Written Answers Nos. 299-317
299. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide funding for repair works on an embankment at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2568/14]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) mobilised staff last week to this area, where it has statutory responsibility for maintenance of embankments. OPW will prioritise the repair of breached embankments at Ardcanaght and Garrane first. Embankments from Keel to Shanakeale will be addressed in due course.
300. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide funding for repair works on an embankment at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry to help prevent flooding of homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2569/14]
View answer301. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide funding for repair works on an embankment at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2570/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together.
The investigation and addressing of coastal protection problems at these locations are matters for Kerry County Council in the first instance. It is open to the Council to apply for funding to deal with coastal protection under the Office of Public Works (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme. Any application received will be assessed under the eligibility criteria, which include a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of funding.
The Office of Public Works wrote on 10th January, 2014 to City and County Managers in coastal areas indicating that it will accept applications under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme for funding to assist with repairs to built flood defences and coastal protection structures which have been damaged by the recent storms. This is a once-off measure to reinstate built coastal defences to their pre storm condition. The specific application form for this entitled Coastal Storm Damage Flooding Questionnaire 2014 is available on OPW's website www.opw.ie under Flood Risk Management. Any work for which funding is sought will be carried out by the Local Authorities. It is also open to local authorities to carry out flood mitigation and coastal protection works using their own resources.
The OPW allocated funding of €180,000 to Kerry County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme in 2012 for embankment strengthening works at Cromane and Incherea. This funding has now been drawn down by the Council.
304. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the assistance available from his Department for coastal private landowners and businesses who suffered damage to their properties during the recent storms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2659/14]
View answerThere is no assistance directly available from the Office of Public Works to private landowners and businesses for damages following the recent coastal storms. Private insurance policies may cover damages in this regard. The Department of Social Protection has in place a Humanitarian Assistance scheme for homeowners and applications can be made through Community Welfare Officers. This scheme does not cover commercial or business losses.
The Office of Public Works wrote on 10th January, 2014 to City and County Managers in coastal areas indicating that it will accept applications under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme for funding to assist with repairs to built flood defences and coastal protection structures which have been damaged by the recent storms. This is a once-off measure to reinstate built coastal defences to their pre storm condition. The specific application form for this entitled Coastal Storm Damage Flooding Questionnaire 2014 is available on OPW's website www.opw.ie under Flood Risk Management. Any work for which funding is sought will be carried out by the Local Authorities. It is also open to local authorities to carry out flood mitigation and coastal protection works using their own resources.
305. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public sector workers earning less than €30,000 per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2817/14]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 55074/13 of 19th December 2013.
307. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider deferring the implementation of the new public sector sick leave regulations for a 12-month period on securing an agreement with public services management and trade union representatives to achieve current sick leave targets under existing arrangements by tackling habitual rather than genuinely ill sick leave recipients. [2904/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, reformed sick leave arrangements for public service employees were the subject of a Labour Court Recommendation in July 2012 relating to the introduction of a single uniform Sick Leave Scheme.
The rationale for the introduction of these arrangements was the need to reduce the unsustainable cost of sick leave for the public service overall. This is to be achieved through the better management of sick leave as well as a substantial reduction in the period of time for which paid sick leave will be available.
Effective management of sick leave is a key element of the overall approach to reduce absenteeism in the public service. In this context new policies and procedures on attendance management have been introduced across the public service. These policies promote best practice in the management of sick leave and include: monitoring patterns of sick leave; maintaining supportive contact with officers on sick leave; referral to the Occupational Health Specialist; and conducting sick leave reviews and return to work interviews.
In addition to the better management of sick leave, and in order to realise significant savings, the access to paid sick leave must also be reduced in accordance with the Labour Court Recommendation.
In respect of the implementation date for the new sick leave scheme the public service employers, in their submission to the Labour Court, sought an implementation date of 2012 while the public service committee of ICTU sought an implementation date of 2016. The Court recommended 1 January 2014, subject to the necessary legislative provisions. This date has been deferred to allow for the regulations, to be made under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Act 2013, to be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas for a period of 21 sitting days.
