Written Answers Nos. 364-389
364. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the refugee crisis continues to be monitored at European Union and United Nations level with a view to identifying a reliable means of ensuring the safety of the victims of war and strife at all trouble spots; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19771/16]
View answerThe migration crisis remains a major priority for the European Union. Migration continues to be discussed at the European Council, the Foreign Affairs Council and the Justice and Home Affairs Council, as leaders seek to urgently address both the root causes of the crisis, and its terrible humanitarian consequences.
Since the crisis emerged in the spring of last year, the EU has developed a range of measures to address it, including a programme to relocate asylum seekers from Greece and Italy to member States; an EU-Africa Trust Fund to address migration from Africa; an extensive package of measures with Turkey including the Turkey Refugee Facility; EUNAVFOR MED/Operation Sophia, the naval mission to prevent loss of life at sea by disrupting the business model of people smugglers and traffickers; and high-level dialogues with countries of origin and transit.
The agreement that EU HOSG reached with Turkey in March has led to a very significant decrease in the number of migrants risking their lives crossing the Aegean.
At the UN too, the migration crisis is being addressed at the highest level. Ireland will co-facilitate a UN summit of world leaders on migration and refugees in New York on 19 September. It is hoped that leaders will be able to agree on a new set of global policy principles – the first of their kind – on refugees and migration.
365. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the degree to which he continues to liaise with the Egyptian authorities with a view to achieving the release of a person (details supplied) an Irish citizen who is still awaiting a trial which has been postponed on numerous occasions; if he expects any developments in the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19772/16]
View answerThe Irish Government is pursuing every avenue to secure the release of this citizen and will continue to bring all of our influence to bear on his behalf through all appropriate channels. Significant resources continue to be deployed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Cairo and in Dublin, in the provision of comprehensive consular assistance to both this citizen and his family.
All actions taken in this case are considered in light of the Government’s clear objectives. First, to see this citizen released by the Egyptian authorities so that he can return to his family and his studies in Ireland and, second, to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The considered approach and sustained action that has been taken by the Taoiseach, Ministers and by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to date in this case has been to further these objectives, and most importantly to avoid any action that could be counterproductive or detrimental to his best interests.
In addition to engagement with the Egyptian authorities, the Government also frequently engages with other states who have had citizens in similar situations, with our European and international partners represented in Egypt, and with the European Union. I have engaged extensively with High Representative Ms Federica Mogherini, who has raised this case with Foreign Minister Shoukry. The Taoiseach has also discussed this citizen’s detention at the highest level with President el-Sisi, and those lines of communication remain open. The Egyptian Government is in no doubt about the Irish Government’s position and our desire to see our citizen released as soon as possible.
Ultimately, any decision to release this citizen will be made solely by the Egyptian authorities. Irrespective of any views regarding the fairness or appropriateness of any detention abroad, the reality is that where an Irish citizen is charged with an offence under the law of a foreign country, it is the foreign law that applies and it is the relevant foreign court which decides matters such as bail and release.
Following the latest, and very disappointing, delay in this trial, and in consultation with the family and their legal representatives, the Irish Government intends to lend its full support to a further request for release under the Presidential decree/Law 140, and will continue to work in support of these efforts. It is important to note that we supported a previous application pursuant to Law 140; regrettably on the previous occasion, the application was not successful.
Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, both in Dublin and in Cairo, remain in ongoing contact with the citizen’s family. They will continue to engage appropriately with the Egyptian authorities, will remain resolute in seeking to protect the interests of this Irish citizen, and will do all possible to achieve a positive outcome. They also liaise closely with his Egyptian legal team and have attended all trial hearings to date. The Department also undertakes regular consular visits to him in prison.
The Taoiseach and I stand ready to make further contact with our Egyptian counterparts at the appropriate time and we have both been in contact with our counterparts in recent weeks.
The Government will remain resolute in pursuing its clear objectives in this case and in what we firmly believe to be in this citizen’s best interests and to be most likely to contribute to a positive outcome for him.
368. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which new trading links can be established globally; the extent to which he expects that this country can benefit from such developments in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19775/16]
View answerAdvancing Ireland’s trade, tourism, education and investment objectives, and economic diplomacy more generally, is an important aspect of Ireland’s foreign policy and of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Embassy network.
Given the implications of outcome of the UK Referendum, there is a collective determination across the Government and opposition benches to meet the challenges and uncertainties of the period ahead, not least insofar as our trading relationships are concerned.
