Written Answers Nos. 201-220
201. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Finance if he will take steps to protect the assets of thousands of customers of a bank (details supplied) who are being forced by the bank to liquidate their investments in the coming weeks ahead of the departure by the bank from Ireland at a time of huge turmoil in international markets that will see the value of their holdings fall substantially; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12440/22]
View answerAs Minister for Finance, I have no role in the operational matters of any bank in the State. Decisions in this regard are the sole responsibility of the board and management of the banks, which must be run on an independent and commercial basis. As the deputy knows that the Central Bank of Ireland is the independent financial services regulator and is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the compliance of regulated financial services providers with their relevant obligations.
According to the Central Bank of Ireland, the prospectuses of investment funds will typically set out the terms on which a compulsory redemption can take place. As such the powers available to directors of an investment fund to compulsorily redeem investors form a contractual term as between the investor and the investment fund.
While decisions related to the strategic direction of regulated firms are for the boards of those firms, I am advised by the Central Bank of Ireland that they have made it clear to the management of the bank in question that it expects a customer-focused approach to be taken in all aspects of business including the area mentioned by the Deputy. I am further advised by the Central Bank of Ireland that it expects regulated entities to have a sound legal basis on which to redeem customer investments, and to provide clear and timely notice to affected customers.
202. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Finance the number of staff currently employed by his Department; the current annual salary of the highest and second highest paid persons respectively, employed by his Department; and the various pay scales for persons working in his Department. [12475/22]
View answerNumber of staff (paid) 7 March 2022 - 339
Highest annual salary €215,998
Second highest annual salary €187,578
Pay Scales:
Minister
€115,913
Minister of State
€40,464
Revised payscales with effect from 1 February 2022 for established employees appointed on or after 6 April 1995 paying the Class A rate of PRSI contribution and making an employee contribution in respect of personal superannuation benefits (PPC) for General Service grades.
SECRETARY GENERAL I (PPC)
€215,998
SECRETARY GENERAL II (PPC)
€215,998
SECRETARY GENERAL III (PPC)
€204,630
DEPUTY SECRETARY (PPC)
€187,578
ASSISTANT SECRETARY (PPC)
€145,283 €151,885 €159,042 €166,194
PRINCIPAL HIGHER (PPC)
€98,593 €102,652 €106,732 €110,802 €114,272 €117,928¹ €121,586 ²
PRINCIPAL (PPC)
€91,609 €95,496 €99,354 €103,240 €106,518 €109,917¹ €113,313²
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL HIGHER (PPC)
€77,275 €80,215 €83,161 €86,106 €89,051 €90,771 €93,693¹ €96,622²
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL (PPC)
€70,399 €72,991 €75,620 €78,258 €80,891 €82,409 €85,067¹ €87,734²
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (PPC)
€33,889 €36,406 €37,125 €40,277 €44,311 €47,381 €50,454 €53,560
€56,663 €59,756 €61,899¹ €64,038²
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER HIGHER SCALE (PPC)
€47,381 €50,454 €53,560 €56,663 €59,756 €61,899 €64,008 €66,121
HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER (PPC)
€50,848 €52,334 €53,817 €55,300 €56,788 €58,271 €59,756 €61,899¹
€64,038²
HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER HIGHER SCALE (PPC)
€53,817 €55,300 €56,788 €58,271 €59,756 €61,899 €63,303 €64,711 €66,121
EXECUTIVE OFFICER (PPC)
€31,698 €33,509 €34,531 €36,526 €38,315 €40,044 €41,768 €43,455
€45,160 €46,817 €48,526 €49,658 €51,270¹ €52,894²
EXECUTIVE OFFICER HIGHER SCALE (PPC)
€34,531 €36,526 €38,315 €40,044 €41,768 €43,455 €45,160 €46,817
€48,526 €49,658 €51,270 €52,478 €53,689 €54,903
CLERICAL OFFICER (PPC)
€25,339 €26,963 €27,375 €28,181 €29,368 €30,555 €31,740 €32,604
(€485.60) (€516.73) (€524.63) (€540.07) (€562.83) (€585.56) (€608.28) (€624.83)
€33,581 €34,717 €35,517 €36,642 €37,760 €39,504 €40, 876¹ €41, 504²
(€643.56) (€665.34) (€680.68) (€702.22) (€723.65) (€757.08) (€783.36) (€795.40)
CLERICAL OFFICER HIGHER SCALE (PPC)
€28,181 €29,368 €30,555 €31,740 €32,604 €33,581 €34,717 €35,518
(€540.07) (€562.83) (€585.56) (€608.28) (€624.83) (€643.56) (€665.34) (€680.68)
€36,642 €37,760 €39,504 €40,876 €41,504 €42,353
(€702.22) (€723.65) (€757.08) (€783.36) (€795.40) (€811.68)
HEAD SERVICES OFFICER (PPC)
€642.41 €659.49 €673.24 €693.24 €713.24 €733.25 €757.10¹ €783.37²
SERVICES OFFICER (PPC)
€457.11 €483.78 €493.85 €515.13 €534.14 €545.51 €558.82 €574.83
€602.19 €615.73¹ €637.26²
SERVICES ATTENDANT (PPC)
€451.05 €469.14 €493.85 €501.69 €517.90 €536.92 €553.50 €572.16
€595.11 €613.85¹ €629.52²
CLEANER (PPC)
€436.93 €465.02 €472.88 €491.24 €513.30 €526.94¹ €540.62²
ADVISORY COUNSEL GRADE 2 PPC
€98,593 €102,652 €106,732 €110,802 €114,272 €117,928¹ €121,586²
ADVISORY COUNSEL GRADE 3 - PPC
€70,440 €73,143.00 €77,275 €80,715 €84,186 €87,649 €91,087 €93,289 €96,292¹ €99,303²
OGP - CATEGORY SPECIALIST HIGHER PPC
€47,229 €48,837 €50,199 €51,556 €52,912 €54,261 €55,608 €58,212 €60,818 €63,422 €66,029
¹ After 3 years satisfactory service at the maximum.
