Written Answers Nos. 133-148
133. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual saving to the Exchequer if all Ministers' special advisers' pay was capped in his Department at the first point of the principal officer grade. [30908/14]
View answerIn accordance with the terms of the Guidelines as published by the Department of Finance on Ministerial Appointments dated the 24th, March 2011, I currently have two Special Advisers. One is on the minimum point of the Principal Officer salary scale while the other is on a salary of €84,706, the fourth point of the Principal Officer scale. In the event the first point of the scale was applied €75,647 there would be an annual saving of €9,059. Taking account of the employer's PRSI contribution the saving would be approximately €10,000.
134. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in a tabular form a list of all non-commercial State sponsored bodies under his remit. [30919/14]
View answerThe information the Deputy has requested is included in the following table. Details of all bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education & Skills are available on my Department's website http://www.education.ie/.
List of non-commercial State agencies under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills
|
Agency |
Website |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
http://www.cogg.ie |
|
An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS) |
http://www.solas.ie |
|
Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) |
http://www.childabusecommission.ie/ |
|
Grangegorman Development Agency |
http://www.ggda.ie |
|
Higher Education Authority (HEA) |
http://www.hea.ie |
|
Irish Research Council |
http://www.ircset.ie/ |
|
Léargas - The Exchange Bureau |
http://www.leargas.ie |
|
National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) |
http://www.ncge.ie |
|
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) |
http://www.ncca.ie |
|
National Council for Special Education (NCSE) |
http://www.ncse.ie |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) |
http://www.qqi.ie |
|
Residential Institution Redress Board (RIRB) |
http://www.rirb.ie |
|
Residential Institution Review Committee (RIRC) |
- |
|
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) |
http://www.risfboard.com |
|
Skillnets Ltd |
http://www.skillnets.ie |
|
State Examinations Commission (SEC) |
http://www.examinations.ie |
|
The Teaching Council |
http://www.teachingcouncil.ie |
135. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the breakdown of the €261 million identified by his Department in the Ireland's Stability Programme April 2014 Update, as the amount by which net voted expenditure at the end of March was below the estimated profile; and if he will clarify any moneys that have been returned to the Exchequer from the Department of Social Protection to date this year. [30240/14]
View answerThe Stability Programme Update, published by the Department of Finance in April 2014, showed an amount of €261 million as being the level by which, at the end of March this year, the total net voted expenditure for the year to date was lower than the level of expenditure that had been profiled by Departments; the variance against profile arose €184 million on current expenditure and €77 million on capital expenditure. By that stage in the year, the net expenditure of the Social Protection Vote was €156m less than had been profiled; this largely arose because PRSI receipts to the Social Insurance Fund were higher than expected and, therefore, the Department only needed to draw down a lower than expected amount from Exchequer sources in order to meet its expenditure needs. The Deputy is asking whether voted monies were returned to the Exchequer from the Department of Social Protection; the question of returning monies did not arise as, in the event, the amount involved was not required from the Exchequer by the Department of Social Protection and, therefore, was not drawn down by that Department from the Exchequer.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that information about the performance of actual expenditure versus profiled levels of spending is published each month as part of the monthly Exchequer Statement that is issued two working days after month end. The end-June data was, for example, published on 2 July. The expenditure data is available on my Department's website and includes a full breakdown of the performance against profile showing each Ministerial Vote Group.
136. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the annual saving to the Exchequer from a 20% reduction in all professional fees paid by his Department, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT-related, advisory, advertising and accountancy; and the company name and the amount invoiced in each case between 1 June 2013 and 31 May 2014. [30071/14]
View answer137. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in a tabular form a list of all professional fees paid by his Department, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT-related, advisory, advertising and accountancy; and the company name and amount invoiced in each case between 1 June 2013 and 31 May 2014. [30086/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.
In response to the Deputy's question the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 20% reduction to all professional fees in my Department would amount to €1,324,450.33. The following table outlines the total amount spent by my Department on professional fees between 1 June 2013 and 31 May 2014.
