Wednesday, 25 Feb 2015

Written Answers Nos. 71-90

National Internship Scheme Data

Questions (71, 72)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

71. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the current and total number, to date, of JobBridge participants, by county. [8409/15]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

72. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a breakdown of the current and total number, to date, of JobBridge participants engaged by each of the local authorities. [8410/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together.

The number of interns participating in the JobBridge scheme in each County is set out in Table 1.

The number of interns participating in the JobBridge scheme with each Local Authority is set out in Table 2.

Table 1. JobBridge Interns by County

County	Finished	Current	Total
DUBLIN	10,463	1,734	12,197
CORK	2,925	522	3,447
GALWAY	2,026	412	2,438
LIMERICK	1,659	341	2,000
KILDARE	1,089	230	1,319
DONEGAL	1,016	223	1,239
WATERFORD	1,010	213	1,223
TIPPERARY	1,002	213	1,215
KERRY	898	224	1,122
WEXFORD	899	182	1,081
MAYO	814	202	1,016
LOUTH	800	178	978
WESTMEATH	776	158	934
MEATH	751	169	920
CLARE	681	127	808
WICKLOW	662	136	798
SLIGO	603	114	717
MONAGHAN	510	136	646
KILKENNY	461	90	551
LAOIS	449	96	545
CAVAN	434	98	532
OFFALY	409	96	505
CARLOW	402	78	480
ROSCOMMON	236	75	311
LONGFORD	228	50	278
LEITRIM	175	40	215
Grand Total	31,378	6,137	37,515

Table 2. JobBridge Interns with Local Authorities

Local Authority	Finished	Current	Total
Athlone Town Council	2	0	2
Bray Town Council	4	0	4
Carlow County Council	61	3	64
Cavan County Council	38	1	39
Clare County Council	47	2	49
Cork City Council	77	12	89
Cork County Council	113	3	116
Donegal County Council	90	11	101
Dublin City Council - Woodquay	53	10	63
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council	22	2	24
Dungarvan Town Council	3	0	3
Fingal County Council	19	1	20
Galway City Council	7	0	7
Galway County Council	100	13	113
Kerry County Council	31	3	34
Kildare County Council	1	0	1
Kilkenny County Council	11	1	12
Laois County Council	13	2	15
Leitrim County Council	22	2	24
Limerick City Council	54	16	70
Limerick County Council	28	0	28
Longford County Council	2	0	2
Louth County Council	7	3	10
Mayo County Council	81	16	97
Meath County Council	23	1	24
Monaghan County Council	33	6	39
North Tipperary County Council	56	0	56
Offaly County Council	18	2	20
Roscommon County Council	13	3	16
Sligo County Council	61	10	71
South Dublin County Council	10	0	10
South Tipperary County Council	23	3	26
Waterford City & County Council	1	7	8
Waterford City Council	24	3	27
Waterford County Council	73	1	74
Westmeath County Council	14	5	19
Wicklow County Council	11	1	12
Grand Total	1,246	143	1,389

Community Employment Schemes Eligibility

Questions (73)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

73. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if a person who was working, and is now unemployed, can draw stamps for nine months; if the person wishes to go on a community employment scheme but the person's partner or spouse is working, if that person is eligible, due to the fact the person is only unemployed nine months (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8426/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection (Deputy Kevin Humphreys)

Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people (defined as 12 months plus on the Live Register) and other disadvantaged persons (including those with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. CE helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to enhance/develop both their technical and personal skills.

It should be noted that persons with 9 months Jobseekers Benefit (JB) combined with 3 months on another CE-qualifying payment (e.g. jobseekers allowance, one parent family payment, etc.) are eligible to participate on CE.

In addition to CE, there are a number of training and work experience opportunities available to clients in receipt of JB. Such clients should contact their local DSP Intreo office or consult the DSP website for further details.

Disability Allowance Appeals

Questions (74)

Tom Fleming

Question:

74. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite a disability appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8434/15]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection

I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned was notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision on 19th February 2015.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.

