Written Answers Nos. 89 - 99
89. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will allocate additional funding to ensure the repair of an embankment at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34981/14]
View answerThe Office of Public Works commenced repair works on embankments at the location referred to by the Deputy at Callinafercy West, Milltown, Co. Kerry earlier this year, following the tidal storm surge of 3 January. These flood defences are within the Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme, which is under the care of the OPW.
The OPW intends to carry out further repair works before the end of the year but it is hoped that a more permanent solution to the breaches of the embankments at Callinafercy can be delivered next year. The OPW has spent €875,000 approximately to date on repairs to OPW infrastructure on the Rivers Maine and Feale following the storm damage earlier in the year and will continue to allocate funding on a priority basis.
90. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that the Department of Health will be allocated an adequate budget for 2015, following the now clearly inadequate budget for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34983/14]
View answerThe Government continues to prioritise resources for the health sector. I am currently in discussions with Ministerial colleagues regarding Budget 2015 and the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure as part of the 2015 Budget and Estimates process. Government policy on Budget 2015 will be announced on Budget Day the 14th of October 2014.
91. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the newly vouched leader's allowance continues to be paid to Independent Deputies and Senators; if so, the amount that has been claimed to date by each Member under both vouched and unvouched conditions since the general election in 2011; if receipts must now be provided for all claims or if receipts are only sought from Members selected for audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34985/14]
View answerThe Parliamentary Activities Allowance (formerly known as the Party Leader's Allowance) is provided for in the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act, 1938, as amended, most recently by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices)(Amendment) Act, 2014.
The allowance is paid to the parliamentary leader of a qualifying party in relation to expenses arising from the parliamentary activities, including research, of the party. Payments are made in respect of members of the party elected to Dáil Éireann and members elected/nominated to Seanad Éireann at the last preceding general election or a subsequent bye-election or, in the case of Seanad Éireann, nominated to it after the last preceding general election. The legislation also provides that payments may be made to a member of Dáil or Seanad Éireann who is elected other than as a member of a qualifying party.
The conditions governing entitlement to payment of the allowance are set out in the Act. The primary restriction in the Act on the use of the allowance is that it may not be used in respect of election expenses. The allowance is non-taxable and is paid monthly in arrears into a bank account specified by the beneficiary of the allowance. It is not claimed in the same manner as expense allowances.
The legislation provides that each party leader must prepare a statement of expenditure for the allowance, to have it audited by an independent auditor and furnish it with the auditor's report to the Standards in Public Office (the Commission) Commission. Based on the accounts submitted, the Commission is required to make a report in relation to the use of the Parliamentary Activities Allowance and cause a copy of the report to be laid before the Oireachtas.
Following a review of the allowance and a consultation process with leaders of qualifying political parties, qualifying independent members and with the Standards in Public Office Commission, I provided for certain amendments to the allowance under this year's Act.
The Act provided for a reduction of 10% in the rates of the allowance with effect from 1 July of this year, representing an estimated full year Exchequer saving of €0.84 million. Furthermore, with effect from 1 July, the same audit and reporting provisions that apply to parliamentary leaders now also apply to independent members in receipt of the allowance. For the first time, all independent members have to record and account to the Commission for expenditure from the allowance, all of which is to be expended in respect of parliamentary activities, including research.
The total amounts paid to each qualifying independent member from 9 March 2011 to date are set out in the tables.
|
Independent TDs |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 (end Aug) |
Total |
|
Catherine Murphy |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
Finian McGrath |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
John Halligan |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
Luke "Ming" Flanagan |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€16,535.95 |
€133,623.07 |
|
Mattie McGrath |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
Maureen O Sullivan |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
Michael Healy-Rae |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
Michael Lowry |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
Michael Wallace |
€0.00 |
€75,935.16 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
Noel Grealish |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
Shane Ross |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
Seamus Healy |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
Stephen Donnelly |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
Thomas Pringle |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
Tom Fleming |
€34,293.30 |
€41,641.86 |
€41,151.96 |
€26,748.82 |
€143,835.94 |
|
Total |
€486,474.90 |
€652,552.50 |
€617,279.40 |
€391,019.43 |
€2,147,326.23 |
|
Independent Senators |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 (end Aug) |
Total |
|
David Norris |
€15,913.41 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€15,198.98 |
€77,878.31 |
|
Fergal Quinn |
€15,913.40 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€15,198.98 |
€77,878.30 |
|
Rónán Mullen |
€15,913.40 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€15,198.98 |
€77,878.30 |
|
John Crown |
€15,913.40 |
€18,388.64 |
€23,382.96 |
€15,198.98 |
€72,883.98 |
|
Sean D. Barrett |
€15,913.40 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€15,198.98 |
€77,878.30 |
|
Dr. Martin McAleese |
€3,247.63 |
€23,382.96 |
€3,897.16 |
€0.00 |
€30,527.75 |
|
Fiach Mac Conghaill |
€14,394.35 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€15,198.98 |
€76,359.25 |
|
Eamonn Coghlan |
€14,394.35 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€15,198.98 |
€76,359.25 |
|
Dr. Katherine Zappone |
€14,394.35 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€15,198.98 |
€76,359.25 |
|
Mary Ann O'Brien |
€14,394.35 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€15,198.98 |
€76,359.25 |
|
Marie-Louise O'Donnell |
€14,394.35 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€15,198.98 |
€76,359.25 |
|
Jillian van Turnhout |
€14,394.35 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€15,198.98 |
€76,359.25 |
|
Total |
€169,180.75 |
€275,601.20 |
€261,109.72 |
€167,188.78 |
€873,080.45 |
92. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to address flooding problems at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34986/14]
View answerThe Office of Public Works received an application from Kerry County Council for funding under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for flood alleviation works at this location. This application is currently being assessed having regard to the eligibility criteria for the Scheme which requires the proposed works to be cost beneficial and to the availability of funding. The OPW will notify Kerry County Council shortly regarding its decision on the application.
93. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to address flooding problems at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34987/14]
View answerA Feasibility Study to examine the options to address the flooding problem in Sneem is being undertaken by the Office of Public Works in partnership with Kerry County Council.
A potential option to address the problem has been identified by the OPW. A channel survey has been carried out and gauges have been installed to begin the process of collecting the flow data that will be required to enable the viability of this option to be fully assessed. It is hoped that the Study will be completed next Summer.
94. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total cost to his Department and those under his aegis for the storage of records and archives that are intended to be forwarded to the National Archives in time; if he will provide this cost for 2013 and 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35029/14]
View answerThe provision of the storage of records and archives is a shared service provided by the Department of Finance for both the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Files are presently stored in two separate locations. The first is in our main premises in Government Buildings. There is no cost for the storage in this area.
The second is an off-site facility in Finglas that is currently on lease and is paid by the Office of Public Works which cost €81,323 in 2012 and €81,882 in 2013.
The Valuation Office has accommodation for archive storage and reading facilities in its Office at the Irish Life Centre, Abbey St. Lower, Dublin, 2. This complies with standards and conditions prescribed by the National Archives at no additional cost. It also has offsite storage facilities to store records which cost €8,800 in 2012 and in 2013.
There are no additional costs borne by other organisations under my remit. Archiving is carried out in house at no extra cost.
I understand that the Office of Public Works will be forwarding its response to you separately.
95. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it is the practice of his Department to employ an archivist to examine records and archives once records are deemed appropriate for archiving to determine the quality of the records, the importance, the estimated care and attention needed to preserve the records and so on; if not, if he will consider this option in order to best capture the most valuable records before they potentially deteriorate in storage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35031/14]
View answerFile Management and Archiving is a shared service provided by the Department of Finance for both the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of file management and paper records. In return, my Department provides ICT services to the Department of Finance which includes electronic records. There is work ongoing within the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer in my Department in collaboration with the Department of Finance to introduce a digital preservation mechanism for departmental records. This is expected to aid in the long term preservation of departmental records.
Up until recently, the Department of Finance had a member of staff who performed the duties of an archivist on a part time basis. However, the archivist retired this year and we are now reviewing our requirements in the context of electronic records and multimedia and the ongoing records management project and also to determine how best to resource this specialist role.
Guidelines have recently been updated in relation to record keeping and file storage which were issued to all staff in recent months. Training on record keeping has also been introduced in my Department as part of induction training.
The Valuation Office is currently employing a Student Archivist on an Intern basis. The Student Archivist is located in the National Archives and is involved in the preservation of Valuation Office material prior to it being transferred permanently to the National Archives. This arrangement has been in place for one year and will continue until July 2015.
It is not the practice of the Commissioners of Public Works to employ an archivist to examine records being transferred to the National Archives but it does consult with the National Archives in relation to the archiving of records from time to time.
96. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a skills audit has been carried out in the public and Civil Service considering the public concern that the public service is not using the skills and talents of its workforce and is instead continuously wasting taxpayers' money on consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35047/14]
View answerWorkforce Planning was launched within the Civil Service in November 2011 and is included in the Government's Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016. The key principle of workforce planning is having the right number of people with the right skills in the right jobs at the right time.
