Written Answers Nos. 206-229
206. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number and percentage of SMEs' share of above threshold public contracts in the past ten and 20 years, respectively, under EU directive supplies and service contracts valued at €134,000 or €207,000 for public sector entities outside central government. [35696/18]
View answer207. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number and percentage of SMEs' share of below threshold public contracts in the past ten and 20 years, respectively. [35697/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together.
Procurement is key priority for Government and has undergone significant reform aimed at ensuring the sustainable delivery of much needed public services while also encouraging and supporting SME participation in these business opportunities. This approach is beneficial for the State because it nurtures competition which ensures value for money is maintained and provides SME with a platform to take advantage of similar opportunities in Ireland and across the European Union.
Specifically, the Office of Government Procurement have developed a suite of measures (circular 10/14) aimed at assisting SMEs to access public procurement opportunities. These include:
- Proportionate financial capacity criterion (turnover requirements limited to twice contract value);
- Contracting Authorities are encouraged to divide public contracts into lots;
- Provision for “consortia bidding” to assist SMEs to participate in procurement procedures where they would not have the relevant capability or scale;
- Public bodies are required to advertise contracts for goods and services valued above €25,000 on the national eTenders portal.
In addition, my colleague, Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan, who has responsibility for public procurement, chairs quarterly meetings of an SME Advisory Group, ensuring that the voice of Irish SMEs (including ISME, IBEC, SFA, Chambers Ireland, and CIF) is heard by Government.
SMEs are also encouraged to register on the Government's eTenders portal. Suppliers that are registered and have expressed an interest in similar business opportunities will receive automatic notification when new opportunities arise.
The OGP proactively engages with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Inter-Trade Ireland and Enterprise Ireland to promote SME access to public procurement. The OGP participate at "Go-2-Tender" workshops and "Meet the Buyer" events which are also designed to help SMEs.
A SME Communication Strategy sub-group, chaired by the OGP, was established in 2017 as a joint venture with the industry representative bodies. This further promotes awareness of potential opportunities and supports available for SMEs in tendering for public contracts. A series of information videos explaining specific public procurement topics, along with case studies of SMEs who have won government contracts, was launched by Minister of State O’Donovan earlier this year. A series of focused and targeted breakfast briefings have also been scheduled around the country in conjunction with Inter-Trade Ireland and the SME Advisory Group partners.
Currently, data on the award of public contracts does not generally capture the size of businesses that are successful. However, analysis carried and published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) in the "Public Service Spend and Tendering Analysis for 2015" indicates that 94% of government procurement expenditure analysed falls within the State. This was based on an analysis of €4.535 billion expenditure across 86 large public service bodies. Other key findings show that the majority of spend analysed is with SMEs. 76% of tender notices are smaller value (below OJEU threshold) tenders. The median contract value of 2015 tender notices is less than or equal to €100k in 12 of the 16 procurement spend categories. This would indicate that government contracts in Ireland are accessible to SMEs given the low median size of published estimated contract values.
The OGP will continue to proactively engage with business and strive to enhance the significant measures already in place to support SME access to public procurement opportunities.
208. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the role the OPW will undertake during the Papal visit to the Phoenix Park; the way in which security and logistics will be handled; if the OPW has contracted and-or sub-contracted event planning, equipment hire and security barriers to a private company; if so, the companies engaged; the cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35736/18]
View answer221. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the OPW's estimated attendance figures at the recent Papal Mass in the Phoenix Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36862/18]
View answer222. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of the recent Papal visit; the estimated economic benefit of the visit; the estimated economic impact of the significant travel restrictions imposed on Dublin city during the visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36863/18]
View answer232. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the costs to the Office of Public Works of hosting the Papal visit in the Phoenix Park; if his officials have carried out an evaluation of the impact on the flora and fauna in the park, adjacent local residents and users of the park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36968/18]
View answer233. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of reinstating the Phoenix Park after the Papal visit; when this will be complete; the fees that were charged to the event organisers; the contractors employed; the estimated attendance at the event; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36985/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 208, 221, 222, 232 and 233 together.
