Tuesday, 17 Jun 2014

Written Answers Nos. 98-122

Local Authority Funding

Questions (98)

Mick Wallace

Question:

98. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the fact that the Wexford local authority applied for funding of €733,241 to return 18 properties to productive use but was only granted €258,285, despite the list of social housing applicants standing at 3,700; his views on whether the additional €15 million being made available in funding is sufficient to tackle the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25453/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O'Sullivan)

In response to my Department’s request for submissions under the new capital funding programme for returning vacant local authority houses to productive use, local authorities indicated that there currently are some 3,016 vacant properties across all city and county councils and sought funding of around €34.7 million for the refurbishment of 1944 properties. Following rigorous assessment of the proposals received, funding approval issued in respect of 952 dwellings, with priority given to those proposals which would deliver the maximum number of units at optimum cost. Funding was allocated on an equitable and evidence based system, adjudicated and weighted under select criteria including the level of local housing need and the unit cost of the proposals received. Funding of up to €30,000 per unit is available for a suite of works to improve energy efficiency and upgrade the fabric of the house. In the case of Wexford, the County Council was allocated €258,285 for those 11 units which best met the selection criteria and fell within the unit cost ceiling for the scheme.

Under the recently announced €200 million capital stimulus for the construction sector, of which some €50 million is earmarked for social housing, my Department will provide a further €20 million for the refurbishment of vacant units in order that these can be made available as quickly as possible to families on the housing waiting lists . On 10 June my Department wrote to local authorities asking them to submit by the end of the month , proposals for the refurbishment of additional units in 2014. It is anticipated that this will result in the return of a further 1,000 housing units to productive use, 850 of which are expected to be delivered this year. I see this as a rolling g programme and I hope to add to i t 2015 by announcing a further tranche of new housing starts and refurbishments .

Wind Energy Generation

Questions (99)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

99. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the way ongoing concerns from a number of environmentalists and residents living along the eastern coastline regarding the inconsistency between previous policy guidelines on wind energy when the Arklow and Codling leases were granted compared to the plans now in place can be addressed; and if he will address concerns that the legislative framework under which the Arklow and Codling leases were granted was out of date and that the granting of the leases was not subject to public consultation, as required under international conventions, including the Aarhus Convention. [24547/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

I refer to the replies to Question No. 374 of 11 March 2014 and Question No. 512 of 27 May 2014, which set out the position in this matter.

The Arklow and Codling applications, lodged on 29 June 2001 and 30 September 2002, respectively, predated the entry into force of Directive 2003/35/EC on public participation in respect of the drawing up of certain plans and programmes relating to the environment. This Directive gave effect within the European Union to the public participation pillar of the Aarhus Convention. Ireland ratified this Convention in June 2012; ratification does not have retrospective effect. The applications were, however, subject to the public consultation procedures in place at that time, under the Foreshore Act 1933. Both applications were advertised and submissions invited from interested parties.

Both applications, and the foreshore leases granted pursuant to those applications, also predate the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) which was published by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in February 2014. It should be noted, however, that the OREDP indicates that there is potential for development to achieve a scenario of 4,500 MW from offshore wind without likely significant adverse effect on the environment. The OREDP was subject to both a strategic environmental assessment and an appropriate assessment in accordance with the relevant EU directives. These assessments were published as part of the OREDP and are available from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Irish Water Funding

Questions (100)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

100. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline exactly the sequence of events since 3 December 2013 in relation to the funding and contract signing for Burncourt-Fethard regional supply scheme, specifically when the contract was signed between Irish Water and the designated tender company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25308/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Since 1 January 2014, Irish Water is responsible for the delivery of water services capital infrastructure. Irish Water has recently published its Proposed Capital Investment Plan for 2014 – 2016 and this is available on the Irish Water website, www.water.ie. The further progression of all water services capital projects is now a matter for Irish Water to consider.

Irish Water has confirmed to my Department that it has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via an email to [e-mail] or by telephone on 1890 278 278.

Social and Affordable Housing Provision

Questions (101)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

101. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an updated report on the way critical shortages in social housing supply are being addressed by his Department. [25419/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

Under Action 8 of Construction 2020 – A Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector, a Social Housing Strategy is to be published by Q3 2014. To assist in the development of the Social Housing Strategy, the Housing Agency has invited submissions by 31 July 2014. This invitation of submissions is available at the following weblink:

http://www.housing.ie/News/Current-News/Invitation-for-Submissions-Preparation-of-a-Social.aspx.

