Written Answers Nos. 469-486
470. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to sign off on a pension increase for retired prison officers under the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, provisions. [33136/20]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the previous Government approved the current pension increase policy for the pre-existing public service pension schemes (i.e. all pension schemes apart from the Single Public Service Pension Scheme) as part of its commitments under the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA).
Under this policy, which applies for the duration of the PSSA, pay increases granted to serving staff over the course of the PSSA are passed on to those pensions awarded under the pre-existing public service schemes where the salary on which the pension is based does not exceed the salary of serving staff with the same grade and scale point, after the pay increase has been applied.
If it qualifies, the pension is eligible for an increase to the extent that this will ensure alignment with the pay of serving staff. The most recent guidance issued by my Department on the matter is Circular 19/2019, which is available online at: www.gov.ie/en/circular/b5d982-circular-192019-further-instruction-on-the-pension-increase-policy-I/.
It appears that the matter to which the Deputy is referring arises from the application of the pension increase policy to situations in which a pensionable fixed periodic allowance (rent allowance, in the case of Prison Officers) was increased and then consolidated into the relevant salary scales. This issue, which is not explicitly addressed under the terms of the PSSA, is under active review by my Department and it is expected that relevant guidance will be issued shortly to the National Shared Services Office.
471. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason employees of public bodies and those in the public sector do not qualify as e-workers for payments of up to €3.20 per day for expenditure incurred in the performance of the duties of their employment from home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33182/20]
View answerDuring this exceptional time, whereby a significant number of public servants are required to work from home, in line with public health advice, my Department has published central guidance on working arrangements during COVID-19 for the Civil and Public Service. This guidance is available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/0cfe6-update-24th-august-2020-to-guidance-on-working-arrangements-during-covid-19-for-the-civil-and-public-service/.
The current position as set out in the guidance on the payment of allowances to public servants who are working from home is as follows:
“Public service employers should not pay a daily allowance (e.g. €3.20 per day) to their employees in respect of working from home. It is open to employees to make claims directly to Revenue in respect of actual costs incurred in working from home at the end of the relevant tax year, in accordance with the relevant tax laws. Any claim in this regard is solely a matter for the individual concerned.”
In this context, public servants can make claims directly to Revenue in relation to costs incurred while working from home (e.g. electric, gas, broadband).
473. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of contracts approved in his Department in 2019 and to date in 2020 without competitive tender; the details of the contracts; the company awarded the contracts; and the full value of the contracts, in tabular form. [33277/20]
View answerThe details requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the procurement processes for these contracts were carried out in accordance with the Office of Government Procurement’s (OGP) Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services which aim to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers the best value for money. They were undertaken under the terms of Article 32 of the Public Sector Procurement Directive, (2004/18/EC), which provides for the awarding of contracts without the use of a competitive procedure in certain circumstances, including, for example: where no suitable tenders have been submitted in response to an open or restricted procedure; where competition is absent for technical reasons; and for reasons of extreme urgency brought about by unforeseeable events.
The Deputy will note that there was an increase in the number of Article 32 procurements in 2020, in comparison with 2019. This was primarily due to the operational impacts of the Covid-19 public health emergency, which has led to major changes in how the Department delivers on its strategic remit.
Details of all contracts / purchases of more than €25,000 (exclusive of VAT) undertaken without a competitive process, and the reasons for doing so, are notified to the Comptroller and Auditor General when preparing the Annual Appropriation Accounts and published in that context.
