Written Answers Nos. 254-267
254. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Finance his views on the proposal to require all public sector workers under the aegis of his Department who interface with service users to wear a name badge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8657/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I am not aware of a proposal to require all public sector workers under the aegis of my Department who interface with service users to wear a name badge. In the interest of improving customer service standards I am open to consideration of such a proposal. As the Deputy will be aware some bodies under my aegis, have little or no direct contact with members of the public while others interface regularly. I expect all bodies under the Aegis of my Department to provide the highest standards of customer service in all dealings with customers. However, consultations with my colleagues, staff, trade unions and the bodies concerned would have to take place to progress such a proposal.
255. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a serious flooding risk at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7716/15]
View answerThe River Laune is not a designated channel under an OPW arterial drainage scheme and therefore the OPW is not responsible for its maintenance. The channel is in a Drainage District and its maintenance is the responsibility of Kerry County Council.
If the flooding problem in the location mentioned is due to factors other than a lack of maintenance by the Council, the Local Authority may apply to the Office of Public Works which operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This administrative Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial are published on the OPW website, www.opw.ie. It is not available for repair of damaged infrastructure or for maintenance of existing flood defence or coastal protection assets. A Local Authority may apply to the OPW for support under the scheme having regards to those eligibility criteria. Application forms are available on OPW's website under Flood Risk Management and decisions are made having regard to the overall availability of funding for flood risk management.
However, if the problem is due to lack of maintenance, it is entirely a matter for the County Council.
256. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a permit and a competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7883/15]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) intend to advertise an additional Permit for the Skellig Michael passenger route and, with this in mind, are currently preparing a Competition process to allow interested parties to apply to be considered.
The award of the Permit will be made by the OPW after a publicly advertised competition process and it will be open to all parties with an interest to submit applications at the appropriate time.
Currently, the OPW are finalising the necessary documentation and legal consultation and expect to advertise the competition publicly as soon as it is feasible. It is not expected that the competition process will be concluded in time for the start of the new Season in mid May, though it is hoped that a new Operator will be in a position to commence during the course of this year.
257. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when An Garda Síochána will be in a position to accept requests under the Freedom of Information Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7980/15]
View answerThe Freedom of Information Act 2014 came into effect on 14 October 2014. In line with the Programme for Government, the Act provides for the extension of FOI to An Garda Síochána for its administrative records relating to human resources, or finance or procurement matters, subject to security exemptions.
In accordance with Section 1(3)(b) of the FOI Act 2014, in the case of a public body - such as An Garda Síochána - that was not subject to FOI under the FOI Act 1997 but is subject to FOI under the 2014 Act, the Act will apply to that body 6 months from enactment or on such later day, not later than 12 months from enactment, as the Minister may by order appoint.
Following consideration of the case made by and on behalf of An Garda Síochána relating to the size, scale and the geographically dispersed nature of the organisation, I have agreed that the maximum lead-in time provided for under the Act for the application of FOI could be allowed in respect of An Garda Síochána.
My decision as set out above will require a Ministerial Order before it comes into effect. I intend, therefore, to make an Order shortly to provide that FOI will apply to An Garda Síochána with effect from 14 October 2015 in respect of the records detailed above. The Order will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas in accordance with normal procedure.
258. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the former Castletownshend Garda station, County Cork [8069/15]
View answerThe Commissioners of Public Works are in the process of assigning the former Garda Station at Castletownshend, Co. Cork for use by Castletownshend Community Association for community and voluntary activities for a period of not less than 3 years.
The Chief State Solicitors Office (CSSO) are preparing the licence which sets out the terms and conditions that are applicable to the use of a State property. They have requested further legal information from the solicitors representing this Association. When this information is received and the legal process is complete, it is hoped that the CSSO will be in a position to finalise the licence.
259. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the projected timeframe for the completion of the planned renovation works on the old Garda station in Whitehall, Dublin 9; and when the new uses for the building will become fully operational. [8105/15]
View answerTenders have been issued to secure a Main Contractor to carry out the renovation works at the former Whitehall Garda Station to accommodate the Dublin City Mortuary and the Office of the State Pathologist.
