Wednesday, 13 Jul 2016

Written Answers Nos. 150-158

Departmental Contracts Data

Questions (150)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

150. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the total amount of money he has paid to private companies to which he has awarded contracts to provide services in local social protection offices by registered company name and by county in each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21566/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Following clarification from your office, the ‘services’ to which this Parliamentary Question relates to are ‘services provided by local Social Welfare branch offices’.

Payments are made by the Department to individual Branch Managers. Details of gross payments are detailed by county in the tabular form. Locations detailed more than once indicate instances where a vacancy arose and the payments made to each individual Branch Manager in the relevant years.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

COUNTY	LOCATION OF BRANCH OFFICE	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016 - YTD
CARLOW	MUINE BEAG	226,939.82	220,024.72	219,071.40	209,711.35	198,867.74	159,982.63	102,670.93
CARLOW	TULLOW	198,856.82	199,184.84	199,445.12	194,499.91	187,138.91	154,879.17	100,402.12
CAVAN	BALLYCONNELL	172,225.70	179,903.40	179,410.36	169,103.11	160,383.21	125,907.42	81,718.90
CLARE	ENNISTYMON	209,014.06	212,157.04	213,265.36	33,005.49	-	-	-
CLARE	ENNISTYMON	-	-	-	171,888.46	28,759.09	-	-
CLARE	ENNISTYMON	-	-	-	-	171,298.32	169,106.35	116,097.97
CLARE	KILRUSH	190,083.38	192,507.08	194,567.04	186,765.43	181,662.43	146,856.69	104,788.58
CLARE	TULLA	190,413.42	190,594.92	191,408.72	184,357.47	172,900.89	136,061.46	86,880.15
CORK	BANDON	196,730.06	195,844.48	199,174.28	188,966.19	176,285.65	141,024.06	92,348.68
CORK	BANTRY	167,819.83	164,861.35	164,732.60	168,080.00	178,955.46	147,059.92	92,580.47
CORK	CLONAKILTY	173,443.74	177,772.20	178,343.28	165,286.68	159,783.97	129,566.99	87,475.38
CORK	FERMOY	292,826.48	291,761.80	289,035.44	271,242.35	267,065.89	204,480.23	129,315.70
CORK	KINSALE	173,877.70	175,129.24	177,192.16	164,490.49	154,015.80	132,503.84	-
CORK	KINSALE	-	-	-	-	-	-	85,255.98
CORK	MACROOM	222,992.63	219,238.84	216,992.00	206,018.75	195,940.05	150,331.47	94,813.28
CORK	MALLOW	286,280.42	285,977.96	292,044.27	280,100.15	286,842.22	233,171.65	150,324.69
CORK	MIDDLETON	362,211.82	371,150.48	370,707.76	351,187.27	334,426.61	268,890.06	176,388.35
CORK	NEWMARKET	248,330.26	231,970.72	225,314.04	212,825.27	213,627.25	154,148.96	98,308.96
CORK	SKIBBEREEN	177,920.74	185,457.84	188,663.32	188,849.27	194,321.34	157,820.14	98,853.12
CORK	YOUGHAL	218,497.90	226,246.08	227,303.16	220,049.15	213,367.05	165,307.59	108,771.82
DONEGAL	BALLYBOFEY	342,961.46	349,105.88	356,325.12	343,957.71	332,729.28	265,110.26	165,856.49
DONEGAL	BALLYSHANNON	212,617.86	217,128.36	221,729.48	214,567.83	202,832.41	160,789.15	107,550.82
DONEGAL	DONEGAL TOWN	197,259.90	196,381.72	196,758.92	191,369.71	178,920.05	136,273.97	85,558.51
DONEGAL	KILLYBEGS	174,348.02	180,585.68	176,873.64	170,607.55	158,489.04	119,863.34	77,951.31
GALWAY	BALLINASLOE	291,426.38	296,847.08	297,498.08	292,598.75	272,177.81	212,007.96	143,462.84
GALWAY	TUAM	413,538.22	415,016.20	412,352.00	395,389.19	376,854.12	294,489.21	187,662.51
KERRY	DINGLE	114,735.08	120,838.50	128,408.09	122,955.67	119,913.01	95,565.44	63,530.74
KERRY	KILLORGLIN	178,336.62	182,533.36	192,154.64	181,656.47	172,441.13	130,848.86	84,642.39
KILDARE	ATHY	329,380.98	336,858.88	335,403.84	321,809.51	321,150.94	263,016.96	173,925.42
