Written Answers Nos. 735 - 753
735. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will give consideration to the introduction of an annual river maintenance scheme in each county to be run in conjunction with local authorities and involving farmers and land owners with a view to addressing the increasing issue of flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1092/17]
View answer736. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will give consideration to the introduction of an annual river maintenance scheme in each county to be run in conjunction with local authorities and involving farmers and land owners with a view to addressing the increasing issue of flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1093/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 735 and 736 together.
The Office of Public Works is empowered under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 to maintain only those schemes carried out under this Act. Each year the OPW carries out work to approximately 2,000 km of channels and about 200 structures around the country as part of its ongoing and rolling arterial drainage maintenance programme. While the average cycle of maintenance is generally in the range of 4 to 7 years, the OPW does routinely inspect all channels and structures that it has maintenance responsibility for. The Work Programme for 2017, laying out what schemes and channels are due for maintenance this year, has already been finalised. Maintenance of all drainage schemes carried out under earlier Acts, known as Drainage Districts, is the responsibility of the relevant Local Authority.
The Office of Public Works operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This administrative Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, are published on the OPW website at www.opw.ie. It is open to Local Authorities to submit a funding application under this Scheme. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the overall availability of resources for flood risk management and the scheme's eligibility criteria, available on the OPW website.
Last winter, the Government took decisive action to support the existing plans in place to address flooding on the Shannon and established the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group to enhance ongoing co-operation of all State agencies involved with the River Shannon.
The Group is focused on ensuring the best possible level of co-ordination between all statutory bodies involved in flood risk management on the Shannon. It is solutions focused and designed to deliver the highest level of efficiencies to add value to the catchment flood risk assessment and management programme.
Through the course of its work, the Group has decided to trial the lowering of the lake levels in Lough Allen, and most recently on 2 December in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim the Group took a major decision to consider developing a plan for a strategic maintenance programme on the River Shannon. It intends to bring together all of the relevant stakeholders to discuss and manage the development of this programme.
Any planned maintenance programme for the Shannon would complement the Group’s Work Programme and the specific measures that are identified for the areas at risk in the Draft Shannon Flood Risk Management Plan.
737. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost per year for the past three years for the storage and archiving of his Department's files and records at off-site locations by third party companies and at State-owned storage facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1125/17]
View answerThe table sets out the cost per year paid to third party companies by the Commissioners of Public Works for the past three years for the storage and archiving of files and records for the various Government Departments at off-site locations. It has been assumed that the Deputy is seeking information relating to serviced storage facilities rather than leased warehousing which is also used to store Departmental records. If those details are required, the Deputy might contact my office directly and I will arrange for the Commissioners of Public Works to assemble the data.
|
Department |
2016 |
2015 |
2014 |
|
Agriculture, Food & The Marine |
€116,865.52 |
€125,557.72 |
€119,811.12 |
|
Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs |
€29,757.84 |
€29,650.90 |
€29,864.63 |
|
Attorney General |
€47,378.00 |
€54,259.21 |
€49,926.74 |
|
Central Statistics Office |
€77,387.65 |
€77,176.27 |
€77,190.46 |
|
Chief State Solicitor's Office |
€108,318.51 |
€109,955.83 |
€91,389.92 |
|
Communication, Climate Action & Environment |
€40,108.77 |
€43,426.29 |
€46,478.56 |
|
Defence |
€20,038.67 |
€20,398.65 |
€19,969.63 |
|
Director of Public Prosecution |
€251,586.96 |
€195,863.73 |
€195,124.96 |
|
Finance |
€3,276.96 |
€3,003.88 |
€14,618.86 |
|
Health |
€59,856.74 |
€60,092.61 |
€60,012.02 |
|
Housing, Planning, Community & Local Government |
€149,121.05 |
€156,944.35 |
€150,795.19 |
|
Justice & Equality |
€37,612.85 |
€31,520.36 |
€31,360.50 |
|
National Gallery |
€0.00 |
€8,046.01 |
€20,392.19 |
|
Office of Public Works |
€15,427.00 |
€19,902.00 |
€12,061.00 |
|
Oireachtas |
€37,469.08 |
€35,888.95 |
€43,952.44 |
|
Property Registration Authority |
€30,801.72 |
€34,224.10 |
€41,068.92 |
|
Public Appointments Service |
€18,670.21 |
€14,554.65 |
€13,231.50 |
|
Public Expenditure & Reform |
€8,190.60 |
€9,675.41 |
€10,478.56 |
|
Revenue Commissioners |
€0.00 |
€12,016.13 |
€9,739.40 |
|
Social Protection |
€439,146.31 |
€400,692.69 |
€362,791.86 |
|
€1,491,014.44 |
€1,442,849.74 |
€1,400,258.46 |
738. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of full-time equivalent Civil Service workers in gross income ranges (details supplied) in his Department for each of the years 2007 to 2015. [1230/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is laid out in the table. It is not possible to supply information for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform from 2007 to 2010 as my Department was established in 2011. Similarly the figures for Office of Government Procurement and National Shared Services Office are supplied from the year they commenced operations. The report used to provide this information shows the figures as at 31 December for each of the years supplied.
