Written Answers Nos. 492-507
492. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role, if any, of the Government to accelerate a Syrian peace process and consideration of proposals to bring forward a Syrian governance structure with full protection for all ethnic and religious groupings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22674/16]
View answerIreland has been a supporter of the UN’s efforts to achieve an end to the conflict in Syria, based on the principles of the 2012 Geneva Communique. The UN, with the support of the members of the International Syria Support Group, is continuing to work to find a sustainable political solution. Ireland is not a member of the International Syria Support Group.
I call on all parties to support the UN’s efforts and to commit themselves to work sincerely and with urgency for a nationwide ceasefire and a negotiated peace agreement which will protect the rights of the Syrian people and preserve the pluralistic character, unity and sovereignty of a free Syria at peace.
Ireland’s total humanitarian assistance to the victims of the Syrian crisis will reach €62 million by the end of 2016. This is Irish Aid’s largest response to a single crisis in recent years. Ireland’s funding to the Syria crisis is channelled via the UN, Red Cross and NGOs, and is spent on priority needs which include food aid, water and sanitation, shelter, education and protection (including child protection and prevention of gender-based violence).
493. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of politically appointed staff working in his Department, including the names, roles and salaries of each staff member; in the case of special advisers, their qualifications and experience relevant to their roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22733/16]
View answerThe following are the details of political appointed staff who have been assigned to my Department under the Guidelines on Staffing of Ministerial Offices for the 32nd Dáil.
|
Minister/ Minister of State |
Name |
Position held |
Qualifications (where stated) |
Annual Salary scale € |
|
Minister Charlie Flanagan |
Sarah Kavanagh Tom Fabozzi Fergal Conroy Pat Nolan |
Special Adviser Special Adviser Civilian Driver Civilian Driver |
Barrister at Law Degree (Honorable Society of King’s Inns) Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies (Honorable Society of King’s Inns) M.A in Political Communication (DCU) M.A in Politics (UCD) B.A in History & Politics (UCD) M.A. in Political Communication (DCU) B.A. in European Studies (UL) - - - |
79,401 – 97,194 79,401 – 97,194 34,699 34,699 |
|
MoS Joe McHugh |
Joe Doohan John McClafferty |
Civilian Driver Civilian Driver |
- - |
34,699 34,699 |
|
MoS Dara Murphy |
David O’Driscoll Joe O’Callaghan |
Civilian Driver Civilian Driver |
- - |
34,699 34,699 |
495. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of staff who entered the public service after 1 January 2011 in his Department and by year of entry to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23497/16]
View answerI understand that the request for information on the number of staff who entered the Civil Service since 1 January 2011 is being replied to by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
There are no state bodies or agencies under the Aegis of my Department.
496. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all provisions from EU directives pertaining to increasing the share of public procurement contracts by SMEs have been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22183/16]
View answerPublic Procurement is governed by EU and National rules. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. It would be a breach of the EU rules for a public body to favour or discriminate against particular candidates on grounds such as nationality, organisational size, etc. and there are legal remedies which may be used against any public body infringing these rules.
There is, however, a recognition at EU level a recognition of the need to promote and facilitate SME participation in public procurement. The New EU Directives on Procurement are intended to make it easier for businesses and SMEs to tender for public sector procurement contracts. Specific measures aimed at facilitating SME participation in public procurement include the following:
- financial capacity criterion is now less demanding; it is generally limited to twice contract value;
- electronic methods of communication is now mandated in parts of the award process;
- the use of a self-declaration European Single Procurement Document by suppliers is introduced to reduce red tape;
- there is the discretion to divide public contracts into lots, with the proviso that opting not to divide a contract into lots must be explained in the procurement documents;
- there is a provision for "consortia bidding" to encourage SME involvement;
- there is explicit provision for prior discussion with suppliers and independent experts, with safeguards against distorting competition or violating transparency and non-discrimination principles;
- there are reductions in the time limits for receipt of tenders by 30%;
- Member States are required to report back to the Commission every 3 years on SME participation in public procurement
These measure were transposed into Irish law in May of this year by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). A number of them had been accelerated into policy in Ireland in 2014 by way of Circular 10/14, which was broadly welcomed by SME representative bodies at the time.
The OGP will continue to work with industry to ensure that winning government business is done in a fair, transparent and accessible way and to ensure that government procurement policies are business friendly. Procurement reform is being carried out in a manner that recognises the clear importance of small and medium-sized enterprises to the country's economic recovery.
497. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funding available for coastal erosion both nationally and for County Mayo; the funding which has been made available for Mayo County Council each year for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22208/16]
View answerThe primary objective of Government policy on coastal protection is to ensure that in areas identified as being at greatest risk of damage or loss to economic assets through coastal erosion or flooding, appropriate and sustainable measures are identified by Local Authorities to protect those assets and, where such measures are economically justified on cost benefit grounds and compatible with all required environmental and other statutory requirements, they are implemented subject to the availability of resources.
The Irish Coastal Protection Strategy Study (ICPSS) has surveyed and assessed the coastal erosion risk along the entire national coastline and this information is available to all Local Authorities to enable them to develop appropriate plans and strategies for the sustainable management of the coastline in their counties including the identification, prioritisation and, subject to the availability of resources, the implementation of coastal protection works both of a structural and non-structural nature.
The Local Authorities may carry out coastal protection works using their own resources. If necessary, they may also put forward proposals to the relevant central Government Departments for funding of appropriate measures depending on the infrastructure or assets under threat. The Office of Public Works (OPW) operates the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, under which applications for funding from local authorities are considered for measures costing not more than €500,000 in each instance. Funding for coastal erosion risk management studies may also be applied for under this scheme. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for projects which meet the eligibility criteria including a requirement that the proposed measures are cost beneficial. Full details are available on the OPW's website at:
http://www.opw.ie/en/floodriskmanagement/operations/minorfloodworkscoastalprotectionscheme/.
In May 2011 Mayo County Council submitted a number of applications for funding under the OPW minor works scheme for coastal erosion measures but these did not satisfy the eligibility criteria under the scheme.
In June 2012 following a review of the eligibility criteria for such cases all local authorities were requested to resubmit coastal applications under the new criteria in order to be eligible for consideration.
Apart for the exceptional situation in relation to storm damage repair works as detailed below, no applications have been received from and no funding has been made available to Mayo County Council for coastal erosion measures in the last five years.
Funding of €4.211 million was approved in 2014/2015 by the OPW for coastal protection repair works in respect of infrastructure damaged during the coastal storms of December 2013 to January, 2014. All this funding has been disbursed to Mayo County Council.
498. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the local authorities and associated housing bodies that have applied to use the framework agreement for integrated design team services to assist with social housing delivery. [22228/16]
View answerThe following Local Authorities and Housing Bodies have engaged with the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) in relation to using the Framework Agreement for Integrated Design Team Services:
- Cavan County Council
- Carlow County Council
- Donegal County Council
- Galway City Council
- Louth County Council
- South Dublin County Council
- Waterford City and County Council.
- Cork Simon Community
- Dundalk Simon Community
- Mountbellew Housing Project, (Galway)
- North & East Housing Association (Louth)
- Tuath Housing Association(National)
- Walkinstown Housing Association (Dublin)
499. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of meetings held by the Shannon river basin management co-ordination group to date; the details and agencies of those who have attended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22376/16]
View answer500. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Shannon river basin management co-ordination group has reported to the Cabinet committee on climate change; if the group has put forward any legislative and policy proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22377/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together.
The Government decided on 5 January 2016 to establish the Shannon Flood State Agency Co-ordination Working Group to enhance on-going co-operation across all of the State Agencies involved with the River Shannon.
The Group is comprised of the following membership and comes under the chairmanship of the Office of Public Works:
Office of Public Works
Local Authorities, represented by the City and County Management Association
Waterways Ireland
Electricity Supply Board
Inland Fisheries Ireland
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government
Bord na Móna
Environment Protection Agency
Irish Water
The Attorney General’s Office and other Government Departments may also participate, as requested by the Chairman.
The Group has met on four occasions to date and has conducted an audit of the roles and responsibilities of State Agency organisations and has published its Shannon Flood Risk Work Programme for 2016. Its Work Programme which is monitored by the Group is available on the OPW website sets out co-ordinated actions and activities for the Shannon catchment. The Group has engaged in a programme of public consultation and has held a series of open days on its work programme. It is also considering in co-operation with the Attorney General’s Office the development of appropriate guidance that will set out more clearly the rights and responsibilities of non-statutory bodies in relation to watercourses.
I met the group on 12 July and got an update from each of the state agencies on their actions and activities for the Shannon Catchment. We also discussed the draft Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Plan which was published for public consultation on 15 July. The CFRAM is the core strategy for addressing flood risk in the Shannon Catchment.
A report of progress by the Group was reported to the Cabinet Committee on Regional and Rural Affairs at its meeting on 27 June. The Group has not to date identified the need for any policy or legislative changes to support co-ordination to manage flood risk for the Shannon catchment. I asked the Group to consider any changes that it considers may assist with timely implementation of the CFRAM Flood Risk Management Plans. I will consider any proposals and report these to the Cabinet Committee.