It is expected that a Contractor will be appointed in April 2015. Subject to placing the contract, scheduled completion is the end of Q4 2015. It is expected that the building will become fully operational immediately on completion.
260. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the proposal to require all public sector workers under the aegis of his Department who interface with service users to wear a name badge. [7961/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that my Department, and the Offices under my aegis, have little or no direct contact with members of the public. Despite this, it is a well-established policy of my Department that all officers supply their names in any dealings with the public. I would have no objection to this idea but consultations with my colleagues, staff and trade unions would have to take place before consideration could be given to implementing this step.
261. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way persons with a critical illness can avail of sick leave, if they have used up all of their sick leave entitlement in one year, but still need to access sick leave, to continue with their treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7994/15]
View answer262. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way persons who return to work after a critical illness can avail of sick leave, if they have used up all of their sick leave entitlement in one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7995/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together.
The Public Service Sick Leave Scheme came into effect for the generality of the Public Service on 31st March 2014 and for the Education Sector on 1 September 2014.
Under the Sick Leave Scheme, public servants have access to the following paid sick leave a maximum of 92 days (3 months) on full pay in a rolling one year period; followed by a maximum of 91 days (3 months) on half pay; subject to a maximum of 183 days (6 months) paid sick leave in a rolling four year period.
In addition, public servants may be awarded Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration (TRR) where they have exhausted their access to paid sick leave and there is a reasonable prospect of them returning to work and providing regular and effective service. TRR is paid at the same rate at which an ill health retirement pension would be.
In order to provide support to public servants who suffer from a critical illness or injury, the Scheme provides for up to 365 days' paid sick leave in a four year period (comprising 183 days on full pay in a rolling one year period, followed by 182 days on half pay).
A public servant who wishes to avail of extended sick pay for a critical illness or injury must apply to management in his or her organisation. In the Civil Service, for example, a civil servant must complete an application form and submit it to the Human Resources Manager in his or her Department/Office.
The Critical Illness Protocol (CIP) sets out the circumstances in which a HR Manager may grant access to extended paid sick leave under the critical illness provisions. In the first instance the employer's occupational health physician must certify that an illness or injury satisfies the following medical criteria: 1. the employee is medically unfit to return to his or her current duties or (where practicable) modified duties in the same pay grade; and 2. The nature of this medical condition has at least one of the following characteristics: acute life threatening physical illness; chronic progressive illness, with well-established potential to reduce life expectancy (in circumstances where there is no medical intervention); major physical trauma ordinarily requiring corrective acute operative surgical treatment; in-patient hospital care of two consecutive weeks or greater. In the case of pregnancy-related or assisted pregnancy-related illness, the requirement for hospitalisation of two consecutive weeks will be reduced to two or more consecutive days of in-patient hospital / clinic care
The HR Manager will then decide, following consideration of the advice of the occupational health physican, whether to grant extended paid sick leave under the critical illness provisions. It should also be noted that where there are - in objective terms - exceptional circumstances relating to an illness or injury that warrant the application of the critical illness provisions where the strict medical criteria do not apply, the HR Manager may grant access to extended paid sick leave.
263. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No.241 of 17 February 2015, if, and the way, Ireland's treaty obligation to ensure progressive realisation of economic, social and cultural rights to the maximum of available resources is taken into account in the comprehensive review of expenditure process; if the various Departments are instructed to undertake an analysis in meeting these obligations in preparation of their departmental submission papers; and if his Department takes account of these obligations in preparation of its own Department-by-Department analysis papers, drawn up in response to the departmental submissions. [8074/15]
View answer265. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will itemise the specific measures by which the Government's treaty obligation to ensure progressive realisation of economic, social and cultural rights to the maximum of available resources is reflected in the expenditure measures in budget 2015. [8076/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 263 and 265 together.
