Written Answers Nos. 67 - 86
67. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform how he will address pay inequality in the teaching profession for post-2011 teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12599/16]
View answerThe issue of addressing the difference in incremental salary scales between those public servants, including Teachers, who entered public service employment since 2011 and those who entered before that date was addressed with the relevant union interests under the provisions of the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA). Any further consideration of remuneration for any group of public servants, including issues relating to more recently recruited public servants, will fall to be examined within the provisions of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 -2018 (Lansdowne Road Agreement). Any such considertion will also of course have to comply with the terms of the Financial Emergency in the Public Interest Acts 2009 - 2013 (FEMPI), as well as its affordability being underpinned through delivering enhanced work place practices and productivity.
It is particularly worth noting that under the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA) the process of restoring public service pay is commencing. An important feature of this process is the flat rate increases which are being implemented and which are proportionately more valuable to those public servants including Teachers who are at an early stage in their careers. Furthermore and specifically in respect of Teachers the restoration of the Supervision and Substitution payment is also provided for under the LRA subject to there being compliance on the part of the relevant unions with the provisions of that Agreement.
The Programme for Government also states that Government will establish a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the public service. The precise structure of such a commission and the technical aspects as to how it would operate have yet to be decided upon and would require broad consultation, including engagement with staff representatives as was committed to in the Lansdowne Road Agreement. My officials have begun to review international best practice in respect of public service pay determination models. This will help frame the Government's thinking on how to establish a fair, transparent and accountable process for determining public service pay, taking into account the views of all stakeholders.
68. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount saved by having a lower level of pay for new recruits to the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13012/16]
View answerThe 10 per cent reduced rates of pay for new entrant public servants was one of a number of measures introduced over the period of the fiscal crisis which directly affected the pay of public servants. The reductions in starting pay were introduced in 2011 by the then Government of the day in order to reduce the Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill.
The reduced rates were introduced with effect from 1 January 2011 and were in place until 1 November 2013. Based on the Civil Service data available, at the end of September 2013 there were some 600 WTEs on the 10% reduced pay scales with an estimated saving of €2m on an annual basis. Estimates of savings for groups outside the Civil Service are a matter for the Minister responsible for that sector.
The issue of addressing the difference in incremental salary scales between those public servants, who entered public service employment since 2011, and those who entered before that date was addressed with the relevant union interests under the provisions of the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA).
69. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has consulted with Government Departments on the difficulties in recruiting and retaining certain types of public servants arising from the two-tier pay system and other pay reductions applied during the economic crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12994/16]
View answerBased on the evidence available, and engagement with relevant Departments and agencies, of recruitment of new entrants to the public service, measured by number of applications received, number of appointments made and the overall growth in numbers, the public service continues to provide an attractive occupation and career choice for job seekers in most professional and administrative grades.
Agreements made in relation to addressing the difference in incremental salary scales between those public servants, who entered public service employment since 2011 and those who entered before that date under the provisions of the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA) and the amelioration of the impact of the pay reductions effected under the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement from 1 January 2016, also support the attractiveness of public service careers.
Since the beginning of 2014 thousands of additional teachers, special needs assistants, Garda, doctors and nurses have all been recruited. There has also been successful recruitment to civil service entry level and senior grades. Overall public service numbers have increased by just over 12,000 with the largest increases in the Health and Education sector. Actual recruitment levels would be higher in order to cover replacement demand (retirements and leavers).
With the improving economy and job market and where the public service is competing nationally or internationally for specialist skills, we will continue to review issues that may inhibit recruitment into the public service. In conjunction with the wider public service, my Department will continue to provide solutions to recruitment issues, where that is necessary to ensure the public service remains an attractive option for job seekers, and while being mindful of the necessity to secure fair value for the tax payer.
70. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his discussions with the Department of Education and Skills regarding what is described in a briefing document for the new Minister for Education and Skills as "woefully inadequate" capital funding for schools and regarding steps to address this funding crisis. [12499/16]
View answerI understand that the assessment included in the briefing document referred to in the Deputy's question refers to the capital funding position for Third Level rather than capital funding for schools.
