Written Answers Nos. 49-64
49. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to provide an update on the work of the Office of Public Works in managing the roll-out of the pilot programme involving site preparation and the acquisition and installation of modular units to house Ukrainian arrivals; the total funding allocated by his Department to acquire and install the modular units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36359/22]
View answerThe Government has approved the provision of modular houses as part of its plans to address the need to develop capacity for Ukrainian arrivals. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has identified potential locations for consideration by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The Office of Public Works will be managing the roll-out of a pilot programme on behalf of the Department, involving site preparation and the acquisition and installation of 500 modular units. The Department will take over the management of the sites once completed.
The funding of the programme is under the remit of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, whose officials are engaging with the OPW on an ongoing basis.
50. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has plans to review current pension abatement arrangements for ex-Defence Forces personnel who on completion of service take up employment in another area of the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36570/22]
View answer51. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the public service roles that are excluded from current pension abatement arrangements for public service staff who complete their employment in one area of the public sector and who on completion of service take up employment in another area of the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36571/22]
View answer52. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas are excluded from current pension abatement arrangements for public service staff who complete their employment in one area of the public sector and who on completion of service take up employment in another area of the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36572/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 50 to 52, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy may be aware, the principle of abatement of a public service pension is long-standing within the rules of various public service pension schemes. Pension abatement is an important aspect of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 (the Single Scheme Act).
The Act provides for the abatement of a public service pension where a retired public servant, whose pension is in payment, is re-employed in the public service such that no more of the pension when combined with the remuneration in the new position shall exceed the pensionable remuneration of the old position. It should be noted that it is the pension which is abated and not the salary in the new position. The measure applies across the public service, including the Defence Forces.
Abatement policy remains a key component of Public Service pension policy and addresses valid concerns about simultaneous payment of both pension and salary in the Public service. While the high level operation of abatement is monitored on an ongoing basis, there are no current plans to review pension abatement policy as it applies to specific sectors of the public service.
There are no specific public service roles which are excluded from current pension abatement arrangements. However, Section 52(4) of the legislation provides for a waiver of abatement, in exceptional circumstances where the position requires a person with particular training and experience and that position cannot be filled other than by the employment of the pensioner. Applications for waivers of abatement are assessed on their own merits on a case by case basis and subject to approval by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
Following consideration of updated legal advice on the application of the wording of Section 52(1) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 in the context of members of the Oireachtas, it was determined that abatement could not be applied to persons elected to the Oireachtas. It should be noted that this advice had no implications for public servants appointed to other public service positions including former members of the Oireachtas who take up position elsewhere in the public service. Abatement continues to be correctly applied to former Pensionable Public Servants re-employed elsewhere in the public service.
53. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if special leave with pay will continue from 1 July 2022 for cases of long Covid-19 beyond the period of isolation; the number of front-line workers who have availed of this payment for an extended period of 12 weeks or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36576/22]
View answerSpecial leave with pay for COVID-19 arrangements were introduced by my Department in March 2020 as a temporary measure in response to the unprecedented circumstances presented by the COVID pandemic. Special Leave with Pay has been used in lieu of sick leave across the Public Service to assist in the prevention of the possible onward spread of COVID-19 in the work premises.
From 1 July 2022, Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19 will continue to be available for the stated self-isolation period, which is currently 7 days. This is in keeping with the rationale of assisting in the prevention of the possible onward spread of COVID-19 in the work premises.
Following this, if a Public Service employee remains unwell, they may avail of the provisions of the Public Service sick leave scheme, which is a form of paid leave for the public service. It is important to note that we have standardised paid sick leave provisions across the Public Service. All illnesses are treated equally under the Public Service Sick Leave Regulations and equity is a fundamental part of the Scheme.
The Public Service Sick Leave scheme provides for the payment of the following to staff during periods of absence from work due to illness or injury:
- A maximum of 92 days on full pay in a rolling one year period
- Followed by a maximum of 91 days on half pay in a rolling one year period
- Subject to a maximum of 183 days paid sick leave in a rolling four year period
There is the potential for access to additional sick leave in certain circumstances as guided by the Critical Illness Protocol.
In relation to the number of front-line workers who have availed of Special Leave with Pay for a period of 12 weeks or more, this would be a matter for the relevant sector/organisations.
A temporary scheme of paid leave for certain public health service employees unfit for work post COVID-19 infection has been prepared and proposed to the public health sector staff representative bodies. Engagement is ongoing between the Department of Health, the HSE and the health sector representative bodies in this regard.
54. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to a pre-budget 2023 submission from an organisation (details supplied) asking for an investment of €941,000 for in-home care, outreach care and mental health supports for children and adults with epidermolysis bullosa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36598/22]
View answerThe pre-budget 2023 submission referred to in the question arrived in my Department yesterday afternoon 5 July 2022. It will be examined, as all pre-budget submissions are, by my officials and relevant issues will be brought to my attention as necessary. I would however like to point out that the matter of funding the proposed investment for the organisation outlined would be an policy issue, in the first instance, for my colleague the Minister for Health.
55. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons in receipt of special leave with pay on 30 June 2022; the number in receipt of this payment for two weeks or more on 30 June 2022; the number in receipt of this payment for 12 weeks or more on 30 June 2022; the additional supports being put in place for staff who contracted Covid-19 in their employment and who are now suffering from long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36643/22]
View answerSpecial leave with pay for COVID-19 arrangements were introduced by my Department in March 2020 as a temporary measure in response to the unprecedented circumstances presented by the COVID pandemic. Special Leave with Pay has been used in lieu of sick leave across the Public Service to assist in the prevention of the possible onward spread of COVID-19 in the work premises.
In relation to the number of persons in receipt of Special Leave with Pay on 30 June, and statistics recording the length of time employees have been in receipt of Special Leave with Pay, this is a matter for the relevant sector/organisations.
Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19 is not intended to replace sick leave in the Public Service, nor was it designed to address long COVID. Additionally, it is out of scope for Special Leave with Pay to address causation. The issue of where someone may or may not have contracted COVID-19 would need to be addressed on a sector by sector basis.
From 1 July 2022, Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19 will continue to be available for the stated self-isolation period, which is currently 7 days. This is in keeping with the rationale of assisting in the prevention of the possible onward spread of COVID-19 in the work premises.
Following this, if a Public Service employee remains unwell, they may avail of the provisions of the Public Service sick leave scheme, which is a form of paid leave for the Public Service. The Public Service Sick Leave scheme provides for the payment of the following to staff during periods of absence from work due to illness or injury:
- A maximum of 92 days on full pay in a rolling one year period
- Followed by a maximum of 91 days on half pay in a rolling one year period
- Subject to a maximum of 183 days paid sick leave in a rolling four year period
There is the potential for access to additional sick leave in certain circumstances as guided by the Critical Illness Protocol.
A temporary scheme of paid leave for certain public health service employees unfit for work post COVID-19 infection has been prepared and proposed to the public health sector staff representative bodies. Engagement is ongoing between the Department of Health, the HSE and the health sector representative bodies in this regard.
56. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of former county managers and CEOs of local authorities who are currently working within her Department and any agency or body under the remit of her Department, including details for persons employed in any format such as on a contract or advisory basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36308/22]
View answerI can confirm that no former county managers or CEOs of local authorities are currently working within my Department. In relation to the State Bodies under the Department’s remit, the relevant information is outlined in tabular form below:
|
State Body |
The number of former county managers and Chief Executive Officers of local authorities who are currently on each of the State Bodies |
Employed through Contract or Advisory capacity |
|
Arts Council |
1 (former CEO) |
Contract |
|
Fáilte Ireland |
1 (former CEO) |
Contract |
57. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the status of the scheme of basic income for artists. [36339/22]
View answerDemand for the basic income for the arts pilot research scheme has been very strong with just over 9,000 applications received by the closing date of May 12th.
I am very encouraged by the level of interest from artists and creative arts workers interested in participating in the pilot scheme. Assessment of the applications has begun and this process is ongoing given the high volume of applications. Once assessed for eligibility, all eligible applicants will be entered into an anonymised random sampling process to choose the 2,000 scheme participants.
Due to the high volume of applications, a large number of further information requests are now required to establish applicants' eligibility. Once that process is complete, all applicants will be contacted to confirm if their application was eligible or not eligible to go forward for the randomised selection process to choose the scheme participants.
The pilot scheme is a three year research programme to evaluate the impact of a basic income style payment on the arts sector. The pilot will also have a control group of up to 1,000 eligible applicants to provide for comparative analysis between the treatment and control group. A data baselining survey of all participants in both the Treatment and Control Groups will be conducted prior to payments starting, to provide the starting point/baseline for the research.
I am very pleased with the huge level of enthusiasm for the basic income for the arts pilot scheme and am delighted that over 9,000 artists and creative arts workers were willing to participate in this innovative research project. This heralds a new approach to the way the State funds and recognises artists and I look forward to seeing the data and findings of the research during the pilot.
58. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has received an annual report and financial statements in respect of 2021 from Tourism Ireland; and when she expects the reports to be published. [36476/22]
View answerMy Department submits annual reports and accounts of all State bodies under its aegis to the Government, in advance of their being laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. In addition, it is standard practice that each body will publish their annual report and financial statement once the documents have been submitted and laid as outlined above.
The Department prepares the annual reports and accounts of bodies under its aegis for submission and laying before the Houses of the Oireachtas once the audit certificate is issued by the Comptroller and Auditor General and the financial statements/accounts are submitted to the Department. I understand that, as yet, the Comptroller and Auditor General has not completed its audit of Tourism Ireland's report and financial statements in respect of 2021.
59. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the estimated cost if the budget for Screen Ireland was increased by 15% in 2023. [36477/22]
View answerAs Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, I allocate funding to Screen Ireland, the development agency for the Irish film, television and animation industry.
The 2022 allocation to Screen Ireland is €36.743m and 15% of that amount is €5.511m. Exchequer funding for Screen Ireland has increased by some €15.7m, or over 74%, from the original 2020 allocation.
60. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the total funding allocated by her Department for sporting bodies and other bodies for the promotion of physical health and mental health in the area of fitness and well-being for people over 50 years for the years 2018 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36511/22]
View answerIn relation to sport, Sport Ireland, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, including the development of strategies for increasing participation in sport, is continuing its work to increase participation in sport by people of all age groups.
Sport Ireland provides funding to the National Governing Bodies of sport, the network of Local Sports Partnerships and other sporting organisations to deliver a wide variety of programmes and actions to encourage participation by people of all ages, including those over 50 years.
I have accordingly referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
In relation to the health and well-being benefits of creativity and the arts, the all-of-government Creative Ireland Programme is a culture-based programme led by my Department to promote individual, community and national well-being. Its core proposition is that participation in arts, culture and heritage-based activities drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal well-being and achievement. The funding allocations by my Department, through the Creative Ireland Programme, for the promotion of creative engagement in support of health and well-being specifically targeting older people is presented in the table below. The Deputy will note that this funding increased significantly from 2020 as a result of a new Creativity in Older Age initiative – part of our response to Covid-19 and the need to provide particular support to older people during this time. Amongst other things, for example, funding of €50,000 is being provided to both Dublin City Council and to Fingal County Council in 2022 to continue to provide Covid Care Concerts by professional musicians in residential nursing homes and healthcare settings in their areas.
|
2018 (€) |
2019 (€) |
2020 (€) |
2021 (€) |
2022 (€) |
|
|
Creative Ireland Programme* |
11,000 |
33,000 |
539,000 |
1,010,000 |
1,433,000 |
*rounded
61. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the expected timeframe for the renewal of the signage at the photographic points on the Wild Atlantic Way; if she will advise the cost of replacing the place name poles at the photographic points; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36583/22]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies. With specific regard to the development of tourism product offerings, such as the Wild Atlantic Way, these are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland in line with its tourism development functions. I have referred this question to them for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
62. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of former county managers and CEOs of local authorities who are currently working within his Department and any agency or body under the remit of his Department, including details for persons employed in any format such as on a contract or advisory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36302/22]
View answerThere are no former county managers Chief Executives of local authorities currently working within my Department either on a full time basis or in a contract or advisory capacity.
My Department does not hold the requested information in respect of the State Bodies under its aegis. Arrangements have been made that these State Bodies may be contacted directly by e-mail by members of the Oireachtas, as set out in the table below.
|
State Body |
Contact E-mails |
|
An Bord Pleanála |
oireachtasqueries@pleanala.ie |
|
An Fóram Uisce (the Water Forum) |
info@nationalwaterforum.ie |
|
Approved Housing Bodies Regulatory Authority |
oireachtasqueries@ahbregulator.ie |
|
Docklands Oversight and Consultative Forum |
infodocklands@dublincity.ie |
|
Ervia |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Gas Networks Ireland |
oireachtas@ervia.ie |
|
Heritage Council |
oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie |
|
Housing Finance Agency |
oireachtas.enquiries@hfa.ie |
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency |
publicreps@housingagency.ie |
|
Irish Water |
oireachtasmembers@water.ie |
|
Land Development Agency |
oireachtas@lda.ie |
|
Local Government Management Agency |
corporate@lgma.ie |
|
National Oversight and Audit Commission |
info@noac.ie |
|
National Traveller Accommodation Consultative Committee |
ntacc@housing.gov.ie |
|
Office of the Planning Regulator |
oireachtas@opr.ie |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Oireachtas@osi.ie |
|
Property Registration Authority |
reps@prai.ie |
|
Pyrite Resolution Board |
oireachtasinfo@pyriteboard.ie |
|
Residential Tenancies Board |
OireachtasMembersQueries@rtb.ie |
|
Water Advisory Body |
info@wab.gov.ie |
|
Waterways Ireland |
ceoffice@waterwaysireland.org |
63. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide a list of reports used and consultants availed of in the preparation of the sectoral emission ceiling for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36372/22]
View answerThe Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, relative to 2018 levels, and achieving net zero emissions by no later than 2050. The Act also significantly strengthens the statutory framework for governance of the climate challenge, including the establishment of a system of carbon budgeting, with sector-specific emission ceilings operating within the five-year carbon budget periods.
Under Section 6A (10)(a) of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act the Minister for Environment Climate and Communications has responsibility for recommending sectoral emissions ceilings to Government and the process for preparing these recommended ceilings.
64. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagements which the National Monuments Service has had with Roscommon County Council regarding the closure of Cloonshanville cemetery, County Roscommon due to the instability of the Abbey bell tower; the steps that are being taken to reopen the cemetery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36375/22]
View answerThe friary at the referenced site is a national monument in the care and ownership of the local authority. My Department is liaising with the local authority over the condition of the monument to give archaeological advice regarding its care. The local authority would be eligible to apply for funding for conservation and repair of the friary under the 2023 Community Monuments Fund which is administered through local authorities by the National Monuments Service of my Department.
The closure of the graveyard at the site is a matter for the local authority under its public safety obligations.
