Pearse Doherty
Question:56. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance when the spring statement will be made; and if he envisages any legislation as a result. [12316/15]
View answerEconomic Statements
Questions (56)
Written answers
The intention is to publish the Spring Economic Statement in the second half of April. It is not foreseen that legislation will be required.
Departmental Bodies Data
Questions (57)
Shane Ross
Question:57. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance the average age of chairpersons and non-executive directors of State or partially owned State companies, State bodies, semi-State bodies and of State agencies under the aegis of his Department on the State's payroll; the number of directors on the board of more than one such body; the number of women; and his plans to make savings from this area. [12557/15]
View answerWritten answers
In response to the Deputy's question I, as Minister for Finance, will answer in respect of boards under the aegis of my Department on the State's payroll and am not in a position to respond on board composition outside the remit of my Department.
Within my remit there are four such boards where the chairpersons or non-executive directors are in receipt of remuneration from the State. These bodies are the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA), the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC), the Credit Union Restructuring Board (ReBo) and the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA).
The numbers of females per each of these boards is as follows:
- Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal - one
- Irish Fiscal Advisory Council IFAC - two
- Credit Union Restructuring Board (REBO) - two
- National Treasury Management Agency NTMA - three
The Department of Finance is not in a position to provide information in respect of age as it does not seek such information from chairpersons when appointments are being made.
In respect of savings, I can confirm that 3 board members of REBO have waived their fee entitlement. Also Mr Willie Walsh, chairperson of the NTMA Board, has waived his fee entitlement.
Departmental Bodies Data
Questions (58)
Shane Ross
Question:58. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Finance the total number of chairpersons and non-executive directors of State or partially owned State companies, State bodies, semi-State bodies and of State agencies under the aegis of his Department on the State's payroll; the total cost to the State from the payout to these non-executive directors including fees, travel and other expenditure; his plans to reduce the number of these chairpersons or directors. [12607/15]
View answerWritten answers
In response to the Deputy's question I, as Minister for Finance, will answer in respect of boards of state agencies under the aegis of my Department.
Within my remit there are four such boards where the chairpersons or non-executive directors are in receipt of remuneration from the State. These bodies are the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA), the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC), the Credit Union Restructuring Board (ReBo) and the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA). The details for these are included in the table.
|
Body |
Number of Chairpersons/Non-exec Directors |
Cost of Chairperson/Non-exec Directors to exchequer since appointment |
Source of Funding (If coming from a vote please specify) |
Comments on Potential Savings opportunities |
|
National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) Members |
Three ex-officio Members (the Chief Executive of NTMA who is an executive director, Secretary General of the Department of Finance and the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) 6 Appointed Members including the chairperson |
The ex-officio Members do not receive remuneration for their role. Annual Remuneration: Chairperson: €45,000 Ordinary Member: €30,000 |
Remuneration and expenses are paid by the NTMA which is funded from the Central Fund. |
The National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment) Act 2014 simplified and streamlined the governance structures of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA). The following corporate bodies and committees will no longer be required under the new structure and have been dissolved: the NTMA Advisory Committee, the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) Board and the State Claims Agency (SCA) Policy Committee. The National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission has been reduced to one Member (the Chief Executive of the NTMA) while the assets of the Fund are transferred to the ISIF. |
|
Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal |
One Chairperson Four other members who are not Directors |
The Chairperson of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal is a medical consultant employed by the National Rehabilitation Hospital. The Minister for Finance provides for €330,000 per annum on the Finance Vote to recoup to the National Rehabilitation Hospital the costs of administering the Medical Board of Appeal. |
Vote 7 (Finance Vote) Line C3 (Fiscal Policy Division) |
|
|
Irish Fiscal Advisory Council |
Five members of the Council including the Chair |
The Chair receives €20,520 per annum. The total fees paid since 2011: 2015 - No fees paid yet - €1423.45 travel and subsistence 2014 - €64,959 fees incurred plus employers PRSI - €28,120 travel and subsistence 2013 - €71,490 fees incurred plus employers PRSI - 28,315 travel and subsistence Total - €194,307.45. |
