Written Answers Nos. 117-126
117. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the flood relief scheme confirmation package for Glashaboy, Glanmire, County Cork will be sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42807/18]
View answerThe Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme has been submitted by the Office of Public Works to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for formal Confirmation under the Arterial Drainage Acts. The approval process can take up to six months, as the Minister is required to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and, in this regard, will procure independent specialists to review the Environmental Impact Assessment Report submitted as part of the scheme documentation. This is the final element of the planning process for the Scheme after which the procurement process will commence to bring the scheme to construction stage.
118. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he and-or his departmental officials have met a person (details supplied) and-or representatives of companies in the past two years to date; if so, if he will publish a schedule of those meetings and the associated minutes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42826/18]
View answerI have not had any meetings with the people in question.
The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, which is a Division of my Department, has met the company on eight occasions during that time to discuss network operational issues. This was because OGCIO is responsible for Government Networks and Enet is one of the contractors for the delivery of same. OGCIO routinely meet all providers of operational services impacting Government Networks.
OGCIO have also had three technical telephone conversations with Enet to discuss how its proposed National Broadband solution might interface with Government Networks. This is in line with good procurement practice that at pre-defined procurement stages, potential suppliers can be given the opportunity to resolve possible uncertainties around their solution.
Finally, OGCIO met Enet and one of its partners on two occasions, to discuss outline plans for the State Data Centre solution. This is standard procedure and several other suppliers have had similar meetings with OGCIO on this issue.
119. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeline for the construction of the Crossmolina flood relief scheme following on his announcement of May 2018; his plans to review and expedite this timeline in view of the ongoing flood threat to the residents of the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42848/18]
View answerThe Crossmolina Flood Relief Scheme Public Exhibition was held from the 21st May 2018 until 22nd June 2018, in line with the requirements set out in the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995. The project team is currently preparing responses to the observations received from the various Government Departments and the general public, which were received throughout the Public Exhibition. It is hoped that responses to these observations will be issued in the coming weeks.
The scheme has now entered the detailed design stage, and the project team is currently carrying out hydraulic modelling, as well as completing the detailed site investigation, and preparing the documentation to be submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for formal statutory approval or Confirmation. These are all critical path items, and the team is focused on delivering the project in as short a timeline as possible.
It is hoped that the scheme will be submitted to the Minister for approval in early 2019. The approval process can take up to six months, as the Minister is required to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and, in this regard, will procure independent specialists to review the Environmental Impact Assessment Report submitted as part of the scheme documentation. In order to expedite the programme, the OPW’s project team and consultants will begin the contractor procurement process, so that if and when confirmation is received, works will be able to start immediately. It is hoped that works will commence on the ground in late 2019.
I wish to advise you that in the interim period, the OPW has provided Mayo County Council with funding to carry out a number of minor flood relief works and has funded the installation of flood gates in some of the most vulnerable properties in the town, and these measures have been successful in preventing properties from flooding in the most recent flood event.
120. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of appropriations-in-aid in each Department; the relevant Department in each case; the 2019 allocation for each appropriation-in-aid broken down by capital and current expenditure; if he will provide similar data for 2015, 2016 and 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43068/18]
View answerThe Department of Public Expenditure and Reform databank, http://databank.per.gov.ie, sets out appropriations-in-aid for each Vote analysed between, non-pay, pay, pensions, and capital. Appropriations-in-aid are Departmental receipts which, as set out in Public Financial Procedures, need not be paid directly into the Exchequer, but which may be retained to defray the expenses of the Vote to which they refer.
These appropriations-in-aid therefore represent the difference between gross and net voted expenditure. As the Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services includes within the gross expenditure amounts for the Employment Affairs and Social Protection Group, and the Education and Skills Group, expenditure respectively of the Social Insurance Fund and the National Training Fund, this expenditure is also reflected within the overall appropriations-in-aid figures on the databank and in the following table.
A breakdown of appropriations-in-aid by Ministerial Vote Group from 2015 to 2019 is presented in the table. There have been transfers of functions and changes in Departmental responsibilities over this period and, as the table reflects the current Vote Group structure, this impacts on certain of the comparisons.
