Written Answers Nos. 130-9
131. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate, in tabular form, the total expenditure by her Department on external consultancy advice services, including legal services, in 2011, 2012 and 2013; if this spend is in line with the overall value-for-money objective of her remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10016/14]
View answerThe following table sets out expenditure on external consultancy advice and legal services by the Department for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013:
|
Year |
External Consultancy Advice Services including legal services |
|
2011 |
€2,747,810 |
|
2012 |
€1,767,096 |
|
2013 |
€2,236,216 |
Figures for 2013 are provisional and subject to audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Legal costs relating to prosecutions arising from fraudulent claims made to the Department are borne by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor.
Expenditure in 2012 represents 0.009% of total expenditure of €20.1 billion or 0.26% of total administration expenditure of €671 million.
The Department is committed to achieving value for money in the procurement of supplies and services essential to support its work in providing high quality service to the public in a cost effective and efficient manner.
132. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied with the number of women currently serving on State boards under her remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10028/14]
View answerThe statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
Citizens Information Board
The legislative provisions governing appointments to the Citizens Information Board are contained in the Comhairle Act 2000, the Citizens Information Act 2007 and the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011. As set out in the legislative provisions, in making appointments to the Board, I have regard to the objective of there being no less than 6 members who are women and no less than 6 members who are men.
The current membership of the Citizens Information Board comprises of 8 men and 5 women. There are two vacancies on the Board, which will be filled in accordance with the legislative provisions.
Pensions Board
The Pensions Act 1990 (as amended) provides for the establishment of the Pensions Board and for the appointment of Board members. Under existing provision in the Pensions Act, I appoint the Chairperson and members. There are currently 8 men and 7 women members on the Pensions Board.
Social Welfare Tribunal
I appoint the Chairperson and four ordinary members to the board of the Social Welfare Tribunal. The Chairperson is appointed on recommendation from the Labour Court and legislation provides that the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Irish Business and Employer’s Confederation nominate 2 ordinary members each. While these organisations are made aware of the desirability for gender equality, I must appoint the persons whose names are forwarded by the respective organisations. The current gender balance of the members of the Tribunal is 4 men and 1 woman.
I am satisfied that there is an appropriate balance in the number of women currently serving on State boards under my remit.
133. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of employee share ownership plans in operation in the commercial semi-State sector under the remit of her Department; her views on whether they offer good value to the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10049/14]
View answerThere are no commercial semi-State organisations operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection.
134. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the national landscape plan; the way the plan will deal with offshore views and prospects; the way the plan will manage conflicts that can currently exist in the level of protection afforded to similar landscape types in different county development plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9775/14]
View answerFollowing on from work in this area by an interdepartmental Steering Group chaired by my Department, and taking into account submissions arising from the public consultation in respect of the National Landscape Strategy Issues Paper, I expect to bring proposals to Government later this year with a view to finalising the National Landscape Strategy for publication.
The Strategy will set out Ireland's objectives and actions with regard to landscape in accordance with the high level objectives of the European Landscape Convention. One of the primary objectives of the National Landscape Strategy will be to assist in the achievement of greater consistency in decision making across the country when dealing with issues of landscape. However, the primary role of planning authorities and the consultative roles of other bodies and persons in decision-making relating to issues that affect the landscape will continue to be governed by the provisions of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012.
135. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a copy of a lease for a club (details supplied) in County Mayo will be furnished; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9806/14]
View answerI am advised that my Department has searched in the past for copies of the lease referred to in the Deputy's Question but to no avail. However, I have asked my officials to conduct a final search for such a copy and to notify the club directly of the outcome.
136. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will indicate, in tabular form, the total expenditure by his Department on external consultancy advice services, including legal services, in 2011, 2012 and 2013; if this spend is in line with the overall value-for-money objective of his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10007/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established on 2 June 2011. Accordingly, the following table lists the payments made to consultants and legal personnel from my Department's Administrative Budget since that date. It may be noted that contracts for the provision of services are not included. Value for money is an overriding consideration in relation to the engagement of consultancy and legal services.
|
Year |
Purpose of Payments |
Amount € |
|
2011 |
Consultancy |
40,637 |
|
2012 |
Legal Fees |
6,195 |
|
2012 |
Consultancy |
10,959 |
|
2013 |
Consultancy |
30,176 |
For completeness, I wish to bring to the Deputy's attention that from time to time my Department also commissions engineering or environmental experts to provide technical reports on specific issues as required. While the providers of these services are consultant engineers, environmental consultants or may describe themselves in other such terms, their work is not classified as "consultancy services and policy reviews" and is not funded from my Department's Administrative Budget.
Also my Department makes payments from time to time to the Chief State Solicitor's Office in respect of legal services that it provides.
137. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he is satisfied with the number of women currently serving on State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10018/14]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to take steps to ensure that all State Boards have at least 40% of each gender. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that eight of the fifteen bodies funded from the Department's Vote Group that currently have boards in place have already reached that target. It may be noted that, in a number of these boards, certain appointments are made other than by way of Government or Ministerial appointment. For example, appointments may be on foot of nominations by other bodies, or by way of elections, or on an ex officio basis. Clearly, such circumstances can have an influence on the gender balance of the boards in question.
I can assure the Deputy that I support the promotion of gender equality as an instrument for economic growth, prosperity and competitiveness and am fully committed to further promoting gender equality across all of the bodies and agencies funded from my Department's Vote Group.
138. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of employee share ownership plans in operation in the commercial semi-State sector under the remit of his Department; his views on whether they offer good value to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10043/14]
View answerThere are no commercial semi-State bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group and consequently, there are no employee share ownership plans in operation.
139. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has received the terms of reference from the chair of the pylon review group; if he will provide details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9774/14]
View answer141. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the expert panel set up to look at the pylon issues will decide on its terms of reference; and when its work will commence. [9844/14]
View answer142. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if submissions from community groups or persons will be accepted by the expert panel set up to look at the pylon issues. [9845/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 141 and 142 together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 443 of 25 February 2014. The position remains unchanged.