² After 6 years satisfactory service at the maximum.
Revised payscales with effect from 1 February 2022 for General Service grades.
SECRETARY GENERAL I
€215,998
SECRETARY GENERAL II
€205,199
SECRETARY GENERAL III
€194,399
DEPUTY SECRETARY
€178,199
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
€138,019 €144,292 €151,088 €157,886
PRINCIPAL HIGHER
€93,657 €97,521 €101,396 €105,259 €108,560 €112,037¹ €115,510²
PRINCIPAL
€87,030 €90,717 €94,383 €98,080 €101,193 €104,423¹ €107,648²
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL HIGHER
€73,408 €76,202 €79,008 €81,799 €84,598 €86,229 €89,016¹ €91,793²
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
€68,003 €70,478 €71,843 €74,345 €76,848 €78,295 €80,816¹ €83,345²
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
€32,465 €35,030 €35,383 €38,379 €42,212 €45,131 €48,050 €50,979
€53,923 €56,865 €58,893¹ €60,927²
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER HIGHER SCALE
€45,131 €48,050 €50,979 €53,923 €56,865 €58,893 €60,904 €62,911
HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER
€48,426 €49,826 €51,220 €52,628 €54,037 €55,455 €56,865 €58,893¹ €60,927²
HIGHER EXECUTIVE OFFICER HIGHER SCALE
€51,220 €52,628 €54,037 €55,455 €56,865 €58,893 €60,227 €61,568 €62,911
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
€30,227 €32,271 €33,081 €34,823 €36,518 €38,165 €39,800 €41,402 €43,021 €44,595 €46,216 €47,297 €48,823¹ €50,352²
EXECUTIVE OFFICER HIGHER SCALE
€33,081 €34,823 €36,518 €38,165 €39,800 €41,402 €43,021 €44,595 €46,216
€47,297 €48,823 €49,962 €51,100 €52,249
CLERICAL OFFICER
CLERICAL OFFICER HIGHER SCALE
€27,227 €27,979 €29,107 €30,234 €31,361 €32,169 €33,265 €34,182
(€521.79) (€536.20) (€557.81) (€579.42) (€601.01) (€616.51) (€637.50) (€655.08)
€34,928 €35,992 €37,648 €38,951 €39,551 €40,355
(€669.38) (€689.76) (€721.50) (€746.47) (€757.97) (€773.38)
HEAD SERVICES OFFICER
€618.31 €631.88 €647.91 €667.17 €679.85 €698.85 €721.50¹ €746.47²
SERVICES OFFICER
€446.69 €461.13 €474.09 €491.40 €508.97 €526.98 €539.85 €547.62
€573.75 €592.13¹ €613.27²
SERVICES ATTENDANT
€446.69 €447.47 €474.09 €481.40 €493.83 €511.58 €534.73 €545.06
€566.86 €584.72¹ €605.64²
CLEANER
€419.61 €443.74 €454.11 €471.62 €489.67 €502.14¹ €522.30²
¹ After 3 years satisfactory service at the maximum.
² After 6 years satisfactory service at the maximum.
203. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Finance the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12518/22]
View answerThe Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from Vehicle Registration Tax 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 charitable organisations. In order to qualify for relief, the applicant must hold a Primary Medical Certificate issued by the relevant Senior Area Medical Officer (SAMO) or a Board Medical Certificate issued by the Disabled Driver Medical Board of Appeal. To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled, and satisfy at least one of the six medical criteria.
I have no role in relation to the granting or refusal of PMCs and the HSE and the Medical Board of Appeal must be independent in their clinical determinations.