I am advised by my Department that the basis to the statement is that existing capital funding for third level is already committed to certain projects which is interpreted in the briefing as implying that that there would be no funding available for new projects in the Third Level sector, outside of PPP arrangements.
However, the Programme for a Partnership Government states that following the mid-term review of the Capital Plan which is expected mid-2017, capital investment in education will be increased in education, along with other priorities. In this regard, the Programme commits that the new Government will propose Oireachtas approval for a cumulative, additional €4billion in exchequer capital investment up to 2021.
The Programme for Government also states that following the publication of the Expert Group report on the Future Funding of the Higher Education Sector, the Government proposes that the relevant cross party Oireachtas Committee review its recommendations and outline a proposed funding plan for this sector. This would be expected to relate to both current and capital spending.
71. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to subject the question of the restoration of pay and pay equality for public servants to a commission for study; to bring forward restoration in order to help deal with recruitment and retention difficulties in certain public servant categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12997/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government commits that the Government will establish a Public Service Pay Commission to examine pay levels across the public service. The precise structure of such a commission and the technical aspects as to how it would operate have yet to be decided upon and would require broad consultation, including engagement with staff representatives as was committed to in the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
The Programme for Government also contains a strong commitment to fully implement the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 - 2018 (Lansdowne Road Agreement) in accordance with the terms and timelines agreed with staff representatives. This sets out a framework and agreed pathway for pay restoration to 2018 for public servants that is affordable and achievable on a fiscally sustainable basis.
72. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide year round visitor access to the cairns at Sliabh na gCailleach, Loughcrew, County Meath. [13268/16]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the collection of sites which form the Loughcrew National Monument complex near Oldcastle, Co. Meath.
Currently, the OPW opens the Loughcrew site fully to the public on a seasonal basis only, with Guides being provided from the Bru na Boinne Centre based in temporary hut accommodation at the site and this year, the site will be open from 2 June to 31 August. In addition to the normal seasonal opening, Loughcrew also opens on a temporary basis on the equinox dates, (March & September – 3 mornings on each occasion) when it attracts particularly large crowds anxious to witness the phenomena created by the alignment of the main Cairn with the Sun.
The OPW has no plans currently to provide Guided services and open the Loughcrew site on a year round basis. Visitors wanting to visit the site off season can do so freely and caretaking and keyholding arrangements are in place for those who want to access the interior of the Monuments themselves. Parties who wish to do this may do so by applying to the local keyholder and a substantial number – about 2,000 separate requests during last year – can do so without any difficulty.
73. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach the number of workers on temporary contracts and on temporary employment as a percentage of employment for each year since 2008, in tabular form. [13638/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 77 together.
The exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State.
The most recent figures available are for Q1 2016.
Table 1 below shows the number of employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by permanency of job from Q1 2008 to Q1 2016.
Table 2 below shows the number of employees (ILO) aged 15 and over not in permanent employment classified by reasons for being in temporary employment from Q1 2008 to Q1 2016.
Table 3 below shows the number of employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over with temporary job/work contract of limited duration as a percentage of total employees (including not stated) from Q1 2008 to Q1 2016.
