Written Answers Nos. 121-140
121. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the proposed work placement experience programme as cited in the National Recovery and Resilience Plan; his plans to ensure that participants of the programme are appropriately remunerated under the proposed scheme; if he will engage with a union (details supplied) on the design and governance of the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32346/21]
View answer122. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the key measures under Priority 1 of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32208/21]
View answer150. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way in which the National Recovery and Resilience Plan which he published in May 2021 will help in Ireland’s just transition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32339/21]
View answer157. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan submitted to the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31970/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 122, 150 and 157 together.
On 28 May 2021 Ireland’s draft National Recovery and Resilience Plan was approved by the Government and submitted to the European Commission. It will now be assessed by the Commission which will, within two months, make a recommendation to the Council of the European Union, on the basis of which implementation of the Plan will commence and EU financial support will start to flow.
On 1 June 2021 I published an overview of the draft Plan setting out details of the sixteen investment projects and nine reform measures it contains. Individual Ministers across Government will be responsible for the different investments.
The overall objective of the NRRP is to contribute to a sustainable, equitable, green and digital recovery, in a manner that complements and supports the Government’s broader recovery efforts.
Reflecting the requirements of the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, Ireland’s Plan has a particular focus on green and digital transition, as well as supporting economic recovery and job creation.
The NRRP is aligned with the Government’s Economic Recovery Plan and has been developed, in particular insofar as identification of investments is concerned, alongside the ongoing review of the National Development Plan.
The Plan has a total value of around €1 billion and includes a suite of projects and measures under three priority headings.
Reflecting our strong national commitment to addressing the climate and biodiversity crisis, Priority 1 sees investments with a total value of €531 million to address the green transition.
The importance of the digital transition for Ireland and Europe in the coming decade is reflected in Priority 2 which includes projects with a total value of €295 million aimed at accelerating and expanding digital reforms and transformation.
Finally, Priority 3 has a total value of €181 million and includes projects and measures to tackle social and economic recovery and job creation with a strong focus on supporting people’s return to work and preparing for the challenges of the future, including the work placement experience programme mentioned by Deputy Nash which is being advanced by my colleague the Minister for Social Protection.
123. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the analysis his Department has carried out into the question of ensuring that local elected representatives will be covered by protections for whistleblowers under the forthcoming legislation transposing the EU whistleblowing directive into law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32126/21]
View answerDirective (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law ("the Whistleblowing Directive") was adopted in October 2019 and Ireland has until 17 December 2021 to transpose it into Irish law. Ireland already has comprehensive whistleblower protection legislation in place in the form of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. Transposition of the Directive will require amendments to the 2014 Act.
In this regard, on 12 May 2021, following approval from Government, I published the General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Protected Disclosures Act to give effect to the Directive. My officials are now working with officials in the Office of the Attorney General on the drafting of the Bill. The General Scheme as also been referred to the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Taoiseach for pre-legislative scrutiny. In this regard, the Committee held a preliminary hearing with representatives from Transparency International Ireland, academia and the media on 27 May.
The Protected Disclosures Act already provides protections from retaliation for workers in the public and private sectors who speak up about wrongdoing in the workplace. The proposals I have set out in the General Scheme will - in accordance with the requirements of the Directive - provide for the extension of the personal scope of the Act to volunteers and also shareholders, board members and job applicants.
The question the Deputy raises as to the application of the Directive to local elected representatives is a legally complex matter and I have referred it to the Attorney General for his views. I await his reply, which then feed into consideration of this matter during the drafting process.
124. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works has any plans for the refurbishment of Naas Courthouse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32338/21]
View answerWhile the OPW has no responsibility for Court buildings, it does provide technical and other services on request to the Courts Service in relation to its buildings.
The OPW has not been requested by the Courts Service to carry out any refurbishment of Naas Courthouse.
The OPW carries out capital works, reactive and planned maintenance works as requested by the Courts Service. The OPW has no knowledge of any future refurbishment works planned for Naas Courthouse.
125. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the fines or sanctions that are issued to those involved in providing and building with defective concrete blocks to assist in funding the grant schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31922/21]
View answerThe remediation schemes arising from the use of defective concrete blocks come under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The management and administration of the schemes are therefore a matter for that Department.
126. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress of the Office of Public Works refurbishment of Carlow courthouse railings. [32330/21]
View answerThe Office of Public Works Heritage Services Division has recently received a number of tenders for the repair of the railings at Carlow Courthouse and the design team is currently in the process of assessing them.
The project Quantity Surveyor is reviewing the preferred tenderer’s price in detail.
There is an expectation that the Quantity Surveyor will issue his report very shortly for consideration.
If in order, the senior architect assigned to this project will directly discuss programme and other issues with the preferred tenderer. This will occur in advance of the Commissioners placing the contract with them for the execution of the works.
127. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will be moving to avail of the PEACE PLUS funding to promote North-South co-operation; the European funds that are currently being targeted; the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32467/21]
View answerThe Irish Government has advocated strongly for a new EU-funded cooperation programme between Ireland and Northern Ireland for the 2021-2027 EU programming period.
I am very pleased that such a programme has been secured. The new PEACE PLUS programme will combine and build on the current North South cross border cooperation programmes, PEACE IV and INTERREG VA., and will aim to build peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.
As for other programmes in the EU family of cross-border cooperation programmes, PEACE PLUS will be funded by the European Regional Development programme, under its European Territorial Cooperation objective. Funding contributions will come from the EU, the Irish Government, the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. While the funding quantum is not fully finalised, it is likely to be in the region of €1 billion.
This new programme will cover an eligible area of Northern Ireland and Counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo. However, I would note that there are also opportunities for cooperation beyond this programme area.
The development process for PEACE PLUS has been led by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), the North South Implementation Body which administers the current PEACE and INTERREG cross-border EU programmes. SEUPB has worked closely with my Department and with the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland and is also being supported by a cross-sectoral Programme Development Steering Group. SEUPB has been engaged in extensive preparation work for PEACE PLUS since 2019, including engagement with government departments North and South as well as public consultation.
On foot of this development work, SEUPB has prepared a draft PEACE PLUS programme with six themes:
- Building Peaceful and Thriving Communities
- Delivering Economic Regeneration and Transformation
- Empowering and Investing in Our Young People
- Healthy and Inclusive Communities
- Supporting a Sustainable Future;
- Building and Embedding Partnership and Collaboration.
Public consultation on the draft programme concluded on 12 May 2021, and the SEUPB is currently preparing a final draft which will be brought to the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive before submission to the European Commission.
128. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the promotion of the green and social procurement agenda; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32345/21]
View answerIn 2019, my Department published Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement. The Circular instructs Departments to consider including green criteria in public procurement processes where:
- Clearly defined, quantifiable, verifiable, and measurable criteria have been developed by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), and are relevant to the specific procurement process, and
- The cost can be met within a Department’s existing budget, without impacting on service delivery
Defined, quantifiable, verifiable, and measurable criteria for a number of products and services have been developed by the Environmental Protection Agency under the auspices of DECC and are available in 'Green Procurement - Guidance for the Public Sector', which can be downloaded from gov.ie. These criteria are being updated and new criteria, for a broader range of areas, is expected to be published in 2021. Further guidance on the inclusion of both green and social criteria in public procurement can be found in the Information Note on Incorporating Social Considerations into Public Procurement published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) in 2018.
Circular 20/2019 also requires public bodies to incorporate relevant green procurement measures into their planning and reporting cycles. The Environmental Protection Agency was requested by DECC to produce a Reporting and Monitoring template for Green Public Procurement with reports for 2020 due for return in March 2021. I understand the EPA is currently assessing these reports for 2020.
The OGP considers green and social criteria in the development of its solutions on a case by case basis having regard to all relevant factors including marketplace capabilities. In developing solutions, the OGP relies on the support and involvement of the users and policy departments to define their requirements. All OGP solutions meet the necessary minimum standards, legislation, codes of practice and industry standards. In addition, the OGP has included green and social considerations in a range of its solutions, for example, electric vehicles, paper, electricity, confidential shredding and catering supplies.
