Written Answers Nos. 288-300
288. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he agrees with the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council that post-2016, the medium-term projections for expenditure and tax revenue in the Stability Programme Update 2015 do not fully meet the requirements of a medium-term fiscal plan, as envisaged in the Government’s budgetary framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23094/15]
View answerThe Fiscal Council noted that the provision of indicative fiscal space for the forthcoming Budget was a welcome development in terms of fiscal transparency. Indeed, this sets the scene for the National Economic Dialogue to be held next month.
The post-2016 forecasts in the Stability Programme Update and the Spring Economic Statement reflect an increase in expenditure of €300 million per annum to offset demographic pressures and indexation of the income tax system at an estimated cost of €300 million in a full year. This adds to the realism and credibility of the forecasts.
However, the production of fiscal forecasts reflecting policy beyond 2016 requires specific decisions on the allocation of fiscal space for each year. Once there is visibility as to the exact quantum of fiscal space available each year, policy decisions will be required at Budget time on the allocation of the space between expenditure and tax measures.
When Government has fully considered the appropriate use of the available fiscal space, this will be reflected in the fiscal forecasts.
289. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the unwinding of the public service pension reduction for existing pensioners in payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23099/15]
View answer290. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding cuts to pensions of retired civil servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23160/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together.
I refer to my reply on 9 June 2015 to Parliamentary Question No. 368. The position remains unchanged.
291. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe cén fáth gur i mBéarla amháin, go dtí seo, atá gach comhfhreagras leis an bpobal agus le grúpaí stocaireachta atá cláraithe le lobbying.ie, agus faoi na rialacháin stocaireachta nua; an bhfuil sé i gceist aige an comhfhreagras seo agus an t-eolas faoi ar an suíomh idirlín lobbying.ie a chur ar fáil go dátheangach; cén uair a tharlóidh sé seo; an bhfuil dualgas ar dhreamanna ar mian leo clárú faoin reachtaíocht ábhartha seo trí Ghaeilge é sin a dhéanamh go dtí go mbeidh an deis sin ann; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [23228/15]
View answerMar a luaigh mé cheana, is é an Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin in Oifigí Poiblí atá freagrach as cur chun feidhme an gClár Brústocaireachta 2015. Forálann Alt 9 den Acht go ndéanfaidh an Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin in Oifigí Poiblí an gClár Brústocaireachta a bhunú agus a choimeád ar bun. Deireann Acht Alt 10(2) go ndéanfar an Clár a choimeád i cibé foirm is cuí leis an gCoimisiún um Chaighdeáin.
Cuirfear tús leis an An Acht um Brústocaireacht a Rialáil ar 1 Meán Fómhair, 2015. Tá mo chuid oifigeach ag obair go dlúth leis an gCoimisiún um Chaighdeáin i ullmhú do thús na reachtaíochta. Mar sin féin, is comhlacht neamhspleách é an Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin agus comhlacht nach bhfuil feidhm dhíreach agam ar.
Tugaim faoi deara gur comhlacht poiblí é an Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin. Ní mór dóibh cloí le riachtanais Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, 2003 agus ar ndóigh táim cinnte go ndéanfaidh siad amhlaidh. Tuigim go bhfuil rún ag an gCoimisiún um Chaighdeáin go mbeidh gach ábhar ábhartha agus riachtanach chun cabhrú le comhlíonadh cheanglais na reachtaíochta ar fáil ar an suíomh i nGaeilge. Tuigim freisin go bhfuil sé ar intinn ag an gCoimisiún um Chaighdeáin go mbeidh éine ar mian leo a chlárú nó a chomhdú tuairisceán i nGaeilge a bheith in ann é sin a dhéanamh. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil foireann an Coimisiún in ann seirbhís a chinntiú sa dá theanga arna iarraidh sin.
Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoi pleananna an Choimisiúin um Chaighdeáin, lena n-áirítear eolas ar sheirbhísí i nGaeilge dóibh siúd a n'iarraidh orthu, ba mhaith liom a mholadh do pháirtithe leasmhara teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an gCoimisiún um Chaighdeáin go díreach. Ba mhaith liom freisin a thuilleadh go rachaidh siad i gcomhairle leis an láithreán gréasáin ag www.lobbying.ie, a sheoladh ar an 30 Aibreán 2015, chun deis a thabhairt do cláraithe a bheith eolach ar an gcóras.
292. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe cén socrú atá déanta ag a Roinn chun déileáil le comhfhreagras agus fiosrúcháin de bhéal i nGaeilge faoin gcóras nua stocaireachta ar ritheadh reachtaíocht ina leith le gairid; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [23229/15]
View answerMar a luaigh mé cheana, is é an Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin in Oifigí Poiblí atá freagrach as cur chun feidhme an gClár Brústocaireachta 2015. Forálann Alt 9 den Acht go ndéanfaidh an Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin in Oifigí Poiblí an gClár Brústocaireachta a bhunú agus a choimeád ar bun. Deireann Acht Alt 10(2) go ndéanfar an Clár a choimeád i cibé foirm is cuí leis an gCoimisiún um Chaighdeáin.
Cuirfear tús leis an An Acht um Brústocaireacht a Rialáil ar 1 Meán Fómhair, 2015. Tá mo chuid oifigeach ag obair go dlúth leis an gCoimisiún um Chaighdeáin i ullmhú do thús na reachtaíochta. Mar sin féin, is comhlacht neamhspleách é an Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin agus comhlacht nach bhfuil feidhm dhíreach agam ar.
Tugaim faoi deara gur comhlacht poiblí é an Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin. Ní mór dóibh cloí le riachtanais Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 agus ar ndóigh táim cinnte go ndéanfaidh siad amhlaidh. Tuigim go bhfuil rún ag an gCoimisiún um Chaighdeáin go mbeidh gach ábhar ábhartha agus riachtanach chun cabhrú le comhlíonadh cheanglais na reachtaíochta ar fáil ar an suíomh i nGaeilge. Tuigim freisin go bhfuil sé ar intinn ag an gCoimisiún um Chaighdeáin go mbeidh éine ar mian leo a chlárú nó a chomhdú tuairisceán i nGaeilge a bheith in ann é sin a dhéanamh. Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil foireann an Coimisiún in ann seirbhís a chinntiú sa dá theanga arna iarraidh sin.
Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil faoi pleananna an Choimisiúin um Chaighdeáin, lena n-áirítear eolas ar sheirbhísí i nGaeilge dóibh siúd a n'iarraidh orthu, ba mhaith liom a mholadh do pháirtithe leasmhara teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an gCoimisiún um Chaighdeáin go díreach. Ba mhaith liom freisin a thuilleadh go rachaidh siad i gcomhairle leis an láithreán gréasáin ag www.lobbying.ie, a sheoladh ar an 30 Aibreán 2015, chun deis a thabhairt do cláraithe a bheith eolach ar an gcóras.
293. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 251 of 10 February 2015, if he will provide a further update in relation to a project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23305/15]
View answer294. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding a project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23306/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 294 together.
Local flooding issues are a matter for local authorities to investigate and address in the first instance and the Local Authorities may carry out flood mitigation works using their own resources.
The application for funding, submitted by Clare County Council, for a project at Drumcullan under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme was not approved by the OPW as it did not meet the minimum cost benefit requirement under the scheme which is a Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.5:1. Also, the location of the proposed works is in a drainage district for which the Local Authority has responsibility. The council was notified of the decision in February, 2015.
No application for funding for a project at Thomond Villas, Clarecastle has been submitted to the OPW to date by the council.
295. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update in relation to the completion of a project (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23324/15]
View answerI was delighted to visit Mooghaun Hillfort in May 2015 at the invitation of the Deputy and to see the excellent work carried out to date by OPW staff.
The newly rebuilt viewing platform at Mooghaun Hillfort near Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare, was substantially completed in August 2014.
As part of the project, it had been intended that the spiral stair handrail and the balustrade surrounding the platform at a high level would be completed in stainless steel, thus adding to the durability of the structure and minimising the maintenance that would be necessary thereafter.
Some difficulties were encountered with the design and fabrication of the steelwork which only became apparent when the Office of Public Works (OPW) attempted to procure the item from a specialist steel fabricator in mid-2014. In order to resolve the problem in the short term, the OPW installed a quality wooden handrail and baluster as an alternative so that the viewing platform could be opened to the public and sought to resolve the manufacturing difficulty separately. Currently, the OPW is actively trying to source an alternative procurement route for the steelwork, which is a specialist item. It is not possible to say definitively at this stage when the work will be fully completed.