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Professional Fees From 1 June 2013 to 31 May 2014
|
Company Name |
Details |
Amount |
|
Davy Corporate Finance |
Financial and commercial advice regarding the competition for the next National Lottery licence |
€1,136,212.50 |
|
Frank O'Brien |
Payment of fees as nominee of the Minister for Finance to the Trust of the Eircom No. 2 Pension Fund |
€7,200.00 |
|
Ann Clarke |
Advisory Services (Social Impact Bonds) |
€14,106.17 |
|
Social Finance Ltd |
Consultancy (Social Impact Bonds) |
€26,187.31 |
|
Peter Smyth Management Consultancy |
Provision of Expert Assistance in the establishment of the Office of Government Procurement |
€253,134.00 |
|
Europus |
Translation Service |
€477.47 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Consultancy Services Business Process Workshop (including materials) |
€25,512.66 |
|
Snasta |
Translation Services |
€41.92 |
|
Peter Bacon & Associates |
Legal Services |
€69,680.00 |
|
RATE Information Services |
Consultancy Market Reports |
€1,980.00 |
|
Schneider Electric |
Energy Market Advisors |
€311,193.69 |
|
Papernet |
Paper Advisory Service |
€13,645.00 |
|
Iterate Limited |
Website Re-Development |
€18,210.15 |
|
Clardex Systems Ltd t/a Mongey Communications |
IT Technician fees for external event |
€313.65 |
|
Equita Consulting |
IT Advice |
€29,520.00 |
|
Gartner |
CIO Executive program & Technical professionals advisor |
€138,398.00 |
|
Bearing Point |
Software Development |
€429.27 |
|
National Council for the Blind |
Accessibility work on forms |
€1,020.00 |
|
Oxford Consulting |
Software Installation |
€3,161.68 |
|
Storm Technology |
Sharepoint Development |
€47,844.54 |
|
Ergo |
Software Development |
€31,533.51 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Expert external support for the implementation of Public Service Reform initiatives 2012/2013 |
€37,637.35 |
|
Bearing Point |
Business Case Analysis for Debt Management 2013 |
€135,515.00 |
|
Best Practice Group |
Readiness Assessment Consultancy for External Service Delivery 2013 |
€24,300.00 |
|
PWC |
Professional administrative advice for outsourcing document 2013 |
€6,457.50 |
|
PWC |
Expert external support for implementation of Public Service Reform initiatives 2013/2014 |
€110,700.00 |
|
Accenture |
Civil Service Human Resource and Pensions Shared Services: Project Implementation Partner |
€1,413,431.92 |
|
Bearing Point |
Civil Service Human Resource and Pensions Shared Services: IT Infrastructure |
€1,372,498.43 |
|
Harvey Nash |
Civil Service Human Resource and Pensions Shared Services: IT Infrastructure |
€138,741.00 |
|
Brightwater |
Civil Service Human Resource and Pensions Shared Services: IT Infrastructure |
€153,846.78 |
|
Storm Technology |
Civil Service Human Resource and Pensions Shared Services: IT Infrastructure |
€20,366.33 |
|
IPAG (Ireland) Ltd |
Civil Service Human Resource and Pensions Shared Services: IT Infrastructure |
€4,892.50 |
|
Equita Consulting |
Civil Service Human Resource and Pensions Shared Services |
€14,243.66 |
|
Core International |
Civil Service Payroll Shared Services Project: Technology Consultancy Services (including developmental work) |
€220,884.63 |
|
Ernst & Young |
Civil Service Learning & Development Project: Provision of a Baselining Report L&D Functions of Selected Public Service Bodies and the undertaking of a Feasibility Study into their provision on a Shared Services Basis |
€76,383.77 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Civil Service Banking and Financial Management Shared Services Project: Consultancy Services |
€226,552.93 |
|
Astec Global |
Civil Service Financial Management Shared Services Project: Project Management Services |
€104,596.78 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
Civil Service Banking and Financial Management Shared Services Project: Consultancy Services |
€119,078.37 |
|
Resolve Consulting |
Civil Service Financial Management Shared Services Project: Business Process and Application Support Services |
€18,385.50 |
|
Rocela |
Civil Service Financial Management Shared Services Project: Expert Professional Advice on Licensing and Licensing Optimisation |
€31,200.00 |