The Government's priorities in returning stability to the public finances, have been to meet fiscal targets while also ensuring that economic recovery is supported and the most vulnerable in society are protected. This approach to economic and fiscal policy, through maintaining an acceptable social safety net and returning the unemployed to work, has been consistent with the ideals set out under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Expenditure in critical economic and social sectors has been protected to the greatest extent possible: in 2015 some four-fifths of gross voted current expenditure is allocated to the Social Protection, Health and Education sectors. Our continued prioritisation of these sectors has meant that primary social welfare rates have been maintained since this Government took office. Our commitment to protecting our society's most vulnerable is also found in recent data published by Eurostat showing that Ireland's system of social transfers, the redistribution of wealth and income to those most in need, is among the most effective in Europe at reducing the at risk of poverty rate.
Aside from social transfers, the fundamental reforms to labour market activation undertaken by this Government represent a significant modernisation of Ireland's approach to tackling unemployment through a two-pronged approach: Pathways to Work ensures that the unemployed are given a chance to up-skill and re-join the workforce; while the Action Plan for Jobs has directed its efforts towards boosting labour demand through key reforms.
Similarly, our investment in the Health sector has ensured that key frontline services have been maintained and will be enhanced further through initiatives such as extending free GP care to children under 6 years of age. In the area of Education we have sought to protect DEIS expenditure which prioritises the educational needs of children and young people from disadvantaged areas. Furthermore, this prioritisation of expenditure has been pursued against the backdrop of increasing demands on public services due to cyclical economic conditions and demographic factors.
Last year's Comprehensive Review of Expenditure informed the expenditure measures in Budget 2015. The Review was informed by Government priorities and took into account economic and societal demands. The main objectives of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure process were to provide Government with the necessary evidence and analysis to re-align spending with the priorities set out in the Programme for Government; meet overall fiscal objectives; and explore new and innovative ways of delivering Government policy in a reformed public sector.
In the context of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, Ministers and their Departments had primary responsibility for delivering a detailed expenditure report based on evaluation of each budgetary programme under their remit, including programmes delivered by Government Agencies. The analysis carried out by Departments drew on a wide-ranging base of evidence developed since the last Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, including previous expenditure evaluations and policy analysis. Naturally, as part of the overall approach to undertaking this analysis Departments considered any relevant obligations leading to expenditure commitments, as deemed appropriate by each Department.
Overall the Government's approach to implementing the difficult but necessary fiscal adjustment over recent years has ensured that vital public services were protected during challenging economic times. On the back of these efforts, the economic and fiscal position in which Ireland now finds itself is vastly improved, and Budget 2015 provided an opportunity to alleviate pressures and enhance certain key services. The Comprehensive Expenditure Report 2015 2017 and the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2015 protects and provides for expenditure allocations in fundamental policy areas: anticipated Live Register savings from falling unemployment in 2015 have been reinvested to ensure that Ireland's effective system of social transfers is adequately funded in the face of rising demographic pressures; the allocation provided to the Health sector will deliver 1.7 million Medical Cards and a further 0.4 million GP Visit Cards; capital investment of €2.2bn (public and private) on the multi-annual housing programme will lead to an additional 10,000 social housing units by 2018; increased investment in education will allow for an additional 920 mainstream teachers, an additional 480 resource teachers for children with special education needs and 365 Special Needs Assistants; funding is provided for the establishment of the Low Pay Commission. The overall 2015 expenditure allocations will support the ongoing work of Government in furthering the economic, social and cultural rights of all Irish citizens.
264. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 241 of 17 February 2015, if he will report on his Department's contribution to the interdepartmental progress consultation on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights currently under way. [8075/15]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently in the process of compiling a Response to the List of Issues drawn up by the United Nations Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights in relation to the third periodic examination of Ireland under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) which is scheduled to take place in June 2015. They have written to relevant Departments requesting inputs to the Response. My Department is in the process of preparing its reply to that request. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will compile the final report on the basis of inputs from Departments.
266. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, a list of the annual pension payments to former Ministers and taoisigh, following the Haddington Road agreement reductions, sorted by payment, high to low, including the recipient's name. [8077/15]
View answerThe following table contains the pension amounts payable to former Officeholders in 2014.
