Written Answers Nos. 1-107
90. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied with progress on reform since this Government came into power, particularly in view of recent appointments to State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47807/14]
View answerSince this Government took office, sustainable and far reaching Public Service Reform has been a key element of our strategy to meet the challenges that have faced the country. Public Service Reform will also continue to play an important role in our recovery.
As the Deputy will be aware, we published our first Public Service Reform Plan in November 2011. A Progress Report published in January this year sets out the considerable progress we have made. Also in January, I published the Government's second Public Service Reform Plan 2014-2016, with over 230 specific actions to deliver reform and service improvements across the Public Service.
In addition, the Taoiseach and I launched the Civil Service Renewal Plan in October. This plan outlines the practical changes that will create a more unified, professional, responsive, open and accountable Civil Service. We are also enhancing openness and transparency through our extensive programme of political and legislative reforms.
With regard to State Board appointments, while new arrangements introduced in 2011 were successful in opening up the appointments process, further steps have recently been taken, as the Deputy will be aware. The new guidelines provide good practice rules with the core principles of: promoting wider access to opportunities on State Boards; putting in place detailed and comprehensive criteria for those roles; and introducing transparent and rigorous assessment of candidates against these criteria. To facilitate this, a new website was created stateboards.ie on which members of the public can apply for such vacancies.
Overall, I am satisfied that we have made strong progress on the delivery of Public Service Reform. Our plans are in line with, and frequently exceed, best practice across Europe and our progress is well regarded internationally. The levels of reform we have delivered could not have happened without the efforts and commitment of our public servants and I commend them for their contribution to date.
93. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the commitment in the Programme for Government regarding ending the unacceptable practice where no record is kept of Ministerial involvement with an issue and resulting decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46766/14]
View answerThe Programme for Government commitment in relation to keeping a record of Ministerial involvement with an issue and resulting decisions is one of a range of commitments focused on delivering greater accountability. Other commitments in this area in the Programme for Government include clarifying the legal relationship between Ministers and their civil servants, and their legal accountability for decisions and for management of Departments.
In light of these commitments, in January of this year my Department produced a consultation paper entitled 'Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance'. This Consultation Paper explored how Ministers and public servants can most effectively operate together in an increasingly complex environment, to best meet the range of economic and societal challenges which lie ahead. This paper initiated an extensive consultation process managed by the Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance, chaired by Professor Kevin Rafter. The recommendations of the Independent Panel were published in June of this year and contributed significantly to the recently launched Civil Service Renewal Plan.
The Civil Service Renewal Plan outlines a vision for the Civil Service and the practical changes that will create a more unified, professional, responsive, open and accountable Civil Service. These changes include publication of "who does what" and setting a common governance standard in order to strengthen corporate governance in the Civil Service in line with international best practice. It is intended that this will be achieved by formalising the role of the Management Board in Departments and support the greater ministerial and managerial interaction in jointly and regularly reviewing priorities and performance. It will also mean introducing a single governance standard for all Management Boards, and establishing an annual assessment for all Boards to measure delivery and performance. Within this context of reviewing overall governance arrangements within Civil Service Departments and Offices the formal processes and mechanisms for documenting decisions made within a Department, and by whom, will be reviewed and clarified across the system. I see this work as a practical measure consistent with our Government reform programme.
96. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the implementation measures in place in respect of the protocol between the Office of Public Works and insurance firms in respect of exchange of information on flood defences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47801/14]
View answerIn March 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Insurance Ireland, the representative body for the insurance industry in Ireland, and the Office of Public Works. This Memorandum sets out principles of how the two organisations will work together to ensure that appropriate and relevant information on completed OPW flood defence schemes is provided to insurers to facilitate, to the greatest extent possible, the availability to the public of insurance against the risk of flooding. The Memorandum came into effect on 1 June, 2014 with an initial tranche of data provided by the OPW to Insurance Ireland in respect of 12 completed flood defence schemes and showing the design, extent and nature of the protection offered by these works. The arrangements set out in the Memorandum represent an ongoing process which, over time, should lead to an improvement in the availability of flood insurance cover. The text of the Memorandum of Understanding and further information on the process is available on the OPW website, www.opw.ie
Since the signing of the Memorandum, contact has continued between OPW and Insurance Ireland. The implementation of the Memorandum has been discussed at a number of meetings held in recent weeks at both official and Ministerial level involving Insurance Ireland, the Office of Public Works and the Department of Finance. Work is ongoing in OPW to prepare a further tranche of data on completed flood defence schemes in the agreed format for transfer to Insurance Ireland.
