Written Answers Nos. 323-336
323. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources 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. [30906/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is outlined below
|
Post |
Salaries post Haddington Road Agreement |
Salaries if capped at 1st point of Principal Officer (standard) scale at appointment and following incremental progression |
Annual Saving |
|
Special Advisers (2) |
€178,682 |
€169,412 |
€9,270 |
324. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide in a tabular form a list of all non-commercial State sponsored bodies under his remit. [30917/14]
View answerThere are eleven Non Commercial Bodies, including Regulators, under the aegis of my Department and details of these are set out in the following table.
Non Commercial State Bodies
|
Inland Fisheries Ireland |
|
Digital Hub Development Agency |
|
Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency) |
|
National Oil Reserves Agency |
|
Irish National Petroleum Corporation |
|
Mining Board |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
|
Regulators |
|
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland |
|
Commission for Energy Regulation |
|
Commission for Communications Regulation |
325. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will consider the establishment of a State regulatory and accreditation body for plumbing services under the review of building regulations being currently undertaken by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29965/14]
View answerThere are no proposals for the establishment of a State regulatory and accreditation body for plumbing services along the lines suggested under consideration by my Department.
The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), which comes under the remit of the nister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, is the lead agency in relation to the formulation of quality, design and safety standards for heating and plumbing installations and it normally advances such work through the establishment of expert industry working groups.
It is also understood that the Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI) established by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) as a register of builders and contractors provides for participation in the register by heating and plumbing contractors.
While the CIRI register is a voluntary register at present, the Government has signalled its commitment to placing the register on a statutory footing in 2015. I intend to bring legislative proposals to Government in that regard by the end of 2014. I have asked CIRI and my Department to liaise with NSAI in relation to the development of the heating and plumbing element of the register.
326. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the reason houses on an estate (details supplied) in County Westmeath, which have manholes for water meters, are currently being lined out outlining perimeters by Irish Water, indicating a dig at every house. [30003/14]
View answerThe Water Services Act 2013 provides for the establishment of Irish Water as an independent subsidiary within the Bord Gáis Éireann Group and assigns the necessary powers to allow Irish Water to undertake the water metering programme. The meter installation programme commenced in August 2013 and will be completed by mid-2016. The timeframe and the allocation of resources for the installation of meters in each region is an operational matter for Irish Water.
Irish Water has informed my Department that it is committed to reusing previously installed meter boxes where possible. The existing meter boxes were surveyed in the housing estate in question prior to installation and were found not to be compatible with the water meters being used by Irish Water. The existing meter boxes are therefore being removed and disposed of in the most sustainable manner possible.
327. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the annual saving to the Exchequer from a 20% reduction for his Department in all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT-related, advisory, advertising and accountancy; and the company name and amount invoiced between 1 June 2013 and 31 May 2014. [30065/14]
View answer328. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form a list of all professional fees for his Department, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT-related, advisory, advertising and accountancy; and the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 June 2013 and 31 May 2014. [30080/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 328 together.
The information sought is contained in the table s below. The amount invoiced during the period 1 June 2013 to 31 May 2014 by individuals and companies to whom the withholding tax was applied and who provided legal, consultancy, IT - related, advisory, advertising and accountancy professional services to my Department was €2,590,797.40, of which €1,035,947.80 related to payments i n respect of the Mahon Tribunal, which are shown separately below. The potential saving to my Department, had a 20% reduction applied to all invoiced professional fees in the period specified, would have been €518,159. 50.