A new Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal is being established following the resignation of all 5 members of the previous board. An Expression of Interest seeking suitable candidates for the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal is now published on gov.ie - Expression of interest for appointment to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (www.gov.ie).
Requests for appeal hearings can be sent to the DDMBA secretary based in the National Rehabilitation Hospital. New appeal hearing dates will be issued once the new Board is in place. Assessments for the primary medical certificate, by the HSE, are continuing to take place.
The Minister for Finance gave a commitment that a comprehensive review of the scheme, to include a broader review of mobility supports for persons with disabilities, would be undertaken.
The Minister is working with Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. They have agreed that the DDS review should be brought within a wider review 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.
This the most appropriate forum to meet mutual objectives in respect of transport solutions/mobility supports for those with a disability.
The NDIS Transport Working Group, chaired by Anne Rabbitte, Minister of State for Disability, met on 26th January 2022. Officials from the Department of Finance will contribute to the Working Group to progress the review and to bring forward proposals for consideration by Government.
204. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Finance if the Irish director of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development will be seeking the imposition by the bank of sanctions against Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12585/22]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (or the EBRD) was established in 1991 to provide finance to help build market economies in former Warsaw Pact and Soviet Union countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Since then, the Bank has progressively and significantly extended its geographical scope of operations and is currently active in nearly 40 countries from central Europe to central Asia and the southern and eastern Mediterranean, plus the West Bank and Gaza. Seventy-one countries, including Russia and Belarus have a shareholding in the EBRD.
Ireland is a founding member of the Bank and is part of a multi country constituency with Denmark, Lithuania and Kosovo. In this regard, the Danish representative, currently holds the rotating Director post, which acts on behalf of our constituency. That said, there is an Advisor, seconded from my Department, to the constituency office in London, who works closely with the Director. Officials in my Department engage extensively and constructively with these EBRD officials and I am kept appraised on an ongoing basis of developments within the EBRD.
With regard to the specific query, on 1 March, the EBRD Board of Directors approved a recommendation to the Board of Governors for the suspension and modification of access to Bank resources by the Russian Federation and Belarus. I understand that if the Board of Governors adopts this recommendation, the EBRD would not finance any new operations, would not implement any technical cooperation projects and would suspend or cancel any future disbursements under existing operations in both Russia and Belarus. This resolution will require the support of 49 Governors, two thirds of the Board Governors with three quarters of the voting power, and a vote is expected on it shortly.
The Deputy can rest assured that I fully support this proposal, and I welcome that the EBRD is acting in such a decisive manner on this issue.
205. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Finance if the suspension of Euro clearing for Russian banks will be supported in view of the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12656/22]
View answerIreland is at the forefront of EU efforts to adopt strong sanctions packages which will have an impact on the Russian economy. EU sanctions announced to date in response to the situation are already the most extensive ever.
European countries are aiming to stop Russian companies from tapping their markets for financing by barring access to market infrastructure.
Clearing is the process by which a ‘clearing house’, also called a ‘central counter party’ (CCP), acts as the middleman for both the buyer and the seller of a financial instrument.
The European Association of CCP Clearing Houses (EACH) represents the interests of Central Counterparties in Europe.
Given the actions of Russia against Ukraine and in consistency with wider EU sanctions, EACH announced that it felt the need to take action, both from the perspective of adherence to current and possible wider sanctions and to act in the best interests of its membership.
The EACH Board therefore decided to temporarily suspend Russian Member CCP National Clearing Centre (NCC) from EACH in line with the organisations Articles of Association. The NCC is part of the Moscow Exchange Group and the only Russian CCP that is recognised under applicable EU legislation.
Sanctions on Russia’s access to EU capital and financial markets have now been expanded to include the exclusion of seven Russian banks from the SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) messaging system.
Ireland argued in favour of the exclusion of Russian banks from SWIFT and we are now working to implement these sanctions.
Ireland will continue to engage with the EU on any additional sanction proposals moving forward, including in the area of clearing.
206. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Finance if he will review an appeal in the case of a person (details supplied); the status of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12668/22]
View answerThe Disabled Drivers & Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from Vehicle Registration Tax 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 charitable organisations. In order to qualify for relief, the applicant must hold a Primary Medical Certificate issued by the relevant Senior Area Medical Officer (SAMO) or a Board Medical Certificate issued by the Disabled Driver Medical Board of Appeal. To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled, and satisfy at least one of the six medical criteria.
I have no role in relation to the granting or refusal of PMCs and the HSE and the Medical Board of Appeal must be independent in their clinical determinations.
An Expressions of Interest seeking suitable candidates for the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal is now published on gov.ie - Expression of interest for appointment to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (www.gov.ie) following the resignation of all five members of the Board.
Requests for appeal hearings can be sent to the DDMBA secretary based in the National Rehabilitation Hospital. New appeal hearing dates will be issued once the new Board is in place. Assessments for the primary medical certificate, by the HSE, are continuing to take place.
207. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance if financial sanctions in respect of Russian interests make provision for the freezing and or interruption of cybercurrencies. [12922/22]
View answerIt is important to note that sanctions enacted in the form of Regulations issued at EU level have direct effect across the Union. All natural and legal persons in the State are obliged to comply with such regulations. A breach of such a sanction is a criminal offence.
Targeted sanctions have been in place against specified Russian individuals and entities due to Russia’s actions in relation to Ukraine since 2014. These have been updated many times since, including several updates and amendments made since 21st February 2022.
Among the various measures currently in place, of note is Council Regulation (EU) 269/2014, most recently updated by Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/353 of 2nd March. Article 2 of this Regulation states that, in relation to the persons and entities against whom it is directed, that:
All funds and economic resources belonging to, owned, held or controlled by any natural or legal persons, entities or bodies, or natural or legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them, as listed in Annex I, shall be frozen.
No funds or economic resources shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies, or natural or legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them, as listed in Annex I.
Article 1 of the Regulation defines what is meant by the term ‘funds’:
‘funds’ means financial assets and benefits of every kind, including, but not limited to:
(i) cash, cheques, claims on money, drafts, money orders and other payment instruments;
(ii) deposits with financial institutions or other entities, balances on accounts, debts and debt obligations;
(iii) publicly- and privately-traded securities and debt instruments, including stocks and shares, certificates representing securities, bonds, notes, warrants, debentures and derivatives contracts;
(iv) interest, dividends or other income on or value accruing from or generated by assets;
(v) credit, right of set-off, guarantees, performance bonds or other financial commitments;
(vi) letters of credit, bills of lading, bills of sale; and
(vii) documents showing evidence of an interest in funds or financial resources;
While ‘economic resources’ are defined as follows:
‘economic resources’ means assets of every kind, whether tangible or intangible, movable or immovable, which are not funds but may be used to obtain funds, goods or services;
Accordingly, it is a requirement of these sanctions measures that ‘cybercurrencies’ or ‘cryptocurrencies’ , as assets, be frozen and/or not made available to the listed individuals and entities.
Notwithstanding the above, the existing sanctions regulations may be amended further and amendments may include the incorporation of language explicitly referencing ‘cybercurrencies’ or ‘cryptocurrencies’.
208. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Finance if potential measures are being examined to protect and or reduce the financial burden of increasing petrol and diesel prices, in particular for those that have no alternative in rural areas in which public transport and cycling infrastructure is not available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12991/22]
View answerThe current inflationary trend in fuels is driven by international market factors, primarily by rising demand due to the economic recovery, uncertainty in fuel markets due to the conflict situation in Ukraine, with secondary factors of rising EU ETS allowance prices, weather patterns and gas supply levels in Europe also contributing to rising costs.
Of course, the Government is acutely aware of the increase in consumer prices in recent months, especially the increase in fuel and other energy prices and for this reason we designed a package of measures to alleviate the impact of increased energy prices on households.
The package of measures includes:
- an increase in the energy credit to €200 including VAT, estimated to impact just over 2 million households
- a lump sum payment of €125 on the fuel allowance will be paid to 390,000 recipients
- there will be a temporary reduction in public transport fares of 20% from the end of April to the end of the year. This will impact approximately 800,000 daily users of Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Bus, Go Ahead, Luas, DART and Local Link services.
- a reduction of the Drug Payment Scheme from €144 to to €80. This will benefit just over 70,000 families
- the working family payment budget increase will be brought forward from 1 June to 1 April
- reduced caps for multiple children on school transport fees to €500 per family post primary and €150 for primary school children
In designing a support package, the Government was conscious of the need to target the main underlying problem – higher energy prices – while operating within the fiscal framework set out in the Summer Economic Statement. This suite of measures strikes the appropriate balance and provides support to every domestic electricity account via the electricity credit, but also provides specific supports for more vulnerable households through targeted welfare measures.
The package of measures announced by the Government provides support to households in rural and urban areas alike. The €200 energy credit is available to all domestic electricity account holders. The targeted welfare support measures provide financial support to households regardless of geographical location. The 20 percent fare reduction is available on all public transport routes including Bus Éireann and Local Link.
However, I recognise that rural areas have less transport options compared to urban areas. This is an issue which the government is currently addressing. As set out in the National Development Plan, the Government is committed to strengthening rural economies and communities and enhancing regional accessibility, with a range of investments proposed in new and existing public transport infrastructure. The Plan also commits to significant investment in the land transport network and the upcoming National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland will set out the priorities for investment in the land transport network.
The Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, Our Rural Future, also contains over 150 commitments to the improvement of the quality of life in rural Ireland, to be delivered by central Government Departments, State agencies and local authorities. These include commitments to providing improved rural transport services, piloting new transport initiatives to enhance the quality of life for people in rural areas, and ensuring that public transport services in rural and regional areas are accessible to those with disabilities or reduced mobility.
