Written Answers Nos. 114-124
114. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are plans to link the payment increase to public sector pensioners to the consumer price index, and if so, the timescales for doing this. [38832/15]
View answer115. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a timeframe for the removal of the cuts made to public sector pensions for those on incomes of over €32,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38833/15]
View answer117. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on the Lansdowne Road agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38893/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 115 and 117 together.
On 16 June last, following discussions with representatives of the Alliance of Retired Public Servants, and reflecting the improved fiscal and economic position, I announced that Government had accepted my proposal to bring forward legislation to lessen the impact of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) on public service pensioners. At present the PSPR, which was introduced in 2011, reduces most public service pensions whose value, on a pre-PSPR basis, is above €12,000. While not a part of the Lansdowne Road Agreement this proposed PSPR amelioration is incorporated into the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015, which is currently before the Dáil, and as such forms part of the wider set of proposed public service pay and pension restoration measures in that Bill.
The PSPR amelioration provisions in the 2015 Bill give priority to the lower-pensioned persons impacted by PSPR, in line with my stated commitments. In specific terms, those provisions will deliver the part-restoration of the PSPR cuts in three stages effective from 1 January 2016, 1 January 2017 and 1 January 2018. When fully rolled-out from 1 January 2018, this means that all public service pensions in payment with pre-PSPR values of up to €34,132 will be fully exempt from PSPR, while those pensioners not fully removed from the reach of PSPR will, in general, benefit by €1,680 per year. The cost of these proposed changes is estimated at about €90 million on a full-year basis from 2018. This represents a major amelioration of the PSPR burden over a multi-year time horizon, at the end of which the great majority of public service pensioners, with the exception of those on the higher levels of pension income, will no longer be affected by PSPR.
Under section 12 of the FEMPI Act 2013, I am required to review the necessity of FEMPI legislation annually and cause a written report of my findings to be laid before each House of the Oireachtas. In that context, economic progress and fiscal consolidation in the years ahead will determine the scope and timing of the possible further scale-back or elimination of the financial emergency measures, including the PSPR.
I have no plans at this time to link the pensions of public service pensioners generally to the Consumer Price Index
116. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the departmental units and agencies that are decentralised to County Cork, in tabular form; their locations; the number of staff; if he has plans to transfer or change the existing staff numbers and locations for decentralised units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38839/15]
View answerThere has been a number of decentralisation programmes.
The Commissioners of Public Works advise that there are two locations, as set out below, in County Cork where such accommodation has been provided.
Information relating to staff numbers would be a matter for the building occupants. The Commissioners are not aware of any proposals to relocate staff or the occupying bodies from either of these locations.
|
LOCATION |
DEPARTMENT/AGENCY |
ADDRESS |
|
CORK |
Cork Government Offices (Central Statistics Office) |
Skehard Road, Mahon |
|
CORK |
Health Information and Quality Authority |
Unit 1301, City Gate, Mahon |
|
CLONAKILTY |
Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
Clonakilty Enterprise Park, Clonakilty |
118. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for an update on a matter (details supplied) regarding flood defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38920/15]
View answerThe Flood Relief Scheme in Waterford City is being delivered by Waterford City Council with funding being provided by the Office of Public Works. The Scheme offers protection from both tidal and fluvial (river) flooding. Phase 1 of the overall Scheme was completed in 2011 and works on Phases 2, 3 and 4 is expected to be completed in the first half of 2016.
The response to the Scheme from the public has been positive and it has already proven itself to be effective and has protected multiple properties during flood events since the first phase was completed in 2011.
A unique feature of the Scheme is the use of glass in a small section of the flood defence walls mainly along the main quay at the marinas with the remainder used in small sections in prominent areas. While the use of glass enhances the visual amenity of and connectivity with the river, it is only suitable for use as part of a flood defence scheme in very particular areas and its use is limited also by the significant additional cost of using glass compared with concrete walls.
119. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of applicants awaiting transfer in his Department to locations other than their present location; the number of applications, by location; the rules that apply for such transfers; if an applicant has a defined position on the list for transfer; the grounds that apply to applicants being moved up or down on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38759/15]
View answerThe number of my Department’s staff who have applied for a transfer in my Department to locations other than that of their present location is set out in tabular format below. This includes staff seeking to move from one of my Department’s regional locations to another.
|
Current Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Location |
Staff requesting internal transfer to other regional locations of my Department |
Staff requesting external transfers (i.e. to other Departments and locations where my Department does not have offices) |
|
Carlow |
0 |
6 |
|
Cork City |
0 |
1 |
|
Dublin |
0 |
2 |
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
4 |
|
Shannon |
0 |
0 |
|
Sligo |
0 |
0 |
My Department has a longstanding policy of affording staff the opportunity to experience different types of work in order to further their career development. The objective of the staff mobility policy operating within the Department is to help staff develop their full potential in a systematic way while also meeting the business needs of the Department. Staff transfer requests from one location of my Department to another location of my Department are noted by grade in date order and facilitated through my Department's HR Section in line with this policy.