KILDARE	MAYNOOTH	676,526.82	684,318.48	709,814.24	682,781.51	616,536.81	474,639.43	295,035.74
KILKENNY	THOMASTOWN	180,788.98	181,640.92	185,302.24	181,449.27	174,164.81	131,377.22	84,256.11
LAOIS	PORTARLINGTON	341,653.14	352,009.64	367,811.40	363,625.43	353,422.41	269,582.47	169,774.46
LAOIS	PORTLAOISE	280,180.64	-	-	-	-	-	-
LAOIS	PORTLAOISE	144,654.59	454,523.10	476,825.33	479,983.65	490,576.35	377,358.20	239,813.36
LAOIS	RATHDOWNEY	152,427.70	152,269.92	159,569.86	152,459.74	152,866.02	119,793.80	78,651.35
LIMERICK	KILMALLOCK	315,729.46	313,692.44	314,204.32	294,352.55	274,397.34	215,100.53	134,623.77
LOUTH	ARDEE	284,125.54	287,539.36	283,658.60	266,498.83	247,602.41	187,884.99	119,094.82
MAYO	BALLINROBE	162,474.99	169,192.87	167,908.38	154,500.44	85,025.44	-	-
MAYO	BALLINROBE	-	-	-	-	-	92,034.68	21,854.84
MAYO	BALLINROBE	-	-	-	-	-	-	49,944.11
MAYO	CLAREMORRIS	200,200.36	196,297.05	199,292.89	196,119.03	180,515.49	144,970.88	89,652.19
MAYO	SWINFORD	223,864.55	224,799.14	220,613.10	214,176.51	203,859.53	159,579.99	104,201.58
MEATH	KELLS	233,826.26	246,675.08	255,035.40	44,317.35	-	-	-
MEATH	KELLS	-	-	-	204,897.20	238,685.16	191,077.01	119,856.86
MEATH	TRIM	381,925.42	395,423.96	393,946.72	377,876.35	374,827.68	305,621.66	188,509.06
MONAGHAN	CARRICKMACROSS	206,677.14	200,710.72	203,522.52	198,555.11	191,457.13	142,530.39	88,044.91
MONAGHAN	CASTLEBLANEY	225,083.90	229,853.40	242,630.04	236,736.15	220,216.49	169,059.39	107,327.34
MONAGHAN	CLONES	122,107.90	125,030.52	126,740.17	122,617.12	114,212.12	21,424.15	-
MONAGHAN	MONAGHAN	308,332.47	315,000.93	320,857.04	310,425.25	285,360.49	248,057.51	160,102.66
OFFALY	BIRR	266,159.82	283,904.48	286,702.96	285,709.95	273,798.41	213,217.05	142,864.23
OFFALY	EDENDERRY	259,468.74	271,103.96	281,975.84	278,500.27	261,401.93	203,760.95	10,143.44
ROSCOMMON	BOYLE	61,608.72	-	-	-	-	-	-
ROSCOMMON	BOYLE	83,326.73	148,758.43	155,777.02	152,295.33	147,771.53	125,920.73	77,956.63
ROSCOMMON	CASTLEREA	240,275.84	141,960.81	-	-	-	-	-
ROSCOMMON	CASTLEREA	-	103,587.55	246,567.84	240,573.68	235,910.79	188,381.82	121,784.62
ROSCOMMON	ROSCOMMON	174,231.61	178,176.27	183,591.22	181,607.16	169,669.85	124,880.56	83,665.59
SLIGO	TUBBERCURRY	148,810.38	146,845.72	145,650.13	141,582.26	136,847.98	106,618.84	68,207.69
TIPPERARY	CAHIR	174,210.38	183,169.20	186,102.92	182,579.99	170,857.01	133,130.45	88,642.35
TIPPERARY	CARRICK-ON-SUIR	244,664.30	247,016.96	250,542.12	234,239.39	223,190.97	192,907.40	-
TIPPERARY	CARRICK-ON-SUIR	-	-	-	-	-	-	124,577.72
TIPPERARY	CASHEL	162,194.44	164,709.72	168,740.60	166,961.55	162,584.47	125,445.92	81,777.11
TIPPERARY	NENAGH	338,295.02	359,174.32	360,260.44	350,416.43	349,761.71	271,792.76	173,921.93
TIPPERARY	ROSCREA	177,968.10	186,394.68	192,563.12	185,973.63	176,849.53	137,616.79	87,671.95
TIPPERARY	TIPPERARY	216,533.94	224,803.64	228,709.16	224,339.67	214,509.61	172,267.42	119,685.66
WATERFORD	DUNGARVAN	270,817.38	278,200.56	279,094.93	264,762.07	256,432.09	194,154.27	126,978.78
WESTMEATH	CASTLEPOLLARD	177,636.58	170,641.56	169,122.88	164,414.96	150,860.62	116,681.36	77,532.47
WEXFORD	ENNISCORTHY	495,339.30	516,570.84	525,690.40	504,494.79	486,440.37	378,149.35	242,565.27
WEXFORD	GOREY	437,640.02	454,249.52	459,417.48	397,946.69	-	-	-
WEXFORD	GOREY	-	-	-	41,484.34	428,270.45	338,748.79	218,583.38
WEXFORD	GORT	196,056.66	193,520.88	197,729.80	195,235.47	189,565.69	152,034.27	100,610.72
WEXFORD	NEWROSS	375,337.94	385,524.24	381,977.96	359,916.55	343,080.17	269,290.91	172,743.34
WICKLOW	BALTINGLASS	205,570.10	211,883.24	214,100.08	204,926.51	198,347.58	160,975.89	105,008.80
WICKLOW	WICKLOW	260,747.46	269,067.48	278,434.20	280,905.27	273,688.89	213,197.43	137,523.78