|
Department of Public Expenditure |
|
|
FTE |
|
|
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
|
Salary Band |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0 - 30,000 |
22.49 |
48.63 |
18.90 |
34.95 |
39.40 |
|
30,000 - 40,000 |
30.03 |
36.60 |
48.33 |
59.80 |
45.50 |
|
40,000 - 50,000 |
46.00 |
59.80 |
62.00 |
80.50 |
45.15 |
|
50,000 - 60,000 |
47.60 |
60.20 |
62.55 |
68.55 |
54.50 |
|
60,000 - 70,000 |
15.45 |
14.60 |
27.75 |
24.90 |
23.73 |
|
70,000 - 80,000 |
28.00 |
31.85 |
66.40 |
62.15 |
57.55 |
|
80,000 - 90,000 |
44.60 |
51.40 |
14.00 |
16.00 |
13.00 |
|
90,000 - 100,000 |
13.00 |
15.00 |
20.00 |
22.00 |
25.00 |
|
100,000 - 125,000 |
18.00 |
16.00 |
3.00 |
4.00 |
1.00 |
|
125,000 - 150,000 |
7.00 |
6.00 |
6.00 |
5.00 |
6.00 |
|
over 150,000 |
3.00 |
2.00 |
2.00 |
3.00 |
2.00 |
|
National Shared Services Office |
|
FTE |
|
||
|
|
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
||
|
Salary Band |
|
|
|
||
|
0 - 30,000 |
79.45 |
225.03 |
253.58 |
||
|
30,000 - 40,000 |
57.50 |
81.30 |
144.83 |
||
|
40,000 - 50,000 |
17.00 |
22.80 |
81.50 |
||
|
50,000 - 60,000 |
10.95 |
9.00 |
26.00 |
||
|
60,000 - 70,000 |
3.00 |
6.00 |
10.00 |
||
|
70,000 - 80,000 |
2.00 |
1.95 |
9.00 |
||
|
80,000 - 90,000 |
1.00 |
1.00 |
4.00 |
||
|
90,000 - 100,000 |
|
|
1.00 |
||
|
100,000 - 125,000 |
|
|
|
||
|
125,000 - 150,000 |
|
|
1.00 |
||
|
over 150,000 |
|
|
|
||
|
Office of Government Procurement |
|
FTE |
|||
|
|
2014 |
2015 |
|||
|
Salary Band |
|
|
|||
|
0 - 30,000 |
12.50 |
24.80 |
|||
|
30,000 - 40,000 |
28.75 |
38.80 |
|||
|
40,000 - 50,000 |
35.00 |
52.80 |
|||
|
50,000 - 60,000 |
14.00 |
24.00 |
|||
|
60,000 - 70,000 |
20.00 |
19.00 |
|||
|
70,000 - 80,000 |
16.00 |
16.00 |
|||
|
80,000 - 90,000 |
2.00 |
6.00 |
|||
|
90,000 - 100,000 |
4.00 |
3.00 |
|||
|
100,000 - 125,000 |
1.00 |
2.00 |
|||
|
125,000 - 150,000 |
|
|
|||
|
over 150,000 |
|
|
739. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to announce the new building for Bailieborough Garda station and its location in the town; the timeframe for this announcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1617/17]
View answerFollowing consultation between Garda management and the OPW, a site has been identified for the new Garda Station. The OPW is progressing the legal matters relating to the acquisition of the site and this process will be completed as soon as possible.
