Written Answers Nos. 250-268
250. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the estimated amount which has been saved in debt servicing costs as a result of the historically low borrowing costs since the economic crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1606/19]
View answerIt is difficult to isolate the impact of particular factors on the debt service bill. However, what I can say is that in the Stability Programme Update in April 2014, debt service costs for 2018 were projected to be close to €10 billion. The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) have advised me that the actual outturn for 2018 was under €6 billion. Furthermore, debt service is now more than 20% below its 2014 peak.
There are a number of reasons why the debt service bill is so much lower than previously projected. These include the European Central Bank's Quantitative Easing (QE) programme which has compressed sovereign bond yields, and the full early repayment of IMF Programme loans.
Looking back further towards the earlier part of the decade, the removal of margins on EU Programme loans and the replacement of the IBRC Promissory Notes have also helped reduce the debt service bill.
I am advised that the debt service bill is expected to fall further this year.
251. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance if assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied) in securing a specific document. [1611/19]
View answerRevenue has advised me that it does not issue P45 documents to taxpayers. The P45 document is provided directly to employees by employers when an employment ceases. Revenue has however written to the person in question and provided them with the required details (per Revenue’s records) in respect of the particular employment.
By way of general information, the Deputy may be interested to note that from the 2019 tax year onwards, employers are no longer required to provide employees with a P45 document at the end of an employment. The information previously provided in this document is now automatically supplied to Revenue through payroll submissions made by employers since the introduction of PAYE Modernisation on 1 January 2019. It is also planned to make this information directly available to employees via Revenue’s online systems later in the year.
252. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if the Comptroller and Auditor General carried out an audit of procurement of ships by the Department of Defence in either 2011 or 2012. [1653/19]
View answer253. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Finance if a recommendation was made within the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General in 2011 or 2012 that a report into procurement by the reporting division into multi-million euro procurement by the Department of Defence should be conducted; if such a report was carried out; and if not, the reason therefor. [1656/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 253 together.
The Comptroller and Auditor General is independent in the exercise of his functions and therefore my Department does not have the details requested.
The Deputy may wish to raise the matters directly with the Comptroller and Auditor General.
254. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance his views on future motor insurance premiums charged for learner drivers, be they owners or users, in view of the recent amendments to the Road Traffic Acts; and if he will impress upon the insurance companies the need for a reduction on these premiums. [1667/19]
View answerAs Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. Neither I nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the pricing of insurance products, as this is a matter of a commercial nature, and determined by insurance companies based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. These are considered by insurance companies on a case-by-case basis. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance which expressly prohibits Member States from adopting rules which require insurance companies to obtain prior approval of the pricing or terms and conditions of insurance products.
I understand that motor insurers use a combination of rating factors in making their individual decisions on whether to offer cover and what terms to apply. Factors include those such as the age of the driver and the relevant driving experience, as well as the age and type of vehicle, how the vehicle is used, the claims record, and the number of drivers. Insurers do not all use the same combination of rating factors, and as a result prices vary across the market. In addition, insurance companies also price in accordance with their own past claims experience.
Regarding recent changes to legislation relating to learner drivers, my officials contacted their counterparts in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and were informed that it would be presumed that this would refer to two specific measures included in the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018 which was commenced before Christmas. The first is a provision to hold accountable owners of vehicles who allow unaccompanied learners to drive their vehicles. The second extends the existing Garda power to detain vehicles in certain circumstances by adding the circumstance whereby the driver is an unaccompanied learner.
The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport emphasises that the new measures are intended to increase Garda enforcement powers in this area and act as a deterrent to the highly dangerous practice of learners driving unaccompanied and, as such, should make Irish roads safer. However, it is unclear how these changes will impact upon the cost of motor insurance for learner drivers on a broad level, if at all, as since 2007 it has already been illegal for a learner to drive unaccompanied.
More generally, the Deputy should note that the Cost of Insurance Working Group will continue to focus on putting into place the measures proposed in its Report on the Cost of Motor Insurance . It is envisaged that the implementation of all the recommendations cumulatively, with the appropriate levels of commitment and cooperation from all relevant stakeholders, should achieve the objective of delivering fairer premiums for all consumers, including learner drivers.
