Written Answers Nos. 350-370
350. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Question No. 1627 of 17 January 2017, the status of the liaison with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in regard to the further actions that might be taken to ensure US airlines on charter to the US military comply fully with regulations here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3233/17]
View answerIn line with our respective responsibilities for military and civil aircraft, my Department works closely with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport on issues relating to landings by aircraft at Irish airports with a view to ensuring compliance with the relevant conditions applicable in this area. Officials from my Department are in contact with their counterparts in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in respect of the matter to which the Deputy refers and on which our concerns have been made known to the US Embassy.
351. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position taken and the points raised by Ireland at the joint meeting of EU Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers on 14 November 2016 to discuss the implementation of the EU Global Strategy and the Common Security and Defence Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3234/17]
View answerThe EU Global Strategy (EUGS) commits the EU to promoting peace, security, prosperity, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. These objectives are to be pursued through a comprehensive approach using the range of instruments available to the European Union, including political, diplomatic, economic development, trade, peace-keeping and crisis management tools.
Five priority areas have been identified for implementation of the EU Global Strategy. These include strengthening the EU’s capacity, through its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), to promote international peace and security within a rules-based global order underpinned by the United Nations.
On 14 November EU Foreign Ministers met in joint session with EU Defence Ministers. At that meeting, Ministers adopted conclusions in which they stated their commitment to strengthening the Union’s ability to act as a security provider and to enhance its capacity, through the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), to foster human security, tackle the root causes of conflict and thus resolve crises outside the EU’s borders.
Ireland is a strong supporter of initiatives, through the CSDP, which improve the capacity of the Union to contribute to international peace and security and in support of the UN. We support cooperation with international partners where this adds value and contributes to the achievement of these objectives.
In this context, the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), and cooperation with other organisations in this area, is grounded within the EU Treaties and the Lisbon Protocol which protects Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality. The Council Conclusions expressly stipulated that the specific character of the security and defence policy of all EU Member States will be fully respected in the implementation of the Global Strategy.
352. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Saudi Arabia's human rights record, in addition to the issue of potential war crimes having been recently committed in Yemen by Saudi Arabia and its allies, will form part of his Department's exploration of the possibility of Ireland negotiating a bilateral agreement with Saudi Arabia. [3235/17]
View answerSaudi Arabia significantly increased its visa fees in October 2016. Many other countries have negotiated, or are in the process of negotiating, bilateral agreements with Saudi Arabia to lower visa costs. I consider it important that Irish citizens would also benefit from reduced visa fees, and so my Department is currently exploring the possibility of negotiating a bilateral agreement to this effect. This will require consultation with other Government Departments, in particular that of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD.
Facilitating travel between Ireland and Saudi Arabia is imperative if Irish companies are to benefit from the potential of the Saudi market. It is one of my Department’s goals to advance Ireland’s prosperity by promoting Irish economic interests internationally, and our economic relationship with Saudi Arabia presents many opportunities in this regard.
Ireland has strong economic ties with Saudi Arabia, a designated priority market for Ireland under the Government’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Strategy, and is our most significant trading partner in the Middle East. Bilateral trade was worth almost €2 billion in 2015, and the balance of this trade is overwhelmingly in Ireland’s favour. It is therefore an economic relationship with considerable benefit for the Irish economy and Irish jobs. In November, I led a trade mission to the Gulf, accompanied by 36 Irish companies and Enterprise Ireland. I saw first-hand the interest that Irish businesses have in Saudi Arabia.
However, the economic partnership that we have with Saudi Arabia does not prevent us from raising human rights and other issues, through the appropriate channels. In addition to trade-specific events, I had meetings with Saudi Government Ministers on my November trip, including the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Nizar Madani. While the detail of this meeting is confidential, I can confirm that I raised human rights issues with Minister Madani. We also discussed the conflict in Yemen, and I can confirm that I expressed Ireland’s concern about the appalling humanitarian situation resulting from the conflict, and about attacks on civilian infrastructures.
