Written Answers Nos. 924-939
924. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff who entered the public service after 1 January 2011 in her Department and by year of entry to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23493/16]
View answerI understand that the information on the number of staff who entered the civil service is being replied to by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
No person has entered the public service post 1 January 2011 (other than the civil service) in my Department.
It is not clear whether the Deputy's question refers to agencies under the aegis of the Department. However, a number of agencies under the remit of my Department employ public servants (including some civil servants). I have asked these agencies to respond directly to the Deputy with the information requested.
925. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of implementing a pay increase for all those employed under the remit of her Department after 1 January 2011 of 2%, 4% and 5%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23505/16]
View answerI take the Deputy's question as referring to new entrants into my Department and the agencies under my Department who started working in the civil or public service on a permanent basis for the first time post 1 January 2011.
My officials estimate that applying a 2%, 4% and 5% pay increase to new entrants in my Department post January 2011 would cost an additional €17,639, €35,279 and €44,099 respectively to their current payroll costs.
The information sought for the new entrants to agencies under my Department's remit is not readily available and I have requested same to be furnished to my officials from Tusla, the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Children's Detention Schools and the Ombudsman for Children's Office. The information will be supplied directly to the Deputy once it has been compiled.
Pay increases for public servants under the remit of my Department are matters for consideration by Government in the context of the Budget and Estimates process.
926. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he is aware that the Army presence at the national day of commemoration ceremony held in Sligo on 10 July 2016 was greatly reduced compared with previous years; if he is further aware that the Defence Forces did not provide a colour party of guard of honour for the Sligo ceremony and that three members of the Defence Forces from Sligo were killed in Lebanon while serving with the United Nations peacekeeping force, UNIFIL; if he will request the chief of staff of the Defence Forces to ensure an appropriate Army presence at the national day of commemoration ceremony in Sligo in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22022/16]
View answerThe National Day of Commemoration commemorates all Irish people who died in past wars or United Nations peacekeeping missions. It occurs on the Sunday nearest 11 July. The principal ceremony is held at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin. Other ceremonies are held throughout the country and organised locally by the Local Authority.
The Defence Forces participation in the ceremony in Sligo consisted of 8 personnel including 2 Officers. Participation in forthcoming National Day of Commemorations will be considered on receipt of requests and will take account of all appropriate circumstances.
927. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of times the Defence Forces agreed to aid to civil power requests regarding the culling of animals in each of the years 2011 to 2016 to date; and the number and type of animals killed in each case. [22111/16]
View answer928. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the criteria used by the Defence Forces in assessing and agreeing to an aid to civil power request regarding the culling of animals. [22112/16]
View answer929. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if members of the Defence Forces receive training in the humane killing of animals; and the details of any training received. [22113/16]
View answer930. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine officials are present on each occasion on which the Defence Forces engage in the culling of animals. [22114/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 927 to 930, inclusive, together.
Primary responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so.
A Protocol is in existence between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces concerning the emergency culling of animals by the Defence Forces. The criteria in the Protocol stipulates that a request for the assistance of the Defence Forces for the emergency culling of animals will be made only in circumstances where the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine has exhausted all possibilities for normal humane methods of culling. Also in line with the protocol a request is submitted to An Garda Síochána who will, if they require, request the assistance of the Defence Forces.
Between the years 2011 to date in 2016 the Defence Forces have been deployed on one occasion to carry such an operation. This entailed the culling of 5 heifers on 5th July 2016. This operation was carried out in line with the Protocol and at the request of An Garda Síochána. It was initiated at the request of the Official Assignee in Bankruptcy who is responsible for the herd of cattle on the farm in question. It proceeded in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. On the rare occasions when the Protocol is invoked officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Maine are always present.
Whilst there is no formalised training for the Defence Forces in the humane killing of animals, a number of factors are considered and incorporated into such an operation to ensure the most humane conduct of the culling. These include the utilisation of hunting ammunition, the distance to the targets and simultaneous firing to prevent the remaining animals taking flight and thus minimising distress to the animals.
931. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 331 of 7 July 2016, if he will undertake to supply the report on the findings of the investigation when he receives them. [22338/16]
View answerAs indicated in my response to Parliamentary Question Number 331 of the 7th of July, 2016, when the investigation in relation to the administration of the Soldiers’ Welfare fund is completed I will receive a report on the findings. The report of the investigation has yet to be completed and submitted to me. It would, therefore, be premature to make any commitments until I have had time to carefully consider the report’s contents when completed.
932. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if ownership has transferred and new leases expedited in respect of a property (details supplied) in County Cork. [22352/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Fermoy Show Ltd which had a lease from the Department of Defence for the use of the former Fermoy Barracks, sublet parcels of the Barracks to several sporting and commercial entities. The Company was dissolved in 1989. Under the terms of the State Property Act 1954, the legal title of the Company has reverted to the State. The Department last December initiated an application in the High Court to have the transfer of the interest held by the dissolved company to the Department confirmed and made absolute. Since then the matter has come before the High Court on several occasions to facilitate the submission of affidavits by interested parties. The matter currently stands listed in the High Court at the Cork session on the 28th November 2016. While the Department cannot anticipate the decision of the High Court, it is hoped that the Department will be in a position to deal with the concerns of all relevant parties in a fair and reasonable fashion.
933. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if there will be a recruitment drive for the Air Corps later in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22366/16]
View answerThe Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence.
The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. As there is significant turnover of personnel in the Permanent Defence Force, targeted recruitment has been and is currently taking place so as to maintain the agreed strength levels.
A new General Service recruitment campaign for the Army was launched on 13 April 2016 and Air Corps General Service Recruits will be drawn from future panels as required. The Defence Forces plan to induct just over 600 general service personnel to the Permanent Defence Force in 2016 and a further 850 personnel in 2017.
Direct Entry Competitions are also held as required from which specialist appointments are filled. It is proposed to conduct a recruitment competition for 25 Trainee Military Aircraft Technicians in 2016.
The intake of Cadets into the Permanent Defence Force is normally carried out on an annual basis taking into consideration the operational requirements of the Defence Forces and the resource envelope allocated to Defence. The 2016 Cadetship campaign is currently underway and it is planned to induct at least 10 Cadets from this competition into the Air Corps.
With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, it is intended to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government, both at home and overseas.
934. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the reason there is no provision in the legislation for an Army disability pension to be paid in cases where mental trauma is suffered here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22369/16]
View answerThe Army Pensions Acts provide that a disability pension may, following retirement, be granted to a former member of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) in respect of permanent disablement due to a wound or injury attributable to military service (whether at home or abroad) or to a disease attributable to or aggravated by overseas service with a United Nations Force. The Acts also provide that a disability pension may be granted in respect of permanent disablement due to a disease secondary to an injury (whether at home or abroad). Illnesses of a psychiatric nature or similar conditions are generally classified as disease for purposes of the Army Pensions Acts.
The specific provisions in the Army Pensions Acts covering disease attributable to or aggravated by overseas service with the United Nations were introduced in 1960 in the context of the additional risks and dangers associated with such service. Similar provisions previously applied where the disease was attributable to home service but only during the 1922-24 period and the Emergency period (1939-45) because service conditions during each of these periods were regarded as exceptional. There are no proposals to amend the Army Pensions Acts to allow for disability pensions applications in respect of disease contracted on home service.
I should say that there are provisions under existing superannuation arrangements viz. the Defence Forces Pensions Schemes, for personnel who are compulsorily retired or discharged on medical grounds. In addition to benefits under those Schemes and the Army Pensions Acts, the majority of members of the PDF are eligible for a range of benefits under the Social Welfare Acts, and under the Health Acts on the same basis as other members of the community.
