Wednesday, 15 Sep 2021

Written Answers Nos. 139-159

Departmental Staff

Questions (139)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

139. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach the current policy regarding the employment of persons with disabilities in his Department and in each State and semi-State body under the aegis of his Department; the disability quota of his Department at present; if there is an active campaign to increase the disability workforce from the current target of 3% to a minimum of 6% by 2024; if this quota has now been exceeded; if so, the details of same; and if there has been an advertised competition in relation to the quota. [41604/21]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

My Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) - the only body under my Department's aegis - actively support diversity and inclusion in the workplace including the employment of people with disabilities.

As at 31 December 2019, 4.3% of the staff of my Department and 6.3% of the staff of the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) voluntarily and confidentially disclosed a disability. This exceeds the current minimum requirement of 3% for public sector organisations set down in the Disability Act, 2005.

Recruitment to my Department and NESDO is, in the main, undertaken through the Public Appointments Service which plays a central role in recruiting diverse talent to take up public service employment opportunities and who recently launched their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2021-2023 which aims to develop recruitment and selection processes to attract and welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds. For the past number of years, my Department has actively participated in AHEAD’s Willing, Able, Mentoring Programme, a graduate internship opportunity for persons with a disability.

My Department has a designated Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) with a specific brief to provide training, support and guidance to managers and staff for the provision of reasonable accommodations. New staff are made aware of the existence and role of the DLO at induction. My Department follows the Code of Practice for the Employment of People with a Disability in the Irish Civil Service in relation to raising disability awareness, providing workplace supports, the provision of training and career progression.

The National Disability Inclusion Strategy provides for an increase in the Public Sector employment targets of persons with disabilities from 3% to 6% by 2024.

In order to achieve this target, my Department and NESDO will cooperate fully with any initiatives implemented by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Appointments Service in relation to implementing a pro-active approach to employing people with disabilities across the Public Service in line with the Disability Act 2005.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (140)

Réada Cronin

Question:

140. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Taoiseach if his Department or a State agency booked or paid for an event (details supplied); if so, the date the booking was made; and the reason for the event and the payment. [41744/21]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

There has been no expenditure or booking by my Department or by the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), which is the only agency under the aegis of my Department, for the event at the Merrion Hotel involving Ms Katherine Zappone.

Cabinet Confidentiality

Questions (141, 153)

Réada Cronin

Question:

141. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Taoiseach if he has ordered an investigation into a possible leak from the Cabinet in the matter of the appointment of a person (details supplied); if not, the reason; if so, if he will publish the findings in the public interest; and when this will occur [41745/21]

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

153. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if an investigation has been undertaken into the leak at Cabinet (details supplied); if so, the stage this investigation is at; if it has concluded; if not, when it will conclude; and if the results of same have been referred to An Garda Síochána. [43570/21]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 153 together.

I have not requested an investigation into the matter referred to by the Deputies.

Ministerial Appointments

Questions (142)

Réada Cronin

Question:

142. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Taoiseach the roles held by a person (details supplied) with or involving his Department or any State agencies. [41901/21]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

There are no roles held by the person in question with or involving my Department or bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (143, 144, 145)

Carol Nolan

Question:

143. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach the measures he is taking to promote or facilitate remote working for staff in his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department; the costs this has generated in terms of the provision of laptops, desktop computers or contributions to Wi-Fi costs or phone-related expenses; and the number of staff who have applied for permission to work from home on a permanent or hybrid-model basis (details supplied). [41963/21]

Dara Calleary

Question:

144. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach the steps being taken to facilitate remote working within his Department in particular to encourage remote working for those who live in the regions. [42717/21]

Holly Cairns

Question:

145. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Taoiseach the way in which his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit are accommodating requests for persons to work from home. [42749/21]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 143, 144 and 145 together.

Since March 2020, in line with public health advice, many of the staff in my Department have been working from home with the exception of staff supporting the essential operation of Government Buildings to support the work of the Taoiseach and Government during this period. A significant proportion of staff already had remote access to Departmental systems through mobile devices. Since March 2020, the Department has also facilitated requests from a small number of staff to bring certain office equipment home on a temporary basis, such as office chairs and some computer equipment at no additional cost to the Department.

Like all Government Departments and Offices, my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), the only body under the aegis of my Department, are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for continued remote working and a gradual return to the office for Civil Service Departments from the 20th September having regard to individual operational arrangements. In line with the rest of the Civil Service, the Department will finalise and progressively roll-out its blended working policy for the longer-term which will be guided by the Central Policy Framework for Blended Working in the Civil Service currently being finalised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Question No. 144 answered with Question No. 143.

Question No. 145 answered with Question No. 143.