Contracts over €500 approved without Competitive Tender
|
Year |
Company Awarded Contract |
Details of the Contract |
Value of Contract (€) |
|
2019 |
A&L Goodbody |
Bespoke legal amendments to extant Capital Works Management Framework documentation previously prepared by A&L Goodbody |
€12,060 |
|
Equinix |
To support Government Network connectivity between Public Sector Bodies (PSBs) and telecommunication providers and other third party bodies that PSBs engage directly with |
€54,853 |
|
|
BMF Business Services (Eolas Publications / Conferences) |
Publication of Public Service (eInvoicing) Information Article for consumption by Public Sector and Private Sector Bodies |
€4,378 |
|
|
2020 |
Equinix |
To support Government Network connectivity between Public Sector Bodies (PSBs) and telecommunication providers and other third party bodies that PSBs engage directly with |
€55,000 |
|
Linode |
Provision of IT Cloud Services to facilitate increased demand for Gov.ie services that have arisen in the context of Covid-19 |
€20,000 |
|
|
AwS |
Provision of IT Cloud Services to facilitate increased demand for Gov.ie services that have arisen in the context of Covid-19 |
€100,000 |
|
|
Eir (Security Services) |
Provision of IT Security Services to enhance malware detection and prevention systems in response to a National Cyber Security Centre alert on heightened threat levels arising from Covid-19 |
€123,000 |
|
|
The Learning Rooms(SHRC Limited) |
Provision of eLearning to meet Covid-19 related training needs |
€24,000 |
|
|
McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors |
Provision of legal advices on advisory notes and legal agreements for use with standard form Capital Works Management Framework contracts in response to Covid-19 measures |
€29,520 |
|
|
BMF Business Services (Eolas Publications / Conferences) |
Publication of Public Service (eInvoicing) Information Article for consumption by Public Sector and Private Sector Bodies |
€4,274 |
Notes:
1 Details of transactions between the Department and other public sector bodies are not included. 2The Department’s procurement policy provides that goods or services with an estimated value of under €500 (excluding VAT) may be purchased directly.
474. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of all planned and incomplete flood relief and management schemes in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33325/20]
View answerThe following table gives a list of schemes for County Cork and the status of each scheme.
|
Name of Scheme |
Status |
|
Ballinhassig |
Scheme at prefeasiblity stage |
|
Ballymakeery/Ballyvourney |
Scheme at design/planning stage |
|
Bandon |
Construction ongoing but will be substantially complete in 2020. |
|
Bantry |
Tender documents for engineering consultant being finalised for issue. |
|
Blackpool |
Scheme has been submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for statutory consent under the Arterial Drainage Acts |
|
Carrigaline |
Scheme is under review to confirm the technical aspects and viability, and, subject to outcomes, will then progress to Outline Design and Planning. |
|
Clonakilty |
Construction ongoing |
|
Douglas(incl Togher culvert) |
Construction ongoing |
|
Glashaboy |
Scheme has been submitted to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for statutory consent under the Arterial Drainage Acts |
|
Lower Lee (Cork City) |
Scheme at design stage prior to submission to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for Statutory consent under the Arterial Drainage Acts |
|
Macroom |
Scheme at pre-feasibility stage |
|
Midleton |
Scheme at scheme development and preliminary design stage |
|
Skibbereen |
Substantially complete |
|
Ballingeary |
Scheme to be developed as part of 10-year NDP 2018-2027) |
|
Castlemartyr |
Scheme to be developed as part of 10-year NDP 2018-2027) |
|
Castletown Bearhaven |
Scheme to be developed as part of 10-year NDP 2018-2027) |
|
Inchigeelagh |
Scheme to be developed as part of 10-year NDP 2018-2027) |
|
Inishannon |
Scheme to be developed as part of 10-year NDP 2018-2027) |
|
Kanturk |
Scheme to be developed as part of 10-year NDP 2018-2027) |
|
Rathcormack |
Scheme to be developed as part of 10-year NDP 2018-2027) |
|
Schull |
Scheme to be developed as part of 10-year NDP 2018-2027) |
|
Youghal |
Scheme to be developed as part of 10-year NDP 2018-2027) |
475. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding can be drawn down via the Office of Public Works to address long-standing flooding issues effecting 54 farmers along the River Inagh, with initial focus on the area around the townlands of Knockdromagh and Glann. [33494/20]
View answerI am advised that local flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address. All Local Authorities, including Clare County Council may carry out flood mitigation works, using either their own resources, or by applying for funding under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.
Under this scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management. Full details of this scheme are available on www.opw.ie.
476. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide all disbursements of capital spending above €20 million on completed projects for each year since 2016, by name of project, Department or body responsible for delivering the project, county, NUTS3 region, type of investment, construction commencement, completion year and actual cost, in tabular form. [33581/20]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my own Department has not had any projects with a capital spend in excess of €20 million since 2016.
The details of the capital spend for the Office of Public Works (OPW), which is an Office under the aegis of my Department, are set out in the following table.
|
Project Name |
Dept. / Body Responsible |
County |
NUTS3 Region |
Type of Investment |
Construction Commencement |
Year of Completion |
Actual Cost |
|
Kevin St, Dublin 8 Garda Divisional HQ |
Office Of Public Works on behalf of An Garda Síochána |
Dublin |
Eastern & Midland |
Construction |
February 2015 |
20 April 2018 |
€38.2m (VAT inclusive) |
|
Wexford,Garda Divisional HQ |
Office Of Public Works on behalf of An Garda Síochána |
Wexford |
Southern |
Construction |
August 2015 |
15 September 2017 |
€26.4m(VAT inclusive) |
|
Galway, Garda Regional and Divisional HQ |
Office Of Public Works on behalf of An Garda Síochána |
Galway |
Northern & Western |
Construction |
October 2015 |
9 July 2018 |
In Conciliation – final cost to be determined |
|
Skibbereen Flood Relief Scheme |
OPW / Cork County Council |
Cork |
South West Region |
Flood Relief Scheme |
July 2016 |
2018* |
€33.2m** (VAT inclusive) |
*Substantial completion reached
**Costs to date
477. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to establish oversight and conditionality measures to ensure well managed and effective expenditure of the July 2020 stimulus funding; if this will include stakeholder oversight groups at sectoral levels, with the involvement of trade unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33583/20]
View answerManaging the delivery of public services within allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and Department. There are important measures in place at all times to ensure that our budgetary targets are being met. This relates to Covid-19 related expenditure as it does to all other expenditure in the normal course of events. My Department is in regular contact with all other Departments and offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within the overall fiscal parameters and there is regular reporting to Government on expenditure levels.
As set out in the most recent Fiscal Monitor, published by the Department of Finance, total gross voted expenditure at end-October 2020 was €65,547 million. This is €8,604 million, or 15.1% ahead of profile. It should be noted however, that expenditure profiles for the year were published in February and are based on the expenditure allocations set out in the 2020 Revised Estimates Volume. This means that the impact of additional resources allocated in respect of Covid-19 are not reflected in these profiles. As such, spending can be expected to run significantly ahead of profile for the remainder of the year. Gross voted current expenditure of €60,000 million, is €8,662 million, or 16.9% above profile. Gross voted capital expenditure of €5,547 million, is €58 million, or 1% below profile and up €886 million, or 19% on October 2019.
Additional resources allocated to Departments in respect of Covid-19 for 2020 were reflected in the Pre-Budget Expenditure Update, published on October 6th. This expenditure, as well as additional measures announced as part of Budget 2021 was also reflected in the 2020 expenditure ceiling published in Expenditure Report 2021, published on Budget Day, October 13th . These additional allocations were also set out at a Departmental level in the report, in order to allow for oversight of where additional funds are going. The majority of this additional expenditure has been reflected in 2020 Estimates presented to Dáil Éireann, with the remainder to be presented in the coming weeks.
With regard to Health spending in particular, a Budget Oversight Group was established in 2019 to monitor health spending and act as an early warning mechanism. The Budget Oversight Group is made up of senior representatives from DPER, D/Health and the HSE The overarching purpose of the group is to monitor health current expenditure and staffing within budget allocations and act as an early warning mechanism for any deviations. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, this group meets on a regular basis and the minutes of each meeting are published on the DPER website here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/31f5d3-hbog-finance-subgroup-minutes/.
478. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he received correspondence from a local authority regarding flood defence works (details supplied). [33624/20]
View answerI am advised it is a matter for Local Authorities in the first instance to assess and address problems of coastal erosion in their areas. Where necessary, Local Authorities may put forward proposals to relevant central Government Departments, including the Office of Public Works, for funding of appropriate measures depending on the infrastructure or assets under threat. There is no application on hand for the location mentioned in the Deputy’s question.