I would like to advise that, in certain cases, the pension amounts shown do not reflect the actual amount of pension in payment where an individual is 'gifting' all or part of their pension to the State, or where a pension is subject to certain provisions of the Family Law Acts. It is the policy of my Department not to release personal information of that nature.
|
Name |
Pension 2014 € p.a. |
|
BERTIE AHERN |
80,810.86 |
|
BRIAN COWEN |
80,810.86 |
|
JOHN BRUTON |
72,908.94 |
|
MICHAEL MCDOWELL |
64,958.14 |
|
MARY HARNEY |
63,478.22 |
|
PETER BARRY |
57,576.82 |
|
DICK SPRING |
56,386.20 |
|
DESMOND O' MALLEY |
56,059.64 |
|
JOHN O'DONOGHUE |
54,812.94 |
|
MARTIN CULLEN |
54,812.94 |
|
SEAN TREACY |
54,812.68 |
|
MICHAEL SMITH |
54,812.68 |
|
CHARLES JOHN MCCREEVY |
54,812.68 |
|
DERMOT AHERN |
54,570.62 |
|
MICHAEL WOODS |
53,733.42 |
|
MICHAEL L O' KENNEDY |
53,268.54 |
|
RORY O'HANLON |
53,018.94 |
|
MARY O'ROURKE |
52,710.84 |
|
ALBERT REYNOLDS (RIP) |
52,133.05 |
|
JIM MC DAID |
50,411.14 |
|
ROBERT MOLLOY |
50,327.94 |
|
MÁIRE GEOGHEGAN-QUINN |
49,508.68 |
|
MARY HANAFIN |
49,283.00 |
|
SÉAMUS PATTISON |
49,241.40 |
|
NOEL DEMPSEY |
49,026.64 |
|
JOE WALSH (RIP) |
48,488.37 |
|
LIAM MAC COSGAIR |
47,299.98 |
|
BRENDAN DALY |
46,106.06 |
|
DAVID ANDREWS |
46,049.12 |
|
ALAN DUKES |
45,470.62 |
|
FRANK FAHEY |
43,444.44 |
|
RAY BURKE |
42,262.84 |
|
SÍLE DE VALERA |
42,212.30 |
|
PATRICK COONEY |
41,358.20 |
|
RAY MAC SHARRY |
41,135.38 |
|
PATRICK LALOR |
40,245.92 |
|
LIAM KAVANAGH |
40,113.84 |
|
MERVYN TAYLOR |
39,764.92 |
|
BATT O'KEEFFE |
38,883.52 |
|
BARRY DESMOND |
38,383.28 |
|
RICHIE RYAN |
37,697.14 |
|
TOM O' DONNELL |
37,697.14 |
|
AUSTIN DEASY |
37,323.26 |
|
MICHAEL D. HIGGINS |
36,906.48 |
|
GERARD COLLINS |
35,781.20 |
|
JOHN GORMLEY |
34,966.88 |
|
GEMMA HUSSEY |
34,757.84 |
|
NOEL TREACY |
33,704.58 |
|
NIAMH BHREATHNACH |
33,413.90 |
|
PÁDRAIG FLYNN |
33,292.74 |
|
TOM KITT |
32,619.26 |
|
MARTIN O' DONOGHUE |
31,231.46 |
|
JOE JACOB |
30,390.88 |
|
RICHARD BURKE |
28,523.30 |
|
NORA OWEN |
28,254.20 |
|
IVAN YATES |
28,243.28 |
|
PADDY O' TOOLE |
27,563.90 |
|
MARY WALLACE |
27,374.88 |
|
PROINSIAS DE ROSSA |
27,278.36 |
|
TONY KILLEEN |
26,071.50 |
|
PAT THE COPE GALLAGHER |
25,751.06 |
|
GER CONNOLLY |
25,582.96 |
|
SEAN CALLEARY |
24,164.14 |
|
TRAS HONAN |
23,674.30 |
|
PAT CAREY |
23,639.20 |
|
NOEL AHERN |
23,107.76 |
|
BRIAN MULLOOLY |
22,472.06 |
|
DAN WALLACE |
21,298.16 |
|
VINCENT BRADY |
21,200.40 |
|
NOEL DAVERN (RIP) |
20,745.52 |
|
JIM O' KEEFFE |
19,918.34 |
|
FERGUS O' BRIEN |
19,918.34 |
|
LIZ O'DONNELL |
19,167.20 |
|
LIAM T. COSGRAVE |
19,132.92 |
|
TOM MOFFATT |
18,803.46 |
|
HUGH BYRNE |
18,803.46 |
|
EDWARD COLLINS |
18,668.00 |
|
TIM O'MALLEY |
18,585.06 |
|
TOM PARLON |
18,585.06 |
|
JACKIE FAHY |
18,401.76 |
|
EAMON RYAN |
18,350.28 |
|
PAUL CONNAUGHTON |