In addition, Circular 20/2019 draws the attention of Departments to the cross-departmental Social Considerations Advisory Group, which aims to promote and facilitate the incorporation of social considerations, including environmental considerations, into public procurement projects. This group was established by the OGP, and brings together officials from policy departments with public procurement practitioners to share best practice in relevant fields. To align the objectives of the group with Programme for Government commitments, new Terms of Reference were developed in September 2020, and the group has been renamed as the Strategic Procurement Advisory Group (SPAG). This year, the OGP and DECC jointly established an environmental subgroup of the SPAG. This subgroup facilitates more detailed, technical, discussion of approaches to incorporate environmental considerations into procurement.
Furthermore, my officials present at a range of public sector events and seminars to promote the green and social public procurement agenda and will continue to promote utilising the State’s purchasing power to deliver on our commitments to sustainable development and social inclusion. Green and social procurement considerations are also discussed with the key business representative bodies at the SME Advisory Group meeting which is chaired by my colleague, Minister of State Ossian Smyth.
129. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the retrofit of public office accommodation. [32340/21]
View answerThe Public Sector Retrofit Pathfinder Project at Tom Johnson House, being undertaken by the Office of Public Works (OPW) is one of its major capital projects. I am pleased to note the inclusion of this project within Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) 2021.
The National Recovery and Resilience Plan recently published by the Government identifies advancing the green transition as a top priority and allocates significant funding towards decarbonising projects such as the retrofitting of public office accommodation. The OPW is deeply committed to helping advance sustainable solutions that mitigate against climate change, including through the new Public Sector Retrofit Pathfinder Project as well as through a Public Service Innovation Fund project, which will develop guidelines for the deep energy renovation of historic public sector properties.
The Public Sector Retrofit Pathfinder Project at Tom Johnson House, located in Beggars Bush Dublin 4, will involve a significant refurbishment of this five storey over basement office building that was constructed circa 1975. This energy efficient project will be an exemplar of a ‘deep retrofit’ refurbishment project and will represent the OPW as a leader in the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon, resource-efficient economy.
The works will consist of a significant upgrade to the building thermal fabric and overall energy use – that will upgrade the Building Energy Rating (BER) from a C3 rating to an A2 rating, resulting in a 75% reduction of annual energy use. The project is currently out to tender and it is anticipated that the construction will start in Q4 2021 with a 21 month construction period.
When the proposed works are complete, the building, which is currently occupied by the Labour Relations Commission and the Geological Survey of Ireland, will become the new headquarters of the Department of Environment, Climate & Communications (DECC). The overall policy for retrofitting buildings across the entire public sector rests with the DECC.
130. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of and position regarding a number of tranche one schemes within the Eastern Flood Risk Management Plans specifically, Loughlinstown, Deansgrange and the Old Connaught / Wilford flood schemes. [32484/21]
View answerThank you Deputy for your question in relation to the 'Tranche One' schemes located in South County Dublin. The following is the current status of the schemes referred to in your PQ:
Loughlinstown (Carrickmines/Shanganagh):
Engineering and Environmental Consultants have been appointed for the project and they are currently gathering data to assist with modelling of extreme river flows in the catchment. In particular a flow and rainfall survey and a detailed topographical survey have just been completed. Initial environmental surveys are underway as well as an initial assessment of benefits that any future scheme may provide. It is planned to carry out an initial pubic consultation day in July to gather information about past flood events and consult the public about the types and areas where flood alleviation measures may be required. A dedicated website has been launched for the project (www.csfrs.ie). This contains detailed information on the projects’ progress and is updated regularly.
Loughlinstown (Deansgrange):
The Deansgrange Flood Relief Scheme is well underway. The appointed Engineering and Environmental consultants, JBA and JB Barry, have completed the initial data collection phase of the Project (topographical surveys, environmental surveys etc.) and are currently modelling flood alleviation options that will protect the many properties at risk, particularly in the Bayview/Seafield environs. To assist with the design of the preferred options, a detailed ground investigation has recently commenced.
An initial public engagement event took place in Q3 2020. When a cost beneficial alleviation option is identified there will be another public engagement event, this is likely to take place in Q4 2021.
