Written Answers Nos. 249-268
249. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the flood relief works including detailed expenditure and plans in the County Louth and east County Meath areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34164/17]
View answerIn relation to the current position on flood relief works in counties Louth and Meath, I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works as follows:
Meath: Construction commenced on the Northlands Estate, Bettystown Flood Relief works in late October 2016 with an estimated project budget of €2.5m. It is anticipated that the works will take approximately 52 weeks to complete. €850,000 has been expended to date on this project which is being carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) direct labour force.
In 2016, the OPW approved funding of €511,200 under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection scheme to Meath County Council for projects at Ashbourne (€450,000) and Woodtown, Co Meath. The works at Ashbourne are progressing and being carried out by the OPW's direct labour force. An important channel overflow structure has been completed which will have a significant impact on mitigating flooding. The works at Woodtown are complete and funding for these has been fully drawn down.
Louth: Works commenced in 2017 on the coastal flood relief scheme at Bellurgan and this is progressing well. The estimated project budget for this work is €0.750m and work is expected to be completed in quarter two 2018. In addition, the OPW approved funding of €14,400 under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection scheme to Louth County Council for a project at Rampark, Lordship, Co. Louth which has been completed with funding fully drawn down. Also, under the Minor Works scheme, coastal protection works at Baltray have been funded and completed.
The OPW carries out its own programme of Arterial Drainage Maintenance on a total of 11,500km of river channel and approximately 730km of embankments nationally. These maintenance works relate to arterial drainage schemes completed by the OPW under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945, whose purpose was primarily to improve the drainage of agricultural lands. The OPW has a statutory duty to maintain the completed schemes in proper repair and in an effective condition. The annual maintenance programme typically involves some clearance of vegetation and removal of silt build-up on an average five-yearly cycle. During 2016 maintenance works was carried out on approximately 4km of the Mornington channel and also the Northlands channel.
The core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding, is the OPW's Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. It is the principal vehicle for implementing the EU Floods Directive and national flood policy. The Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW working in partnership with the local authorities, involves, following extensive public consultation, the production of predictive flood mapping for 300 areas of significant flood risk nationally, the development and assessment of flood risk management options and the production of flood risk management plans which will include both structural and non-structural measures to address flood risk in those areas. The assessments of flood risk in counties Louth and Meath are included in the East CFRAM study.
The draft plans are expected to be completed and submitted for approval by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the Autumn.
250. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of proposals for a voluntary home relocation scheme for domestic dwellings affected by flooding and unable to receive insurance cover or adequate remedial works; the number of homes due to be covered by the scheme; the amount due to be allocated; the timeframe of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34229/17]
View answer251. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for a voluntary farm building relocation scheme due to flooding issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34230/17]
View answer252. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the trial on lowering water levels in Lough Allen undertaken by the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group; if there are legal or statutory impediments to such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34231/17]
View answer253. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of meetings held by the interdepartmental flood policy co-ordination group in 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34232/17]
View answer254. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the establishment and operation of the national flood forecasting and warning service unit; the number of staff employed in the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34233/17]
View answer255. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of meetings held by the River Shannon co-ordination group in 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34234/17]
View answer256. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount put aside for the pilot scheme of individual home protection measures; the amount of money drawn down; the timeframe for a decision on the future of the pilot scheme's national roll-out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34235/17]
View answer258. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the Office of Public Works' work on the legal obligations of landowners with riparian rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34239/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 250 to 256, inclusive, and 258 together.
Home and Farm
On April 11 2017, the Government agreed the administrative arrangements for a Homeowners Voluntary Relocation Scheme for those primary residential properties that flooded during December 4 2015 to January 13 2016. This is a national scheme of humanitarian assistance, targeting aid at those worst affected properties, for which there are no alternative feasible measures.
The first stage of the process has commenced with the OPW working with each of the Local Authorities, using their extensive and detailed local knowledge, to identify the homes that flooded during the event, those that may not benefit from a known or possible engineering solution. These homeowners will be invited to meet with the OPW and others to discuss the details of the scheme that involves a survey of each property during the Second Stage.
In addition to the identification process underway with the Local Authorities, homeowners may also express an interest directly with the OPW, before July 28 2017, to be considered under the Scheme. To date 36 expressions of interest have been received from homeowners in 13 different Local Authority areas.