With the benefit of the recent injection of €46m for social housing, on top of the original housing budget of over half a billion euro, I now expect the final output across all social housing programmes for 2014 to be in the region of 6,000 new housing units. The number and method of delivery of social housing units in future years is determined in the course of the annual Estimates process and the Social Housing Strategy now in preparation will inform the upcoming Estimates discussions.

It is clear that the present and foreseeable economic context in which we must address social housing need is such that innovative, and indeed challenging, solutions must be found which will harness new funding streams. While the local authorities will continue to have the lead role in addressing social housing need, in their capacity as statutory housing authorities, the growing role of the not-for-profit sector, as represented by the Approved Housing Bodies, and other potential investors must also be further developed. My intention is that the Social Housing Strategy will be both challenging and innovative, and will provide the basis for an enhanced approach to social housing provision in Ireland. It will contain clear measurable actions that are to be taken to increase the supply of social housing and, most importantly, reduce the number of people on waiting lists over the next five years.

Action 9 of Construction 2020 provides that the Review of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts, will be completed in Q2 of 2014. It is anticipated that any legislative changes required on foot of the review will be incorporated into the General Scheme of a Planning Bill, which ch is currently in preparation. Action 1 of Construction 2020 provides that a National Framework for Housing Supply be established on a statutory footing with an annual National Statement of Projected Housing Supply and Demand published every June. Implementation of these Actions is a priority for my Department.

Question No. 102 answered with Question No. 78.

Question No. 103 answered with Question No. 83.

Question No. 104 answered with Question No. 71.

RAPID Programme

Questions (105)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

105. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the progress made in the past three years with the RAPID programme; the amount allocated to this programme in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25240/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The RAPID programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion in areas covered by the Programme. My Department administers the RAPID Leverage Schemes, which are designed to support small scale projects identified locally by Area Implementation Teams in each of the RAPID areas.

Over the past three years I have continued to meet my Department’s existing contractual commitments on RAPID projects throughout the country . In 2014 I allocated funding of €1.9 million which is used for Sports Capital projects jointly funded with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. It is a matter for individual lead Departments to report on the provision of funding and progress on delivery with regard to projects under their responsibility in the different RAPID areas.

The RAPID programme has made substantial progress in identifying the needs of disadvantaged communities and in bringing forward important local projects in response to those needs. I intend that the focus will remain on tackling poverty and social exclusion in RAPID areas and this will be more effectively combined with other programmes and actions delivered on an area basis. This will be overseen by new Local Community Development Committees which are being established in each local authority area under the Local Government Reform Act 2014.

Housing Assistance Payments Administration

Questions (106)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

106. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the date on which he expects the transition from the current rent allowance system to the new housing assistance payments scheme which will be administered by local authorities to be completed and functioning; the way he will deal with the staffing requirements of administering the new system within local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25442/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

On 30 April 2014, Government approved the publication of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 which will, when enacted before the end of the summer session, provide the legislative framework for the introduction of HAP. My Department and the Department of Social Protection continue to work closely on the legal, policy and operational issues involved in developing and introducing HAP.

Following administrative and statutory pilot phases in 2014, involving 7 local authorities, and a review of both phases, roll out to the remaining local authorities is scheduled to begin on a phased basis in 2015. The review process for the pilot phase will also provide valuable input in terms of informing the on-going resource requirement for administering the scheme.

In respect of the staff resources, the business process design exercise for HAP which was completed in 2013 involved input from all the relevant key stakeholders. This process included a preliminary examination of the organisational structure that will be required for HAP, including any change management issues that may arise. In the context of that exercise the County and City Management Association (CCMA), as part of the wider local government reform agenda, is considering the delivery possibilities including the costs and resource requirements. The CCMA, in conjunction with the local authorities involved in the first phase of HAP, are providing on-going advice to my Department in that regard. Limerick City and County Council as lead authority has prepared a business case, under the direction of the HAP Project Board, for the delivery of HAP by local authorities and the business case will be taken into account by the CCMA in deciding how best to deliver HAP.

Property Tax Administration

Questions (107)

Brian Stanley

Question:

107. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will guarantee that all of the receipts from the local property tax in 2015 will be made available to local authorities for the purpose for which it was intended. [25445/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Government has indicated an intention to move to 80% retention of all Local Property Tax (LPT) receipts within the local authority area where the tax is raised. The remaining 20% of LPT collected will then be applied to equalise the impact of this level of local retention between local authorities.