Insurance Ireland has been requested by both the OPW and the Department of Finance to provide a report on the position regarding implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding since it came into effect in June 2014, this report to include specific information on:
- What specific actions have been taken by the insurance industry to meet its obligations under the Memorandum of Understanding
- The extent to which insurance companies are using the details provided by OPW on completed schemes to reassess flood risk in the benefiting areas
- What impact is this actually having on the availability of flood cover where not previously available and/or on the cost of that cover to households/small business?
Insurance Ireland has indicated that it will be in a position to provide this report shortly and that early indications are that it shows an improvement in the overall position.
Further regular meetings will continue between the OPW, the Department of Finance and Insurance Ireland on this matter.
97. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way the new guidelines on appointments to State bodies issued by his Department will prevent cronyism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47806/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that in September the Government agreed to introduce a new system for State Board Appointments. The Decision, building on the earlier 2011 Decision, required my Department to prepare Guidelines on a new process to be agreed by Government. In preparing the Guidelines the Department sought the views of all Departments, as well as meeting with interested parties and working closely with the Public Appointments Service.
The Guidelines were approved by Government in November and seek to provide good practice rules around the implementation of the Decision, which has at its core three key principles:
- promote wider access to opportunities on State Boards;
- put in place detailed and comprehensive criteria for those roles; and
- introduce transparent and rigorous assessment of candidates against these criteria.
The Guidelines clarify which positions on Boards they apply to and change the process around Ministerial appointments of individuals to State Boards.
The new arrangements provide for a robust selection system operated independently by the Public Appointments Service with selection being based on objective criteria. The new arrangements will ensure that candidates recommended for appointment have the skills and competencies required to carry out their duties on a State board. The Guidelines are very clear that in the end it is the responsibility of the relevant Minister to make appointments on the basis of the statutory authority provided in legislation approved by the Oireachtas.
Under the new system for appointments to State Boards, the specific requirements identified for board roles will be published as well as information illustrating the knowledge, skills, experience and expertise possessed by appointees conforming to those requirements. I am satisfied that this approach will demonstrate in each case the basis on which each board appointee was assessed to be qualified to successfully perform the relevant role.
98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 6 of 6 November 2014, the extent to which the capital review referred to therein has been completed; when it is likely to be published; if he remains satisfied that the use of specific Government bonds to fund particular capital projects is not best practice in view of the fact that such bonds could also attract investment from savings and pension funds; if due consideration has been given to the merits of the use of specifically targeted bonds to fund vital infrastructural deficits; if he is satisfied that the non-traditional approaches have particular cost, efficiency or other advantages over the use of bonds; the extent to which any such comparisons have been made and evaluated and the need to capitalise on the potential availability of savings while low interest rates prevail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47837/14]
View answerThe Capital Review, which was conducted in parallel with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, is now drawing to a conclusion and the report on the review will be published in the coming weeks.
The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) issues Irish Government bonds which attract investment from institutions, including pension funds, and from individuals. A number of other financial investment options are also available to individuals who wish to direct their savings to help support the Government's work in promoting economic growth, including the National Solidarity Bond, Savings Bonds, Savings Certificates and Instalment Savings.
All monies raised through Government borrowing are paid into the Central Fund and used to fund Government spending as approved by the Oireachtas. It has never been the custom to link borrowing to specific projects as to do so would limit the flexibility of the Government in managing the State's finances.