Until the site acquisition is completed, it is not possible to provide details of the site location. A formal announcement will be made when the process is completed.
740. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department paid any of the special advisers, personal assistants or personal secretaries and other unestablished civil servants, whose contracts of employment ceased on 6 May 2016 on the election of a new Government, two weeks pay in lieu of notice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1623/17]
View answerI can confirm that two weeks' pay in lieu of notice was paid to the special advisors, personal assistants or personal secretaries and other unestablished civil servants, whose contracts of employment ceased on 6 May 2016 on the election of a new government.
This is in keeping with relevant guidelines.
741. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is an appeals process for SMEs that have lost a public tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1696/17]
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 in favour of a particular candidate on grounds such as location or existing relationship with the contracting authority that is carrying out a tender process and there are legal remedies which may be used against any public body infringing these rules. The Remedies Regulations allow tenderers or candidates who feel that a procurement process was not carried out in an open, and transparent manner the option of seeking recourse from the courts.
In addition, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), offers a service known as the Tender Advisory Service (TAS) which is designed to give an informal outlet for potential suppliers to raise concerns in relation to a particular live tender process. The primary objectives of the service are to improve communications with suppliers and increase professionalism and consistency in how procurement processes are carried out across the public service. Engagement with the service in no way impedes the rights of individuals to pursue their rights formally under the aforementioned Remedies legislation.
It is important to bear in mind that public procurement is a competitive process aimed at delivering much needed public goods, services and works in a sustainable manner. In such processes it is inevitable that there will be a number of unsuccessful tenderers. It is recommended that unsuccessful tenderers be given an objective assessment of the comparative strengths and weaknesses of their tenders having due regard to commercial sensitivity and the need to avoid compromising the rights or competitive situation of other tenderers. There are important benefits from giving constructive feedback to unsuccessful bidders. For contracting authorities it can identify ways of improving the process for the future; encourage better quality of future bids; help establish the public sector as a fair and open buyer; and, encourage continued participation by suppliers which promotes competition. For tenderers it can generate confidence and reassurance about the integrity of the process; help improve future performance; help them understand and operate the different procedures and practices that might apply in the public sector.
The OGP will continue to examine ways to improve the quality and content of communication and feedback during tender processes.
742. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the case presented by community employment supervisors to have access to a pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1767/17]
View answerThe issue of pension entitlements for Community Employment Scheme Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors was the subject of a Labour Court recommendation in 2008. The position is that although the employing bodies concerned are mainly funded by public expenditure programmes, the State does not have any role as an employer in this sector and the employees of such bodies are not public servants.
This matter together with other related issues is the subject of discussion at the Community Sector High Level Forum (or Working Group) (previously the Informal Forum) which was convened to examine certain issues pertaining to the Community Employment sector. The forum met on 27 November 2015 and on 11 April 2016. The forum now has a new Chair and it is intended to reconvene the forum in the first quarter of 2017.
743. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the public service wage bill has increased to pre-recession levels, in view of the reduction in staffing numbers; if he will provide a year-on-year increase in costs and staffing numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1784/17]
View answerThe Exchequer pay bill for 2017, as detailed in the recently published Revised Estimates Volume 2017, is €16.4 billion, compared with €15.6 billion for 2016. This increase will be driven primarily by recruitment of additional staff across the public service during the year - mostly in health, education and policing. There is also provision for some pay rate increases under the Lansdowne Road Agreement. The end-2016 figure for full-time equivalent public service numbers will be finalised in the coming weeks, but based on returns from the third quarter of 2016 the end-year number will be of the order of 308,000. The staff number projection for 2017 is just over 314,000, the allocation of which is broken down by Vote in the Revised Estimates Volume. It is estimated that in the order of 6/7,000 additional public servants will be recruited in 2017, with around 3,000 in the education sector, more than 1,200 in health, and 1,000 into An Garda Síochána (police recruits and civilians).