In this regard, it should be acknowledged that the most recent Central Statistics Office data (for November 2018) indicates that private motor insurance premiums have decreased by 22.7% since peaking in July 2016. While the CSO statistics indicate a greater degree of stability on an overall basis, these figures represent a broad average and therefore it is appreciated that many people may still be seeing increases. However, it is hoped that the improved stability in pricing will be maintained and that motor insurance premiums should continue to fall from the very high levels of mid-2016.
255. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Finance the customer complaints received by his Department in each of the years since 2016; if the complaints are grouped into categories; the nature of the complaints; the resolution of same; and the number progressed to the relevant Ombudsman in each of the years since 2016. [1872/19]
View answerIn line with the Department's Customer Charter, available on the Department's website, a complaint is defined as "an expression of dissatisfaction concerning the provision of a service or services by the Department”. The Department received two complaints for the period 2016 - 2018 outlined in the following table:
|
Division |
Year of Complaint (2016/2017/2018) |
Nature of Complaint (e.g. timelines for response, manner by which customer was dealt with etc) |
Resolution |
Was Complaint referred to Ombudsman |
|
Corporate – Customer Service Manager |
2016 |
Timeline of response |
Written responses to requestor; engagement by Customer Service Manager and other relevant officials |
No |
|
Corporate – Customer Service Manager |
2018 |
Timeline for response to Written Representation |
Written responses to requestor; engagement by Customer Service Manager and other relevant officials |
No |
256. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to increase the public service pension payment a retired public sector worker receives in line with the additional years public servants can now work up to 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54379/18]
View answerThe Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 came into effect on 26 December 2018. The Act provides for an increase in the compulsory retirement age of public servants recruited prior to 1 April 2004, from age 65 to age 70, other than a member of the uniformed pension fast accrual group, such as Gardai, Prison Officers, Fire Fighters and members of the Permanent Defence Force who, for operational reasons are required to retire early.
Now that the legislation has come into effect, no public servant, other than a member of the uniformed pension fast accrual group mentioned above has a compulsory retirement age of less than 70.
Under the terms of the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018, affected public servants may remain in work beyond the age of 65 and up to the age of 70 on current terms and conditions, including pay and pension. Public servants who choose to remain at work after the age of 65 will continue to be a member of the relevant pension scheme and they will accrue pension benefits and pay pension contributions in the normal way, in line with scheme rules. Pension will continue to accrue as normal past the age of 65, subject to the statutory maximum of 40 years’ reckonable service, and pension will become payable on the date of retirement. Accordingly, the further adjustment of existing pension payment terms for public servants in consequence of the enactment Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 does not arise.
257. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the changes required at ports and airports as a consequence of Brexit require planning permission or legislative changes; if so, if planning permission in circumstances in which it is necessary is being sought; the status of same; the progress to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1127/19]
View answer258. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date he expects the 33 inspection bays for trucks arriving at Dublin Port will be completed and ready for operation as set out in the Brexit contingency action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1128/19]
View answer259. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date he expects the 270 parking spaces for trucks awaiting inspection at Dublin Port to be completed and ready for operation as set out in the Brexit contingency action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1129/19]
View answer260. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the date the new traffic management system is expected to be ready for operation at Dublin Port to manage traffic to and from ferries as set out in the Brexit contingency action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1130/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 257 to 260, inclusive, together.
The Office of Public Works, on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners, the Department Agriculture, Food & the Marine, the Department of Health and the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport, is working to put in place the infrastructure required for customs, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and health checks and controls at Dublin Port, Rosslare Europort and Dublin Airport when the transition period provided for under the draft Withdrawal Agreement expires at the end of 2020. In parallel with this, work is also underway to put in place temporary arrangements in the event that the UK leaves the EU at the end of March without an agreement. This includes the acquisition of sites and the installation of infrastructure at all three locations to cater for both scenarios. This work is ongoing.