|
Transparency International Ireland |
Funding of €25,735.25 was provided to Transparency International Ireland in 2013 following a competitive tender process to support a public consultation with civil society and the preparation of a report of their recommendations and proposals for potential inclusion in Ireland's Open Government Partnership National Action Plan. |
€25,735.25 |
|
Insight Centre for Data Analytics, NUI Galway |
Following a competitive tender process, Insight NUI Galway was engaged to provide technical support and advice to the Department in the initial phase of the Open Data project. The outputs include the following: · Best Practice Handbook · Data Audit Report · Roadmap for Open Data · Evaluation Framework · Open Data Publication Handbook · Open data portal (alpha website) |
€19,188.00 |
|
Kieran McGovern |
Independent Mediation for the civil service grievance procedures |
€1,397.58 |
|
Joe McDermott |
Independent Mediation for the civil service grievance procedures |
€875.36 |
|
Inge Clissmann |
Fee paid in respect of role as Chairperson of the Civil Service Disciplinary Board (12 cases). |
€8,510.70 |
|
Third Eye Resolutions |
360 Questionnaire development |
€1,117.48 |
|
Fusio |
Domain Name renewal |
€120.54 |
|
Cathy Buffini |
Executive coaching |
€3,330.00 |
|
People Resources |
Executive coaching |
€10,388.00 |
|
The Performance Partnership |
Executive coaching |
€4,255.00 |
|
Step Performance Group |
Executive coaching |
€6,270.00 |
|
Seven |
Executive coaching |
€10,800.00 |
|
Thrive Consulting Ltd |
Executive coaching |
€8,023.50 |
|
Europus |
Translation Services |
€194.09 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Placement of advertisement/public notice (Observations on Irish Language Scheme) |
€344.28 |
|
June Duffy & Associates |
Executive Coaching |
€8,843.50 |
|
Dr Michaela Greenwood |
360 Questionnaire Development |
€2,500.00 |
|
Bryan Andrews |
Executive Coaching |
€7,650.00 |
|
Lisa K. Dunne |
Sign language interpreting services |
€232.00 |
|
Gerry Myers |
Clinical Supervision |
€160.00 |
|
Seven |
Coaching |
€1,125.00 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Placement of advertisement/public notice (Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance) |
€5,357.68 |
|
Mediavest Ltd |
Placement of advertisement/public notice (Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance) |
€1,357.07 |
|
Richard Humphreys* |
Legal Advice & Statute Law Reform Director |
€96,253.65 |
|
Ciara Kennedy* |
Statute Law Reform Programme Manager |
€38,709.00 |
|
Total |
|
€6,622,251.65 |
*Payments are inclusive of VAT where applicable.
I understand the Office of Public Works will be contacting you directly with their response.
138. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of all third level courses and training programmes and courses provided for employees of his Department, and the accompanying cost, for the 2013-2014 academic year, from 1 September 2013 to the end of June 2014. [30101/14]
View answerThe following table outlines the range of academic programmes and courses pursued by staff in my Department for the academic year 1 September 2013 to 30 June 2014.
Academic year 2013/2014
|
Academic Programmes and Courses |
Qualification Level |
No. of Participants |
|
Financial Business & Economics |
Masters Postgraduate Degree |
4 |
|
Postgraduate Diploma |
1 |
|
|
Undergraduate Degree |
3 |
|
|
Undergraduate Diploma |
1 |
|
|
Policy, Law & Legislation |
Masters Postgraduate Degree |
1 |
|
Masters Postgraduate Degree |
2 |
|
|
Undergraduate Diploma |
2 |
|
|
Information Systems |
Undergraduate Degree |
1 |
|
Data Analytics & Statistics |
Postgraduate Certificate |
1 |
|
Undergraduate Diploma |
2 |
|
|
Information Systems |
Masters Postgraduate Degree |
1 |
|
Undergraduate Certificate |
1 |
|
|
Counselling & Psychotherapy |
Masters Postgraduate Degree |
1 |
|
Undergraduate Degree |
1 |
|
|
Undergraduate Diploma |
3 |
|
|
Human Resources |
Masters Postgraduate Degree |
3 |
|
Undergraduate Degree |
5 |
|
|
Undergraduate Diploma |
3 |
|
|
Undergraduate Certificate |
6 |
|
|
Total |
- |
42 |
The total cost in respect of the academic programmes and courses pursued is €162,055.00.