Cycle to Work Scheme Administration

Questions (75)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

75. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if he will amend the bike to work scheme in order that if a bike is stolen, a person has an opportunity to re-apply again once within the four year period, as long as a Garda statement has been provided. [8335/15]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

The purpose of the cycle to work scheme is to encourage more employees to cycle to and from work, or between work places, thereby contributing to lowering carbon emissions, reducing traffic congestion and improving health and fitness levels. Under the scheme an employer may provide an employee with a bicycle and/or cycle safety equipment without the employee being liable for benefit-in-kind taxation. However, where the expenditure by the employer exceeds €1,000, the excess amount is liable to tax.

The legislation only allows for one purchase of a bicycle in respect of an employee in a 5-year period irrespective of whether the bicycle was used for the full period or not. It operates on a self-assessing basis using straightforward rules.  Any deviation from the current system would involve additional administrative procedures for either or both Revenue and employers in relation to the verification of loss, theft, insurance recovery, etc. As this runs counter to the existing provisions which are administratively simple, it would not be appropriate to alter the existing scheme.

In any event, bicycles are normally covered as part of a general household insurance policy or some people may opt to have specific cover for it. Where an insurance policy pays out for a bicycle then the stolen one may be replaced at no cost to the individual.

Tax Rebates

Questions (76)

Michael Creed

Question:

76. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Finance if a person who purchased the family home in December 2014 is entitled to a refund of deposit interest retention tax on savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8314/15]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that Finance Act 2014 inserted a new section 266A into the Taxes Consolidation Act (TCA) 1997.  That section provides for a repayment of Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) on certain savings held by a qualifying first time purchaser prior to the purchase of a home, where that purchase is made between 14 October 2014 and 31 December 2017.

A qualifying first-time purchaser is a person who, at the time of the purchase, has not previously purchased or built any other dwelling, either individually or jointly with any other person.

The section provides for repayment of DIRT paid in respect of interest earned by a first-time purchaser in the 48 months prior to the purchase of a dwelling for use as his/her place of residence. This repayment is limited to DIRT relating to deposits of up to 20% of the purchase price of the home.

Revenue is currently developing an online system to facilitate applications for these DIRT repayments and will publish further details in the coming weeks.

Question No. 77 withdrawn.

Revenue Commissioners Investigations

Questions (78)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

78. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance if he has requested a full report into the Revenue Commissioners investigation to recoup the unpaid taxes, as outlined in the recent International Consortium of Investigative Journalists report on the HSBC Private Bank in Geneva; and if the details of this report will be communicated to Deputies in Dáil Éireann. [8360/15]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

My officials are in close contact with their counterparts in Revenue on this and all other relevant taxation issues and on that basis it is not necessary for me to request a report of the nature described by the Deputy. My replies to his other questions on this issue have set out in detail the Revenue actions taken.

He will be aware that it is a longstanding convention that the Minister for Finance does not intervene in matters involving Revenue and individual taxpayers. In that context I would remind him also of the provision enacted by the Oireachtas in the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011 whereby the independence of the Revenue Commissioners in the performance of their functions was enacted in Section 101 of that Act.

Revenue plays a critical role in securing and delivering a significant part of the financial resources required by Government to provide services and facilities for all our citizens. I am satisfied that Revenue approaches the task of securing the collection of the critical taxes and duties payable to the State in an efficient manner.

Revenue Commissioners Investigations

Questions (79, 80, 81)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

79. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance in view of the fact that the Revenue Commissioners recouped just €4.5 million from 20 Irish holders of HSBC Swiss bank accounts, the action he is taking, in relation to investigating the remainder of the 350 HSBC clients who are associated with Ireland, and their accounts worth a total of €3.1 billion; if it is expected that there will be further moneys recouped by the Revenue Commissioners; and if not, if he will report to Dáil Éireann on the reasons the remaining 330 clients are exempt from paying Irish tax, due on these accounts. [8361/15]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

80. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance his plans to liaise with the Department of Justice and Equality to initiate a prosecution against HSBC Bank over the serious tax evasion, revealed in the recent International Consortium of Investigative Journalists reports. [8362/15]

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

81. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance if all the names of the Irish account holders who were allegedly evading tax through their accounts in the HSBC Private Bank in Geneva, as recently revealed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists report, have been released to Dáil Éireann; and the follow-up actions that have been taken by the Revenue Commissioners and An Garda Síochána in relation to the account holders concerned. [8363/15]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 to 81, inclusive, together.