That said, the PPP programme allows for private sector investment and risk sharing in the provision of specific public infrastructure projects. Because of their funding and risk profile, these PPP projects are not included in the calculations of General Government spending, and therefore, this approach has allowed the Government to supplement its traditional Exchequer capital programme (which is funded by the revenues and borrowing in the Central Fund) and which is necessarily limited by the constraints on our expenditure levels, consistent with our fiscal commitments.
The Deputy is asking about the potential usefulness of introducing a wider means of channelling private funding to support specific State infrastructure projects. The Department of Finance and the NTMA - which lead on identifying and harnessing funding sources for the State - have considered possible approaches to increasing funding sources. One of the Government's recent initiatives in this regard has been the introduction of the Irish Strategic Investment Fund which will harness both public and private sector sources of funding to provide commercial investment, including in public infrastructure projects.
99. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the changes in the guidelines on appointments to State boards that were published on 25 November 2014; and the reason these have not been implemented in full before now. [47794/14]
View answerIn 2011 the Government introduced new arrangements for the appointment of State board members. Under those arrangements Departments invited expressions of interest from the public in vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis on their websites. It was intended that all members of the public could apply for appointment to these vacancies. In order to facilitate this wider access, a new website portal, stateboards.ie, was created by the Public Appointments Service to offer a single dedicated point of contact to all Government Departments as a support to existing Board member selection procedures.
While these new arrangements were successful in opening up the appointments process for State boards, the Government concluded that further progress could be made building on progress to date. I, therefore, brought a further Memorandum to Government in September approving the introduction of a new system for State Board Appointments. The Decision required my Department to prepare Guidelines on the new process. In preparing the Guidelines my officials sought the views of all Departments, as well as meeting with interested parties and working closely with the Public Appointments Service.
The Guidelines were approved in November and seek to provide good practice rules around the implementation of the Decision, which has at its core three key principles:
- promote wider access to opportunities on State Boards;
- put in place detailed and comprehensive criteria for those roles; and
- introduce transparent and rigorous assessment of candidates against these criteria.
The Guidelines clarify to which positions on Boards the Guidelines apply and set out the steps in the process leading up to Ministerial appointments of individuals to State Boards. The Public Appointments Service is currently working with all Departments to implement these new arrangements.
100. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the reopening of public service recruitment; if he will provide a breakdown of planned recruitment at all levels; if he will provide a breakdown of grades across the civil and public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47833/14]
View answerIn Budget 2015, I was pleased to be able to announce that there will be a targeted programme of recruitment into the Civil Service to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills commencing in late 2014 and continuing during 2015. At this stage, in advance of the outcome of various competitions, it is not possible to be definitive about actual numbers. These will be determined by a number of factors including retirement rates and Departments deciding on their optimal grade mix over the period ahead, with reference to their pay ceilings.
The Deputy may wish to be aware that a number of open competitions have already taken place or are in process including:
- Clerical Officer with an expectation of approximately 300 recruits
- Executive Officer ICT Specialist
- Executive Officer General Service
- Administrative Officer - Graduate Economist and Graduate Recruit General Service.
I also expect competitions to take in first quarter 2015 for Assistant Principal, both open and inter-departmental and an open competition for Principal Officer.
The main general service grades in the Civil Service are:
Secretary General; Second Secretary; Deputy Secretary; Assistant Secretary; Principal; Assistant Principal; Higher Executive Officer; Administrative Officer; Executive Officer; Staff Officer; Clerical Officer and Services Officer.
A full list of all grades in the Civil Service and grade categories for the wider public service, exclusive of Non-commercial semi-State bodies, will be forwarded to the Deputy separately.
101. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to initiate discussions with the public sector unions regarding the modification of pay cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47787/14]
View answerThe Haddington Road Agreement came into effect on 1 July 2013 and forms the cornerstone for public service pay policy over a three year period. Over the first 17 months of its lifetime, the Agreement has been a key enabler in reducing the cost of the public service pay and pensions bill. The cost reductions and productivity increases, and the reform dividend which the Agreement has facilitated, have allowed the Government the scope in 2014 to recruit additional staff to key front-line services. This demonstrates that the Agreement is delivering and is making a significant contribution to the Government's fiscal consolidation deficit target of below 3% GDP by 2015. Public expenditure estimates and allocations in respect of Budget 2015 are based upon the cost reductions and savings provided for by the Haddington Road Agreement.
The public service unions have indicated their intention, should the State's financial circumstances permit, to lodge a pay claim next year. If such a claim is made the Government will of course have to consider it, in line with the prevailing fiscal position. The legal position concerning the financial emergency legislation, which has underpinned the public service pay and pension reductions to date, will also have to be addressed in that context while ensuring that this country has a sustainable pay arrangement over the longer term.
102. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to improve access to State contracts for Irish firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47712/14]
View answerUnder EU and national rules, the public procurement of works, supplies and service contracts above certain thresholds must be awarded on the basis of objective and non-restrictive criteria. It would be a breach of the rules for a public body to favour or discriminate against particular bidders on grounds of nationality and there are legal remedies which may be used against any public body infringing these rules.
The reform of the procurement system across the public service is a key element of the reform programme for the public service. The fragmented procurement arrangements across the public service have enabled suppliers to charge different public service bodies different prices for the same goods and services. Public Procurement savings are necessary to enable public service organisations deliver much needed services within the tighter budgets that they must now operate.
However, I would point out that reforms in this area are being carried out in a manner that recognises the importance of SMEs. The Government acknowledges the significant role that SMEs play in the Irish economy and is committed to ensuring that SMEs are fully engaged with public sector procurement and the opportunities presenting. Circular 10/14 issued earlier this year by my Department is aimed at opening up opportunities for small businesses that want to tender for public contracts and also to ensure that engaging with government procurement is easy and low cost. This guidance sets out positive measures that contracting authorities are to take to promote the involvement of smaller enterprises as well as highlighting practices that are to be avoided because they can hinder small businesses in competing for public contracts.
From 1 August of this year, public bodies are required under Circular 10/14 to publish all Contract Award Notices over €25,000 on the eTenders website on completion of the award. It is intended that this additional information will allow improved reporting by the Office of Government Procurement in relation to public contract awards.
In addition, the Office of Government Procurement supports the work of Enterprise Ireland and InterTrade Ireland in building awareness of public procurement and supporting training for small suppliers in bidding for public contracts. For example, this year the Office of Government Procurement supported two "Meet the Buyer" events in Belfast and Dublin which were attended by approximately 1,600 suppliers. The Office of Government Procurement also supported the 'Go 2 Tender' programme run by InterTrade Ireland which was attended by approximately 400 SMEs. This year InterTrade Ireland also delivered a programme on consortia building to assist SMEs to jointly bid for state contracts.
The OGP will continue to work with suppliers to ensure that winning government business is done in a fair, transparent and accessible way and to ensure that Government procurement policies are business friendly.
103. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the role his Department has had in respect of dealing with the insolvency of a company's pension scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47805/14]
View answerThe proposals emanating from the mediation process in relation to the Waterford Crystal pension schemes involve a settlement of a legal action initiated by representatives of workers in Waterford Crystal against the Minister of Social Protection. The European Court of Justice had previously ruled that, in the case of the workers concerned, the State had failed to provide adequate protection to members of occupational pension schemes from instances of double insolvency. The Minister for Social Protection has since enacted the Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Act 2013 which makes statutory provision for protection of workers where cases of double insolvency arise. However, as the double insolvency case of Waterford Crystal pre-dated the 2013 Act, it does not cover the former workers of Waterford Crystal.