There is no requirement to defer the introduction of the new sick leave scheme any further given the lapse of time since the initial Labour Court Recommendation as well as the finalisation of arrangements for the introduction of a Critical Illness Protocol which will faciliate access to extended sick leave for public service employees in the case of illnesses or medical conditions of specified severity following a further Labour Court Recommendation issued in December 2013.
308. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the sale of the National Lottery licence. [2905/14]
View answerI announced on 3rd October 2013 that Premier Lotteries Ireland Limited, a consortium comprising Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (the owner of the Camelot Group), An Post and An Post pension funds, has been selected as the preferred applicant for the next National Lottery licence. Premier Lotteries Ireland Limited met the Essential Requirements specified in the terms of the competition for the licence and submitted the highest Licence Fee proposal which is €405 million.
Work on the finalisation of the licence is expected to be concluded shortly. Matters being finalised include those relating to staff. Transfer arrangements for the staff of An Post National Lottery Company have been the subject of a process at the Labour Relations Commission. I understand that staff will vote on specific LRC proposals shortly.
309. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the public procurement policies that will help strengthen the Small and Medium Enterprise sector enabling innovative businesses to win Government contracts as committed to in the Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016. [2906/14]
View answerI am keenly aware that public procurement can be an important source of business for Irish small and medium enterprises (SMEs). I am also aware of the need for Departments and Offices to make every effort to contain and reduce all administrative costs to ensure the continued provision of much needed public services. In this regard, the recently established Office of Government Procurement is engaged in an ambitious reform programme designed to deliver cost reductions for commonly acquired goods and services; increased levels of professionalism among staff responsible for procurement; and better performance management of the central procurement function.
Public Procurement can be an enabler of private sector innovation. The Government recognises that innovative companies can offer solutions to the needs of public sector bodies with lower whole-of-life costs than more conventional purchases. Winning public sector contracts with innovative solutions also serves as an important reference point for companies who wish to sell those products or services in overseas markets.
In the context of the overall reform of the public procurement structures in Ireland, the Government's priorities in relation to procurement are to:- review and update the Government's Procurement guidelines and procedures to address any obstacles to SMEs participating as fully as possible in the public procurement process;- improve the capacity of SMEs to tender for public sector contracts.
The Office of Government Procurement will address these priorities by:- simplifying tender documentation which will help both businesses and buyers to reduce administrative costs;- subdividing larger contracts into smaller "lots";- encouraging SME's to create consortia to compete with larger businesses;- engaging with Business Representative Groups to identify and resolve issues;- educating buyers and suppliers regarding public procurement practices;- ensuring engaging with government procurement is easy and low cost, with proportional financial and other qualification criteria, and proportional contract terms and conditions; and,- operating and updating a single procurement web portal for supplier to receive information, register and to receive alerts.
To summarise: we in government want better value for money for our substantial procurement spend. We are also committed to ensuring that SMEs are fully engaged in the process and will be encouraged, where necessary, to form alliances and networks to ensure they can tender on a competitive basis for this work.
310. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider lifting the public service recruitment embargo to facilitate offers of employment to JobBridge interns where the scheme is being repeatedly used by Government Departments to fill positions where an ongoing need has been identified. [2907/14]
View answerThere is no embargo on recruitment to the public service. There are restrictions and there are targets to reduce, in overall terms, the numbers employed in the public service, but there has also been and will continue to be recruitment into key positions across the system - in health, in education, in some areas of the Civil Service and most recently in An Garda. Recruitment into these positions is open to all suitable candidates, including those who are availing of JobBridge.
The JobBridge initiative, which is run by the Department of Social Protection, provides work experience placements for interns for a 6 or 9 month period. The key goal of JobBridge is to assist jobseekers in gaining valuable work experience, either as new entrants to the labour market after education or training or as unemployed workers seeking to learn new skills. The purpose of the scheme is to give people an opportunity to gain experience and skills that will help them find permanent employment, and it has proven very effective in that regard. The purpose of the scheme is not for employers to fill existing vacancies.
311. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he intends to introduce a fully vouched system for Oireachtas Members' expenses. [2908/14]
View answerFrom 1 January 2013 I introduced changes to the Oireachtas expense allowance regime to require full vouching for expenditure under the Parliamentary Standard Allowance, other than for monthly expenditure in the nature of petty cash for incidental expenses per month of €100 for each Deputy and €75 for each Senator.
The travel and accommodation element of that allowance, which is a single payment covering the costs of travel to and from Leinster House, overnights where applicable and, in the case of Deputies constituency travel, was already verified through recorded attendance at Leinster House, under the reforms introduced in 2010 by my predecessor.
312. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question 279 of 26 March 2013 and in view of the impact that coastal erosion is having on the environment and the serious problems faced here due to global warming, rising tides, storms and so on, if he will ensure that this important issue is given the priority it deserves and that adequate funding is put in place to address this major environmental problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2932/14]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that the Government places great importance on the matter of coastal erosion. This natural and ongoing process needs to be considered in a holistic way as its impact can vary greatly in different locations and over time. It only becomes a problem when it threatens human life, infrastructure and properties. It differs significantly from coastal flooding, as assets are permanently lost. Dealing with problems of coastal erosion also requires a somewhat different approach to problems of flooding and must be addressed in a sensitive manner. Engineered interventions to “solve” an erosion problem must be considered carefully having regard to the natural processes in operation in any particular location and the economic viability of any measures that would be required to address the problem.
The Irish Coastal Protection Strategy Study (ICPSS) is a major examination to assess and identify the most significant areas of erosion risk for the entire national coastline. This major study is effectively complete and it will provide essential information required to inform policy in this area going forward particularly in relation to guiding decisions by planners on local coastal planning issues.
The management of problems of coastal protection in any particular area is first and foremost a matter for the relevant Local Authority. Local Authorities must assess the problem in the first instance and, if it is considered that specific measures and works are required, it is open to them to apply for funding to deal with coastal protection under the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme. Any application received will be assessed under the eligibility criteria, which include a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, and having regard to the overall availability of funding.
The Office of Public Works wrote on 10th January, 2014 to City and County Managers in coastal areas indicating that it will accept applications under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme for funding to assist with repairs to built flood defences and coastal protection structures which have been damaged by the recent storms. This is a once-off measure to reinstate built coastal defences to their pre storm condition. The specific application form for this entitled Coastal Storm Damage Flooding Questionnaire 2014 is available on OPW's website www.opw.ie under Flood Risk Management. Any work for which funding is sought will be carried out by the Local Authorities.
It is also be open to Local Authorities to carry out flood mitigation and coastal protection works using their own resources.
313. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views regarding the proposal from the EU Commission with regard to the strengthening of the social dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2252/14]
View answerThe Commission’s Communication of 2nd October 2013 on “Strengthening the Social Dimension of the Economic and Monetary Union” is part of an ongoing process to improve the EU's economic governance architecture, and was presented in order to feed into discussions on the future of the EMU at the October and December European Council meetings.
The Communication put forward proposals for the creation of a scoreboard to follow key employment and social developments in order to better analyse and more swiftly identify major problems before they arise. The Commission’s preliminary version of the proposed Scoreboard was subsequently presented as a component of the draft Joint Employment Report, which was presented to the Council on the 28th November 2013 as an annexe to the 2014 Annual Growth Survey.
Ireland has supported the development of a scoreboard of employment and social indicators as an instrument that can underpin the contribution of the EPSCO Council of Employment and Social Policy Ministers to the agenda set by the European Council regarding the reinforcement of the social dimension of the EMU within the current institutional framework. The Scoreboard, which was adopted by the EPSCO Council at its meeting on 9th December 2013, is a welcome development on the deliberations that took place within the EPSCO Council under the Irish Presidency, including the informal breakfast meeting that Employment and Social Policy Ministers had with Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council on 28th February, an historic first meeting.
