Written Answers Nos. 118-136
118. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach the communications, press and public relations budget allocated to his Department for 2018; the way in which it is being spent; and if it is behind or ahead of profile. [39379/18]
View answerThese activities are funded from my Department's Administration budget. This budget is currently behind profile. As the deputy will be aware, this area experienced large scale changes during the year, whereby the budget was scaled back significantly.
119. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Taoiseach the cost of his Department's stand at the National Ploughing Championships 2018; the number of staff deployed from his Department for the week; and the cost of same. [39404/18]
View answerEach Department paid for their own stand at the National Ploughing Championship 2018.
Given the fact that the event took place very recently, payments are still being processed and costs will be published once finalised.
The number of staff from my Department varied over the course of the event, depending on the level of activity/support required. Over the course of the event, a number of panel discussions, public information talks and media engagements took place. My Department also hosted a permanent presence from other Departments on topics such as Brexit.
A core team of 6 staff was assigned to the event, with other staff drafted in as required. The purpose of this presence was to provide a co-ordinated and cohesive experience for those attending and engaging with the 7 Government Departments and over 50 State funded agencies, bodies and organisations attending the event. I believe that it was very useful to have a more co-ordinated approach to the Government presence at the National Ploughing Championship. As the communications reform programme is implemented over time, there will be an opportunity to further improve cohesion, co-ordination and value for money for this event.
120. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the persons who accompanied him on his recent visit to the United States of America. [39562/18]
View answerOn my recent visit to New York on 23 September to represent Ireland at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit, I was accompanied by a small delegation from my department, comprising a Special Adviser, an Assistant Secretary General, the Government Press Secretary, an Assistant Private Secretary and a Security Officer.
121. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if the strategic communications unit has been completely wound down; and the steps being taken with regard to the funding originally allocated for same. [39568/18]
View answerThe Strategic Communications Unit has been wound down as of July 2018.
The review conducted by the Secretary General of my Department in March 2018 recommended that the budget allocation for 2018 should be reduced by 50% to €2.5m, which reflected existing spending commitments already made and that the overall budget for 2018 for the Department of the Taoiseach should therefore be reduced by €2.5m.
On Thursday 29 March I presented my Department's 2018 Estimate to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Taoiseach.
At that Committee meeting I informed the Members that my Department's 2018 budget allocation was to be reduced by €2.5 million from €35.891 million to €33.391 million, which is a reduction of 9% on its 2017 Estimate. My Department, therefore, did not receive the full amount of the funding originally allocated for the SCU.
At the end of April, this Further Revised Estimate for my Department was approved by the House to give effect to this decision.
In line with the recommendations from the review, the Department has reverted to a reformed GIS model, with a smaller budget, less staff and a more limited role.
In further alignment with the review, measures have been put in place across Government Departments which preserve the valuable and necessary reforms to ensure value for money, professionalisation and modernisation in government communications activity.
122. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he and his departmental officials have fully published the research procured under the aegis of the strategic communications unit. [39569/18]
View answerI take it that the research referred to is the Citizen Survey. The Citizen Survey has not yet been run. I have already committed to briefing Opposition parties prior to the running of the survey. It has always been the intention to publish the results of the survey once available.
123. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his discussions with President Macron when he was at the informal EU Heads of State or Government meeting in Salzburg. [39572/18]
View answer124. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his discussions with Chancellor Merkel when he was at the informal EU Heads of State and Government meeting in Salzburg. [39573/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together.
Ongoing political engagement with our EU and international partners, remains crucial, in relation to Brexit and other important EU issues. I meet and speak regularly with my EU counterparts bilaterally, and at formal and informal meetings of the European Council, where I use every opportunity to advance Ireland's interests.
I did not have formal bilateral meetings with either President Macron or Chancellor Merkel at the Informal Summit of EU Heads of State and Government in Salzburg, although I engaged with them both in the margins of the meeting.
Both took the opportunity to reiterate their strong support for the need for the Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK to include a legally operable backstop, to ensure there can be no return to a hard border on the island in any circumstances.
I look forward to meeting President Macron and Chancellor Merkel again later this month at the European Council in Brussels on 17 and 18 October.
125. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if immigration and security was discussed at the informal EU Heads of State and Government meeting at Salzburg. [39574/18]
View answerThe Summit, which was chaired by the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, was one of a series of such meetings relating to the Future of Europe.
On this occasion, our focus was on issues relating to migration and internal security.
We had a useful exchange on how best to progress our comprehensive approach to migration, as agreed at the June European Council, in securing our external borders, strengthening our cooperation with countries of origin and transit, and dealing with the management of migrants within the EU. On internal security, the issues we discussed included the increasing complexity of the cyber threats we face, including to the integrity of our electoral systems.
There were no formal conclusions but the outcome of our discussions will feed into the next meeting of the European Council which will take place in Brussels on 17 and 18 October.
126. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the cost of each seminar held on Project Ireland 2040 up to and including September 2018 by his Department. [39590/18]
View answerMy Department led on the launch of Project Ireland 2040 in Sligo and the four subsequent regional events in Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford.
