Written Answers Nos. 234-254
234. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the changes in stamp duty in respect of agriculture in the Finance Bill 2014 and arising from the recent budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48396/14]
View answerThe Finance Bill 2014 contains a number of farm taxation measures that arose from the recommendations in the Agri-taxation Review Report. In relation to stamp duty, two specific measures are included:
The extension of stamp duty relief for non-residential land transfers between certain close relatives generally referred to as consanguinity relief. The relief will continue, in relation to the conveyance of land executed on or after 1 January 2015 and before 1 January 2018. Farmers of any age who may wish to transfer their land to a close relative have an opportunity to do so before 1 January 2016. Thereafter, the relief will only be available where the farmer transferring the land is aged 66 years or under. The relative who acquires the land or a person to whom the relative may lease the land for a period of not less than 6 years, must be either a farmer with an agricultural qualification or a farmer who spends not less than 50% of his or her normal working time farming the land on a commercial basis and with a view to the realisation of profits.
Relief from stamp duty on agricultural leases. This relief applies to leases for a period of not less than 6 years and not more than 35 years. The land must be used exclusively for farming carried on by the lessee. The lessee who acquires the lease of the land must be either a farmer with an agricultural qualification or a farmer who spends not less than 50% of his or her normal working time farming on a commercial basis and with a view to the realisation of profits. This relief is subject to a Commencement Order pending clarification of EU State Aid issues.
The Revenue Commissioners will issue a detailed Guide to the various farm taxation measures once the Finance Act 2014 is enacted.
235. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance if all tax concessions and entitlements have been paid in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; if their tax allowances are correct; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48436/14]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, in order to determine if additional tax credits, reliefs and entitlements are due, it will be necessary to review the joint tax liabilities of the persons concerned for the years 2013 and 2014.
Revenue has written to the person concerned (the assessable spouse) and Form P60 2014 together with other supporting documentation has been requested. On receipt of this information, after year end PAYE Balancing Statements for the years 2013 and 2014 will issue.
236. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding a commercial practice (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48447/14]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that a wholesaler or cash and carry must hold the appropriate licence in order to deal in the sale of alcohol.
Provided the wholesaler or cash and carry has the appropriate licence to sell alcohol and provided the alcohol is sold duty paid, the wholesaler or cash and carry may deliver alcoholic products outside of its own licensed premises to the customer who has purchased the products.
237. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance his plans for capital acquisitions tax following budget 2015. [48451/14]
View answerCapital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) and various elements thereof, e.g. thresholds, will, like all other taxes be kept under review, particularly in the context of preparations for Budget 2016 and the consequent Finance Bill.
238. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if bank executives' contracts and bonus performance agreements are regulated and approved by the Financial Regulator here in order to deter banks putting market share and loan volume performance as a priority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48463/14]
View answerThe Capital Requirements Directive IV (CRD IV), came into effect in March of this year. The remuneration provisions contained in CRD IV seek to ensure that credit institutions and investment firms across the EU have sound remuneration policies, which reflect effective risk management and performance, without encouraging unjustified risk taking. The European Union (Capital Requirements) Regulation (S.I 158 of 2014) transposes these provisions into Irish law and amongst other provisions, limits the variable remuneration of officials while further allowing for the clawback of remuneration in certain circumstances. The Regulation also sets out that a portion of the variable remuneration shall be deferred for 3-5 years and that a portion shall also be taken in non-cash financial instruments.
The remuneration framework has been further strengthened with regard to the relationship between the variable component of remuneration and the fixed component. The variable component of the total remuneration shall not normally exceed 100% of the fixed component of the total remuneration of material risk takers. Exceptionally, and under certain conditions, shareholder can increase this maximum ratio to 200%.
The Central Bank of Ireland has an important role in overseeing and monitoring remuneration levels in institutions as it is obliged to collect extensive information on persons remunerated more than €1 million per year.
The objective of these provisions is to ensure that the remuneration of bank officials is linked to the continued health and long term profitability of an institution. While the Regulations do not specifically refer to market share or loan value performance as risk indicators, the provisions have been drafted in such a manner so as to encompass these and more were they to affect the long-term viability of an institution. In those circumstances the remuneration of the bank officials concerned could be reduced or subject to a clawback, by the institution.
239. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for a review of commercial rates for County Kerry businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47776/14]
View answerSection 9(10) of the Valuation Act 2001 provides that the Commissioner of Valuation is independent in the performance of his functions. Decisions with regard to the selection of rating authority areas for revaluation is his sole prerogative. Section 19(1) of the said Act empowers the Commissioner to make a Valuation Order specifying a rating authority area over which a revaluation is to be conducted, after consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the rating authority concerned. I, therefore, have no role in selection of the order of counties for revaluation.
The Valuation Office is currently undertaking a systematic programme of revaluing, for rates purposes, all industrial and commercial properties in the State. The immediate objective of the national revaluation programme is to ensure that the first revaluation of all rating authority areas is conducted as soon as possible. Revaluation is conducted across all relevant properties in one or more rating authority areas at the same time. However, implementation of the national programme cannot occur across the entire country simultaneously and the programme must, accordingly, be operated on a phased basis. Following the first revaluation, subsequent revaluations of each rating authority area will then be carried out on a cyclical basis no sooner than five years and no later than ten years after the first revaluation (Section 25 of the Valuation Act 2001).
The purpose of revaluation is to bring more equity, fairness and transparency into the local authority rating system and to distribute the commercial rates liability more equitably between ratepayers. Following revaluation there generally will be a much closer and uniform relationship between rental values of property and their commercial rates liability. In essence, the exercise aims to ensure that each ratepayer bears a fair share of the rates burden relative to the value of the property that they occupy. I should emphasise that while the list of rateable valuations produced and maintained by the Valuation Office is the basis on which rates are levied, the amount of rates to be collected is ultimately a matter for each local authority to decide.
240. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the delay in enacting legislation on including social clauses in major State-local authority construction contracts. [47888/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, on 17 October 2014, the Government supported in principle the Second Stage of the Private Member's Social Clauses in Public Procurement Bill 2013, which was put forward by Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, and sees significant merit in developing a social clause framework where such clauses are applied in a targeted manner. The Government did not oppose the Bill.
Whilst Government sees the merit in using social clauses in particular circumstances, it is important that contracting authorities are not compelled to use them on every contract particularly where their deployment may disproportionately impact on SMEs bidding for public contracts. It is for this reason that an interdepartmental group has been set up by the Office of Government Procurement which is considering the sectors where such clauses might be implemented. The deliberations of this group will therefore be important in forming the Government's response to Deputy McDonald's Bill.
Much work needs to be done before the Private Member's Bill can become a viable piece of legislation that provides the necessary flexibility to procure the wide variety of works, goods and services necessary to deliver vital public services. I believe that further debate and discussion is required as to the correct policy approach regarding enabling social clauses.
241. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a breakdown of those publicly funded capital projects which have availed of the per cent for art scheme in County Waterford since 1997; and the amount of money involved in commissioning each work of art. [47969/14]
View answerThe following are the OPW managed projects that have availed of the Per Cent for Art Scheme in County Waterford since 1997:
1997
PRAI, (Property Registration Authority) Cork Road, Waterford
Commission amount: €7,617
Artist: Killian Schurmann
2003
Waterford Government Offices, The Glen, Waterford
Commission amount: €60,000
Artist: Joy Gerrard
2003/2004
Tramore Coastguard Station, Waterford
Commission amount: €12,000
Artist: John O'Connor
Commission amount: €10,000
Artist: Lorraine Neeson
242. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on his attendance at the North-South Ministerial Council meeting on 5 December 2014. [47799/14]
View answerI attended the Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh on Friday, 5 December 2014. The Taoiseach led the Irish Government delegation, while the First Minister and deputy First Minister led the delegation from the Northern Ireland Executive. The First Minister and deputy First Minister chaired the meeting.
Among the matters discussed were the joint bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023, financial and economic matters, EU funding opportunities, child protection and e-safety, and a range of sectoral priorities.