I have made my position on the war in Yemen very clear in this House. I unreservedly condemn all deliberate targeting of civilians, and I urge all parties to the Yemen conflict to respect International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law. Whether war crimes have been committed is a legal question to be decided by the courts. I have also been consistent in supporting calls for an international investigation into allegations of violations of International Humanitarian Law and the Law of War in Yemen, most recently at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva last September.
Ireland has a multifaceted relationship with Saudi Arabia, and the different elements of our engagement are not mutually exclusive. Our economic relationship benefits Ireland’s economy and trade, and I will continue to negotiate bilateral agreements to progress this. I am equally committed to promoting our diplomatic relationship, in order to facilitate our continued engagement with the Kingdom on human rights and on other matters.
353. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will raise the issue of an EU-wide boycott of goods from Israeli settlements with his EU counterparts in view of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 which describes Israel’s settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as illegal and a flagrant violation under international law. [3236/17]
View answerI welcomed the passing of Security Council resolution 2334, which restated important international positions on the Middle East Peace Process and on critical issues such as settlements. The reiteration that settlements are illegal under international law was timely, but it is not new. This has been the clear position of the Government, of the EU, and of the broader international community, for many years.
I was supportive of the Security Council’s call on States to distinguish in their dealings between the territory of Israel and of the occupied territory. This is been a view which I have argued for at EU level and, as reported here to the House on many occasions, there have been a number of important steps taken in that regard in recent years, including in relation to product labelling and EU research funding.
I am not in favour of a trade boycott against Israel. I would be open to considering any proposal to the effect that the EU should consider excluding products from illegal settlements from the EU market. However, it is quite clear that there is little prospect of such a proposal gaining wider support at present.
354. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with US officials on changes to policy regarding the undocumented Irish in the United States. [40020/16]
View answerAchieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US and agreement on a facility for future migration between Ireland and the US are longstanding Government objectives. We continue to be committed to these aims notwithstanding the changed political context in the United States.
The Government has raised the issue of immigration reform with US interlocutors – including at the highest levels – on many occasions. I personally raised the issue when I met then-Secretary of State John Kerry in Co. Tipperary, on 30 October 2016. I also raised it when I spoke to Speaker Paul Ryan by telephone on 23 November 2016.
The Government has also availed of every opportunity to sensitise the new Administration to our concerns and interests regarding immigration reform, and the plight of the undocumented Irish in particular. The Taoiseach raised the matter in his separate telephone conversations with then President-elect Trump and Vice-President-elect Pence in the days following the Presidential election. The issue will also feature high on the agenda for my planned visit to Washington DC in early February. The upcoming St. Patrick’s Day engagements will provide a further opportunity to express to senior figures in the new Administration and Congress our aims and concerns in relation to the undocumented.
In addition to these political efforts, our Embassy in Washington and our Consulates throughout the United States will continue to engage with Irish community groups in relation to their concerns. In recent days, the Ambassador Anderson convened a meeting of senior immigration stakeholders at our Embassy in Washington in order to hear directly from those who work most closely with the undocumented Irish.
We will also continue to support organisations that deliver frontline advisory services and community care to Irish emigrants through the Emigrant Support Programme. More than 70% of the funds allocated through this programme are directed towards welfare services, including in support of the undocumented Irish in the U.S. In the last funding round for the Emigrant Support Programme, organisations in the U.S were allocated more than €2.3 million in funding.
The Government, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our Embassy in Washington continue to work closely with Irish-American community leaders in actively pursuing all viable opportunities to advance immigration reform. We will encourage and promote any realistic possibilities for a solution that may arise.
356. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether Ireland's neutrality is in question due to the shift towards an alliance with Britain, Europe and the United States; if Ireland has entered into agreements with foreign powers on air defences without consulting Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39827/16]
View answerOn 24 November last year, the Dáil debated the Thirty-Fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Neutrality) Bill 2016. The debate provided a valuable opportunity to re-state the Government’s commitment to Ireland’s longstanding policy of military neutrality.