This year, the establishment of Irish Water presents local government with significant organisational and financial challenges. Service provision responsibilities are moving from the local authorities to Irish Water, infrastructure is being transferred, financing arrangements have altered and local authorities are operating on behalf of Irish Water under Service Level Agreements. These changes must be managed and, in this context, it was necessary to defer defining a certain proportion of the proceeds of the Local Property Tax to be retained in each local authority for 2014.

I expect the Local Property Tax to have multiple benefits, including a more sustainable and resilient system of funding for local authorities and, therefore, a sounder financial footing for the provision of essential local services; greater local scope for financial decision-making concerning service provision; and a strengthening of democracy at local level with a more active relationship between local authorities and local electorates. A stronger democratic relationship and clearer lines of accountability can only have a beneficial impact on service provision from the perspective of the service user.

In 2015, in addition to the changes in water services funding, local authorities will be required to implement changes to their budget process arising from EU obligations, which will require them to prepare draft budget strategies by the end of September 2014 and they will have the power to vary Local Property Tax basic rates by up to 15%. Together, these are significant changes to the current local government funding model and it is essential that the impacts are fully assessed and that the effect on overall Exchequer funding is managed appropriately.

My Department is currently considering the local government sector funding model for 2015, including the legislative implications, if any, in consultation with all relevant Government Departments. We will continue to work with local authorities to ensure that they have an appropriate level of information in a timely manner that facilitates their budget process for next year.

Private Rented Accommodation Provision

Questions (108)

Joan Collins

Question:

108. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify his response to landlords who have literally set a regime of apartheid citing no rent allowance or work reference required. [25242/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The Residential Tenancies Act 2004 sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants in the private residential rented sector covering, inter alia, security of tenure and the termination of tenancies. The provisions of the Act do not extend to the circumstances under which a landlord seeks a tenant for a property.

The Equal Status Acts 2000 – 2004, which come under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality, provide protection against direct and indirect discrimination outside of employment on a range of grounds. Being in receipt of rent supplement is not among these grounds. Therefore the practice of discriminating against a person on the grounds that they are in receipt of rent supplement but are otherwise a suitable tenant, while indefensible, is not expressly prohibited under current legislation.

There are complex issues of law involved in this issue but I can advise that options, including that of legal remedy, to address the practice of discrimination in such instances are currently being explored by the relevant Departments in consultation with the Attorney General.

Question No. 109 answered with Question No. 76.

Water Charges Administration

Questions (110)

Barry Cowen

Question:

110. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the full details of his Department's submission to the Commission for Energy Regulation's water charges policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25365/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

I intend to use my powers under the Water Services (No.2) Act 2013 to issue a Water Charges Policy Direction to the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) in relation to a number of matters rela ting to domestic water charges, including any conditions attached to the Government funding to be provided to Irish Water. As required by the Act, a draft of the policy direction issued to the CER and the Joint Oireachtas Committee for the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, and was published in Iris Oifigiúil. The draft direction was also published on m y D Department’s website for public consultation. The closing date for receipt of submissions on the draft direction was yesterday, 16 June 2014. The draft direction is still available for information on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie. The submissions received are currently being reviewed in my Department and I intend to issue the policy direction to the CER after the completion of this review.

The approach to charging will be outlined by Irish Water in a water charges plan to be submitted by it to the CER in line with the provisions of the Act. I understand that the CER has indicated that it will initiate a public consultation on that plan by the end of June. The CER will be responsible for approving the water charges plan which will set the approaches to charging domestic and non-domestic customers . In making its decision on the approval or otherwise of the first water charges plan, the CER will take into account the policy direction issued by me under the No. 2 Act.

Live Register Data

Questions (111)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

111. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the number of persons formerly employed in the various construction trade categories who are on the live register; if he will provide a breakdown of these persons by category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25564/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The Central Statistics Office has compiled a new experimental series, for evaluation purposes, showing estimated flows to and from the Live Register. The series is based on an analysis by the CSO of administrative data from the Department of Social Protection. Statistics for May 2014, the latest period available, are shown in the following table. The figures for Occupation held are based on what was declared by jobseekers at social welfare offices.

The experimental series is for evaluation purposes only and, while every effort has been made to reconcile these figures with the official Live Register total, where any discrepancy may exist the official Live Register figures are considered the correct figures.

