Written Answers Nos. 301-314
301. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of staff in his Department currently on a sabbatical or a career break, broken down by zero to six months, six months to 12 months, one year to two years, two years to three years, four years to five years and five years or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23409/15]
View answerThere are 14 staff in my Department who are currently on a sabbatical/career break. The duration of leave currently availed off can be broken down as follows:
|
Length of Leave of Absence |
Number of Staff |
|
0 - 6 months |
2 |
|
6 - 12 months |
4 |
|
1 - 2 years |
1 |
|
2 - 3 years |
2 |
|
3 - 4 years |
5 |
|
4 - 5 years |
0 |
|
5 years plus |
0 |
|
Total |
14 |
302. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, broken down by year, the total photography costs for his Department since coming into office, inclusive of costs incurred from the use of the ministerial allowance; if he will provide the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23425/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that the engagement of service providers by my Department operates within the parameters of value for money; where possible, every effort is made to minimise costs. In line with stated Government policy, all public bodies must use a competitive process for the purchase of any goods and services, whatever the value. The following table sets out the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's photography costs for 2011:
|
Event/Occasion |
Name of Photographer |
Breakdown of Costs |
Total Cost |
|
Irish Presidency EUPAN HRWG/IPSG meeting |
Fennell Photography |
Event Photographer per hour: €75 Medium Resolution Image: €10 VAT@ 13.50%: €19.55 |
€104.55 |
|
Irish Presidency EUPAN Directors General meeting |
Fennell Photography |
Event Photographer per hour: €75 Medium Resolution Image: €10 VAT@ 13.50%: €19.55 |
€104.55 |
|
Public Service Excellence Awards 2012 |
Maxwell Photography |
Photographer hired to take photographs of the award recipients and provide copies for them |
€811.52 |
|
Total |
----------- |
------------ |
€1,020.62 |
I understand the Office of Public Works will contact the Deputy directly regarding this matter.
303. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, broken down by year, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming into office; if he will provide the list of uses of the external public relations firms, and internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23441/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question, I can confirm that with the exception of the Office of Public Works, the services of a public relations firm have not been engaged by my Department since its formation in 2011. The appointment of service providers by my Department operates within the parameters of value for money and where possible every effort is made to minimise costs.
In line with stated Government policy, all public bodies must use a competitive process for the purchase of any goods and services, whatever the value.
I understand the Office of Public Works will contact the Deputy directly regarding this matter.
304. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total amount spent on external information and technology consultants by his Department in each of the years 2010 to 2014 and in 2015 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23457/15]
View answerThe information sought is as follows:
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2011 |
€0 |
|
2012 |
€30,750 |
|
2013 |
€164,608 |
|
2014 |
€478,514 |
|
2015 |
€270,801 |
305. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the protocols in place, since March 2011, to set standards in parliamentary replies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23505/15]
View answer306. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied that parliamentary questions are adequately replied to within his Department; the steps he has taken since March 2011 to ensure parliamentary questions are fully responded to within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23521/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 305 and 306 together.
I can confirm that I am satisfied with the way Parliamentary Questions are replied to in my Department. Individual sections provide me with briefings and draft responses in advance of deadlines so I can personally review each question until I am satisfied that a full and comprehensive response is being given.
There have been some occasions where the research needed for a comprehensive answer requires some additional time. On these occasions, the Deputy has been notified and the information is sent on within five working days.
Since coming to office, there have been no representations to my Department expressing concerns with the response received to a Parliamentary Question.
307. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has renegotiated external information technology consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23574/15]
View answerMy Department awards contracts for IT consultancy following requests for tenders advertised on the public procurement website, www.etenders.gov.ie. These are typically awarded on the basis of the most economically advantageous of the tenders received. My Department was established in June 2011. While no contracts for external IT consultants have been renegotiated since then, all new contracts have been negotiated with a view to achieving best value for money and are kept under ongoing review to ensure this is maintained.
308. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in respect of State boards under his Department's remit, the number of appointments to State boards; the number of vacancies in State boards ; the number of vacancies in State boards publically advertised; and the number of appointments to State boards drawn directly from the public advertisement process, in period March 2011 to 2015 to date. [23590/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Government introduced new arrangements for the appointment of State board members in 2011. Under the new arrangements, Departments now invite expressions of interest from the public on their websites for vacancies on the boards of bodies under their aegis. It is open to all members of the public regardless of gender, political affiliations or geographical location to apply for appointment to these vacancies.
I am satisfied that the new arrangements introduced by the Government in 2011 have significantly improved transparency in making appointments to State Boards compared with previous years.
Since the formation of this Government, 51 members have been nominated to State Boards under my remit. In the context of the sale of the National Lottery licence, I have considered it appropriate to reappoint two of the Ministerial nominees to the An Post National Lottery Board; Mr. Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh has been re-appointed twice and Mr. Oliver Wilkinson has been reappointed once in light of the disposal of the National Lottery licence. Consequently, recourse to advertising the positions publicly did not arise.
The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004 states that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Justice and Equality should appoint members of the Board of the Public Appointments Service.
The Public Appointments Service Board is meant to be representative of our client base. The majority of the board are therefore civil or public servants, nominated by the relevant Minister. There is also a union representative nominated by ICTU. The two external members were appointed by me because of their expertise in strategic change and public service recruitment respectively.
In view of these statutory procedures for the appointment of members of the Boards, there is limited scope for me to use the publicjobs.ie website. The following table gives a breakdown of positions filled on State boards under my remit since March 2011:
An Post National Lottery Board
|
Year |
Number of appointments made |
Number of positions advertised |
|
2011 |
0 |
0 |
|
2012 |
2 |
0 |
|
2013 |
6 |
0 |
|
Total |
8 |
0 |
Public Appointments Service Board
|
Year |
Number of appointments made |
Number of positions advertised |
|
2011 |
9 |
0 |
|
2012 |
2 |
0 |
|
2013 |
3 |
0 |
|
2014 |
9 |
2 |
|
Total |
23 |
2 |
The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) has a representative board with nominations from different sectors of the Public Service every two years.
|
Year |
Number of appointments made |
Number of positions advertised |
|
2011 |
2 |
0 |
|
2012 |
7 |
0 |
|
2014 |
11 |
0 |
|
Total |
20 |
0 |
As per the Memorandum and Articles of Association governing the IPA, each of the nominating bodies/sectors is invited by letter to nominate its representative to the Board on a two-yearly basis. As a limited company by guarantee, the IPA is obliged to state its approach to the appointment of board members in its Memorandum and Articles of Association, section 16(1) of which refers to the board make-up and the sectoral nominations. In effect, it would contravene the Memorandum and Articles of Association if board positions were to be advertised.
309. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, by year from 2009 to 2014 and for 2015 to date, the total number of freedom of information requests received by his Department; the total refused; granted; part-granted; successful appeals; part-successful appeals, and refusals of appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23613/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question, the following table outlines the number of Freedom of Information requests received by my Department since its formation in 2011:
|
Freedom of Information Requests |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Number of requests received |
61 |
178 |
99 |
110 |
113 |
|
Number of requests refused |
5 |
20 |
8 |
14 |
9 |
|
Number of requests granted |
38 |
51 |
29 |
55 |
23 |
|
Number of requests part-granted |
14 |
66 |
61 |
32 |
14 |
|
Number of requests withdrawn or handled outside FOI |
4 |
37 |
1 |
8 |
37 |
|
Number of requests transferred |
- |
4 |
- |
1 |
20 |
|
Number of internal reviews |
1 |
5 |
4 |
8 |
3 |
|
Number of internal reviews (partially successful) |
- |
2 |
2 |
- |
2 |
|
Number of appeals to the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC) |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Number of OIC Appeals (partially successful) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
310. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the number, name and date of Bills initiated in his Department that have been subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas. [23644/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question, the following table outlines the Bills initiated by my Department that have been subject to the pre-legislative scrutiny procedure in the Oireachtas:
|
Number |
Name |
Purpose |
Subject to Pre-Legislative Scrutiny |
|
No. 33 of 2013 |
Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013 |
To provide for the exercise by either House or both Houses of the Oireachtas (or by a Committee of either House or both Houses) of a power to conduct an inquiry into specified matters, to provide for matters relating to compellability, privilege and procedure in the Houses (and in Committees of either House or both Houses), and to provide for related matters. |
Yes |
|
No. 30 of 2014 |
Freedom of Information Act 2014 |
To reform Freedom of Information |
Yes |
|
Act No.5 of 2015 Bill No. 59 of 2014 |
Regulation of Lobbying Act 2014 |
To provide for establishing and maintaining a register of persons who carry on lobbying activities; to provide for a code of conduct/ to amend the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995; and to provide for related matters |
Yes |
|
Not Enacted yet Bill No. 75 of 2014 |
Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill 2014 |
To amend and extend the Staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas Act 1959 and the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003 and to provide for related matters |
Yes |
|
No. 14 of 2014 |
Protected Disclosures Act 2014 |
To make provision for and in connection with the protection of persons from the taking of action against them in respect of the making of certain disclosures in the public interest and for connected purposes. |
Yes |
311. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the number, name and date of Bills initiated in his Department since September 2013. [23670/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question, the following table outlines the Bills initiated by my Department since September 2013:
|
Number |
Name |
Enacted |
|
1 |
Appropriation Act 2013 |
20/12/2013 (No. 43 of 2013) |
|
2 |
Public Service Management (Recruitment & Appointments) (Amendment) Act 2013 |
24/12/2013 (No. 47 of 2013) |
|
3 |
Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act 2014 |
12/04/2014 (No. 6 of 2014) |
|
4 |
Protected Disclosures Bill 2013 |
08/07/2014 (No. 14 of 2014) Published 03/07/2013 |
|
5 |
Houses of the Oireachtas (Appointments to Certain Offices) Bill |
17/07/2014 |
|
6 |
Freedom of Information Act 2014 |
14/10/2014 (30 of 2014) Published 24/07/2013 |
|
7 |
Appropriation Act 2014 |
19/12/2014 (35 of 2014) Published 11/12/2014 |
|
8 |
Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 |
11/03/2015 (05 of 2015) Published 20/06/2014 |
|
9 |
Valuation (Amendment) Act 2015 |
23/04/2015 (10 of 2015) Published 01/08/2012 |
312. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the total amount spent in each of the years 2011 to 2014 and in 2015 to date on staff subsistence payments and staff taxi payments; if his Department has been audited for tax compliance on these payments and other benefits in kind; if these processes have been revised, in view of the Revenue Commissioners' concerns over practices in other State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23686/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question, the following table details expenditure on staff subsistence payments and staff taxi payments in the years from 2011 to 2015:
|
Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Staff Subsistence Payments |
€147,924 |
€211,882 |
€280,746 |
€356,408* |
€201,359 |
|
Staff Taxi Payments |
€3,492 |
€5,638 |
€6,983 |
€12,731* |
€9,180 |
During 2014, over 342 new staff joined my Department with the establishment and further development of Shared Services Offices, the Office of Government Procurement and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer.
The Department's Appropriation Accounts are subject to annual audit by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Department's accounts are also available for audit by the Revenue Commissioners.
An audit by the Revenue Commissioners is currently in progress and to date no issues in respect of subsistence or benefit-in-kind have been brought to our attention. The Department is vigilant in the conduct of its activities in these matters to ensure compliance with taxation legislation and Revenue guidelines.
313. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, by year, all external consultant reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report; and publication date. [23702/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question, the following table outlines the total amount spent on external consultancy reports commissioned by my Department since 2011:
|
Name of External Report |
Costs |
Date or Expected Date of Publication |
Name of External Consultant |
|
Independent verification of savings arising under the Public Service Agreement |
€35,819 |
June 2011 |
MKO Partners Ltd |
|
Report on Reasons Behind Voter Behaviour in the Oireachtas Inquiry Referendum 2011 |
€41,043 |
January 2012 |
Red C Research and Marketing Ltd. |
|
Independent verification of savings arising under the Public Service Agreement |
€31,586 |
13 June 2012 |
Grant Thornton |
|
Capacity and Capability Review of Central Procurement Function |
€30,750 |
6 September 2012 |
Accenture |
|
ICT-MF Executive Assessment |
€30,750 |
November 2012 |
Innovation Value Institute, NUIM |
|
Independent verification of savings arising under the Public Service Agreement |
€24,206 |
3 July 2013 |
Grant Thornton |
|
Debt Management Final Report |
€135,514 |
Published 24 July 2014 |
BearingPoint |
|
Report of a Consultation with Civil Society Representatives and Citizens on Ireland's Participation in the Open Government Partnership
|
Funding of €25,735.25 was provided to Transparency International Ireland in 2013 following a competitive tender process to support a public consultation with civil society and the preparation of a report of their recommendations and proposals for potential inclusion in Ireland's Open Government Partnership National Action Plan. |
Published on 2 October 2013 |
Transparency International, Ireland |
|
Capacity and Capability Review of the Estate Portfolio function of the Office of Public Works (excluding Heritage Services) |
€130,000 |
Report has been received by the Office of Public Works and circulated to staff
|
Concerto Partners LLP |
|
Open Data project: -Best Practice Handbook -Data Audit Report -Roadmap for Open Data -Evaluation Framework -Open Data Publication Handbook |
€19,188 |
July 2014 |
Insight Centre for Data Analytics, NUI Galway |
|
Development of Training & Organisation Development |
€22,900 |
July 2014 (date is approximate, relates to draft Report) |
Baker Tilly Ryan Glennon. Trinity House, Charleston Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 |
|
Value for Money Report of Dublin Castle's Conference Facilities |
€4,674 |
Qtr 3, 2014 |
Newmarket Consulting |
|
Fund Structuring Services Agreement for Social Housing and Energy Efficiency in Ireland |
€26,767 |
5 November 2014 |
European Investment Bank |
|
Baseline Report Single Pension Scheme |
€24,900 |
9 December 2014 |
Mr. Séamus O'Dwyer |
|
Civil Service Disciplinary Code Review (action identified under Civil Service Renewal Plan) |
€23,985 |
June 2015 |
Clarion Consulting |
|
Comparative Report on European National Identification Numbers |
€37,500 |
Publication pending the completion of the work of the PPSN review Group |
Hans Graux of time.lex CVBA, Brussels, Belgium |
|
Provision of legal expertise to assist and advise the Department in the preparation of Guidance to Public Bodies under section 21(3) of the protected Disclosures Act 2014 |
€12,500
|
Provision of legal expertise only. Not for publication.
|
Lauren Kierans BL
|
|
Analysis of Business Processes for European Structural and Investment Funds and Development of a Detailed Specification for EU Structural Funds 2014-2020 |
€46,371
|
Publication pending the completion of the work of the Dovetail Group |
Dovetail
|
|
Options for the next National Lottery licence |
€615 |
Not published (internal report only) |
Davy Corporate Finance |
I understand the Office of Public Works will contact the Deputy directly regarding this matter.
314. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the status of works (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23710/15]
View answerMeath County Council, with funding assistance from the Office of Public Works, has appointed consultants to examine the flooding problem in the Northlands Estate and to assess options for addressing the problem. A progress meeting was held on 11 May 2015 at which an outline design submitted by the consultants was discussed. An updated design should be available for the next scheduled meeting on 23 June 23. Assuming a viable cost-beneficial solution is available, a decision will be taken as soon as possible on the best way to progress and fund any works.
