Written Answers Nos. 68-82
70. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the total amount spent by his Department on advertisements, including traditional forms of advertisement and online advertising, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [54918/21]
View answerMy Department's spend on advertising in each of the last ten years and to date in 2021 is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2011 |
€34,017 |
|
2012 |
€31,440 |
|
2013 |
€33,757 |
|
2014 |
€39,905 |
|
2015 |
€27,679 |
|
2016 |
€14,992 |
|
2017 |
€23,680 |
|
2018 |
€19,506 |
|
2019 |
€42,148 |
|
2020 |
€70,185 |
|
2021 |
€75,855 |
71. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if a Local Link service will be provided to a community (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55014/21]
View answerAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) which has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme which operates under the TFI Local Link brand.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
72. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will, as a priority, initiate a review of the failures identified in the report in respect of Rescue 116; and if he will publish a strategy and action steps that will address those issues within one year. [55070/21]
View answerI fully accept the recommendations contained within the report and I and the Department of Transport will continue to evaluate the findings of the report in the coming weeks. The completion of the investigation and the publication of the report is a key step in ensuring that such accidents are prevented in the future.
I have received from the Air Accident Investigation Unit 14 transmittal letters, each containing a separate safety recommendation. I am obliged by Article 18 of Regulation (EU) No 996/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 on the investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents in civil aviation to "inform the safety investigation authority which issued the recommendation within 90 days of the receipt of that letter, of the actions taken or under consideration, and where appropriate, of the time necessary for their completion and where no action is taken, the reasons therefor" and I will do so. The deadline is 3rd February 2022 and the safety recommendation and my response will thereafter be published by the Air Accident Investigation Unit.
73. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance if he will extend the tax deadline by three weeks to enable accountancy firms to deal with delays caused by Covid-19 and the local property tax deadline falling so close. [55173/21]
View answerRevenue has already extended the return filing date for self-assessed taxpayers to 17 November (from 31 October) and has extended the Local Property Tax (LPT) filing date to 5pm on 10 November (from 7 November).
Revenue has advised me that while no further extensions to the self-assessed deadline are envisaged at this time, the situation is being kept under review.
Under the current arrangements, where a tax accountancy firm is unable to meet the filing deadline due to delays caused by COVID-19, it should contact Revenue through the MyEnquiries service setting out the exceptional reasons for the delay, the detail of the taxpayers involved and confirming a timeline by which the returns will be filed.
74. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the total amount spent by his Department on advertisements, including traditional forms of advertisement and online advertising, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [54907/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to the amount spent by my Department on advertising from 2011 to date in 2021 is set out in tabular form below:
|
Year |
Description |
Amount |
|
2011 |
Appointments of Board of Directors of Banks in Irish Times, Independent and Examiner |
€4,880.38 |
|
|
Notices re: Anglo, INBS and Credit Institutions Stabilisation Act as required by EU Directive in UK and 28 EEA-wide countries' media – Brindley |
€280,478.61 |
|
|
Notices on Subordinated Liabilities Order and Invitation for Submissions in relation to Bank of Ireland in Irish Independent, Irish Times, Financial Times and Daily Telegraph |
€91,175.85 |
|
2012 |
Recruitment of Chief Economist, Head of Banking Policy and Secretary General of the Department of Finance in the Sunday Times, Sunday Business Post, Irish Times and Financial Times |
€33,167.68 |
|
|
Notices/Advertisements re Anglo, INBS and Credit Institutions Stabilisation Act as required by EU Directive in Irish media (Irish Times and Irish Examiner) |
€14,255.06 |
|
2013 |
Recruitment of Chief Finance and Operations Officer in Sunday Times, Sunday Business Post, ACCA and ACA e-zine |
€5,205.95 |
|
|
Recruitment for position of Economist in the Irish Times |
€3,795.68 |
|
|
Notices of the Official Languages Act and Scheme in Foinse |
€687.42 |
|
2014 |
Recruitment for the position of Head of International & EU Division in the Sunday Business Post and Sunday Times online |
€2,787.41 |
|
|
Notice re: winding up of SAT/ICAROM (Insurance Corporation of Ireland) in Irish Daily Mail |
€130.18 |
|
|
Creative strategy, production and burst 1 of campaign to increase awareness of the Supporting SME online tool on social media |