Table 1 - Live register (Persons) by Occupation held, May 2014

Construction, woodwork and metal and related industries	87,850
Civil engineer, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, software engineer	3,890
Architect, surveyor, town planner	700
Draughtsman, draughtsperson, insurance surveyor, loss assessor, quantity surveyor	320
Blocklayer, bricklayer, builder, building contractor, dry liner, ganger, glazier, mason, painter (construction), plaster, stonemason, tiler	43,630
Fitter, goldsmith, machine tool setter, metal machinist, silversmith	2,580
Electrical trade, electrician, linesman/woman, radio service engineer, tv/video service engineer	3,590
Heating engineer, metal fabricator, metal former, plumber, sheet metal worker, steel fabricator, welder	2,400
Cabinet maker, carpenter, case and box maker, joiner, woodworker	5,830
Craft and related other occupation, foreman, glass cutter, horticultural worker, potter	4,910
Electroplater, furnace operator, heat treatment worker, metal treatment worker	110
Machine tool operator, metal polisher, metal process worker, sand blaster	280
Bus conductor, bus driver, bus inspector, delivery van driver, lorry driver, road transport worker, taxi driver, truck driver, van driver	5,980
Coalminer, mining/manufacturing other, plumber's mate	170
Builder's mate, carpenter's mate, construction other occupation, labourer (on building site), maintenance worker, road construction worker	13,470

This information and further detailed breakdowns are available online and are updated annually.

http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Statire/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?maintable=LRM31&PLanguage=0

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Questions (112)

Micheál Martin

Question:

112. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting in San Francisco at which the undoumented Irish were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25221/14]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

During my visit to San Francisco I discussed the issue of undocumented Irish immigrants and the prospect of immigration reform in the US at a number of events including a community event in San Francisco. I also discussed the issue at my only political meeting of the visit, with Governor Jerry Brown, who is a strong champion of immigration reform and has introduced a number of progressive legislative Bills at State level in California aimed at improving conditions for the undocumented in California.

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Questions (113)

Micheál Martin

Question:

113. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he had any bilateral meetings when he was in California; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25222/14]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I met the Governor of California, Jerry Brown when I was in California.

The key focus of our meeting was on strengthening the strong economic, trade, investment and tourism links between Ireland and California.

I also had the opportunity to speak briefly with the Mayor of San Francisco, Ed Lee, who was present at a community event I attended in San Francisco.

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Questions (114)

Micheál Martin

Question:

114. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the companies he visited when in California; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25223/14]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I visited the following companies when I was in California: Apple, Hewlett Packard, eBay, LinkedIn, Facebook, Tesla Motors, Google, CISCO, Yelp, Workday, New Relic, PCH International and AirBnB. I also met representatives from Boeing, Cubic Telecom and Voxpro as well as participants in the Enterprise Ireland Access Silicon Valley programme. I attended an IDA dinner at which a number of current and potential investors were in attendance and I also met representatives of the Global Irish Network.

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Questions (115)

Micheál Martin

Question:

115. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he discussed Ireland's double taxation agreement at any of his meetings with industry representatives in California; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25224/14]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

No, I did not discuss Ireland's double taxation agreement at any of my meetings with industry representatives in California.

Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements

Questions (116)

Micheál Martin

Question:

116. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he met any political representatives when he was in California regarding the undocumented Irish; if any progress was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25226/14]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I had one bilateral political meeting during my visit to California, with Governor Jerry Brown. I discussed the issue of the undocumented and the need for immigration reform with the Governor, who is a strong champion of immigration reform and has introduced a number of progressive legislative Bills at State level in California aimed at improving conditions for the undocumented.

Mayor Ed Lee was present when I referred to the issue at a community event in San Francisco.

Departmental Staff Data

Questions (117)

Michael McGrath

Question:

117. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach if he will provide a detailed list in tabular form of all staff vacancies within his Department and in each agency under his Department's remit, at principal officer grade or above, including the title of the vacant post and the functional area to which it belongs; the length of time the post has been vacant; the salary attached to the post in question; in respect of agencies where Civil Service grades do not apply, to include vacancies where the post attracts a salary equivalent to or greater than a Principal Officer grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25228/14]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

My Department operates within an Employment Control Framework (ECF) ceiling on staffing numbers determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Staff departures are managed within this ECF ceiling and business units are organised accordingly.