|
Supplier Name |
Amount Invoiced |
Invoiced Amount less 20% |
|
Mahon Tribunal |
|
|
|
Annette Foley |
€268,359.17 |
€214,687.34 |
|
Cathal Murphy |
€35,055.00 |
€28,044.00 |
|
David Kelly |
€1,273.05 |
€1,018.44 |
|
Denis McDonald |
€46,282.44 |
€37,025.95 |
|
Imelda Anne Higgins |
€77,006.61 |
€61,605.29 |
|
James D. O'Reilly S.C. |
€137,437.13 |
€109,949.70 |
|
Mairead Coghlan B.L. |
€91,975.01 |
€73,580.01 |
|
chael Collins S.C. |
€20,910.00 |
€16,728.00 |
|
Peter Fitzpatrick & Co. |
€166,303.95 |
€133,043.16 |
|
Rochford Brady Group T/A CID |
€56.56 |
€45.25 |
|
Susan Gilvarry |
€191,288.88 |
€153,031.10 |
|
Total Amounts for Mahon Tribunal |
€1,035,947.80 |
€828,758.24 |
|
Other Professional Fees |
|
|
|
AECOM Limited |
€12,041.39 |
€9,633.11 |
|
AP Env Econ Ltd. |
€35,178.00 |
€28,142.40 |
|
Dr. Christopher Boylan |
€10,771.08 |
€8,616.86 |
|
Eamonn De Stafort |
€10,378.66 |
€8,302.93 |
|
Economic & Social Research Institute (E.S.R.I.) |
€52,255.57 |
€41,804.46 |
|
Egan, Fitzpatrick, Malsch & Lawrence P.L.L.C. |
€246.21 |
€196.97 |
|
Fehily Timoney & Co. |
€13,774.22 |
€11,019.38 |
|
METHANOGEN LIMITED |
€41,042.06 |
€32,833.65 |
|
Philip Kearney |
€4,265.81 |
€3,412.65 |
|
RPS Consulting Engineers |
€11,220.38 |
€8,976.30 |
|
SLR Environmental Consulting (Ireland) Ltd |
€50,450.69 |
€40,360.55 |
|
Stephen Newell Architects Ltd. |
€2,791.45 |
€2,233.16 |
|
Tobin Consulting Engineers |
€52,013.63 |
€41,610.90 |
|
Dan Murphy |
€9,975.00 |
€7,980.00 |
|
Deloitte & Touche |
€39,298.50 |
€31,438.80 |
|
Ann O'Leary |
€7,756.43 |
€6,205.14 |
|
Arthur Coldrick |
€3,000.00 |
€2,400.00 |
|
Arthur Cox |
€86,001.42 |
€68,801.14 |
|
Atkin's Ireland Ltd. |
€75,929.95 |
€60,743.96 |
|
Breen Purcell T/A McDowell Purcell Solicitors |
€6,476.20 |
€5,180.96 |
|
Building Research Establishment Ltd |
€40,511.51 |
€32,409.21 |
|
Christopher Fitzsimon |
€5,606.79 |
€4,485.43 |
|
Cliona White |
€4,122.18 |
€3,297.74 |
|
Compass Informatics Ltd. |
€6,642.00 |
€5,313.60 |
|
Debbie Nesbitt |
€7,417.93 |
€5,934.34 |
|
Diarmuid O'Grada |
€6,619.20 |
€5,295.36 |
|
Donal Guilfoyle |
€7,805.35 |
€6,244.28 |
|
Dr. Christopher Boylan |
€4,446.13 |
€3,556.90 |
|
Eamonn De Stafort |
€1,673.96 |
€1,339.17 |
|
Economic & Social Research Institute (E.S.R.I.) |
€5,857.26 |
€4,685.81 |
|
Edwin Wymer |
€787.20 |
€629.76 |
|
Eimear Fox |
€3,753.44 |
€3,002.75 |
|
Environmental Systems Research Institute Ireland (ESRI Ireland) |
€92,933.15 |
€74,346.52 |
|
Eric Embleton |
€3,000.00 |
€2,400.00 |
|
Executive Medical Care Ltd. T/A Tropical Medical Bureau |
€1,060.50 |
€848.40 |
|
Flynn Furney Environmental Consultants Ltd. |
€9,200.29 |
€7,360.23 |
|
Frank Curran Consulting Engineers |
€1,537.50 |
€1,230.00 |
|
Frank Donaldson - Donaldson Tourism & Heritage Consultancy |
