Written Answers Nos. 193-209
193. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it would cost the Exchequer if the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Bill 2018 was backdated to when his interim measure was announced in December 2017; if so, the cost; if there are legal barriers to backdating the legislation; if there are administrative barriers to backdating the legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46505/18]
View answerIn recognition of the fact that there would be a delay between the Government Decision to amend the mandatory retirement age for public servants and the enactment of the legislation to effect the statutory changes to give effect to that policy decision, I introduced temporary arrangements for those facing mandatory retirement in the interim. These arrangements enable public servants who reach the age of 65 to remain in place for 1 year until they reach the age of eligibility for the State pension which is currently 66. The purpose of the arrangements is to offer a limited, temporary solution to individuals who reach the age of 65 before the commencement of the necessary legislation. If the interim arrangements had not existed, the individuals concerned would have had to cease working at age 65 because the policy change proposed can only be effected by legislative change.
The interim arrangements were never intended to and indeed could not offer a perfect solution or put these individuals in the same position as the public servants who are covered by the legislation. I understand that the temporary arrangements were welcomed in that context and it was clearly indicated that availing of the arrangements did not confer any rights on the individual public servant to any new arrangement that might be provided for in future legislation. The legislation has been drafted on that basis and is currently under consideration by the Oireachtas.
The public servants who are availing of the interim arrangements have retired and received their pension benefits. This was necessary in order to respect the current statutory requirement for this cohort to retire at age 65. Lump sums have been paid and participants are no longer paying a pension contribution or accruing additional pension benefits. There are significant complexities associated with the unravelling of that arrangement and the extension of legislative arrangements to this cohort. It would raise issues in terms of how pay and pension should be treated in the context of the period while the individual was on the interim arrangements and into the future. It may require the repayment of lump sums awarded which would present its own difficulties in terms of moneys owing to the Exchequer and possibly also for the individuals concerned. Additional costs in terms of pay would arise in order to place them on a commensurate pay point to those currently covered by the Bill while it would compromise, at additional cost, the current policy with existing retire and rehire arrangements across the public service of recruitment at the minimum point.
With any change in policy, there are always individuals who will lose out because they miss the deadline by a matter of days or weeks. When the interim arrangements were introduced on 5 December 2017, there may have been people who would have wished to avail of the interim arrangements but they did not qualify because they reached the age of 65 a matter of days before the date of the Government Decision. Also, it is likely that given the passage of time, some of those who availed of the interim arrangements may have ceased employment given that over a year will have passed by the time the legislation is enacted. No doubt the matters raised will receive significant attention at Committee Stage for the Bill and I will be happy to engage on those issues as part of the legislative process.
194. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans, following his recent visit to the area, for the urgent coastal works needed at Laytown and Bettystown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46514/18]
View answerI visited this area recently and am aware of the issues in this location, as well as the excellent work that has been undertaken by Meath County Council in Laytown. I am advised that, in the first instance, the management of problems of coastal protection in the area indicated remains a matter for Meath County Council.
Following the severe storms of Winter 2013/2014, the Government allocated funding for clean-up, repair and restoration works in relation to public infrastructure that was damaged in the period 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014. Funding for repair of damaged coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure was made available to the local authorities via the Office of Public Works (OPW) based on programmes of works submitted by the local authorities. Total funding of €126,792 was allocated by the OPW to Meath County Council for the repair of damaged coastal protection infrastructure. The Council has confirmed that the works at Laytown, including the replacement of gabions/rock armour revetment sea defence systems were carried out using this funding. This, however, was a once off allocation and no further funding is available under this stream.
Meath County Council can apply for funding under the Office of Public Works’ (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, under which applications for funding from Local Authorities are considered for measures costing not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for projects that meet the eligibility criteria, including a requirement that the proposed measures are cost beneficial.
195. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way in which the 1:12 ratio of average annual earnings in 2014, set out in table 5.3 of the report of the Public Service Pay Commission, was calculated; and if the pay of enlisted ranks in the Defence Forces was included as part of the calculations. [46677/18]
View answerThe Public Service Pay Commission is an independent body which published its first report in May 2017, to provide inputs on how the unwinding of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest legislation 2009-2015 should proceed.
As noted in the report, the source for the data used in Table 5.3 of the Public Service Pay Commission’s May 2017 report is Eurostat’s Structure of Earnings Survey. National Metadata in relation to Ireland for this indicator is provided to Eurostat from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The Public Administration and Defence category is a statistical classification, which forms the NACE Sector O. As confirmed by the CSO, the enlisted ranks of the Defence Forces are included in this statistical grouping.