The Policy aims to develop expanded Local Link Services and to further integrate Local Link Services with other existing public transport services through the rollout of the National Transport Authority’s Connecting Ireland Plan. There is also a commitment to develop a grant-aided Community Transport Service Scheme through Local Link, as well as to running a pilot to examine the potential for hail-riding services to improve rural connectivity and to develop a subsidised Local Area Hackney Scheme in designated areas that are too small to support a full-time taxi or hackney service.
The Policy also commits to investing in high quality walking and cycling infrastructure specifically targeted at towns and villages across the country, investing in the local and regional road network to maintain roads to a proper standard and to increase regional connectivity and to increasing investment in the repair of non-public roads through the Local Improvement Scheme.
The Government will continue to look at providing improvements in the public transport sector as more funding becomes available through further increases in the carbon tax.
209. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown of the various taxes and levies charged by the State on one litre of petrol and one litre diesel in tabular form by each fuel type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12999/22]
View answerAll propellant fuels, including petrol and diesel, are subject to an excise duty known as Mineral Oil Tax (MOT), which comprises a non-carbon component and a carbon component, the latter commonly referred to as carbon tax.
A levy is also charged on petrol and diesel to cover the costs related to maintaining security of oil supplies. This levy is administered by, and paid directly to, the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA).
Details of the MOT and NORA levy are set out in the following table:
|
- |
MOT non-carbon component €/litre |
MOT carbon component €/litre |
Total MOT €/litre |
NORA levy €/litre |
|
Petrol |
€0.54 |
€0.10 |
€0.64 |
€0.02 |
|
Diesel |
€0.43 |
€0.11 |
€0.54 |
€0.02 |
* Figures rounded upwards to two decimal places.
In accordance with the Value-Added Tax Consolidation Act, 2010, VAT is chargeable on petrol and diesel at the standard rate, currently 23%, on the total amount which the supplier is entitled to receive including taxes, duties, levies and charges but excluding the VAT itself.
Therefore, an illustrative pump price of €1.80 for a litre of petrol would include total taxes and levies of approximately €1 comprising €0.64 MOT, €0.02 NORA levy, and €0.34 VAT.
Both MOT and VAT are collected by Revenue.
210. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons who have availed of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme in each of the years 2017 to 2021; the cost to the Exchequer of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; the estimated additional cost to the Exchequer of changing the medical criteria for the scheme to a more general mobility-focused criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13038/22]
View answerI am advised by Revenue that the number of individuals and organisations claiming a repayment of Value Added Tax (VAT) and/or Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) under the Drivers and Passengers with Disabilities (DPD) scheme is provided in the table below. The figures for 2021 are provisional at this point.
|
Year |
Number of Claimants |
VRT & VAT €m |
|
2021 |
5,737 |
62 |
|
2020 |
5,539 |
57 |
|
2019 |
6,336 |
62 |
|
2018 |
6,423 |
60 |
|
2017 |
6,020 |
56 |
It is not possible, based on the information included in tax returns, to estimate the cost of extending the scheme or changing the eligibility criteria. To do so would require details of the proposed wider criteria and the potential level of additional uptake on the scheme.
211. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of protected disclosures received by his Department in each of the years 2019 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; if an external contractor has been engaged regarding a protected disclosure over that time period; if so, the cost of same; and the number of protected disclosures that were rejected, accepted and that remain under review for the time period in question. [13051/22]
View answerSection 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act requires the publication of a report in respect of protected disclosures received in the preceding year setting out certain information in respect of protected disclosures received. For the purposes of complying with section 22, my Department publishes information regarding protected disclosures formally identified as such, without identifying the person making the disclosure.
Previous reports indicate that one protected disclosure was received in 2019 and no protected disclosures were received during 2020 or 2021, with a report of this due to be published by June of this year. There is no protected disclosure to date in 2022.
Tabular summary:
|
Year |
No of Protected Disclosures |
|
2019 |
1 |
|
2020 |
nil |
|
2021 |
nil |
|
2022 |
nil to date |
An external contractor, from the Panel established by the Office of Government Procurement to provide services in respect of protected disclosures to Government Departments, was engaged to investigate the protected disclosure received in 2019 on foot of a competitive tender. That investigation has now concluded and the total expenditure involved was €65,672.09.
In line with section 16 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 in order to protect the identity of the maker of protected disclosures, my Department cannot disclose the nature of disclosures, nor the occupation or area of work of the persons who made protected disclosures to their Department. However I can confirm that none of these protected disclosures were made by an official (current, former or retired) of the Department.
In broad terms a protected disclosure is a disclosure of information which the discloser believes may reveal wrongdoing and which came to the attention of the discloser through their employment. This is a very broad category of information and I expect that in many cases disclosures falling into this category are received and dealt with properly without the person making the disclosure or those receiving it ever adverting to the fact that the information constitutes a protected disclosure.
