Written Answers Nos. 371-392
371. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will publish the Civil Service Arbitration Board's report; if he will accept its findings; and if he will link disciplinary actions with performance reviews. [15673/16]
View answerThe report of the Civil Service Arbitration Board on the introduction of an Underperformance Policy for the Civil Service was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on Monday 23 May 2016.
The new policy on the management of Underperformance in the Civil Service has been endorsed by the Arbitration Board as compatible with good HR practice. The Board has recommended that the new policy should be implemented from 1st January 2017.
The Underperformance Policy proposes a range of measures to address underperformance including the provision of training where necessary. The purpose of these measures is to ensure that the performance reaches the required standard. However, there will be consequences where there is a failure to reach the required standard of performance and the policy also allows for disciplinary sanctions to be applied in such cases.
372. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of chief executive officers in semi-State companies, under the aegis of his Department, who are employed or who are not employed on a Hay contract. [15678/16]
View answerIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that there are no semi-State companies under the aegis of my Department.
373. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he will recommence pre-retirement courses for civil servants in Departments and State bodies. [15881/16]
View answerA tender competition for pre-retirement courses was concluded recently and a new service provider is in place. Administrative arrangements are being finalised and it is anticipated that pre-retirement courses will be in place shortly.
374. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform why the Office of Public Works will not engage in a clean-up of the River Deel, including the river bank, silt on the river bed and so on, given two major flooding incidents in Crossmolina, County Mayo in 2015 and the associated damage and considerable distress caused; if he will instruct the office to undertake this work as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15890/16]
View answerThe River Deel downstream of Crossmolina is part of the River Moy Catchment Drainage Scheme which was carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945. The OPW continues to have statutory responsibility for the maintenance of this scheme. Earlier this year the OPW initiated a programme of tree cutting from the bank of the river in this area. Further work will be undertaken later in the year.
The OPW is currently engaged in the process of developing a flood relief scheme for the town of Crossmolina. This area is not part of the Moy Catchment Drainage Scheme. The OPW powers to undertake maintenance do not extend to this area before a new flood relief scheme is completed.
375. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has seen the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council report of June 2016; his assessment of the report as it relates to new spending priorities in the programme for Government; and the cost of implementing the programme for Government and the cost of policy proposals within his remit. [15901/16]
View answerI note that the Fiscal Assessment Report welcomes the commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government in relation to compliance with fiscal rules and reform of the budget process to allow for greater scrutiny.
Within the context of ensuring compliance with the fiscal rules, the Programme contains a commitment to spend at least €6.75 billion more on public services by 2021 compared to 2016. This will allow expenditure to be increased to meet the additional costs arising from an ageing and growing population and to provide for targeted improvements in public services. In addition, the Government proposes a cumulative additional €4 billion in Exchequer capital investment up to 2021.
The Fiscal Assessment Report outlines that the Programme does not set out a detailed costing of policy proposals. In this regard, as outlined in the Programme, for every policy challenge, the new Government will ensure that a balance is struck between addressing urgent priorities - utilising the action plan framework set out in the Programme document - and engaging in long-term planning and thinking, so that lasting solutions with broad based support are implemented.
In order to implement this approach effectively in practice, a key action for the Government's first hundred days is securing agreement with the Oireachtas on putting in place a reformed budget process. This is intended to secure a significantly more participatory approach, underpinned by a substantially enhanced Dáil input into and feedback on the development of budgetary priorities.
It is envisaged that an important element of this new model will be to facilitate appropriate consultation and engagement on the costings of specific measures intended to respond to particular Programme priorities, as well as examining how these measures align with overall fiscal parameters.
This new approach will have a central role to play in guiding and informing deliberation by the Oireachtas on budgetary options and in shaping the Government's budgetary proposals for specific measures to deliver the Programme priorities.
376. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will arrange to have works carried out at a specific location (details supplied). [15904/16]
View answerThis location mentioned by the Deputy does not form part of any Arterial Drainage Scheme which would fall under the remit of the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act. The OPW therefore has no responsibility for the maintenance of the channel, nor any authority to carry out any works there.
Local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and Cork County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources.
The Office of Public Works operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This administrative Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial are published on the OPW website at http://www.opw.ie/en/floodriskmanagement/operations/minorfloodworkscoastalprotectionscheme/. It is open to the Cork County Council to submit a funding application under the Scheme. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the overall availability of resources for flood risk management and the scheme's eligibility criteria available on the OPW website.
377. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the agricultural hedge cutting date restrictions in place for farmers and others; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15742/16]
View answerSection 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976, as amended, prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. Following a review of Section 40, which involved, inter alia, consideration of submissions from interested parties, I announced proposals in December 2015 to introduce legislation to allow for managed hedge cutting and burning at certain times within the existing closed period on a pilot two year basis. The legislation required to allow for these pilot measures was included in the Heritage Bill 2016, which was published in January 2016 and subsequently completed Second Stage in Seanad Éireann.
Steps are in hand to reintroduce the Heritage Bill into Seanad Éireann at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime, the existing provisions relating to Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts are still in operation.
378. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén idirphlé a bhí ann idir a Roinn agus an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna go dtí seo maidir le dréacht de ráiteas straitéise na Roinne Oideachais agus Scileanna atá ag dul trí phróiseas comhairliúcháin faoi láthair; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [15316/16]
View answerIs féidir liom a chinntiú go ndearna mo chomhghleacaí, an tAire Oideachais agus Scileanna, teagmháil liom i dtaca leis an bpróiseas comhairliúcháin atá tosaithe d’fhonn tuairimí a fháil a chuirfeadh bonn eolais faoi ullmhú Ráiteas Straitéise a Roinne.
Tá mo Roinnse ag breathnú ar na ceisteanna a ardaíodh leis an bpáipéar comhairliúcháin a scaip an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna agus tabharfar aisfhreagra sa chás go luath.
379. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist ag a Roinn a iarraidh ar Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe cead pleanála a lorg do Chuid 3 d’fhorbairt an Chalaidh Mhóir, Inis Meáin ó tharla go bhfuil airgead íoctha ag a Roinn leis an gComhairle Contae le fada an lá leis an gcead seo a lorg; an bhfuil sé i gceist aici a iarraidh ar an Aire Stáit ar a bhfuil an fhreagracht don Ghaeltacht agus do na hOileáin casadh leis an gComhairle Contae leis an mhoill seo a phlé go díreach leo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [15317/16]
View answerMar is eol don Teachta, bhí cruinniú agam le déanaí le hionadaithe poiblí an cheantair, le hoifigigh ó mo Roinn fein agus ó Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe i láthair, ag ar pléadh forbairt Céim III de Ché an Chalaidh Mhóir.
Tagann cúram na cé seo faoi Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe agus, mar is eol don Teachta, níl na hacmhainní ar fáil don Chomhairle Céim III den fhorbairt a thosú, rud is cúis leis an mhoill sa chás. Ar ndóigh, i láthair na huaire níl achmainní den chineál sin ag mo Roinn féin ach an oiread.
Tig leis an Teachta glacadh leis go mbeidh gach dícheall á dhéanamh agam méadú a fháil ar an riar airgid a bhíonn ar fáil do mo Roinnse d’fhorbairtí den chineál seo i gcomhthéacs na meastachán agus na cáinaisnéise don bhliain seo chugainn.
380. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil an cúram maidir le maoiniú forbairt na cé in Inis Oírr le haistriú ón Roinn Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil go dtí an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta; má tá, an aistreofar an chistíocht leis an gcúram seo do 2016; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [15318/16]
View answerTá sé beartaithe anois go gcuirfí cistiú an Rialtais don ché ar Inis Oírr ar fáil trí mo Roinn. Tá Imleabhar Meastachán Athbhreithnithe leasaithe do 2016 á ullmhú ag an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe faoi láthair agus tuigim go gcuirfear faoi bhráid na Dála é go luath.
381. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has corresponded with Waterways Ireland on the disposal of the Grand Canal graving docks in the Grand Canal Basin; her long-term strategy for developing boating facilities on the Grand Canal; and if she supports the preservation of such dry dock facilities as part of the historic infrastructure in the Grand Canal Basin. [15353/16]
View answerThe Waterways Ireland Action Plan for Grand Canal Dock and Spencer Dock sets out Waterways Ireland's proposals to ensure that both Grand Canal Dock and Spencer Dock are developed to deliver their full potential to both the city of Dublin, and the wider canal network. A Programme Manager, who will take up duty in July 2016, has recently been appointed by Waterways Ireland to progress delivery of the Action Plan. The plan is available on the Waterways Ireland website at http://www.waterwaysireland.org/Pages/Product-Development-Studies.aspx. I am advised by Waterways Ireland that development of the area where the dry docks are located in Grand Canal Dock will be in accordance with the North Lotts and Grand Canal Dock SDZ Planning Scheme for the area.
I can assure the Deputy that Waterways Ireland is committed to delivering the maximum potential benefits from recreational use of the canals for both the local community and visitors. Boat users are an important element of this recreational use and Waterways Ireland will spend over 50% of its 2016 annual maintenance budget on management of the Royal and Grand Canals and Barrow navigation.
382. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has discussed the option of selecting a fixed Sunday in the year for the national famine commemoration day with the National Famine Commemoration Committee; and if this decision will be taken soon. [15404/16]
View answerAs Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Irish Famine. In carrying out these functions, my main focus is to ensure that the victims of the Irish Famine are respectfully and appropriately remembered. In that context, I also seek to raise awareness of current food security issues worldwide. I can confirm that the Committee has previously discussed the issue of a fixed date for the commemoration and is of the view that, while we aspire to organise the National Famine Commemoration on the second Sunday in May of each year and do so wherever possible, some degree of flexibility is required around this date. This flexibility is needed to try to adapt to the demanding schedules faced by the President and An Taoiseach with a view to their leading the official representation at the annual National Famine Commemoration ceremony whenever possible and also to allow for the particular circumstances that may arise around the arrangements, including the choice of site, in any given year.
For example, in 2015 the commemoration was held in September due to organisational matters which arose as a result of the staging of the event for the first time in Northern Ireland. The event, held in in Newry, Co Down, proved to be a great success with significant cross-community representation. This year, due to the number of events relating to the centenary of the Easter Rising which took place in March, April and May, it was decided that the National Famine Commemoration should take place in September. This will allow the ceremony to receive the level of public attention and participation that it warrants as a major national commemorative event.
In conclusion, I am satisfied that the retention of flexibility in relation to the date of the commemoration does not detract from its key aim, which is to have a fitting national ceremony to remember and show respect for all those who died or suffered loss during the Great Famine. In fact, this flexibility facilitates the commemoration being held in the most appropriate context each year. In the circumstances, I have no plans to designate a fixed date for the National Famine Commemoration.
383. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of money her Department spent on purchasing copies of the Public Sector Times magazine in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15410/16]
View answer384. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of money spent on daily newspapers in 2015; if this is an appropriate expenditure given the available and far cheaper online alternatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15426/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together.
I am advised by my Department that no payments in 2015 were made in respect of copies of the Public Sector Times Magazine. Expenditure in respect of daily newspapers was €8,269 in 2015. Digital subscriptions are also used where appropriate and expenditure on these in 2015 came to €448. Savings are being explored by my Department on an ongoing basis with a view to reducing costs and achieving greater efficiencies.
385. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of staff working in her human resources section. [15442/16]
View answer386. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of staff who work exclusively on constituency matters for her. [15458/16]
View answer387. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the changes in the numbers employed in her human resources section following the introduction of PeoplePoint. [15474/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 385 to 387, inclusive, together.
The guidelines issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the staffing of Ministerial Offices provide that the number of staff in a Minister’s Constituency Office may not exceed four, including a Personal Secretary and a Personal Assistant in cases where a Minister appoints people in those roles. In line with these guidelines, there are two members of staff in my Department working on constituency matters.
I am advised that 13 members of staff work in my Department's Human Resource section. As the PeoplePoint shared service will not commence providing HR services to my Department until later this year, the question of adjusting the numbers of staff in my Department's Human Resource section has not yet arisen.
388. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of current and capital provisions for 2016 under the Decade of the Centenaries 1912 to 1922 subhead that she has spent to date or has committed; the areas where and why expenditure is running below or above expectations; the amount of the budget subhead that is once-off spending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15490/16]
View answerI was very pleased to have secured funding of almost €50 million for the Decade of Centenaries subhead, the majority of which is allocated towards the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. This includes approximately €31 million in capital funding for major projects including the new commemorative and visitor centre at the GPO and the refurbishment and redevelopment of Richmond Barracks among other projects. These projects will leave a lasting legacy from the commemorations. The allocation of over €18m in current funding for 2016 is also supporting the extensive list of State events, a significant international cultural programme supported by my Department through Culture Ireland, as well as programmes in our National Cultural Institutions, local community initiatives and major set piece events. This funding is also supporting a programme to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of the Somme which includes a ceremonial event and other initiatives including those within the National Cultural Institutions.
All funding has been fully allocated across the various programme strands and expenditure is monitored closely. Due to the scale and complexity of this once-off programme for 2016, it is inevitable that adjustments will be made to respond as the programme develops through the year. Some elements require additional funding to respond to emerging needs, for example, to cater for the huge public demand to participate in the very successful Easter weekend commemorative events. Other elements, particularly capital projects, may show delayed drawdown in allocated funding due to outside factors, for example, the plans to restore the National Monument at Moore Street which were delayed by legal action. I am confident, however, that all Centenary Programme commitments can be met within the overall allocation made available to my Department.
Many of the initiatives, by their nature, involve once-off spending. However, my Department will continue to provide funding for an appropriate programme of events through-out the Decade of Commemorations. The funding required will vary in response to the major events of the Decade.
389. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to increase funding for the arts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15702/16]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve. I can assure the Deputy that I will be engaging with my colleagues in Government and with the Oireachtas to seek to advance this commitment in the context of the forthcoming estimates and budgetary processes.
390. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of positions on the boards of bodies and agencies under the aegis of her Department; the number of vacant positions; when each vacancy occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15722/16]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is provided in the following Table. It may be noted that the National Archives of Ireland has an Advisory Council, rather than a Board. The Public Appointments Service operates a dedicated website, www.stateboards.ie, through which it advertises vacancies on State Boards. Arrangements are currently in train in co-operation with the Public Appointments Service to fill the vacancies listed in the Table, other than in relation to An Foras Teanga.
In the case of appointments to the boards of Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency, being agencies of the North South Implementation Body, An Foras Teanga, these are made by the North South Ministerial Council, arising from nominations on a 50:50 basis by each jurisdiction.
|
Body |
No of Positions |
No of Vacancies |
Date of Vacancies |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
13 to 15 |
13 to 15 |
9 (20/10/15) 6 (19/01/16) |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
10 |
6 |
1 (07/06/16) 1 (03/03/16) 2 (21/02/15) 1 (07/05/14) 1 (15/02/14) |
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
8 |
7 |
7 (05/12/15) |
|
Arts Council |
13 |
3 |
2 (14/02/16) 1 (21/02/16) |
|
Chester Beatty Library |
10 |
0 |
|
|
Heritage Council |
15 |
14 |
4 (25/01/2013) 4 (31/04/2015) 6 (25/01/2016) |
|
Irish Film Board |
7 |
1 |
1 (26/05/2015) |
|
Irish Manuscripts Commission |
20 |
0 |
|
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art |
12 |
0 |
|
|
National Concert Hall |
9 |
0 |
|
|
National Library of Ireland |
12 |
0 |
|
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
16 |
8* |
1 (6/01/2016) 1 (11/03/2016) 1(20/05/2016) |
|
Ulster-Scots Agency |
8 |
0 |
|
|
Western Development Commission |
8 |
0 |
|
|
National Archives of Ireland Advisory Council |
Max 11 |
8 |
4 (01/05/16) 4 (01/02/16) |
*3 of the vacancies relate to nominations from this jurisdiction.
391. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the role of the National Parks and Wildlife Service in relation to the River Deel in County Mayo; its engagements with the Office of Public Works and Mayo County Council since November 2015 in relation to flood prevention; why it has prevented work on the river; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15891/16]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) and local authorities are the principal response agencies with regard to the management of flooding episodes. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is part of my Department, which has the statutory responsibility to advise on the protection of habitats and species identified for nature conservation, including designating sites as Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) under the Wildlife Acts 1976-2012, Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) under the EU Habitats Directive and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under EU Birds Directive. Many of the rivers and low-lying lands affected by the recent flooding are within or near sites that have been designated as SACs or SPAs. Accordingly, these sites fall within the ambit of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, which are transposed in Irish legislation through the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477 of 2011) and compliance with which is a matter for all public authorities, agencies and landowners.
The proposed Crossmolina Flood Alleviation Scheme is within the River Moy SAC. The River Deel, a tributary of the Moy, has been designated for the conservation of White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes), Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), Brook Lamprey (Lampetra planeri), Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Otter (Lutra lutra). Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera ) is also present in the Deel. All of the above species are listed in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive.
The Crossmolina Flood Alleviation Scheme is currently being developed by the OPW. Along with Mayo County Council, Inland Fisheries Ireland and Crossmolina Flood Action Group, the NPWS sits on the Crossmolina Flood Alleviation Scheme Working Group and plays a constructive role on how the Scheme can address issues relating to nature conservation.
NPWS officials attended meetings of the Crossmolina Flood Alleviation Scheme Working Group on 11th March and 12th May this year, and are scheduled to attend the next meeting on 16th June.
The NPWS has not prevented any works being undertaken on the River Deel and has facilitated the installation of turbidity meters and flow meters for the monitoring of the scheme. The recent suspension of vegetation removal by OPW was in compliance with the Wildlife Acts and their own environmental protocols. As the Deputy will be aware, the Wildlife Acts provide that vegetation removal of the nature undertaken may only take place between 1 September to 28 February.
392. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of leases the National Parks and Wildlife Service entered into, given the decision by a landowner to sell relevant lands (details supplied); the length of the agreed leases; the future opportunity for renewing these; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15895/16]
View answerI am advised that the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government entered into a lease, on 21 February 2002, in respect of the lands and landowner referred to by the Deputy. The term of that lease is for thirty years from 1 January 2002.
My Department keeps this lease under review on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to contribute to nature conservation objectives.