Full details of the Homeowners Voluntary Relocation Scheme, including the eligibility criteria and how a homeowner may express an interest to be considered under the scheme, are available on the OPW website.
Initial funding of €2m has been allocated this year and funding for future years will form part of the normal budgetary process. Once the initial identifications of homes across all the Local Authority areas has been completed, the OPW will have a clearer indication of the number of homes covered by the scheme at Stage 1, above, and the indicative associated costs and timescale.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has indicated that the administrative arrangements for the Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme will help it, along with its own records of aid provided to farmers in response to these floods, identify those farmyard buildings worst affected by the flooding during Winter 2015/2016. That department will contact and work with these individual farms to determine if there are any alternative remedial works to protect those farmyard buildings at risk. This approach will inform the feasibility of any future once-off targeted scheme for Voluntary Farm Building Relocation.
Lake Levels and Shannon Group
The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group met on six occasions in 2016 and on one occasion to date in 2017. Information about the Group is available on the OPW website, www.opw.ie.
The Group took a decision in October 2016 to trial the lowering of the lake levels on Lough Allen, within the existing statutory framework, during the Winter 2016/2017 to help mitigate potential flood risk. A protocol was finalised between ESB, Waterways Ireland and the OPW to lower the late Autumn and Winter minimum lake levels in Lough Allen by approximately 0.7 metres with the first reduction implemented in October 2016. The Group has agreed that the trial will be repeated later this year, commencing in late Autumn.
The Group has published its Work Programme for 2017 and is available on the OPW website, www.opw.ie. It is also developing a plan for strategic maintenance, to help reduce further deterioration of the River Shannon, and is considering the development of viable flood risk reduction measures in the Shannon Callows, as a further commitment to enhance co-ordinated activities by the relevant State Agencies. These plans are taking into account the environmental, legal and resource implications involved.
Interdepartmental
The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group that I chair met four times in 2016. Last November the Group presented for consideration and agreement by Government an interim report setting out progress on its work and making appropriate recommendations for consideration by Government at this time. The report is available on the OPW website, www.opw.ie. Progress continues to be made by sector leads on recommendations within the interim report and those policy areas identified that require further action. The OPW remains in contact with sectoral representatives, who are members of the Group and I expect to convene a meeting of the Group in the near future, so that the Group’s work is aligned with the outputs of the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme.
Flood Forecasting
A Steering Group to establish a National Flood Forecasting Service has met on eleven occasions to date, agreed a Terms of Reference and prepared and agreed an implementation plan comprising a number of phases, including an initial set-up phase and a development and trial phase. Given the complexities involved in establishing, designing, developing and testing this new service, it is anticipated that it will take at least 5 years before it is fully operational and it is estimated it will require a staffing complement of 15 full-time posts. Met Éireann has appointed one new staff member to date to lead the project. Arrangements for further recruitment of additional specialist staff are well advanced.
IPP pilot
The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group is considering the potential costs and benefits associated with the introduction of an individual property protection scheme.
The Group is being informed by two different pilot projects, in Thomastown and Graiguenamanagh in County Kilkenny and Crossmolina in County Mayo. The Co-ordination Group’s work, when completed, will be submitted to Government for consideration in the context of the merits of the introduction by Government of any scheme to support individual property protection measures.
Both pilots are being funded through the OPW’s Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. In respect of the Kilkenny pilot, the OPW is funding the costs of a research and feasibility study into the potential provision of individual property protection. Kilkenny County Council is considering the consulting engineers’ preliminary report to help inform recommendations to the OPW on the next stages of the pilot. To date the council have drawn down some €30,000 towards the cost of the study.
In Crossmolina, consultants have undertaken surveys of individual properties to assess their suitability for floodgates and Mayo County Council has procured a contractor who is currently installing the defences at the relevant properties. The OPW has provided €109,000 in funding to date.
Riparian Guide
Work to develop guidance to clarify the rights and responsibilities of landowners in relation to the maintenance of any watercourse on or near their lands is at an advanced stage. It is expected that legal advice to help finalise the guide will be sought in the coming weeks.
257. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the minor works flood scheme review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34236/17]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that on 7 July, I announced and welcomed the completion of the review of the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme which includes many improvements to the eligibility/benefit criteria of the Scheme.
The scheme provides funding to local authorities to carry out localised flood relief works.