Under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management. Full details of this scheme are available on www.opw.ie.
479. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to honour the Labour Court recommendation to provide an occupational pension for community employment supervisors; the engagement he has had on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33686/20]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the matter of community employment schemes falls within the policy remit of my colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs & Social Protection.
I have however a strong appreciation of the role of Community Employment Schemes in communities right across the country and I know this role could not be fulfilled without the leadership of the Scheme Supervisors. In this context I have taken the opportunity to meet with the relevant parties involved in these schemes to hear at first hand their issues of concern.
The particular matter raised by the Deputy is a complex one that raises significant policy, legal and exchequer cost issues. The Deputy may be aware that the State is not the employer of the workers concerned. A detailed scoping exercise was carried out in 2017 in order to comprehensively examine and assess the full potential implications, in both cost and precedent terms, of the issues involved. The outcome to the scoping exercise was that the matter has potentially very significant implications for the exchequer, particularly if consequential demands were to be made by all similar State funded Community and Voluntary organisations whose employees are in a similar position to the Community Employment scheme supervisors.
This is a factor which must be borne in mind in our approach to this issue. While CE Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors represent a small part of the wider community and voluntary sector, consideration must be taken for the potential liability to the State if similar claims are made by the many workers in the broader community and voluntary sector.
As the Deputy will appreciate, we are now facing major challenges in managing the public finances. However, in conjunction with my colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs & Social Protection I am giving fresh consideration to all the issues involved in relation to this matter and will continue to engage constructively with the relevant stakeholders.
480. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the capital and current allocation to his Department in 2020; and the amount spent of both to date. [33701/20]
View answerMy Department's operations are financed by three distinct Votes to fund the Department itself (Vote 11) and the two Offices which are also part of the Department - the Office of Government Procurement (Vote 39) and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (Vote 43).
The 2020 allocation for these Votes is set out in the following table.
|
Gross - €m |
DPER |
OGP |
OGCIO |
Total |
|
2020 Current Allocation |
€44.3m |
€18.1m |
€18.2m |
€80.6m |
|
2020 Capital Allocation |
€0.6m |
€0.6m |
€3.6m |
€4.8m |
|
Total |
€44.9m |
€18.7m |
€21.8m |
€85.4m |
The corresponding amounts spent for each of these Votes to the end of October 2020 are set out in the following table.
|
Gross - €m |
DPER |
OGP |
OGCIO |
Total |
|
2020 Current Spend Jan-Oct inclusive |
€33.8m |
€12.7m |
€12.1m |
€58.6m |
|
2020 Capital Spend Jan-Oct inclusive |
€0.1m |
€0.4m |
€3.0m |
€3.5m |
|
Total |
€33.9m |
€13.1m |
€15.1m |
€62.1m |
481. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 290 of 22 September 2020, when a reply will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33732/20]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the maintenance of Arterial Drainage Schemes completed under the Arterial Drainage Act of 1945. The embankment in Callinafercy, Milltown does not form part of an Arterial Drainage Scheme. Therefore, the OPW has no responsibility for the maintenance of the embankment and associated drainage channels.
482. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the groups of public servants earning under €70,000 who have still to have their pay reductions reversed under the financial emergency measures in the public interest, FEMPI, provisions; the number of staff per group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33834/20]
View answerIn line with the commitments made in the Public Service Stability Agreement, public service salaries have been restored for public servants earning up to approx. €70,000 (over 90% of public servants).
483. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of data protection breaches identified within his Department in 2019. [33850/20]
View answerThe Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has a data breach management policy in place to ensure that any data breaches are dealt with as required under Articles 33-34 of the GDPR. In line with this policy, the Department identified and recorded seven data breaches during 2019. None of the breaches identified in the Department in 2019 required formal notification to the Data Protection Commissioner under the GDPR.
484. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Garda stations within the Clare division that were refurbished by the OPW over the past 18 months; the nature of works that were carried out at each station during this period; and if he will indicate if works are still ongoing or completed, by station. [33856/20]
View answerI can confirm that the Office of Public Works has carried out refurbishment works to 15 Garda Stations in the Clare Division between May 2019 and October 2020. Details of these works are given the following table and include works funded by both the Office of Public Works and An Garda Síochána.
|
Station |
Description of Works |
Status |
|
Ballyvaughan GS |
External Painting |
Complete |
|
Corrofin GS |
Kitchen Upgrade |
Complete |
|
Crusheen GS |
Full Station Upgrade |
Complete |
|
Ennis GS |
Structural Works to Boundary Walls; Realignment of carparking spaces in rear carpark |
Ongoing |
|
Ennistymon GS |
Kitchen Replacement; Removal of Security Railing; Realignment of carparking spaces |
Ongoing |
|
Kildysart GS |
Exterior painting , Power washing of driveway |
Complete |
|
Kilkee GS |
Public Office Upgrade; New Kitchen; Fire Safety Upgrade; Resurface Tarmac |
Ongoing |
|
Killaloe GS |
Window Replacement; External Painting; Cell Area Upgrade |
Completed |
|
Lisdoonvarna GS |
Public Office Upgrade |
Ongoing |
|
Miltown Malbay GS |
Insulation Upgrade to Station and Married Quarters; Internal & External Painting; Chimney Repairs |
Completed |
|
Newmarket-on-Fergus GS |
Public Office Upgrade; Insulation Upgrade; Driveway Repair; Heating Upgrade |
Completed |
|
Scarriff GS |
Redash External Wall; Roof & Chimney Repairs; Internal Water Damage Repairs; External & Internal Painting |
Ongoing |
|
Shannon GS |
External Works; Replace Gutters; Windows Replacement |
Ongoing |
|
Sixmilebridge GS |
External Painting; Rebuild Front Wall; Footpath Repairs; Replacement of Soffit & Fascia |
Completed |
|
Tulla GS |
Window & Door Replacement; New Entrance Gate |
Ongoing |
485. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount the OPW spent on capital works projects at tourism and heritage sites under its remit in each of the years 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; and the 2021 budget allocation for same. [33857/20]
View answerExpenditure on capital works projects at tourism and heritage sites under the remit of OPW for the last three years was as set out in the following table.
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 (to 30.10.20) |
|
€2,075,663.20 |
€3,288,694.70 |
€4,321,315.64 |
Capital allocations for 2021 have not been established as yet.
For clarity, it should be noted that this expenditure relates to capital works projects only and the following is excluded:
- cost of ongoing maintenance of estate, buildings or historic fabric
- operational costs such as staff wages, light and heat and other consumables etc.
486. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her plans to support the mental health of men and women in the live music industry, particularly those at risk of drug and alcohol misuse during this period (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32290/20]
View answerThe Deputy may be aware that I launched a number of new music and performance schemes, to aid employment in the creative industries. The Music Stimulus Package involves three funding schemes designed to help sustain the popular commercial music sector across all music genres, including rock, pop, hip hop, indie, jazz, country and traditional folk. Under this package, a fund of €1.7 million has been put in place to stimulate areas of work which artists would usually fund with income from own sources, including live event fees. These schemes are targeted at professional musicians and their teams and will support song writing camps, recording and album releases. The aim is to ensure that Irish musicians, engineers, PR, media, agents, labels and publishers can continue to develop and ensure their work in the context of COVID-19 restrictions. The music stimulus package schemes are being managed on behalf of the Department by First Music Contact and will be subject to peer panel assessment.
Under the live performance supports pilot scheme, a further allocation of €5 million is being made available, which aims to assist commercial venues, producers, promoters of live performances and provide employment to workers in creative industries. Allocations under this scheme were announced this week.
The Deputy may be also aware that I appointed the Arts and Culture Recovery Task Force, which is being chaired by Clare Duignan. The membership of that task force includes representatives from the music industry. Taken as a starting point, the research and evidence of the devastating impact of the pandemic on the sector compiled by the Department, the Arts Council and other stakeholders, the task force's report will set out recommendations on how best the arts and culture sector can adapt and recover from the unprecedented damage arising from the pandemic.
