Written Answers Nos. 82-91
82. Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of the works carried out on the River Poddle to alleviate the risk of flooding, the level of risk to which residents are currently protected; when the proposed works are to be carried out at Tymon Park in Dublin 12, the level of risk to which residents will be protected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26578/15]
View answer83. Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the flood protection work carried out so far along the River Poddle; when the proposed works will be finished so that homeowners along the river may access flood insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26579/15]
View answer84. Deputy Ruairí Quinn asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the proposed Office of Public Works works on increasing the attenuation capacity of the ponds in Tymon Park in Dublin 12 to address flood issues on the River Poddle, if there is a timeframe in place for this work; if he will provide same; the type and amount of funding required for this work; if the funding has been ring-fenced in the multi-annual budgeting process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26580/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 82 to 84, inclusive, together.
The proposed attenuation works in Tymon Park are part of the overall options for dealing with flood risk on the Poddle River. These options were identified under the East Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (ECFRAM) study, and on which the public were consulted in 2013. The proposals for flood mitigation measures on the River Poddle also involve some downstream defence works. The works at Tymon Park are likely be progressed first.
South Dublin County Council (SDCC) is taking the proposals forward through planning and eventual construction. The Council is now in the process of procuring the design consultants for the Scheme. Once consultants have been appointed, a comprehensive programme to take the Scheme through planning and construction will be developed by the Council. The consultants will also prepare a detailed Cost Benefit Analysis for the proposed works.
Subject to successful completion of the planning process and the continued availability of funding, it is hoped to be in a position to commence construction of the main scheme works in 2017. The possibility of carrying out the Tymon Park attenuation works in advance of the main scheme works, perhaps using OPW direct labour, will be considered.
The Office of Public Works has given a commitment in principle to funding a viable, cost beneficial and environmentally acceptable scheme for the Poddle and has made indicative provision for its cost in its Multi-Annual Capital Budget Profiles. The construction of the scheme is expected take two years.
The works proposed to alleviate flooding on the Poddle are to be designed to the standard level of protection often referred to as the 100-year flood, which is to prevent flooding during events with a 1% annual exceedance probability (AEP) for fluvial floods. The design will take account also of climate change.
The OPW understands that the interim works carried out so far by South Dublin County Council have significantly alleviated flood risk in the area but it is not possible to state to what level of flood risk these works provide protection. New screens have been placed on the Poddle, with regular cleaning of these screens being undertaken by the Council.
In relation to insurance, when the works on the Poddle are completed, the OPW will provide full details of these and the level of protection they provide to the insurance industry in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding agreed between the OPW and Insurance Ireland. It will be a matter for the insurance companies to take this information into account in deciding on the provision of flood risk cover for affected properties.
85. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual saving to the Exchequer if all public sector salaries, gross and net, excluding hospital consultants on over €100,000, were reduced as follows: full-year amount of remuneration for any amount over €100,000 but not over €150,000; a reduction of 15%; and a full-year amount of remuneration for any amount over €150,000, a reduction of 30%. [26609/15]
View answerBased on the information currently available to my Department, the estimated full year gross saving in the Exchequer and Local Government pay bill arising from a reduction in public service salaries (excluding hospital consultants) for amounts over €100,000 of 15% and amounts over €150,000 of 30% is some €11.2m. This does not take account of any offsetting reductions in taxes and levies. As the combined effect of the estimated marginal tax rate and the pension related reduction at a pay level for a public servant of €100,000 p.a. or higher is at least 62.5%, the estimated net savings would be reduced to less than €4.2m.
86. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual saving to the Exchequer if the following Top Level Appointments Committee terms were removed from all currently serving Secretaries General: special severance pension payment to the value of half a year’s pay; and retiring on a full pension with ten added years. [26612/15]
View answerThere are currently 8 Secretaries-General (and equivalents) who by virtue of their appointment prior to reforms introduced by me in 2011, retain the "old TLAC terms" which entitles them to a severance payment of 6 months' salary and up to 10 added years' service.
There are 3 levels of Secretary-General in pay terms with different pay rates. The pay rate would also be dependent on whether or not an individual was Integrated (Personal Pension Contribution- PPC) or modified (Non-Personal Pension contribution).
|
- |
Modified (Non-PPC) |
Integrated (PPC) |
|
Grade |
6 months' salary |
6 months' salary |
|
Secretary General Level I |
€92,675 |
€92,675 |
|
Secretary General Level II |
€88,175 |
€92,675 |
|
Secretary General Level III |
€83,650 |
€87,938.50 |
The amount of added years, if any, awarded will depend on the particular career history and pay point of each individual. Any added years awarded will impact on pension and lump sum entitlements. The cost of 1 added year and 10 added years in terms of pension and lump sum is as follows:
|
Grade |
1 Added Year Pension |
1 Added Year Lump Sum |
10 Added Years Pension |
10 Added Years Lump Sum |
|
Secretary General Level I Non-PPC |
€2,316.88 |
€6,950.63 |
€23,168.75 |
€69,506.25 |
|
Secretary General Level II Non-PPC |
€2,204.38 |
€6,613.13 |
€22,043.75 |
€66,131.25 |
|
Secretary General Level III Non-PPC |
€2,091.25 |
€6,273.75 |
€20,912.50 |
€62,737.50 |
|
Secretary General Level I PPC |
€2,316.88 |
€6,950.63 |
€23,168.75 |
€69,506.25 |
|
Secretary General Level II PPC |
€2,316.88 |
€6,950.63 |
€23,168.75 |
€69,506.25 |
|
Secretary General Level III PPC |
€2,198.46 |
€6,595.39 |
€21,984.63 |
€65,953.88 |
I understand that, in most cases, the relevant individuals will be substantially less than 10 years short of the full 40 years service requirement when they are due to retire, so the issue of 10 added years would not arise in those cases. However, this calculation can only be done on their retirement.
87. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual saving to the Exchequer by reducing all non-commercial State-sponsored bodies' chief executive officers' salaries by 10%. [26613/15]
View answerMy Department currently holds information on the salary rates being paid to Chief Executive Officers of some 60 non-commercial State-sponsored bodies. A 10% reduction in the salaries paid to those CEOs would amount to around €767,000.
88. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual saving to his Department and the bodies under its aegis in reducing all commercial semi-State bodies chief executive officers' pay by 10%. [26614/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that there are no commercial semi-State companies under the aegis of my Department.
89. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual saving to his Department and the bodies under its aegis if all the fees for all State agency, non-commercial State sponsored bodies and commercial semi-State board members were reduced by 25%. [26615/15]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question the following table outlines the potential annual savings to the Exchequer if board members fees were reduced by 25%.
|
Agency |
Annual Savings to Exchequer |
|
Public Appointments Service |
€8,764 |
|
The Valuation Tribunal |
€29,050 |
|
Total |
€37,814 |
The non-commercial State sponsored bodies under my remit are the Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) and the Institute of Public Administration. SEUPB does not have a board and the IPA do not pay board fees. There are no commercial semi-state bodies under my remit.
I understand that the OPW will respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
90. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual saving to the Exchequer if Teachta Dála salaries were capped at €75,000. [26616/15]
View answer91. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual saving to the Exchequer if Senators' pay was capped at €60,000. [26617/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.
I refer the Deputy to my reply to questions nos. 147 and 148 on 9 July 2014 in which I referred the Deputy to my reply to questions nos. 399 and 400 on 16 July 2013 (refs. 34463/13 and 34464/13). The position and figures remain as outlined in that reply.
