Written Answers Nos. 297-311
297. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans for flood relief work in respect of a town (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11152/15]
View answerThe engineering and environmental studies required for the proposed River Deel (Crossmolina) Flood Relief Scheme are being progressed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and its consultants. A public information day was held in Crossmolina in June 2014 to apprise interested parties of the preferred option, which was generally well received. Consultation was also initiated with relevant Government Departments during 2014 and discussions are currently ongoing with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, in relation to issues it raised regarding environmental impacts of the proposals.
Subject to a favourable outcome to the discussions with the NPWS, it is hoped to bring the scheme to statutory Public Exhibition, as required by the Arterial Drainage Acts, during the Summer of 2015. Following this, and provided the proposals are generally accepted by the public and other stakeholders, the OPW will seek formal sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to proceed with the scheme. At this point, it is not possible to indicate a timeframe for commencement of construction.
298. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a flood relief plan has been finalised in respect of a town (details supplied) in County Mayo; if he will publish the plan; if he will offer a time frame for completion of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11202/15]
View answerThe engineering and environmental studies required for the proposed River Deel (Crossmolina) Flood Relief Scheme are being progressed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and its consultants. A public information day was held in Crossmolina in June 2014 to apprise interested parties of the preferred option, which was generally well received. Consultation was also initiated with relevant Government Departments during 2014, and discussions are currently ongoing with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, in relation to issues it raised regarding environmental impacts of the proposals.
Subject to a favourable outcome to the discussions with the NPWS, it is hoped to bring the scheme to statutory Public Exhibition, as required by the Arterial Drainage Acts, during the Summer of 2015. Following this, and provided the proposals are generally accepted by the public and other stakeholders, the OPW will seek formal sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to proceed with the scheme. At this point, it is not possible to indicate a timeframe for commencement of construction.
299. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the staff of Waterways Ireland in Portumna in County Galway have been asked to pay an increased pension levy; the cause of the most recent increase; the company that the pension scheme is being paid into; if it is Irish managed or a United Kingdom managed company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11076/15]
View answerI would refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 70 of the 11th March 2015 which sets out the background to the proposed changes to the pension scheme and pension contributions for staff in North South bodies including Waterways Ireland. Pension levies to private companies do not arise.
300. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress with flood relief plans for an area (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11323/15]
View answerThe engineering and environmental studies required for the proposed River Deel (Crossmolina) Flood Relief Scheme are being progressed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) and its consultants. A public information day was held in Crossmolina in June 2014 to apprise interested parties of the preferred option, which was generally well received. Consultation was also initiated with relevant Government Departments during 2014, and discussions are currently ongoing with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, in relation to issues it raised regarding environmental impacts of the proposals.
Subject to a favourable outcome to the discussions with the NPWS, it is hoped to bring the scheme to statutory Public Exhibition, as required by the Arterial Drainage Acts, during the Summer of 2015. Following this, and provided the proposals are generally accepted by the public and other stakeholders, the OPW will seek formal sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to proceed with the scheme. At this point, it is not possible to indicate a timeframe for commencement of construction.
301. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to a meeting (details supplied), if he will approve funding for a project; the total projected cost of the project; the time frame for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11514/15]
View answerAt the meeting referred to by the Deputy, proposals for flood mitigation works at Station Road and East Bridge, Ballinasloe were discussed.
Galway County Council submitted an application to the OPW in 2013 under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for €480,000 for works at Station Road. This application was not approved by the OPW and the delegation requested that this decision be re-considered. I understand that no application for funding has been submitted by the Council in respect of the project at East Bridge to date as the proposal involves work on a protected structure and therefore will first require the approval of the National Monuments Section of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
I explained to the delegation that the current requests for funding must be considered in the context of the very significant funding totalling €1.9 million which has been provided to date by the OPW to Galway County Council under the OPW's Minor Works Scheme in respect of flood relief works in Ballinasloe. This funding has allowed substantial works to be undertaken which will have reduced the flood risk considerably in the town. I indicated that the OPW's core strategy for addressing flood risk in the Shannon Basin is the River Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study and that Ballinsaloe is one of the areas, known as Areas for Further Assessment, being looked at in detail under this study. The Shannon CFRAM study is one of six such studies being undertaken nationally and the output of this important project will be an integrated plan of specific measures to address, in a comprehensive and sustainable way, the significant flood risk factors in the Shannon basin. The recommendations for structural flood measures that will emerge from all the separate CFRAM projects will be prioritised on a national basis and I informed the delegation that it would not be appropriate to give preference to Ballinasloe by committing further significant funding for flood relief works in that AFA pending the outcome of the overall CFRAM work and the national priorities that will emanate from that.