As I said at the time, I am satisfied that Ireland’s longstanding policy of military neutrality is safeguarded through existing Constitutional provisions, through the Protocol to the Lisbon Treaty, the Defence Acts, and the long-term policy strategies adopted by Government.
My Department’s statement of foreign policy, The Global Island, approved by Government in January 2015, states clearly that, “Our policy of military neutrality remains a core element of Irish foreign policy”. This was further reinforced in the ten year strategy on defence policy set out in the White Paper on Defence.
These policy settings have been developed in the context of a robust constitutional and legal framework.
Article 29 of the Constitution commits the State to uphold “the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations” and to “the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes.”
The ‘Triple Lock’ arrangement, which governs the deployment of Irish Defence Forces overseas, is set out in the Defence Acts and provides that: the deployment for overseas peace support operations may only be made if that operation is mandated by the United Nations; deployment must also be approved by the Government; and, if it is proposed to deploy more than 12 personnel, a Dáil Resolution must also be approved.
The Lisbon Treaty includes a legally binding Protocol which recognises Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.
Ireland’s commitment to the policy of military neutrality is complemented by a strong commitment to the United Nations and its work around the world. Irish troops participate in peacekeeping and, where necessary, peace enforcement. Our Defence Force personnel have a well-deserved, high reputation internationally for their contribution in this area which extends, unbroken, over more than fifty years.
The Government’s engagement in international security cooperation is aimed at ensuring public safety and is conducted with full respect for Irish sovereign decision-making authority and for Ireland’s long standing policy of military neutrality.
357. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will telephone President Duterte on behalf of a person (details supplied); if he will meet with the person's spouse to hear their perspective; and if he will verify the location of the person's passport. [1743/17]
View answerI am very aware of the extremely difficult circumstances in which this individual and his family find themselves. I have personally raised my concerns about the case, and about the health and wellbeing of the individual concerned, with my Philippines counterpart, most recently at the UN in New York last September.
This is an ongoing legal case. At this time, the priority focus of our Embassy is on follow up to the request to seek to have the appeal process expedited on humanitarian grounds. This request was reiterated at a meeting earlier this month with senior Philippines Foreign Ministry officials.
Our Embassy has also followed up with the individual’s lawyer, the appropriate channel, in relation to the individual’s passport, which is being held as a condition of bail. I understand that the citizen has been given confirmation by the Philippines authorities on the whereabouts of his passport.
This citizen’s spouse wrote to me in November outlining her serious concerns for her husband. Officials from my Consular Assistance team in Dublin are in direct contact with the individual’s spouse, with the most recent correspondence just last month. Department officials met with her in July 2015. My officials will remain in contact with the individual concerned and her spouse, and will consider any meeting request from the spouse if one is received.
At all times, in considering options and actions in this case, our clear objective is to advance the citizen’s best interests and, importantly, to avoid any action that might be counterproductive to his interests. In this context, it is my considered view that a direct approach to President Duterte drawing attention to the citizen’s situation would not be an appropriate course of action at this time. However, all potential actions are being kept under active and ongoing review.
Let me assure you that my Department continues to prioritise this case and that Department officials in Dublin, our Embassy in Singapore and our Honorary Consulate in the Philippines will continue to provide all appropriate consular assistance to this individual and to his family.
358. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on any reply he may have received from the Egyptian Prime Minister to his letter of November 2016 mentioned in Dáil Éireann on 23 November 2016. [1611/17]
View answerThis complex and long-running consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government and substantial resources and time are being devoted to it, by the Taoiseach, by me as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, by officials in my Department, by our Ambassador and his team in Cairo, and by the entire Irish diplomatic network. The Government is doing everything it possibly can to ensure that the Egyptian authorities are in no doubt about our determination to see this young man returned to his home and his family.