Workforce planning requires organisations to focus on the range of skills they need to deliver on their objectives and to identify emerging skills gaps, whether arising from staff turnover or from changes in the external environment which may require new skillsets. Organisations also need to identify key skill requirements at management level including leadership, change management, and business process improvement. The outputs of this process are used to identify learning and development needs and to plan for required recruitment competitions. Maximising the performance and potential of all staff in the Civil Service is a key issue being addressed as part of the Civil Service renewal process.
The use of consultants by public bodies is subject to strict value for money requirements. All public bodies are responsible for the appointment and the performance of consultants in line with relevant value for money requirements.
97. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to set up a consultancy division in the civil and public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35048/14]
View answerThere are no plans to set up a consultancy division in my department. However, over recent years, the Business Consulting Unit in my department has been providing advice to public service organisations in the areas of business process improvement, service delivery and organisational development. Expert advice is also provided within the public service by the Office of Government Procurement, to assist public bodies in getting the best value in procurement.
98. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding grants to assist in buying a company in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34922/14]
View answerThe Development Agencies of my Department do not provide financial support to individuals for the buying out of a company.
With regard to access to finance, the Government introduced 2 new schemes in 2012 to assist businesses who have been declined bank credit. Both the Credit Guarantee Scheme and the Microenterprise Loan Fund represent a significant change in our enterprise supports with both supports available to locally traded sectors, in view of their crucial role in job creation. The SME Credit Guarantee Scheme offers a Government guarantee for bank loans up to €1 million (through AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank) and the Microenterprise Loan Fund offers loans to microenterprises for up to €25,000 (through Microfinance Ireland).
In terms of the day to day development of the business, the Agencies offer a range of supports for qualifying firms in manufacturing or internationally traded services.
Any business can use the LEOs as a gateway to accessing finance from Micro Finance Ireland (MFI), which offers support in the form of loans of up to €25,000 to start-up, newly established or growing microenterprises employing less than 10 people with viable business propositions that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by the banks. The Fund available to MFI has a significant entrepreneurship focus and is open to anyone with a viable business proposal. Applications for the Microfinance Fund should be channelled through the local LEO.
For an enterprise located in the North Dublin area, the LEO Dublin City would be the relevant Office, contact details for which are as follows: Local Enterprise Office Dublin City, Block 4, Floor 1, Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8, tel: 01-222 5611/2, email: info@leo.dublincity.ie, website: www.localenterprise.ie/dublincity.
The businessman concerned can also access the new online search tool for SME business supports that was launched last May. The Supporting SMEs Online Tool is a cross-governmental initiative to help Irish start-ups and small businesses navigate the range of Government business supports for which they could be eligible. By answering the 8 questions in the Tool, a small business will, in one location be able to:
- Find out which of the over 80 Government business supports from 27 different Government Departments, Agencies and Initiatives are available to them.
- obtain information on the range of Government supports for accessing credit.
- identify their nearest Local Enterprise Office where they can discuss the outcomes of the guide further.
- download all these filtered results into a document for their further use.
The Supporting SMEs Online Tool is available at: www.localenterprise.ie/smeonlinetool.
99. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on job losses in the pub sector, if he will implement measures to help this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34964/14]
View answerRecent CSO QNHS figures show that there was an annual increase in employment of 1.7% or 31,600 in the year to Q2 2014, with over 1.9 million people currently in employment, compared to 1.847 million at the start of the Action Plan for Jobs process. Employment increased in ten of the fourteen economic sectors over the previous year, with the largest rates of increase were recorded in the Administrative and support service activities (+10.7% or 6,200) and the Accommodation and food service activities (+6.2% or 8,000).
The Government is focussed on ensuring that jobs are created and sustained across the whole economy. The Action Plan for Jobs process has, since its inception in 2012, seen many actions being implemented which are aimed at supporting businesses to create and sustain jobs. Many of those actions benefit the pub and related sectors. For example, catering provided in pubs benefits from the reduced VAT rate of 9%, which was introduced in the Jobs Initiative in 2011 and retained in Budget 2014. The JobsPlus initiative was launched in the middle of 2013 for all enterprises, which provides a subsidy to employers who recruit a person who has been on the Live Register for 12 months or more. The Gathering 2013 was extremely successful with CSO figures for the year showing that the target of attracting 325,000 additional overseas visitors in 2013 was exceeded, as there were 6.986 million overseas visits to Ireland in 2013, an increase of 468,000 (7.2%) on the 2012 total. Tourism figures have continued to show strong growth in the first half of 2014, with tourist numbers, numbers of bednights per visit and overall spend all showing double-digit percentage growth compared to the first half of 2013.
However, we must continue, through the Action Plan for Jobs process, to maximise the job creation potential of all regions and all sectors. The Government has put a specific emphasis on the domestic economy and on improving cost competitiveness in the 2014 Action Plan for Jobs and in our Statement of Priorities to 2016.