Table 5.3 shows the ratio of gross earnings in three sectors which are mostly made up of public sector employees compared to gross earnings in the general economy, across 17 countries. The 1.12 ratio indicates that, in 2014, earnings in the Public Administration and Defence sector were 12% higher than average annual earnings in Ireland.
The Report itself provides for a detailed illustration of the calculation steps by the Commission in Table 5.3, in Appendix F of the Report.
196. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public servants who have availed of the interim arrangement put in place to allow those workers who turn 65 years of age to be rehired for a period of one year until they reach the 66 years of age required for the State pension while new legislation to extend the compulsory retirement age is advanced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46780/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, I deal with staff in the civil service. Other Ministers are responsible for staff in the wider public service.
The Government decided in December 2017 that the retirement age of civil servants would be extended to 70 years of age and that between the date of the Government decision and the enactment of the legislation, civil servants with a retirement age of 65 could be retained until they reached the age of eligibility for the Contributory State Pension currently age 66.
My officials did a survey of civil service departments/offices earlier this year to ascertain how many civil servants were retained under circular 21 of 2017. From this survey I understand that 73 civil servants have been retained under this circular until the end of June 2018.
197. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to make an allowance for women who took time out from work from the Civil Service on Civil Service-approved schemes to raise children and whose pension is affected as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46984/18]
View answerUnder civil service pension schemes, the pension calculation is, in general, based on pensionable remuneration and total pensionable service of the employee. The focus on service is a fundamental element of defined benefit occupational pension schemes, not just in the civil and public service but in the private sector too, and there are no plans at present to change this.
There are arrangements in place for civil servants who are about to embark on a career break, for the purposes of raising children or otherwise, to apply in advance to have that period of leave reckoned for pension purposes, subject to the normal rules of the civil service purchase of notional service scheme, including that they pay the full cost of the service purchased. Furthermore, civil servants have the option to enter into purchase arrangements, subject to scheme rules, to buy back service during the course of their serving career, which have the effect of covering periods of absences from work for pension purposes.
While these arrangements are established for members of pre-existing civil service schemes (i.e. pre-Single Pension Scheme introduction, 2013), regulations are currently being drafted by this Department setting out rules for purchase under the Single Pension Scheme.
198. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of senior positions held by men and women, respectively, in his Department. [47005/18]
View answerThe tables below provide a gender breakdown of the number of senior positions in my Department and the Office of Government Procurement.
Public Expenditure and Reform Headcount & Gender
|
Grade |
Female |
Male |
|
Secretary General |
0 |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretary Level |
3 |
5 |
|
Principal Officer |
17 |
18 |
|
Assistant Principal |
54 |
66 |
|
Chief Medical Officer |
0 |
1 |
|
Occupational Health Nurse |
2 |
0 |
|
Occupational Physician |
2 |
1 |
|
Special Adviser |
2 |
0 |
|
Totals |
80 |
92 |
Office of Government Procurement Headcount & Gender
|
Grade |
Female |
Male |
|
Assistant Secretary Level |
0 |
1 |
|
Principal Officer Level |
7 |
8 |
|
Assistant Principal Level |
22 |
32 |
|
Totals |
29 |
41 |
199. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the public sector reforms he plans to pursue. [46827/18]
View answerSince the first public service reform plan was published in 2011, a comprehensive programme of reform has been implemented and public sector reform continues to be a key priority for the Government. The latest framework for reform and innovation in the public service, Our Public Service 2020 (OPS 2020) – which I launched last December, is a whole-of-public-service initiative designed to build on the previous reforms to which I refer while expanding the scope of reform to focus on collaboration, innovation and evaluation. The OPS 2020 framework contains 18 actions, and it is built on three key pillars as follows:
Delivering for Our Public focuses on ensuring that outcomes for the public are central to service delivery. This will be achieved by involving the public in the design and delivery of services, by improving how we listen and communicate, and by ensuring services are cost-effective. By making better use of new technology and data we will also improve service quality and accessibility. The five actions under this pillar will build on existing progress in areas such as shared services and procurement. The development of digital services and eGovernment is key to improving service delivery as is making better use of data and sharing data more effectively between organisations.