Table 1 Employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over classified by permanency of job
'000
|
Q1 08 |
Q1 09 |
Q1 10 |
Q1 11 |
Q1 12 |
Q1 13 |
Q1 14 |
Q1 15 |
Q1 16 |
|
|
Person has a permanent job or work contract of unlimited duration |
1,610.0 |
1,501.2 |
1,415.7 |
1,371.5 |
1,350.1 |
1,364.5 |
1,391.9 |
1,445.1 |
1,486.3 |
|
Person has a temporary job/work contract of limited duration |
139.8 |
135.5 |
139.6 |
150.7 |
157.1 |
145.1 |
142.5 |
134.7 |
126.4 |
|
Not stated |
22.0 |
11.3 |
13.9 |
13.7 |
15.8 |
17.7 |
21.1 |
18.7 |
23.7 |
|
Total |
1,771.9 |
1,648.0 |
1,569.2 |
1,535.9 |
1,523.0 |
1,527.3 |
1,555.5 |
1,598.6 |
1,636.4 |
Table 2 Employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over not in permanent employment classified by reasons for being in temporary employment
'000
|
Q1 08 |
Q1 09 |
Q1 10 |
Q1 11 |
Q1 12 |
Q1 13 |
Q1 14 |
Q1 15 |
Q1 16 |
|
|
It is a contract covering a period of training |
5.7 |
4.8 |
5.3 |
[2.9] |
5.2 |
17.4 |
16.9 |
16.9 |
16.5 |
|
Person could not find a permanent job |
23.4 |
28.4 |
37.6 |
42.4 |
50.1 |
77.2 |
75.2 |
71.9 |
64 |
|
Person did not want a permanent job |
29.5 |
19.4 |
18.5 |
17.9 |
15.2 |
18.1 |
18.6 |
20.2 |
17.6 |
|
It is a contract for a probationary period |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
[3.8] |
5.3 |
[4.7] |
* |
|
Not stated |
81.2 |
82.9 |
78.1 |
87.6 |
86.7 |
28.6 |
26.6 |
21.1 |
24.7 |
|
Total |
139.8 |
135.5 |
139.6 |
150.7 |
157.1 |
145.1 |
142.5 |
134.7 |
126.4 |
Table 3 Employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over with temporary job/work contract of limited duration as a percentage of total employees (including not stated)
%
|
Q1 08 |
Q1 09 |
Q1 10 |
Q1 11 |
Q1 12 |
Q1 13 |
Q1 14 |
Q1 15 |
Q1 16 |
|
|
Employees (ILO) aged 15 years and over with temporary job/work contract of limited duration as a percentage of total employees (including not stated) |
7.9 |
8.2 |
8.9 |
9.8 |
10.3 |
9.5 |
9.2 |
8.4 |
7.7 |
Note: Caution is warranted in comparing data captured from Q2 2012 to prior periods due to change in filter for question and adding of additional answer option impacting upon direct comparability of series
: No data available
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.
* Estimates for numbers of persons or averages where there are less than 30 persons in a cell are not produced as estimates are too small to be considered reliable;
Parentheses [ ] indicate where there are 30-49 persons in a cell, estimates are considered to have a wider margin of error and should be treated with caution;
Reference period: q1 = January - March
Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.
74. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach the number and percentage of low-paid and minimum wage workers that are women. [13639/16]
View answerThe exact information requested by the Deputy is currently not available.
The National Employment Survey, which provided statistics on the structure of earnings, was discontinued in 2010 due to resource constraints.
However, the CSO is currently completing a project to provide corresponding statistics for the years 2011 to 2014 by using administrative data sources rather than direct surveying of businesses.
For this project, the CSO is analysing Revenue P35 data for employees, combined with other statistical and administrative data sources, to provide a structural breakdown of earnings by age, gender, occupation, sector and other variables.
All of the analysis is being conducted by the CSO under the Statistics Act, 1993.
The results for the years 2011 to 2014 will be published before the end of July 2016 and the requested tables will be provided as soon as the results are available.
75. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach the number and percentage of part-time workers that are women. [13640/16]
View answerThe Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of employment in the State.
The most recent figures available are for Q1 2016.
The number of females in part-time employment in Q1 2016 was 312,900; this represents 68.6% of the total number of persons in part-time employment.
76. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach the number and percentage of workers earning less than the living wage of €11.50 an hour for each year since 2008, in tabular form [13641/16]
View answerThe exact information requested by the Deputy is currently not available.
The National Employment Survey, which provided statistics on the structure of earnings, was discontinued in 2010 due to resource constraints.
However, the CSO is currently completing a project to provide corresponding statistics for the years 2011 to 2014 by using administrative data sources rather than direct surveying of businesses.
For this project, the CSO is analysing Revenue P35 data for employees, combined with other statistical and administrative data sources, to provide a structural breakdown of earnings by age, gender, occupation, sector and other variables.
All of the analysis is being conducted by the CSO under the Statistics Act, 1993.