139. 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 from a reduction of 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20%, respectively, in the staff training and development allocation for his Department. [30116/14]
View answerThe training and development budget in 2014 for my Department is €220,000. The following table outlines the annual saving to the Exchequer of a 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction to the training and development budget.
|
% Reduction |
Annual saving (€) |
|
5% |
11,000 |
|
7% |
15,400 |
|
10% |
22,000 |
|
12% |
26,400 |
|
15% |
33,000 |
|
17% |
37,400 |
|
20% |
44,000 |
140. 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 from a reduction of 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20%, respectively, in travel and associated expenses for his Department. [30131/14]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question the total annual cost of travel and expenses incurred by my Department, the Shared Services Centre and the Office of Government Procurement in 2013 amounted to €278,000, €125,000 and €300,000 respectively giving a total of €703,000. Similarly €3,454,356 was incurred for the same period in 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
|
Percentage Saving |
Amount |
|
1% |
€7,030 |
|
5% |
€35,150 |
|
7% |
€49,210 |
|
10% |
€70,300 |
|
12% |
€84,360 |
|
15% |
€105,450 |
|
17% |
€119,510 |
|
20% |
€140,600 |
Office of Public Works - Potential Annual Savings in Travel and Expenses
|
Percentage Saving |
Amount |
|
1% |
€34,544 |
|
5% |
€172,718 |
|
7% |
€241,805 |
|
10% |
€345,436 |
|
12% |
€414,523 |
|
15% |
€518,153 |
|
17% |
€587,241 |
|
20% |
€690,871 |
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. Any such savings could only be achieved if a cross-Departmental reduction in subsistence rates was agreed or if the travel was not essential to the delivery of the strategic goals of the Department.
141. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a breakdown of the fees and expenses paid to each member of each State board, to include the chair and board members; the number of members on each State board under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30134/14]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the fees and expenses paid to individual Board members, including the Chair, of each of the two State Boards under my remit:
|
State Board |
No. of Board Members |
Membership Type |
Fees Paid |
Expenses Paid |
|
Public Appointments Service * |
9 |
Chairman |
€11,970 p.a. |
- |
|
- |
- |
3 Board Members paid |
€7,695 each p.a. |
€200 approx. p.a. paid to 1 Board Member for travel expenses from Belfast |
|
An Post National Lottery * |
7 ( 1 currently vacant) |
Chairman |
- |
€8,847 |
|
- |
- |
3 Board Members paid |
€12,600 each p.a. |
€3,926 p.a. paid to 1 Board Member |
* For comparison purposes the above figures relate to the full year 2013.
142. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the annual salary of the CEOs of all non-commercial State sponsored bodies under the aegis of his Department. [30135/14]
View answer155. 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 the chief executive officers of all non-commercial State sponsored bodies under his remit. [30148/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 155 together.
In response to the Deputy's question the following table gives the annual CEO salary of each non-commercial State sponsored body under my remit.
|
Name of Body |
Title |
Annual Salary |
|
Institute of Public Administration |
Director General |
€175,407 |
|
Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) |
Chief Executive Officer |
€105,787.50 |
143. 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 special advisers' pay was capped in his Department at the first point of the principal officer grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30136/14]
View answer158. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual saving to the Exchequer if the pay of all ministerial special advisers was capped in his Department at the first point of the principal officer grade. [30151/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 158 together.