€27,683.70 |
|
2015 |
Advertisement for the position of Governor of the Central Bank |
€12,300.00 |
|
|
Local Property Tax Review advertisements in Irish Times, Irish Independent and Irish Examiner |
€7,181.56 |
|
|
Campaign to increase awareness of the Supporting SME online tool on social media |
€50,519.18 |
|
2016 |
Mortgage Arrears Communication Campaign |
€73,136 |
|
|
Advertising: Switch Your Bank* |
€24,682 |
|
|
Outside Broadcasting of National Economic Dialogue |
€17,657 |
|
2017 |
Advertising: Switch Your Bank* |
€717,746 |
|
|
Outside Broadcasting of National Economic Dialogue |
€17,657 |
|
|
Information notice re: Beneficial Ownership |
€2,408 |
|
|
Graphic Design: Public Awareness Campaign |
€480 |
|
|
Advertising: Switch Your Bank* |
€73.80 |
|
|
Advertising: European Financial Forum |
€24.60 |
|
2018 |
Advertising: Switch Your Bank* |
€405,900 |
|
|
Outside Broadcasting of National Economic Dialogue |
€13,616 |
|
|
Advertising: Board Recruitment |
€1,707 |
|
|
Irish Language Notice (The Department's Irish Language Scheme) |
€1,240 |
|
|
Irish Language Notice (The Department's Irish Language Scheme) |
€983 |
|
2019 |
Advertising: Vacancy for Governor of Central Bank of Ireland |
€12,300 |
|
|
Advertising: Switch Your Bank* |
€2,066.40 |
|
2020 |
Irish Language Notice (The Department's Irish Language Scheme) |
€815.07 |
|
|
Advertising: Switch Your Bank* |
€2,066.40 |
|
2021 (to date) |
Advertising: Switch Your Bank* |
€3,018.95 |
|
|
Advertising: Vacancy for Appeals Commissioner in the Tax Appeals Commission |
€1,353 |
*The cost of the Switch your Bank campaign is fully recoupable by AIB and Permanent TSB in the context of their restructuring plans. These costs relate to a Public awareness campaign as part of a range of competition measures agreed with the European Commission to raise awareness and promote customer switching of financial products. The Department of Finance facilitates this campaign as part of its remit to ensure that consumers are protected within the financial sector in Ireland and to ensure a healthy level of competition.
75. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 224 of 22 June 2021, the position regarding the amount of negative interest charged to any money held on deposit including current accounts by the banks including the Central Bank on behalf of the National Treasury Management Agency since negative interest rates were introduced (details supplied); the amount of negative interest charges in total that have been incurred by the NTMA for each year since negative rates were introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54993/21]
View answerI am advised by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) that the details of negative interest charges published in their Annual Report 2020 relate to negative interest charges incurred in respect of accounts held at the Central Bank of Ireland for the purpose of the performance by the NTMA of certain of its statutory functions.
In respect of the National Debt, details of negative interest rate charges on cash balances held in the Central Bank of Ireland can be found on page 97 of the NTMA Annual Report 2020.
In respect of Post Office Savings Bank Deposits, details of negative interest rate charges on cash balances held in the Central Bank of Ireland can be found on page 138 of the NTMA Annual Report 2020.
Finally, in respect of Dormant Accounts, details of negative interest rate charges on cash balances held in the Central Bank of Ireland are published on page 160 of the NTMA Annual Report 2020.
The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund controlled and managed by the NTMA also discloses income interest in Note 4 on page 190 of the NTMA Annual Report, this would include interest charges by the Central Bank of Ireland. The NTMA does not hold account(s) with the Central Bank of Ireland in its own right.
I note the Deputy refers to PQ33313/21 which sought the amount of interest charged in respect of savings on deposit in Irish retail banks. The NTMA advised that it had incurred charges of €243,452 on its accounts with core Irish retail banks since 2018. These charges relate to operational accounts held by the NTMA with AIB, which are maintained to facilitate a high volume of payment activities undertaken by the NTMA.
76. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Finance the four locations in which a bank (details supplied) will continue to maintain an ATM after a branch closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55015/21]
View answerBank of Ireland has provided officials in my Department with the following update in relation to the Deputy's question:
“In the context of recent changes to the branch network, the Bank committed to ensuring that no town would be left without access to an ATM. In early 2021, the Bank identified four locations where it was closing a branch where there was no alternative ATM facility. In two of these locations (Arva and Kilkee) an alternative ATM service was put in place, and consequently the Bank removed its ATM service when the branch closed. In two locations (Durrow and Glenties) arrangements are being made for an ATM to be provided by an alternative supplier, and the Bank will retain its ATM until that alternative service is in place.”
77. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Finance when the Government will allow the resumption of applications for primary medical certificates with the broader category of the severely and permanently disabled as set out in the relevant legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55028/21]
View answerThe Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from VRT and VAT on the purchase and use of an adapted car, as well as an exemption from motor tax and an annual fuel grant.
The Scheme is open to severely and permanently disabled persons as a driver or as a passenger and also to certain organisations. In order to qualify for relief the applicant must hold a Primary Medical Certificate (PMC) issued by the relevant Senior Area Medical Officer (SAMO) or a Board Medical Certificate (BMC) issued by the Disabled Driver Medical Board of Appeal. Certain other criteria apply in relation to the vehicle and its use, including that the vehicle must be specially constructed or adapted for use by the applicant.
The terms of the Scheme set out the following medical criteria, and that one or more of these criteria is required to be satisfied in order to obtain a PMC:
- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both legs;
- be wholly without the use of one leg and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that the applicant is severely restricted as to movement of the lower limbs;
- be without both hands or without both arms;
- be without one or both legs;
- be wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg;
- have the medical condition of dwarfism and have serious difficulties of movement of the lower limbs.
The medical criteria were included in the Finance Act 2020, by way of amendment to Section 92 of the Finance Act 1989. This amendment arises from legal advice in light of the June 2020 Supreme Court judgement that the medical criteria in secondary legislation was not deemed to be invalid, nevertheless it was found to be inconsistent with the mandate provided in Section 92 of the Finance Act 1989 (primary legislation).
Assessments and appeals have recommenced from January 2021 following the approval of the Finance Act 2020.
While I am very aware of the importance of this scheme to those who benefit from it, I am also aware of the disquiet expressed by members of this house and others in respect of the difficulties around access to the scheme.
I have asked my officials to undertake a comprehensive review of the scheme, to include a broader review of mobility supports for persons with disabilities, and on foot of that review to bring forward proposals for consideration. My officials have been carrying out preliminary work, including an examination of the main issues which will frame the scope of the review and engaging with other Departments and agencies.
Separately, I have reached out to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, in the context of a review that was commenced in March 2020 under the auspices of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, to examine transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities. Its work was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister O’Gorman has confirmed that he has asked his officials to reconvene the working group established to carry out that review at the earliest opportunity and we are both agreed that this is the most appropriate forum for the review. With this in mind, my officials will work closely with officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to progress this review, and on foot of that will bring forward proposals for consideration.
78. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the projected revenue raised from legislated increases in the carbon tax in each year from 2021 to 2030 relative to the rate of €26 per tonne in 2020 as it pertains to the €9.5 billion expected to be raised from 2021 to 2030 in carbon tax increases as referenced in the Climate Action Plan, for example, the revenue raised from the new rate of carbon tax in 2026 relative to a rate of €26 per tonne. [55069/21]
View answerThe additional carbon tax revenue yield estimate of €9.5 billion was based on an increase in the rate of the carbon tax to €100 per tonne by 2030 above the €20 per tonne rate that existed until 2019.
The table provided at the following link therefore sets out the projected additional revenue raised in each year through increases in the carbon tax rate from €20 per tonne, starting from 2021 as requested by the Deputy.
To note, the figures in the table illustrate the additional total yield as calculated on a static basis which includes the carryover from the previous rate increase plus the additional revenues raised from the current carbon tax rate in any given year.
All such estimates represent point in time projections and the actual outturn revenues will be dependent on a host of variables including changes in the macroeconomic environment, including energy prices, policy decisions by Government, changes in consumer behaviour and other factors. The confidence bounds surrounding the estimates are also unavoidably widened by the difficulty in estimating the impact of changes in tax policy rates many years in advance and calculating the additional yield against a counter-factual base rate of €20.
79. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of jobs or job opportunities in the public sector that require the Covid-19 vaccination as a condition of continued employment or potential employment. [54802/21]
View answer80. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons in the public sector, by discipline such as health, agriculture and so on, who have resigned or have had employment terminated as a result of a refusal to get the Covid-19 vaccine or to disclose their vaccination status, respectively. [54803/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together.
Firstly, I encourage as many people as possible to take up their COVID-19 vaccinations when offered.
As per recent advice from the Data Protection Commission, employers should only process COVID-19 vaccination data where necessary to achieve a specific, legitimate purpose in line with general and sector-specific public health advice.
The Work Safely Protocol states that the decision to get a vaccine is voluntary and that individuals will make their own decisions in this regard. The full suite of measures to maintain workplace safety should be considered by employers before making any assessment as to whether knowledge of vaccination status is necessary. COVID-19 vaccination in general would not be considered a necessary workplace safety measure for many workplaces or roles. However, there may be specific employment contexts where knowledge of vaccination status may be deemed necessary, subject to a risk assessment and with reference to sector-specific public health guidance. Employers are required to deal with these matters on a case-by-case basis. As a result, the data requested by the Deputy is not available centrally from my department.
