Written Answers Nos. 126 - 150
126. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when the new independent reporting commission on paramilitary groups will be established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36571/16]
View answerOn 13 September, on behalf of the Government, I signed an international agreement with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to establish the Independent Reporting Commission.
The Commission will have four members, and will report annually on the progress being made in tackling paramilitarism and associated criminality, in particular on the implementation of the Northern Ireland Executive’s strategy for ending paramilitarism. The Commission’s reports will also inform future Northern Ireland Executive Programme for Government commitments through to 2021.
The members of the Commission will need a range of skills to discharge their responsibilities. Consideration is being given at present to the Government’s appointment, and there is coordination with the British Government and the Northern Ireland Executive as appropriate to provide that the skill sets of the four Commissioners will be complementary and broad-based.
My colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality will shortly bring forward legislative proposals to the Government in order to establish the IRC in law.
The Government’s aim is to get the Independent Reporting Commission established and up and running by the end of the year. Its establishment will be an important step in implementing the Fresh Start Agreement provisions to free vulnerable communities from the vestiges of paramilitarism and to tackle organised crime.
127. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the numbers of public sector workers counted as wholetime equivalents across each sector; the way in which it compares year on year since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36532/16]
View answerPlease see in the tables details of numbers of public servants by sector at end quarter 2,2016, and at end year for each of the years 2008 to 2015.
This and other information concerning public service numbers, pay and pensions is available on the databank on my Department's website at http://databank.per.gov.ie/.
PUBLIC SERVICE NUMBERS BY SECTOR 2008 - Q2, 2016
|
SECTOR |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Q4 |
Q4 |
Q4 |
Q4 |
Q4 |
|
|
Civil Service |
39,313 |
37,357 |
36,439 |
36,614 |
36,330 |
|
Defence |
11,265 |
10,736 |
10,313 |
10,131 |
9,979 |
|
Education |
95,024 |
93,366 |
93,827 |
90,946 |
90,702 |
|
Health |
111,025 |
109,753 |
107,972 |
104,392 |
101,506 |
|
Justice |
15,692 |
15,117 |
14,722 |
14,238 |
13,352 |
|
Local Authorities |
35,008 |
32,044 |
30,703 |
29,506 |
28,306 |
|
NCSAs |
13,060 |
12,375 |
11,992 |
11,500 |
10,686 |
|
Total |
320,387 |
310,748 |
305,968 |
297,327 |
290,861 |
|
SECTOR |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Q4 |
Q4 |
Q4 |
Q2 |
|
|
Civil Service |
36,118 |
36,172 |
36,338 |
37,335 |
|
Defence |
9,797 |
9,785 |
9,654 |
9,596 |
|
Education |
91,590 |
94,045 |
96,433 |
96,678 |
|
Health |
99,959 |
97,791 |
103,884 |
105,755 |
|
Justice |
13,021 |
12,787 |
13,034 |
13,191 |
|
Local Authorities |
27,544 |
26,786 |
26,630 |
27,277 |
|
NCSAs |
10,190 |
12,276 |
12,225 |
12,607 |
|
Total |
288,219 |
289,642 |
298,198 |
302,439 |
128. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the demographic changes over the years since 2008 and the way that has impacted on requirements for numbers of public sector workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36533/16]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, following the onset of the economic and fiscal crisis in 2008, a moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service was introduced in 2009, and remained in force up until end 2014, which substantially restricted recruitment to the public service throughout that period in overall terms.
However, a major priority for Government in responding to the fiscal crisis was to safeguard key public services in health, education and social protection, in which demographic factors are an important factor affecting the level of demand. Consequently, under the moratorium, there was provision for recruitment to key sectoral posts in such areas as health and education.
The moratorium ended at the beginning of 2015, and a system of delegation of sanction for management of public service numbers was introduced in most sectors. Under the delegation, there is sanction to recruit and promote in grades up to and including Principal Officer or equivalent, subject to remaining within overall pay ceilings, allowing sectors to respond to staffing pressures as they arise, including those related to demographics.
The prioritisation of frontline public service provision since the crisis allowed the numbers employed in the education sector to rise to 96,678 (Whole Time Equivalents or WTEs) by Q2 2016, an increase of 1,654 WTEs over employment level in the sectors at the end of 2008. Similarly, employment in the Health was back to pre-moratorium levels, at 105,755 WTEs at end Q2 2016.
As far as the position in the future is concerned, Table 5 on page 31 of Expenditure Report 2017 includes increases in Ministerial Expenditure Ceilings for 2018 and 2019 to meet the cost of certain demographic pressures in education, health and social Protection. The specific allocations to particular sectors for 2018 and 2019 are informed by an analysis carried out by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) within my Department. This analysis can be found on the IGEES website and the relevant link is as follows:
http://igees.gov.ie/budgetary-impact-of-changing-demographics-2017-to-2027/
129. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of implementing the Lansdowne Road agreement as it is currently agreed for the years 2016 to 2020 by month and by year in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36477/16]
View answerThe Lansdowne Road Agreement extends the Public Services Stability Agreement to September 2018. The cost of the Agreement is €844m. Details of the measures contained in the Agreement are set out below:
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
€267 m |
€290 m |
€287 m |
Pension Related Deduction (PRD): Exemption threshold changes as follows:
- 2015 increase from €15,000 p.a. to €17,500 p.a.