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission

Questions (118)

Micheál Martin

Question:

118. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach when he and his Department received the Cooke report; the actions he will be taking as result of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25229/14]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The report of Judge John D. Cooke on his Inquiry into Reports of Unlawful Surveillance of the Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) was received in my Department on 4 June 2014. I was in the United States on a jobs-focussed mission in Silicon Valley at that time and received the report following my return on 8 June 2014.

I brought the Report to the attention of the Government at its meeting on 10 June 2014. The Government accepted in full the Report's findings and conclusions and agreed to publish it that evening.

The matters arising from the Cooke Report fall within the area of responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality and will inform how the Minister will proceed with the comprehensive programme of reform in the areas of policing and justice in Ireland, including on foot of the Guerin Report, that has already been announced.

As part of this programme of change, the Minister for Justice and Equality is bringing forward new legislation to reform, strengthen and clarify the remit and operation of GSOC, to ensure it is fit for purpose and to further ensure that the men and women of an Garda Síochána, as well as the wider public, can have the fullest confidence in its workings.

Specifically arising from the Cooke Report, the proposed new Bill to reform the workings of GSOC will clarify the legal basis under which GSOC can initiate a Public Interest Investigation as well as the thresholds for initiating such an investigation.

The proposed Bill will also further clarify and strengthen the provisions relating to the preparation and implementation of protocols relating to co-operation between Gardaí & GSOC.

In addition, the Department of Justice & Equality will carry out an examination of the resources available to GSOC and will ask both GSOC and the Garda Commissioner to provide a response to the Cooke Report. The Report will also be referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence & Equality for further consideration and discussion.

Regional Development

Questions (119)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

119. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Taoiseach further to Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 4 June 2014, in view of his statement on the increase in employment in most regions of the country, if he will outline the increase in employment in the following sectors broken down by NUTS 3 regions: industry, wholesale and retail trade; information and communication; professional and scientific and technical services, broken down also by quarterly figures over the past year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24811/14]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State. The table below shows the number of persons aged 15 years and over in employment classified by Nuts 3 regions and requested NACE Rev.2 Economic Sectors from Quarter 1 2013 to Quarter 1 2014.

It can be noted that the requested data are available from the CSO website and can be accessed through table QNQ40 in the Labour Market and Earnings section of the Statbank Database portal. This link is provided as follows. Data available in the Statbank are generally updated on the day of the relevant release. http://www.cso.ie/px/pxeirestat/Database/eirestat/Quarterly%20National%20Household%20Survey%20Main%20Results/Quarterly%20National%20Household%20Survey%20Main%20Results_statbank.asp?SP=Quarterly National Household Survey Main Results&Planguage=0

Persons aged 15 years and over in employment (ILO) classified by Nuts 3 regions and NACE Rev.2 Economic Sector