As part of the project, an advance contract was awarded to construct a flood storage structure in Kilbogget Park. This structure will restrict flow in the river and store flood waters safely in the wetland area of the park and slowly release this flood water downstream as a severe rainfall event passes. This project is now substantially complete and will assist in providing protection to many, but not all, properties downstream. A dedicated website has been launched for the project which will be regularly updated: www.deansgrangefrs.ie
Old Connaught Road/Wilford Scheme:
The Old Connaught Road/Wilford Scheme, while included in the Flood Risk Management Plans launched in 2018, was not one of the initial 60 new flood relief schemes to be progressed under the Capital Flood Relief Programme and work is not yet planned at this time for Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council, who will be the lead Authority for this Scheme, to progress works there. The Old Connaught/Wilford Scheme will be progressed as part of the next tranche of projects that attract funding from the OPW.
Work was carried out on a screen at Wilford (approx.) 5 years ago but there have been no significant works since then.
131. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a recent Fiscal Advisory Council report (details supplied) which states that the Government has failed to deliver on its commitment to publish a credible medium-term strategy with SPU 2021, that the recent SPU is based on poorly-founded medium-term spending forecasts and does not incorporate major policy commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32347/21]
View answerSince its establishment in 2011, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council carries out an important independent role in assessing Government’s fiscal strategy. In its recent Fiscal Assessment Report (FAR) the Council has produced a detailed analysis on the fiscal projections in the Stability Programme Update (SPU) and also on the fiscal response to the Covid crisis.
In this regard, it is important to note the Council’s assessment that the Government’s response to the pandemic to date has been both warranted and appropriate, and in particular that the Government’s decision to continue exceptional temporary supports in 2021 was appropriate.
Looking forward, consistent with the approach set out in the SPU, the FAR outlines that Government should reduce supports in a gradual way, supporting those most affected and calibrating this based on how the recovery evolves. This approach is reflected in recent Government decisions with regard to the extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme.
The FAR also outlined the Fiscal Advisory Council's views regarding the need for Government to publish a credible medium-term strategy. Given the level of uncertainty in relation to the pandemic at the time the SPU was being compiled, it was decided to prepare the SPU on a technical 'no policy change' basis. In this context, from an expenditure perspective, technical core expenditure ceilings were set out in the SPU based on an average annual growth in total voted expenditure of 3½%. The FAR outlines that this level of annual growth in voted expenditure is insufficient to account for medium term ‘stand-still costs” associated with maintaining existing public services. However, it would have to be acknowledged that this 'stand-still' position is largely driven by certain assumptions in relation to medium term price effects rather than pre-committed levels of spending.
The SPU has provided a fiscal baseline that will support Government in reaching decisions in relation to a credible medium term fiscal pathway taking account of major policy priorities. It is intended that the Summer Economic Statement will set out the Government's fiscal position in more detail, taking account inter alia of the advancements in the vaccine rollout and the position with the pandemic.
132. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to a disparity in funding allocations across several Departments between areas in Cork city; and his plans to address this. [32468/21]
View answerAs part of the budgetary process each year, my Department sets overall expenditure ceilings for each Ministerial Vote Group. These are laid out at Budget time in the Expenditure Report with further detail then provided in the Revised Estimates for Public Services. Following allocation of each Ministerial Expenditure Ceiling, it is a matter for each Minister to assign funding as appropriate at programme and subhead level for their Departments and the agencies under their remit taking into account the demands for services in different areas and regions, having regard to demographics and other relevant factors.
133. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way in which he plans to further facilitate remote working for public sector workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32333/21]
View answerThe Government, has committed, in the Programme for Government, to mandating public sector employers to move to 20% home and remote working in 2021. In this context, My Department is, as a matter of priority, working with employers across the Civil Service to develop the longer term approach to remote working in the sector. My Department is also working closely with the wider public sector to ensure a consistency of approach. To this end the Department is working on a Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations which will assist those organisations in developing long-term remote working policies.
134. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether all contracts for capital works laid out in the National Development Plan should be required to contain social clauses which require contractors to hire a certain proportion of their staff from the live register and create a certain number of apprenticeships. [31969/21]
View answerThe 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 not intended to include social clauses incorporating employment activation measures in public works contracts generally since there is a substantial risk that doing so would cause considerable displacement of those already in employment. 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 has been promoting the inclusion of social considerations. To further support the incorporation of social considerations into public procurement, 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, since re-titled the Strategic Procurement 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.
135. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when flood remediation works to be undertaken by the Office of Public Works will commence at Springfield, Clonlara, County Clare. [32137/21]
View answerClare County Council (CCC) is the contracting authority in relation to the proposed flood relief scheme in Springfield/Clonlara, with funding provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW). The current position is as follows:
CCC have been in contact with land owners affected by the proposals and has consulted with local residents and relevant statutory bodies. The Council submitted the proposed works for planning permission, which was granted by An Bord Pleanala in November 2020. Since then detailed design and further survey work have been ongoing and are now substantially complete. It was recently identified by the scheme consultants Byrne Looby & Associates that some final additional Ground Investigations were required prior to construction commencing. Contractors have carried out trial holes and ground investigation work, and the results of these were assessed by a specialist Consultant Hydrogeologist. Following that review, a draft Hydrogeology Report on the groundwater flows in Springfield has now been completed, the findings of which are currently being considered by the Scheme Consultants Byrne Looby. A recommendations report from Byrne Looby is currently awaited on progression of the scheme based on the Hydrogeologists Report.
Clare County Council and the OPW are extremely disappointed that this delay has occurred but are committed to finding a solution which will allow us to move forward at the earliest juncture. It is proposed to carry out the construction works using OPW direct labour.
136. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the revised National Development Plan 2018-2027 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32336/21]
View answer165. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when it is intended to announce the details of the revised National Development Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31516/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 165 together.
The review of the National Development Plan is currently ongoing.
As part of the Programme for Government the review was brought forward to 2021 in order to assess the resourcing requirements for the most important challenges facing us as a nation including climate action, infrastructural challenges, housing, balanced regional development, healthcare, social welfare policy, transport, and education.
The first phase commenced in October 2020, which included the public consultation, Review to Renew, as well as further evidence-gathering by way of sectoral submissions for Departments and a series of technical papers.
The results of Phase 1 were published in a report on April 4th 2021 on my Department's website.
The technical and consultative work carried out as part of Phase 1 forms the evidence base to underpin the decisions to be taken in Phase 2 of the NDP.
The objective of Phase 2 of the NDP is to set out revised sectoral capital allocations for the upcoming 10-year period, including non-Exchequer investment, as well as providing a renewed focus on delivery of efficient and cost-effective public infrastructure. The range of indicated sectoral priorities will be identified as part of the final revised NDP.
Engagement is ongoing with Departments in this regard with a view to progressing this work over the coming period.
Work is underway with a view to finalisation of the NDP this summer. The overall timetable in this regard, and as regards publication of the revised NDP, will naturally be coordinated with other Government policy initiatives which have a bearing upon our overall capital and infrastructure priorities.
137. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the most recent estimate for the cost of removing the requirement for staff in the public service to work additional hours which were introduced on foot of the Haddington Road Agreement in 2013. [32341/21]
View answerThe additional hours introduced on foot of the Haddington Road Agreement are of significant value to the State and critical to supporting the delivery of public services, including in front line services in health, education, Revenue and Social Protection, where they are deeply embedded in their delivery structures. This increased capacity was evident over the last year with the agility, commitment and flexibility demonstrated by the public service in meeting the challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic.
Under the new public service pay agreement 'Building Momentum, 2021 - 2022', an independent body has been established to examine the additional hours worked by public servants under the Haddington Road Agreement.
The body will consider, and fully take into account, submissions made by the parties to the Agreement and will be tasked to report by end 2021. As part of the deliberative process, the body, will consider:
- The context for the pay and productivity measures within the Haddington Road Agreement.
- The quantification and verification of the additional worked by the Haddington Road Agreement grade, group and sector.
- Any associated costs with reference to possible replacement mechanisms, e.g. rostering changes, productivity measures, recruitment, overtime/premia payments, agency staffing.
- The operational, service delivery and administrative implications associated with any reduction in hourly work requirements, including the proportion of hours that support direct service delivery compared with those that provide indirect services.
- The manner in which additional hours contributed to more standardised public service terms and conditions.
- the varying application of the additional hours provision of the Haddington Road Agreement.
- Relevant overtime divisors.