In line with centrally agreed Department of Public Expenditure and Reform processes, staff at Clerical Officer and Staff Officer grades may apply to transfer to another Department in an established provincial location through the Central Transfer List. For the staff of my Department, their participation in this process is managed by the HR Section in my Department. Staff can make application to the HR Section outlining their location preferences and are facilitated as much as possible. However, this is dependent on the business needs of the Department and availability of posts within the other Departments at any given time.
A staff member at any grade up to Principal Officer who wishes to transfer to another Government Department must identify an officer of the same grade in the other Department who is willing to exchange positions, i.e. the “head-to-head” mechanism. Such exchanges can only take place with the agreement of the Personnel Officers in both Departments.
Finally, staff of my Department are also based in a number of Dublin city locations and moves between these locations usually arise as a result of the routine operation of the staff mobility policy or on promotion. I have not included these more routine internal “transfers” in the summary data supplied above.
120. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of jobs that have been created to date as a result of the Irish Design 2015 campaign; the costs associated with the campaign to date; if he will outline what, if any, tendering process was in place for contracts granted for Irish Design 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38843/15]
View answerIn November 2013, the Government agreed to support the Global Irish Economic Forum's proposal to designate a year to celebrate Irish Design. It is widely recognised that encouraging businesses to invest in good quality design as a key component of innovation and competitiveness will maximise opportunities for success in today’s competitive marketplace and ultimately create additional jobs here in Ireland. ID2015 will enjoin all parts of the Irish design economy in a concerted effort to promote design as a key business differentiator and employment generator. Primarily, ID2015 will aim to generate:
1,800 additional jobs in the design sector over 2015-2019;
200 new design enterprises established in 2015 and registered with DCCoI;
€10m (5%) growth in design-related exports in 2015;
Participation of 300+ SMEs in international trade missions and design-based trade events over 2015/16.
50+ SMEs involved in a ‘Design for Growth’ Programme (2015/16);
In July 2015, an interim report was published on ID2015. Highlights of the programme at that stage included:
33 companies supported through the International Trade Fund, to participate in 50 international trade events, generating new market penetration and export opportunities. Early feedback received to date from 15 participants indicates that they have generated in excess of €3.8 million of new business as a result of being at the relevant trade fairs,
15 new Design Networks established, bringing designers, design organisations and design users together,
336 new designers/companies registered with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCOI), Institute of Designers in Ireland and the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland,
Over 160 Irish designers, studios and companies showcased internationally at exhibitions, trade fairs etc, generating leads with significant potential for exports and job creation,
DesignED, a design innovation programme and toolkit for 2nd level students distributed to 3,145 students. It seeks to embed design thinking and entrepreneurship into the curriculum,
To complement the designED project, CRAFTed, a 1st level programme introducing pupils to design and craft has been rolled out to 1,725 primary school pupils during 2015. In addition, to date over 8,000 schoolchildren have engaged with the education and outreach programmes through the Dublin Design Hub and National Craft Gallery.
50 SMEs are currently participating in the Design4Growth Voucher, which was launched in September and is aimed at encouraging small enterprises to use strategic design to improve their businesses. This Scheme, modelled on the very successful "Trading On-line Voucher Scheme", is being piloted by Dublin City Local Enterprise Office (LEO).
Design Start-Ups, a start-up programme for creative industry entrepreneurs will shortly be rolled out, providing training for 40+ designers/SMEs selected in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and LEOs.
To date through ID2015 Educational Outreach and other activities, over 6,000 designers have received training and over 1,600 business professionals have received design training during 2015.
Irish Design 2015 was allocated funding totalling €5 million in 2015. An additional €500,000 was spent in 2014 on preparatory work.
I understand that all ID2015 contracts were subject to a robust tendering process, and advertised through the ID2015 website, the DCCoI website and in the national newspapers.
The preliminary results of the campaign will be examined as part of a post-ID2015 evaluation to be undertaken early in 2016.
121. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments under the basic payment scheme and the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38707/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 28 April 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection has been completed and the results are currently being finalised with the intention of issuing any payments due under the Direct Payment Schemes as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
122. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on an application for an areas of natural constraint payment by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [38744/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2015. Processing of the application has recently been finalised and payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
123. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants awaiting transfer in his Department to locations other than their present location; the number of applications, by location; the rules that apply for such transfers; if an applicant has a defined position on the list for transfer; the grounds that apply to applicants being moved up or down on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38749/15]
View answerThere are a number of different transfer arrangements/agreements in place for the various grades streams in my Department. Given the variety of these arrangements there is no single list of staff requesting transfer to any location.
My Department supports staff mobility and seeks to accommodate requests from staff to transfer to specific locations where possible, taking account of the business needs of my Department. The transfer arrangement/agreements that are in place ensure a structured approach to the redeployment of staff to locations where they are needed.
124. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application from persons (details supplied) in County Limerick under the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38768/15]
View answerMy Department received a 2015 Transfer of Entitlement Allocation Right and Reference Value application from the persons named. The application has been processed and payment due under the Basic Payment Scheme will issue shortly.