The obligations which arise in respect of protected disclosures consist principally of not penalising the discloser for making the disclosure and protecting the identity of the person making the disclosure in some circumstances. These obligations would be routinely met without the need for any legal obligation to compel this to occur, so that it is generally not relevant whether the information constitutes a protected disclosure within the meaning of the legislation or not. It is therefore not possible to be certain that no disclosures which fall within the definition of protected disclosures but which have not been formally identified as such have been received and in fact it is very likely that this has occurred.
It is for these reasons that it is not possible to provide a comprehensive and exhaustive response to the Deputy's question. Having said that, it is important to state that my Department has put in place policy and procedures for the making of Protected Disclosures in the Department of Finance, which have been developed in line with the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and agreed by the Department’s Executive Board. This sets out the process by which a ‘worker’ of the Department can make a protected disclosure, what will happen when a disclosure is made and what the Department will do to protect the discloser.
The process supports the Department’s strong commitment to ensuring that the culture and working environment of the Department encourage, facilitate and support any member of staff of the Department in ‘speaking up’ on any issue that may impact adversely on the Department’s ability to properly and fully carry out all its roles and responsibilities to the high performance standard required. Two alternative confidential recipients have been nominated to receive protected disclosures from internal staff, in the event that a staff member does not wish to make the disclosure to their line manager or the normal senior management team. These nominees are the Head of Legal and the Compliance Officer. To date, neither of these officers have received such an internal protected disclosure.
212. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 275 of 22 February 2022, if the home renovation incentive will be reinstated and extended to cover works carried out after December 2018 to enable homeowners to reclaim 13.5% VAT. [13127/22]
View answerI should clarify that, prior to its expiry, the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) operated as a relief from Income Tax (albeit at a rate of 13.5%) rather than VAT.
The HRI provided tax relief by way of an income tax credit on repair, renovation or improvement works on principal private residences or rental properties carried out by tax compliant contractors. It was introduced in 2014 at a time when there was considerable loss of employment within the construction sector, with the aim of addressing this market failure by stimulating increased activity in the sector.
I have no plans to reinstate the Home Renovation Incentive for the following reasons.
The HRI expired on 31 December 2018 following a review of the scheme. The review found that in the context of the housing supply shortage, and the need at that time to deliver 25,000 additional housing units per annum over the period 2017-2021, there was a risk that the scheme could lead to increased competition for scarce resources within the construction sector, leading to upward pressure on construction costs and house prices. The review concluded that the continuation of the scheme could give rise to displacement of labour from work on new builds to work on home renovations and would create a high opportunity cost of labour which was not present at the inception of the scheme.
Also, in 2019, in the context of Tax Strategy Group (TSG) deliberations, my Department examined the concept of a tax incentive along the lines of the HRI for domestic retrofit projects. The relevant TSG paper was published with the Budget 2020 documentation. It indicated that there could be a duplication of supports with the direct Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) grant system already in place and that a scheme such as this could conflict with the need to increase overall housing supply.
The paper observed that:
- In terms of current direct expenditure measures in the energy efficiency sector, the Government continues to make grants available to householders who wish to improve the energy efficiency of their home;
- Research undertaken by the ESRI into householder preferences regarding retrofit subsidy schemes found that households strongly prefer cash payment subsidies (i.e. up-front discounts or cash back post works) versus other indirect methods of financial support such as tax credits); and
- From an equity perspective, tax expenditure measures can be regressive by nature, given that only those who pay taxes qualify, and those with greatest income benefit the most. As such, a tax incentive measure as proposed may be of little benefit to certain groups who are most likely to suffer from energy poverty, for example the elderly or those on limited incomes.
It is my view that these observations still hold true.
More generally, proposals for tax expenditure measures are assessed in accordance with my Department's Tax Expenditure Guidelines. These make clear that it is important that any policy proposal which involves tax expenditures should only occur in limited circumstances where there are demonstrable market failures. In particular, they provide that a tax-based incentive should only be considered where it would be more efficient than a direct expenditure intervention.
In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that the Government has approved the National Retrofitting Scheme, which is a package of supports to undertake home energy upgrades, for warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes with lower energy bills. The scheme will be administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
213. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance the number of credit unions which have closed and or amalgamated with other credit unions since 1 January 2010 annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13130/22]
View answer214. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Finance the policy and regulatory framework that has required credit unions to amalgamate with other credit unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13131/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 214 together.
The Central Bank informs me that the total number of individual, actively trading credit unions has decreased from 415 as at 1st January 2010 to 210 as at 4th March 2022, a reduction of 205.
This decrease has been driven in the significant majority of cases by the completion of voluntary transfers of engagements (TOEs).
TOEs are completed in accordance with legislative requirements set out in the Credit Union 1997 (as amended). The Central Bank has published guidance on TOEs and has included a section devoted to TOEs in the Credit Union Handbook.