During the discussion of EU funding opportunities I briefed the Council on progress in relation to the new PEACE and INTERREG Programmes. I am particularly pleased that the Irish Government was able to secure agreement for a new PEACE Programme during the negotiations on the 2014-2020 Multi-annual Financial Framework, which took place under the Irish Presidency of the Council of Ministers last year and during which Ireland secured an 8% increase in its overall Structural Funds allocation. I was able to report to the Council that the two draft programmes have been submitted to the European Commission and that discussions with the Commission are underway. The two programmes will have a combined value of more than half a billion euro over the period 2014-2020. It is my hope that the programmes can be adopted as soon as possible.
243. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it is anticipated that the streamlining of pay grades announced in the new Civil Service reform plan will lead to a lower overall pay and pensions bill. [47844/14]
View answerThe Civil Service Renewal Plan focuses on practical change in creating a unified, professional, responsive, open and accountable Civil Service.
The Plan is based on a number of practical and specific actions aimed at enhancing the capacity of the Civil Service to deliver services in an effective and efficient manner. Action 16 of the Plan provides for the redesign of organisational and grade structures in order to simplify them so that all roles and responsibilities are clear. It is also aimed at improving decision making by making sure that grade level never limits opportunities to make decisions, innovate or meet objectives.
Implementation of this provision will take place during the term of the Plan and will be subject to discussions with Staff representatives.
In light of the importance of the control of the public service pay bill to maintaining the sustainability of Ireland's fiscal position, it will be a priority to ensure that all measures adopted under the Renewal Plan, are fully consistent with the prudent management of the public finances.
244. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department held meetings separate to the management advisory council meetings which were attended by either him or the Minister of State and the management advisory council; if so, if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of such meetings that occurred in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47868/14]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that my Department's Management Advisory Council meetings take place once a week and the minutes of those meetings including any attended by me or the Minister of State are available on my Department's website www.per.gov.ie.
245. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of management advisory council meetings which were held for each of the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of management advisory council meetings that were attended by him, the Minister of State, the political adviser, the Secretary General and all other titles of attendees in the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47884/14]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question all details regarding meetings of the Management Advisory Council in my Department since 2011 are currently available on our website at: www.per.gov.ie. The Agenda and minutes taken at each meeting are also available. Those that have attended include:
-Mr Robert Watt (Secretary General)
-All officers at Assistant Secretary level
-Mr Ronan O'Brien (Special Adviser)
-Ms Shirley Comerford (Head of Strategic HR)
-Mr Dermot Nolan (Chief Operating Officer)
-Ms Patricia Coleman (Director)
-Mr Tom Clarke (Chairperson of the Principal Officer Forum)
-Ms Áine Griffin (Press Officer)
-Minister Brendan Howlin TD
Any additional attendees are general staff of the Department.
246. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a breakdown of the number of public sector workers under the aegis of his Department who have been approved for inter or intradepartmental or agency work transfers, both to and from County Waterford, in each of the past five years. [47974/14]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that, since the formation of my Department in 2011, only one member of staff sought redeployment from County Waterford to County Offaly which was approved.
247. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of all official foreign trips he and Ministers of State in his Department plan to take between now and the end of 2015; if he will provide the names of the persons he and Ministers of State in his Department will meet on these trips; the purpose of the trips; the duration of the trips; if there are plans to use all of these trips to promote Ireland as a good place for doing business and as a destination for foreign direct investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48037/14]
View answerI have received no requests to travel overseas on Government business between now and the end of 2015. While I expect to travel as part of the Government's St Patrick's Day promotion of Ireland, final arrangements have not yet been confirmed.
Mr Simon Harris, T.D, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, does not have any commitments abroad in his capacity as Minister of State at my Department for the period above. Minister of State Harris may also travel as part of the Governments' St Patrick's Day promotion of Ireland, but again final arrangements have yet to be confirmed.
248. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the protocols in place in his Department and agencies and sections under his Department regarding recording all phone calls; if a procedure is in place whereby if persons on an urgent basis need to make a personal call or receive a personal call while at work these calls are recorded; if he is satisfied that adequate procedures are fully being followed in these situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48048/14]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that there are two Shared Services Centres in my Department (PeoplePoint and the Payroll Shared Service Centre (PSSC)) where incoming calls are recorded with a Call Recording and Retention Policy in place.