Roll-out of the body’s recommendations will be initiated within the lifetime of the Agreement. In this regard, to enable commencement of the recommendations during 2022, on the publication of the Report, an envelope of €150m will be made available under the Agreement across all affected grades, groups, categories and sectors. In the context of the 2023 estimates, having regard to available resources, on publication of the Report, the parties to the Agreement will engage proactively in relation to such provisions as are necessary to roll out any remaining recommendations.
It is the role of the independent body to quantify and verify the costs and replacement mechanisms for any removal of the additional hours. However, IGEES have previously undertaken analysis of this issue published in the context of Budget 2018, which may be of assistance to the Deputy and can be found at the following link:
http://www.budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2018/Documents/2.Estimating%20the%20Value%20of%20Additional%20Hours%20Worked%20-%20HRA%20and%20CPA.pdf
My Department will be building on this work as part of its engagement with the Independent Body.
138. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for Sceilig Mhichíl for the 2021 season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32348/21]
View answerAt the beginning of the month, the 21st June 2021 was announced as a target date for the re-opening of Skellig Michael to visitors. This date was of course, dependent on weather conditions being favourable, allowing works to progress in a timely manner prior to opening.
While preparatory work has commenced on the island, delays have resulted due to necessary monitoring of the bird population on the island as well as the completion of the digital survey of the monastery. In addition, weather conditions have been unfavourable, reducing the time OPW operatives could obtain access to the site for works. The progress of these works is under constant review and discussions remain ongoing regarding the re-opening of the site to visitors at a time atthe soonest time that it is deemed safe to do so
The revised target date for the re-opening of the island to visitors is 1st July 2021.
139. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there are new plans in place for the decentralisation or relocation of public sector jobs from Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32334/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government makes a number of commitments in relation to more balanced regional development. This includes, where possible, the commitment to prioritise the siting of new State Agencies and Government Offices in towns and cities outside of Dublin. While many Departments may traditionally have been headquartered in Dublin, over half of all civil servants are now located outside of Dublin. In the case of my own Department, for example, personnel within my Department and Agencies under my Department are based in several regions throughout the country. This includes a significant payroll operation for the National Shared Services Office that is based in Killarney that undertakes payroll transactions for the entire civil service, as well as procurement operations in Sligo, Limerick and Little Island in Cork.
The vast majority of open competitions for civil service positions, which are advertised by the Public Appointments Service on www.publicjobs.ie, allow for the formation of regional panels to fill regional vacancies as the business need arises at all levels within the civil service. Additionally, my Department operates a Mobility Programme for the civil service whereby eligible civil servants can apply for transfer to another geographic region within the country at their current grade including, for example, from Dublin to Galway or vice versa.
As the Deputy will appreciate, Covid-19 has posed unprecedented challenges for the workforce in both the private sector and public sector in Ireland. It has also afforded new opportunities and innovative ways of working that we are all eager to harness into the future. The Programme for Government commits to an Enterprise Policy as part of the National Development Plan to enable increased remote, flexible and hub-working arrangements to promote better work-life balance, higher female labour market participation, less commuting, and greater regional balance.
140. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is engaged in discussions to agree revised principles for a new higher education staffing agreement to update the current employment control framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32471/21]
View answerOfficials from my Department engage on an ongoing basis with colleagues in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on multiple policy and operational issues, including consideration of principles for a Higher Education Staffing Agreement. The purpose of a Higher Education Staffing Agreement, once finalised, will be to update the existing overarching Employment Control Framework (ECF) approach which has been in place since 2010 and which is still in place in a number of sectors in the public service.
While the operation and management of the existing ECF approach is a matter for DFHERIS, HEA and the Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), key issues from my Department’s perspective are to ensure that it appropriately reflects fiscal, expenditure and public service staffing and pay policies. Regarding the overarching principles for a new approach, my Department is seeking to ensure that staffing decisions taken in the higher education sector are affordable and sustainable both from a higher education perspective but also from an Exchequer and wider public service staffing and pensions perspective. My Department is also mindful of the need to ensure that there is appropriate flexibility built in to any revised approach so that HEIs can operate efficiently in make their staffing decisions, having regard to their overall expenditure allocations and other appropriate controls.
