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Thursday, 24 Nov 2016

Written Answers Nos. 147 - 162

Vacancies on State Boards

Questions (147)

Dara Calleary

Question:

147. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of vacancies on boards or agencies within his Department's remit that currently exist; the number that have been filled since 8 May 2016; the number of these that were filled through the Public Appointments Service; the timeline for filling remaining vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36648/16]

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Written answers

There are no boards or agencies under the aegis of my Department so the issues raised by the Deputy do not arise.

Northern Ireland

Questions (148)

Brendan Smith

Question:

148. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken or written directly to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland requesting him to withdraw the statement on British jurisdiction over Lough Foyle; if so, if there has been a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36746/16]

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Written answers

As I have reaffirmed in recent days, Ireland has never accepted the long standing British position in relation to Lough Foyle. Within the British government, primary responsibility for this issue lies with the Foreign Secretary. Since 2011, there have been ongoing discussions on the matter between officials of my Department and the FCO. While I have not to date discussed the matter with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my officials have raised it with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Office.

Uncertainty concerning the extent to which each Government exercises jurisdiction within Lough Foyle has created practical difficulties for the conduct of a number of activities there. This has included difficulty in creating a system for licencing of aquaculture by the Loughs Agency in accordance with the intentions of the two Governments under the 1999 agreement establishing the North/South implementation bodies. I want to see the Loughs Agency working to its full potential which is in the interests of everyone on this island.

Following discussions in 2011 between the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the British Foreign Secretary, both Governments agreed to seek to address and resolve jurisdictional issues relating to both Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough.

Since that time a series of meetings have taken place at official level between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The issues involved are complex and involve a range of different actors, including the Crown Estates. These discussions are continuing and the next meeting is scheduled for early next month. The Irish Government remains committed to reaching a successful conclusion to these talks.

Flood Relief Schemes Funding

Questions (149)

Willie Penrose

Question:

149. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will approve funding for the lower Morrell flood relief scheme in County Kildare, to enable Kildare County Council to seek planning approval for the scheme from An Bord Pleanála; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36744/16]

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Written answers

The Lower Morrell River flood relief scheme is being progressed by Kildare County Council (KCC) as the Contracting Authority for the scheme with funding provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW).

I am advised that KCC and its consultants are currently working on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and detailed design of the scheme which includes liaising with the various landowners/stakeholders who will be impacted by the proposed works, in advance of the scheme being submitted for planning approval. Once the final details of the scheme have been designed and before the scheme is submitted for planning approval the Council will request formal approval from the OPW of the scheme and its funding arrangements. It is envisaged that this process will be completed early in 2017.

It is not possible to indicate when exactly works can be commenced until the scheme has been advanced through the planning process by the Council as outlined above but it is anticipated that works should commence before the end of 2017. I can confirm that the Lower Morrell Scheme remains a priority and the OPW has included provision for the cost of the proposed works in its financial profiles in the period up to 2020.

Flood Relief Schemes

Questions (150)

Dara Calleary

Question:

150. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the proposed relocation scheme for families affected by flooding; the application process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36590/16]

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Written answers

On 8th November I announced funding of €2m for a targeted humanitarian aid scheme for those primary residential properties that flooded during last Winter and had flooded in previous years to ensure those worst affected homeowners have a primary residence.

While the Government has agreed that the terms of funding for relocation will be in line with the previous scheme in 2009, I am to appraise Government of the ongoing review of the administrative arrangements from that earlier scheme, to ensure that the arrangements for this once-off scheme are reflective of its targeted objective and all relevant circumstances.

I want to ensure that the funding is targeted at those homeowners at greatest risk of future flooding and would gain greatest benefit from State support to relocate.

The Office of Public Works is working jointly with Local Authorities and the Department of Social Protection to identify and prioritise homeowners and review the administrative arrangements for this scheme.

Question No. 151 answered with Question No. 6.

Flood Relief Schemes

Questions (152)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

152. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 106 of 3 November 2016, his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36666/16]

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Written answers

Parts of the townland of Ardcullen are low lying and within the benefiting areas of the River Feale drainage scheme and are protected by OPW embankments. That scheme was constructed in the 1950s under the Arterial Drainage Act 1945. It was designed to provide outfall to agricultural land and not designed to provide protection to properties from extreme flooding events such as have been seen in recent years. OPW carried out some emergency repair works to the embankments this year and intend to carry out further defence works in 2017. It must be highlighted that the Cashen Estuary is a Special Area of Conservation and as such has protected status. Consultants for the Cashen Estuary Drainage Project have recently been appointed by this Office to bring a viable scheme forward through environmental assessment, detailed design, tender and construction, subject to available funding.

Company Law

Questions (153)

Michael Collins

Question:

153. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a person with an ongoing complaint with the ODCE who wishes to view their documents can request authorisation to be provided with them from the Minister for Finance under section 792 of the Companies Act 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36705/16]

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Written answers

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has no role in relation to the matter raised. The Companies Act 2014 is a matter for the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Public Expenditure Policy

Questions (154, 157, 158, 159, 161, 162)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he expects expenditure targets for various Departments to remain in line with expectations throughout 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36713/16]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

157. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is satisfied that any inflationary tendencies in the economy remain manageable with particular reference to public spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36716/16]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

158. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent of reform required to combat any public spending overruns in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36717/16]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

159. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which reform is likely to remain a key element in managing costs throughout the public sector in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36718/16]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if further reform or policy initiatives are required to maintain a stable path towards economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36721/16]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he expects his Department to continue to meet deadlines and to continue to play an important part in economic recovery, with particular reference to the need to ensure stability and sustainable economic growth across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36722/16]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 157 to 159, inclusive, 161 and 162 together.