I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that, in March 2010, they became aware of newspaper reports that the French authorities had come into possession of information in relation to bank accounts held with HSBC Bank, Geneva. Revenue wrote to the French authorities enquiring as to whether the data obtained by them contained information in relation to Irish residents and whether the French authorities would consider disclosing this information to Revenue. The French authorities responded positively to that request and made a disclosure to Revenue on 23 June 2010.

The information received was evaluated carefully by Revenue and it was found that, for a variety of reasons, there was no basis for pursuing an investigation in many of the cases. These included non-Irish addresses on certain of the accounts, persons associated with accounts not being resident or domiciled in the State, Revenue establishing that, by reason of prior disclosure, there was no liability, and, in the case of the corporate entities, that they were Irish registered but non-resident for taxation purposes. The vast majority of the funds linked to Ireland in the HSBC data is related to the Funds industry.  More than 98% of the total related to the Global Funds sector.

Following this evaluation, Revenue initiated thirty three investigations. In eight of the investigations it was determined that there were no additional tax liabilities. Nineteen investigations resulted in settlement payments of €4,559,371. In addition, a further amount of €172,442 has been received, as payment on account, in relation to two appeals against tax assessments entered as a result of investigations into the account holders. Six investigations are ongoing.

In addition to pursuing taxes owed, the Revenue Commissioners have also sought to have criminal proceedings brought in any cases where the information provided by the French authorities and their own subsequent investigations suggested that there was sufficient evidence to prosecute in respect of identified tax offences. Three prosecutions have been secured, resulting in the imposition of fines ranging from €4,000 to €25,000, and a further case remains under investigation. On the question of possible further prosecutions, it is not open to the Revenue Commissioners to comment as to whether any individual or corporate entity is under investigation with a view to prosecution.

I am advised also that a detailed report on the overall investigation has been submitted to the Public Accounts Committee by the Revenue Commissioners.

On the question of disclosure of the names of account holders, the Deputy will appreciate that the Revenue Commissioners have, under section 851A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, a duty of confidentiality in respect of taxpayer information, and that they may disclose such information only where expressly authorised by law to do so. To date, nine of the settlement payments made to Revenue have satisfied the statutory criteria for publication and details have been published in Revenue s defaulters list.

Tax Agreements

Questions (82)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

82. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the measures he and the Department of Justice and Equality are taking to ensure that a situation, such as that recently revealed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists report on the HSBC Private Bank in Geneva, does not occur again. [8364/15]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

In other written answers to questions from the Deputy today I have outlined the Revenue Commissioners response to the HSBC revelations. As outlined in Ireland's Road Map for Tax Competitiveness, published with Budget 2015, Ireland is maintaining its commitment to ensuring an open and transparent tax regime. One of the key ways we are doing this is through our commitment to the exchange of information between revenue authorities, in particular the automatic exchange of information. The automatic exchange of information between tax authorities is a vital tool in the worldwide fight against tax fraud and tax evasion and Ireland, along with our EU partners, has led the way in the promotion of this new global standard. At the October Ecofin, Ireland welcomed the political agreement on the recent revision to the Directive on Administrative Cooperation (which provides for automatic exchange of information within the EU), and we have legislated for it in Finance Act 2014. This was based on the new OECD Common Reporting Standard.

Ireland  welcomed the G20 and OECD endorsements of the new Common Reporting Standard for automatic exchange of tax information in 2014, and we are one of the countries that have committed to early implementation of this standard. As a member of this Early Adopters Group Ireland welcomes all efforts to increase tax transparency at both international and EU level. Ireland was the fourth country in the world to sign a FATCA agreement with the United States in 2012, which was the inspiration for this new Common Reporting Standard. During our EU Presidency in 2013 Ireland prioritised work in the area of tax fraud and evasion and made significant progress, notably in brokering agreement on Ecofin council conclusions on a Commission Action Plan on Tax Fraud and Evasion.     