An existing facility in Dublin Port is being refurbished in order to provide the necessary inspection facilities for the State agencies to carry out their statutory functions. An additional area has been identified for overflow parking and both facilities will be in place on or before the 30th March 2019. Planning requirements will be adhered to.
The Office of Public Works has also been engaged with the Dublin Port Company to ensure that the new traffic management system will be operational on the required date.
261. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to make additional funding available in the event of a no-deal Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1134/19]
View answerBudget 2019 contains specific measures to ensure that Ireland is in the best possible position to respond to the challenges - and indeed the opportunities - that Brexit will bring.
Increased resources of €25 million has been provided across a range of Departments and Offices. This will enable the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport, the Department of Health and the HSE implement necessary measures including in the areas of customs, SPS and food safety controls.
The €300 million Future Growth Loan Scheme, jointly funded by the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation and the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine, provides a longer-term facility to support strategic capital investment by business at competitive rates in a post-Brexit environment.
A €71 million package has been provided for the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine and its agencies, Teagasc and Bord Bia, to further strengthen the agriculture sector’s ability to become more resilient in addressing the challenges of Brexit.
An increase of €14 million in the allocation for the Department of Business, Enterprise & Innovation will enable it to continue to plan for the impact of Brexit on the business sector, including the expansion of Departmental and regulatory agency capacity, the expansion of its agencies' global footprint and additional Brexit information campaigns and supports.
€5 million has been allocated to the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade to enable it to continue to address the challenges posed by Brexit across a range of headings, including building capacity across strategic European locations and developing outreach responsibilities through public and stakeholder engagement and EU alliance enhancement. In addition, additional funding of €13 million will support the opening of new markets for our businesses and a higher international profile though our Global Ireland 2025 strategy, which aims to strengthen Ireland’s global footprint.
262. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a person has been awarded an injury warrant and subsequently takes a successful court case against the State for compensation for their injuries, if the injury warrant will be withdrawn. [1370/19]
View answerThe Civil Service Injury Warrants are a series of statutory instruments made under the Superannuation Acts. They provide additional benefits over and above normal pension entitlements, to or in respect of officers who, through no fault of their own, are killed or injured in the performance of their duties. The injury must be attributable to the nature of their duties.
The additional benefits paid under the Injury Warrants consist, in the main, of an annual allowance or, in a limited set of circumstances, payment of a special gratuity.
In non-fatal cases, once eligibility for an Injury Warrant annual allowance is established, the legislation prescribes that the amount of the award is determined by a classification as to the degree of impairment to the officer’s earning capacity caused by the injury. The classifications in the legislation each have a corresponding proportion which is to be applied to the difference between (i) salary and emoluments at time of injury and (ii) other superannuation benefits. The result is the quantum of Injury Warrant annual allowance awarded. The total of the Injury Warrant award, when taken together with any other superannuation pension benefits, as well as any Social Welfare benefits in payment, is limited to 5/6ths of the officer’s salary and emoluments at the date of injury. The Injury Warrant award is reduced, if necessary, to ensure this limit is not breached.
There is no provision in the legislation for withdrawal of an award on the basis of a subsequent successful court action against the State for compensation in respect of the injury that formed the basis of the Injury Warrant award.
However, I would point out that the Injury Warrant award, in addition to being a superannuation benefit, is also a form of compensation paid by the State. Thus, when considering a potential award for damages in a claim against the State, the amount of any Injury Warrant award already being paid by the State would be taken into account by the Court in assessing the level of compensation in the litigation.
263. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of Departments that will require Supplementary Estimates in 2019; and the reasons for the overrun. [1591/19]
View answerDue to the scale of Government expenditure and the cash basis of Government accounting, the need for Supplementary Estimates can arise for a number of reasons, including policy decisions, timing issues and overspends. Supplementary Estimates are an important element of our expenditure management toolkit, allowing for the proper alignment of resources with allocations. However, they can only be allowed where they are permissible within the fiscal rules.