I am satisfied that the CFRAM strategy, which is line with national and EU policy on management of flood risk, is the best way to address comprehensively any remaining flood risk in Ballinasloe. I am cognisant of the great effort and work that the Flood Alleviation Ballinasloe community group has undertaken to date and I indicated at the recent meeting with them that, in light of their presentation on what they consider to be a significant remaining risk in the town, but having regard also to my stated position above in relation to the CFRAM strategy, the application for additional funding would be considered again.
302. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the time frame for when flood alleviation measures will be carried out in Claregalway, Montaigh and Carnmore in County Galway; if he will provide a breakdown of how the €15 million allocated for these areas will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11546/15]
View answerAs indicated in my replies to previous Questions on this subject, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has submitted the proposals for the Clare River (Claregalway) scheme for statutory approval by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, as required by the Arterial Drainage Acts. The scheme includes flood alleviation measures in the areas referred to by the Deputy.
In order to comply with the requirements of SI 469 and SI 470 of 2012, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) engaged experts to carry out an independent review as part of its assessment of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of the Scheme proposals. The report of the independent review was recently received by DPER and this raises a number of matters for clarification and some additional information requirements necessary to enable the adequacy of the EIS to be fully assessed. The OPW and its environmental consultants are currently considering the report and will be in a position to respond to DPER shortly.
Pending completion of DPER's assessment and approval of the Scheme by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, it is not possible to say when construction works will commence.
I wish to re-affirm that the OPW remains committed to carrying out the scheme, subject to the Minister's sanction, and has provided for its cost in its multi-annual capital expenditure profiles to 2017.
The total estimated budget for the Claregalway Scheme inclusive of provision for professional fees, environmental mitigation measures and maintenance is in the region of €7.1 million and not the amount referred to by the Deputy, which includes the advance works already completed at Claregalway and Crusheeny Bridge at a cost of approximately €2.5 million. It is not possible to accurately break down the cost between the discrete areas covered by the scheme.
303. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the public liability insurance coverage for Parkes Castle, Dromahair, County Leitrim, would cover a special event in the castle organised by Leitrim Tourism Network on 24 March 2015. [11711/15]
View answerIn the normal course, the State does not provide general Public Liability Insurance in respect of any of its sites as the State assumes its own risk in relation to visitors to such locations. Where specific third party events involving members of the public at heritage sites in the care of the Commissioners of Public Works are being organised, sponsors are required to provide certain documentation in advance including event plans, stewarding arrangements, health & safety emergency plans, etc. The Commissioners also require standard Indemnity undertakings to be provided by event sponsors which provide cover to the Commissioners in the event of any claims arising. The question of providing specific commercial Insurance cover such as Public Liability in this instance is therefore a matter for the event sponsors.
304. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of occasions since the start of 2014 in which the Secretary General of his Department has been involved in the clearing or approval of material for release under freedom of information legislation. [11804/15]
View answerUnder the provisions of Freedom of Information legislation, the decision-making and internal review functions of requests processed within my Department are formally delegated to departmental officials at Assistant Principal Officer and Principal Officer level and their decisions on Freedom of Information requests are binding. The Secretary General of my Department has no role in the clearing or approval of material for release for these requests.
305. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the level of payments made to private sector companies in 2014 for public contracts; if his Department investigates the employment policies of firms in the private sector who tender for State contracts; if a company's employment record has any impact on whether it is awarded public contracts; his views that an equal employment policy should have an impact; his further views that it is important to ensure that the Government supports equal opportunity employers and that contracts of this nature should not be awarded to private sector companies who operate gender discrimination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11849/15]
View answerThe exact level of expenditure that relates to public procurement for 2014 is not as yet available. However, based on previous years the State spends approximately €12 billion per annum on the procurement of goods, works and services. More exact data will be available shortly.
It is not part of my Department's remit to monitor the implementation of employment policies. However, I would say that employment law and its enforcement apply equally to public and private sector contracts. My colleague Mr Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has overall policy responsibility for employment rights including redundancy entitlements. The National Employment Rights Authority (NERA) is responsible for enforcing statutory employment rights and entitlements in the State and, in undertaking that role, carries out a range of functions including the provision of employment rights information and the inspection of employment related records. NERA operates a system of risk based inspections in sectors where there are identifiable risks. Inspections are also carried out in response to complaints received and routine inspections are undertaken as a control measure.
It is a condition of any contract entered into by a public authority with a private sector entity (other than for operations that may reasonably be considered as small scale) that the entity is required to provide access to certain information. This information may assist the authority to assess compliance with employment legislation consistent with the requirements of EU and national law.
306. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the remaining vacancies on the interim board of the Office of Public Procurement will be filled; the criteria for selecting appointees; and when legislation setting up the board on a permanent basis will be expected. [11948/15]
View answerThere is one remaining vacancy on the interim board of the Office of Public Procurement that is to be filled by the appointment of a suitably qualified and experienced external person. Applications for this position were sought through the Public Appointments Service and I am considering an appointment. The following areas of expertise were indicated as being of particular interest for the appointment - corporate governance; public procurement/competition legal expertise; public procurement operations; financial expertise (with particular reference to audit capability); shared service delivery.
The remaining members of the interim board have been nominated by me at the level of Secretary General of a government department or equivalent to ensure effective and strong corporate governance by the board for its oversight and advisory role. The board is chaired by Deputy Simon Harris, Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for Public Procurement.
The other members of the interim board are:
- Mr Jim Breslin, Secretary General, Department of Health
- Ms. Eileen Creedon, Chief State Solicitor
- Mr. Martin Fraser, Secretary General, Department of the Taoiseach
- Mr. John McCarthy, Secretary General, Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
- Ms. Niamh O'Donoghue, Secretary General, Department of Social Protection
- Mr. Paul Quinn, Chief Procurement Officer, Office of Government Procurement, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
The drafting of primary legislation to enable a new independent office is a considerable task. It is important that its functions, powers and governance are clearly set out. Work is underway within the Office of Government Procurement, in consultation with the Chief State Solicitor's Office and the Office of the Attorney General, to develop a draft Heads of Bill. The interim Board has also been consulted in its development. The Chief Procurement Officer will bring the draft Heads of Bill to me for consideration in the coming months.
307. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding road restoration works at a location (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11982/15]
View answer308. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the planned measures by the Office of Public Works to ensure that unsafe access to the River Dargle flood relief construction site by children is prevented; the measures in place by the office to inspect safety hazards at the site; the current line of responsibility for the statutory safety file for this project; if the safety statement for the works has been inspected and approved by the office; the safety audits which are carried out and by whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11983/15]
View answer309. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to restore the People's Park in Bray, County Wicklow; when these works are due for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11984/15]
View answer310. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works plans to conduct an audit of traffic movements, construction signage and general traffic and pedestrian safety in the vicinity of the River Dargle flood prevention construction site before work recommences in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11985/15]
View answer311. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the planting and seeding of disturbed river banks at La Vallee, Bray, County Wicklow; if the planting scheme will be open to public consultation as construction work in this area was not included in the environmental impact statement or planning application for the Dargle flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11986/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 307 to 311, inclusive, together.
It is important to state at the outset that the River Dargle Flood Defence Scheme in Bray County Wicklow is being undertaken by Wicklow County Council (WCC) as the Contracting Authority with funding from the Office of Public Works (OPW). While OPW representatives sit on the Project Steering Group which oversees the project, responsibility for the day to day running and management of the scheme, including Health and Safety matters, site supervision and public liaison, rests with WCC.
In relation to Deputy's question on the Castle Street junction with the Dargle road, I am informed by WCC that, in its view, the junction and road condition is not in a very unsafe condition. While the footpaths and road lining in the area require further work, the area cannot be finally re-surfaced until the piled river wall is complete and the boardwalk is installed. If footpaths and road lining at this location were re-laid now it would have to be ripped up and re-done at a later date to facilitate the boardwalk.
With regard to your query on the prevention of unsafe access to the flood relief construction site, I am advised by WCC that two security companies using cameras and night time patrols are employed by WCC for site security. The monitoring of site safety hazards and the repair and strengthening of security fencing is carried out on an ongoing basis by WCC and its agents. The statutory safety file is being maintained, in line with statutory requirements and best practice, by the consultants hired by WCC. As the OPW is not the contracting authority for the project it is not required to approve the Safety Statement. I am further informed by WCC that regular safety inspections are being carried out by the construction team and consultants, as required by law and best practice.
In relation to the People's Park, I understand that a substantial part of it was handed back for public use in November last year and that WCC plans to hand back the remaining, relatively small areas, which are currently being used for works compounds in September 2016.
As the OPW is not the Contracting Authority on the project it is not responsible for conducting traffic audits. Satisfactory management of construction traffic will be required of the successful contractors as part of their methodology for undertaking the works. WCC will arrange regular inspection of traffic safety measures as part of its management of the works construction.
I am further advised by WCC that works to the river bank at La Vallee were emergency works, arranged because of the imminent danger of collapse of the river bank adjacent to apartment and office blocks. The landscaping works being carried out at the apartment blocks at present are re-instatement works and regular and detailed consultation with the apartment owners is ongoing. The opposite bank will be planted in the near future to further stabilise the bank. This planting will be undertaken in accordance with the general principles of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and as this bank was envisaged by the EIS to be excavated, it will be planted to the standard envisaged by the EIS, or better.