At the request of the Government, the Office of Public Works implemented an overarching Papal Visit Management Plan in conjunction with the World Meeting of Families. The primary objective was to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all participants, attendees and staff.
The Office of Public Works managed the safety and logistics aspects of the visit in conjunction with An Garda Síochána.
Event Planning, equipment hire and the provision of security barriers was contracted through the OPW Event Management Services Procurement Framework. Under this Framework the following companies provided services:
- Actavo
- Arcana
- Catapult
- Eamon O'Boyle & Associates
- Pulse Security Management Ltd
- Eventsec
The final cost in this regard is not available as yet. However, I can advise that €4.9million has been paid to date.
The Estimated attendance at the Papal Mass in the Phoenix Park was 150,000 people.
The overall final cost of the Papal Visit is not available as yet. Although the visit is over, the OPW continues to work on the logistical arrangements which includes the de-rig, reinstatement and post-event administration for venues and locations associated with the visit including Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin Castle, the Papal City Route, the Pro Cathedral, Capuchin Day Centre, Ireland West Airport, Knock Shrine, Phoenix Park, Media Centre Dublin Castle, Media Centre Phoenix Park, Media Centre Ireland West Airport, Media Centre Knock Shrine, and Papal Visit Control Room - Dublin Castle.
OPW does not have any information in relation to the estimated economic benefit of the visit or the estimated economic impact on traffic restrictions on Dublin City during the visit.
OPW worked closely with all the agencies involved in the Papal Mass event to minimise the impact on the flora and fauna in the Phoenix Park. While some localised ground compaction occurred, as would be expected with an event of this scale, the overall effect on the flora and fauna of the Park was negligible.
With a view to minimising the impact of the event in the Phoenix Park on local residents and regular Park users, OPW implemented the following measures:
- Engaged dedicated Business and Community Liaison team.
- 26 July - 200 A4 Flyers and business cards distributed to City centre businesses.
- 8 and 9 August - Business Briefings in Printworks Dublin Castle. Attended by 140 businesses.
- 4 and 5 August - 400 x A3 full colour posters distributed. Advance Notification of Community Briefing in The Castleknock Hotel.
- 10 August - Community Briefing at The Castleknock Hotel. Attended by 120 people.
- 14 - 21 August – An Post mail distribution of 144,000 booklets containing list of road closures, ‘Dear Community’ letter and contact information. These were delivered to residents and businesses in the City to advise them of restrictions in place that may impact them in advance of and during the Papal Visit. Copies of the booklet were also available from Dublin City Council, Dublin Town Kiosks, local Garda stations and from the OPW offices in Phoenix Park.
- 18 and 19 August - 60 x A3 full colour posters distributed in Smithfield, Stoneybatter and Navan Road areas re forthcoming community briefing.
- 20 August - 130 businesses and residents attended Community Briefing in Parish Hall, Prussia Street, Stoneybatter, D.7
- 20 - 27 August – Dedicated Papal Visit Helpline live in Dublin City Council.
- 23 August - 4,900 full colour A4 double-sided leaflets delivered to each of the seven designated pedestrian routes giving advance notification to residents and businesses of the large numbers of pedestrians expected to walk along these roads and the suspension of parking on their roads.
As described above, the process of de-rig, dismantling and removal of event infrastructure is ongoing in the Park and until complete, a costing for reinstatement of the Park cannot be provided. It is expected that these costs will be minimal. It is also expected that reinstatement works will be completed by the end of the year.
The organiser of the Papal Visit was the World Meeting of Families. No fees were charged.
In addition to the deployment of its own direct labour resources, the following contractors were engaged by the OPW in the Phoenix Park in relation to the Papal Visit:
- Actavo
- Ailesbury Ltd
- Catapult
- ETAV Ltd
- Eventus Ltd
- Total Event Hire
- Mongey Communications (Clardex Systems t/a Mongey Communications)
- Eventsec
- With Taste
- King Tree Services
- Garrido Limited
- Shaw Tree Services
- Darwin's Tree Services
- Peter O'Brien & Sons Landscapes
- Fleming & Co Signs
- Celtic Roadsweepers
- CFA Construction
- Conex Civil Engineering
- McLoughlin Line Marking Ltd
- Des Byrne Painting Contractors
- MC Decorators Ltd
- GMC Civil Engineering
- MP Decorators Ltd
- Draintech
- CSI Cleaning Services
- SDS Traffic Management Services
- Bill Kearney
- BirdWatch Ireland.
209. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of pension entitlements for community employment supervisors; if further meetings of the community sector high level forum to discuss same are planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35780/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, an issue which has been under discussion by the Community Sector High Level Forum relates to community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors who have been seeking, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme.
Arrangements for future meetings of the forum will require discussion between the parties.
It continues to be the position that state organisations are not the employer of the particular employees concerned and that it is not possible for the State to provide funding for such a scheme. The employees in question are, or were, employees of private companies notwithstanding the fact that the companies concerned are, or were, reliant on State funding.
210. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a monument (details supplied) in County Kerry will open to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35796/18]
View answerI am pleased to confirm that Garfinny Bridge was opened to the public in early August. The fencing panels had remained in place for a period after the main works to Garfinny Bridge were completed. This was necessary as part of the site had been landscaped and re-seeded and there was a requirement to protect that area from pedestrian traffic for a period.
211. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of discussions with a county council (details supplied) in respect of its property at a location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35807/18]
View answerThe OPW made a submission on 4 May 2018 (at the link) to Laois County Council in relation to a Draft Portlaoise Local Area Plan 2018-2024 and zoning requirements for this site.
Arups, who were commissioned by Laois County Council to develop a Masterplan for the Togher Area, contacted OPW on the 7th June 2018 to enquire if there was any further information that OPW could provide regarding OPW's current plans for the site. OPW confirmed that it was only at the initial stage of preparing a master plan that would allow full flexibility on the future potential uses of the lands owned by the State at Knockmay, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. OPW also confirmed that no decision had been made as to the specific uses that will be accommodated on the site.
At present, as already indicated in PQ 33673/18, no decision has been made as to the specific uses that will be accommodated on the site and the masterplan is still in very early development stage.
212. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of appeals made by spouses of deceased members of the Defence Forces since 2000 against initial rulings that the spouses concerned were ineligible for pensions under the Defence Forces spouses' and children's contributory pension schemes since the limited appeals process was introduced in 2000; the number of such appeals that were upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35868/18]
View answerBy way of background, and for the Deputy’s information, it is important to note that at the time of the original introduction of spouses’ and children’s contributory pension (‘S&C’) schemes for male public servants and their subsequent extension to include female public servants, membership of the schemes was made automatic for new entrants, and optional for those who were in service at the time.
Revised S&C schemes introduced from 1984 onwards to cover a wider class of beneficiaries than in the original schemes, subject to more restrictive refund of contribution conditions, were applied automatically to new entrants while an option to join was made available to serving staff.
For a variety of reasons (including personal reasons), a number of serving public servants, both male and female, declined to join the revised and/or original S&C schemes. This was not confined to the Defence Forces, but was a public service-wide phenomenon.
The Commission on Public Service Pensions Pension in its Final Report (2000) examined a range of submissions that sought a new option to join the schemes but recommended against opening a further general membership option across the public service as a whole. The Commission was concerned about the major additional costs which a new option would impose, given that it would almost certainly be availed of by those who would either have an immediate entitlement or a high expectation of benefit at a later stage. A further option, the Commission argued, would weaken the integrity of the schemes, would lead to pressure for individuals to be permitted to enter and leave at will, and could undermine fundamentally the financing of the schemes, which operate on the insurance principle, i.e. that not everyone benefits.
However, the Pension Commission accepted that in a number of cases, perceptions of injustice might have arisen as a result of the exercise of past options not to join S&C schemes. For that reason, it recommended that a limited appeals process for scheme membership options be established to examine individual cases and to allow appeals that met any one of the following criteria:
‘(i) where there is no evidence that an option was provided to the individual public servant in the first place;
(ii) where there is medical evidence to indicate that the person making the decision not to join the scheme was of sufficiently unsound mind not to appreciate the consequences of his or her decision;
(iii) where a member of the original scheme declined to join the revised scheme in circumstances where there would have been no reasonably foreseeable adverse financial consequences for the individual (in terms only of his or her scheme contributions) had he or she instead opted to join the revised scheme.’