€11,513.65 |
€9,210.92 |
|
Frank Hanley |
€8,623.75 |
€6,899.00 |
|
Genesis Advertising Ltd. |
€39,972.64 |
€31,978.11 |
|
Inshore Ireland Publishing Ltd. |
€246.00 |
€196.80 |
|
Institute of Public Administration |
€3,597.27 |
€2,877.82 |
|
John Finn |
€9,369.58 |
€7,495.66 |
|
Joseph F. Gavin Optician |
€171.29 |
€137.03 |
|
Kathleen Grennan |
€5,173.27 |
€4,138.62 |
|
Lisney Chartered Surveyors |
€6,150.00 |
€4,920.00 |
|
Lorraine Power |
€7,153.96 |
€5,723.17 |
|
Louise Gargan Consulting |
€4,519.86 |
€3,615.89 |
|
M.J. O'Connell & Co. Consulting Engineers |
€1,407.54 |
€1,126.03 |
|
MacCabe Durney Barnes |
€18,646.00 |
€14,916.80 |
|
Malachy Walsh & Partners |
€18,788.25 |
€15,030.60 |
|
Mary Flynn |
€6,197.44 |
€4,957.95 |
|
Matheson Ormsby Prentice Solicitors |
€23,463.15 |
€18,770.52 |
|
Mazar's Consulting |
€27,060.00 |
€21,648.00 |
|
MediaVest Ltd. |
€26,513.00 |
€21,210.40 |
|
Michael Ryan |
€2,000.00 |
€1,600.00 |
|
Mott MacDonald Ireland Limited |
€110,306.40 |
€88,245.12 |
|
Murphy Consulting (Water & Wastewater) - John Murphy |
€5,571.33 |
€4,457.06 |
|
National Standards Authority of Ireland |
€24,743.91 |
€19,795.13 |
|
Nicholas Condon |
€6,616.14 |
€5,292.91 |
|
Nicholas O'Dwyer Ltd. |
€517.34 |
€413.87 |
|
O'Shea O'Toole & Partners |
€1,000.00 |
€800.00 |
|
Ove Arup & Partners Ireland (ARUP Consulting Engineers) |
€103,088.19 |
€82,470.55 |
|
Owen Boyle |
€11,082.84 |
€8,866.27 |
|
Padraic Fogarty T/A Openfield |
€10,145.49 |
€8,116.39 |
|
Patrick Nolan T/A Irish Origins Research Agency |
€3,109.12 |
€2,487.30 |
|
Paul Lawlor |
€7,787.56 |
€6,230.05 |
|
Print Stations Ltd. T/A The Design Station |
€1,094.70 |
€875.76 |
|
RPS Consulting Engineers |
€130,795.25 |
€104,636.20 |
|
Sean O'Riordain & Associates |
€3,256.55 |
€2,605.24 |
|
Stephen Newell Architects Ltd. |
€2,409.43 |
€1,927.54 |
|
Sweeney Consulting (Scotland) Limited |
€22,500.00 |
€18,000.00 |
|
TRL Limited |
€34,500.00 |
€27,600.00 |
|
Terminal Four Ltd. |
€1,306.68 |
€1,045.34 |
|
Treanbeg Marine Consulting (Shellfish) |
€3,198.00 |
€2,558.40 |
|
Version 1 Software |
€110,146.50 |
€88,117.20 |
|
William Houlihan |
€5,110.17 |
€4,088.14 |
|
Woodrow Sustainable Solutions Ltd. |
€8,156.31 |
€6,525.05 |
|
Total Amounts for other Professional Fees |
€1,554,849.60 |
€1,243,879.66 |
|
Overall Totals |
€2,590,797.40 |
€2,072,637.90 |
329. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of all third level courses, training programmes and courses provided for employees of his Department, and the accompanying cost, for the 2013-14 academic year, from 1 September 2013 to the end of June 2014. [30095/14]
View answerMy Department's expenditure on third level courses, training programmes and courses for the period 1 September 2013 to 30 June 2014 year amounted to €205,496.
