Written Answers Nos. 140 - 150
141. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of refunds that have been completed for second-hand home buyers who were incorrectly charged the local property tax in 2013; if the process is completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5390/15]
View answerI am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the refunds to which the Deputy refers arose as a consequence of the initial interpretation of Section 8 of the Finance (Local Property Tax) Act 2012 (as amended).
As a consequence of the original interpretation of Section 8 of the Act some home owners were charged and paid LPT where they were entitled to benefit from the relief. Once the revised interpretation of Section 8 was confirmed, Revenue carried out a review of properties purchased during 2013 and wrote to individuals who may have been eligible for the relief advising them of their possible entitlement (which depending on the purchase date of the property could apply up to and including 2016). Revenue also outlined how to apply for the relief and for refund of any LPT already paid.
In total, Revenue reviewed 12,191 potential 'Section 8' cases to establish entitlement to the relief. Exemptions were granted in 4,305 cases (some commencing in 2014/2015 rather than 2013 depending on date of purchase) and refunds issued where the LPT was already paid. Less than 600 cases have yet to respond to Revenue with the necessary clarifications.
Revenue has assured me that these outstanding cases will be dealt with as a priority as soon as the required clarifications are received.
142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which full family tax credit status is available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5408/15]
View answerI am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that, based on the information available the person concerned is in receipt of the correct tax credits.
The personal tax credit due to an individual depends on whether that individual is single, married, in a registered civil partnership, widowed, a surviving civil partner, separated, divorced, or a former civil partner. There is no tax credit available in respect of dependent children where adult individuals are cohabiting. In addition, the single person's tax credit is non-transferable in these cases.
143. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff from his Department or agency under his remit working out of a Government building at a location (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5590/15]
View answerMy Department does not have any staff working out of Government Buildings, Abbeyleix, Portlaoise, County Laois.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that they currently have two staff based in Government Buildings, Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, County Laois.
All other agencies under my remit have advised me that they have no staff at this location.
144. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Bellurgan flood embankment, County Louth will be upgraded and reinforced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5216/15]
View answerResponsibility for identifying and implementing appropriate measures to address flood risk at Bellurgan, County Louth rests with Louth County Council (LCC) in the first instance.
LCC, with the support of funding provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW), engaged consultants in 2011 to assess the condition of the embankment and to make recommendations for any necessary upgrading. The consultants' report, which was submitted by LCC to OPW in 2013, outlined a number of recommendations for short, medium and long term measures. Following a review of the report, the OPW sought additional information and clarification from LCC in May 2014 in relation to the consultants' conclusions and recommendations, including further details regarding the nature of the proposed works and the basis of the economic benefit attributed to them. This information is still awaited and when received the OPW will give further consideration to the report's recommendations.
It is open also to LCC to utilise its own resources to undertake any works required on the Bellurgan embankment.
145. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason employees holding prison administration and support officer grades are deemed ineligible to apply for vacancies for Civil Service grades in other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5184/15]
View answerAll Civil Servants are eligible to apply for competitions to fill vacancies in Civil Service grades through open competition or through confined interdepartmental competition, subject to satisfying the relevant eligibility criteria.
Eligibility for Departmental competitions is a matter for the Department concerned, subject to compliance with legal and other requirements relating to Civil Service recruitment and promotion competitions.
146. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when EU Directive 2014/24/EU, which is to replace Directive 2004/18/EC regarding public procurements, will be transposed into law, in view of the fact that the transposition date is supposed to be before the end of April 2015. [5214/15]
View answerOn 28 March, 2014, the European Commission published three new Directives as a collective reform of the existing EU regime for public procurement under the existing provisions of Directive 2004/17/EU - coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors and Directive 2004/18/EU - on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts.
The three new Directives, including the Directive referred to by the Deputy are:
- 2014/23/EU - on the award of concession contracts
- 2014/24/EU- on public procurement and repealing Directive 2004/18/EU
- 2014/25/EU - on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors and repealing Directive 2004/17/EC
The three Directives require to be transposed into national law by all EU Member States by April 2016. In this regard, the Office of Government Procurement, which is under the aegis of my Department, is progressing the process of transposition into Irish law.
147. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list in respect of properties that are leased by his Department at a location (details supplied) in County Laois; the address of each of the buildings concerned; the Department or Government agency which is using the building; the purpose for which it is required; the expiry date of the lease; the annual rent-lease for this building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5230/15]
View answer150. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the sanction provided for a project (details supplied) in October 2013 is still being implemented; if funding has been allocated for this project; the position regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5243/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 150 together.
The following shows details of the properties leased by the Commissioners of Public Works in Portlaoise:
|
Name and address of Building |
Annual Rent |
Occupancy |
|
Unit 11 Clonminham Industrial Estate, Portlaoise |
98,133.16 |
Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine - Record Office |
|
Grattan Business Centre, Dublin Road, Portlaoise |
190,000.00 |
Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
|
Eircom Building, Knockmay, Portlaoise |
118,000.00 |
Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
|
Eircom Building, Knockmay, Portlaoise |
100,000.00 |
Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
|
Grattan House, Grattan Business Centre Portlaoise |
46,860.00 |
Dept of Education and Skills, National Council of Special Education, National Education & Welfare Board |
|
Grattan House, Grattan Business Centre Portlaoise |
43,650.00 |
Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
|
Portlaoise Agri Warehouse, Kylekiproe, Portlaoise |
107,919.25 |
Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine - Warehouse |
|
Kilminchy Crescent, Portlaoise |
84,051.49 |
Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine - Appeals Office |
|
Portlaoise Employment Services, JFL House, Portlaoise |
90,000 |
Dept of Social Protection |
|
Portlaoise Furniture Store, Timahoe Rd, Portlaoise |
1,800 |
Office of Public Works - Furniture Store |
|
Portlaoise NCCA & Equality |
50,000 |
National Coucil for Curriculum Assessment |
In October 2013, sanction was received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to proceed with the extension to the existing Government Buildings at Abbeyleix Road to facilitate the consolidation of Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine staff. However, funding was not provided and, consequently, this project has not been advanced.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine consider it a priority that staff are consolidated in order to re-integrate and co-locate different business areas that have cross-over functions. The OPW has been working with the Department with this consolidation in mind and in 2014, three leases in Gandon Court were surrendered and additional centralised space was leased in Portlaoise town. In addition to the consolidation of staff, a rental saving of approximately €100,000 per annum was achieved. I order to achieve further consolidation, it is proposed to commence a space audit of the State owned Government Offices on the Abbeyleix Road. This will establish the potential for consolidation of staff through re-configuration of the space with a more modern open plan layout and furniture. The provision of the extension will be reviewed following completion of the space audit.
For commercial reasons, the Commissioners of Public Works do not release lease expiry dates. The Commissioners advise that they would be happy to discuss this issue with the Deputy.
148. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff from his Department or agency under his remit working out of a Government building at a location (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5231/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that there are currently no civil servants in my Department, or those under my aegis, working in Portlaoise, County Laois.
149. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will reinstate the quota of 3% of persons with a disability employed in the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5239/15]
View answerThe 3 per cent target for the employment of people with disabilities in the Public Service is set out in the Disability Act 2005 and remains in place.
My Department reports to the National Disability Authority on compliance with this target for Government Departments and Offices staffed mainly by civil servants. In 2013 those organisations employed 3.9% people reported to have a disability. The corresponding figure for 2012 was 3.6%