The Defence Forces, through their Personnel Support Services (PSS), and working closely with the HSE, have and continue to engage in education programmes for all members of the Defence Forces. These programmes include:
- Issuing an “Information Guide on Mental Health and Well Being in the Defence Forces”;
- Providing access to “Mental Fitness” programmes through the Defence Forces Intranet;
- Providing WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) training to all PSS personnel;
- Conducting STORM (Skills Training on Risk Management in suicide and self harm mitigation) training with all overseas units;
- Conducting Safe Talk training within the Defence Forces;
- Providing CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management) training for all personnel;
- Issuing and giving presentations on “Defence Forces Guidelines on Suicide”;
- Running courses on “Suicide and Self Harm Awareness”; and
- Providing ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) in conjunction with the HSE.
There is a PSS office in every major military installation, with one or more qualified Barrack PSS Officers. The role of the Barrack PSS Office includes providing information, assistance and counselling on a range of matters including interpersonal problems, stress, bereavement, housing, education, taxation, social welfare and retirement. As part of the PSS office, civilian social workers are also available to support Defence Forces personnel and their families. In addition, an independent and strictly confidential 24 hour care-line, manned by trained counsellors, is available to all Defence Forces personnel.
935. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the total savings to the Defence Forces following the introduction of financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, up to 30 June 2011. [22502/16]
View answerThe combined Estimates provision for the Permanent defence Force (PDF) pay and allowance subheads within Vote 36 reduced from €520.8m in 2009 to €474.6m in 2011, a total reduction of €46.2m; see table below. This was largely as a result of the application of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts.
|
Year |
Reductions |
|
2009-2010 |
€39.8m |
|
2010-2011 |
€6.4m |
In respect of the Public Service Pension-related Deduction (PRD), which came into operation on the 1 March 2009 under the terms of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Act 2009, as amended, the following amounts were deducted from members of the Permanent Defence Force in respect of the periods shown.
|
PRD - deductions in respect of the PDF |
|
|
2009 (1/3-31/12) |
€21.5m |
|
2010 |
€24.8m |
|
2011 (1/1-30/6) |
€12.1m |
The Deputy may wish to refer to the June 2016, Annual Review and report to the Houses of the Oireachtas by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under Section 12 of the Act which provided a background, an overview of the economic context, budget context, the cost of Public Service Remuneration and the cost of Public Service Pensions.
936. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 568 of 28 June 2016, the number of persons affected by the adjudicator's findings referred to. [22503/16]
View answer937. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 568 of 28 June 2016, the amount it would have cost the State to ratify the adjudicator's findings. [22504/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 936 and 937 together.
Regarding the increase in Technical Pay for Cooks, based on a current strength figure for Cooks of 231, the approximate annual cost of implementing the Adjudicator’s findings is €162,000.
In respect of the Army Ranger Wing (ARW), no information can be released that could identify the strength of the ARW as this information is operationally confidential.
938. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 568 of 28 June 2016, in light of the fact that the review mechanism referred to is about balancing expenditure with sustainable savings and of the fact that a lot more money has been saved than spent, to outline the ongoing consideration within the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the review mechanism. [22505/16]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy relates to outstanding adjudication findings which cannot be implemented having regard to the provisions of Sections 2 and 5 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act 2009. Paragraph 5.3 of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018, known as the Lansdowne Road Agreement, states that “The Parties have agreed that any outstanding adjudications as referred to in paragraph 1.16 of the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 will be reviewed jointly by the Parties prior to the expiry of this agreement.”
With regard to the review mechanism itself, consideration of the policy issue remains within the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
939. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence 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. [22729/16]
View answerAll political appointments to the Department of Defence have been made in accordance with the Guidelines and Instructions on Ministerial Appointments for the 32nd Dáil. The Minister of State with responsibility for Defence, Mr. Paul Kehoe, T.D. has appointed two Civilian Drivers, Trevor Shaw and Malachy Guilfoyle, who work on a week-on week-off basis. The salary for the Civilian Drivers is €631.75 each per week. Minister Kehoe has not yet formally appointed Special Advisers but it is expected that he will do so shortly.
In line with the entitlements of all Deputies Minister Kehoe has appointed a Personal Assistant and a Personal Secretary, both of whom are considered to be staff of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission.