A total of 190 credit unions transferred their engagements over the period 1st January 2010 to 4th March 2022. Of the 190 transfers, 82 were aided by the Credit Union Restructuring Board, which operated from 2013 to 31 July 2017.
A transfer of engagements is a voluntary process whereby an individual credit union (a transferor) transfers all of its assets, liabilities and undertakings to another credit union, typically within the proximate geographical area. This ensures the continued availability credit union services in the transferor’s common bond.
The Thematic Review of Restructuring in the Credit Union Sector, published by the Central Bank in February 2019, found that while the number of registered credit unions had reduced by 35% from 30 September 2013 to 30 September 2018, there was only an 8% reduction in business locations operated by credit unions over that period of time. The Review also found that in the 77% of transfers completed between those dates, no business locations had closed as a result of the completion of a transfer.
The remaining decrease in the numbers of credit unions is attributable to eight voluntary dissolutions, whereby a credit union chooses to cease trading and discharge its assets, liabilities and reserves, and seven resolution actions. Each of these resolution actions was initiated by the Central Bank against extremely distressed and weakened credit unions in circumstances where no voluntary solution could be achieved.
Although there is legislation and guidance in relation to how a credit union must/should complete a voluntary transfer of engagement process, there is no policy and regulatory framework that requires a credit union to amalgamate with another credit union.
215. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of staff currently employed by his Department; the current annual salary of the highest and second highest paid persons respectively, employed by his Department; and the various pay scales for persons working in his Department. [12481/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that, as of 28 February, 2022, there were 455 staff employed in my Department and 243 staff employed in the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), which is also part of my Department.
The relevant pay scales in use in my Department and the OGP are set out in the table below.
|
Grade |
Salary Scale Bands |
|
Secretary General Level I Non-PPC |
€215,998 |
|
Deputy Secretary PPC |
€190,943 |
|
Deputy Secretary PPC (Appointed on or after 1/7/10) |
€187,578 |
|
Assistant Secretary PPC |
€145,283 – €166,194 |
|
Assistant Secretary Non-PPC |
€138,019 – €157,886 |
|
Principal Officer Higher PPC |
€98,593 - €121,586 |
|
Principal Officer Higher Non-PPC |
€93,657 - €115,510 |
|
Principal Officer PPC |
€91,609 – €113,313 |
|
Occupational Physician Principal Officer PPC |
€88,121 - €121,586 |
|
Principal Officer Non-PPC |
€87,030 - €107,648 |
|
Assistant Principal Higher PPC |
€77,275 – €96,622 |
|
Engineer Grade 1 Assistant Principal PPC |
€74,126 – €92,510 |
|
Professional Accountant Grade 1 Assistant Principal PPC |
€74,126 – €92,510 |
|
Assistant Principal Higher Non-PPC |
€73,408 - €91,793 |
|
Engineer Grade 1 Assistant Principal Non-PPC |
€70,466 - €87,886 |
|
Advisory Counsel Grade 3 Assistant Principal PPC |
€70,440 - €99,303 |
|
Assistant Principal PPC |
€70,399 – €87,734 |
|
Assistant Principal Non-PPC |
€68,003 – €83,345 |
|
OGP Category Manager Assistant Principal PPC |
€65,545 - €87,886 |
|
OGP Category Manager Assistant Principal Non-PPC |
€62,355 - €83,587 |
|
Higher Executive Officer Higher PPC |
€53,817 - €66,121 |
|
Higher Executive Officer Higher Non-PPC |
€51,220 - €62,911 |
|
Higher Executive Officer PPC |
€50,848 - €64,038 |
|
Higher Executive Officer Non-PPC |
€48,426 - €60,927 |
|
OGP Category Specialist Higher Executive Officer PPC |
€47,229 - €66,029 |
|
OGP Category Specialist Higher Executive Officer Non-PPC |
€44,982 - €62,816 |
|
Higher Executive Officer Former FAS PPC |
€39,858 – €63,923 |
|
Administrative Officer Occupational Health Nurse PPC |
€51,934 - €61,398 |
|
Administrative Officer Occupational Health Nurse Non-PPC |
€49,451 - €58,420 |
|
Administrative Officer Higher PPC |
€47,381 - €66,121 |
|
Administrative Officer Higher Non-PPC |
€45,131 - €62,911 |
|
Administrative Officer PPC |
€33,889 - €64,038 |
|
OGP Category Specialist Executive Officer PPC |
€42,457 - €57,194 |
|
Executive Officer Higher PPC |
€34,531 - €54,903 |
|
Executive Officer Higher Non-PPC |
€33,081 - €52,249 |
|
Executive Officer PPC |
€31,698 - €52,894 |
|
Executive Officer Non-PPC |
€30,227 - €50,352 |
|
Clerical Officer Higher PPC |
€28,181 - €42,353 |
|
Clerical Officer Higher Non-PPC |
€27,227 - €40,355 |
|
Clerical Officer PPC |
€25,339 - €41,504 |
|
Temporary Clerical Officer PPC |
€24,148 - €39,551 |
|
Clerical Officer Civilian Driver PPC |
€38,679 |
216. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider allowing private healthcare operators including pharmacies to make a tax-free payment to staff on a once-off basis without the payment being subject to PAYE, PRSI and USC (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12571/22]
View answerThere are many thousands of people across the country who went above and beyond over the course of the last two years. The continued contribution of so many people in all walks of life has been essential to getting us through this difficult time. Collaboration and solidarity have been the hallmark of our national approach to COVID-19 and the measures announced on 19 January are true to those principles.
