Written Answers Nos. 231-249
231. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Finance the number of workers employed by his Department and in each office or agency under the aegis of his Department who earn less than the living wage of €12.30 per hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33590/21]
View answerThe staff of my Department are paid in line with Government pay policy and there are currently 6 civil servants in my Department whose salaries are less than the living wage of €12.30 per hour. It should be noted that, of these, 5 officers will move above the living wage rate of €12.30 per hour when they move to the next increment step of their respective salary scales. The 1 other officer will move above the living wage rate within two increment steps. Officers typically move to the next increment step of their salary scale on an annual basis, subject to satisfactory performance.
5 of the bodies under the aegis of my Department have employees who earn less than the living wage of €12.30 as set out in the following table.
|
Body under the aegis of the Department of Finance |
Number of employees earning less than €12.30 per hour |
|
Central Bank of Ireland |
13 |
|
National Treasury Management Agency |
3 |
|
Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General |
13 (11 of these are students on temporary work placement and 2 are apprentices from Accounting Technicians Ireland. Both groups, students and apprentices, are paid in accordance with the Clerical Officer grade III pay scale) |
|
Office of the Revenue Commissioners |
1,022 |
|
Tax Appeals Commission |
7 |
232. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public service workers currently earning below the living wage; and the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer of bringing their wages in line with the living wage. [32861/21]
View answer238. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of ensuring that all public sector workers are paid a living wage currently estimated at €12.30 per hour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32912/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 238 together.
It is important that Ireland’s statutory National Minimum Wage and the Living Wage concept are not confused. The Living Wage has no legislative basis and is therefore not a statutory entitlement. It currently stands at €12.30 per hour according to the Living Wage Technical Group document 2020.
The National Minimum Wage is a statutory entitlement and has a legislative basis. The Low Pay Commission annually assesses the appropriate level of the National Minimum Wage. The current national minimum hourly rate of pay, since 1 January 2021, is €10.20 per hour, as set out in the National Minimum WageOrder (No. 2) 2020.
The suggested Living Wage at €12.30 per hour based on the Civil Service 37 hour standard net working week equates to an annual salary of €23,747.
Detailed data on civil service staff indicates that only some 0.2% of staff (FTE) in the civil service are on salary points less than €23,747. Further to this, all civil servants are paid at rates above the minimum wage of €10.20 per hour.
Those currently on an annual salary of less than €23,747 may be receiving remuneration in excess of the suggested living wage through additional premium payments in respect of shift or atypical working hours or are on salary scales that progress to the suggested living wage and above through incremental progression.
Building Momentum - A New Public Service Agreement 2021-2022 provides for a general round increase in annualised basic salary for all public servants of 1% or €500 (whichever is greater) on both 1 October 2021 and 2022, as well as the equivalent of a 1% increase in annualised basic salaries to be used as a Sectoral Bargaining Fund (in accordance with Chapter 2 of the Agreement) on 1 February 2022. The Agreement is heavily weighted towards those at lower incomes with headline increases of approximately 5% for the lowest paid public servants. These groups will also benefit more from other measures in the Agreement including the overtime rates and premia payment adjustments. By the end of the Agreement, the annualised pay increases will almost eliminate the cohort of civil servants earning less than the suggested living wage.
More broadly, the Low Pay Commission has, on request of the Government, formally begun work on examining how Ireland could move towards a Living Wage. The study will examine the design of a living wage in an Irish context and consider the policy, social and economic implications. It is expected that the report will be completed in the second half of 2021.
233. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated annual savings to the Exchequer from reducing the salaries of Deputies to €75,000, €80,000 and €85,000 per annum, respectively, in tabular form. [32862/21]
View answerThe information Deputy Mairéad Farrell has sought in PQ 32862/21 is set out in the following table.
|
TD Salary effective from 01/10/2020: |
€98,113 |
€98,113 |
€98,113 |
|
Reduced Salary: |
€75,000 |
€80,000 |
€85,000 |
|
Value of reduction per TD: |
€23,113 |
€18,113 |
€13,113 |
|
Total number of TD seats in the Dáil: |
160 |
160 |
160 |
|
Total Annual Reduction: |
€3,698,080 |
€2,898,080 |
€2,098,080 |
234. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated annual savings to the Exchequer from reducing Senators' salaries to €55,000, €60,000 and €65,000 per annum, respectively, in tabular form. [32863/21]
View answerThe information Deputy Mairéad Farrell has sought is set out in the table below:
|
Senator Salary effective from 01/10/20: |
€69,474 |
€69,474 |
€69,474 |
|
Reduced salary: |
€55,000 |
€60,000 |
€65,000 |
|
Reduction per Senator: |
€14,474 |
€9,474 |
€4,474 |
|
Total number of Senator seats in the Seanad: |
60 |
60 |
60 |
|
Total Annual Reduction: |
€868,440 |
€568,440 |
€268,440 |
235. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated annual savings to the Exchequer from reducing the salaries of Civil Service Secretary General grade I, II and III, deputy secretary and assistant secretary by 2%, 5% and 10% in tabular form. [32864/21]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the table provided at TAB A (below).
236. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 304 of 17 November 2020, if he will provide an updated list of vacant properties in the same format; the estimated value of each property; and if any of these properties have been earmarked for use as a regional work hub. [32868/21]
View answerI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the there are currently 75 vacant properties. Over half of these are former Garda stations that closed under the 2012/2013 policing plans of An Garda Síochána.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) recommenced its disposal programme of the former Garda stations in 2019 following two reviews of closed Garda stations. However, this programme was again interrupted by Covid-19 related lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.
It is proposed, subject to pandemic restrictions, to auction a number of properties in 2021 with more planned for auction in 2022.
As of June 2021, there are 39 former Garda stations closed under the 2012 and 2013 Policing Plans that are under consideration for alternative State use, disposal or community use.
Of the remainder of non-operational or vacant properties listed below, a number are in the process of being transferred to Local Authorities, being considered/prepared for disposal, are under consideration for community use or are being retained for alternative State use.
As a matter of policy, no property is disposed of until there is absolute certainty that there is no alternative State use for it. Alternative State use, in accordance with the OPW disposal policy, has been explored for each of those properties identified as being prepared for disposal.
Any decision regarding the use of State property for use as a regional hub is a matter for the Department of Rural and Community development in the first instance. Following the recent announcement of additional funding by the Minister for Rural and Community Development for town and village renewal, the OPW wrote to each relevant Local Authority advising them of the funding available and the arrangements being put in place by the OPW to have the vacant former Garda stations made available to the Local Authorities for community use.
Similarly, the OPW has provided the same list to the Department of Rural and Community Development to consider the properties for community use or for regional hubs.
The responses to the above engagement will determine the future of the remaining stations, i.e. whether they are assigned to Local Authorities for community use or the Department of Rural and Community Development for regional hubs. If the properties are not required, the OPW will proceed and dispose of the properties on the open market.
The vacant surplus properties are not valued by the OPW in advance of sale. The Auctioneer selected following a procurement process values the properties. The Auctioneer will place an Advised Minimum Value (AMV) on the properties in advance of sale but the market will ultimately determine the value of the properties for sale.
List of vacant Properties (Buildings) – June 2021
237. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of educational workshops, training seminars, conferences, meetings or otherwise that the Office of Government Procurement has held with contracting authorities relating to Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement; and the cost of same to date. [32869/21]
View answerThe Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has ensured that Circular 20/19: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement has featured at multiple events, conferences and meetings since it was launched on 21 October 2019 by the then Minister for Finance & Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD; the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment (now called the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications) Richard Bruton TD and the then Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Patrick O’Donovan TD. The OGP held one Client Conference and five Procurement Officer Forums.
The Client Conference was held in November 2019, this was a Public Procurement event for public sector clients and their Procurement Officers with approximately 660 attendees. Introduced by the Minister of State and the Chief Procurement Officer, the Client Conference covered nine topics over two days including Policy developments relating to Environmental and Social Considerations. There were also breakout sections where Contracting Authorities engaged directly with OGP staff. The event was held in Dublin Castle with a cost of €781.
In 2020, the OGP delivered four Procurement Officer Forums for contracting authorities. These forums are attended by contracting authorities across central and local government as well as the Health, Defence and Education Sectors. These forums play a significant role in engaging with and supporting procurement practitioners in their roles. Due to COVID these events were conducted online in November 2020 (4th, 11th and 18th), 23rd of March 2021 and 18th of May 2021 with officials of over one hundred Contracting Authorities in attendance. There were no external costs associated with the running of these online events.
The OGP also supported the EPA in developing a training programme in the area of Green Public Procurement (GPP) for procurement practitioners. The EPA is responsible for the funding of this training which was delivered online during 2020. This training, administered by the EPA, provided training to public officials with responsibility for procurement in four sectors: Government Departments; State Agencies; Local Authorities and; Education Sector. In 2021 a second round of training commenced which will run to end December 2021.
Furthermore, my officials present at a range of public sector events and seminars held by other bodies to promote the Green and Social public procurement agenda as well as bi-laterial meetings with public bodies on an ongoing basis.
239. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he expects Departmental permission for a development (details supplied) to be signed off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33021/21]
View answerA Preliminary Business Case, Detailed Project Brief and Procurement Strategy document, and other supporting documents for the development referred to by the Deputy were first received by my Department on 17 May 2021. On receipt of these documents, and based on further communication with the responsible Department, which is the Approving Authority for the project, some further clarifications and material to underpin the review were sought.
These clarifications and updated documents were received from the Approving Authority on 11 June 2021. My Department is now prioritising the technical review of these Business Case documents and will conclude its technical review shortly. These typically can take 4-6 weeks depending on the complexity of the project, and my Department is handling this matter as expeditiously as is possible.
It must be noted that the technical review conducted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform focuses on the robustness of the appraisal and whether the analysis supports the conclusions drawn and is neutral from a policy perspective. It does not convey approval or permission. For a project of this nature, with exchequer funding expected to be in excess of €100 million, the Government is the Approving Authority for the next stage in the project lifecycle. The responsible Department is the day-to-day approving authority and funder for the project. It is their responsibility to seek approvals and ensure compliance with the requirements of the Public Spending Code.
As part of the technical review, my Department will not have verified input data or the calculations included in the analysis. My Department will not have verified the forecast cost or delivery schedule for the proposal. The day-to-day Approving Authority must be satisfied that the appraisal adequately accounts for the range of risks that may have an impact on delivery and cost. It should ensure that the forecasts are informed by past experience on completed projects and outturn data on earlier investments, for instance using practices such as reference class forecasting or benchmarking.
240. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the right a civil servant has to appeal the decision of the chief medical officer of the occupational health department in particular in circumstances in which the diagnosis and recommendations are in conflict with those of the patient’s own medical advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33034/21]
View answerThe Civil Service Occupational Health service provides advice on work related health issues to HR sections, line management, health & safety officers and employee assistance officers for the Civil Service. There are appeal mechanisms in relation to the medical advice of the Office of the Civil Service Chief Medical Officer (CMO), which incorporates the Civil Service Occupational Health Department, in relation to specific areas. These are the discounting of sick leave, Ill Health Retirement (IHR) and access to Critical Illness Pay (CIP). Where there is any difference of medical opinion between the CMO medical staff and a treating health professional, CMO staff are always available (with consent) to discuss this with the treating health professional.
241. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of civil servants since March 2020 who have applied to work solely from home due to Covid-19 risk who were subsequently assessed by the chief medical officer of the Civil Service; the number of those cases granted leave to work from home; and the number refused the right to work from home. [33035/21]
View answerThe Government’s Resilience and Recovery Plan provides for home working to continue where possible, within a Framework of five levels. Employers in the Civil Service have had regard to the changes that have been required at each level of the Framework and based on current Government advice. Home working and work premise attendance has been balanced with the requirement to continue to provide the most effective and efficient services to the public, in line with the provisions of the Framework and latest advice.
The Office of the Civil Service Chief Medical Officer (CMO) conducts COVID -19 risk assessments when requested by the Civil Service employing organisation. This includes referrals where the employer is advised whether the employee is at general population or normal risk / higher risk / very high risk from COVID-19.
This COVID -19 risk assessment follows the risk categorisation guidance developed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The decision on the employee’s place of work following this CMO risk categorisation is made by the employer in consultation with the employee, not the Civil Service CMO.
The number of cases involved from March 2020 to June 2021 are as follows:
A Total of 396 COVID Risk Referrals, of which
56 - Categorised as Normal Risk
263 - Categorised as Higher Risk
77 - Categorised as Very High Risk
The decision on whether the employee works from home or works onsite in the workplace following a risk categorisation by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is made by the employer in consultation with the employee, not the Civil Service CMO.
242. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of cases assessed by the chief medical officer in which the civil servant has been deemed not very high or high risk such that he or she can attend the workplace in circumstances in which there is evidence of a conflict with the civil servant's own medical advice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33036/21]
View answerThe Office of the Civil Service Chief Medical Officer (CMO) conducts COVID -19 risk assessments when requested by the Civil Service employing organisation. This includes referrals where the employer is advised whether the employee is at normal risk/ higher risk / very high risk from COVID-19.
This COVID -19 risk assessment follows the risk categorisation guidance developed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The decision on the employee’s place of work following this CMO risk categorisation is made by the employer in consultation with the employee, not the Civil Service CMO.
The number of cases involved from March 2020 to June 2021 is estimated as follows:
A Total of 396 COVID Risk Referrals, of which
56 - Categorised as Normal Risk
263 - Categorised as Higher Risk
77 - Categorised as Very High Risk
The CMO does not record differences of opinion with treating patient doctors in regard to COVID -19 risk assessment referrals.
243. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the office of the chief medical officer and the Civil Service occupational health department have been working from home, working in the office or a combination of both during the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33037/21]
View answerThe Office of the Civil Service CMO/ Civil Service Occupational Health Department staff have been present in the workplace throughout the pandemic. Staff have worked partially from home and partially onsite as service needs require. Consultations that require “face to face” contact such as for example statutory immunisations and statutory audiogram hearing tests have proceeded more or less as normal.
244. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of vacancies by job title in the State Laboratory; and the estimated full-year cost of filling each vacant post in tabular form. [33096/21]
View answerThe State Laboratory have informed me of two current vacancies, details of which are set out in the following tabular format.
|
Grade |
Number |
Full Year Cost |
|
Chemist III |
1 |
€32,321.00 |
|
Head Laboratory Attendant |
1 |
€6,101.00* |
*This post will be filled via an internal promotion. The full year cost of filling the post is the difference between point three of the Laboratory Attendant salary (minimum eligible service is two years) and the starting point of the Head Laboratory Attendant salary.
245. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of 11 November 2020, if the Office of Public Works was involved in renting office space from a company (details supplied) or an Irish subsidiary; the number of employees who work out of such office space; the length of time they have been working from the offices; the cost to date of renting such offices; the tender process by which it was decided to use the services of the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33157/21]
View answerThe Commissioners of Public Works do not rent office space from the company referred to. However, if they are trading under a different name, or through a subsidiary in Ireland, further details would be required to enable us to confirm if office space is rented from such a related entity.
246. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the State agencies, organisations or boards under the responsibility of his Department or that receive funding from his Department that have been charged interest for savings on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced; the amount of interest that has been charged to each State agency, organisation or board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33318/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the only body under the aegis of my Department that falls into this category is the Office of the National Lottery Regulator (ORNL). Since the commencement of the National Lottery licence, the ORNL has been charged interest of €1,320,118 for the National Lottery Fund, which is managed and controlled by the National Lottery Regulator. The National Lottery Fund is held at the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) and the interest has been paid to the Central Bank of Ireland.
247. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress that has been made with removing pinch points from the River Shannon; when he expects the work to commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33364/21]
View answerThe Government has noted the studies by the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group that support a programme of strategic maintenance to help mitigate flooding along the Shannon and the removal of ‘pinch points’ in the Shannon Callows that can help to delay flooding in the area. The Government has agreed that the OPW will provide €7m for all of these works, of which €4m relates to the removal of ‘pinch points’ in the Callows region.
Work is advancing to progress the project for the removal of ‘pinch points’ in the Callows region. A project brief is in preparation for a project consultant to be appointed to identify and manage all of the activities that are necessary to progress through the planning process to enable the commencement of the works. A steering group is in place to oversee the project and it last met on 14 June.
The works can only commence following completion of the appropriate environmental assessments and following receipt of planning permission. This is a time intensive process and there are variables outside the control of the Shannon Group that may impact on the overall timescale for delivery of the project.
248. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of Clane Garda station in the context of improving public access to the premises and the plans to upgrade and-or modernise the station in view of the population growth in the area; and the plans for Clane Garda buildings in the context of future proofing them for increased footfall by members of the public requiring customer service based needs at the station such as form stamping and so on. [33392/21]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) can confirm that, in line with Section 25 of the Disability Act, it is ensuring that all public buildings under its control, including Clane Garda Station, are, in so far as is practicable, accessible to people with disabilities.
The OPW is not aware of any requirements from An Garda Síochána in relation to the upgrading of this Station. Operational matters are a matter for An Garda Siochana.
249. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if €7 million allocated for the maintenance of the River Shannon and specifically the removal of pinch points and constrictions at the Shannon Callows will issue shortly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33450/21]
View answerThe Government has noted the studies by the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group that support a programme of strategic maintenance to help mitigate flooding along the Shannon and the removal of ‘pinch points’ in the Shannon Callows that can help to delay flooding in the area. The Government has agreed that the OPW will provide €7m for all of these works, of which €4m relates to the removal of ‘pinch points’ in the Callows region.
Work is advancing to progress the project for the removal of ‘pinch points’ in the Callows region. A project brief is in preparation for a project consultant to be appointed to identify and manage all of the activities that are necessary to progress through the planning process to enable the commencement of the works. A steering group is in place to oversee the project and it last met on 14 June.
The works can only commence following completion of the appropriate environmental assessments and following receipt of planning permission. This is a time intensive process and there are variables outside the control of the Shannon Group that may impact on the overall timescale for delivery of the project.