In addition the results of the most recent Global Forum comprehensive analysis of how countries exchange tax information with each other, confirm that Ireland meets the highest international standards. The report confirms, following a forensic peer review, that the Irish system for the exchange of tax information is as good as anywhere in the world, and better than most. Finally our network of tax treaties also provide for full mutual information exchange with our treaty partners.

The Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation (GBFI) is charged with investigating serious and complex fraud matters and has resources and expertise to carry out this function. The Garda authorities have advised that to date no complaint has been received by the GBFI in relation to the specific matters referred to by the Deputy, nor has assistance been requested from any other agency in this regard. 

The GBFI works closely with other bodies with relevant enforcement functions, including the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE), the Central Bank, Revenue Commissioners, and the Competition Authority, with staff of the GBFI seconded to both the ODCE and the Competition Authority.

Public Sector Management Remuneration

Questions (83)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

83. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff, by grade, in the Revenue Commissioners earning between €100,000 and €150,000, between €150,001 and €200,000 and more than €200,000 in 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015. [8365/15]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

The Revenue Commissioners have provided me with the following information in response to the Deputy's question:

Table 1: Revenue Commissioners - Staff Earnings 2013 to 2015 

2013	Salary Plan €	100 - 150	150 - 200	> 200
	Secretary General	0	3	0
	Assistant Secretary	15	0	0
	Principal	45	0	0
	Total	60	3	0
2014	-	-	-	-
	Secretary General	0	3	0
	Assistant Secretary	15	0	0
	Principal	6	0	0
	Total	21	3	0
2015*	-	-	-	-
	Secretary General	0	3	0
	Assistant Secretary	15	0	0
	Principal	8	0	0
	Total	23	3	0

*These are estimated figures based on currently serving staff and their salary scales.

Mortgage Interest Rates

Questions (84)

Finian McGrath

Question:

84. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding mortgages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8397/15]

Written answers

Minister for Finance

As the Deputy is aware, neither the Central Bank nor I have any responsibility for any variation in the variable mortgage interest rate charged by regulated financial institutions.  The lending institutions in Ireland - including those in which the State has a significant shareholding - are independent commercial entities. I have no statutory role in relation to regulated financial institutions passing on the European Central Bank interest rate change or in relation to the mortgage interest rates charged.  It is a commercial matter for each institution concerned. 

The Central Bank has responsibility for the regulation and supervision of financial institutions in terms of consumer protection and prudential requirements and for ensuring ongoing compliance with applicable statutory obligations.  The Central Bank has no statutory role in the setting of interest rates by financial institutions, apart from the interest rate cap imposed on the credit union sector in accordance with the provisions of the Credit Union Act, 1997 and the requirement to be notified of penalty or surcharge interest imposed in respect of arrears.

As I stated in previous Parliamentary Questions, a previous Deputy Governor indicated that, within its existing powers and through the use of persuasion, the Central Bank would continue to engage with specific lenders which appear to have standard variable rates set disproportionate to their cost of funds and this is a course of action I expect the Central Bank to continually appraise.

The Deputy should be aware that the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr Patrick Honohan in his opening statement to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform last November stated that, as in most advanced economies, including Ireland, it has long been understood that tight administrative control over the rates charged by banks would be counterproductive in ensuring a sufficient flow of properly priced credit on a lasting basis. Such control would strongly discourage new entrants. In this regard, ongoing competition in the banking sector will be crucial in ensuring that the economy is provided with efficient and cost effective banking services.  In this regard, there has been some movements on mortgage interest rates of late by a number of institutions which suggest that the market may well be entering a new and more competitive phase.  

The mortgage interest rates that financial institutions operating in Ireland charge to customers are determined as a result of a commercial decision by the institutions concerned.  This interest rate is determined taking into account a broad range of factors including European Central Bank base rates, deposit rates, market funding costs, the competitive environment and an institution's overall funding.

However, as part of the Central Bank's work on mortgage arrears, lenders were asked to consider all avenues to help customers in arrears, including interest rate reductions. 