Enhancing the panoramic views will be addressed separately after the additional forest clearance work to open up the desired vistas has been done; at this stage, this is provisionally scheduled for late 2015 and is dependent on appropriate consent from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the National Monuments Acts being secured.
296. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the provision of signage in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23330/15]
View answerThe two National Monument sites concerned here are Clare Abbey and Killone Abbey. Since conferring with the Deputy a number of weeks ago, the following has been established:
Clare Abbey is in State ownership only as far as its outer wall, and not beyond. The property is therefore effectively landlocked by privately owned land. A new laneway leading to the site was developed as part of the new motorway link road and this is the sole means of public access. This lane leads to a turning /parking area which is part of the private land holding and which is used as a farm access to the land beyond. Any signage in this location will require the owner's agreement; additionally, as the site for the signage lies outside the National Monument boundary, it is likely that planning permission will be required.
Killone Abbey is not in State ownership but is in the Guardianship of the Commissioners of Public Works. Public access to this site is therefore currently at the discretion of the owner. Given that a private landholding is in question, the erection of a sign would need the approval of the owner. Similar to the Clare Abbey case, planning permission may also be required here.
Understanding that there may be a desire to provide directional signage to these locations, the Office of Public Works (OPW) is contacting the separate owners seeking agreement to proceed.
There is currently no interpretative signage content for either of these sites. Having regard to the resources available to the OPW currently, it will not be possible to provide information boards in the short term. However, the OPW will be interested in speaking to any third party that might be prepared to sponsor such boards.
I am aware, having met with local interests on a recent visit to County Clare with the Deputy, that there is significant commitment locally and am happy to have my officials meet to discuss all aspects of this matter further.
297. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are exceptional circumstances which would enable a non-established long-serving civil servant in the Office of Public Works to transfer to another Government Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23341/15]
View answerThe terms and conditions of employment for non-established (State Industrial) employees precludes their transfer to other Government Departments except through open recruitment competitions, due to the specialist nature of their grades. The redeployment options as provided for under the Public Service Management Act do not allow non-established civil servants to transfer, even in exceptional circumstances.
298. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to amend the Public Service Management Act 2013 to extend the options for redeployment of staff within the public sector, which would enable non-established civil servants, such as some employees in the Office of Public Works, to transfer to another Government Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23342/15]
View answerRedeployment is designed to deal with a situation where surplus staff have been identified due to rationalisation, reorganisation, reconfiguration and restructuring of civil and public service organisations
In my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I am responsible for the legal and policy framework governing redeployment between public bodies. The changes I introduced through the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Act 2013 put in place a broad, detailed and enabling statutory framework for that purpose. Section 57D of the legislation sets out the factors to be considered by the Public Appointments Service when designating a person for redeployment. These include, for example, the competencies and qualifications of the public service employee concerned, or of the general class of employee to which he or she belongs, any collective agreement negotiated with any recognised trade union or staff association concerned relating to mobility or redeployment of public service employees, and other matters relating to the recruitment, assessment, selection and employment policies, procedures and practices of any relevant public service employer. My Department is not aware of any specific requirement related to redeployment policy or its operational implementation that would necessitate an amendment to the legislation.
In terms of the specific issue raised in the Deputy's question, I have asked my Department to liaise with the Office of Public Works to ascertain the circumstances that apply in that particular instance and to advise the Deputy accordingly.
299. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received proposals or submissions from any organisations or groups seeking amendment to the Public Service Management Act 2013 which would enable non-established civil servants to seek transfers to other Government Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23343/15]
View answerThe Civil Service Renewal Plan, published in October 2014, includes a commitment to expand career and mobility opportunities for staff across geographic, organisational and sectoral boundaries.
The Renewal Plan contains 25 actions and it is intended that all actions will be completed within three years. Implementation has commenced with the establishment of the Civil Service Management Board and a central Programme Management Office. The arrangements which apply to non-established staff have been raised by the Office of Public Works as an issue for consideration in the implementation of the Plan, and my officials have met that Office to discuss this.
Should any changes agreed require legislation this will be progressed by my Department.