|
2015 |
2016 |
20171 |
20182 |
20193 |
|
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
Taoiseach's Group |
7 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Current |
7 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
|
Capital |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Finance Group |
91 |
84 |
79 |
76 |
75 |
|
Current |
91 |
84 |
79 |
76 |
75 |
|
Capital |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Public Expenditure and Reform Group |
179 |
200 |
246 |
238 |
273 |
|
Current |
175 |
197 |
244 |
238 |
273 |
|
Capital |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Justice Group |
258 |
252 |
252 |
243 |
238 |
|
Current |
258 |
252 |
252 |
243 |
238 |
|
Capital |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Education & Skills Group |
883 |
832 |
824 |
932 |
965 |
|
Current |
880 |
828 |
823 |
929 |
965 |
|
Capital |
3 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
Foreign Affairs Group |
53 |
58 |
65 |
46 |
46 |
|
Current |
53 |
58 |
65 |
46 |
46 |
|
Capital |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Communications, Climate Action & Environment Group |
235 |
229 |
233 |
238 |
242 |
|
Current |
235 |
229 |
233 |
238 |
242 |
|
Capital |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Agriculture, Food and the Marine Group |
439 |
453 |
259 |
282 |
388 |
|
Current |
438 |
453 |
259 |
282 |
388 |
|
Capital |
0.3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Transport, Tourism & Sport Group4 |
406 |
384 |
379 |
24 |
25 |
|
Current |
126 |
128 |
127 |
24 |
24 |
|
Capital |
280 |
256 |
252 |
1 |
1 |
|
Business, Enterprise & Innovation Group |
52 |
53 |
53 |
52 |
52 |
|
Current |
52 |
52 |
52 |
52 |
52 |
|
Capital |
0.2 |
0.5 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht Group |
7 |
9 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
|
Current |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
|
Capital |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Housing, Planning & Local Government Group |
46 |
20 |
63 |
65 |
63 |
|
Current |
24 |
19 |
63 |
65 |
63 |
|
Capital |
22 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Defence Group |
50 |
46 |
36 |
26 |
28 |
|
Current |
48 |
38 |
36 |
24 |
26 |
|
Capital |
2 |
8 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Employment Affairs & Social Protection Group |
8,591 |
8,860 |
9,168 |
9,384 |
9,887 |
|
Current |
8,591 |
8,860 |
9,168 |
9,384 |
9,887 |
|
Capital |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Health Group |
528 |
460 |
459 |
460 |
405 |
|
Current |
528 |
460 |
459 |
460 |
405 |
|
Capital |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
|
Children and Youth Affairs Group |
25 |
22 |
21 |
27 |
28 |
|
Current |
25 |
22 |
21 |
27 |
28 |
|
Capital |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Rural & Community Development Group |
0 |
0 |
22 |
23 |
31 |
|
Current |
0 |
0 |
3 |
8 |
13 |
|
Capital |
0 |
0 |
19 |
15 |
18 |
|
Total |
11,848 |
11,966 |
12,168 |
12,128 |
12,756 |
|
Current |
11,538 |
11,691 |
11,894 |
12,107 |
12,735 |
|
Capital |
310 |
275 |
275 |
20 |
21 |
1 Provisional Outturn
2 Revised Estimates Volume 2018
3 Expenditure Report 2019
4 The reduction in A-in-As for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in 2018 is due to a change in the treatment of Motor Tax Receipts.
For information, the expenditure relating to the National Training Fund and the Social Insurance Fund that is included in the table above is set out separately in the following table.
|
2015 |
2016 |
20171 |
20182 |
20193 |
|
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
National Training Fund |
334 |
344 |
357 |
415 |
484 |
|
Social Insurance Fund |
8,320 |
8,587 |
8,904 |
9,175 |
9,671 |
|
Total |
8,654 |
8,931 |
9,261 |
9,590 |
10,156 |
1 Provisional Outturn
2 Revised Estimates Volume 2018
3 Expenditure Report 2019.
121. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Government expenditure ceiling for 2012 to 2017; the actual corresponding expenditure for those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43070/18]
View answerFollowing the change in the budgetary timetable introduced in 2013, each December the Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services (REV) sets out gross and net voted expenditure allocations for each Vote for the following year. A key responsibility of each Government Minister and their Department is to manage the delivery of public services within these voted allocations.
Throughout the year, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is in regular contact with all Departments and Offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within the overall fiscal parameters. The drawdown of funds from the Exchequer is monitored against published expenditure profiles and this information is published each month in the Exchequer Statement.
However, given the scale of gross voted expenditure, the cash basis of Government accounting, and the funding implications that unexpected events can have on expenditure requirements, variances between the allocations set out in the REV and the actual outturn in a given year arise for a number of reasons, including:
- Policy decisions taken by the Government during the year that result in allocation of additional resources to a particular area. An example of this would be a decision to provide a Christmas Bonus for long-term Social Welfare recipients.
- Overspending in a particular area that requires additional funding, through the provision of a Supplementary Estimate.
- Underspending in a particular area, for example due to lower than expected take-up of a particular scheme or initiative or a change in Government policy. Underspends also serve to offset, either fully or partially, overspends in other areas.
- Timing issues relating to receipts or payments that may change the amount that is required to be spent during the present year.
Where additional expenditure is anticipated, in excess of the amount originally voted by Dáil Éireann, Further Revised Estimates or Supplementary Estimates are presented to the Dáil for approval.