Social Insurance

Questions (151)

Denise Mitchell

Question:

151. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of the proposal in the programme for Government that employers' pay related social insurance will be cut in the event of the minimum wage rising for low income workers. [21577/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The Programme for Government commitment to which the Deputy refers, relates to cutting Employers’ PRSI for low-income workers to mitigate the cost of minimum wage increases, in order to protect jobs.

Currently employers pay PRSI at the rate of 8.5% where weekly earnings are between €38 and €376. Once weekly earnings exceed €376, the rate of employer PRSI is 10.75%. The upper threshold for the 8.5% rate of employer PRSI was increased from €356 to €376 from 1 January 2016, to take account of the increase in the minimum hourly wage. The full year cost of this measure is €6.7 million.

The increase in the upper threshold to €376 ensures that employers, with employees earning the minimum wage and working a 39-hour week, continue to attract the lower 8.5% rate of employer PRSI, upon implementation of the new minimum hourly wage.

Further change, if any, to the threshold for charging the lower 8.5% employer PRSI rate to meet the Programme for Government commitment, is dependent on the level of increase in the minimum wage. In the absence of this information it is not possible to provide a cost for this measure.

School Meals Programme

Questions (152)

Brendan Smith

Question:

152. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will review an application for funding from a community project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21578/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to schools and organisations benefitting over 200,000 children at a total cost of €42 million in 2016. The objective of the scheme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them.

In recent years priority for new applications for funding has been given to schools which are part of the Department of Education and Skills initiative for disadvantaged schools “Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools” (DEIS) in line with the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, Better Outcomes Brighter Futures. The schools and organisations that joined the scheme prior to the introduction of DEIS would have done so under the various educational disadvantaged programmes in place at the time. These schemes included School Completion Programmes, Giving Children an Even Break, Home School Community Liaison Scheme, Designated Disadvantaged, Early Start and Breaking the Cycle.