The Government published a summary of its contingency framework the day after the referendum. My Department has its own detailed contingency framework and has commenced implementation, while the state agencies promoting Ireland’s trade interests have also published their strategies for safeguarding and promoting Ireland’s trading position. Most of the information relating to this work can be found on a dedicated EU-UK page on the government website merrionstreet.ie.
As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I will ensure that we have the capabilities in place to manage all this work both at home and abroad. Within my Department, our Ambassadors and Consuls General across the world have been extensively briefed, both in the days leading up to the referendum and in light of the outcome. Our Embassies will support and co-ordinate work on the ground with Local Market Teams involving the State agencies, while that work will be guided at home by the work of the Trade Division within my Department and by the Export Trade Council, which I chair.
Following the launch of the Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy, a list of 27 priority markets were identified, with Local Market Teams were established in each of these, chaired by the local Ambassador and consisting of representatives of the Embassy and relevant state agencies. These market teams submit annual market plans as well as six-monthly reports of activity, which are reviewed by the Export Trade Council.
While the majority of Irish services and merchandise exports go to Europe and the US and we must continue to cultivate these markets, the Government is strongly focused on the further development of trading partnerships with other important emerging markets. Market diversification is crucial for Ireland’s long term economic sustainability. In 2014, seven additional high potential and exploratory markets were identified to increase our engagement with high growth markets in Asia, Latin America and Africa.
Building on this review, new Embassies have been opened in Bangkok (Thailand), Jakarta (Indonesia), Nairobi (Kenya) and Zagreb (Croatia), alongside the reopening of Ireland’s Embassy to the Holy See. Consulates-General have also been opened in Hong Kong (China), Austin (Texas, USA) and in Sao Paulo (Brazil). The opening of these new Embassies and Consulates is strengthening Ireland’s capacity to take advantage of emerging opportunities in these important markets, and complements the existing trade promotion work of our Embassy network.
Overall, the Embassy network plays a crucial role in proactively addressing market access issues, supporting Irish businesses seeking to grow overseas; holding promotional events for, and in association with, State agencies and actively contributing to the organisation and conduct of Enterprise Ireland Ministerial-led Trade Missions.
A next step is to equip the Embassy network with the resources to remain proactive and to open more business opportunities for exporters. Our ambitions to transform how our mission network supports Irish business overseas has even greater relevance in the face of the challenges posed by the UK Referendum.
The Economic Diplomacy Strategy, which I launched in January this year, seeks to build on the consolidation of the Department’s trade role in recent years, with a view to providing a new direction for the Department’s trade activities so as to equip our Mission network with the resources and autonomy to become active and open business hubs for our exporters, thereby strengthening the work of the State agencies and their networks of representation overseas. Within the context of the very successful Local Market Teams, the initiative is intended to augment the already important work the Department, Embassy network and Agency presence overseas undertakes on a daily basis to promote Irish business.
As part of this new Strategy, the Department is establishing a network of locally-hired Commercial Attachés to extend the range and impact of our embassies’ activities in support of trade. The embassies in Mexico, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Bucharest, and Jakarta, have all provided a firm and immediate basis for the appointment of a locally hired, term limited, Commercial Attaché and it is proposed to appoint such officers to these locations in the coming months. In addition, provision is already made for the appointment of an Economic Development Officer (EDO) in Abuja, funded from the Irish Aid budget, whose role would be analogous to that of a Commercial Attaché. There is potential to make similar appointments in other locations.
369. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which the situation in the Ukraine continues to feature in discussions at European Union level with particular reference to the need to maximise efforts for a lasting ceasefire and peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19776/16]
View answerUkraine, and in particular resolution of the ongoing conflict in the east of the country, remains a priority for the European Union. Discussion of the situation in Ukraine has featured on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council in January, March and April this year, either as a standalone item, or in broader discussions around the European Union’s relationship with Russia and the Eastern Partnership. Most recently at last week’s European Council, EU leaders discussed the ongoing diplomatic efforts towards achieving full implementation of the Minsk agreements in the context of the renewal of EU sanctions against the Russian Federation.
In March last year the European Council agreed that the duration of these sanctions should be directly linked to the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. Despite limited progress in some areas, key elements of these agreements remain to be implemented. Agreement on a number of issues, including the modalities for the holding of local elections in separatist-held parts of eastern Ukraine, as called for in the Minsk “Package of Measures,” has yet to be achieved.