At this stage of the year, it is too early to predict whether supplementary estimates will be required or where the need may arise. However, a number of measures are in place to monitor expenditure throughout the year to ensure that any issues that do arise are managed appropriately. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is in regular contact with all other Departments and Offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within the overall fiscal parameters. The drawdown of funds from the Exchequer is reported on each month against expenditure profiles in the Fiscal Monitor published by the Department of Finance. Expenditure figures for January will be published in the first week of February.
264. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when funding will be provided for flood relief works at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54054/18]
View answerLocal flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address, and Laois County Council may carry out flood mitigation works using its own resources. The Office of Public Works Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, however, also makes funds available to Local Authorities to undertake minor flood mitigation works or studies to address localised flooding problems within their administrative areas. The eligibility criteria of this scheme, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, are published on the OPW website, www.opw.ie. It is open to the Council to submit a funding application for flood mitigation works under the Scheme. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the scheme's eligibility criteria and the overall availability of resources for flood risk management.
No application has been received from Laois County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection scheme for the area mentioned in the Deputy’s question.
265. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Office of Government Procurement will advance A Programme for a Partnership Government's commitment to introduce a provision by which taxi companies that wish to bid for State procurement contracts must ensure a minimum of 10% of their fleet is wheelchair accessible. [54072/18]
View answerMy colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport and National Transport Authority (NTA) have primary responsibility for meeting this commitment. Recognising the prevailing market structure for taxi services is central to this issue as there are no large unitary fleet operators who can easily be compelled to meet such a requirement. I understand that the NTA (a) continue to fund a programme of grants to increase the level of wheelchair accessible, and (b) the vehicle specification to qualify as a wheelchair-accessible taxi has been amended to reduce the level of investment required by individual taxi operators in order to comply.
The Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has undertaken the responsibility for the procurement of many state funded taxi services in recent years and engages with the NTA on an ongoing basis in this regard. The OGP ensures that appropriate accessibility criteria are included in tenders for taxi services.
Having regard to the above, the OGP established a Framework Agreement for the provision of taxi services in the Greater Dublin Area in September 2018. The tender competition to establish this Framework was designed to encourage participation on a fair and equal basis by Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) together with addressing the Programme for Government commitment.
266. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Bill 2018 will become law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54077/18]
View answerThe Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act 2018 was signed by the President on 26 December 2018 and came into effect immediately from that date.
The Act provides for an increase in the compulsory retirement age of most pre-2004 public servants from age 65 to age 70. Under the Act, any relevant public servant who had not already reached his/her compulsory retirement age before 26 December 2018 has a new compulsory retirement age of 70 and can choose to stay at work up to that age on current terms and conditions, subject to the normal standards of health and performance etc.
267. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost incurred by his Department in 2018 for the use of taxi services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54215/18]
View answerThe following table sets out the amount spent by my Department on Taxi Services in 2018.
My Department employs the services of a taxi company engaged through an Office of Government Procurement drawdown contract. The hire of taxis to travel to and from meetings is only permitted where no suitable public transport is available or feasible.
|
Month |
Amount Spent |
|
January |
€1,315.04 |
|
February |
€1,556.97 |
|
March |
€1,298.50 |
|
April |
€1,682.36 |
|
May |
€1,673.70 |
|
June |
€1,357.82 |
|
July |
€1,620.66 |
|
August |
€943.42 |
|
September |
€771.84 |
|
October |
€1,796.62 |
|
November |
€1,980.52 |
|
December |
€2,462.46 |
|
Total |
€18,459.91 |
268. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if matters (details supplied) regarding flooding in Caherciveen, County Kerry will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54366/18]
View answerIn 2015, Kerry County Council was approved funding of €5,258 under the Office of Public Works' Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme to carry out a feasibility Study of measures to alleviate ongoing flooding on the N70 South of Caherciveen which includes the area mentioned in the Deputy’s question.
It is open to Kerry County Council to apply for funding under the Minor Works Scheme to undertake works if viable measures are identified subject to the criteria being satisfied.
No application has been received from Kerry County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection scheme for the area mentioned in the Deputy’s question.