Court Accommodation Provision

Questions (85)

Brian Stanley

Question:

85. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of floor space available for use in the accommodation rented at Kilminchy, Portlaoise, County Laois. [8315/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Simon Harris)

Kilminchy Court, Portlaoise accommodates the Appeal's Office of the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine. The accommodation is used by the Department's Appeals Officers who, due to the nature of their work, are independent of the Department's day to day business. The premises comprises reception area, hearing rooms, office space, ancillary space, etc. The total area of the premises is 612 square metres.

Commercial Rates Valuation Process

Questions (86)

Michael Colreavy

Question:

86. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the recourse open to the owner of a small, rural business whose enterprise is at imminent risk of closure because their appeal against an unfair rateable valuation was unsuccessful. [8327/15]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I assume that the Deputy's question relates to an application for revision of a valuation which has been made to the Commissioner of Valuation. Such applications are considered under Part 6 of the Valuation Act 2001 and a "material change of circumstances" must have occurred since the property was last valued. Each application for revision is considered by a "revision officer" appointed by the Commissioner of Valuation.

The term "Material Change of Circumstances" is defined in the Valuation Act 2001. However, the main criteria for satisfying the rule are as follows:

1. The property is a new property that has never been valued before.

2. The property is an existing property which has been divided into 2 or more separate properties.

3. Two or more existing properties have been amalgamated into a single property.

4. There has been a change in the rateable status of an existing property. This occurs when a property which was previously rateable becomes no longer rateable or a property which was not previously rateable has now become rateable.

5. The property is an existing property whose value has changed by virtue of structural/physical alterations (including damage by fire or other physical cause).

The latter criterion refers to a situation where an existing property undergoes structural or physical alterations which affect the value of the property. This usually refers to extensions, demolitions or other situations where the physical size or nature of the property has changed significantly (either made larger or smaller). It is important to note this condition in its entirety - i.e. the changes to the property must have brought about a change to its value. For example, a minor alteration such as adding a small porch to the front of a building will increase its total size, but may not affect its overall value for rating purposes. Also, a simple change of use is not sufficient on its own to be considered a Material Change of Circumstances, if the physical "bricks and mortar" of the property have not been altered. A change in the economic circumstances of a property (e.g. something which brings about new trading conditions) does not, of itself, constitute a Material Change of Circumstances which would result in a successful application for a revision of valuation. Unless a ratepayer's property meets at least one of the conditions referred to above, the Valuation Office will not be able to legally amend or alter a valuation. If a property satisfies the Material Change of Circumstances condition a revised valuation is determined.

If a person is dissatisfied with a decision of the Valuation Office on his application for a revision of valuation there are a number of opportunities to either make representations on the proposed valuation or to appeal the final valuation to the Commissioner of Valuation and subsequently to the independent Valuation Tribunal. A further appeal can be made to the High Court on a point of law.

I am informed by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government that local authorities are under a statutory obligation to levy rates on any property used for commercial purposes in accordance with the details entered in the valuation lists prepared by the independent Commissioner of Valuation under the Valuation Act 2001.  The levying and collection of rates are matters for each individual local authority. As with all local charges, the invoicing and collection of due amounts is a matter for the local authority concerned to manage in the light of prevailing local circumstances and in accordance with normal accountancy procedures.

Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses

Questions (87)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

87. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if public purchasers, including local authorities, are precluded from using social clauses in public procurement contracts until such time as the Working Group on Social Clauses in the Office of Public Procurement has completed its pilot projects, and decided what conditions to insert into the Government form of contract, they are required by law to use; and the scope such bodies have to use social clauses in the interim. [8351/15]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Social clauses in contracts encourage suppliers to perform actions focussed on broader policy considerations. They can be used in public procurement in cases where they are targeted at factoring into the procurement process consideration of social issues such as employment opportunities, equal opportunities and social inclusion.  In order to be compatible with EU law, they must be made known to all interested parties at tender stage and must not restrict participation by contractors from other Member States.

In order to ensure that social clauses do not discriminate, it is best to use general categories of beneficiary (e.g. long-term unemployed, trainees, young people) and then target the social benefits through 'supply-side' activities (e.g. training and job-matching services). Targeted social clauses are effective in cases where they are actively supported by supply-side actions and good monitoring and evaluation processes taken by the Department or Agency with the relevant policy remit.