The results for the years 2011 to 2014 will be published before the end of July 2016 and the requested tables will be provided as soon as the results are available.
78. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Taoiseach the amount of money his Department spent and the fees it paid on media advertising by media organisation, newspaper, radio, television or other, in each of the years from March 2011 to February 2016, in tabular form. [12893/16]
View answerThe following table details expenditure by my Department on media advertising from March 2011 to end of February 2016.
Amount spent on media advertising from March 2011 to end February 2016
|
Year |
Organisation |
Amount |
|
2011 |
Brindley Advertising Ltd |
€94,096 |
|
Conradh na Gaeilge |
€200 |
|
|
Truvo Ireland Ltd |
€6,766 |
|
|
2012 |
Brindley Advertising Ltd* |
€544,888 |
|
FCR Media Ltd |
€6,192 |
|
|
Lesley Conroy |
€3,129 |
|
|
MM Motion Design |
€8,364 |
|
|
2013 |
Brindley Advertising Ltd |
€61,936 |
|
FCR Media Ltd |
€6,192 |
|
|
2014 |
FCR Media Ltd |
€6,192 |
|
2015 |
Audrey Elliot |
€615 |
|
DAA Shared Services |
€24,600 |
|
|
FCR Media Ltd |
€6,192 |
|
|
Mediavest Ireland Ltd |
€22,259 |
|
|
2016 (end of February) |
Clear Channel Ireland Ltd |
€6,150 |
|
DAA Shared Services |
€1,722 |
|
|
Dawn Recruitment Ltd |
€2,516 |
* relates to Stability Treaty
The above advertising agencies are engaged by my Department and include advertising through all media formats including newspaper, radio, television and other as required.
79. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach if he will be operating the Communicating Europe grant scheme in 2016; if so, when he expects the call for applications to be opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13426/16]
View answerFunding provided by the Department of the Taoiseach for European engagement is expended on a number of elements. Generally this has included an amount which has been disbursed for the past number of years by way of a small grant scheme under the Communicating Europe Initiative.
The utility of this expenditure, including the small grant scheme is constantly under review and consideration is currently being given as to how this funding is best allocated in light of the wider demands on the European engagement budget.
80. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Taoiseach the estimated full-year savings for 2017 from reducing spending on professional fees by 10% in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14116/16]
View answerIt is not possible to provide an estimate of potential savings in 2017 at this stage due to uncertainty about the level of expenditure on professional fees which will occur in 2017, particularly in relation to legal fees arising from Commissions of Investigation and the Moriarty Tribunal.
81. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Taoiseach the estimated full-year saving for 2017 from reducing spending on travel by 10% in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14132/16]
View answerIf the Estimate allocation for 2016 for travel and subsistence was to be reduced by 10% in 2017, there would be a saving of €53,500.
82. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the initiatives she proposes to take to ensure that deaf citizens' rights to Irish Sign Language interpreters is protected in order to allow them access essential State services, particularly following an incident (details supplied). [12768/16]
View answerIn 2013 the National Disability Authority (NDA) facilitated consultations with the Deaf Community in Ireland at my Department's request in relation to actions that could make improvements in the lives of deaf people. Submissions received as part of that process informed the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan which was published in July 2013. As part of the follow-up to that initiative, in November 2013 the first special themed meeting of the National Disability Strategy Implementation Group focussed on the issue of Irish Sign Language. This meeting brought together representatives of relevant Departments, the NDA, the Deaf Community and other relevant stakeholders who reviewed the current situation across Government Departments and their Agencies with regard, in particular, to promoting recognition of Irish Sign Language, including in service provision. The Group also examined mechanisms which could promote the further use and recognition of Irish Sign Language and address practical implications for service users. Further to this meeting, the Deaf Community prepared a report to reflect their views on key actions and priorities.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently progressing a three Phase consultation process with a view to putting a new Disability Inclusion Strategy in place. Phase 2, which focused on agreeing high-level objectives for the Strategy, was completed at the end of 2015. Phase 3 will involve agreeing specific actions with timescales to deliver on each of the high-level objectives. This will commence shortly. I expect to have a set of draft actions for the Strategy for publication shortly. The consultations on this draft will include consideration by the National Disability Strategy Steering Group and, as with Phase 2, a series of regional consultation meetings. The Strategy will then be revised as necessary and submitted to Government for final approval.