The organisation concerned received funding under the scheme from the academic year 2007/2008 to 2012/2013 and officials in my Department are engaging directly with the management of the Centre regarding their application for the forthcoming academic year.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Passport Services

Questions (153)

Declan Breathnach

Question:

153. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will consider the establishment of a passport office in County Louth, given the result of the British referendum on exiting the European Union and increase in applications from Northern Ireland, to make it easier for persons from the north east and north west to access the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21454/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The vast majority of passport applications from both sides of the border are made through the post office networks on this island. This remains the most efficient and cost effective way to apply and applications can be submitted at some 70 post offices in Northern Ireland.

An appointment service is in operation in the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork. This service provides flexibility in allowing customers to book guaranteed time slots between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. It removes the necessity for the smaller number of citizens who need their passports for urgent travel reasons to queue and ensures that waiting times at public counters are minimised.

From early next year an on-line option for passport renewal for adults will be offered to citizens, whether they are based on the island of Ireland or abroad.

I am satisfied that the existing range of service options meets the current needs of passport applicants. I am also confident that the introduction of the on-line application option should result in significant efficiencies and reduced turnaround times for passport renewals generally, even with the increase in applications expected from Northern Ireland in the years ahead.

Foreign Conflicts

Questions (154, 155)

Clare Daly

Question:

154. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how he will respond to the open letter from Palestinian civil and political society sent to all Oireachtas Members entitled Palestine’s Call; and the action he will take to exert pressure on the State of Israel through the use of sanctions and other parliamentary actions, to end its illegal occupation of Palestine and to grant the Palestinian people rights in accordance with United Nation resolutions and international law as requested in the letter. [21546/16]

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

155. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade how he will respond to an open letter from Palestinian civil and political society sent to all Oireachtas Members entitled Palestine’s Call; and the action he will take to exert pressure on the State of Israel through the use of sanctions and other parliamentary actions to end its illegal occupation of Palestine and to grant the Palestinian people rights in accordance with United Nations resolutions and international law, as requested in the letter. [21602/16]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together.

Like other Deputies, I myself received a copy of the letter referred to, which appears to have been drawn up by the Irish NGO concerned, and then Palestinian signatories gathered.

The Government remains active and engaged on the objective of trying to achieve a two state solution in the Middle East, including a fully sovereign and free Palestinian state. There are few western countries as consistently engaged on this issue as Ireland. I have worked continuously to try and maintain the problems of Palestine on the EU and international agenda, despite a wave of concurrent crises in the immediate neighbourhood, and have urged stronger international actions. We will continue to do so.

I have myself recently returned from my second extensive visit to the area in just over a year, meeting the parties and trying to urge them to move forward.

Ireland is also engaged on the ground in trying to combat the effects of the occupation, both through our own humanitarian work and through our support of local NGOs engaged on justice and human rights work, a number of whom are among the signatories of this letter.

I fully share the frustration of the signatories, of Deputies in the House, and of others, that the process has been completely stalled in recent years, and that there is not a stronger international will to drive it forward. I have therefore given the Government’s full support to the efforts by France in recent weeks to do just that.

The letter, and the Questions posed by Deputies, make particular reference to the call for trade sanctions upon Israel. We have discussed this question on many occasions, with this NGO, here in the House, and elsewhere. The essential point remains unchanged: I am opposed to sanctions and, in any event, there is no possibility of obtaining any support for such sanctions at EU level, which is where they would have to be implemented. I have, however, been an advocate of measures which differentiate clearly between Israel and the illegally occupied settlements. These include the guidelines adopted on research co-operation which exclude entities based in the settlements from benefitting from funding under the EU-Israel research agreement, and on origin of products to ensure that consumers are not misled as to the provenance of any products emanating from the settlements.

Flood Prevention Measures

Questions (156)

Dara Calleary

Question:

156. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the direct supports available to residents in an area that has a history of flooding but for which there is no flood prevention plan to assist them in protecting their houses in the event of another flood; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21548/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The Office of Public Works (OPW) is currently undertaking the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme throughout the country. The Programme involves an assessment of 300 locations nationwide including 90 coastal locations, the mapping of potentially significant flood risk areas and the production of flood risk management options and plans. These draft Flood Risk Management Plans are being published from 15th July 2016 for public consultation and should be finalised by the end of 2016.