As the Minsk agreements offer the only basis for a stable and lasting political resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, the EU will continue to support and facilitate their full implementation as a matter of urgency.
370. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of additional public sector staff hired in his Department over and above those who had retired or left the service, that is, new positions only as and from 31 December 2010, broken down for each of the years 2011 to 2016, to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20144/16]
View answerIn relation to new positions created since 31 December 2010, my Department sought and received sanction for the following:
|
Year |
Position |
Grade |
|
2012 |
Press Officer, Irish Aid |
Assistant Principal |
|
2014 |
Chief Financial Officer |
Assistant Secretary |
|
2016 |
Assistant Legal Adviser Web + Digital Manager Web + Digital Editor |
Assistant Principal Assistant Principal HEO |
371. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of new public sector workers in his Department hired to replace retiring staff and those who left the Department in each of the years 2013 to 2015; the overall percentage of staff turnover this represents; the cost or savings in payroll and pensions accrued, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20151/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
Staff who left the Department in the period 1 January – 31 December 2013
|
Reason for leaving |
Number of staff |
|
Retirements |
27 |
|
Ministerial Appointees – following resignation of Minister of State |
6 |
|
Career breaks/Special Leave/Other |
17 |
|
New staff employed in the period 1 January – 31 December 2013 |
17 |
Staff who left the Department in the period 1 January – 31 December 2014
|
Reason for leaving |
Number of staff |
|
Retirements |
23 |
|
Ministerial Appointees following Cabinet re-shuffle |
15 |
|
Career breaks/Special Leave/Other |
21 |
|
New staff employed in the period 1 January – 31 December 2014 |
51 |
Staff who left the Department in the period 1 January – 31 December 2015
|
Reason for leaving |
Number of staff |
|
Retirements |
34 |
|
Ministerial Appointees - resignation |
3 |
|
Career breaks/Special Leave/Other |
21 |
|
New staff employed in the period 1 January – 31 December 2015 |
68 |
The table does not included Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) who are engaged annually on fixed-term contracts primarily to assist the Passport Service during the annual peak passport demand period. Also not included are a number of interns who are also recruited on fixed-term contracts to assist mainly in the sections dealing with Human Rights, Legal, Middle East, Disarmament and Irish Aid issues.
Information relating to the net salary figures for the years in question are listed below:
|
Date of Payroll |
Net Salary figures |
|
1st week of 2013 |
€1,606,364.36 |
|
1st week of 2014 |
€1,491,640.76 |
|
1st week of 2015 |
€1,518,237.77 |
|
2nd week of 2016 |
€1,551,334.95 |
372. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of his Department's assessment of the impact Brexit will have on PEACE funds to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19067/16]
View answer373. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expected situation that will apply following the Brexit decision to already approved projects under the INTERREG VA and other European-funded or part-funded programmes; and the likely situation that will apply to applications already in the pipeline. [19436/16]
View answer375. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the provision he is making to ensure that European funding such as INTERREG is maintained on a cross-Border basis, post-Brexit, as all Border counties depend greatly on such funds for development, social inclusion and community development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19685/16]
View answer376. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the provision he is making to ensure that European Union funding such as INTERREG is maintained on a cross-Border basis post the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, given that all Border counties depend greatly on such funds for development, social inclusion and community development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19740/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 372, 373, 375 and 376 together.
Following the outcome of the UK Referendum on EU membership, the Irish Government has been clear that it remains committed to the successful implementation of the EU funded PEACE and INTERREG programmes. The programmes are not only an important source of funding, but provide a visible demonstration of the European Union's continuing support for the process of peace building and reconciliation. They have seen investment of more than €3 billion in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland over the last quarter of a century and have made a vital contribution to promoting greater economic and social cohesion. Together they will see investment of more than half a billion euro in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland over the period 2014-2020, with 85% of that being contributed by the European Regional Development Fund.
Immediately following the referendum result , and in line with my Department's contingency arrangements, my officials made contact with the European Commission to underscore our commitment to the programmes and to discuss how they would continue to benefit from ERDF funding. They have also spoken to colleagues in the Scottish and Welsh Governments, which are partners in our two INTERREG Programmes. The issue was discussed with the Commission and with a range of stakeholders at an INTERREG Programme Monitoring Committee meeting in Glasgow last Wednesday (29 June 2016) and at the Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Dublin on Monday (4 July 2016), and I will be meeting Northern Ireland Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir at the SEUPB Sectoral meeting of the NSMC tomorrow (7 July 2016), when we will be able to consider the matter in detail.
374. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the ownership status of seven Garda stations which are currently closed in the Roscommon/Galway constituency (details supplied); and if any or all of these seven closed Garda stations are still in State ownership or if any of them have already been sold. [19654/16]
View answerI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the summary position regarding the seven former Garda stations, which are all in State ownership, is as follows:
|
Former Garda Station |
County |
Status |
|
|
1. |
Ballintubber |
Roscommon |
Future use under consideration |
|
2. |
Ballyforan |
Roscommon |
Future use under consideration |
|
3. |
Ballymoe |
Galway |
Future use under consideration |
|
4. |
Cootehall |
Roscommon |
Assigned for community use |
|
5. |
Knockcroghery |
Roscommon |
Future use under consideration |
|
6. |
Loughlynn |
Roscommon |
Retained for State use (HSE) |
|
7. |
Tarmonbarry |
Roscommon |
Future use under consideration |
377. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason there is no borrowing framework in place for institutes of technology, as there is for universities (details supplied); if he will outline the barriers that he considers exist to putting in place such a framework to enable institutes of technology to borrow independently. [19106/16]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that a very important consideration in considering the scope for independent borrowing by institutions in the higher education sector is whether that borrowing is categorised as falling within the General Government sector or not.
Universities have traditionally had autonomous borrowing powers as they are classified as outside General Government. Ultimately, the outside General Government status is determined by EUROSTAT. This outside General Government status is determined by a combination of the traditional autonomy that such institutions have historically enjoyed and their capacity to generate own income, so that they meet the 'market test' applied by EUROSTAT, that is, that Government funding represents less than 50% of their overall income. As such, borrowings by Universities are 'off-balance sheet' and do not impact on, for example, the level of General Government Debt - a key measure of fiscal performance.
These considerations do not apply in the case of the Institutes of Technology. IOTs, unlike Universities, are currently classified as inside General Government. Consequently, expenditure by the IOTs impacts on the General Government Balance (GGB) and borrowing by the IOTs contributes to the General Government Debt (GGD).
The Deputy may wish to note that the question of the borrowing capacity of IOTs is currently under examination by the Department of Education and Skills, in consultation with my Department in light of proposals for increased provision of student accommodation as part of the Government's response to the housing crisis.
378. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 560 of 31 May 2016 and to comments made by him at a presentation to the Joint Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform on 22 June 2016 (details supplied), if he will clarify the position relating to the Ennis south flood relief scheme, County Clare; if it will be proceeding to tender and construction phase in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19179/16]
View answerThe Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by Clare County Council with funding and advice as appropriate from the Office of Public Works (OPW), and as such, the matters of tender and construction dates will ultimately be decided by the Council. It is acknowledged however that necessary discussions to date relating to technical aspects of the scheme have impacted the program somewhat. The OPW expects to write to the Council before the end of July in relation to the approval of funding for the Scheme.
379. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the south Ennis flood relief scheme will commence; to provide the technical issues delaying the scheme; the new anticipated date for finishing the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19254/16]
View answerThe Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by Clare County Council (CCC) with funding and advice as appropriate from the Office of Public Works (OPW). CCC will be the contracting authority and as such, the matters of tender and construction dates will ultimately be decided by the Council. Consideration of certain technical aspects of the scheme have taken longer than anticipated and resulted in some delay to the program. These technical matters have related inter alia to the hydrological data and analysis underpinning the proposed design of the scheme, to issues surrounding the proposed design and routing of culverts, to matters to do with the proposed works on the Fergus embankments and to the cost benefit analysis supporting the proposed scheme. I am advised that the OPW will be writing to the Council before the end of July in relation to the approval of funding for the Scheme. Following this, it will be a matter for the Council to progress the scheme through the tender process and construction.
380. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of an application by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19318/16]
View answerI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that no formal proposal has been received from a child care group for the use of Shanagolden Garda Station.
The stated policy in relation to closed Garda Stations, including Shanagolden former Garda Station, is to identify if the property is required/suitable for State use by the Public Sector.
If no other State use is identified, the Commissioners for Public Works will then consider disposing of the property on the open market, if and when conditions prevail, in order to generate revenue for the Exchequer.
In the event that the property does not sell, the Commissioners may consider community involvement, subject to detailed written submission which would indicate that the community/voluntary group has the means to insure, maintain and manage the property and that there are no ongoing costs for the Exchequer.
381. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if special public service competitions for persons with disabilities and alternative recruitment channels have been put in place in order to reach the target for the employment of 6% of persons with disabilities; if such mechanisms have not been put in place, the expected time frame by which it is expected alternative recruitment channels will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19384/16]
View answerThe civil and public service is an equal opportunities employer and all recruitment campaigns are conducted in strict compliance with the Codes of Practice set out by the Commission for Public Service Appointments. Codes include the Code of Practice governing the External and Internal Appointments of Persons with Disabilities to Positions in the Irish Civil Service and Certain Public Bodies, available at www.cpsa.ie.
Public service bodies are also subject to specific legal obligations in the Disability Act 2005. For example, Part 5 of the Act sets out the requirement of public service bodies:
- to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities;
- to comply with any statutory Code of Practice;
- to meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities;
- to report every year on achievement of these obligations.
The National Disability Authority (NDA) reports on compliance with this 3% and the 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities in the public service remains in place.
You may also wish to note that a number of Departments and Offices in the civil service are participants in the Willing Able and Mentoring (WAM) Programme which is a paid mentored work placement programme aimed at graduates with disabilities.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for people with disabilities was agreed by the Government last year.
One of a number of key performance indicators in the strategy requires two things to be consudered as follows:
- commence a review of the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) Code of Standards to ensure that they fully support the employment of people with disabilities in the public service; and
- that the establishment of special public service competitions for people with disabilities to meet identified shortfalls in public service employment targets, including where appropriate the provision of alternative recruitment channels for people with disabilities, with work in that regard to be taken forward by the Department of Public Expenditure in consultation with the Public Appointments Service (PAS);
Consideration of these key performance indicators has commenced.
382. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the role of the Public Appointments Service in employing persons with a disability in the public sector; if the service monitors the implementation and progress of the target across the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19385/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets a 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities in the Public Service. This is monitored on an annual basis by the National Disability Authority (NDA).
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is responsible for reporting to the NDA on the Civil Service position regarding this target.
In its latest published report for 2014, the NDA reported that the proportion of staff with disabilities in the Public Service exceeded the 3% target for the fourth successive year. In the Civil Service, 4.3% of staff employed in Government Departments were reported as having a disability.
383. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if recruitment to the Office of the Ombudsman is done on an open basis or is restricted to existing civil servants. [19401/16]
View answerRecruitment to the Office of the Ombudsman is not restricted to existing civil servants. Generally speaking, recruitment to Clerical and Executive Officer grades has been from general panels established by the Public Appointments Service, which in turn have been formed by means of either open public competition or confined civil service promotion competitions.
In relation to recruitment to the grade of Investigator (Assistant Principal Officer) and Senior Investigator (Principal Officer), the recruitment methodology is dependent on the requirements of a particular role, the availability of staff from the Public Appointments Service open and interdepartmental panels and the agreed sequence for recruitment and promotions as determined by the current recruitment policy.
Early in 2015 the Office recruited two specialist Investigators in Health Care and Social Work. There were open public competitions for the posts in question, through the Public Appointments Service, for persons with the requisite qualifications and experience in the relevant areas. In the past, the Office has also recruited for generalist Investigator posts either by means of special open competition or from confined civil service promotions panels formed by the Public Appointments Service. Some Investigators were recruited by means of the secondment, through the Public Appointments Service, of serving civil servants in Assistant Principal grades.
384. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the consequences or penalties that apply, if any, for senior officials following an adverse finding of the Office of the Ombudsman. [19402/16]
View answerThe Ombudsman Act 1980, as amended provides that, following an investigation and before he makes recommendations, the Ombudsman shall send a copy of his draft report and findings to the reviewable agency concerned and to any other person to whom he considers appropriate. The Ombudsman cannot make a finding or criticism adverse to a person in a report without having afforded the person an opportunity to consider the finding or criticism and to make representations in relation to it to him.
Furthermore where the Ombudsman makes an adverse finding, he may make a recommendation in his final investigation report to the relevant body that the matter be further considered or that specified measures be taken to remedy, mitigate or alter the adverse affect of the action on the complainant. He may also ask that he be notified within a specified time period of the action that has been taken in response to his recommendation.
Where it appears to the Ombudsman that the measures taken or proposed to be taken are not satisfactory, the legislation provides that the Ombudsman may submit a special report to the Oireachtas.