In order to assist civil and public service organisations with their work-related obligations during COVID-19, the Civil Service HR Policy Division within my Department regularly issues Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during Covid-19, which can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/news/092fff-update-on-working-arrangements-and-leave-associated-with-covid-19-fo/. This document is regularly updated to reflect any changes in public health guidance and government policy. Section 1.1 of this document, which is based on public health advice and the Resilience and Recovery Plan 2021, provides guidance for employers in relation to who should attend the work premise during the pandemic. In line with public health advice, a cautious and careful return to workplaces should take into account appropriate attendance levels, with the use of staggered arrangements such as non-fulltime attendance and flexible working hours. Additionally the advice is that all existing infection prevention and control measures, (such as physical distancing, hand hygiene, face coverings, adequate ventilation), and working from home unless an employee’s physical presence in the workplace is for specific business purposes, must also remain in place for individuals even following their vaccination.
81. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has issued advice to other Departments and or Ministers regarding the phased return of civil servants to the Department office environment; and if he has made provision for the non-return of those who are clinically vulnerable and-or compromised in the context of Covid-19. [54866/21]
View answer84. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide the advice he has issued to Departments in respect of the return to work of civil servants in their respective offices; if he has made provision for those who are clinically vulnerable and-or compromised regarding contracting Covid 19; if he has provided for civil servants who require medical consultations in order to demonstrate that they cannot return to the office in the context of rising case volumes of Covid-19 here; if he has consulted with the Chief Medical Officer in this regard; and, if so, if he will publish and-or provide those advices. [54865/21]
View answer85. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps he has taken to ensure that persons with a disability and-or who are immune compromised can return to departmental offices safely in the context of Covid-19; if he has, without prejudice and-or sanction arrangements in place in order for these cohorts to continue working from home in the context of rising case numbers; and if he has considered a reversal on the full return to the office by staff. [54879/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 84 and 85 together.
Decisions in relation to those who are required to attend the workplace during COVID-19 is a matter for individual employers.
In order to assist civil and public service organisations with their work-related obligations during COVID-19, the Civil Service HR Policy Division within my Department regularly issues Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during Covid-19, which can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/news/092fff-update-on-working-arrangements-and-leave-associated-with-covid-19-fo/. This document is regularly updated to reflect any changes in public health guidance and government policy. Section 1.1 of this document, which is based on public health advice and the Resilience and Recovery Plan 2021, provides guidance for employers in relation to who should attend the work premise during the pandemic. In line with public health advice, a cautious and careful return to workplaces should take into account appropriate attendance levels, with the use of staggered arrangements such as non-fulltime attendance and flexible working hours, and that attendance is for specific business requirements only.
The Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during Covid-19, provides advice for high risk & very high risk categories of employees specifically under 2.1 and 2.2 in relation to their attendance in the workplace:
- FAQ 2.1 notes that in relation to those at high risk of illness from COVID-19, “Employers should continue to facilitate this group where possible in terms of flexible working arrangements, including working remotely where such arrangements are appropriate to the business needs”.
- FAQ 2.2 notes that in relation to who are at very high risk, “Employees should declare to their employer if they believe that they are at very high risk of COVID-19. Please refer to the HSE website for more information. The employer’s Occupational Health service should be consulted for employees in the very high risk category, or to determine if an employee falls into this category, and to advise on whether the employee can attend the work premises. The Civil Service CMO advises that as our knowledge of COVID-19 has increased, some conditions that previously placed employees in the very high risk category now place them in the high risk category or in some instance in the normal risk category. In addition an employee’s risk categorisation may now have changed due to vaccination and/or history of recent confirmed COVID infection”.
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.
In terms of those with a disability, requests for a remote/blended working arrangement as a reasonable accommodation should be dealt with under the usual process as employers across the Civil Service continue to provide reasonable accommodations to staff who have a disability so that they can participate and advance in their employment.
82. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans for the redevelopment of the Garda station in Greystones, County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54899/21]
View answerThe refurbishment of Greystones Garda Station is included in the ‘Capital Works programme 2016-2021’ for An Garda Síochána. Planned works include the refurbishment of the existing station and redevelopment of adjacent buildings. These works are currently contingent on the Coast Guard moving from its current location in the adjacent buildings beside the Garda station.