In the context of the CFRAM Programme, the Government announced two pilot Individual Property Protection (IPP) projects on 5th January 2015. These are community based pilots to inform consideration of a possible mechanism to deliver IPP, as part of a community based approach or scheme and also the potential costs and benefits attached to IPP for areas where a flood defence scheme is not likely to be completed for some time.

These pilots are:

- a feasibility study in Thomastown and Graiguenamanagh, where Kilkenny County Council has procured consultants to carry out the study. The consultants will survey each property to establish potential and appropriate IPP options for the community. This study is being carried out separately to but in parallel with the CFRAM process under which the assessment of all possible feasible flood defence options for these towns is ongoing, and

- the potential viability of a scheme for the installation of flood gates for some properties, identified by the community in Crossmolina, as an interim measure to help mitigate any further flood damage pending the completion of the defence scheme for the town is being considered by Mayo County Council (MCC) and the OPW. The two bodies are working together to progress this as quickly as possible. MCC has carried out a survey of households in the town and has received expressions of interest from 60 homeowners for the installation of flood gates. The OPW hopes to appoint consultants shortly to carry out surveys of individual properties to determine their suitability for flood gates.

The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group is considering the potential costs and benefits associated with any targeted individual property protection scheme that could benefit more isolated properties, as distinct from the community based approach being piloted.

Evaluation of these pilots and the work by the Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group will, in due course, inform Government of the merits of any possible targeted direct support or grant scheme for flood relief and prevention measures for households and businesses.

Flood Relief Schemes Applications

Questions (157)

Dara Calleary

Question:

157. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of applications received under the minor floods mitigations works scheme since November 2015, by authority, in tabular form; the status of each application including those that have been approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21559/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that 90 applications have been submitted by 18 local authorities since November 2015 which are listed in the following table. All details of funding approved under the above scheme for each local authority from 2009 to date is available at:

http://www.opw.ie/en/floodriskmanagement/operations/minorfloodworkscoastalprotectionscheme/listsofminorworksapprovals/

The commencement and progression of any works for which funding is approved is a matter for each Local Authority concerned.

Applications received by the OPW under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme in the period 1 November 2015 to 12 July 2016 by Local Authority.