Issues in relation to the Deaf Community have featured strongly in the consultation process to date and I intend that the new Disability Inclusion Strategy will respond credibly to the issues raised, including making a real difference in relation to facilitating the use of Irish Sign Language and ensuring that public bodies provide ISL users with ISL interpretation when availing of their statutory services.
83. Deputy John Lahart asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality how unclaimed deceased remains are treated by the State; the laws which govern the burial of deceased persons whose remains are unclaimed by family members or relatives; the annual figures of unclaimed deceased here over the past decade; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12777/16]
View answerThe legislation governing Coroners is the Coroners Act, 1962. Under this legislation a coroner is a statutory officer exercising quasi-judicial functions, in relation to which he or she is independent. A Coroner is responsible for all coronial matters in his or her district. The Deputy will appreciate that neither I nor my Department has any role in the conduct of individual cases or in the burial of the remains of a deceased person.
84. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of developing a women’s open prison facility. [12934/16]
View answerIn the joint Probation Service/Irish Prison Service Women's Strategy 2014 - 2016, An Effective Response to Women Who Offend, published in 2014, the Irish Prison Service made a commitment to explore the development of an open centre/open conditions for women assessed as low risk of re-offending. This commitment was acknowledged in the Report on the Strategic Review of Penal Policy who also recommended that a greater focus on step down facilities, supported accommodation, use of more community based open conditions for female offenders and the provision of an open centre for women.
A joint Irish Prison Service/Probation Service working group considered an open centre for women and decided to recommend, rather than developing an open centre for women, that a more practical and cost effective way to address the deficit is to pursue step down facilities for women.
In this regard, I have given approval to the Heads of the Irish Prison Service and Probation Service to proceed to scope the possibilities for the development of step down units for female offenders and female ex-offenders.
85. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will take a leadership role internationally in Ireland's action on the refugee crisis by urgently sending a delegation to Calais and Dunkirk camps to meet with refugees; to process asylum applications of unaccompanied minors at these camps; to bring the unaccompanied minors to safety here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13386/16]
View answer86. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she has met with representatives of the Irish Red Cross and Tusla to progress offers from Irish families to house unaccompanied minors in refugee camps in Europe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13387/16]
View answer219. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the action she is taking with her counterparts in the French and UK Governments to locate the 129 unaccompanied minors, aged between nine years and 17 years, who have gone missing from the camp in Calais since February 2016 when the south of the camp was demolished; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13385/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 86 and 219 together.
The ongoing migration crisis is a serious and extremely complex challenge facing the EU with numerous pressure points and it is important that there be a coherent and coordinated response. In that respect I do not see that a unilateral initiative from Ireland would be appropriate in this case, not least given the fact that this is a delicate situation involving the borders between two other Member States. We also need to bear in mind that a defining characteristic of the people camped in Calais has been their very strong desire to go to the UK as their ultimate destination and that this is unlikely to change. Persons who are currently in another EU Member State, including those in the camps in Calais, and who are in need of international protection, are entitled to make an application for asylum in that country, should they wish to do so.
I share the concerns in relation to unaccompanied minors as an especially vulnerable group and expect this issue to remain high on the agenda at EU level. As regards unaccompanied minors in the State, statutory responsibility for the care of unaccompanied minors in Ireland rests with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The EU Relocation Programme, under which applicants for asylum in Greece and Italy are relocated to other EU Member States to have their asylum applications processed there, does provide for an intake of some unaccompanied minors from refugee camps in Greece and Italy. Officials of the Department of Justice and Equality are in preliminary discussions with Tusla with a view to the State taking in unaccompanied minors under this programme.
My Department is working closely with the Red Cross regarding pledges of accommodation and other supports made by members of the public to assist those coming to Ireland under the Resettlement and Relocation Programmes.