After careful consideration, the Government made the decision to give all the people of Ireland a national day of recognition and commemoration on the 18th of March this year, and another permanent public holiday in February commencing in 2023.
The Government took many factors into consideration when coming to a decision in relation to any additional recognition measure for specific sectors. It ultimately agreed that contribution of every sector is to be acknowledged through the introduction of a new public holiday. At the same time it decided that it was appropriate to acknowledge certain frontline healthcare workers in the public sector and in private nursing homes and hospices in particular through a special recognition payment.
This is a balanced package of measures that will benefit all workers across the economy, while also recognising in particular the risks faced by certain frontline healthcare workers during this pandemic.
The Department of Health is working together with the HSE to provide additional details on this measure including full eligibility criteria, particulars and terms and conditions that apply. This will be published as soon as possible. This work underway is to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.
Issues surrounding taxation are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Finance and any
questions regarding the tax treatment of payments made by private sector employers to employees should be directed to him.
217. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a case of river erosion at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12587/22]
View answerLocal flooding issues are a matter, in the first instance, for each Local Authority to investigate and address. All Local Authorities may carry out flood mitigation works, using either their own resources, or by applying for funding under the OPW Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme.
Under this scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €750,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a cost benefit ratio and having regard to the availability of funding for flood risk management. Full details of this scheme are available on www.gov.ie/opw
I am advised the OPW has no application in respect of flooding at this area.
218. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if an issue raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) regarding land in the ownership of the OPW will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12631/22]
View answerMy officials have not had sight of the correspondence referred to in this case. If the Deputy could forward relevant details on the issue my officials should then be in a position to ascertain the position in this case.
If the property in question is owned by a dissolved company Section 28 of the State Property Act 1954 may apply. This section of the Act provides that land held by a dissolved company at the time of its dissolution becomes property of the State in the name of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. An exception to this is where the company held the land on trust for another.
Companies that are dissolved can be restored up to twenty years after dissolution, and if restored the land they held at dissolution reverts to them as if the company had never been dissolved. The Minister's interest is often referred to as a defeasible interest. These provisions are primarily intended to ensure that land is not ownerless. Land can seamlessly transfer into and out of the Minister's ownership without his active occupation or involvement.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) administers property of dissolved companies on behalf of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This includes the processing of applications for waivers of the Minister's interest to parties that are regarded as having an entitlement.
An examination of the referenced correspondence may provide some further insight to the status of the property.
I hope my outlining of the general position above is helpful.
219. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the average renumeration paid to an independent chairperson of an expert advisory group; and the factors influencing determination of an appropriate amount. [12657/22]
View answer220. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the average renumeration paid to non-Government members of an expert advisory group. [12658/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together.
While it is not immediately clear to me as to which Board(s) the Deputy may be referring to, I will attempt to answer these questions by setting out the rates payable to Chairpersons and Members of State Boards and also the relevant considerations in relation to determining appropriate payment rates.
1. Chairpersons and Members of State Boards
The current rates of fees payable to the chairperson and members of State Boards are outlined in Table 1 below. On occasion, these rates may also be used as a guide rate for an advisory group where it is deemed to be at an appropriate level. In arriving at a rate, consideration is given to matters such as the expected duration of the group’s work, the time commitment required of the members and the level of expertise required.
Table 1: Chairperson and Members of State Boards
|
- |
|
Fee Payable |
Fee Payable |
|
|
|
(Non-Commercial |
(Commercial) |
|
Category 1 |
Chairperson |
€29,888 |
€31,500 |
|
|
Member |
€14,963 |
€15,750 |
|
Category 2 |
Chairperson |
€20,520 |
€21,600 |
|
|
Member |
€11,970 |
€12,600 |
|
Category 3 |
Chairperson |
€11,970 |
€12,600 |
|
|
Member |
€7,695 |
€8,100 |
|
Category 4 |
Chairperson |
€8,978 |
€9,450 |
|
|
Member |
€5,985 |
€6,300 |
The information on the average remuneration figure being sought by the Deputy is not held by my Department but rather this would be a matter for each Government Department to advise on.