Like most shared service organisations Civil Service Shared Services Centres (SSCs) have an interactive voice response (IVR) telephone system that is capable of recording incoming telephone conversations. This standard practice allows for quality monitoring and training purposes; for example, the verification of what was said during a phone call in the case of dispute or complaint; or to verify the customer's agreement with a specific service request; and to protect staff against callers using inappropriate or offensive language during telephone calls.
All incoming calls received via the IVR are recorded by the SSC and are retained for a period of six months by PeoplePoint, and three months by the PSSC. These recordings are only used for the purposes specified in the policy.
The call recording facility is automated and only accommodates incoming calls received from outside by the SSC through the IVR only (Main number). Outbound calls to people made from an SSC are not recorded. If calls are transferred within an SSC, the call recording will continue until the call is ended. All staff and customers of Shared Service Centres are informed that calls are being recorded for training and quality monitoring purposes.
There are no telephone calls recorded in the remaining areas under my aegis. I understand that the Office of Public Works will be contacting you directly with their response.
249. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some public bodies have not followed Government procurement guidelines in respect of legal services in Connacht; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48058/14]
View answer251. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views regarding the procurement of legal services by local authorities; the Government policy in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48060/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 251 together.
In relation to the procurement of legal services, I should point out that contracts for such services are not subject to the full scope of EU Public Procurement Directives. The awarding of individual contracts is a matter for each contracting authority. Therefore the onus is on the contracting authority to ensure that their public procurement complies with national and EU rules.
Whilst the rules for procuring such services are more flexible, national guidelines require that best value for money must be obtained by State bodies in all procurements. Therefore public bodies should procure such services by way of a transparent and objective tendering process. In this regard, my Department issued guidance (Circular 5/13) instructing public bodies of the need to carry out a competitive process for engagement of general legal advisory services to ensure value for money.
The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) is in the process of assessing how such legal services are procured by public bodies with the aim of delivering savings in this area. To this end, OGP will take responsibility for the procurement of Professional Services within which Legal Services falls. The OGP has already established a procurement sourcing team specific to the legal services requirements of Local Authorities. This team is comprised of representatives from a number of Local Authorities and their function is to design a procurement strategy that suits the needs of all Local Authorities while at the same time matching the capacity and capability in the marketplace.
On completion of the procurement strategy design stage, it is anticipated that OGP will (on behalf of all Local Authorities) approach the marketplace by way of a formal tender process in the first half of 2015.
250. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some public bodies insert conditions into invitations to tender that favour existing providers of goods and services and that these conditions are often unreasonable and designed to attract a preferred provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48059/14]
View answerThe assessment of a tenderer's financial and economic standing is a key part of any procurement process. Establishing the appropriate suitability criteria that are relevant and appropriate to a particular contract is, of course, a matter for the contracting authority concerned. This is because the contracting authority is in the best position to gauge the appropriate levels of financial capacity that are appropriate to the needs of that specific contract. Such requirements would logically be developed on a case by case basis with reference to the specific needs of the contract.
Notwithstanding the above the Government recognises that it is vital that all suppliers engaging with contracting authorities are treated in a fair, transparent and professional manner. The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has engaged with SME stakeholders who have raised concerns in relation to possible barriers for SMEs in competing for tender opportunities. In order to address these concerns, the OGP has developed a pilot programme designed to give an informal outlet for potential suppliers to raise concerns in relation to a particular live tender process. The objectives of the initiative are to improve communications with suppliers and increase professionalism and consistency in how procurement processes are carried out across the public service.
The new Tender Advisory Service (TAS) will liaise with potential suppliers and contracting authorities to clarify or query tender documentation and, where necessary, will make suggestions to contracting authorities aimed at resolving the concerns that have been raised. As a matter of course TAS will communicate, to all parties, the informal nature of this service and that they do not have any legal authority to overturn any decision that has already been taken by the responsible contracting authority. As tendering of public service contracts must be carried out in an open and transparent manner, any information arising from this service will be communicated to all suppliers that have registered an interest in the tender process by the contracting authority.
This new service will contribute to an improved public procurement landscape for both suppliers and contracting authorities and to maximise all avenues for dealing with issues arising. The service will be operational from the 1st February 2015 and details of the pilot will be available shortly on the OGP website www.procurement.ie.
252. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the new arrangements to replace the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service from 2015 onwards announced in his budget statement; in view of growing demand on public services in a range of areas, if he will provide an assurance that these new measures will halt the reduction in overall numbers employed in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48119/14]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, on Budget day I announced my intention to seek to put in place new arrangements to replace the Moratorium on Recruitment and Promotions in the Public Service from 2015 onwards. Arrangements for the implementation of this revised policy are now the subject of discussions between my Department and all other Government departments, with a view to agreeing and issuing formal delegated sanctions.
The proposed approach is that Government Departments and bodies will have greater autonomy in managing staff resources to meet service needs, including recruitment or promotion where warranted, in return for agreed commitments by them to manage staff resources within agreed pay ceilings and to meet ongoing reform and efficiency objectives.
253. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the newly vouched leaders' allowance continues to be claimed by Independent Deputies and Senators; if so, the amount that has been claimed up to December 2014 by each Member under both vouched and unvouched conditions since the general election in 2011; if any Independent Deputy has ever returned any of the allowance or if they have all claimed the maximum available every year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48134/14]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to his previous question on this matter question 91 of 18 September 2014 (reference 34985/14). The total amounts paid to each qualifying independent member from 9 March 2011 to date are set out in the tables. Michael Fitzmaurice TD, elected to Dáil Éireann in October of this year, has not yet claimed the allowance. I am not aware of any amounts that may have been returned by members.
|
Independent TDs |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 (end Nov) |
Total |
|
Catherine Murphy |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
Finian McGrath |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
John Halligan |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
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 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
Maureen O'Sullivan |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
Michael Healy Rae |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
Michael Lowry |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
Michael Wallace |
€0.00 |
€75,935.16 |
€41,151.96 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
Noel Grealish |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
Shane Ross |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
Seamus Healy |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
Stephen Donnelly |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
Thomas Pringle |
€34,783.20 |
€41,151.96 |
€41,151.96 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
Tom Fleming |
€34,293.30 |
€41,641.86 |
€41,151.96 |
€36,008.08 |
€153,095.20 |
|
Michael Fitzmaurice |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
Total |
€486,474.90 |
€652,552.50 |
€617,279.40 |
€520,649.07 |
€2,276,955.87 |
|
Independent Senators |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 (end Nov) |
Total |
|
David Norris |
€15,913.40 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€20,460.23 |
€83,139.55 |
|
Fergal Quinn |
€15,913.40 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€20,460.23 |
€83,139.55 |
|
Ronan Mullen |
€15,913.40 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€20,460.23 |
€83,139.55 |
|
John Crown |
€15,913.40 |
€18,388.64 |
€23,382.96 |
€20,460.23 |
€78,145.23 |
|
Sean Barrett |
€15,913.40 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€20,460.23 |
€83,139.55 |
|
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 |
€20,460.23 |
€81,620.50 |
|
Eamon Coghlan |
€14,394.35 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€20,460.23 |
€81,620.50 |
|
Dr. Katherine Zappone |
€14,394.35 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€20,460.23 |
€81,620.50 |
|
Mary Ann O'Brien |
€14,394.35 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€20,460.23 |
€81,620.50 |
|
Marie Louise O'Donnell |
€14,394.35 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€20,460.23 |
€81,620.50 |
|
Jillian Van Turnhout |
€14,394.35 |
€23,382.96 |
€23,382.96 |
€20,460.23 |
€81,620.50 |
|
Gerard Craughwell |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
€3,022.02 |
€3,022.02 |
|
Total |
€169,180.73 |
€275,601.20 |
€261,109.72 |
€228,084.55 |
€933,976.20 |
254. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the provision of coastal erosion defence funding for an exposed section of public roadway (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48185/14]
View answerThe position in relation to this matter remains as outlined in my reply to the Deputy's Question of 18th November, 2014.
Under the (Coastal Protection Act, 1963) Kerry County Council may apply for funding for coastal protection works at Kilshannig. A proposal for substantial strengthening works would require detailed planning and feasibility studies and technical analysis to be carried out by the Council to ensure all options are fully assessed and considered in order to facilitate the prioritisation of the allocation of scarce public resources nationally.