Central Fund |
The Minister has no intention of reducing the number of Council members as the number of members is in Statute in the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2012. |
|
Credit Union Restructuring Board (ReBo) |
12 board members including the chair |
€249k (spanning Aug 2012 to Feb 2015). |
Credit Union Fund - Consistent with the co-funding of ReBo by the credit union movement and the State as recommended by the Commission on Credit Unions, 50% of ReBo's total expenditure is recoupable from the credit union sector via a levy. |
ReBo is facilitating and overseeing the restructuring process which is being carried out on a time-bound basis. When the Minister is satisfied, having conducted a review, that the Board has performed its functions in line with Section 43 of the Credit Union and Co-operation with Overseas Regulators Act 2012 the Minister may dissolve ReBo. |
Departmental Staff Retirements
Questions (59)
Niall Collins
Question:59. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be awarded a pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12190/15]
View answerWritten answers
PeoplePoint is the HR and Pensions Administration Shared Service provider for the Civil Service. It was established in March 2013 and currently provides services to employees across 21 Civil Service organisations. Once all remaining in-scope organisations transition, PeoplePoint will provide services to 38 organisations.
On the 15th April 2013 PeoplePoint started calculating retirement benefits and instructing the Pay Master General (PMG) in the Department of Finance to make pension payments for its customer organisations. Prior to that time all pension information required to calculate retirement benefits was held by Civil Service organisations. To date, PeoplePoint has processed more than 3,000 retirement cases.
When setting up a pension benefit for a scheme member all relevant information needs to be available to ensure that benefits are calculated correctly. In exceptional circumstances further enquiries may be needed to determine in full the benefits due. Employees or former employees who are experiencing delays with obtaining the pension information they need are encouraged to contact PeoplePoint directly at Pensions@peoplepoint.ie or 076 107 1000.
PeoplePoint is aware of the potential impact of any delay on former employees, therefore, all steps are taken to expedite the collection of the information. Once all the relevant details are verified, PeoplePoint can calculate and issue details of the member's benefits. PeoplePoint has confirmed that the retirement benefit for the person in question has been finalised and passed for payment at the next available opportunity to the Pay Master General (PMG) in the Department of Finance.
Public Sector Staff Data
Questions (60)
Sean Fleming
Question:60. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of persons evaluated under the Civil Service performance management and development system in 2013 and 2014; the number of persons who received a rating of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 under each system; if he will provide an explanation as to what each of these ratings mean; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12208/15]
View answerWritten answers
The Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) applies to the majority of grades in the Civil Service, encompassing approximately 30,000 staff in 2013. A total of approximately 26,000 of these staff completed PMDS in 2013, representing a compliance rate of 86%. The data on 2013 evaluations under the Civil Service Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) is available on my Department's website, together with comprehensive information on the PMDS itself, including the system of ratings. The link to the website is http://hr.per.gov.ie/.
Data on PMDS 2014 has yet to be collected, following which it will be analysed and then published on the website.
Departmental Contracts
Questions (61)
Michael Colreavy
Question:61. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he provided his consent under section 66 of to the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011 in respect of a contract with Capita for the development of a system of postcodes; the factors which he considered when granting such consent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12279/15]
View answerWritten answers
Under section 66 of the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act, 2011, the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources may, with the prior consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, enter into a contract for the development, implementation and maintenance of a national postcode system.
Consent was granted to the Minster for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to enter into a contract with the winning bidder for the Postcodes project in December 2013. This consent was provided on the understanding that the procurement was conducted in accordance with public procurement requirements; that the winning tender represented value for money; that the contract complied fully with the requirements of the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act, 2011 and that the costs could be met from within the voted allocations of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources going forward.