CEO of the PAS held office on an ex officio basis (replaced by) Fiona Tierney, CEO, PAS in March 2012 |
Not paid as Board members – part of CEO role |
Nil Nil |
||
|
Outside Appointments Board |
5 in total, (1 vacancy at present) |
Robert Watt – Secretary General Dept of Public Expenditure and Reform |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Martin Frazer – Secretary General Dept of An Taoiseach |
Nil |
Nil |
||
|
Breege O’Donoghue |
Nil |
Nil |
||
|
Peter Malone |
Nil |
Nil |
The annual saving to the Exchequer if all of the above State Agency board fees were reduced by 25% would amount to €2,590.75.
402. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the net and gross saving to the Exchequer if all public sector pay, excluding hospital consultant pay, was capped at €100,000. [34466/13]
View answer403. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the net and gross saving to the Exchequer if all public sector pay was capped at €100,000. [34467/13]
View answer407. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public sector workers in receipt of salaries within the following the bands (details supplied). [34472/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 402, 403 and 407 together.
I refer to my replies to Questions Nos. 162, 163, 166, 167 and 171 of 8 November 2012. Data are currently being collated to reflect the implementation of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, 2013 and its effect on salary pay bands.
404. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of all non-commercial state sponsored bodies under the aegis of his Department. [34468/13]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s questions the following non-commercial State-sponsored bodies come under the aegis of my Department: Special European Union Programmes Body and the Institute of Public Administration.
405. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual salary of all commercial state company chief executive officers under the aegis of his Department. [34469/13]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s questions I can confirm that there are no commercial State companies under the remit of my Department.
406. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of the annual salaries of all non-commercial state sponsored body chief executive officers. [34471/13]
View answer413. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual salary of all non-commercial state sponsored bodies' chief executive officers under the aegis of his Department. [34534/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 406 and 413 together.
In response to the Deputy’s questions I can only provide information on behalf of my Department only but I understand a copy has already been submitted to other Departments in the meantime.
The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) is a non-commercial State sponsored body under the aegis of my Department and the salary of the current Director General is €188,952. Reductions resulting from the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013 should have been applied since 1 July 2013.
The Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) is another non-commercial State sponsored body under my aegis and the salary of the current Chief Executive is €97,324.50. My Department contributes half of this salary, with the remainder contributed by the Department of Finance and Personnel Northern Ireland.
408. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in travel and expenses for all Government Departments. [34473/13]
View answer417. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 1%, 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in travel and expenses for his Department. [34598/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 417 together.
In response to the Deputy’s questions I can only provide information on behalf of my Department only but I understand a copy has already been submitted to other Departments in the meantime. The total annual cost of travel and expenses incurred by my Department in 2012 amounted to €215,155.82 and similarly €2,758,347 for the Office of Public Works. The following tables outline the percentage annual savings to the Exchequer of reductions to travel and expenses in my Department and the Office of Public Works:
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
Potential Annual Savings in Travel and Expenses
|
Savings to the Exchequer |
Details |
|
1% |
€2,151.55 |
|
5% |
€10,757.79 |
|
7% |
€15,060.91 |
|
10% |
€21,515.58 |
|
12% |
€25,818.70 |
|
15% |
€32,273.37 |
|
17% |
€36,576.49 |
|
20% |
€43,031.16 |
Office of Public Works
Potential Annual Savings in Travel and Expenses
|
Savings to the Exchequer |
Details |
|
1% |
€27,583.47 |
|
5% |
€137,917.35 |
|
7% |
€193,084.29 |
|
10% |
€275,834.70 |
|
12% |
€331,001.64 |
|
15% |
€413,752.05 |
|
17% |
€468,918.99 |
|
20% |
€551,669.40 |
It should also be noted that while the majority of travel and subsistence paid relates to subsistence which are set amounts that can be reduced or increased there are also incidental expenses which are the payment of actual costs incurred by the claimant.
409. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in training and development for all Government Departments. [34474/13]
View answer418. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction in training and development for his Department. [34614/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 418 together.
The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. The training and development budget for 2013 is €175,000. Expenditure on staff training and development in my Department is a valuable investment. It assists staff in acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge to enable the Department meet its strategic priorities, supports workforce planning, develops a continuous learning culture within the Department and provides a range of learning and development measures which contribute to enhanced staff performance, development of potential and engagement.
|
Training and Development |
||
|
Budget |
Saving |
|
|
€175,000.00 |
||
|
5% Reduction |
€166,250.00 |
€8,750.00 |
|
7% Reduction |
€162,750.00 |
€12,250.00 |
|
10% Reduction |
€157,500.00 |
€17,500.00 |
|
12% Reduction |
€154,000.00 |
€21,000.00 |
|
15% Reduction |
€148,750.00 |
€26,250.00 |
|
20% Reduction |
€140,000.00 |
€35,000.00 |
410. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, details of the following Oireachtas allowances (details supplied) [34475/13]
View answerThe allowances payable to certain officeholders in the Oireachtas, following the application of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013, are set out in the following table:
|
Position |
Allowance (in addition to TD/Senator salary) |
|
Ceann Comhairle |
€70,282 |
|
Leas Ceann Comhairle |
€34,381 |
|
Cathaoirleach |
€38,160 |
|
Leas Cathaoirleach |
€19,846 |
|
Leader of the Seanad |
€15,255 |
The allowances payable to the Whips in the Dáil and Seanad (per S.I. No 347 of 2011) are set out in the following tables. It should be noted that while provision was made for allowances to be paid to the Whip of the Socialist Party and to the Whip of the People before Profit Alliance, neither of those parties has the required two Deputies to be eligible for the allowance.