'000

Border	Q1 13	Q2 13	Q3 13	Q4 13	Q1 14	Annual Change
Section B-E — Industry	24.5	24.6	23.8	24.8	25.6	1.1
Section G - Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	25.4	27.5	29.7	29.2	28.7	3.3
Section J - Information & Communication	4.7	5.1	[4.7]	5.0	[3.3]	-1.4
Section M- Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	7.3	8.0	9.1	8.9	7.8	0.5
Midland	Q1 13	Q2 13	Q3 13	Q4 13	Q1 14	Annual Change
Section B-E — Industry	15.1	15.5	13.8	15.6	15.6	0.5
Section G - Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	18.6	18.2	17.3	16.3	15.0	-3.6
Section J - Information & Communication	[3.3]	[2.6]	[2.8]	*	*	*
Section M - Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	[3.4]	4.2	5.1	5.1	6.0	2.6
West	Q1 13	Q2 13	Q3 13	Q4 13	Q1 14	Annual Change
Section B-E — Industry	31.1	30.0	30.5	31.5	28.0	-3.1
Section G - Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	27.6	25.1	25.3	25.5	28.2	0.6
Section J - Information & Communication	6.2	6.7	6.6	5.6	5.5	-0.7
Section M- Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	6.7	7.4	9.2	9.8	10.1	3.4
Dublin	Q1 13	Q2 13	Q3 13	Q4 13	Q1 14	Annual Change
Section B-E — Industry	41.3	40.6	45.0	43.2	43.2	1.9
Section G - Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	78.6	76.9	76.4	75.8	74.7	-3.9
Section J - Information & Communication	35.5	38.9	41.3	43.3	45.0	9.5
Section M- Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	44.9	49.2	47.2	48.3	48.9	4.0
Mid-East	Q1 13	Q2 13	Q3 13	Q4 13	Q1 14	Annual Change
Section B-E — Industry	27.0	28.4	27.7	29.8	30.6	3.6
Section G - Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	34.4	34.2	32.3	34.0	31.8	-2.6
Section J - Information & Communication	11.7	10.5	9.8	9.2	9.0	-2.7
Section M- Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	12.1	11.6	12.9	14.2	13.4	1.3
Mid-West	Q1 13	Q2 13	Q3 13	Q4 13	Q1 14	Annual Change
Section B-E — Industry	23.0	24.5	27.1	25.8	24.1	1.1
Section G - Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	19.1	20.6	20.5	19.2	20.2	1.1
Section J - Information & Communication	4.9	5.1	[4.2]	4.9	[4.1]	-0.8
Section M- Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	6.3	6.1	6.1	6.2	6.4	0.1
South -East	Q1 13	Q2 13	Q3 13	Q4 13	Q1 14	Annual Change
Section B-E — Industry	30.5	29.1	29.6	27.9	26.1	-4.4
Section G - Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	27.9	28.8	29.9	29.0	28.7	0.8
Section J - Information & Communication	[3.1]	[3.0]	[3.6]	[3.2]	[2.7]	-0.4
Section M- Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	8.3	7.9	7.9	8.9	9.8	1.5
South -West	Q1 13	Q2 13	Q3 13	Q4 13	Q1 14	Annual Change
Section B-E — Industry	45.5	45.7	44.6	45.0	43.8	-1.7
Section G - Wholesale & Retail trade; Repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	42.6	40.2	41.8	41.5	41.0	-1.6
Section J - Information & Communication	8.0	8.4	9.1	9.0	8.9	0.9
Section M- Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities	14.8	13.6	13.8	13.8	13.3	-1.5

Source: Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS), Central Statistics Office, Ireland.

* Estimates for numbers of persons or averages where there are less than 30 persons in a cell are not produced as estimates are too small to be considered reliable.

Parentheses [ ] indicate where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution

Data may be subject to future revision.

Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

Reference period: q1=Jan-Mar, q2=Apr-Jun, q3=Jul-Sep, q4=Oct-Dec.

Capital Programme Expenditure

Questions (120)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

120. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the total amount of capital spending on construction projects carried out by his Department and by bodies operating under the responsibility of his Department between 2008 and to date in 2014; if he will provide the information on an annual basis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25545/14]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

My Department and bodies under the aegis of my Department had no capital spend on construction projects between 2008 and to date in 2014.

Industrial Relations

Questions (121)

Seán Fleming

Question:

121. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the number of cases before the Labour Court, Equality Tribunal, CPSA and EAT involving civil servants taking cases against his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25646/14]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

There is currently one case being taken by a civil servant against my Department before the Equality Tribunal. Given that this case is on-going it would be inappropriate to make any further statement on the matter.

There are no cases against my Department before the Labour Court, CPSA or EAT.

Departmental Staff Expenses

Questions (122)

Niall Collins

Question:

122. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form the total amount spent per annum from 2011 to 2014, inclusive, on staff subsistence payments and staff taxi payments; if his Department has been audited for tax compliance on these payments and other benefits-in-kind; if these processes have been revised in view of concerns by the Revenue Commissioners over practices in other State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25822/14]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The following table provides details of expenditure by my Department on subsistence payments to staff and on taxi costs from 2011 to date in 2014.

Year	Subsistence	Taxi
2011	€27,487.01	€41,174.93
2012	€38,803.34	€30,273.37
2013	€46,802.27*	€28,609.89
2014 (Jan - June 13th)	€19,325.62	€9,144.96

* Note: this includes impact of EU Presidency 2013

My Department has not been audited for tax compliance. However, in March this year following a review by my Department an unprompted voluntary disclosure was made to the Revenue Commissioners which included a liability for benefit in kind in relation to use of taxis to and from home of €24, 506, including penalties and interest. This reflected a long-standing practice where staff are sometimes required to work outside normal office hours in order to carry out their official duties, in most cases due to Oireachtas sittings. Revenue guidelines require that benefit in kind is due on the costs of taxis from home to headquarters and vice versa. My Department has put in place revised arrangements to ensure compliance with Revenue Guidelines in respect of benefit in kind on taxi journeys to and from home.