Written Answers Nos. 119-142
119. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Taoiseach the contracts his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department have with a company (details supplied) or its subsidiaries; the value of the contracts; the year in which the contracts were concluded; and when the contracts will be up for renewal. [46380/17]
View answerMy Department does not have contracts with the company in question, nor does the only body under the aegis of my Department, namely the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO).
120. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Taoiseach the names of the special advisers employed in his Department; the names of special advisers to junior ministers in his Department; the annual salary of each adviser; if these persons were special advisers immediately prior to taking up their current role or immediately prior to the June 2017 Cabinet reshuffle; if so, the Minister to which they were appointed to; the date each special adviser was appointed with effect as stated in the Government order; the date of the Government order; if they received a salary for the period before the appointment order was signed in the case of special advisers whose appointment order date has an effective date earlier than the order date; if so, by whom they were paid; if a special adviser during a period later backdated by appointment order had access to confidential material and or Cabinet papers; if they were subject to the Official Secrets Act 1963 during this period; and if any persons currently employed as special advisers have not yet been appointed by order since the Cabinet reshuffle of 2017 [46475/17]
View answerDetails of my special advisers are as follows:
- Brian Murphy, Chief of Staff, paid at Deputy Secretary grade;
- John Carroll, Head of Policy and Programme Implementation, paid at Assistant Secretary grade;
- Nick Miller, Spokesman and Communications Adviser to the Taoiseach, paid at Assistant Secretary grade;
- Patrick Geoghegan, Special Adviser, paid at Assistant Secretary grade;
- Angela Flanagan, Special Adviser, paid at Principal Officer grade;
- Philip O’Callaghan, Special Adviser, paid at Principal Officer grade;
- Jim D’Arcy, Special Adviser, paid at Assistant Principal Officer (Higher) grade.
Mark O’Doherty and Gregory Harkin are special advisers to the Government Chief Whip and both are paid at Principal Officer grade.
Prior to taking up their current roles, Brian Murphy and Nick Miller were special advisers to me in my capacity as Minister for Social Protection; Angela Flanagan was special adviser to the former Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny T.D; and Mark O’Doherty was special adviser to the former Government Chief Whip, Ms Regina Doherty T.D.
Brian Murphy; Nick Miller, Patrick Geoghegan, Angela Flanagan, Philip O’Callaghan, Mark O’Doherty and Greg Harkin were appointed on 14 June, 2017 as stated in the Government Order dated 26 July, 2017. John Carroll was appointed on 5 July, 2017 also by that Order.
Jim D’Arcy was appointed with effect from 4 September, 2017 as stated in the Government Order dated 3 October, 2017.
All of these Special Advisers were paid as soon as practicable after their appointment.
All staff in my Department, including special advisers, are subject to the Official Secrets Act 1963. Special advisers provide briefings and policy advice to me as Taoiseach or to the Government Chief Whip. They therefore have access to relevant material and papers as required.
There are no outstanding orders relating to the appointment of special advisers in my Department.
125. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if Cabinet Committee A (Economy) met in October 2017. [46505/17]
View answerCabinet Committee A did not meet in October. It met on 12 September and the next meeting is scheduled for 23 November.
126. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the areas in which he is of the view savings will be made in his Department to fund the strategic communications unit. [46506/17]
View answerMy Department's budget for 2018 has decreased by 2% compared to 2017. Savings are expected to be achieved under the subheads Tribunals of Inquiry and Citizens' Assembly in 2018.
The focus of the new Strategic Communications Unit established in my Department will be to streamline Government communications for citizens, develop and deliver major cross-Government communication campaigns, and improve communications capacity across Government.
Exchequer savings will be delivered by the Strategic Communications unit in 2018 through efficiencies generated by:
- cross-Governmental collaboration on major campaigns;
- more efficient use of technology platforms;
- consolidated media buying;
- efficient third-party contract management;
- rationalising design projects;
- streamlining participation in national events; and
- increased communication capacity within Departments.
In this way, the Strategic Communications initiative is expected to be cost-neutral in 2018.
130. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the cost of photography in his Department since January 2017. [46532/17]
View answerFrom 1 January 2017 to 31 October 2017, my Department spent a total of €8,614.64 on photography. The use of a photographer is for official events/functions. Increasingly my Department utilises its own staff to take photographs in-house, thereby reducing costs.
131. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach the due diligence that took place in his Department before the strategic communications unit was set up; and the number of meetings that were held with the Department of Finance. [46664/17]
View answerCommunication to our citizens is an essential public service: the public has a right to know what their government is doing on their behalf, and why. That is why communications should be treated as a strategic, whole-of-government activity which should be conducted to the same level of professionalism as any other activity, such as human resource management or financial management.
Following due consideration and discussion, the Cabinet decided that a Strategic Communications Unit should be established in the Department of the Taoiseach.