The mediation process was a welcome initiative to arrive at an acceptable settlement without recourse to further costly legal proceedings while providing a fair and equitable settlement of the claims for pension entitlements for over 1700 former Waterford Crystal workers. The mediation was between officials of the Department of Social Protection and representatives of the Waterford Crystal workers, facilitated by the chairperson of the Labour Relations Commission. Neither I nor my officials were directly involved in the mediation process, although developments in the mediation process were communicated by officials of the Department of Social Protection on an ongoing basis. Proposals for settlement carrying the recommendation of the mediator were brought to Government by the Minister for Social Protection and approved on the 9 December last. They are also under consideration by the former Waterford Crystal workers.
Legislation is currently before the House to permit funding for pensions involved to be made available by the Minister for Finance from the Central Fund to the Department of Social Protection who will be responsible for putting in place appropriate arrangements for the processing of claims and payment and disbursement of sums due in accordance with the settlement terms.
104. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 6 November 2014, his views on the need to investigate low paid public sector workers' wages by a low pay commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47836/14]
View answerThere is a commitment in the Statement of Government Priorities 2014-2016 to establish a Low Pay Commission (LPC) on a statutory basis as an independent body to make annual recommendations to the Government about the appropriate level of the minimum wage and related matters. The Minister for Business and Employment, Mr. Ged Nash, T.D., is currently developing proposals to implement this commitment and determine the role and mandate of the LPC which will be statutorily independent in the performance of its functions.
In relation to pay in the public service the pay and pension reductions imposed on public servants through the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009-2013 were progressively structured. Those on lower incomes were least affected, with the highest reductions imposed on the highest paid. The most recent pay reduction effected by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013, was confined to those public servants on annual salaries of €65,000 or more only; the core pay of almost 87% of public servants at low and mid-ranking pay levels was not impacted by this pay reduction.
In seeking the most recent savings and reductions from the public service pay and pensions' bill, public service employers and trade unions entered into negotiations and concluded a collective agreement, the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA). This three year Agreement, effective from July 2013, built upon and reaffirmed the existing overall commitments in the Public Service Agreement (Croke Park Agreement) including those in relation to lower paid public servants and sets the terms of pay in the public service until 2016. As the public service unions have indicated they intend to submit a pay claim in the new year for all public servants, any such pay claim in respect of public servants will have to be considered in the context of both the emergency legislation and the HRA. I have stated that if such a pay claim is submitted the Government will be required to consider it.
It should also be noted that under the Haddington Road Agreement, and subsequently legislated for in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013, the rate of PRD on the €15,000 to €20,000 band of pay received in a year was reduced from 5% to 2.5% on 1 January 2014. This rate cut is worth €125 annually in gross terms to most public servants, with those taxed at the standard rate enjoying the greater gain in terms of take-home pay boost.
105. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has a strategy in place for the care and maintenance of national monuments; the way this is integrated with the centenary celebrations of the 1916 Rising; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47802/14]
View answerThe Commissioners of Public Works have a statutory responsibility under the various National Monuments Acts 1930 - 2004 to undertake the care and maintenance of National Monuments in State care. Additionally, there are a number of Historic Properties under their care which are not designated National Monuments but which are important in a National context for various reasons.
Some National Monuments in the care of the Commissioners are uniquely designated because of their importance in terms of the story of Ireland's struggle for Independence. Sites such as Kilmainham Gaol for example hold a special place in our history and are regarded as key locations where seminal events took place. There are a number of such locations with connotations to the Independence story in the care of the Commissioners. Some of these are formal, National sites, while others are more domestic and personal in character, relating to specific high profile individuals. They include for example:
- Kilmainham Gaol
- Arbour Hill
- The Garden of Remembrance
- The Pearse Cottage, Co. Galway
In addition, there are other locations in the care of the Commissioners which are not formally designated as National Monuments but are regarded as important heritage properties and are managed by the Commissioners as sites with a strong connection to the Independence history. These include:
- Dublin Castle
- St. Enda's, Rathfarnham, Dublin.
