Written Answers Nos. 223-243
223. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the dates he received flood defence applications for the Glashaboy and Bride rivers in County Cork regarding the application confirmation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13753/20]
View answerThe Blackpool and Glashaboy Flood Relief Schemes are currently undergoing assessment as part of the Confirmation process by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This process was instigated in late 2018 but was delayed by the transposition into Irish law of EU EIA Directive 2014/52/EU insofar as the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts are concerned. The Regulations were completed and published in late 2019.
Further information has now been requested by the Minister as part of the environmental impact assessment which he is required by the new Regulations to carry out on both proposed Schemes. This information is currently being prepared and will be provided to the Minister as soon as possible. The Confirmation process will be concluded by the Minister thereafter in the quickest possible time frame.
224. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works will remove dangerous trees in a residential area on lands (details supplied) which are falling and are extremely dangerous; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13839/20]
View answerUnder the provisions of Section 28 of the State Property Act 1954, property held by dissolved companies at the time of dissolution can vest in the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. There are often complex title and other legal issues associated with such properties, particularly given that the interest acquired by the Minister is described as a defeasible interest as it may be defeated by restoration of the company within a period of time.
In this particular case, the Office of Public Works and the Chief State Solicitor's Office have been working through a number of complicating legal issues which are dependant on responses from third parties in order to reach a firm conclusion. Efforts are continuing and some progress is being made.
Notwithstanding this, I understand from my officials that the OPW has, over the last few years, made a number of interventions, including works to reduce risk to persons living in the area. With regard to the trees in the small forested section to the rear of this estate, the OPW has recently undertaken an initial assessment of this area.
The OPW will continue to work through the legal issues referred to above, in consultation with the CSSO.
225. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the flood relief works will be completed on the Templemore to Borrisoleigh road, County Tipperary, (details supplied). [13954/20]
View answerA decision will be made shortly in relation to the application for flood relief works on the Templemore to Borrisoleigh Road submitted by Tipperary County Council under the Remedial Works element of the Voluntary Homeowners Relocation Scheme.
226. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Garda stations within the Meath division that are being refurbished by the OPW; the Garda stations within the division that are due to be refurbished by the OPW over the next 12 months; the status of each project; and when each refurbishment project is due to be completed. [14001/20]
View answerI can confirm that the Office of Public Works (OPW) is currently carrying out cell refurbishment works at Kells Garda Station. These works are due for completion in September 2020.
A new two story extension to include 4 new cells, prisoner processing facilities with ancillary rooms and new office accommodation is planned for Navan Garda Station. Tender documents will be issued shortly and works are expected to commence in late 2020 and completed in 2021.
In addition to these projects the OPW continues to provide ongoing maintenance to all the Garda stations in the Meath Division as required.
227. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide all documents relating to engagement with landowners at a site (details supplied). [14008/20]
View answerI am happy to respond to the Deputy in relation to this matter. I am advised however, that it will take a little time to review and assess any files and documentation relevant to the question and that my Office will respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
228. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the costings carried out on the programme for Government; and if he will provide documents on those costings. [14035/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the Department of the Taoiseach has arranged for the publication of material provided by Government Departments in accordance with agreed procedures, via the Department of the Taoiseach, to Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, as part of Government formation negotiations. This material is available on the gov.ie website at the following link
www.gov.ie/en/publication/7b927-programme-for-government-documents/.
229. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the external consultancy organisation or provider which delivered diversity and inclusion training within his Department from 2018 to date; the costs associated with such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14060/20]
View answerThe details of the diversity and inclusion training delivered in my Department from 2018 to date is set out in the following tables.
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
|
Year |
Training provider / Consultants name |
Cost |
|
2019 |
Ernst & Young |
€ 30,750 |
Office of Government Procurement
|
Year |
Training provider/Consultants name |
Cost |
|
2018 |
Garda Inspector delivered a talk on his experience on the development of an LGBT employee network to provide support for LGBT colleagues within the force. |
Nil |
|
2019 |
A keynote speaker from Specialisterne, an orgainsation set up to support people on the autism spectrum to gain and maintain employment, spoke at the OGP Staff Conference on integrating people with autism into the workplace. As part of the PRIDE 2019 series of events, a colleague from the Property Registration of Ireland delivered a talk on how to create and foster a safe and supportive working environment for LGBT employees. |
Nil Nil |
|
Year |
Training provider/Consultants name |
Cost |
|
2018 |
Garda Inspector delivered a talk on his experience on the development of an LGBT employee network to provide support for LGBT colleagues within the force. |
Nil |
|
2019 |
A keynote speaker from Specialisterne, an orgainsation set up to support people on the autism spectrum to gain and maintain employment, spoke at the OGP Staff Conference on integrating people with autism into the workplace. As part of the PRIDE 2019 series of events, a colleague from the Property Registration of Ireland delivered a talk on how to create and foster a safe and supportive working environment for LGBT employees. |
Nil Nil |
230. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expenditure his Department incurred in respect of external legal fees in each of the years from 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14077/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that all details of my Department's consultancy spend is regularly updated and published on gov.ie. In this context, details of external legal fees since the Department’s establishment in 2011 up to the end of April 2020 can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/8b97d6-consultancy-costs/.
231. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when construction will commence on the Glanmire flood relief scheme. [14117/20]
View answerThe Office of Public Works, under the provisions of the Arterial Drainage Acts, has submitted the proposal for the Glashaboy Flood Relief Scheme, accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and Natura Impact Statement (NIS), to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for formal Confirmation.
On foot of the European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations 2019, which were published in Iris Oifigiúl on 27 September 2019, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has undertaken an environmental assessment of the proposed scheme in line with required legislative requirements. This involved an independent assessment of the EIAR / NIS and a public consultation process.
On the 5 May 2020, the Office of Public Works received correspondence from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform that the independent assessment is now complete. This correspondence has requested, pursuant to section 7(B) sub-section 4 of the 2019 European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Arterial Drainage) Regulations, certain items of further information that are required to complete the process. My Office is currently preparing the additional information requested - which generally relates to further detail on the processes followed and assessments undertaken in developing the scheme - to be submitted to the Department in order that the assessment can be completed and the scheme confirmed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This information is currently scheduled to be provided to the Department no later than October 2020.
The procurement and appointment of a Contractor will be progressed for this scheme following formal Ministerial Confirmation. The flood relief scheme will be funded from within the allocated €1 billion for flood risk management over the period 2018-2027. Provision for the cost of the Scheme is included in the Office of Public Works' multi annual capital allocation.
OPW is committed to funding this project and attends monthly project meetings with Cork City Council to ensure a contractor is engaged, and the works commence, as soon as possible.
232. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if concerns have been expressed to her Department regarding the operation of the post-1995 pension scheme for prison officers which precludes them from working up to 20 hours per week after they retire unlike those that retired pre-1995 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14141/20]
View answerThe post-1995 occupational pension scheme for prison officers, as with the pre-1995 pension scheme, does not preclude prison officers from taking up further employment post-retirement. There are two issues which can affect the pension of a public servant where the individual chooses to take up employment subsequent to retirement - pension abatement and supplementary pension rules.
1. Abatement Where a Public Servant (including Prison Officers) returns to work within the Public Service their public service pension will be abated in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 (the Act) where no more of the pension, when combined with the remuneration in the new public service position, shall exceed the pensionable remuneration at retirement as uprated to present day values.
Abatement policy remains a key component of the Act and addresses valid concerns about simultaneous payment of both pension and salary in the public service. Abatement applies to all public servants regardless of whether they have been appointed pre or post 1995. Where a public servant in receipt of a public service pension takes up private sector employment there is no impact, in respect of abatement, on the public service pension.
2. Occupational Supplementary Pension.
Following a Government decision in April 1995, civil servants, including prison officers, who pay Class A PRSI during their employment in the public service have their public service occupational pension integrated with the Social Welfare system. This means that account is taken of any social welfare pension payable to the individual in calculating the occupational pension payable to that individual.
Where an individual does not qualify for a social welfare pension or qualifies at less than the maximum rate of Contributory State Pension they may be entitled to the payment of a supplementary pension subject to meeting certain conditions. These conditions are laid down in Circular 6/1995 – Revised Social Insurance Status and Conditions of Service of Certain Civil Servants. The conditions for payment of the Supplementary Pension include:
1. the individual must not be engaged in paid employment;
2. he or she does not qualify for social insurance benefit or fail to qualify for such benefit at the maximum rate; and
3. his or her failure to qualify must be due to causes outside his or her control
However, there is no overall rule placing a “20 hour” employment restriction on a retired public service pensioner as suggested by the Deputy. Ultimately, the decision regarding working post retirement is an individual choice for a retired public servant.
233. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if community-led companies for construction and maintenance contracts and so on can be included in social contracts as part of the selection of contractors for the delivery of social projects. [14182/20]
View answerUnder normal conditions of competition, ‘sheltered workshops’ or social enterprises whose main aim is to integrate disadvantaged people in the workplace might not be able to obtain contracts. Under the EU Procurement Directives, contracting authorities are able to restrict some tendering procedures to ‘sheltered workshops’ and social enterprises. To participate in reserved procurement procedures, 30% of the company’s employees must be disadvantaged. Contracting authorities may also reserve certain contracts for health, social and cultural services to organisations such as not-for-profit organisations which meet certain conditions, namely the pursuit of a public service mission linked to the delivery of the relevant services and reinvestment of profits in the organisation.