A breakdown of costs associated with each of the regional events can be found in the table.
A number of strand launches were held in the first half of 2018; these were led and funded by the relevant line Department.
The responsibility for the communication of Project Ireland 2040 has now transitioned to the Project Ireland 2040 Delivery Board – led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
|
Event |
Cost |
Costs incurred includes |
|
Sligo launch (Feb 16th) |
€6,430.99 |
Attendance of Cabinet Secretariat/Protocol staff to support the Cabinet meeting Attendance of staff to support the launch Attendance of Officials/advisers with policy responsibility Attendance of Press Officers to support media engagements |
|
Waterford and Cork regional events (March 8th/9th) |
€4,490.86 |
Attendance of Protocol staff Attendance of staff to support the event Attendance of Press Officers to support media engagements Catering costs |
|
Galway and Limerick regional events (April 16th/17th) |
€4,491.78 |
Attendance of Protocol staff Attendance of staff to support the event Attendance of Press Officers to support media engagements Catering costs |
Please note that costs listed above are reflective of costs paid by my Department to date. There are costs yet to be invoiced.
127. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach the amount spent by his Department on third party public relations advice, communications advice, online advertising and public awareness campaigns to date in 2018, by month and company engaged in tabular form. [39646/18]
View answerThe following table shows the information requested. These amounts reflect spend on public awareness campaigns including Project Ireland 2040, Self Employed Benefits, Healthy Ireland, Luas launch, Global Ireland, Action Plan for Education, Bliain na Gaeilge.
Note: All of the costs were incurred up to the end of July 2018. Certain payments were processed in the August/September timeframe, but relate to costs incurred earlier in the year.
|
Contractor |
Contract |
Projects delivered include |
Jan '18 |
Feb '18 |
Mar '18 |
Apr '18 |
May '18 |
Jun '18 |
Jul '18 |
Aug '18 |
Sep '18 |
|
CAWLEY NEA TBWA LIMITED |
Provision of integrated creative and digital campaign services |
- Project Ireland 2040 video - Self-employed benefits video & radio - Healthy Ireland Radio - Luas launch Video - Global Ireland - Legislation Delivered video - 25th Anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality |
x |
121,191.9 |
220,444.3 |
43,439.91 |
x |
x |
x |
20,049 |
24,265.13 |
|
CORE FULL SOLUTIONS |
Provision of digital creative services |
- Ireland.ie creative - Legislation video storyboard - Healthy Ireland video |
x |
x |
x |
x |
137,341.2 |
1,881.90 |
x |
x |
x |
|
PHD MEDIA (IRLEAND) LIMITED |
Provision of media strategy planning and buying services |
- Project Ireland 2040 - Ireland.ie - Irish Aid - Action Plan for Educations - Self-employed benefits - Healthy Ireland - Bliain na Gaeilge |
x |
x |
x |
258,102.40 |
x |
133,105.6 |
20,282.71 |
41,068.46 |
x |
128. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach the contact he has had with religious leaders recently. [39805/18]
View answerI recently met with Pope Francis during his visit to Dublin Castle on Saturday 25th August. The meeting provided an opportunity for both of us to discuss a number of issues, though regrettably not in any great depth because of the short duration of the meeting.
On 22nd January 2018 I met with representatives of the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in a formal meeting under the structured dialogue process between Church and State. This was the second in a series of meetings that I will be holding with dialogue partners. We discussed important social and economic issues facing Irish society as well as International issues.
On 31 August 2017, I held a formal meeting under the structured dialogue process with representatives of the Catholic Church, led by Archbishop Eamon Martin. A wide ranging discussion took place on a range of important national and international issues.
Some of the issues we discussed at these meetings were challenging. They are issues on which people have deeply held views and which are matters of conscience. Our discussions were valuable, not just because they dealt with important issues, but particularly because they were conducted in an atmosphere of respect for the views of others, where everyone sought to be constructive.
Like public representatives generally, I meet church leaders informally from time to time in the course of attending official or public events. In particular, with the recent visit of Pope Francis, I attended a number of events that were also attended by representatives from various religious groups
129. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Taoiseach the reason Departments are using 1890 numbers as their contact numbers in view of the fact that this is the most expensive number to ring, particularly from a mobile telephone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39940/18]
View answerThe LoCall 1890 Number was originally intended to offer reduced call costs to the caller through an arrangement where the cost of the call was shared between the caller and the service provider. This remains the case for many calls originating from landlines.
A LoCall 1890 phone number is one element of a wider suite of contact channels, including a geographic phone number, email, social media and fax channels provided by my Department for those who may wish to avail of it. It is not the primary contact number for my Department. This is made clear on my Department's website, through my Department's various entries in publicly available telephone directories, and through Internet search engines.
Where the LoCall number is published on my Department's website, it includes a note advising potential callers that the rates for this service may vary amongst service providers.