Innovating for Our Future has six actions that will enable the development of innovative, robust and joined-up strategies and policies related to the delivery of public services. This pillar will also support collaboration across the public service and help make the most of existing skills and experiences, and data. It will also promote a culture of evaluation. The public service needs to be increasingly innovative and collaborative to effectively respond to the complex challenges facing Ireland now and into the future.
Developing Our People and Organisations has seven actions which will support public servants and the organisations in which they work. The pillar aims to improve human resource management and to ensure the right mix of skills and tools are there to support public servants in delivering quality services. The actions in this pillar will help to build strong and agile public service organisations. Actions focus on sharing best practice and experience in areas such as strategic human resource management, workforce planning, employee engagement, public service culture and values, and equality, diversity and inclusion.
Six action teams involving over one hundred public servants from across the public sector are already pursuing work programmes under OPS 2020 in the areas such as digital delivery of services, promoting innovation, optimising the use of data, project management, workforce planning, and professional development. In addition to these actions, reform is taking place independent of the framework, whether in a whole-of-government context or Department/Sector led reforms. OPS 2020 includes a chapter outlining key reform strategies from the main sectors namely Health, Justice and Equality, Education, Local Government, Defence and the Civil Service. It also includes material on Government and legislative reform. Significant reforms initiated under the Civil Service Renewal Plan also continue to take effect and work is advancing on a refreshed Civil Service Renewal Plan which will build on the progress to date and align with programme of reform set out in Our Public Service 2020.
The implementation of OPS 2020 is underpinned by a shared ownership of its actions across the public service and by ensuring a strong emphasis on evaluating reforms. A Public Service Leadership Board comprising Secretary General and CEO level participants from across the civil and public service has been established to drive the new reform agenda and lead on its implementation. This approach will support and enable public servants and their organisations to perform at their best and to work together to deliver high-quality, value-for-money outcomes that will benefit the economy.
200. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Education and Skills the rules in place for cases in which an overpayment of a pension (details supplied) is made over ten years; the look-back time to seek repayment of the pension from the person concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46728/18]
View answerMy Department has contacted the agency concerned and I understand that they will be in contact with the Deputy's office directly regarding the issue raised.
201. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of autism spectrum disorder units and number of places available in schools for children with autism at all levels for the Dublin 8, 10 and 12 areas, in tabular form. [47026/18]
View answer202. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children on waiting lists for each autism spectrum disorder unit at all levels, including preschool, primary school and secondary school, for the Dublin 8, 10 and 12 areas, in tabular form. [47027/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.
Funding for special education provision in 2018 will amount to some €1.75 billion, up 43% since 2011 and equivalent to 18.7% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training.
My Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs, including Autism (ASD), in mainstream school settings, unless such a placement would not be in the best interests of the child concerned, or the children with whom they will be educated.
The greater proportion of children with Autism attend mainstream classes, but some require the environment of a special class or special school. This decision is based on a recommendation contained within a professional assessment and in consultation with the NCSE.
Special school placements are provided for other students with ASD and very complex special needs who wouldn’t manage in a mainstream school even for part of the week.
The NCSE is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers, for the development and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special class and special school placements.
Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of special classes from 548 in 2011 to 1,459 across the country now, of which 1,196 are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes.
There are 37 special schools and 237 special classes attached to mainstream schools in Co. Dublin. Of these, 17 are ASD early intervention classes, 139 are primary ASD classes and 41 are post primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in Co. Dublin have increased from 66 in 2011/2012 to 197 in 2018/2019. Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available on www.ncse.ie.
The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year in Dublin, and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that need. I have arranged for the Deputy's question on emerging need to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools and it does not maintain details of waiting lists in schools. The enrolment of a child to a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department has acknowledged that in recent years the establishment of special class provision in some schools and communities has been challenging.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 when fully commenced will assist in addressing these issues.
The Deputy will be aware that, on the 3rd October 2018, my predecessor Minister Bruton, commenced a number of sections of the Act. On that date the Minister also announced the commencement of Section 8 of the Act, from Monday 3rd December 2018, which will provide the Minister with a power, after a process of consultation with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), the board of management and the patron of the school, to compel a school to make additional provision for the education of children with special educational needs.
This power will come into effect on Monday 3rd December 2018. The NCSE will engage with the education partners and finalise procedures in advance of this date. This new power will build on the work which has been done in recent years to facilitate schools to open special classes.