- 1 January 2016 increase from €17,500 p.a. to €26,083 p.a. an annual benefit of €733
- 1 January 2017 increase from €26,083 p.a. to €28,750 p.a an additional €267
Pay increases as follows:
- 1 January 2016 annualised salaries up to €24,000 to increase by 2.5%;
- 1 January 2016 annualised salaries from €24,001 up to €31,000 will increase by 1%;
- 1 September 2017 all annualised salaries up to €65,000 will increase by €1,000;
Over €65k Pay Restoration: Those on salaries over €65,000 p.a. will get the additional reduction imposed on this cohort under the FEMPI Act 2013 restored as follows:
- €65,000 to €110,000: half on 1 April 2017, half on 1 January 2018,
- Over €110,000: one third on 1 April 2017, one third on 1 Apr 2018, and one third on 1 April 2019.
130. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if, when he sanctioned the reappointment of the CEO of HRI, his attention was drawn to the fact that he was breaching Government guidelines and the guideline issued by his own Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36495/16]
View answerI refer to my replies to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 28045/16 of 3 October 2016 and 30936/16 of 19 October 2016.
131. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received assurance from his counterpart in the UK Government of a solid commitment to uphold and underpin the Good Friday Agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36505/16]
View answer132. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the commitments under the INTERREG and PEACE programmes up until 2020 will be fully honoured as indicated to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement by a representative from SEUPB on 17 November 2016; if he will commence the development of a model of funding post-Brexit to accommodate project funding streams between EU and non-EU governments; if such a model will be agreed and in place to provide certainty to the funding programmes that are to come into place post-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36508/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together.
Ireland and the UK are currently partners in three EU-funded cross-border Cooperation Programmes with a total value of €650 million over the period 2014-2020:
- PEACE Programme - €269 million;
- Ireland/Northern Ireland/Scotland INTERREG Programme - €282 million;
- Ireland/Wales Programme - €99 million.
These programmes are 85% funded by the EU through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the European Union's Cohesion Policy.
Following discussions with the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland and the Welsh European Funding Office, agreement has now been reached on a form of wording that will enable funding agreements to be put in place and Letters of Offer to issue to programme beneficiaries for both PEACE and the two INTERREG Programmes.
In particular, it has been agreed that Letters of Offer will include a provision that if, as a consequence of the UK leaving the EU, the UK element of ERDF funding is no longer available, the letters will be covered by the UK Treasury's financial commitment in respect of EU-funded programmes, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK's departure from the EU.
It has also been agreed that programmes and projects will continue to be subject to EU Regulations.
These provisions are now being included in the Letters of Offer to programme beneficiaries that are being issued by the Special EU Programmes Body. They will have the effect of Brexit-proofing them to the greatest extent possible and giving programme beneficiaries the confidence they need to proceed with the implementation of projects.
As regards programmes post-2020, work on the EU regulatory framework for the 2021-2028 round of Structural Funds, including PEACE and INTERREG, will get underway in earnest in 2019. Obviously the UK exiting the EU will have implications for the two programmes and for the available budget at an EU level.
Nevertheless, the Irish Government has already been clear that it is committed to successor programmes to the current North South programmes, and my officials have already commenced work on the possible shape of such programmes once the UK leaves the EU.
133. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the programme for Government commitment to fully implement the Lansdowne Road agreement in accordance with the timelines agreed. [33800/16]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to implementing the Lansdowne Road Agreement and will continue, across the coming weeks, to work with all stakeholders to ensure the continuation of a collective pay policy framework that meets the needs of our public servants and safeguards our economy into the future.
134. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are officials in his Department who oversee or interact with other Departments on implementation of the Lansdowne Road Agreeement. [34867/16]
View answerThe Lansdowne Road Agreeement is a Collective Agreement between the Government and public service employers with the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and other associations representing public servants. There are well established formal and informal stuctures in place to address the implementation of the terms of the Agreement. Where implementation issues arise my officials interact with other Departments as and when required through existing formal and informal structures.
135. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has held discussions with his officials on the re-establishment of an employer labour conference. [33721/16]
View answerI have no plans for re-establishing an empoyer labour conference. However, the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) has been established and met on 5 October. The meeting was chaired by An Taoiseach and attended by the sponsoring Ministers of Public Expenditure and Reform, Finance and Jobs Enterprise and Innovation with representatives of employers and trade unions.
The aim of the LEEF is to provide a forum to discuss areas of shared concern affecting the economy, employment and the labour market such as competiveness, sustainable job creation, labour market standards, equality and gender issues in the workplace. Following the inaugural meeting, it was agreed that the Forum would prove a useful mechanism for ongoing dialogue on challenges facing the country in which all sides had a shared interest and should meet in future on a quarterly basis.
136. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to re-establish social partnership or a renewed form of social dialogue. [34745/16]
View answerI have no plans for re-establishing social partnership or a renewed form of social dialogue at this time.
137. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the discussions he has personally held with the leadership of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the issues raised. [36328/16]
View answerThe Government strongly supports the Lansdowne Road Agreement as the centrepiece of public pay policy noting that the Labour Court's recommendation was explicitly made within that framework. However, the wider implications of the recommendation in relation to the continued operation of the Lansdowne Road Agreement as it applies to all public servants across the public service are under careful consideration and assessment by Government. In this regard, I met with ICTU representatives on the 7 November last to get an early input to those considerations by Government from the Public Services Committee of ICTU in terms of the views of the constituent unions and associations of the impact, from their perspective, of the Labour Court Recommendations made in relation to the Garda associations.
Senior officials within my Department also met with the Public Services Committee of ICTU on the 15th November last where both sides reiterated their commitment to a continued collective approach to public service pay issues. It was also agreed that those issues arising in relation to the terms of the Lansdowne Road Agreement could be more appropriately dealt with by the parties under the the relevant provisions of the Lansdowne Road Agreement. In this regard both parties agreed to remain in ongoing contact on the issues raised over the coming weeks.
138. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of post office closures in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Donegal in each of the years 2012 to 2016; the number of closures pending in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36452/16]
View answerThe Post Office network comprises an extensive range of offices throughout the country, most of which are operated by postmasters under contract to An Post.
With regard to the specific counties referred to by the Deputy, I am informed by An Post that there are currently twenty four post offices operating in Co. Sligo. One post office closed in Co. Sligo during the period 2012-2016; this was in Templeboy in 2015. One post office, in Ballygawley, is currently in a consultation process with the local community with regard to its retention in the locality. I understand from An Post that the closing date for submissions on this matter is 2 December 2016.
No post offices have closed in County Leitrim over the period 2012–2016. There are currently seventeen post offices operating in the county.
There are currently twenty six post offices operating in Co. Cavan. Two post offices closed in the county over the period 2012–2016. Both closures took place in 2013, in Ballyheelan and Tierworker. In addition, An Post informs me that a consultation process will shortly commence in respect of one post office where the postmaster intends to resign from February 2017.
Finally, in Donegal, two post offices, Meenlaragh in 2012 and Gleneely in 2014, have closed during the period in question, while one new office was opened in Glencar in Letterkenny in 2013. Seventy seven post offices are currently operating in the county, with one, Dunlewey, involved in a consultation process.
139. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the An Post branches in County Sligo offering full services; the An Post agents operating sub-post offices services in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36486/16]
View answerThe Post Office network comprises an extensive range of offices throughout the country, most of which are operated by postmasters under contract to An Post.
I understand from An Post that the current position with regard to branches in Co. Sligo is that there is one post office owned and managed by An Post. There are twenty three post offices operated under contract to An Post by individual postmasters. In addition, there are five postal agencies operating in the county which only process Department of Social Protection payments.
Of the offices mentioned above, Dromore West Post Office is in the selection process for a new postmaster, with interviews currently underway. Ballygawley Post Office is in a consultation process with the local community with regard to the retention of the post office in the locality. The closing date for submissions to be received in relation to this matter is 2 December 2016.
140. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the outstanding balance of unallocated funding for the 1916 commemorations. [36450/16]
View answerThere is no unallocated balance of funding for the 1916 Commemorations.
The current underspend against profile within my Department's Vote has occurred principally because of delays in the drawdown of funding in respect of certain once-off Decade of Centenary capital projects. These are part of the ‘Permanent Reminders’ component of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme.
These projects include Richmond Barracks, the new cultural centre at Pearse’s Cottage at Ros Muc and the Tenement Museum in Henrietta Street. All of these are now either completed or very close to completion, and will take up all of their planned 2016 allocation by the end of this year. There were also unavoidable delays in some other cases - for example, the National Monument at 14-17 Moore Street and the major redevelopment at the National Archives. While some progress has been made on these projects, the full expected drawdown of funds will not now occur this year.
141. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 274 of 8 November 2016, if Lough Bane, referenced in the reply as awaiting designation as a special area of conservation, is located in the townland of Derrycrave in the Barony of Fore, County Westmeath. [36465/16]
View answerI am advised that the townland referred to in the Deputy’s Question is not located within Lough Bane and Lough Glass candidate special area of conservation (Site Code 002120).
142. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the number of nurses, general staff, and patients at a hospital (details supplied) in County Cork, on specific dates in 2016, in tabular form. [36378/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
143. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36379/16]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
144. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36380/16]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
145. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36381/16]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
146. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36382/16]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
147. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36383/16]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
148. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of the delivery of a new primary care centre (details supplied) County Cork. [36384/16]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
149. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36385/16]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
150. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36386/16]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