Freedom of Information

Questions (146)

Matt Carthy

Question:

146. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Taoiseach the number of freedom of information requests responded to by his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and the number of responses that included documents related to text messages and other phone message communications such as messages sent through an application (details supplied) in tabular form. [42973/21]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The table provides details of the number of freedom of information requests received in my Department from 2016 until 10 September this year. With the exception of 53 requests received this year which are still ongoing, all of the other requests received were responded to. In the main the requests concerned were either granted, part granted, refused or transferred to other public bodies while the remainder were either withdrawn or handled outside the FOI Act, for example where a requester requested information rather than records.

My Department does not centrally record information on the format or type of records included in FOI responses and is therefore not in a position to provide a further breakdown.

-	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021
Total No. of Requests received	275	344	490	489	343	297*
Granted	55	75	111	91	52	29
Part Granted	138	145	243	229	166	125
Refused	54	35	46	28	29	27
No Records Exist	11	65	70	101	72	50
Transferred	1	8	3	8	5	3
Withdrawn	15	11	13	29	17	6
Handled Outside FOI	1	5	4	3	2	4

*includes 53 ongoing requests

Commissions of Investigation

Questions (147)

David Cullinane

Question:

147. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Taoiseach the cost of each commission of investigation under the remit of his Department over the preceding decade. [43001/21]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I am the specified Minister under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 for two Commissions of Investigation whose work is currently ongoing. Both Commissions were established following extensive consultations with members of all Oireachtas parties. As specified I am responsible for overseeing certain administrative matters concerning the Commissions and for receiving their reports. However, the Commissions are fully independent in their investigations. The Commissions of Investigation concerned are:

- the Commission of Investigation on the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) which is investigating certain transactions. To the end of August this year the Commission cost €10,593,230, excluding any third party legal costs incurred which have yet to be paid. As Oireachtas members have been previously informed, my Department has estimated that the final cost of the Commission is likely to exceed €30m.

- the Commission of Investigation on the National Assets Management Agency (NAMA) which is investigating the sale by NAMA of its Northern Ireland portfolio, known as Project Eagle. To the end of August this year the Commission has cost €3,596,209, excluding any third party legal costs incurred which have yet to be paid.

The Fennelly Commission of Investigation is the only other Commission of Investigation for which the Taoiseach was the specified Minister in the past decade. The Commission’s work related to certain allegation made by Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe and its final report was completed in March 2017. The total cost of the Commission was €3,528,658.

Government Communications

Questions (148, 149, 150)

Gary Gannon

Question:

148. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach if his Ministerial phones have been hacked or attempts were made to hack them during the term of office. [42933/21]

Gary Gannon

Question:

149. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Taoiseach if he has ever used his personal phones for Government business; and if so, whether the personal phones have been hacked during his term of office. [42951/21]

Catherine Murphy

Question:

150. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach if he and-or his special advisers and-or officials use or have used services (details supplied) to communicate in the past 18 months. [43082/21]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 148, 149 and 150 together.

My Department provides mobile phones for official use. My Department has no information to suggest that my phone has been ‘hacked’. The Deputy will appreciate that it is simply not possible for me or, indeed, anyone to conclusively address the question of whether attempts have been made to hack phones.

In common with other Government Departments, my Department has in place comprehensive arrangements to support ICT security and receives regular advice on these matters from the relevant authorities. The Deputy will understand that it is not the practice, for sound operational and security reasons, to discuss the detail of these arrangements.

It is not my practice to use a personal phone for official purposes. I do not use the messaging services such as those to which the Deputy refers and I am informed that they may be used by advisers or officials in my Department.

Question No. 149 answered with Question No. 148.

Question No. 150 answered with Question No. 148.

Research and Development

Questions (151)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

151. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Taoiseach when the next business expenditure on research and development, BERD, survey will be published. [43028/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach

The Central Statistics Office compiles statistics on Business Expenditure on Research and Development (BERD) every two years under EU statistical regulations. The most recent BERD results relate to the period 2019 to 2020 and were published by the CSO on 2 March 2021. The results are available at the following link on the CSO website: www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/berd/businessexpenditureonresearchdevelopment2019-2020/.

The next iteration of BERD data will cover the period 2021 to 2022 and will be published in March 2023.

In alternate years, the CSO conducts the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) which is published under the title Innovation in Irish Enterprises. Data collection for the period 2018 to 2020 is currently ongoing and the results are planned for publication in April 2022. The latest Innovation in Irish Enterprises results, for 2016 to 2018, are available at: www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/iie/innovationinirishenterprises2018/.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (152)

Carol Nolan

Question:

152. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Taoiseach if his Department has utilised the services of organisations (details supplied) at any time from 1 January 2015 to date; if so, the expenditure costs related to same; and the purpose of any such engagements. [43247/21]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

During the period in question, one member of staff from my Department participated in a leadership programme run by the organisation concerned. The cost of this CPD accredited leadership training programme was €3,000.