The Taoiseach has spoken directly and personally with Egyptian President el-Sisi on numerous occasions calling on him to exercise his powers under Egyptian law to resolve this case and return this young man to Ireland. He has done so in face-to-face meetings on two occasions and also by telephone and by letter.
The letter to which the Deputy refers in his question was sent by the Taoiseach to President el-Sisi on 17 November. A reply from President el-Sisi dated 17 December sets out his approach to this case in a manner consistent with our numerous contacts.
The Egyptian President has consistently advised us that the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary must be respected, and that the Egyptian Government cannot intervene until after the trial has concluded. The President has also consistently made clear to us that he is anxious to resolve this issue as soon as he can, and that he will be able to intervene in the case once the trial has ended. I welcome the fact that he reiterated this to the Oireachtas delegation when they met with him in Cairo on January 11th.
I and my colleagues in Government and our officials at every level will continue to do everything possible and appropriate to engage with the authorities in Cairo on this citizen’s behalf both directly and through and with EU and international partners.
359. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department is examining the equality issues of public sector employees who are unmarried, that is single, divorced or widowed and without children, but are contributing 1.5% of their monthly gross salary to the spouses' and children's superannuation scheme; if he has appointed officials to examine the equality issues of this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2827/17]
View answer365. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public sector employees who are unmarried, that is, single, divorced or widowed, and without children, but are contributing 1.5% of their monthly gross salary to the spouses' and children's superannuation scheme; the number of public sector employees in these categories with no dependent children whose children are over 18 years of age, but are contributing 1.5% of their monthly gross salary to the spouses' and children's superannuation scheme; the financial contribution of both of these groups to this superannuation scheme; the total number of public sector employees contributing 1.5% of their monthly gross salary to the spouses' and children's superannuation scheme; the value of this superannuation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2825/17]
View answer366. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of recipients of payments from the spouses' and children's superannuation scheme in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the total value of each of these superannuation scheme payments for each of these years; the total number of public sector employees; the total number of public sector employees who are unmarried, that is single, divorced or widowed with no children; the total number of public sector employees who are unmarried, that is single, divorced or widowed with children over 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2826/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 359, 365 and 366 together.
My responsibility extends to the Superannuation Schemes for Civil Servants and my response only refers to that sector. For information on the wider Public Service I would direct the Deputy to the respective Ministers with responsibility for the other sectors of the Public Sector. My Department does not hold personal information of Civil Servants to the level of detail requested by the Deputy in relation to marital status and children.
There are two separate Spouses' and Children's Pension Schemes for the Civil Service, one for Established Staff and one for Non-Established Staff. Within each Scheme there are two further categories (i) the Original Scheme and (ii) the Revised Scheme. For Established Staff the Original Scheme was introduced for male staff in 1968 and for female staff in 1981, and the Revised Scheme was introduced for all staff in 1984. For Non-Established Staff the Original Scheme was introduced for male staff in 1978 and the Revised Scheme was introduced in 1986, at which time membership was extended to female staff.
When the Original Scheme was introduced, all eligible staff serving at the time of its introduction were given an option to join. When the Revised Scheme was introduced it replaced the Original Scheme and applied automatically to all people recruited after its introduction. Again, all eligible staff serving at the time of the introduction of the Revised Scheme were given an option to join (regardless of whether they had been members of the Original Scheme). Therefore, depending on the date of appointment, and depending also on any membership options the employee may have exercised in the past, an employee may be a member of the Original or the Revised Scheme or of neither.
The main differences between the Original and the Revised Schemes are that the Revised Scheme covers marriages after retirement (the Original Scheme did not) and a broader category of eligible children. Where a member was unmarried at the time of retirement, the Original Scheme provided for a refund of some or all the contributions paid by that member.