Ombudsman recommendations are put to the head of the body under investigation and are focussed on obtaining appropriate redress for the complainant and, if appropriate, on bringing about administrative and systemic improvements. The Ombudsman has no role in determining whether disciplinary measures against any officials should be considered or not.
Generally speaking any decision in relation to the taking of disciplinary measures or not in relation to any matter is a matter for the employing body.
385. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of combining the public service pension reduction amendments due in 2017 and 2018 to be rolled into one payment in 2017 for all those on a gross pension income band on or below €32,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19511/16]
View answerAs provided for under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2015, a significant phased amelioration of the reductions to public service pensions imposed by the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) is now underway.
On 1 January 2016, the first phase of this amelioration took place by way of increases in the exemption thresholds for PSPR application. These exemption threshold increases fully removed PSPR from a significant number of pensions with relatively lower values, while those pensions which continue to be impacted by PSPR received a boost of €400 per year.
On 1 January 2017, the second phase of PSPR amelioration, acting principally via further exemption threshold increases, will fully remove PSPR from another significant tranche of public service pensioners, while at the same time boosting those pensions which remain affected by PSPR by €500 per year.
On 1 January 2018, the third phase of PSPR amelioration will ensure that all PSPR-impacted pensions with values up to €34,132 will be fully restored, meaning that PSPR will no longer affect such pensions, while those pensions which continue to be impacted by PSPR will get a boost of, in most cases, €780 per year.
This phased pension restoration across the public service under FEMPI 2015 will cost an estimated €90 million on an annual basis when fully implemented from 2018 with the pension restoration occurring on 1 January 2017 costing an estimated €30 million annually, while the pension restoration occurring on 1 January 2018 will cost a further estimated €30 million annually.
If the PSPR restoration element due on 1 January 2018 were to be brought forward to 1 January 2017 in respect of all pensioners with pensions valued at up to €32,000, then the additional cost arising in 2017 is estimated at approximately €4 million.
386. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of new public sector workers in his Department hired to replace retiring staff and those who left the service in each of the years 2013 to 2015; the overall percentage of staff turnover this represents; the cost or savings on payroll and pensions accrued, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19512/16]
View answer387. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of additional public sector staff hired in his Department, over and above those who had retired or who left the service, that is, new positions only as and from 31 December 2010, broken down for each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date and by Department, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19513/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 387 together.
My Department was established in July 2011 and I can confirm that at all times we operated within agreed employment control framework "ECF" numbers and within predetermined budgets.
All decisions to recruit, including replacement posts, are carefully considered as part of our Workforce Planning process. We do not track retirement vacancies/replacements separately as these are considered in the overall resourcing needs of the Department.
It is not possible to provide the information requested on pensions accrued for 2013-2015 at this time and this information will follow as soon as possible.
In the meantime, as requested, please find information on retirements and turnover in the following table.
|
Year |
Retirements |
Retirement Turnover on ECF |
Pension Cost |
|
2011 |
1 |
0.35% |
|
|
2012 |
14 |
4.1% |
|
|
2013 |
6 |
1.8% |
Information to follow |
|
2014 |
8 |
2.69% |
Information to follow |
|
2015 |
7 |
2.23% |
Information to follow |
|
2016 End of June |
6 |
1.72% |
|
388. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of changes to increment bands agreed as part of the Haddington Road agreement for all those who entered the public and Civil Service from 1 January 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19514/16]
View answer389. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of changes to new entrant pay introduced on 1 January 2011, including changes made in the Haddington Road agreement for the years 2011 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19515/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 389 together.
The 10% reductions in starting pay for certain new entrants were introduced in January 2011 as part of the National Recovery Plan in order to reduce the Public Service Pay Bill by the then Government.
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). From 1 November 2013 pre and post-2011 pay scales were merged into a single consolidated scale applicable to each grade. Generally, the third point of 1 November 2013 payscale is equivalent to the first point of scale of the pre 2011 scale. Guidelines in relation to the merging of the scales are available on my Departments website http://www.per.gov.ie/en/haddington-road-agreement.
There are various factors which impacted on the pay scale and point of scale under which employees were recruited in the period from January 2011 such as prior public service experience and incremental credit agreements. Detailed costings would require collation and estimation on an individual sector level, based on detailed data on the position of staff on each salary scale across the public service for each individual grade. This detailed data is not available to my Department.