To put this in context, the Exchequer pay bill for 2017 remains less than it was a decade ago (in 2007) and it is over €1 billion less than it was in 2009 - which was the peak level. Whilst the pay bill has grown in the last number of years, this has been as a direct result of Government decisions to invest in improved and enhanced public services by recruiting more people to deliver these services. As the public finances have recovered, the Government has been in a position and has taken the opportunity to increase the number of Garda, nurses, teachers, special needs assistants, child protection officers etc., and this necessarily results in an increase in the pay bill but in a manner fully consistent with the achievement of overall budgetary targets.
744. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeframe for the amalgamation of SO and EO grades in the Civil Service; if there is any delay in the planned amalgamation; if SOs will receive backpay as a result of any delay in the amalgamation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1842/17]
View answerThe matter of the amalgamation of the Civil Service Staff Officer grade with the Executive Officer grade is currently under deliberation between the management and union side parties concerned. As this deliberative process has yet to be concluded it is considered that it would not be appropriate in the circumstances to comment on any issues that may arise between the parties concerned.
745. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the report of the Independent Panel on Strengthening the Civil Service Accountability and Performance will be implemented; if any element has been implemented and the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1941/17]
View answerThe report of the Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance was published in June 2014. The Panel's recommendations, along with the work of the Civil Service Renewal Taskforce, were integrated into a single Civil Service Renewal Plan and published in October 2014. Information on the implementation of the Plan, including annual Progress Reports, is published on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is available at http://www.per.gov.ie/en/civil-service-renewal/.
746. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the funding for an officer with specific responsibility for broadband will be provided to Tipperary County Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41698/16]
View answerFunding for an officer with specific responsibility for broadband has been provided to all local authorities and a Broadband Officer has been appointed in Tipperary County Council.
The Broadband Officer will act as a single point of contact within Tipperary County Council for engagement with broadband providers. The officer will assist with the preparation for, and roll out of, the National Broadband Plan and will create awareness of broadband services in the county.
747. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the basis on which her Department was allowed to pay money to local authorities for work that has not yet been carried out and in some cases in which the approval of projects was only given in December 2016; the reason the rules relating to payment by Departments for mature liabilities only was waived in this case; the amount of money involved in the approval given for such payments; if other Departments were given similar approval for payment to local authorities and other bodies without mature liabilities being incurred first; the circular under which this was approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1033/17]
View answerThe Department of Public and Expenditure Reform Circular 13/2014 Management of and Accountability for grants from Exchequer funds details all provisions in relation to the payment and management of grant funding. Whilst the default position in accordance with the Circular is that grants should be paid on the basis of vouched expenditure, the provisions of the Circular also provide for pre-funded grant schemes/pre-funding arrangements for grantees. Any such pre-funding schemes/arrangements must be sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in accordance with the provisions of the Circular.
My Department applied for and received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for the provision of pre-funded grants to Local Authorities on 4 August 2016. The total amount paid to Local Authorities on foot of these sanctioned pre-funding arrangements was just under €29.5 million.
I am not aware of the position of other Departments in relation to similar approvals under the provisions of the Circular.
748. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of a funding commitment to a project (details supplied) made recently; if recent announcements will impact on that commitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1049/17]
View answerIn February 2015, my Department approved a grant to the local authority in question towards the cost of construction of the project referred to by the Deputy, subject to the standard conditions that apply to all such capital grants.
I understand that the options for developing the proposed project are now under review. My Department is liaising with the local authority on the matter and will consider any proposals which may emerge from the review, when completed.
749. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the invasive species of Japanese knotweed that is present in Dublin South West and across the State; if she has been liaising with local authorities in the affected areas to tackle this invasive species; and her plans to offer grant aid to affected homeowners to get rid of it. [1350/17]
View answerI am very aware of the growing public concern about the impact of Japanese Knotweed. In this regard, I wish to advise that my Department is responsible for the enforcement of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species.
In law, control of invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed is a matter for landowners. My Department carries out considerable work on controlling invasive species in National Parks and Nature Reserves but it does not have the resources required to extend such work into urban areas or the wider countryside, and is not in a position at present to provide dedicated funds for such work to other bodies, including local authorities. Likewise, there are no plans at present to provide grant funding to homeowners for the removal or eradication of Japanese Knotweed.
There is considerable work being carried out at present by a range of agencies in this area, including many local authorities. While there is no national eradication plan, I will consider options for improved national co-ordination of work on invasive species, including increased cooperation between local and central government.
My Department does not collect data from local authorities on the incidence of Japanese Knotweed in their areas or indeed their actions to deal with this species. However, information on the distribution of invasive species in Ireland, including Japanese Knotweed, is available on the invasive species section of the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) website at http://maps.biodiversityireland.ie.
My Department has worked closely over the years with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to fund and manage the Invasive Species Ireland Project and this initiative has resulted in Best Practice Management Guidelines for a number of invasive species, including Japanese Knotweed, being published on the project website at www.invasivespeciesireland.com.
750. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will address and clarify an issue (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1452/17]
View answer755. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will provide clarity regarding a scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41276/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 750 and 755 together.
Given the constraints that apply in regard to providing detailed responses to ‘details supplied’ Questions, I am arranging for the relevant information to be forwarded to the Deputy directly.
751. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will report on plans to commemorate the Civil War; if any particular events will be marked and if so, which events; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1483/17]
View answerThe Government will continue to mark significant events throughout the Decade of Centenaries. This will be based on the inclusive, open and consultative approach that has worked so well this year. Commemorating the period of the War of Independence and the Civil War will present its own challenges. However, I strongly believe the same open and honest approach which we used for this year's successful commemorations, allowing all narratives to be heard, will ensure that we will be able to reflect appropriately on all of the major historical events as they unfolded. At all times, the Government has been supported in its plans by the guidance and advice of the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations and this will continue to be the case as we move into the second half of the Decade.
752. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 10 November 2016, the reason she did not inform any regulatory authority or the Garda when a report she received, which was sought by her to inform a reply to a parliamentary question regarding unauthorised felling in a Natura 2000 heritage woodland, detailed that a number of oaks between 60 and 80 years old, with some older, which had been protected under a condition inserted in a general felling licence at her Department’s request had been felled, an offence under section 51 of the Forestry Act 1946; and the reason she had and has for not disclosing information which she knew would be of material assistance to the Garda in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction for this offence. [41090/16]
View answerAs I previously advised the Deputy, the forestry activities referred to have been carried out under license from the Forest Service, which comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. While my Department was consulted by the Forest Service as the woodland concerned is situated adjacent to, and partially within, a Special Area of Conservation, it is a matter for the Forest Service to determine if there were any breaches of licence conditions and, if so, whether any action needs to be taken in relation to such breaches under the provisions of the Forestry Acts.
753. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will ensure that her officers, when performing functions under legislation, discover an offence arising, will provide the Garda without delay with any information which would be of material assistance to the Garda in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction for this offence. [41091/16]
View answerOffences under the main nature conservation legislation (Wildlife Acts, Habitats Regulations) may generally be investigated and dealt with by officers of my Department or by An Garda Síochána and/or with both organisations working together. Depending on the circumstances of a case, including the nature of the suspected offence, cases may be investigated and litigation taken by either the Minister or by the Gardaí. In circumstances where the Gardaí are investigating a case, my Department endeavours to support the work of An Gardaí Síochána as appropriate. There is excellent co-operation between my Department and the Gardai in these matters.