The appropriateness of including social considerations needs to be examined on a contract-by-contract basis and there needs to be sufficient flexibility to allow each individual contracting authority to decide what, how, and when social considerations can be used. It is a matter for individual contracting authorities to ensure that their public procurement activities are discharged in line with procurement rules and procedures. The Office of Government Procurement ("OGP") supports contracting authorities in this regard by making them aware of their legal and policy obligations in respect to public procurement.
The OGP promotes the inclusion of social considerations, including reserved contracts and sheltered workshops. To further support the incorporation of social considerations into public procurement, in October 2019 the OGP published Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement. The Circular highlights the possibilities for Departments to deliver wider social and environmental aims through public procurement including in relation to employment and training opportunities for disadvantaged groups, disability access, promoting social inclusion and social enterprises.
To help policy makers and practitioners understand how procurement can be used to facilitate the advancement of existing social policy objectives as well as the wider context and implications of including them in particular procurement projects, the OGP published an Information Note on incorporating social considerations into public procurement in December 2018 which is available on ogp.gov.ie. A cross Departmental Social Considerations Advisory Group was also established in March 2019.
These developments promote and facilitate the inclusion of social considerations in a structured manner and are aimed at helping policy makers and procurement practitioners understand how procurement can be used to support advancement of existing social policy objectives, the wider context and the implications of including them in procurement projects.
234. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will publish the Departmental briefing paper on his role, remits and powers afforded to him upon appointment to the Cabinet. [14530/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the briefing document provided to me by my Department following my appointment will be published in the coming weeks. The published version will have regard to the relevant provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014.
235. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to introduce a set of well-being indices to create a well-rounded holistic view of the way in which society here is faring as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14622/20]
View answer236. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to develop a balanced scorecard for each area of public policy focused on outcomes as outlined in the Programme for Government; his discussions with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Minister for Health and Minister for Education and Skills on his plans for a balanced scorecard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14623/20]
View answer237. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to develop and incorporate measures relating to the distribution of wealth into the budgetary process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14624/20]
View answer238. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for new measures to account for the value of public expenditure based on outcomes achieved; the status of his discussion with the Department of the Taoiseach to convene a group of experts to guide this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14625/20]
View answer244. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of his discussions with the Minister for Health and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, respectively regarding their respective plans to improve budgeting for demographic related costs and produce service improvement and reform plans in conjunction his Department as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14631/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 235, 236, 237, 238 and 244 together.
As outlined in the ‘Programme for Government - Our Shared Future’, the government has committed to developing a set of wellbeing indicators to give a more well-rounded, holistic view of how our society is faring. Initially focusing on housing, education and health, a set of indicators will be developed to create a broader context for policy-making, to include a balanced scorecard for each area of public policy, focused on outcomes and the impact that those policies have on individuals and communities. The overriding focus is to improve the wellbeing of the Irish people and society.
The development of this work will be informed by the experience of other jurisdictions which have developed similar measures in recent years. Through the Department of the Taoiseach, a group of experts will be convened from the public service, academia, NGOs, and the private sector to guide this work.
Once developed, Government will ensure that it is utilised in a systematic way across government policy-making at local and national levels, in setting budgetary priorities, evaluating programmes and reporting progress. This will be an important complement to existing economic measurement tools that are in place to support well-being and outcomes-based approaches to policy making.
This includes the ESRI’s SWITCH Model which will continue to be utilised to help Government understand the impact of proposed reforms on households. Moreover, initiatives such as the Spending Review process, which is a key platform for evidence informed policy making across the Civil Service, will continue to produce evidence relevant to the wellbeing and outcomes of people, households, businesses and sectors of the economy.
Through my Department's responsibility for Performance and Equality budgeting, work is already underway in examining developments in this area, particularly regarding international best practice. Leveraging the experience in identifying metrics which maximise transparency and accountability, and utilising the guidance we provide to line departments in identifying the most appropriate measures to scrutinise public expenditure, I envisage that my Department will play a key role in working with the Department of the Taoiseach in delivering this work.
In terms of budgeting for demographic related costs, this is an issue that is under constant review in my Department. An updated version of the paper ‘Budgetary Impacts of Changing Demographics 2020 - 2030’ was published by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service alongside Budget 2020. A number of policy areas of particular relevance to demographics are covered in this paper, including pensions, child benefit, education provision and health schemes such as the Nursing Home Support Scheme.