Section 67 of the Act will provide certain powers to the NCSE to designate a school placement for a child in circumstances where a child is experiencing difficulties in securing enrolment.
A number of the remaining sections of the Act which have not yet been commenced including Section 67, require regulations and procedures to be drafted, and will require consultation with the Education Partners prior to commencement.
I intend to have the other remaining sections of the Act commenced in time for admissions to the 2020/21 school year.
203. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna cad chuige nár tugadh stádas DEIS do scoil (sonraí tugtha) i gcontae Dhún na nGall; an dtabharfaidh sé tuilleadh eolais faoin scór a tugadh don scoil mar chuid den phróiseas measúnaithe a bhí déanta ag a Roinn i gcomparáid leis na scoileanna eile atá sa cheantar máguaird, agus iad uilig ag glacadh páirt sa scéim; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [46470/18]
View answerFaoi mar is eol don Teachta, tá múnla oibiachtúil atá bunaithe ar staitisticí tugtha isteach ag mo Roinnse chun na scoileanna a bhfuil sé tuillte acu a bheith san áireamh i gClár DEIS a mheas, ionas gur féidir leis na páirtithe leasmhara go léir a bheith muiníneach go bhfuil acmhainní breise á ndíriú againn ar na scoileanna sin a bhfuil na leibhéil is airde de dhian-mhíbhuntáiste iontu.
Is iad seo a leanas na príomhfhoinsí sonraí a úsáidtear i bpróiseas sainaitheanta DEIS; Bunachar Sonraí ar Líne do Bhunscoileanna (POD) agus Bunachar Sonraí ar Líne d’Iar-Bhunscoileanna (PPOD) na Roinne Oideachais agus Scileanna (DES), agus sonraí de chuid na Príomh-Oifige Staidrimh (CSO) ón Daonáireamh Náisiúnta faoi mar atá léirithe in Innéacs HP Pobal do Cheantair Bheaga, ar modh é chun an rachmas nó an míbhuntáiste coibhneasta atá i gceantar geografach ar leith a thomhas. Ní hamháin go bhfuil ráta na dtuismitheoirí aonair san áireamh sna hathróga a mbaintear feidhm astu chun an tInnéacs HP a chur le chéile, ach freisin iad siúd a bhaineann le fás déimeagrafach, cóimheasa spleáchais, leibhéil oideachais, róphlódú, aicme sóisialta agus rátaí gairme agus dífhostaíochta. Déantar na sonraí sin a chur le sonraí daltaí, atá anaithnidithe agus comhiomlánaithe maidir le ceantair bheaga, chun eolas a sholáthar maidir le leibhéal coibhneasta an dian-mhíbhuntáiste sa chohórt daltaí i scoileanna faoi leith. Cuirtear na sonraí sin i bhfeidhm go haonfhoirmeach ar na scoileanna go léir sa tír ar bhealach cóir agus oibiachtúil, chun leibhéal an dian-bhuntáiste i ngach scoil a shainaithint.
Tá ríomh leibhéal na míbhuntáiste i ngach scoil bunaithe ar chúlra socheacnamaíoch chohórt na ndaltaí atá acu agus feidhm á baint as sonraí a choinnítear go lárnach faoi mar a léiriodh roimhe seo. Níl sé bunaithe ar shuíomh na scoile ach ar Cheantair Bheaga Gheografacha an CSO ina bhfuil an cohórt daltaí ina gcónaí. Dá bhrí sin, tá sé tábhachtach go dtuigfí nach gá gurb ionann déimeagrafach scoileanna atá in aice le chéile agus go bhféadfadh sé leibhéil éagsúla míbhuntáiste a léiriú bunaithe ar chohórt iarbhír na ndaltaí i ngach scoil faoi leith.
Tá doiciméad mionsonraithe ina mínítear an mhodheolaíocht a úsáideadh sa phróiseas sainaitheanta ar fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne ag https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/DEIS-Delivering-Equality-of-Opportunity-in-Schools-/DEIS-Identification-Process.pdf
Sonraítear i bPlean DEIS 2017 go mbeidh tionchar ag na sonraí feabhsaithe maidir le sochdhéimeagrafach scoileanna mar thoradh ar an múnla nua sainaitheanta ní hamháin ar mheasúnú scoileanna lena gcur san áireamh sa chlár ach chomh maith leis sin ar scálú acmhainní chun leibhéil tacaíochta níos céimnithe a cheadú. Dá réir sin, beifear in ann an cuspóir deiridh a bhaint amach, is é sin acmhainní a leithdháileadh chun an freastal is fearr is féidir a dhéanamh ar na riachtanais shainaitheanta atá ag scoileanna ar leith.