My Department is aware of the consultation undertaken by the Commission for Communications Regulation in relation to LoCall numbers which was published in July 2018 and which includes a draft decision to withdraw some of these LoCall numbers over time. I have asked my Department to review its usage of the LoCall number with a view to withdrawing it.
130. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the communications, press and public relations budget allocated to his Department for 2018; the way in which it is being spent; if it is behind or ahead of profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39369/18]
View answerMy Department does not have a specific budget for communications, press, and public relations items. However, there is a budget in place for advertising as set out in the following table.
|
2018 Budget |
2018 Outturn to 28 September 2018 |
|
€60,000 |
€34,691 |
This expenditure mainly relates to a) advertising positions for Civilian Employees who are based at Military installations throughout the country, b) notices in the print media in relation to road closures and firing notices and, c) advertising for Easter commemorations ceremonies.
In addition €50,000 is allocated to the Government's "Be Winter Ready" campaign, where expenditure is incurred in the last quarter of the year.
Ad hoc costs for one off events may occur, in which case the expense is covered by the Branch administering the event from within their own budget.
131. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a vehicle long-term loan agreement will be reviewed on two vehicles in order to allow the ownership be transferred to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39508/18]
View answerEx-military vehicles are considered to be valuable and historic museum pieces and as such my Department is required to manage control of ownership of such vehicles. In accordance with the Department of Defence's Stock Disposal Policy, these vehicles were made available on loan for the purpose of preserving and exhibiting them as museum pieces.
Under the terms of the 'Long Term Loan Agreement', these vehicles are not to be made road worthy. If the ownership of the vehicles were to be transferred, the Department would have no control over their use.
In that context, this request cannot be acceded to. However, I can assure you that my Department has no plans to seek the return of these vehicles.
132. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the cost of each seminar held on Project Ireland 2040 up to and including September 2018 by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39580/18]
View answerThere were no seminars held on Project Ireland 2040 by my Department.
133. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the amount spent by his Department on third party public relations advice, communications advice, online advertising and public awareness campaigns to date in 2018, by month and company engaged in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39636/18]
View answerMy Department has not incurred any expenditure on third party public relations advice or communications advice in 2018.
The following table sets out expenditure in relation to public awareness campaigns to date in 2018.
|
Month |
Company |
Amount |
|
February |
Spark Foundry |
€513.18 |
|
March |
North Wicklow Times Ltd. |
€959.40 |
|
March |
Spark Foundry |
€10,727.25 |
|
April |
North Wicklow Times Ltd. |
€479.70 |
|
June |
Spark Foundry |
€607.30 |
|
June |
The Heritage Council |
€630.00 |
|
June |
KFM |
€369.00 |
|
July |
Spark Foundry |
€5,036.97 |
|
Total |
€19,322.80 |
This expenditure relates to the cost of newspaper, radio and website advertisements of warning notices in respect of military training/firing exercises, general warning notices pertaining to Rifle Ranges, notice of annual road closures and notice of inclosure of Curragh lands under sections 11 and 12 of the Curragh of Kildare Act 1961.
134. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if funding will be made available for the purchase of additional horses for the Defence Forces equitation school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39773/18]
View answerThe mission of the Army Equitation School is to promote the Irish horse through participation in international competition at the highest level. The Equitation School has discharged this task with considerable distinction down through the years, and through its participation and numerous successes in equitation events at home and abroad, it has successfully promoted the qualities of the Irish horse.
The Army Equitation School continues to source suitable Irish bred horses that meet the required standard as judged by the School's Horse Purchase Board. Horses are acquired through either purchase or lease agreement.
The School currently has a stock of 36 horses made up of show jumpers and eventers.
While it is difficult to predict the number of future acquisitions, the Deputy should note that the Army Equitation School purchased 4 horses in 2017. To date in 2018, the School has acquired one horse with plans for further acquisitions before the end of the year.
135. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the estimated full-year ##cost of increasing the number of personnel in the Reserve Defence Forces to 4,500; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39777/18]
View answerThe White Paper on Defence sets out a developmental path for the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF). It provides for an overall establishment of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve of 4,169 personnel, which will be achieved by increasing the Naval Service Reserve establishment from 200 to 300 personnel. Currently, the establishment for the RDF is set at 4,069 personnel.
Providing for numbers beyond the current establishment would require consideration of the capability requirements underpinning such an increase and an assessment of the associated cost implications which, as with the PDF, would include personnel and equipment costs. The Department does not retain such costings.
136. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a recruitment drive for aircraft maintenance technicians for the Air Corps will occur before the end of 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39778/18]
View answerCompetitions for the Air Corp Apprentice Aircraft Technician are generally run on an annual basis and successful applicants complete a programme of military and technical training in Casement Aerodrome and with the Dublin Institute of Technology culminating in a Bachelor Engineering Technology Degree in Military Aviation Technology.
The 2018 competition, which ran from March until May, attracted some 930 applications and a total of 20 successful applicants were inducted into the Defence Forces on 24th September 2018.
While there are no plans to hold a further competition in 2018, it is anticipated that the Defence Forces will launch a similar campaign in 2019.