This most recent version of the paper suggests demographic pressures of approximately €0.5 billion annually across Health, Social Protection and Education over most of the period to 2030. The analysis in this paper is based on an examination of sectoral expenditure data and CSO population estimates for the period, using the M2F2 projection scenario. These estimates form a central part of Estimates discussions with the relevant Ministers and Departments and are subject to ongoing evaluation.
239. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to incorporate national satellite accounts into the budgetary process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14626/20]
View answerBy national satellite accounts I understand the Deputy to mean statistics that cover activities linked to the domestic economy but not part of the core national accounts. These include the modified measures of output and augmented sectoral accounts as produced by the Central Statistics Office.
Such metrics are already used in a key area of the Budgetary process, namely in the Department of Finance’s macro-economic forecasts. The biannual forecasts, endorsed by the Fiscal Council, involve assessing the CSO’s satellite accounts’ data to obtain a more accurate picture of real activity in the domestic economy.
Data in such areas has improved enormously over recent years and provides a useful supplementary set of indicators to the standard set of financial and economic tools available. In recognition of this the Programme for Government commits to supplementing existing economic measures with a new set of indicators, to include a set of wellbeing indices and a balanced scorecard for each area of public policy, and with clear linkages to budgetary policy.
240. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to instruct the Office of Government Procurement to update all procurement frameworks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14627/20]
View answer241. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to evaluate and manage the environmental, economic and social impacts of procurement strategies as outlined in the programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14628/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 241 together.
The Government has set out a number of commitments in the Programme for Government in relation to public procurement including evaluating and managing the environmental, economic and social impacts of procurement strategies within the state and tasking the Office of Government Procurement ("OGP") to update all procurement frameworks in line with green procurement practice over the next three years.
This is in line with work already underway by the OGP to promote wider policy considerations including environmental and social in public procurement. Strategic spending can play a key role in responding to societal, environmental and economic challenges. The range of policies is broad and can include disability access, training for young or disadvantaged people, SME access as well as green public procurement and environmental sustainability.
The OGP has been actively engaged and proactive on this issue. The OGP published Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement in October 2019. The circular highlights the potential for Departments to deliver wider social and environmental aims through public procurement including in relation to employment and training opportunities for disadvantaged groups, disability access, promoting social inclusion and social enterprises. The circular, a commitment under the Climate Action Plan, provided a clear signal of the direction of travel. Green public procurement (GPP) is about leveraging the State’s purchasing power to choose more environmentally friendly goods, services and works and help contribute to more sustainable consumption and production.
The Circular was the latest in a series of measures following publication of the Information Note on Incorporating Social Considerations into Public Procurement in December 2018. The Information Note assists policy makers and practitioners in understanding how public procurement can be used to facilitate the advancement of existing social policy objectives as well as the wider context and implications of including them in particular public procurement projects.
The OGP also established the cross Departmental Social Considerations Advisory Group in March 2019, bringing together officials from policy Departments with procurement practitioners to share best practice and to facilitate the process of incorporating social and environmental considerations into public procurement. In addition to the work of the Social Considerations Advisory Group, the OGP has also engaged in bilateral meetings with Government Departments and promotes strategic procurement at procurement related events aimed at public sector bodies as well as for suppliers and social enterprises across the country. The OGP works with Government Departments when it is putting new central arrangements in place to ensure that appropriate regard is taken for sustainability criteria.
These developments promote and facilitate the inclusion of social considerations in a structured manner and are aimed at helping policy makers and procurement practitioners understand how procurement can be used to support advancement of existing social policy objectives, the wider context and the implications of including them in procurement projects.
I, along with my colleagues in Government, will be considering how best to implement the commitments in the Programme for Government. Minister of State Smyth and I have met with the Chief Procurement Officer and will be having further discussions with the OGP in this regard, building on the progress to date.
242. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to introduce a bargaining clause in the new agreement to make progress on sectoral issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14629/20]
View answer243. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to negotiate a new public pay deal with the public service unions; his further plans to ensure that there is an emphasis on embedding positive work practice changes that have emerged from the Covid-19 emergency and general productivity gains and effectiveness based on measurable outcomes; if he plans to ensure public servants are adequately compensated for the outcomes of these measurable productivity gains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14630/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the current public service pay agreement - the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 - runs to the end of the year.
Within the Programme for Government there is a commitment to seek to negotiate a new agreement with the public service unions which would take account of, inter alia, the State's financial position and outlook and that could include a mechanism to make progress on sectoral issues.
I will give full consideration to all of these issues over the coming weeks and arrangements will be made for discussions with relevant staff interests at the appropriate time.