Whips in Dáil ÉireannAllowance (in addition to TD salary)
|
Party |
Amount |
|
Fianna Fáil Party Whip |
€17,480 |
|
Sinn Féin Party Whip |
€5,520 |
|
Assistant Government Whip |
€13,800 |
|
Fianna Fáil Assistant Whip |
€8,740 |
|
Sinn Féin Assistant Whip |
€2,760 |
|
Fine Gael Assistant Whip |
€6,900 |
|
Labour Party Assistant Whip |
€5,520 |
Whips in Seanad ÉireannAllowance (in addition to Senator salary)
|
Party |
Amount |
|
Government Whip |
€2,682 |
|
Assistant Government Whip |
€792 |
|
Fianna Fáil Whip |
€2,682 |
|
Independent Group of Nominee Senator’s Whip |
€792 |
|
Independent Group of University Senator’s Whip |
€792 |
411. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the annual saving to the Exchequer if all Ministers’ Special Advisers' pay was capped at the first point of the Principal Officer grade. [34476/13]
View answer419. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the annual saving to the Exchequer if all his special advisors pay was capped at the first point of the principal officer grade; if he will provide a list of all salaries, post implementation of the Haddington Road Agreement paid to his special advisors. [34630/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 419 together.
In response to the Deputy’s questions I can only provide information on behalf of my Department but I understand a copy has already been submitted to other Departments in the meantime. The following table gives a breakdown of total annual savings to the Exchequer if the pay of my special advisers was capped at the first point of the principal officer grade:
|
Name |
Annual Salary Post-Haddington Road |
1st Point Principal Officer Grade |
Savings (if capped at 1st Point Principal Officer Grade) |
|
Anne Byrne |
€84,706 |
€75,647* |
€9,059 |
|
Ronan O’Brien |
€106,880 |
€81,080** |
€25,800 |
|
Total |
€191,586 |
€156,727 |
€34,859 |
*principal officer standard scale
**principal officer higher scale
414. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, advertising and accountancy; the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013. [34550/13]
View answer416. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 20% reduction in all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, advertising and accountancy; the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013. [34582/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 414 and 416 together.
In response to the Deputy’s question the following table lists all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, advertising and accountancy paid by my Department between 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013:
Professional Fees
1 June 2012 to 31 May 2013
|
Company Name |
Details |
Amount |
|
Davy Corporate Finance |
Financial and Commercial Advice in relation to competition for the award of the next National Lottery Licence |
€568,875.00 (incl. VAT) |
|
Peter Smyth Management Consultancy |
Provision of Expert Assistance in the establishment of the Office of Government Procurement |
€36,900.00 |
|
Richard Humphreys |
Legal Advice & Statute Law Reform Director |
€96,253.65 |
|
Ciara Kennedy |
Statute Law Reform Programme Manager |
€33,701.00 |
|
Kieran McGovern |
Independent Mediation for the civil service grievance procedures |
€2,795.16 per annum |
|
Inge Clissmann |
Fee paid in respect of role as Chairperson of the Civil Service Disciplinary Board. Fee paid for each sitting day. |
€8,276.40 total paid during this period in respect of 11 cases. |
|
Step Performance Group |
Executive coaching |
€6,740.00 |
|
People Resources |
Executive coaching |
€5,205.00 |
|
Seven PCS Ltd |
Executive coaching Executive coaching |
€9,087.55 €6,150.00 |
|
James McCabe |
Clinical Supervision |
€280.00 |
|
Karen Ward |
Clinical Supervision |
€75.00 |
|
Melissa Darmody |
Clinical Supervision |
€400.00 |
|
Michael O’Mahony |
Clinical Supervision |
€300.00 |
|
Ms Olive Bourke |
Clinical Supervision |
€310.00 |
|
Mr. Gerry Myers |
Clinical Supervision |
€75.00 |
|
Seven |
Coaching |
€1,125.00 |
|
Creative A.D. Ltd |
Revision of Logo |
€104.55 |
|
Eolas |
Contractor Fees |
€94,125.00 |
|
Brightwater |
Contractor Fees |
€13,462.00 |
|
Harvey Nash |
Contractor Fees |
€2,890.00 |
|
System Dynamics |
Contractor Fees |
€7,215.00 |
|
Ann Clarke |
Advisory Services (Social Impact Bonds) |
€15,719.89 |
|
Word Perfect Translation Service |
Translation of documents for ECJ case C66/12 August 2012 |
€1,486.01 |
|
Word Perfect Translation Service |
Translation of documents for ECJ case C66/12 Feb 2013 |
€514.88 |
|
Accenture |
Review of Central Procurement |
€30,750.00 |
|
Grant Thornton |
Independent Verification of savings arising under the Public Services Agreement |
€31,586.40 |
|
Grant Thornton |
Independent Verification of savings arising under the Public Services Agreement |
€24,206.40 |
|
Deloitte |
Consultancy Support for Public Service Reform |
€17,835.00 |
|
Ashville Media Services |
Design of Taoiseach’s Public Service Excellence Awards brochure |
€861.00 |
|
IPAG (Ireland) Ltd |
Development of Ireland Stat website |
€5,056.85 |
|
Accenture |
Implementation Partner for Civil Service Human Resources and Pensions Shared Services Project |
€2,994,979.00 |
|
Deloitte |
Provision of Consultancy for Payroll and Banking and Finance Shared Services Projects |
€129,150.00 |
|
Total |
€4,146,490.74 |
The annual saving to the Exchequer of a 20% reduction in professional fees paid by my Department would amount to €829,298.14.