As the Deputy is aware, I announced the establishment of a Social Clauses Project Group led by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) to pro-actively seek projects with a view to including social clauses to ensure those awarded contracts contribute to employment or training opportunities for long term unemployed. In order to assist to OGP in this task, sectors have nominated projects for inclusion in the pilot from their respective procurement pipelines of projects for 2015.

The Government favours a targeted approach to the use of social clauses focused on contracts where employers are likely to be hiring additional workers to deliver the contract.  This should mitigate the risk of displacing workers already in employment while offering the opportunity of assisting with labour activation measures for the long-term unemployed.  

Overall, OGP wants to gain practical experience from the pilot on the effective use of social clauses that will assist in the development of a robust and effective social procurement framework. The OGP will review the approach and issue guidance.

In the interim it is permissible to include social clauses provided they are not designed to disadvantage non-local contractors and they form part of the core purpose of the contract and must provide a benefit to the authority at award stage.

Exchequer Returns

Questions (88)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

88. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the income generated for the Exchequer from mobile phone masts at Garda stations in the Dublin region for 2014 and to date in 2015. [8367/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (Deputy Simon Harris)

The income generated from licences granted to mobile phone operators in respect of telecommunication masts at Garda Stations in the Dublin Region for 2014 was €1.699m and monies received to date in 2015 is €0.115m inclusive of VAT.

Office of the Ombudsman Remit

Questions (89)

Sean Fleming

Question:

89. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the organisations that have been removed from the remit of the Ombudsman; the dates on which same occurred; the reason in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8372/15]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Ombudsman Act 2012 represented the most substantial extension in both the powers of the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman's remit in over three decades significantly enhancing the accountability of public bodies to citizens.  The administrative actions of some 180 additional public bodies were brought within the Ombudsman's remit under the Act. 

In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, the Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012 extends the Ombudsman's remit to all public bodies which conform to the definition of public bodies as set out in Part 1 of the First Schedule to the Act, except for those which are specifically exempt in whole or in part.  This achieved automatic application of the Ombudsman's Act to public bodies in place of the previous approach which required bodies to be scheduled individually by way of Government Order for inclusion on a case-by-case basis. 

The Act also provides that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with the consent of the relevant Minister responsible, can add or remove excluded bodies by Order from the Schedule of Exempt Bodies. This would be subject to consultation with the Ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Children and the relevant Oireachtas Committee, in this case the Committee on Investigations, Oversight and Petitions in respect of such Orders.  I can confirm that no such Orders have been made and it is not the case that any organisation which conforms to the definition of a public body in Part 1 of the First Schedule of the 2012 Act has been removed from the remit of the Ombudsman.

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Questions (90)

Pat Deering

Question:

90. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the process for entry to the Civil Service; when it will open; and if there will be a regional breakdown of the applications. [8381/15]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

Recruitment to the Civil Service is regulated by the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. The Act established the Public Appointments Service (PAS) as the centralised recruitment body for the Civil and Public Service. The Act also established the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) as the regulator of civil service recruitment. The CPSA publishes codes of practice setting out how competitions are run and also issues recruitment licences to individual Departments to allow them to conduct their own recruitment.

Recruitment competitions are advertised on www.publicjobs.ie. By logging on to this website, individuals can also register to be notified by e-mail or text message of vacancies as they arise. Most recruitment competitions will have regional options and candidates will be asked to express a regional preference as part of the application process.

The majority of recruitment to the Civil Service is carried out by the PAS and the following competitions across a broad range of Civil Service grades are ongoing at present:

- Clerical Officer;

- Administrative Officer (i.e. the graduate recruitment grade for the Civil Service), for general service as well as for the Irish Government Economic Evaluation Service (IGEES);

- Executive Officer (both for general service and for the ICT area); and

- Principal Officer.

In the main, vacancies in the Civil service are filled on a permanent basis. However, temporary vacancies arise from time to time to cover such absences as maternity leave or shorter working year, and where a permanent vacancy will not exist. Temporary Clerical Officer (TCO) positions in the Civil Service are filled by an annual competition conducted by the PAS which is usually advertised in February. The next TCO competition will be advertised shortly and will include both Dublin and regional panels, Departments and Offices can then call from these panels in accordance with business needs.