The following table sets out total REV gross allocations reflecting the original Estimates for the year agreed by Dáil Éireann. With the change in the budgetary timetable in 2013, the REV is now published in December each year. Each year's REV now provides information in respect of the impact of any Supplementary Estimates and Further Revised Estimates presented to the Dáil. These revised gross allocations, as published in the REV for the following year, are set out below for the years 2013-2017.
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
|
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
|
Gross Total Expenditure (REV) * |
55,860 |
54,577 |
52,987 |
53,231 |
55,839 |
58,072 |
|
Gross Total Expenditure (REV plus Further Revised and Supplementary Estimates)** |
- |
54,841 |
54,124 |
54,915 |
56,329 |
58,949 |
|
Gross Total Expenditure (Outturn)*** |
55,958 |
54,373 |
54,098 |
54,594 |
55,987 |
58,525 |
*Gross allocation as set out in the REV. In 2016, new Estimates were presented to Dáil Éireann in June 2016 that included additional funding for the Health and Garda Votes. This additional funding is reflected in the table above.
**2014 figure published in REV 2015 adjusted to reflect disestablishment of HSE Vote.
***Appropriation account outturn for 2012 to 2016 and provisional outturn for 2017.
122. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application by a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42762/18]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question has submitted an application to my Department for capital funding for additional accommodation.
The application is currently being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.
123. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for works by a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42763/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, a building project for the school in question is included on my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme.
The project is progressing to the architectural planning stage and it is expected that it will be delivered by an external agency to my Department. Arrangements are currently being made in this regard and my Department will be in further contact with the school when the arrangements have been finalised. The school is aware of the position.
124. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an application for works by a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42764/18]
View answerThe building project referred to by the Deputy is for a new 650 pupil Post Primary school on a Greenfield site.
The project is currently at Stage 2A of Architectural Planning which includes developing the Design to a stage where it is fully cost planned and can be prepared to lodge for Statutory Approval. At the Stage 2A meeting held on June 28th 2018 the project was authorised to apply for planning and statutory consent. My Department will be in a better position to give a definitive timeline for the project progression once statutory approvals have been obtained (planning permission, fire certificate and disability access certificate).
This school building project is included on my Department's 6 year Construction programme 2016-2021.
125. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the stage of the review of the leaving certificate Irish syllabus; the stakeholders engaged; and if submissions by third parties will be sought for this process. [42767/18]
View answerWork on the review of the current Senior Cycle Irish syllabus is underway. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is convening a subject development group to undertake the development of L1 and L2 (Language 1 and Language 2) specifications for Senior Cycle Gaeilge. The Senior Cycle Gaeilge Development Group comprises a range of key stakeholders with representatives from the teacher unions, management bodies, An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), parent representatives from the National Parents Council Post-Primary and Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta, as well as representatives from the Department of Education and Skills, the State Examinations Commission (SEC) and the Irish Universities Association (IUA). Subject Development Groups provide a strong, representative and responsive basis for curriculum and development in specific curriculum areas and/or subjects.
Development work on the specifications will take place over 2018/19 with a public consultation process envisaged next autumn. NCCA are open to receiving submissions on an ongoing basis but there will also be specific opportunities for the public, education interests and others to provide feedback and make submissions also during the process of developing and finalising the specifications.
126. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to change the rules governing the area in which pupils who turn 18 years of age before the date that school commences (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42780/18]
View answerSpecial Schools funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons with complex special educational needs from the age of 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year.
Some people with a disability, over the age of 18, and who have complex needs, may require specialised support throughout their lives. Ongoing care and support services within the community, in a post school setting, are provided by voluntary or statutory organisations; responsibility for such care and support rests with the HSE.
Special school staff typically have extensive engagement with parents, HSE multi-disciplinary teams and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) which involves planning for the child’s future, including options for further education, training, employment or other placement options subject to the child’s abilities, including the young person’s transition to adult services when they reach the age of 18 years.
It is important to note that students who transfer to adult service settings can continue to participate in educational programmes through further adult educational programmes or in adult settings which are allocated resources towards educational provision.
A special school may, subject to application, retain students over the age of 18 years who are pursuing courses leading to accreditation at level 3 or above of the National Qualifications Framework (Junior Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied/FETAC 3); for an additional year in order to complete these courses.
Subject to the fulfilment of the criteria outlined above, special schools are invited to make applications, in January each year. My Department may then exempt the school from the provisions of Rule 64(1) of the Rules for National Schools for a student.
Additional associated services for students over the age of 18, such as school transport, capitation and teaching resources, will only be considered in respect of those students for whom an exemption from Rule 64(1) of the Rules for National Schools has been granted by the Department of Education and Skills, allowing the school to retain such students for an additional school year.
There are no plans to change the rules governing this area.