39 applications were approved under the Payment and Refund of Fees Scheme at a cost of €116,905. The range of courses and their associated cost is outlined in the tables below:
|
No |
Payment and Refund of Fees Scheme – DECLG including Met Eireann 1 September 2013 to 30 June 2014 |
€ |
|
1 |
Certificate in Public Procurement |
4,500 |
|
1 |
Master of Arts Leadership and Strategy |
5,000 |
|
1 |
Bachelor of Business (Hons) |
2,100 |
|
1 |
Diploma in Law |
2,750 |
|
2 |
Doctorate in Governance |
20,000 |
|
2 |
Certified Mediation Training |
4,150 |
|
1 |
Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring |
555 |
|
1 |
MSc in Economic Policy Studies |
10,000 |
|
1 |
MSc in Applied Social Research |
5,835 |
|
1 |
MA in Public Administration |
5,000 |
|
1 |
Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management |
5,000 |
|
1 |
Law & Administration of Justice (Hons.) |
2,820 |
|
1 |
BA in International Studies |
1,660 |
|
1 |
Applied Environmental Economics |
940 |
|
2 |
German Level B1 + B2 |
2,010 |
|
1 |
Project Management (IT) |
2,500 |
|
1 |
BA in Public Management |
2,820 |
|
1 |
BA in Personal Professional Development |
975 |
|
1 |
Master of Economic Science in Policy Analysis |
5,000 |
|
1 |
P4 + P5 accountancy (ACCA) |
1,750 |
|
1 |
Certificate in Administration Law |
750 |
|
1 |
Diploma in Civil Service and State Agencies |
990 |
|
1 |
Chartered Tax consultancy Course |
2,195 |
|
1 |
ECDL course |
490 |
|
1 |
Postgraduate Diploma in Policy Analysis |
7,900 |
|
1 |
Barrister at Law Degree |
4,975 |
|
1 |
BA Degree (Hons.) in Humanities |
1,650 |
|
2 |
Beginners French Language |
700 |
|
1 |
MSc Geographic Information (IT specialised) |
1,200 |
|
2 |
B Eng in Engineering |
2,440 |
|
1 |
MA in Digital Humanities |
1,700 |
|
3 |
MSc in Meteorology |
6,550 |
|
39 |
Total |
116,905 |
Other training courses arranged in that period and their associated costs are outlined below:
|
Course Detail – DECLG including Met Eireann |
€ |
|
Irish Language classes |
8, 046 |
|
IT Specialist Training |
15, 660 |
|
Internal Audit specialist training |
2, 635 |
|
Staff Development training |
19, 900 |
|
Business Writing (specialised for Auditors) |
5, 194 |
|
Business Writing for Admin staff |
3, 458 |
|
Identified at PMDS & Associated Training Requirements eg CPD |
11, 000 |
|
Health & Safety |
1, 400 |
|
FETAC Level 5 Safety Representation |
399 |
|
Communicating for Performance |
1,440 |
|
Library Training Conference |
120 |
|
24th Irish Environmental Researchers' Colloquium |
190 |
|
Senior Managers' Safety Workshop |
550 |
|
Change Management Training Course |
1,020 |
|
Emergency Response and Fire Safety Awareness Training |
134 |
|
Meteorological Conference |
150 |
|
French Training Course |
580 |
|
Training Course Lab oratory Safety Essentials |
841 |
|
German Course |
350 |
|
Fortran Course |
625 |
|
Project Management Training |
1,950 |
|
Climate Training Course |
2,400 |
|
Foundation Course in Measurement & Calibration |
480 |
|
Microsoft Excel Advanced Training |
428 |
|
Basic Security Awareness Training Module 1 |
300 |
|
Voice Training Session |
200 |
|
Internal QMS Auditor |
395 |
|
Safety Refresher Training |
104 |
|
Writing for the Web |
295 |
|
Courtroom Skills Seminar |
395 |
|
Airside Safety Refresher Training |
29 |
|
Interview Skills Training Course |
295 |
|
Basic Security Awareness |
30 |
|
Advanced Forecasting Course |
5,467 |
|
Applied Climatology |
2,131 |
|
Total |
88,591 |
330. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government 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 provision for his Department. [30110/14]
View answerMy Department's learning and development allocation for 2014 is €358,000, which includes €58,000 in respect of learning and development in Met Eireann. This is in respect of 748 FTE staff at 1 January 2014. The savings that would be associated with a 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction to learning and development allocations are set out in the table below:
|
Reduction |
Amounts |
|
5% |
€17,900 |
|
7% |
€25,060 |
|
10% |
€35,800 |
|
12% |
€42,960 |
|
15% |
€53,700 |
|
17% |
€60,860 |
|
20% |
€71,600 |
331. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government 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 cost of travel and expenses for his Department. [30125/14]
View answerMy Department's travel and subsistence allocation for 2014, including in respect of Met Éireann, is €1,390,000. The saving s that would be associated with a 5%, 7%, 10%, 12%, 15%, 17% and 20% reduction to the travel and subsistence allocation are set out in the table below:
|
Reductions |
Amounts |
|
5% |
€69,500 |
|
7% |
€97,300 |
|
10% |
€139,000 |
|
12% |
€166,800 |
|
15% |
€208,500 |
|
17% |
€236,300 |
|
20% |
€278,000 |
332. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in a tabular form the expected carryover of current expenditure savings from 2014 into the next year. [30159/14]
View answer333. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the expected carryover of capital expenditure savings from 2014 into the next year. [30174/14]
View answer334. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the expected unspent current expenditure from 2014 into the next year. [30206/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 332 to 334, inclusive, together.
Vote 25, as published in Revised Estimates for Public Services 2014 by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, provides funding for the range of housing, community and other programmes for which my Department is responsible. At this stage, my Department is working towards achieving full expenditure of voted resources this year to provide important public services in these key areas. Any issue relating to carryover of funding into 2015, should it arise, will be a matter for consideration in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of year-end financial management arrangements.
335. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the total loans outstanding to the Housing Finance Agency in respect of each local authority; the date by which these loans must be repaid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30254/14]
View answer336. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in respect of a scheme run by the Housing Finance Agency in the 1980s whereby persons were provided with loans for house purchase, the number of loans that are outstanding under the scheme; the number in arrears; the rate of interest that applies to such loans; if he is considering changes to the way the scheme operates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30255/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 335 and 336 together.
Appendix 1 of the Housing Finance Agency 's (HFA) 2013 Annual Report sets out the year end loan balances of each local authority. The Report is displayed on the homepage of the HFA website, www.hfa.ie Lending comprises various loans with repayment dates varying from 1 year to 4 0 years. The HFA only lends to local a uthorities and Approved Housing Bodies and has no arrears. Under the 1980’s house purchase loan scheme, a total of €403 million was advanced by the HFA to local authorities to finance 15,571 mortgages. On 31 December 2013, 301 of these loans were still outstanding with a corresponding total loan balance of €11.45m (i.e. an average loan amount of just over € 38,000). Current interest rates are as listed in Schedule 1 A and 1 B of Circular HFA 236 which can be found on the Housing Finance Agency’s website at http://www.hfa.ie/WebPublication/Circulars/HFA%20236.pdf
Overall, the scheme has successfully funded over 15,000 homes for families who would, otherwise, not have obtained a house loan. No new loans have issued under this scheme since 1986 and there are no plans to alter this position. As individual local authorities administer the scheme, the arrears information requested is not available in my Department nor in the HFA.