My Department was established in July 2011 and, as requested, the following table reflects notional savings, since that time, had the Special Advisors in my Department been capped at the first point of the Principal Officer grade.
|
JULY-DEC 2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
JAN-JUNE 2014 |
|
18,474 |
39,506 |
41,172 |
23,246 |
144. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the expected carryover of current expenditure savings from 2014 into the next year for his Department. [30137/14]
View answer160. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in a tabular form the expected carryover of current expenditure savings from 2014 into the next year. [30165/14]
View answer163. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the expected unspent current expenditure from 2014 into the next year. [30212/14]
View answer164. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the expected carryover public sector pay savings from 2014 into the next year. [30256/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 144, 160, 163 and 164 together.
Since the introduction of multi-annual capital envelopes in 2004, Departments have been able to avail of capital carryover which allows them to carry over any unspent capital into the next financial year. The amount is subject to Dáil approval and is limited to a maximum of 10 per cent of the Department's voted capital allocation and if the carryover amount is not spent in the year of carryover, funds must be surrendered to the Central Fund.
In relation to current expenditure, the Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2012-2014 introduced a new model of multi-annual budgeting for current expenditure, called a Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF). The MTEF was initiated on an administrative basis and now, following enactment of the Ministers and Secretaries Amendment Act 2013, the arrangements for fixed spending ceilings for each Ministerial Vote Group for a rolling three year period have a statutory basis. The details in relation to the operation of the Ministerial Expenditure Ceilings are set out in an administrative circular issued by my Department. One of the features of the MTEF detailed in the circular is a facility for carrying over current expenditure savings from one year to increase the current expenditure ceilings for the next year.
It is too early to estimate the amount (if any) of savings that Departments, including my own, might have this year relative to their 2014 Estimates allocations. The question of what level of current expenditure savings might be permitted to be carried over from 2014 into 2015 will fall to be considered later in the year having regard to the rules on carryover, the overall 2015 Government Expenditure Ceiling and the fiscal targets.
145. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the expected carryover of capital expenditure savings from 2014 into the next year for his Department. [30138/14]
View answer161. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the expected carryover of capital expenditure savings from 2014 into the next year. [30180/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 161 together.
Estimates for carryover of unspent capital are usually collated by my Department in the final quarter of the year and are published in the Revised Estimates for Public Services and included in the Appropriation Bill in the December of that year.
At this juncture it is too early to speculate what the level of capital underspend (if any) will be at this year end. At present, capital spending is approximately 10% behind the published profile, a not unusual level of variance for this period in the year. My Department has been advised that most Departments expect spend to come in generally on profile by year end.
146. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a year-on-year detailed breakdown of the sectoral measures and accompanying savings for the duration of the Haddington Road agreement applicable to his Department and-or non-commercial State sponsored bodies under the aegis of his Department. [30139/14]
View answerAs I have stated previously in the House, the Haddington Road Agreement will facilitate a reduction of €1 billion in the Public Service pay and pensions bill by 2016. In relation to my own Department, the savings arising under the Agreement were incorporated in the Department's Revised Estimate for 2013 and 2014 and further savings will be reflected in the Vote allocations in the context of the overall Estimates process for 2015.
The measures applying to my Department and agencies under the aegis of my Department are set out in the relevant sectoral collective agreement under the Haddington Road Agreement, in this case the collective agreement for the Civil Service and NCSSB's. In terms of my own Department, the relevant measures under this collective agreement include additional working hours, reform of the flexible working hours scheme, freezing of increments for specified periods dependent on salary level and pay reductions for those earning over €65,000.
147. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in a tabular form the annual net and gross saving to the Exchequer, following the implementation of the Haddington Road agreement, if TDs salaries were capped at €75,000 per annum. [30140/14]
View answer148. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in a tabular form the annual net and gross saving to the Exchequer, following the implementation of the Haddington Road agreement, if Senators salaries were capped at €60,000 per annum. [30141/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 399 and 400 on 16 July 2013 (refs. 34463/13 and 34464/13). The position and figures remain as outlined in that reply.