While the Commissioners have a statutory duty to maintain and care for these sites on behalf of the State, it is also important to recognise that these places will have a particularly important resonance and a role to play in the era of Commemorations and particularly in the context of 2016. The strategy of the Commissioners is, first and foremost, to continue to maintain these sites in accordance with their statutory remit and to present them to the public either with guided services or with passive interpretation, so that there can be a full appreciation of their importance in the story of the era. Sites such as Kilmainham Gaol, the Garden of Remembrance, Arbour Hill and Dublin Castle will obviously play a significant part in some of the formal State events already announced by the Government for 2016. In planning for the calendar of events at these locations the Commissioners will be guided significantly by the All Party Oireachtas Committee on Commemorations which is chaired by my colleague the Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht and which has a key role in this regard.
As well as facilitating events at sites managed by the OPW, it will also be the role of the Office to provide logistical support for many of the planned formal State Commemoration events that will take place in 2016 at, for example, O'Connell St, Kilmainham Gaol and Arbour Hill. This is part of the normal event management support provided by the OPW at State events and arrangements are being made to ensure that the usual comprehensive service will be in place at the required time.
The OPW also has a number of specific projects in hand to enhance the individual site or visitor experience in recognition of the importance of this centenary. These include:
- Provision of new Visitor facilities at Kilmainham Courthouse, adjacent to Kilmainham Gaol;
- Upgrading works to Arbour Hill Cemetery;
- Provision of Universal Access at the Garden of Remembrance;
- Conservation works to Children of Lir Statue in Garden of Remembrance;
- Mounting of a series of 1916 themed exhibitions;
- Co-operation with the provision of new Visitor facilities at Pearse Cottage by Údarás na Gaeltachta and Galway Co. Council.
106. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform following the launch of the Civil Service renewal plan on 30 October 2014, if he will confirm the number of times the Civil Service accountability board has met; if it has not met, when it plans to meet; the other members on this board; if he will release the minutes of any meetings held; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47788/14]
View answerI launched the Civil Renewal Plan along with the Taoiseach on 30th October last. The Plan outlines a vision for the Civil Service and practical changes that will create a more unified, professional, responsive, open and accountable Civil Service, providing a world-class service to the State and to the people of Ireland. All of the actions in the Plan are to be implemented over the next three years and the Plan sets out six priorities for completion within 6 months. Establishing an Accountability Board for the Civil Service for the first time is one such priority and preparatory work is underway to progress this priority. The Board will be chaired by the Taoiseach and balanced with ministerial, Civil Service and external membership.
107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which his Department continues to evaluate the infrastructural requirements throughout all regions in the country with a view to identifying the means whereby economic investment and development may be more evenly encouraged throughout the regions thereby alleviating some of the social and economic pressures on areas previously the subject of prolonged development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47838/14]
View answerMy Department commenced a review of the public capital programme in April of this year in parallel with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. The purpose of the review is to assess all areas of public capital investment and to refresh the existing investment strategy and multi-annual envelopes to ensure that they are in line with emerging Government priorities and that our limited resources are focussed on the areas that can best support continued, sustainable and equitable growth.
As with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, all Departments with capital budgets were asked to make submissions to my Department in order to feed into the review process. Specifically, they were asked to outline their capital investment plans for the five year period ahead. My Department also consulted external stakeholders such as the ESRI, the CIF and the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland, for their views on what the State's main infrastructure priorities for the period ahead should be.
While the regional spread of investment is a consideration in setting the Government's investment strategy, the priority is to ensure that infrastructure funded through the public capital programme delivers the highest economic and social return for the State as a whole. The capital programmes in the roads, schools, health and housing sectors make up a significant portion of the overall capital budget, and they will have a beneficial impact for communities throughout the State.
Government has made its decision on the capital allocations for the next three years and these were set out in the recent Budget. The report of the capital review is being finalised and I intend to publish it in the coming weeks. The report will include the three year ceilings announced on Budget Day along with new ceilings for the period 2018 to 2020.