It is generally not possible to determine that a person will never benefit from the revised spouses' and children's pension scheme as it provides cover for marriages and civil partnerships after retirement. Furthermore, children conceived after retirement, children born outside of marriage, step-children where the marriage took place after retirement and children adopted after retirement are all covered under the revised scheme.
Civil Service spouses' and children's schemes are structured on a group insurance basis and the member contribution rates take account of the fact that payment of benefits will not arise in respect of all members. I have no plans to review these arrangements.
Records maintained by my Department indicate that there were just over 37,500 employees in the civil service at the end of Q3 2016. The detail sought by the Deputy with regard to recipients of payments from the spouses' and children's scheme for the civil service is shown in the following table. The 2017 data is with respect to just one pay period.
|
Total paid out under spouses and children scheme in year |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017* |
|
(€'000) |
43,311 |
44,555 |
43,684 |
1,681 |
|
Number of payees |
4,177 |
4,122 |
4,004 |
4,165 |
* One pay period has elapsed year to date. Details on numbers contributing 1.5% of their gross salary to the Spouses and Children's contributions are not readily available.
360. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dara Calleary den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe an síleann sé go bhfuil sé inghlactha nach bhfuil comhfhreagras maidir leis an gClár Brústocaireachta á sheoladh trí mheán na Gaeilge nó go dátheangach chuig grúpaí brústocaireachta cé gur tugadh geallúint go ndéanfar amhlaidh i mí Eanáir 2016; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [2539/17]
View answerTá an Coimisiún um Chaighdeáin in Oifig Phoiblí (an Coimisiún) freagrach as an Clár Brústocaireachta a chaomhnú. Is comhlacht reachtúil neamhspleách é an Coimisiún agus dá bhrí sin níl sé freagrach don Aire Caiteachas Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe maidir lena chuid dualgas a chomhlíonadh. Mar sin féin, tuigim go bhfuil oibriú an Chláir Bhrústocaireachta dátheangach. Soláthraítear na seirbhísí go príomhúil tríd an láithreán gréasáin atá ar fáil i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla. Is féidir le húsáideoirí an láithreáin gréasáin clárú agus comhdú a dhéanamh ar líne trí cheachtar teanga oifigiúil. Is féidir leo treoir a fháil ar gach gné d'oibriú an tsuímh gréasáin - ceisteanna coitianta agus físeáin teagaisc san áireamh i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla. Tuigim fosta, de réir a ndualgais faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla, go ndéanann an Coimisiún a dhícheall freagra a thabhairt ar chomhfhreagras agus ar chumarsáid sa teanga oifigiúil ina ndéantar an fiosrúchán agus táthar ag scrúdú conas is féidir freagra a thabhairt ar fhiosruithe níos luaithe. Ar deireadh, tuigim go bhfoilsítear clárúcháin agus tuairiscí ar an chlár sa teanga inar lorgaíodh iad. Níl sé beartaithe go mbeidh ar dhaoine a chláraíonn leis an suíomh deir an Coimisiún go bhfuil beagnach 9,000 iarratas déanta go dtí seo - iarratas a dhéanamh sa dá Theanga Oifigiúil.
361. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a meeting of the high-level forum which was set up to deal with outstanding issues relating to community employment supervisors and assistants will meet in view of the fact that a new chairperson has been appointed to this forum. [2615/17]
View answerIn light of the recent appointment of a new Chair to the High Level Forum a meeting is accordingly being arranged between the parties concerned with a view to scheduling a date in the first quarter of 2017.
362. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeframe for the repeal of FEMPI legislation in respect of retired public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2701/17]
View answerThe FEMPI measure in respect of public service pensioners is the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR). The PSPR reduces the pay-out value of pensions with pre-PSPR values above specified thresholds in a progressively structured way which has a proportionately greater effect on higher value pensions. At all times, public service pensions up to a value of €12,000 have been unaffected by PSPR, while a higher exemption threshold of €32,500 has applied to pensions awarded from 1 March 2012 onwards.