18,037.50 |
|
GEORGE BIRMINGHAM |
18,037.50 |
|
LIAM AYLWARD |
17,706.02 |
|
CHRIS FLOOD |
17,645.94 |
|
THOMAS HUSSEY |
17,374.24 |
|
BRIAN O'SHEA |
17,298.06 |
|
RORY KIELY |
17,193.80 |
|
MICHAEL D'ARCY |
17,124.12 |
|
DONAL CREED |
17,124.12 |
|
EITHNE FITZGERALD |
16,982.94 |
|
SEAN HAUGHEY |
16,934.32 |
|
CONOR LENIHAN |
15,415.92 |
|
NED O'KEEFFE |
15,273.70 |
|
AVRIL DOYLE |
14,916.20 |
|
IVOR CALLELY |
14,879.02 |
|
TODDY O'SULLIVAN |
14,835.60 |
|
JOHN CURRAN |
14,757.34 |
|
PAT MOYLAN |
13,986.18 |
|
MARTIN MANSERGH |
13,113.88 |
|
MICHAEL FINNERAN |
13,113.88 |
|
TREVOR SARGENT |
12,687.74 |
|
AUSTIN CURRIE |
12,291.24 |
|
LIZ MCMANUS |
12,287.34 |
|
BERNARD ALLEN |
12,287.34 |
|
DONAL CAREY |
12,008.62 |
|
SEAN MC CARTHY |
11,803.22 |
|
LIAM HYLAND |
11,796.72 |
|
CHARLES MC DONALD |
11,770.46 |
|
LORCAN ALLEN |
11,644.36 |
|
DONIE CASSIDY |
11,466.52 |
|
THOMAS FITZPATRICK |
10,953.80 |
|
JOHN DONNELLON |
9,018.62 |
|
JIM HIGGINS |
8,730.38 |
|
SEÁN POWER |
8,535.54 |
|
DONNACHA Ó LIATHÁIN |
8,424.68 |
|
GAY MITCHELL |
8,187.18 |
|
EOIN RYAN |
5,909.28 |
|
JOHN RYAN (RIP) |
4,761.12 |
267. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he is satisfied with the manner in which the Equality Tribunal conducts itself and deals with cases that are brought to its attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7680/15]
View answerThe Equality Tribunal is a quasi- judicial and independent statutory body set up under the Employment Equality Act 1998 to investigate and decide on complaints of discrimination. The Equality Tribunal as one of the quasi-judicial bodies of this Department and is operated independently of the Minister and as such the Minister does not interfere in the exercise by that body of its quasi-judicial functions including how it deals with cases. All decisions of the Equality Tribunal may be appealed to the Labour Court or the Circuit Court depending on the legislation. As with all quasi-judicial bodies it is subject to the oversight of the High Court through the system of Judicial Review. Such review is the appropriate channel to seek a remedy for any dissatisfaction a party to a complaint may have with either a decision issued or the processes involved.
The Workplace Relations Bill currently before the Oireachtas is expected to be enacted early this year. On commencement, the Equality Tribunal will cease to exist and all cases on hands and all new cases will be a matter for the Workplace Relations Commission.
The establishment of the Workplace Relations Commission, replacing the Equality Tribunal as well as the Labour Relations Commission, the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the National Employment Rights Authority will allow greater resources to be applied to processing complaints of discrimination and a quicker and more efficient service is expected.