Chun an méid sin a bhaint amach, ní mór go mbeadh an múnla sainaitheanta reatha chomh cruinn agus is féidir agus déanfar é sin a éascú trí úsáid a bhaint as Eircode chun a chinntiú go gcuirtear isteach seoltaí faoi mar is ceart. Is gá tuilleadh anailíse a dhéanamh chun scrúdú a dhéanamh ar athróga eile, ar athróga iad a aithnítear mar réamhtháscairí maithe i dtaca le míbhuntáiste oideachasúil i gcomhthéacs leithdháileadh acmhainní.
Dá bhrí sin, cinneadh dearbhú cáilíochta sa bhreis a dhéanamh ar an múnla sula gcuirfí leis an úsáid atá beartaithe dó, ar mhaithe le cáilíocht na sonraí a bhaineann le seoltaí a chinntiú agus chun tuilleadh anailíse a dhéanamh. Mar thoradh air sin, níl sé i gceist an clár DEIS a leathnú chuig aon scoileanna breise go mbeidh an obair sin curtha i gcrích.
204. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the policy on the need for note taking when Ministers and-or Ministers of State meet business and other leaders; the way in which this policy is outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46489/18]
View answerThere is no definitive policy in relation to minute taking of meetings between the Minister and other parties. However, in practice requests for meetings are considered by the Minister and in the event he agrees to host a meeting with a group within the education sector an official from the line section concerned with the matter is requested to attend. One of the official’s duties is to take a minute of the meeting for file purposes.
205. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if travel and subsistence is available to a person (details supplied) who is in the first year of an apprenticeship; and the other assistance available to the person. [46503/18]
View answerThis is an operational matter for SOLAS, who manage the relevant apprenticeship programme. I have asked SOLAS to contact the Deputy directly in relation to the matter.
206. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a new building for the relocation of a school (details supplied); the funding that has been allocated for this project; the estimated completion date for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46504/18]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding was approved for a new 4- classroom building for the school to which he refers in June of this year.
The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority so it is now a matter for the Board of Management to advance the design and construction work. As the project is in the very early stages of architectural planning it is not possible at this time to say when the project will be completed. With regard to the funding allocated, this is commercially sensitive until the tender process for a contractor for the project has been completed.
207. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a development at a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46506/18]
View answerThe project to which the Deputy refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB).
My Department recently approved the project to proceed to Stage 2(a) of the architectural planning process which is the developed design stage. It is a matter for the ETB, as the client for the project, to ensure that this is completed as quickly as possible. Once the Stage 2(a) submission is approved by my Department, the next step for the ETB's Design Team will be to obtain the statutory planning approvals. When these are in place, the project can proceed to tender and construction.
208. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the completion of works on a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46516/18]
View answerThe Schools Bundle 5 Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme comprises five school buildings, including the school referred to by the Deputy (Tyndall College Carlow), and one further education college across four sites in Bray, Wexford, Carlow and Kells. Completion of these projects was delayed due to the liquidation of Carillion Construction Ltd in January of this year and the examinership and subsequent liquidation of Carillion’s sub-contractor, Sammon Contracting Ireland Ltd (SCIL).
A replacement contractor was appointed in June 2018 and three of the six schools, Coláiste Raithín and Ravenswell Primary school in Bray and Loreto Secondary School in Wexford, have achieved service commencement and are now fully operational.
The replacement contractor is now completing the remaining three buildings, Tyndall College and Carlow Institute of Further Education in Carlow, and Eureka Secondary School in Kells. These projects are currently targeted for completion by end December 2018/January 2019.
209. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Skills if tender documents have been issued to the relevant contractors on schedule, as per 8 November 2018 being specified in the agreed programme for completion in regard to a project (details supplied); if so, the timeline for the stages of completion of the schools building project; the new estimated date for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46547/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the project to which he refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB).
I am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that completion of the envelope of the two school buildings will commence shortly as part of an arrangement with the Bondsman. This welcome development will weather the buildings and form a neat finish-out package for a new main contractor. That package will be tendered to contractors that have been pre-qualified by the Design Team shortly. The completion date for the project is June 2020 and the Design Team’s programme to achieve this is on track.