A comprehensive framework for addressing outstanding Pension Commission recommendations was agreed by a joint management-union Working Group and subsequently approved by the Government in 2004. Since then, the criteria recommended by the Pension Commission have been used in considering S&C scheme membership option appeals.
My information is that five appeal cases have been submitted to my Department under the Pension Commission limited appeals mechanism by the Department of Defence on behalf of spouses (or children) of deceased members of the Defence Forces, and that all five have been allowed, subject to complying with all of the requirements regarding qualification and payment of a spouse’s pension and children’s pensions under the relevant scheme rules, including the payment of any relevant outstanding member contributions.
I am satisfied with the operation of the S&C scheme membership option appeals mechanism. I consider that it is consistent with the Pension Commission’s analysis and recommendations on the issues involved (as I have outlined them above), and that both of these remain valid today.
213. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a matter (details supplied) will be addressed at lands following previous works to address flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36043/18]
View answerThe River Maine is one of the rivers that is part of the OPW's programme of maintenance of arterial drainage scheme completed by it under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945.
In 2014 following the extreme and repeated storm surges experienced on the River Maine estuary, the OPW repaired a breached embankment at the location referred to by Deputy Neville. The works involved constructing a reinforced access haul road down to the flood defence embankment and constructing a new flood defence to replace the breached defence.
While the OPW is not aware of any breached flood defence at this location at present I have asked the regional engineers to keep the defences referred to by the Deputy under review and to address any breaches in a timely manner.
214. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a licence fee was paid to a company (details supplied) for the use of its copyrighted material in view of the fact that this material was included on a map distributed to households in Dublin without attribution being included on the map. [36144/18]
View answerNo license fee was paid by The Office of Public Works for the material referred to by the Deputy.
215. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the report on the Public Service Pay Commission will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36379/18]
View answerThe Public Service Pay Commission published its second report on Tuesday the 4th of September.
The Public Service Pay Commission was tasked under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 to conduct a comprehensive examination of underlying difficulties in recruitment and retention of staff in the public service. The Commission adopted a modular approach to its work and the report published reflects a comprehensive examination of recruitment and retention issues in relation to the grades of Medical Consultants, Non Consultant Hospital Doctors and Nurses and Midwives in the health service. Further considerations and work by the Commission on recruitment and retention issues will address other grades and sectors of the public service.
I welcomed the report. There are many viewpoints on the issues confronting our health services. That is why the independent evidence-based analysis of recruitment and retention provided by the Commission in this Report is so important.
I understand there is a commitment between public service employers and staff representatives to meet within four weeks of to discuss issues around implementation of the Report. It is important that this agreed process is adhered to and that space is afforded to the parties to reflect on the detail in this Report and engage in that process.
The Commission will be making all of its submissions and inputs and the Report publicly available on its website, www.paycommission.gov.ie.
216. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the positions in his Department and the organisations under its aegis that have arrangements in place for lo-call numbers or 1800, 1850 and 1890 telephone numbers for members of the public to contact his Department or organisations under its aegis; the number of these that are completely free to call for persons who use mobile telephones and may incur major bills telephoning such organisations; if the situation will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36404/18]
View answerIn response to the Deputy, I can confirm that an 1890 lo-call phone number, in addition to a landline phone number, is available for members of the public to contact my Department. The lo-call number is available in my Department’s Quality Customer Service Charter.
The 1890 number provided will incur a cost to persons calling my Department using a mobile phone, the cost of which is dependent and determined by the mobile operator used. This is highlighted when the number is made available.
More generally, a review is underway by ComReg to examine ways of reducing costs incurred by members of the public when contacting Government Departments, with consideration given to a number of possible alternatives. A final decision on this review is expected by the end of the year.
Delivery of an effective and quality customer service is a priority for my Department. Officials in my Department will review ComReg’s final decision with a view to identifying the cheapest way of contacting the Department from anywhere in the country.