Ireland welcomes the new Scoreboard of employment and social indicators which will complement and build upon existing tools (the Employment and Social Protection Performance Monitors) within the European Semester. The Scoreboard will not have any automatic consequences or trigger any binding sanctions. Ireland has consistently supported the development of such a scoreboard as an analytical tool to detect emerging divergences and negative developments that are relevant to EMU and that require urgent collective attention and action.
The December European Council re-affirmed the importance of employment and social developments within the European Semester. Its conclusions build on the commitment made by the European Council in June to strengthen the social dimension of the EMU.
314. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the dates of meetings, both official and private, between representatives from the Consumer Association of Ireland including the chair, vice-chair, CEO and so on and his Department from September 2012 to January 2014; the issues that were discussed; if there are plans for a follow up meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2298/14]
View answerThe information is set out in tabular form as follows:
|
Date of meeting |
In attendance |
Purpose of meeting |
|
8/11/2012 |
Mr. Ciaran Conlon, Special Advisor to Minister Mr. Dermott Jewell, CEO, CAI |
To tell the CAI of the need for clear performance metrics to accompany any public funding application. |
|
20/12/2012 |
Minister Richard Bruton Mr. Ciaran Conlon, Special Advisor to the Minister Mr. Kieran Grace, Principal Officer, DJEI Mr. Cathal O’Gorman, Assistant Principal Officer, DJEI Mr. Dermott Jewell, CEO, CAI |
To discuss the funding proposal for 2012. |
|
11/09/2013 |
Mr. Kieran Grace, Principal Officer, DJEI Ms. Caroline Lafferty, Manager, CAI |
Informal introductory meeting following Ms. Lafferty’s appointment to the CAI. |
|
18/12/2013 |
Mr. Kieran Grace, Principal Officer, DJEI Mr. Paul Brennan, Assistant Principal Officer, DJEI Ms. Margaret Ryan, Higher Executive Officer, DJEI Ms. Caroline Lafferty, Manager, CAI |
Completion of formalities prior to payment of grant for 2013. |
There are no plans for further meetings at this point in time.
315. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will provide in tabular form the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department including payments from ministerial allowances, broken down by report; if he will provide the details of any consultants employed; the names of each report and their status as published or ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2364/14]
View answerSince February 2011 sixteen reports have been commissioned by my Department and offices, five of which were standard ICT security audits or reviews. The total cost of the sixteen reports was €442,797. For the Deputy's information the equivalent figures for the previous three year period in the Department and its offices was 39 reports at a cost to the taxpayer of €1,573,185. While this represents a 59% reduction in reports and a 72% reduction in costs over the previous three year period it will remain an item under constant review.
