Written Answers Nos. 172 - 180
172. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of appointments he has made to date to State boards since the move to the Public Appointments Service two years ago; the names of those appointed and the relevant position on each board; the names of those persons on the short-list; the date when the short-list was provided to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20067/16]
View answerThere are no State boards under the aegis of my Department.
173. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide information on the number of persons of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds working in his Department and in other public service organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20437/16]
View answerInformation in relation to the number of persons of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds currently working in the Department is not recorded. However, there are 322 local staff working in the 80 missions of the Department’s network world-wide, all of whom are recruited locally and are drawn from a broad range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
The Department is an equal opportunities employer.
174. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála cén líon státseirbhíseach atá earcaithe le bliain anuas in a Roinn a bhfuil Gaeilge agus Béarla acu; cén grád ar ar earcaíodh iad; cén líon iomlán státseirbhíseach a earcaíodh i rith an ama sin agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [20446/16]
View answerTá mo Roinn tiomanta go hiomlán le seirbhísí a sholáthar agus comhfhreagras a fhreagairt trí Ghaeilge nuair is gá. Léirigh iniúchadh den fhoireann i 2012 go raibh Gaeilge líofa nó ag ard-leibhéal ag 55 baill foirne i mo Roinn, agus d’fhógair 160 baill eile go raibh Gaeilge ag meán-leibhéal acu.
Earcaíodh 77 oifigigh ar an iomlán i mo Roinn sa tréimhse ón 30 Meitheamh 2015 – 30 Meitheamh 2016. D’eagraigh An tSeirbhís um Cheapacháin Phoiblí comórtais ina raibh sruth Ghaeilge speisialtóra san áireamh i gcomhair iarrthóirí le Gaeilge líofa agus d’earcaigh mo Roinn 1 Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin agus 2 Oifigigh Cléireachais ó na comórtais seo, le feidhmiú mar Oifigeach Gaeilge na Roinne agus dár seirbhísí saoránach bunlíne in Oifig na bPasanna.
Moltar d’Oifigigh a gcuid scileanna Gaeilge a fhorbairt ina gcuid ama féin, agus tá mo Roinn sásta tacaíocht agus maoiniú a thabhairt ina leith seo. I láthair na huaire, táimid ag tacú le 12 oifigigh le tabhairt faoi ranganna seachtracha i gConradh na Gaeilge agus i nGaelchultúr. Tugadh ceardlanna roimh-postála ag an Oifigeach Gaeilge d’Oifigigh a bheidh ag dul ar phostáil i mbliana.
Ó ceapadh Oifigeach Gaeilge na Roinne, cuireadh Coiste na Gaeilge nua le chéile, le 22 baill sa bhaile agus thar lear. Bhuail an Coiste leis an Aire Stáit Joe McHugh le cur chun cinn na Gaeilge amach anseo a phlé.
175. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received proposals from the interdepartmental flood policy co-ordination group with regard to access to affordable insurance for those householders who have difficulty accessing such insurance to cover flooding damage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19920/16]
View answerThe Inter-Departmental Flood Policy Co-Ordination Group is considering a range of cross sectoral flood risk policy issues, including options for insurance cover for householders. The Group is due to report to me with its recommendations shortly. I will then bring the Group’s report to Government for its consideration as soon as possible.
176. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 362 of 14 June 2016, if he will urgently initiate a review of staffing at a centre (details supplied) with a view to reinstating the position of a dedicated centre manager as distinct from the current arrangement where the centre is being supervised on the industrial side rather than being managed with proper strategic planning for what is one of the most important heritage centres in the country, if he will visit the centre to observe its importance first hand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19933/16]
View answerI am advised that staffing at the site is being kept under review in the context of overall staffing requirements within the Office of Public Works and the operational demands on site.
I would hope to visit the Centre at an appropriate time.
177. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to restore teachers' pay following measures introduced under public sector pay deals. [19975/16]
View answerUnder 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 lower paid public servants. 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.
Any further consideration of remuneration for any group of public servants will fall to be examined within the provisions of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 -2018 (Lansdowne Road Agreement). Any such consideration 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.
I 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.
178. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the terms of reference of the cross-departmental working group on fuller working lives; and to publish its draft report when it is available. [20030/16]
View answerLast January the previous Government approved the establishment of an Interdepartmental Working Group to consider policy designed to support fuller working lives. The Group is chaired by an Assistant Secretary from my Department and includes senior representatives from the Departments of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Social Protection, Justice, Health and Education. The terms of reference of the Group are as follows:
1. To review and update the previous work undertaken in 2012 by the cross-Departmental Working and Retirement Group, chaired by the Department of Social Protection;
2. Specifically, to examine the implications arising from prevailing retirement ages for workers in both the public and private sectors;
3. To arrange for engagement with key stakeholders as part of this examination; and
4. To make recommendations to Government on a policy framework aimed at supporting fuller working lives and to address the issues identified.
The Group will be reporting to Government shortly, following which it is intended to publish their report on my Department's website.
179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which various measures taken to protect the economy through the medium of public expenditure, curtailments and reform have addressed the issues and delivered results for the economic benefit of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20033/16]
View answer180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he expects to be in a position to ease the impact of cutbacks necessitated by the economic downturn throughout the public sector over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20034/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.
The key focus of fiscal policy over the last number of years has been to reduce the General Government Deficit in line with the targets set under the Excessive Deficit Procedure. The management of public expenditure has played an important role in ensuring that these key fiscal targets have been achieved. The EU Commission has recommended that Ireland has met the requirements to exit the corrective arm of the Stability and Growth Pact at the end of 2015.
Public Service Reform was a key element of the Government's response to the crisis and the strategy for recovery. The reforms implemented over the past five years enabled us to maintain and improve public services in the face of the necessary reduction in staff numbers and budgets, at a time of increased demand for public services. A second Public Service Reform Plan (2014-2016) was published in January 2014. While maintaining an emphasis on efficiency and reducing costs, this Plan puts a particular focus on improved service delivery and achieving better outcomes. While the economy is recovering, the need to ensure that public expenditure increases are sustainable means that reform of the Public Service will continue to be a priority in 2016 and beyond.
Budget 2015 marked the point where expenditure reductions were no longer required to meet our fiscal targets. Gross voted expenditure has grown by an average of 2½% annually in since the end of 2014. The fiscal projections in the Summer Economic Statement (SES) are consistent with the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment to spend at least €6.75 billion more on public services in 2021 compared to 2016. Investment in public infrastructure is vital for the medium and long-term competitiveness of the economy as well as for underpinning social cohesion through the provision of vital services to the public such as schools, public transport and housing. A cumulative additional €5.1 billion is allocated to capital spending in the SES over the period to 2021, in addition to the increases set out in the Public Capital Plan published in September last year.
