David Cullinane
Question:1742. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the costs incurred to date by the CervicalCheck Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18859/21]
View answerWednesday, 21 April 2021
Questions (1742, 1785, 2197)
David Cullinane
Question:1785. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the costs to date of the setting up and operation of the CervicalCheck Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18971/21]
View answerDavid Cullinane
Question:2197. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the costs incurred to date by the CervicalCheck Tribunal by cost type, for example, salaries, public relations, legal fees, rent and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20109/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1742, 1785 and 2197 together.
The CervicalCheck Tribunal is based in the Infinity Building in Smithfield in office space that has been fitted out to meet the Tribunal’s requirements including:
- Three hearing rooms
- A counter and reception area
- Consultation rooms and a larger meeting room that can be used by claimants and their legal representatives
- Comfortable private rooms for use by claimants when they are not in hearings.
- Offices for Tribunal staff
- Chambers for the Tribunal Members
The amount expended on the fit out for the Tribunal by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to date is €1,627,645. This includes construction fit-out costs, consultants fees, vat and per cent for art allowance. As this was a ‘first use’ fitout, a significant portion of this expenditure would have been required irrespective of the usage to which the accommodation was put.
The building occupied by the Tribunal is leased by the OPW on a long-term basis. A pro-rata allocation of the leasehold cost entails a spend of €303,144 per annum to provide accommodation for the Tribunal. A further €112,315 per annum is spent on service charges.
The amounts paid by my department in respect of the set up and operation of the Tribunal to the end of March 2021 are set out in the Table below. These costs include one off set up costs that are in addition to the fit out costs referred to above, as well as ongoing costs for the operation of the Tribunal.
|
Category |
Total |
|
Advertising/Media |
€4,287 |
|
Cleaning |
€13,438 |
|
Furniture and Fittings |
€140,076 |
|
IT/AV |
€45,836 |
|
Legal |
€27,162 |
|
Office |
€6,018 |
|
Printing |
€9,346 |
|
Security |
€424 |
|
Total |
€246,587 |
The figures above are provisional and at this time it is not possible to provide a breakdown between the cost of setting up the Tribunal and costs incurred by the Tribunal in its ongoing operation.
The CervicalCheck Tribunal Act 2019 (the 2019 Act) requires the Tribunal to submit a report to me in respect of its activities during each financial year. This report must include particulars of its accounts.
Under the 2019 Act I am required to determine the remuneration of Tribunal Members other than those who are serving judges of the Superior Courts. I can confirm that the ordinary member of the Tribunal who is a retired judge of the Court of Appeal is paid at the rate of remuneration currently applicable to a judge of that Court.
The cost of staffing the Tribunal to the end of March 2021, including both set up and operational costs post establishment, has been €277,176. This figure includes employer’s PRSI.