Question No. 153 answered with Question No. 141.

Legislative Process

Questions (154)

Ivana Bacik

Question:

154. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Taoiseach the number of Bills prepared by his Department since 27 June 2020; the number and title of those Bills that included regulatory impact assessments; and the titles of the regulatory impact assessments that have been published by his Department [43715/21]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

No Bills have been prepared by my Department since 27 June 2020.

Departmental Staff

Questions (155)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

155. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the grade of each staff member in the shared island unit of his Department, in tabular form. [43970/21]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The Shared Island unit in my Department is led by an Assistant Secretary with five full-time staff appointed at present. Staffing resources for the unit are kept under ongoing review. The unit works in close cooperation with other sections of my Department, including the British-Irish and Northern Ireland affairs unit. The Shared Island unit acts as a driver and coordinator of a whole of Government initiative. The details requested on the current staffing of the unit are set out in the table below.

Number of Staff	Grade
1	Assistant Secretary
1	Principal Officer
1	Assistant Principal
1	Higher Executive Officer
1	Executive Officer
1	Clerical Officer

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (156)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

156. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach the amount paid in late interest payments and penalty payments by his Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 in respect of late payments being made to suppliers, service providers and contractors, in tabular form; and the measures the Department has put in place and-or is implementing to reduce late payment interest and penalty payments. [44012/21]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The following table details the amount of Prompt Payment Interest and compensation paid by my Department from January 2017 to the end of June 2021, which are the latest available figures.

These figures are published on the Department's website on a quarterly basis and reported to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation in compliance with the Late Payments in Commercial Transactions Regulations 2012. My Department has appropriate procedures in place through its financial management system to monitor outstanding purchase orders and invoices to ensure suppliers are paid on time and in accordance with the Government's 15 day prompt payment commitment.

Year	Compensation €	Interest amount €	Total PPI €
2017	330	326.84	€656.84
2018	900	80.43	€980.43
2019	780	271.74	€1,051.74
2020	506.28	155.74	€662.02
2021	190	3.78	€193.78

Departmental Projects

Questions (157)

Alan Kelly

Question:

157. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Taoiseach the membership and terms of reference of the north-east inner-city oversight group chaired by the Secretary General of his Department. [43264/21]

Written answers

The Taoiseach

The North East Inner City Oversight Group is chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach and its membership is comprised of the Chair of the North East Inner City Programme Implementation Board and senior officials across Government Departments and Agencies who are actively engaged with the work of the North East Inner City Initiative, namely:

- Department of the Taoiseach;

- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth;

- Department of Public Expenditure and Reform;

- Department of Rural and Community Development;

- Department of Social Protection;

- Department of Education;

- Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science;

- Department of Transport;

- Department of Health;

- Department of Justice;

- Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage;

- Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media;

- Dublin City Council;

- Office of Public Works; and

- An Garda Síochána.

This Group, which has met thirteen times to date, supports and oversees the work of the North East Inner City Programme Implementation Board; ensures strong and active participation by all relevant Government Departments and Agencies in Dublin's North East Inner City Initiative; and deals with any barriers or issues highlighted by the Chair of the Programme Implementation Board.

The Group met most recently via video conference on 3rd June 2021.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (158)

Carol Nolan

Question:

158. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department has utilised the services of organisations (details supplied) at any time from 1 January 2015 to date; if so, the expenditure costs related to same; the purpose of any such engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43236/21]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment

My Department has not utilised the services of the organisations in question since 1st January 2015.

Redundancy Payments

Questions (159)

Niall Collins

Question:

159. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on the case of a person (details supplied); if any help or advice will be provided in relation to the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43353/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

In order to qualify for a statutory redundancy payment, an employee must have 104 weeks continuous employment, be an employed contributor in employment which was insurable for all benefits under the Social Welfare Acts and be over the age of 16. An eligible employee is entitled to two weeks statutory redundancy payment for every year of service, plus a bonus week. The redundancy lump sum calculation is based on the worker’s length of reckonable service and weekly remuneration, which is subject to a ceiling of €600 per week.

There is no legislative provision relating to the weekly remuneration to be used when an employee is on short-time work or reduced hours or salary. However, the general guidance has been that if an employer has placed an employee on short-time work or reduced hours for certain periods of time, the full-time salary should be used for the calculation of statutory redundancy. An employee can refer a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission in the event of a dispute regarding the amount of the statutory redundancy lump sum.

Any arrangement or agreement relating to the calculation of a redundancy payment which is over and above the statutory redundancy entitlement is a voluntary matter between employers and employees and their union representatives. The State has no role in this regard.

Implications of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme or Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme on arrangements included in an employment contract, if any, are a matter for the Department of Finance.