Taking the cost implications for mobile phone users into account my Department developed an alternate solution to reduce the cost to both the public and public bodies by the use of 076 numbers. The 076 numbers are designated as a non-geographic landline which means calls will be charged as a national call from all landlines and are part of the ComReg review.
The following table provides details of the lo-call numbers currently available in my Department and the bodies under the aegis of my Department.
|
Public Body |
No. of lines |
LoCall Number |
|
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
1 |
1890 |
|
Office of Public Works |
4 |
1890 |
|
Office of Public Works |
1 |
1850 |
|
Public Appointments Service |
1 |
1890 |
|
Office of the Ombudsman* |
3 |
1890 |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute** |
2 |
1800 |
The OPW advise that the different freefone/lo-call services can be defined as follows:
- Callsave 1850: Allows Callers to contact Service Providers at a fixed rate per call only from landlines. After a specified duration the OPW pays the balance on a per second basis.
- Lo-Call 1890: Allows Callers to contact Service Providers at local rates for the full duration of call. The OPW pays the balance. The call is charged at a local call rate these calls are generally in bundle with all carriers. In relation to mobiles this is defined by the mobile carrier the caller is with and the package they have, the mobile carrier determines the actual charge.
* The 3 lo-call numbers include the Office of the Ombudsman, the Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information and the Referendum Commission
** There are two lo-call numbers available that provide for calls to be made free of charge to the caller. These Freephone numbers are available relation to the ESRI’s Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) Survey.
217. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason a pension is not being issued to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; when the pension will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36465/18]
View answerI have been informed that when the individual in question retired from the public service, on examination of the pension documentation that he submitted, his employer became aware that he had been in receipt of a public service pension in respect of earlier service in the Defence Forces.
In light of this information, the employer determined that it was necessary to examine the individual’s entitlement in light of Section 52 (6) and (7) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, which impose an overall cap on the years of service that can be taken into account when calculating a public servant’s pension entitlements across all public service employments.
I understand that the employer delayed payment of the pension pending clarification on the matter. My officials are in the course of communicating with the employer with the purpose of ensuring that the individual’s pension entitlements can be processed as soon as possible.
218. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the level of progress with channel draining in rivers in Mountmellick, County Laois; and the progress of the capital scheme for flood defences. [36608/18]
View answerI am advised that the watercourses in and in the vicinity of Mountmellick are part of the River Barrow Drainage District which the local authority has a statutory duty to maintain. There are no Arterial Drainage Scheme channels in the Barrow River Basin for which the Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible.
Laois County Council (LCC) has confirmed that maintenance works commenced on the River Owenass in Mountmellick following the most recent flood event, and the following is a summary of these works:
- Irishtown Bridge on the N80 has had silt and vegetation removed from the eye of the bridge improving capacity and conveyance
- At the Convent Bridge on the R422 the third eye has been cleaned and both the upstream and downstream approaches have had vegetation and silt build up removed.
- Works are ongoing on the stretch of river between the above-mentioned bridges, involving the clearing of vegetation (taking advantage of the current low water level) with tree/limb cutting to commence in the week beginning 10 September, 2018 to remove any potential impediments in the channel. Once vegetation is cleared, it is anticipated that bank repairs will be necessary where slippages are evident.
- Any fallen trees and potential debris blockages have been removed when observed or upon notification of same.
- Cleaning of a number of feeder drains/streams to the Owenass and Barrow have taken place with further works planned throughout this month.
In relation to the progress of the capital flood relief scheme, I can confirm that in February 2018 the OPW and LCC agreed to prioritise progression of a flood relief scheme for Mountmellick, following severe flooding in November 2017.
A Project Steering Group has been established comprising engineering and administrative staff from both the OPW and LCC. The Steering Group has commenced preparatory work on the project including a review of the flood information available in the local area and potential solutions identified in the Flood Risk Management Plans.
The Steering Group’s current priority is to finalise briefs for the engagement of engineering and environmental consultants. It is anticipated that consultants will be appointed and join the Steering Group in Quarter 4 2018 and work on the detailed design of the proposed scheme will then commence. Details regarding the programme and costs of the proposed works will become clearer following the appointment of consultants.
219. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the arrangements being made to accommodate tourist access to a historical site (details supplied) in view of the recent retirement of the keyholder; and if the OPW will work constructively with a local tourism group with regard to same. [36713/18]
View answerThe Office of Public Works is anxious to restore public access to this important Heritage site following the retirement of the previous Keyholder / Caretaker earlier this year and have been attempting to identify a viable local alternative solution to manage the access to the site. To date however, no proposals have emerged locally which are consistent with the OPW's need to be assured that there will be firm control over the access arrangements which will protect the Monument.
Currently, OPW is engaging with both the Kells and District Tourism Network and Meath Co. Council and a positive outcome on a partnership basis is anticipated.
220. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the list of heritage sites open to the public by the public having to borrow a key from a neighbour to the site. [36834/18]
View answerThe Office of Public Works manages visitor access to Heritage sites in its care throughout Ireland in a variety of ways.
Seventy sites are manned by Guide staff and are open to the public on either a fulltime or seasonal basis and include some of the most prominent tourist locations nationally such as Newgrange, Rock of Cashel, Kilmainham Gaol etc.
A significant number of other locations are managed separately with the assistance of Caretakers or Keyholders employed locally and usually residing near to the sites. These individuals perform a variety of services including light cleaning and litter removal, management of daily gate opening/unlocking for general open access sites and liaison with OPW management in relation to small maintenance needs, fault reporting etc. Within this cohort, some sites are opened to the public by means of a specific Keyholding arrangement whereby visitors are enabled to call on a specified person locally who will make the key to the site available to them for the purposes of a visit. This allows the OPW to facilitate access to the site for visitors but to retain essential control and combat any unauthorised person from getting admittance and causing damage or engaging in antisocial behaviour.
A list of the properties in the final category is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy separately.
223. 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. [36885/18]
View answer224. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on strategic maintenance works on the River Shannon in 2017 and to date in 2018. [36886/18]
View answer225. 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 a group (details supplied); if there are legal or statutory impediments to such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36888/18]
View answer226. 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, 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36889/18]
View answer227. 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. [36890/18]
View answer228. 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, 2017 and to date in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36891/18]
View answer229. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of funding set aside for the pilot scheme of individual home protection measures; the amount of funding 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. [36892/18]
View answer231. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the Office of Public Works' work on riparian rights landowners' legal obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36896/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 223 to 229, inclusive, and 231 together.
Home relocation
On April 11th 2017, the Government agreed the administrative arrangements for a once-off Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme for those primary residential properties that flooded between, or as a result of flooding between 4th December, 2015 and 13th January, 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 Government decision confirmed that a homeowner had to meet a number of conditions to be eligible for assistance under this scheme, including:
- That floodwater entered and damaged the building during the relevant dates such as to render it uninhabitable.
- That the property was the homeowner’s primary residence at the time of the floods.
- That the affected property must have a significant probability of the recurrence of the flood depth, duration or frequency on a scale that could cause further serious and similar damage to the home.
- That the property is not due to or may not benefit from a planned or possible future major, minor or individual flood defence scheme.
- That the property may not be protected adequately from being flooded in the future, at an economically feasible cost, through other flood mitigation works including minor works, individual property protection or other possible measures that can be considered at this time.
- That the homeowner is unable to obtain flood risk insurance.
At this time, in relation to those homeowners being considered under the scheme, the OPW is continuing to work with each of the Local Authorities. To date:
- 43 homeowners have been met in relation to the scheme and in June of this year, 36 of these homeowners were invited to apply for the next stage that includes a site inspection,
- 43 homes have been approved or are being considered by the Local Authorities for remedial works, to provide an engineering solution to their property,
- 58 homes did not meet the criteria for the scheme.
The numbers of homes within the process are changing regularly as homeowners make contact with the OPW and as assessments are completed.
The OPW has budgeted up to €3m this year for the potential costs associated with this scheme.