My Office conducted this review, in consultation with stakeholders such as the local authorities, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the IFA. I am pleased to note that many of the concerns of these stakeholders were taken into account in the review. For example, the upper financial threshold has been increased substantially from €500,000 to €750,000 and benefit allowances have been updated to reflect different property types, with the inclusion of farm yard/buildings as commercial premises.
I am also delighted to confirm that the assessment of value of agricultural land has been updated using the Standard Farm Output Figure from the CSO Census of Agriculture 2013. This will provide more reliable data for each county on a regional basis for the calculation of benefit attached to agricultural land.
All local authorities have been notified of the revised criteria, which are effective for applications received after 1 June 2017. The revised criteria are available on www.opw.ie
259. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 98 of 5 July 2017, the location of the three sites involved; if there is current up-to-date planning permission in each of these; the annual income received in each of these since the equipment was installed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34310/17]
View answerI understand from the Deputy that this question refers to locations at which telephone masts or other telecommunications signals are provided on State land with the knowledge of the Office of Public Works (OPW) in County Laois. There are three such sites in County Laois and these are located at Portarlington Garda Station, Portlaoise Garda Station and Stradbally Garda Station.
As previously indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question number 98 of 5 July 2017 a standard licence agreement sets out the terms and conditions under which mobile phone operators are permitted to locate OPW property. Under the terms of the licence, the mobile phone operators are solely responsible for all planning applications. No application for planning can be made without the OPW's consent as property owners. A third party service provider currently provides a managed service to the OPW in connection with the operation and management of its sites. This service includes any matters relating to planning. OPW is not aware of any issues relating to planning at any of these sites.
The total annual income received at these sites is €9,821.
260. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has conducted an up-to-date assessment of the impact that the uncertainty regarding Brexit will have on PEACE funds which are an important investment in Border areas, both north and south; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34321/17]
View answerI fully appreciate the uncertainty that Brexit has caused not just for the PEACE programme but also for INTERREG. For that reason I am committed to the successful implementation of the current programmes and to successor programmes post-2020.
I was pleased, therefore, to be able to announce last October that agreement had been reached between my Department and the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland on a safeguard clause to Brexit proof funding agreements with programme beneficiaries.
Now that that short term objective has been achieved, my medium term objective is to ensure successful implementation of the current programmes out to 2020, through a period during which the UK is expected to leave the EU. My longer term objective is secure agreement for successor programmes post-2020. Work is underway in my Department to address these medium and long term objectives.
261. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the Enniscorthy flood defence scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34402/17]
View answerThe River Slaney (Enniscorthy) Flood Relief Scheme is currently being progressed by Wexford County Council with funding provided by the Office of Public Works. The current position is as follows –
Wexford County Council has appointed two separate consultants for the flood relief scheme and for an associated bridge. The majority of Ecological surveys are complete. The bird survey is ongoing, as is an examination of potential impacts on Pearl Mussels in conjunction with Inland Fisheries.
During the ground investigations, artefacts were found in the Slaney River. These are currently being examined by an archaeologist. However, the archaeologist has suggested that they will not negatively impact the scheme.
A Public Information Day is expected to be held in Q3 2017, outlining the current design of the scheme, and confirmation documents will be subsequently sent to DPER.
262. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of introducing a minimum wage of €15 an hour for all employees under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34604/17]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question, the following table outlines the annual cost of implementing a minimum weekly gross wage of €15 an hour for all employees in my Department and the bodies under its aegis:
|
Organisation
|
Annual Cost € |
|
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
272,453 |
|
National Shared Services Office |
3,054,430 |
|
Office of Government Procurement |
248,753 |
|
Public Appointments Service |
670,359 |
|
Office of the Ombudsman |
257,750 |
|
State Laboratory |
54,944 |
|
Office of Public Works |
3,722,000 |
|
Institute of Public Administration (IPA) |
15,000 |
|
Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) |
No additional cost |
263. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost to introduce a minimum weekly gross wage of €600 for all full-time employees under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34605/17]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question, the following table outlines the annual cost of implementing a minimum weekly gross wage of €600 for all full time employees in my Department and the bodies under its aegis:
|
Organisation
|
Annual Cost € |
|
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
151,813 |
|
National Shared Services Office |
2,203,267 |
|
Office of Government Procurement |
177,591 |
|
Public Appointments Service |
503,483 |
|
Office of the Ombudsman |
165,891 |
|
State Laboratory |
19,500 |
|
Office of Public Works |
984,000 |
|
Institute of Public Administration (IPA) |
No additional cost |
|
Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) |
No additional cost |
264. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if projects are to be funded by his Department in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2017 (details supplied); if so, the specific projects and the funding per project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34656/17]
View answerThe Office of Public Works will respond to you directly within the next ten days in accordance with Standing Order 42A.
265. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 387 of 20 June 2017, the number of former TDs that applied for board positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34850/17]
View answerThe Board of the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is the only State Board under the aegis of my Department. I am informed by the PAS that one applicant declared that they were a former TD when the vacancies were last advertised in 2014.
266. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the situation whereby a teacher is hired on a fixed-term contract but is listed as a substitute teacher on his or her payslip (details supplied) without receiving the pay and conditions of a substitute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33592/17]
View answerIn the post primary sector there are four categories of non-permanent teaching contracts:
Regular part-time contracted teacher: A regular part-time teacher is appointed where the need for a teacher is viable for at least a year, e.g., covering concessionary hours or for a career break.
Temporary whole-time teacher: A temporary whole-time teacher is appointed to work full hours on a temporary basis, normally for at least one year e.g., replacing a teacher on secondment or where the Department does not sanction a permanent position.
Non-casual part-time teacher: A non-casual part-time teacher is appointed where there is a specific need for a teacher for less than a year but more than 150 hours in total in the year e.g., covering for a teacher on maternity leave.
Casual part-time teacher: A casual part time teacher is appointed where there is a casual need for hours to be covered e.g., replacing a teacher on short-term sick leave.
Regular part-time contracted teachers and Temporary whole-time teachers are set up on the Department’s payroll by the Post Primary Payroll Section. They are contracted to teach for the entire school year.
In the case of teachers who obtain part-time hours in a casual/non casual capacity in post primary schools, as is the case for the teacher involved, their details and the number of hours worked are input on the On-Line claims System (OLCS) in the school. Claims and details of part-time hours worked are transferred automatically to the Department’s payroll. Payments in respect of Substitute and Part Time service is reflected on the payslip as Substitute pay due to printing constraints. The payslip also contains the number of hours being paid on the payslip under the heading Substitute/Part Time Work.
Substitutes and part-time workers receive the pay and conditions that they are entitled to, for example holiday pay entitlement under Circular 0015/2015. The teacher referred to by the Deputy received their most recent holiday pay entitlement on 22 June 2017.
267. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount provided to organisations engaged in lifelong learning in 2017; the amount targeted at learners over 65 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33640/17]
View answerGoal 2 in the Further Education and Training Strategy 2014-2019 relates to active inclusion which aims to support the active inclusion of individuals of all ages and abilities to participate in further education and training (FET) to enable every citizen to fully participate in society.
Over €800 million will be invested by my Department through SOLAS, for the delivery by Education and Training Boards throughout the country, of a broad range of high quality further education and training programmes that will provide for around 300,000 beneficiaries this year.
While those aged 65 years and over are eligible to participate in further education and training programmes, they are not targeted as a discrete group based on age. However with the exception of the Youthreach programme, which is aimed at early school leavers under 25 years of age, there is no upper age eligibility applicable to FET programmes.
Participation rates within FET by those aged over 65 years are not currently available. However as the new Programme and Learner Support System (PLSS) which commenced full implementation this year is embedded across FET, it will be possible to provide a vast range of data including information on participant profile.
Through SOLAS, my Department will also provide over €66,000 to Age Action Ireland this year, who provide a range of services to support older people including the provision of training courses.
Recognising the importance of lifelong learning, the National Skills Strategy 2025 has set targets to increase participation rates to 10% in the medium term and to 15% by 2025. To suit the individual lives of learners of all ages and to support this objective, the Programme for Government includes the commitment to support an increase in the number of flexible courses available, giving people the opportunity to attend courses part time, during evenings, in the summer and at weekends.
The 2017 Further Education and Training Service Plan which will shortly be published by SOLAS will include information on the range of flexible and part time programmes to be provided. Further information on these programmes can now be accessed via the recently launched fetchcourses.ie website.
268. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure more regulation in the beauty industry (details supplied). [33642/17]
View answerMy Department, through SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards provides for some publicly funded training to the beauty industry. However the issue of an annual licence and the regulation of industry does not come within the remit of my Department or its agencies.