The names of external reports commissioned by my Department and Offices of my Department, details of consultants employed, and the expenditure on each from February 2011 to end December 2013 are as follows:-
January – December 2013
|
Name of external Consultant/Organisation |
Report Title |
Status Completed/Ongoing |
Amount Spent € |
|
Ward Solutions |
ICT security reviews |
Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication |
24,627 |
|
HM Ventures |
Innovative pathways to jobs and growth – Entrepreneurship, Access to Finance and Internationalisation of SMEs |
Published |
7,500 |
|
Fitzpatrick Associates |
Benchmarking of Irish Export Licensing Administration against selected EU Member States. |
Ongoing. Report received December 2013. |
47,417 |
|
Tom Martin & Associates/TMA |
Youth Unemployment A review of wage costs and other factors which may affect the employment of young people in Ireland. |
Presented to the Troika in line with the terms of the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policy which is a component of the Memorandum of Understanding, September 2013, as part of which the Irish Government undertook to present a report in December 2013. |
5,547.30 |
|
Janet Hughes |
Labour Court Review of Joint labour Committees |
Published |
17,835 |
|
RSM McClure Watters |
The evaluation of the Workplace Relations Pilot Early Resolution Service |
Published |
35,498 |
|
First Choice Financial Services Ltd and AJS Financial Advice Ltd |
Credit Guarantee Scheme “Findings and Recommendations” |
Published |
24,600 |
January – December 2012
|
Name of external Consultant/Organisation |
Report Title |
Status Completed/Ongoing |
Amount Spent € |
|
Ward Solutions |
Security reviews of ICT systems |
Internal ICT security assessments – not for publication |
39,095 |
|
Version 1 |
ICT systems review – Patents Office Ptolemy System |
Internal technology review – not for publication |
29,667 |
|
Achilles Procurement Services Ltd. |
Recommended Procurement Strategy for a Customer Relationship Management System (CRMS) from the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court |
Published |
2,560 |
|
Deloitte |
Feasibility Study: Making Ireland an International Centre for Intellectual Property |
Ongoing |
102,872.62 |
February – December 2011
|
Name of external Consultant/Organisation |
Report Title |
Status Completed/Ongoing |
Amount Spent € |
|
Rits |
IT Security assessment of new hosting site in Revenue Hosting Centre |
Internal ICT security assessment – not for publication |
8,276 |
|
Maxima Ireland |
Computer Server Virtualisation Strategy Review |
Internal technology review – not for publication |
7,093 |
|
UCD (Dr Frank Walsh) |
Review of ERO and REA Wage Setting Mechanisms |
Published May 2011 |
15,000 |
|
Greater Heights Ltd |
Learning Need Analysis (NERA Staff) |
Published |
15,645 |
|
Capital for Enterprise Ltd. |
Design of Temporary Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme |
Published |
59,565 |
The following revision to the above reply to Question No. 315 was received from the Department on 16/7/2014
|
Name of external Consultant/Organisation |
Report Title |
Cost of Report € |
Publication Date |
|
Rits |
ICT Security |
15,452 |
Internal ICT security assessment - not for publication |
|
Maxima Ireland |
Computer Server Virtualisation Strategy Review |
8,276 |
Internal technology review - not for publication |
316. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Irish based public interest entities that will be subject to the arrangements proposed in the draft EU regulation COMs (2011) 778 and (2011) 779/3; the total costs of implementing the proposed changes here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2379/14]
View answer317. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views regarding the impact of the draft EU regulation COMs (2011) 778 and (2011) 799/3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2380/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together.
The draft compromise text on the package of Audit proposals arising from the third informal Trilogue with the European Parliament was agreed by the Committee of Permanent Representatives on 18 December 2013 and will be put to the European Parliament for its approval over the coming time.
The Audit proposals, consisting of a draft Regulation and a Draft Directive were brought forward by the European Commission in late 2011 to address concerns at weaknesses it perceived in the EU audit system in the wake of the international financial crisis.
The agreement reached on the draft Audit Directive and Regulation is expected to improve audit quality and contribute to enhanced confidence in financial statements. In particular, the draft Regulation is designed to build on those provisions relating to the statutory audits of public interest entities set out in Directive 2006/43/EC. These draft audit measures are the product of long and intensive negotiations and impose less onerous obligations than those originally proposed by the EU Commission.
The audit measures are expected to be adopted in the first half of 2014 and the Regulation will take effect two years after its adoption date, with an equivalent period provided for the transposition by Member States of the draft Directive.
My Department established a contact group of interested parties during the negotiation period of the draft Audit package. It is the intention of the Department to consult with stakeholders on the adoption of these Audit measures as regards their implementation in Irish company law.
Based on figures supplied to the Department by the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority (IAASA), which are currently being updated, there are in the region of 1,200 public interest entities in Ireland. It is not envisaged that there will be increased direct costs to the Exchequer in relation to the implementation of these measures, either as regards the audits of public interest entities or of companies other than public interest entities. The costs of implementing the EU Audit measures to Public Interest Entities to which they apply cannot be quantified, but it is expected that there will be some increased costs.