Shannon Group & Lake Levels
The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group met on six occasions in 2016. During 2016, the primary focus of the Group was to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the various agencies and set out a Work Programme. In 2017, a number of sub-committees were established in accordance with the Group's Terms of Reference to progress the delivery of initiatives agreed by the Group. The Group met formally twice in 2017 with sub-committee and other bilateral meetings taking place more frequently as required. The Group has met once this year with another meeting scheduled for October.
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 trial was repeated for the Winter 2017/2018 and is being reviewed. The Group took a decision at its meeting in May to repeat the trial for this coming Winter, subject to the review.
The Group at its meeting on 2 December, 2016 took a major decision to develop a plan for a strategic maintenance programme on the River Shannon to halt the deterioration of the river channel. Planning for a strategic maintenance programme has been advanced during 2017 and 2018 and will be discussed by the Group at its meeting in October.
Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group
The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Coordination Group, that I chair, met twice in 2015, four times in 2016, once in 2017, once in 2018 to date with a further meeting scheduled for October. The most recent meeting was held on 7th February, 2018.
In November 2016, Government agreed an interim report from the Interdepartmental Flood Policy Coordination Group setting out progress on its work and making appropriate recommendations for consideration by Government. This report is available to view on the OPW website at https://www.opw.ie/en/media/Interim-Report-Interdepartmental-Flood-Policy-Coordination-Group-final.pdf.
Implementing the National Flood Risk Policy, launched with the Flood Risk Management Plans on 3 May 2018, provides an update of progress by the Group’s implementation of the national flood risk policy. This report is available on www.floodinfo.ie
National Flood Forecasting & Warning Service
A Steering Group has been established to steer, support and oversee the establishment of a new National Flood Forecasting Service. The Steering Group has met on sixteen 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. Work is now progressing on these phases.
The service will deal with flood forecasting from fluvial (river) and coastal sources. When established it will involve the issuing of flood forecasts and general alerts.
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. To date, the following progress has been made including staff appointed:
- Met Éireann has appointed two staff members to date to the project.
- Met Éireann is in the process of recruiting Hydrometeorologists for its Flood Forecasting Centre.
- In April 2018, a contract was placed for a study of suitable catchment-based models and an assessment of integrator systems to be undertaken over an 18 month period.
- A Communications Working Group, reporting to the Steering Group, has been established to consider the communications needs of the service and has recently held its first meeting.
Individual Property Protection
The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination Group this year 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 OPW funded 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.
Following consideration of the consultant engineer’s feasibility report on a potential IPP scheme, Kilkenny County Council, having noted the limitations of such measures and having regard to the adoption by the Council in June 2018 of the Flood Risk Management Plan for the Kilkenny area which includes proposals for permanent flood defence schemes for both Graiguenamanagh and Thomastown, has confirmed to the OPW that it does not now propose to progress the implementation of IPP measures for the two towns. The Council’s preference is for permanent flood defence measures and it is now in correspondence and discussion with the OPW on the implementation of the proposed schemes for the two towns and other proposed flood defence schemes for County Kilkenny. Expenditure to date on the Kilkenny pilot scheme is €27,956 which relates to costs incurred for the commission of the feasibility report for the pilot.
Mayo County Council (MCC), in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the local Flood Action Group, have progressed a pilot project for the installation of flood gates for properties in Crossmolina. A survey of households in the town by MCC received expressions of interest from over 70 homeowners. OPW appointed consultants to undertake a survey of individual properties to determine their suitability for floodgates, and to make recommendations for each property. MCC procured a contractor to supply and install the floodgates based on the recommendations of the consultants. The OPW has provided some €237,000 in funding to date for this pilot with gates having now been installed in 67 properties in the town. Some property owners who originally expressed an interest in having gates installed have not responded to further communications from the consultant appointed by OPW. As a result, these properties are still awaiting gates.
Additionally, a review is ongoing as to whether further properties in Crossmolina might benefit from the installation of gates.
Riparian Guidance
The OPW will be publishing on www.flooding.ie guidance to landowners in relation to the maintenance of watercourses on or near their lands in the context of managing flood risk. This website is undergoing a review and it is expected that an updated website with some guidance will be available before the end of this year.