I am satisfied that the Shannon Flood State Agency Co-ordination Working Group is focussed on ensuring the best possible level of co-ordination between the statutory bodies on the River Shannon and that it will deliver the highest level of efficiencies to add value to the Shannon CFRAM programme.
501. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to consider including local authorities in the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22593/16]
View answerThe remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General will be considered in the context of the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment to examine the possibility of extending the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General to include expenditure by local authorities.
The range of legislative provisions in the Comptroller and Auditor General Act, 1993 involve both the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Finance, while issues relating to local government audit are a matter for the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.
The issue of a possible merger between the Local Government Audit Service and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General was considered as part of the previous Government's programme for the rationalisation of State agencies. While it was decided at that time not to merge these organisations, the process led to engagement at senior management level between the two auditing bodies with regard to enhanced co-operation arrangements in areas such as professional training, value for money methodology and approach and the possibility of issuing joint reports within their existing respective mandates.
The Local Government Reform Act, 2014 introduced significant changes to a wide range of aspects of the local government system. As regards accountability and oversight, the Act provided for the establishment of a National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) as the statutory body to oversee the local government sector. The statutory functions of NOAC include examining the financial performance, including value for money, of local government bodies in respect of their financial resources. Further information on NOAC and its work to date is available at www.noac.ie
502. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the year-on-year savings or costs achieved through the implementation of financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, legislation and collective agreements from 2009 to 2016 to date, broken down by each separate FEMPI Act and each agreement; to outline a summary of changes introduced under each Act and or agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22072/16]
View answerIn the period from end 2009 to end 2014, the Exchequer pay bill cost reduced from a peak of €17.5 billion gross to €13.8 billion net, a reduction of €3.7 billion, or more than 21%. Of this €3.7 billion, the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Acts gave rise to €2.2 billion in direct reductions in public service remuneration and pensions. The €2.2 billion in savings referred to is made up of €1.21 billion in pay reductions, €0.9 billion by the Pension Related Deduction (PRD) and €0.135 billion by the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR). The balance of the savings are attributable to reductions in numbers, and to productivity measures underpinned by Public Service Agreements, the Croke Park Agreement 2010 to 2014 and the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 to 2018 (Haddington Road Agreement & Lansdowne Road Agreement).
A table outlining the evolution of the public service exchequer pay bill from 2009 to 2016 is set out below. The 2016 outturn estimate (€15.2 billion net) represents a reduction of €2.3 billion on the 2009 peak of €17.5 billion gross, but incorporates the provision of extra resources in key front-line areas where pressures are being experienced as well as the 2016 restoration measures agreed in the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
|
- |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015* |
2016* |
|
|
€bn |
€bn |
€bn |
€bn |
€bn |
€bn |
€bn |
€bn |
|
Gross Pay |
17.5 |
16.0 |
15.7 |
15.3 |
15.1 |
14.7 |
15.1 |
15.7 |
|
Net Pay |
16.6 |
15.0 |
14.7 |
14.3 |
14.1 |
13.8 |
14.5 |
15.2 |
*reflects revised format with HSE being funded from the Vote of Department of Health.
Details of savings secured under the Croke Park Agreement are available on the Implementation Body website http://implementationbody.gov.ie/savings/
503. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product for each of the years 2002 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22073/16]
View answerThe Table below sets out General Government Expenditure and Gross Domestic Product for the period 2002 to 2015 as published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), with the figures for 2015 reflecting the CSO's recent releases in relation to National Accounts and Government Income and Expenditure.
|
(€bn) |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
General Government Expenditure |
44.9 |
48.0 |
51.8 |
56.7 |
62.6 |
70.7 |
78.5 |
80.0 |
109.1 |
79.6 |
73.5 |
71.7 |
73.0 |
75.2 |
|
Nominal GDP |
136.0 |
145.6 |
156.1 |
170.2 |
185.1 |
197.3 |
187.7 |
169.7 |
167.1 |
173.1 |
175.8 |
180.2 |
193.2 |
255.8 |
|
Expressed as a % GDP |
33.0% |
33.0% |
33.2% |
33.3% |
33.8% |
35.8% |
41.8% |
47.1% |
65.3% |
46.0% |
41.8% |
39.8% |
37.8% |
29.4% |
The Deputy will appreciate, that the recent revisions to Ireland's GDP level published by the CSO highlight that the ratio set out above must be interpreted with very significant caution taking account of the exceptional factors impacting on the measurement of GDP for Ireland.
504. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of implementing a pay increase to all those employed under the remit of his Department post 1 January 2011 of 2%, 4% and 5%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22074/16]
View answerIn reply to the Deputy's question the table below outlines the cost of implementing a pay increase for staff recruited on or after 1 January 2011.
|
Organisation |
2% |
4% |
5% |
|
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform* |
€1,086,917 |
€1,108,230 |
€1,118,886 |
|
Public Appointments Service (PAS) |
€31,467 |
€62,934 |
€78,667 |
|
Office of the Ombudsman
|
€32,121 |
€64,242 |
€80,302 |
|
The State Laboratory |
€11,737 |
€23,474 |
€29,343 |
|
Special EU Programming Body (SEUPB) |
€7,645 |
€15,290 |
€19,113 |
*The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was established in July 2011 so in answering your question in order to give a truly comparable annual figure I have used 2012 to reflect a full year cost.
505. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of the merging or making changes to increment bands for those employed in the public service from 1 January 2011, as agreed under the Haddington Road agreement, for the years 2014 to 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22075/16]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ 19514/16 of the 5th July 2016.
506. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff who entered the Civil Service post 1 January 2011 in his Department and by year of entry to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22076/16]
View answerAccording to data held centrally by my Department, which draw on HR information provided by each Government Department, the overall number of civil servants, by headcount, with less than 1 year's service on 31 December, 2011-2015 was:
|
Year |
Headcount |
|
2011 |
603 |
|
2012 |
773 |
|
2013 |
748 |
|
2014 |
1,243 |
|
2015 |
1,782 |
The above is further broken down by Vote Group is as follows:
|
Department |
2011 |
2012 |
2013
|
2014 |
2015 |
|
Agriculture, Food & the Marine |
28
|
24
|
49
|
45
|
76
|
|
Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht |
6
|
5
|
4
|
19
|
19 |
|
Children & Youth Affairs |
1
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
12
|
|
Communications, Energy & Natural Resources |
8
|
4
|
3
|
8
|
18
|
|
Defence |
4
|
5
|
1
|
1
|
6
|
|
Education & Skills |
28
|
27
|
22
|
20
|
80
|
|
Environment, Community & Local Government |
9
|
15
|
3
|
12
|
15
|
|
Finance |
11
|
77
|
166
|
148
|
369
|
|
Foreign Affairs & Trade |
14
|
32
|
14
|
27
|
46
|
|
Health |
6
|
10
|
7
|
16
|
15
|
|
Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation |
14
|
6
|
3
|
53
|
17
|
|
Justice & Equality |
260
|
257
|
227
|
285
|
350
|
|
Public Expenditure & Reform |
22
|
53
|
78
|
224
|
284
|
|
Social Protection |
115
|
181
|
118
|
281
|
235
|
|
Taoiseach |
62
|
67
|
46
|
84
|
221
|
|
Transport, Tourism & Sport |
15
|
6
|
2
|
15
|
19
|
|
Total |
603
|
773
|
748
|
1,243
|
1,782
|
My Department will email the Deputy separately a more detailed breakdown of the above figures - including information on entry into civil service bodies.
507. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons, in increments of €5,000, in receipt of public service pensions; and the corresponding amount of annual individual pension payments within the same category. [22094/16]
View answerBased on available non-personal data (2013) sets, making reasonable projections as to retirement and mortality rates, and incorporating the Public Service Pension Reduction amelioration provided by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest 2015 Act in the cost, the estimated number of public service pensions in payment and cost per incremental bands of €5,000 is detailed in the Table below. Current data sets are being updated in line with EU requirements to provide an estimate of the accrued public service pension liability at 31 December 2015.
|
Pension Band |
Estimated Number of Pensions in Payment |
2016 Estimated Pension Cost |
|
< €10,000 |
54,600 |
€230,000,000 |
|
< €15000 |
14,900 |
€210,000,000 |
|
< €20,000 |
15,700 |
€300,000,000 |
|
< €25000 |
13,000 |
€315,000,000 |
|
< €30000 |
13,100 |
€385,000,000 |
|
< €35000 |
17,400 |
€585,000,000 |
|
< €40,000 |
12,600 |
€480,000,000 |
|
< €45000 |
5,600 |
€240,000,000 |
|
< €50,000 |
3,000 |
€80,000,000 |
|
< €55000 |
1,700 |
€90,000,000 |
|
< €60,000 |
1,000 |
€55,000,000 |
|
< €65000 |
400 |
€25,000,000 |
|
< €70,000 |
300 |
€20,000,000 |
|
< €75,000 |
500 |
€35,000,000 |
|
< €80,000 |
200 |
€15,000,000 |
|
< €85000 |
100 |
€10,000,000 |
|
< €90,000 |
100 |
€10,000,000 |
|
< €95000 |
100 |
€10,000,000 |
|
< €100,000 |
100 |
€10,000,000 |
|
> €100,000 |
500 |
€50,000,000 |
