Written Answers Nos. 1-14
1. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach the number of staff who are abated under his Department in accordance with the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012, in tabular form. [38964/22]
View answerMy Department issues new entrants with a declaration regarding any previous service that they may have in the public / civil service and request that they declare any applicable pension in payment. My Department has one such case where the relevant Department was notified of the requirement for abatement.
2. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach when he will publish his diary for Quarter 2 of 2022 on the website of his Department. [39140/22]
View answerMy diary for quarter 2 of 2022 has been published and is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/e0fb8-taoiseachs-diary/.
3. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach the type of research that is currently being carried out by the Shared Island Unit. [39233/22]
View answer4. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if the Shared Island Unit will consider expanding its research to examine economic and social modelling in relation to a united Ireland. [39234/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 4 together.
The Shared Island unit in my Department is progressing a comprehensive published research programme to provide high-quality evidence and analysis on the whole island, across a range of social, economic and environmental domains.
Strengthening social, economic and political links on the island and the promotion of all-island approaches to the strategic challenges facing Ireland, North and South, are key objectives.
The unit is working in consultation with Government Departments and a number of research partners, including the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and the Irish Research Council (IRC).
Four ESRI Shared Island research projects were undertaken in 2021 and have been published on: cross-border trade in services; enhancing FDI attractiveness; analysis of primary health care systems; and a comprehensive comparison of education systems and outcomes at all levels on the island.
2022 ESRI Shared Island work is underway examining: children’s care and early education; migrant integration; productivity levels; and renewable energy supports on the island, with final reports to be published later this year.
The National Economic and Social Council published a comprehensive report to Government on Shared Island; Shared Opportunity in April, following broad consultation with stakeholders across the island. NESC have made recommendations on a range of environmental, social and economic issues, which the Government will positively consider, in consultation with the Northern Ireland Executive, and UK government as needed.
The Irish Research Council’s New Foundations programme included a Shared Island strand last year, with eleven project awards in areas extending across culture, science, education, law, equality and community relations. These research projects will conclude and be published through the second half of this year. A second call for Shared Island proposals under the IRC’s New Foundations programme issued in June.
Research is also being progressed via the Standing Conference on Teacher Education, North and South (SCoTENS) on tackling educational underachievement and on curriculum delivery and other teaching and learning themes. The first two projects will publish reports in October 2022.
Further work will be commissioned and published under the Shared Island unit’s research programme in cooperation with Government Departments and Agencies, including on regulatory and infrastructure frameworks for green hydrogen transport on an island-wide basis.
Further information on the Shared Island research programme is available at www.gov.ie/sharedisland/research.
The Government’s focus now, and our commitment through the Shared Island initiative, is on working with all communities and political traditions, to take up the significant opportunities of deeper cooperation and connection on the island, and to build consensus on key issues for our shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
5. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Taoiseach if he will consider expanding the Shared Island Unit to include conversations on the future of this island. [39235/22]
View answerThrough the Shared Island initiative, the Government is engaging with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future; and to deliver tangible benefits for the whole island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
The Shared Island Dialogues are a key part of this approach. The Dialogue series has so far brought together more than 1,700 citizens and civic leaders - from across all communities, traditions and regions - to discuss how we work for a shared future on this island, in practical, meaningful ways.
Eleven Shared Island Dialogues have been convened to date with participation at Government level, with events held in 2022 on Tourism, Sport, and Rural and Community Development.
I delivered an online opening address for the most recent Dialogue which took place in Derry on 28 June with over 150 young people participating in person and online on the theme of ‘Identities on a Shared Island’. The Dialogue considered how we can better acknowledge and accommodate diverse community, cultural and personal identities on the island in the years ahead.
The Dialogues are also leading to civil society-led engagement, including the All-Island Women’s Forum, and the ‘i-Community Shared Practice hub’ being rolled out by The Wheel and the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action.
The Dialogue series will continue through this year - on an in-person and regional basis - and addressing both sectoral issues and wider societal concerns for the whole island.
The next Dialogue will be in September on Arts and Culture on the island with participation by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
6. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach if his Department has spent money or sought external assistance with Departmental, Ministerial public relations and if so, at what cost; and the names of the agencies, consultants and companies involved in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [39981/22]
View answerMy Department has no expenditure on Ministerial public relations. My Department also has no expenditure on Departmental public relations in the period in question with the exception of public relations and communications services provided by Q4 Public Relations to the Data Summit in June 2017 at a cost of €30,750.
The Citizens’ Assemblies, which are staffed by my Department, have engaged Q4 Public Relations since 2017, following public procurement processes, to provide media liaison and communication services. Its remit includes raising public awareness of the Assembly's work and supporting communication and media outreach. Q4 also provide a press office service to engage with the media to respond to queries on the work of the Assembly. Expenditure since 2017 to date is €197,586.92.
7. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the number of legal cases brought against his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39999/22]
View answerThe historical information requested by the Deputy has been set out in previous replies, the most recent of which was provided to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question 175 of 13th July 2021. No legal cases have been brought against my Department subsequent to my reply of 13th July 2021.
8. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the amount spent by his Department on legal costs or legal services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [40017/22]
View answerExpenditure by my Department from 2012 to 19 July 2022 on legal costs and legal services for a small number of personal cases, legal Constitutional cases against the State, an AIE case, and indemnities arising from cases is set out in the table below.
|
2012 |
€241,675.80 |
|
2013 |
Nil |
|
2014 |
€22,909.30 |
|
2015 |
€3,650.12 |
|
2016 |
€1,630.35 |
|
2017 |
€9,727.05 |
|
2018 |
Nil |
|
2019 |
€888,088.80 |
|
2020 |
Nil |
|
2021 |
Nil |
|
2022 to date |
€248,000.80 |
Separately, legal costs and services relating to independent Commissions, Tribunals and inquiries established by Government are also paid from my Department's Voted expenditure. These include the Commission of Investigation into the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, the NAMA Commission of Investigation, and the Moriarty Tribunal of Inquiry.
9. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the amount spent by his Department on the procurement of office space and furniture and office IT equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [40035/22]
View answerThe historical information requested by the Deputy has been set out in previous replies, the most recent of which was provided to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question 236 of 19th October 2021. My Department purchases, as required, office furniture and general office equipment such as computers and IT accessories. Expenditure in this area was €60,051.69 for 2021 and €219,647.78 to date in 2022.
My Department does not rent, lease or hire any office space. The properties occupied by my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office are provided and managed by the Office of Public Works. The National Economic and Social Development Office pays a contribution to the OPW of €322,329 per annum for its office space. Since August 2020, the OPW also manages the rental of office space for the Moriarty Tribunal and the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Commission of Investigation. These incurred expenditure on office space rental of €158,236 in 2020, €361,087 in 2021 and €173,788 to date in 2022.
10. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Taoiseach the number of times that he embarked on visits to foreign countries on behalf of the State since the formation of the Government; the geographical location of each visit; the number of days that he spent abroad on such trips; the dates upon which each trip took place; and the associated travel and accommodation costs which were incurred by his Department in relation to each trip in tabular form. [40053/22]
View answerAs Taoiseach, I regularly travel to participate in formal and informal meetings of the European Council, in Brussels and elsewhere. In keeping with the Government’s Global Ireland 2025 strategy, I also place a high importance on engaging actively with fellow Heads of State and Government, both within the EU and more widely. I also use international visits to promote Ireland’s trade, culture, investment and enterprise interests, as well as to engage with Irish communities and to hear at first hand their experiences and concerns. On my visits I am usually accompanied by a small delegation, comprising senior officials/advisors and private office staff, according to the particular requirements of the programme.
Detailed information on foreign travel, including the destination and costs, for myself, advisers and senior officials who travel with me, are published on a monthly basis on my Department’s website under the heading Foreign Travel Reports at this link. Details of expenditure for recent trips will be published once invoices are received and processed for payment. All necessary expenditure on official travel is in line with my Department's Travel Policy which is based on guidelines laid down by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The Department seeks at all times to ensure best value for money is sought in respect of each official trip undertaken, consistent with the requirements of official business.
11. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach the estimated cost of establishing a new directorate with four senior statisticians for the Central Statistics Office [40449/22]
View answerThere are six directorates in the Central Statistics Office and the breakdown of the CSO's gross expenditure by directorate in 2022 is set out in the following table:
|
Directorate |
Gross Total €m |
|
Business Statistics |
9.237 |
|
Corporate Affairs |
10.550 |
|
Economic Statistics |
7.227 |
|
Social and Demographic Statistics |
16.322 |
|
Statistical Systems Co-Ordination Unit |
3.317 |
|
Technology & Statistical Services |
15.227 |
|
Total |
61.880 |
Head of Directorate posts in the Central Statistics Office are generally at Assistant Director General level, which is equivalent to the Assistant Secretary grade in Civil Service Departments and Offices. The minimum salary scale point for Assistant Director General, with effect from 1 February 2022 is €138,019 for those appointed to the Civil Service before 6th April 1995; and €145,283 for those appointed on or after 6th April 1995 paying the Class A rate of PRSI contribution and making an employee contribution in respect of personal superannuation benefits for General Service grades (PPC).
Heads of Division within CSO directorates are generally either at Senior Statistician level, or the equivalent Principal Officer grade. The same salary scales apply to Senior Statisticians and Principal Officers. The minimum salary scale point for the Senior Statistician grade, with effect from 1 February 2022 is €87,030 (for those serving before 6th April 1995) and €91,609 (PPC). For the Senior Statistician (Higher Scale) grade, the corresponding figures are €93,657 (for those serving before 6th April 1995) and €98,593 (PPC).
12. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Taoiseach the actions and engagements that his Department has taken to date to reduce carbon emissions and to increase energy efficiency in all buildings under his Department. [40921/22]
View answerMy Department’s published Resource Efficiency Action Plan (REAP) sets out a range of actions to improve the management of energy, water, material and waste resources within the Department and to increase sustainability awareness among staff. It also includes levels of energy and water usage and waste produced by the Department so that improvements can be tracked and measured following implementation of planned actions. Implementation of the actions set out in the Plan are overseen by the Department's Green Team, which comprises of staff with responsibility for or an interest in driving progress in this area. The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) which is the only body under the aegis of my Department also has a Green Team. Similar to my Department, they have installed sensor lighting and are participating in the OPW Optimising Power at Work campaign amongst other measures.
13. Deputy John Brady asked the Taoiseach if he have received any gifts from visiting dignitaries; and if he will provide a breakdown of the details of these gifts, their value, and the way they were disposed of. [41126/22]
View answer14. Deputy John Brady asked the Taoiseach if he has received any gifts while travelling abroad; and if he will provide a breakdown of the detail and value of these gifts and the way they were disposed of. [41144/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.
The particular arrangements to be observed by office holders in respect of gifts of goods or services are set out in the Code of Conduct for Office Holders issued by the Standards in Public Office Commission. Statements made annually by office holders must include all gifts of goods and services which exceed €650 in value. These statements are published in Iris Oifigiúil and are available on the Houses of the Oireachtas website.
Records are not maintained by my Department in relation to gifts of lesser value received from time to time.