Local Authority	No. of Applications	Project Location	Status of application
Carlow County Council	5	Paupish Lane, Carlow	Approved
		Cassidy's House, Gothan	Under consideration
		Fonthill, Ballinabaragh	Under consideration
		Tinnahinch Loch	Under consideration
		Tinnahinch Quay	Under consideration
Cork County Council	3	Waterock, Midleton	To be included in Midleton FRS
		Ballintubber, Carrigtohill	Under consideration
		Inchigeelagh	Under consideration
Donegal County Council	9	Lower Mount Merrion, Milford	Approved
		Sloddan Port to Binbane Head (to include Pollan Strand, Ballyliffin & Five Fingers Strand), (coastal)	Approved
		Inver, (coastal)	Approved
		Inishfree Bay, (coastal)	Approved
		Portnoo to Dooey (coastal)	Under consideration
		Magheroarty, (coastal)	Under Consideration
		Drung ,Quigley Point (coastal)	Under consideration
		Coolyslin, Castlefin	Being dealt with under CFRAM
		Inver, Glebe	Under consideration
Galway County Council	11	Ballinasloe Town Centre	Approved
		Ardacong,Tuam	Approved
		Ardacong, Tuam	Approved
		Lakyle, Craughwell	Approved
		Blackrock, Gort	Approved
		Fahy's, Grannagh	Approved
		Whyte's, Carrownamadra, Kinvarra	Approved
		Dark Road, Castletaylor North, Ardrahan	Approved
		Beagh, Brownsgrove,Tuam	Under consideration
		Roo, Kinvarra	Under consideration
		Parkacurry, Monivia	Under consideration
Kerry County Council	2	Rossbeigh (Coastal)	Under consideration
		Cliveragh, Listowel	Approved
Kilkenny County Council	2	Knockhouse to Portnascully	Under consideration
		Fanningstown & Owning	Under Consideration
Leitrim County Council	2	Liscoghill, Drumkeeran	Approved
		Mountcampbell	Under Consideration
Louth County Council	1	Bellurgan	Now being addressed as a small scheme.
Limerick City & County Council	2	Condell Road, Limerick City	Approved
		Foynes Yacht Club	Under Consideration
Longford County Council	5	Ballymulvey, Ballymahon	Approved
		Fortwilliam, Lanesboro	Under consideration
		Tureen-Lizmacmanus, Lanesboro	Under consideration
		Kileen, Granard	Under consideration
		Tomiskey	Under consideration
Mayo County Council	5	Bachelor's Walk, Ballina	Under Consideration
		Green Road, Foxford	Under consideration
		Salmon Leap Cottage, Belclare	Approved
		Dugort,Achill	Awaiting revised application.
		Crossmolina	Under consideration
Meath County Council	1	Ashbourne	Approved
Monaghan County Council	6	Donaghmoyne	Approved
		Bunnoe River Catchment	Approved
		Cornawall, Doohat	Under Consideration
		Monmurry, Glaslough	Under consideration
		Derrylaven/Drumgoan	Not approved
		Drummillard/Lakeview, Castleblayney	Approved
Roscommon County Council	9	Beagh,Brabazon, Ballinasloe	Under consideration
		Bushfield	Under consideration
		Castleplunket	Under consideration
		Correal Cross	Under consideration
		Curnalee	Under consideration
		Fairhill, Dysart	Under consideration
		Killeglan Stream	Under consideration
		Lough Funshinagh	Under Consideration
		Moneymore	Under consideration
Tipperary County Council	22	R-691-4 Ballinure School	Under consideration
		R-690-4 Lismalin	Under consideration
		L-1401-3 Ballyvadin	Under consideration
		L-2111-3 Curragheenduff	Under consideration
		R-691-2 Dualla	Under consideration
		L – 1403-2 Cathaganstown	Under consideration
		L-1403-1 Greystown	Under consideration
		Cashel Town, Dualla Road & Walter’s Lot	Under consideration
		Cloughcarrigeen Estate, Kilsheelin	Under consideration
		R665- Ballinahalla, Clogheen	Under consideration
		Ardfinnan, Clonmel	Under consideration
		Newcastle,Clonmel	Under consideration
		Ballina	Under consideration
		R445 Dublin Road, Nenagh	Under consideration
		Consingle, Newport	Under consideration
		Ballinderry	Under consideration
		Glencrue,Portroe	Under consideration
		Kilcooley Abbey	Under consideration
		L-4162-0 Galbertstown, Thurles	Under consideration
		Borrisoleigh Rd, Templemore	Under consideration
		L6101-0 Graigue Paudeen (Fenor) Road	Under consideration
		Baronstown, Loughmore	Under consideration
Waterford City and County Council	1	Clonea, Power	Not approved
Wexford County Council	2	Ballyhack (coastal)	Approved
		Arthurstown ( Coastal)	Approved
Wicklow County Council	2	The Murrough(coastal)	Approved
		North Beach Coastal Protection	Under consideration
Total	90

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Questions (158)

Dara Calleary

Question:

158. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of clerical officer positions he will fill in the latest round of Civil Service appointments; the number he will fill in counties Mayo and Roscommon; the reason the County Sligo panel has been dropped; the timeframe for the appointment of these positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21407/16]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is an independent, statutory body which provides professional recruitment and selection services to the civil and public service. 

I am informed that the PAS advertised a recruitment competition for Clerical Positions in the Civil Service in May 2016 which attracted almost 30,000 applications. This competition is being held in order to create panels of qualified individuals from which departments could draw when filling sanctioned vacancies.

The establishment of a panel for a location(s) is based on demand as notified to PAS. Clerical panels for 26 county locations including Sligo will be created by PAS and vacancies will be filled as and when required by employing departments.

  It is envisaged that appointments will be made from September, 2016.