Based on international best practice, and with the citizen at the centre of its work, the focus of this Unit is to simplify Government communications and to increase efficiencies across the public sector when dealing with the Irish public.
The Strategic Communications Unit has been integrated within the Civil Service structures in my Department, with the Director of the Unit reporting to the Secretary General of the Department.
The Civil Service Management Board (CSMB) has established a sub group of the CSMB which acts as a high-level working group to ensure successful oversight and delivery of the workplan of the unit, and is chaired by the Secretary General to the Government.
As an initial step, my Department conducted some research on existing communications activities, including the range of campaigns, brands and channels of communication used by different agencies, and which have built up over many years, under successive governments. This research is ongoing. The results of that research will be used by civil service management to help frame the work plan for the new unit.
My Department engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on funding for the unit as part of the Estimates process - a process which saw my Department's funding decrease in 2018.
132. Deputy James Lawless asked the Taoiseach the audience sectors targeted by each of the sponsored posts (details supplied) which ran via the merrionstreet.ie account. [46723/17]
View answer133. Deputy James Lawless asked the Taoiseach the spend, including allocated budget, used budget and promotion extensions on sponsored posts (details supplied) which ran via the merrionstreet.ie account. [46724/17]
View answer134. Deputy James Lawless asked the Taoiseach the State agencies or other emanations of the State that fall under the remit of the strategic communications unit; and the plans in place for existing public affairs staff within each entity. [46725/17]
View answer135. Deputy James Lawless asked the Taoiseach the social media or other online platforms that have been engaged by the strategic communications unit to carry or promote sponsored content; and the expense that has been incurred in each case. [46726/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 132 to 135, inclusive, together.
A key part of the modernisation of Government communications is the greater use of social media. Recent initiatives in my Department such as videos relating to Ireland's Rugby World Cup Bid, information about going back to school, the budget and treatment benefits cost approximately €21,895 in total. Sponsored posts appeared on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Targeting for these was broadly-based to 'all adults'.
No State agencies or other emanations of the State fall under the remit of the Strategic Communications Unit and it has no role in relation to staff in those entities.
The main task of the Strategic Communications Unit is to simplify Government Communications and to increase efficiencies across the public sector when dealing with the Irish public.
136. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach when the national security committee last met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46958/17]
View answerHaving regard to the confidential nature of the National Security Committee, it would not be appropriate to disclose information about the dates of individual meetings or about its proceedings.
The Committee is chaired by the Secretary General to the Government and comprises representatives at the highest level of the Departments of Justice and Equality, Defence and Foreign Affairs and Trade, and of the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces.
It is concerned with ensuring that the Government and I are advised of high level security issues and the responses to them.
The Committee meets as required and will continue to do so. In addition to the meetings, the members liaise on an ongoing basis to monitor developments that might have national security implications, in particular in the international arena.
137. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the funding spent on the programme for research in third level institutions in each of the years 2002 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46655/17]
View answerThe Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions (PRTLI) was launched in 1998, with five cycles of expenditure to date. The Programme is designed to facilitate Ireland’s HEIs to produce world class research in key strategic areas such as bioscience/biomedical; medical technologies; energy, environment and marine; food and drink; social sciences and humanities; ICT and advanced communications and; platform technologies and materials.
PRTLI has supported the provision of top-class research infrastructure (buildings, laboratories and cutting edge equipment) as well as human capital development, through Structured PhD/Emergent Technology programmes across Ireland’s Higher Education Institutes (HEIs).
My Department took over responsibility for the PRTLI in May 2010, from the Department of Education and Skills. My Department is meeting the remaining liabilities from Cycle 5 of PRTLI. The funding allocation for 2017 is €14.4m. Capital projects are initially financed by the HEIs and the monies are then reclaimed from the Higher Education Authority which administers the PRTLI on behalf of my Department.
PRTLI Exchequer Payments 2002-2017
|
Year |
€ million |
|
2002 |
46.5 |
|
2003 |
27.8 |
|
2004 |
53.7 |
|
2005 |
78.3 |
|
2006 |
69.1 |
|
2007 |
71.6 |
|
2008 |
58.4 |
|
2009 |
94.4 |
|
2010 |
55.9 |
|
2011 |
55.8 |
|
2012 |
54.7 |
|
2013 |
42.8 |
|
2014 |
37.4 |
|
2015 |
49.8 |
|
2016 |
23.7 |
|
2017 |
13.9 |
|
Total |
833.8 |
The table contains the detail of the funding spent on the Programme for Research in Third-Level Institutions in each of the years 2002 to 2016 and to date in 2017. This table shows that over the period, an amount of €833.8 million was spent on PRTLI.
The funding announcements made in the context of Budget 2018 will allow the Government to start making new investments that will address objectives encompassed by previous cycles of PRTLI.
138. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation her plans for the next cycle of the programme for research in third level institutions; the amount to be allocated; the timeframe for the cycle; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46656/17]
View answerThe Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions (PRTLI) has been an important funding programme in developing research capacity within the higher education system in Ireland. Approximately €1.2bn of public and private funding has been invested through PRTLI since the commencement of the programme in the late 1990s. PRTLI has complemented other research funding programmes of Government including in particular the funding provided by my Department through Science Foundation Ireland (€162m in 2017).
Innovation 2020 includes an action to scope out and develop a successor to PRTLI to support new investment in research infrastructure. It also contains an action to increase the enrolment of PhD and research masters students. The creation of additional physical space for research and funding for structured programmes for postgraduate researchers are two key elements associated with previous cycles of PRTLI.
In the context of Budget 2018, the Government announced that €7.5 million would be made available through my Department in 2018 to commence a new programme specifically aimed at increasing the enrolment of PhD and research masters students as per the action in Innovation 2020. This particular programme is to be rolled out through Science Foundation Ireland and further detail on the programme will be provided by SFI in the coming months. I envisage that additional funding will be provided in 2019 and subsequent years to continue growing this programme and to allow for new student intake in subsequent years.
In the context of Budget 2018, the Minister for Education and Skills also announced a range of measures addressing physical infrastructure and human capital development in the higher education sector including for research. This includes €21m to increase the pipeline of researchers across all disciplines and €200 million for Public Private Partnerships with a particular focus on physical capital needs across the Institute of Technology sector. It also includes an additional €257 million over the period 2018 to 2021 for higher education institutions to expand capacity and upgrade campus infrastructure, including for research.
The funding announcements made in the context of Budget 2018 will allow the Government to start making new investments that will address objectives encompassed by previous cycles of PRTLI.
139. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the contact details of an employer (details supplied) who announced jobs recently in County Clare. [45701/17]
View answerThere has been no confirmation of any investment project involving the company referred to.
It remains the case that discussions between IDA Ireland and companies regarding potential investments here are confidential on account of commercial sensitivity. Moreover, speculation about potential investment projects in advance of their confirmation can be damaging and - in certain circumstances - result in their cancellation.
140. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the actions she has taken to protect jobs at a company (details supplied) which was severely damaged by Storm Ophelia recently and saw thousands of trees destroyed; the funds that are available at national and EU level in this regard to safeguard full time and part time jobs in this business which saw its stock impacted by this severe adverse weather; and if she has she deployed State agencies under her remit to advise on supports available. [45837/17]
View answerI fully appreciate that Storm Ophelia will have caused considerable difficulties for various businesses around the country from sole traders, to locally trading retailers and distributors, to SME's that operate nationally or internationally.
My advice is that the company engages in the first instance with its Local Enterprise Office. The Local Enterprise Office is the first-stop-shop for any person that wants to start or grow it's business.
The Local Enterprise Office will be able to offer advice on how the business might protect and develop its domestic and export markets, on sources of finance to invest in that development, on mentoring or training supports to realise their development plans, and to advise on which State agencies and programmers might support that development.
I suggest therefore that the company should contact Tipperary LEO at https://www.localenterprise.ie/tipperary head of Enterprise.
141. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the external company undertaking an audit of her departmental website; the cost of the audit; the timeframe for its completion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45853/17]
View answerMy Department has not engaged an external company to undertake an audit of its website.
142. Deputy James Browne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the estimated cost of the provision of a defibrillator in each public building owned by her Department and agency under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45969/17]
View answerAccommodation for my Department is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in buildings which are either State owned or leased by OPW on our behalf. Therefore, my Department does not directly own any properties.
The following table sets out the number and cost of the defibrillators most recently purchased by my Department for these buildings:
|
Location |
Type of machine |
Cost per machine |
Number per building |
|
Kildare Street (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation) |
CR Plus |
€1,535 |
3 |
|
Earlsfort Centre (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation) |
CR Plus |
€1,535 |
3 |
|
Davitt House (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation) |
CR Plus |
€1,535 |
4 |
|
Parnell Square (Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement) |
Samaritan PAD |
€1,744 |
2 |
|
Bloom House (Companies Registration Office) |
Medotronic Lifepack |
€2,444.63 |
1 |
|
Lansdowne House (Workplace Relations Commission and Labour Court) |
Defibtech DDU-100 Series Semi-Automatic |
€2,004.75 |
3 |
|
Carlow (Companies Registration Office and Workplace Relations Commission), Sligo, Shannon, Cork (Workplace Relations Commission) |
Powerharte G3 |
€2,250 |
5 |
In relation to the Agencies of my Department, the cost of provision of defibrillators is a matter for each individual Agency, in which I have no role, but I am arranging for the information sought to be collated and reported to the Deputy.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 42A.