PSPR is being significantly reversed in three stages under FEMPI 2015, with PSPR-affected pensioners getting pension increases via substantial restoration of the PSPR cuts on 1 January 2016, 1 January 2017 and 1 January 2018. When fully rolled-out from 1 January 2018, the changes will mean that all public service pensions with pre-PSPR values of up to €34,132 will be fully exempt from PSPR, while those pensioners not fully removed from the reach of PSPR will, in the majority of cases, benefit by €1,680 per year. The cost of these changes is estimated at about €90 million on a full-year basis from 2018.
As we move beyond FEMPI and PSPR restoration towards more normal pay and pension setting conditions in the public service, the issue of how to adjust the post-award value of public service pensions through appropriate pay or other linkages will be considered by Government.
363. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure more regulation in the beauty industry (details supplied). [2742/17]
View answerThe Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has no role in relation to the regulation of the beauty industry.
364. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if workers in the health service are obliged to make declarations under the Standards in Public Office Acts; and if so, the criteria for same. [2744/17]
View answerAll positions of employment in the Health Service Executive across all grade categories where the minimum salary point is equal to or above the minimum point of Grade VIII have been prescribed in regulations as designated positions of employment for the purposes of the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001. Employees of the HSE who occupy designated positions of employment are required under section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 to make an annual statement of interests (if any). The interests concerned are the interests of the person, and the interests, of which the person has actual knowledge. This also includes the interests of his or her spouse or civil partner or a child of the person or of his or her spouse, which could materially influence the person in the performance of his/her official functions. Where a person has an interest to disclose, he/she must furnish his/her statement to the Director General of the HSE. Section 18 of the Ethics in Public Office Act 1995 also requires a person who occupies a designated position of employment in the HSE who has a material interest in a function of his or her position to be performed to prepare and furnish a statement in writing of those facts to the Director General of the HSE. The person should not perform the function unless there are compelling reasons requiring him/her to do so. If the person proposes to perform the function, he/she should, before doing so or, if that is not reasonably practicable, as soon as possible afterwards, prepare and furnish a statement in writing of the compelling reasons to the Director General of the HSE.
367. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of current public private partnership, PPP, projects in which the State is involved; the value of PPP projects to which the State was party for each year from 2004 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2828/17]
View answerThe following table represents the Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects which have reached financial close up to end-2016, commencing from 2002.
Current PPP and Concession Projects
|
Project |
Sponsoring Authority Asset Type |
Operational From |
|
Pilot Schools Bundle |
Education Schools |
2002 |
|
National Maritime College |
Education - 3rd Level |
2004 |
|
Cork School of Music |
Education 3rd Level |
2007 |
|
Schools Bundle 1 |
Education Schools |
2010 |
|
Schools Bundle 2 |
Education Schools |
2011 |
|
Schools Bundle 3 |
Education Schools |
2013 |
|
Schools Bundle 4 |
Education Schools |
2016 |
|
Schools Bundle 5 |
Education Schools |
2017 |
|
M4 Kilcock - -Kinnegad Motorway* |
Transport Road |
2005 |
|
M1 Dundalk Western Bypass* |
Transport Road |
2005 |
|
M8 Rathcormac Fermoy Bypass* |
Transport Road |
2006 |
|
N25 Waterford Bypass* |
Transport Road |
2009 |
|
M6 Galway Ballinasloe Motorway* |
Transport - Road |
2009 |
|
M7/M8 Portlaoise Motorway* |
Transport Road |
2010 |
|
Limerick Tunnel* |
Transport - Tunnel |
2010 |
|
M3 Clonee Kells Motorway* |
Transport Road |
2010 |
|
M50 Upgrade |
Transport Road |
2010 |
|
Motorway Service Area* |
Transport Services |
2010 |
|
M11 Arklow Rathnew Upgrade |
Transport Road |
2015 |
|
M17/M18 Gort Tuam Motorway |
Transport Road |
2017 |
|
M11 Gorey Enniscorthy Motorway |
Transport Road |
2019 |