Public expenditure has been managed in line with key fiscal targets over the last number of years. To ensure that these targets are met, managing the delivery of public services within budgetary allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and their Department.  The drawdown of funds from the Exchequer is monitored against the published expenditure profiles.  In this regard, the voted expenditure report published with the end-October Exchequer statement outlines that gross voted expenditure of €44,219 million to end-October was €795 million (1.8%) below profile.

As set out in the Expenditure Report 2017, total gross voted expenditure for 2016 is now estimated at €56.1 billion. This is 0.6 per cent higher than the level set out in the Estimates for 2016. This increase in expenditure reflects an additional €200 million of capital funding for necessary repair work to transport infrastructure arising from flood damage at the start of the year and expenditure arising on school building works. In addition, an amount of €220 million is included to fund a Christmas Bonus to long-term Social Welfare recipients. In line with previous years, it is anticipated that the additional cost of providing this bonus will be offset by year-end savings across a number of Departments. The Christmas Bonus will be funded through both voted expenditure and the Social Insurance Fund. In addition, since publication of the Expenditure Report 2017, given the need to respond proactively to growing uncertainties for Irish based enterprise, additional funding is to be allocated to the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in 2016. This additional funding, which by fast-tracking the delivery of certain spending programmes in 2016 through an increased 2016 allocation, should provide the space for increased spending on Brexit initiatives in 2017 within the allocation for 2017 agreed at Budget time. All of these additional amounts will be reflected in the Supplementary Estimates presented to the Dáil.

Given the scale of the under-spend versus profile at the end of October and the level of savings surrendered to the Exchequer at the end of 2015, it is expected that all Supplementary Estimates can be accommodated within the overall gross voted expenditure amount of €56.1 billion set out in the Expenditure Report 2017.

Expenditure Report 2017 sets out total gross voted expenditure of €58 billion in 2017. This represents a year on year increase of under 3½%. This represents a prudent level of increase as we continue to repair the public finances. However, we have to be mindful of the considerable expenditure pressures facing the public finances and it is important that we continue to evaluate how we spend our money to ensure that limited resources provide much needed public services and social infrastructure. Given this context, I announced on Budget day that a spending review will be carried out in advance of Budget 2018.

Given the many competing priorities and demands for resources, there is an ongoing requirement to implement reforms that improve how public services are delivered, and that achieve savings which can be reinvested in frontline services.  The Public Service has delivered significant productivity gains and service improvements over the last number of years, as set out in the Annual Progress Report on the Public Service Reform Plan (published April 2016).  We must build on this progress, and it is essential that targeted recruitment and investment in public services is done in tandem with further public service reform measures. This includes, for example, more digital delivery of services, improved customer service and business processes, and greater use of shared services.  When Departments identify savings arising from such reform measures, such savings are in general made available to Departments to reinvest in the delivery of services.  It is also very important to ensure that the public service workforce operates in a manner which maximises the positive impact on public service provision of the increased staff numbers reflected in the budgetary allocations for 2017.

As the Deputy is aware, a strategic review of infrastructural requirements was undertaken by my Department as part of last year's capital review. This resulted in the publication in September 2015 of 'Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021', which outlined a €42bn framework for infrastructural investment across Ireland. The Plan prioritises spending on what were considered to be the areas of greatest need as the economy continues its strong recovery. There will be a review of Government priorities within the Capital Plan in the context of the mid-term review of the Capital Plan which I announced at Budget-time last month.

Public Expenditure Policy

Questions (155)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

155. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which the various agreements such as the Haddington Road and Lansdowne Road agreements remain intact in terms of public expenditure and savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36714/16]

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Written answers

Under the Lansdowne Road Agreement, agreement was reached between public service staff representatives and public service employers to extend the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (Haddington Road Agreement). The Government strongly supports the Lansdowne Road Agreement which remains in place as the centrepiece of public service pay policy. The Agreement provides a negotiated and sustainable pathway for the phased unwinding of Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) pay measures as they apply to existing public servants. Any issues arising in relation to continued operation of the Lansdowne Road Agreement will be addressed by the parties under the oversight and governance arrangements provided for within the Agreement.

Question No. 156 answered with Question No. 10.
Questions Nos. 157 to 159, inclusive, answered with Question No. 154.

Office of Government Procurement

Questions (160)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which public procurement procedures can achieve savings in the course of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36720/16]

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Written answers

The OGP and its partner sector sourcing organisations in Health, Education, Local Government and Defence have enabled procurement savings estimated at €162m over 2013, 2014 and 2015.  The 2016 savings outturn has not been finalised but the target for 2016 was between €80 and €100 million.  Additional direct and indirect benefits attributable to the new model arise from cost avoidance, reduced administration overhead and improved specifications.  Increasing the application of professional procurement also reduces risk to the State by identifying risk and establishing contractual arrangements to manage those risks, such as damages payments for non-performance where applicable.  

It is important to note that the consistent approach enabled by the new procurement structures can also deliver savings to businesses who bid for State contracts through standardised documents, proportional insurance requirements and reduced administration in submitting documents only when short-listed or successful in competitions.

Questions Nos. 161 and 162 answered with Question No. 154.
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