|
N25 New Ross Bypass |
Transport Road |
2019 |
|
Dublin Bay |
Irish Water Treatment Plant |
2003 |
|
Cork |
Irish Water Treatment Plant |
2004 |
|
Balbriggan/Skerries |
Irish Water Treatment Plant |
2006 |
|
Donegal |
Irish Water Treatment Plant |
2008 |
|
Portrane/Donabate/Rush/Lusk |
Irish Water Treatment Plant |
2010 |
|
Tullamore |
Irish Water Treatment Plant |
2010 |
|
Shanganagh |
Irish Water Treatment Plant |
2011 |
|
Letterkenny |
Irish Water Treatment Plant |
2011 |
|
Srowland |
Irish Water Treatment Plant |
2011 |
|
Criminal Courts Complex |
Courts Service Courts |
2009 |
|
Courts Bundle |
Courts Service Courts |
2017 |
|
National Conference Centre |
Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Convention Centre |
2010 |
|
Primary Care Bundle |
Health - Primary Care Centres |
2017 |
|
Dublin Waste to Energy* |
DCC - Incinerator |
2017 |
* Denotes Concession Project
These 36 projects underpin a significant investment in infrastructure with a combined contractual value of over €5.5 billion. The aggregate contractual value of the projects which have reached financial close since 2004 amounts to over €4.8 billion. At present, only the aggregate contractual value by sector is published by the CSO in relation to these projects. However, in the interest of providing greater transparency in relation to PPPs, my Department is actively engaging with the various Sponsoring Authorities with a view to publishing details of the individual contractual values for all PPPs on the www.ppp.gov.ie website, and hopes to be in a position to do so in the coming weeks.
368. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of Secretaries General in his Department; the annual pay of each Secretary General within his Department on 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2913/17]
View answer369. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of assistant secretaries general in his Department; the annual pay of each assistant secretary general within his Department at 1 January 2017; the expected change in that pay as a consequence of the provisions of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2929/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 369 together.
I wish to inform the Deputy that there is one Secretary General in my department, who is on the Non PPC Secretary General pay scale, of which there is only one point. There are five Assistant Secretaries in my department, three of which are on the Assistant Secretary Non PPC scale and two on the PPC Assistant Secretary level pay scale. Incremental progression on the Assistant Secretary scales is subject to government pay policy, see pay scales are below:
Secretary General - Non PPC - €185,350
Assistant Secretary - PPC - €125,761, €131,385, €137,481, €143,535.00
Assistant Secretary - Non PPC - €119,572, €124,917, €130,706, €136,496
Under the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2015 (FEMPI Act 2015), for those on salaries in excess of €110,000 the salary reductions imposed under the FEMPI Act 2013 will be restored in three equal phases on 1 April 2017, 1 April 2018 and 1 April 2019. A circular setting out the revised salary rates applicable from 1 April 2017 to general Civil Service grades, including Secretaries General and Assistant Secretaries General, is currently in preparation and will be issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in due course.
370. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost in 2017 and on a 12-month basis to his Department of bringing forward the increases due under the Lansdowne Road agreement from September to April; the way in which this cost will be funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2945/17]
View answerThe additional cost arising from the Government Decision in relation to the Lansdowne Road Agreement is €120 million. The required funds will need to be met from available public resources taking into account the scope for reallocation of expenditure while also ensuring that core public services are not adversely impacted as a result of this decision.
The extent to which Departments are in a position to meet this additional cost will only be determined later in the year. The Government will monitor the position closely and will consider how best to meet any additional funding requirements where the need arises. However, given that this additional cost represents 0.2 per cent of total gross voted current expenditure, most Departments should be in a position to absorb additional costs arising from this decision. As reported in the end-December Exchequer returns, gross voted current expenditure for 2016 finished c. 0.2 per cent behind profile.
