Written Answers Nos. 113-132
113. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of external consultant reports commissioned by his Department in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the cost of same; the company involved; the title and publication date, by report, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20547/23]
View answer114. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of external consultant reports commissioned by the bodies under his Department's aegis in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; the cost of same; the company involved; the title and publication date, by report, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20548/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together.
Details of external consultant reports commissioned by my Department and bodies under the aegis of my Department since 2020, including cost, company involved and publication date by report are set out in the tables attached.
External consultant reports commissioned by bodies under the aegis of the Department of Finance since 2020, including cost, company involved and the title and publication date.
|
Body under aegis of Department of Finance |
Title of Report and Publication Date |
Year |
Consultant/Company |
Cost (excl VAT) |
|
Credit Union Advisory Committee (CUAC) |
The Role of Credit Union Director Report on focus group findings. (Report was not published but was used as the basis for CUAC’s own “Addendum To Report On Research Into Credit Union Directors” which was published on 21 July 2022) |
2022 |
BehaviourWise |
€4,900 |
|
Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman |
FSPO Awareness Survey on Private Health Insurance - November 2022 |
2022 |
IPSOS |
€2,400 |
|
Benchmarking SME Loan Price (Not yet published- work in progress) |
2023 |
SETR Oxera Consulting LLP |
€49,000 |
|
|
SBCI - Attitudes of SME Owners and Business Advisors to Business Finance - March 2021 |
2021 |
Mercator Marketing Research Ltd |
€21,875 |
|
|
SBCI – Farmers Appetite for Investment - March 2021 |
2021 |
Behaviours & Attitudes |
€37,487 |
|
|
Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland |
2019 - SBCI External Review - May 2020 |
2020 |
EY |
€120,000 |
|
Illegal Tobacco Products Research Surveys 2021 – May 2022 |
2021 |
Ipos MRBI |
€39,425* |
|
|
Office of the Revenue Commissioners *Note in relation to cost: The increase between 2021 and 2022 is primarily driven by the timing of when invoices were paid in the calendar year. |
Illegal Tobacco Products Research Surveys 2022 – published April 2023 |
2022 |
Ipos MRBI |
€97,378* |
Details of external consultant reports commissioned by my Department since 2020, including cost of same, company involved and publication date by report are set out in the table below.
* The costs of the SME Credit Demand Survey are recouped from Bank of Ireland (BOI) and Allied Irish Bank (AIB).
|
Title of Report and Publication Date |
Year |
Consultant/Company |
Cost (excl VAT) |
|
The changing nature of outbound royalties from Ireland and their impact on the taxation of the profits of US multinationals - May 2021 |
2021 |
Mr Seamus Coffey |
€4,800 |
|
The nature of outbound flows of direct investment income from Ireland – May 2022 |
2022 |
Mr Seamus Coffey |
€4,800 |
|
Cross-Border Employments (external research which is ongoing) |
2022 |
ESRI |
c. €60,000 (Department of Finance/ESRI Joint Research) |
|
Review of Help to Buy - September 2022 |
2022 |
Mazars |
€64,300 |
|
Report on the Drivers of Cost and Availability of Finance for Residential Development - April 2023 |
2022 |
KPMG |
€80,000 |
|
Retail Banking Review Technical Paper - International Comparison – 29 November 2022 |
2022 |
Deloitte |
€ 96,800 |
|
Consumer Banking Survey - April 2022 |
2022 |
Behaviour and Attitudes |
€61,800 |
|
Credit Demand Survey - September 2021 |
2021 |
Behaviour and Attitudes |
€56,300* |
|
Credit Demand Survey - February 2022 |
2022 |
Behaviour and Attitudes |
€56,300* |
|
Credit Demand Survey - September 2022 |
2022 |
Behaviour and Attitudes |
€56,300* |
|
Credit Demand Survey - January 2023 |
2023 |
Behaviour and Attitudes |
€56,300* |
|
The ESRI has been contracted to carry out research to identify and develop tools which will better enable consumers to switch to better value financial services. A final report will be presented when the research concludes. Two interim reports have been published to date: · Switching activity in retail financial markets in Ireland, (ESRI Research Series 161) – April 2023 · Who Switches and Why? A Diagnostic Survey of Retail Financial Services in Ireland (ESRI Working Paper 748) – April 2023 |
2021 |
ESRI |
The campaign is being funded entirely by AIB and PTSB at a cost of €227,160 (ex VAT). The Department of Finance has commissioned the research as part of a range of competition measures agreed with the European Commission to raise awareness and promote customer switching in the retail financial product area. These measures were agreed in the context of the EU restructuring plans for AIB and PTSB. |
115. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance , further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 208 to 210, inclusive, of 25 April, if he will clarify with the Revenue Commissioners whether they are recovering amounts dating back to 2011 due to a rounding error in the amounts due versus the amounts collected in the context of the issuing of letters to persons liable for arrears. [20641/23]
View answerFurther to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 208, 209 and 210 of 25 April 2023, I am advised that a shortfall in Local Property Tax (LPT) payments, deducted from Department of Social Protection (DSP) payments for 2021, occurred due to an IT systems miscalculation rather than a rounding error. The systems error was unique to 2021 and has not affected subsequent or previous years.
I am further advised by Revenue that in line with general compliance policies for LPT, liable owners of a property with a balance due of less than €20 have not received correspondence from Revenue as part of the standard LPT compliance campaigns.
Property owners, impacted by the miscalculation error, were only contacted if their property was valued in excess of Band 5 (€437,501 – €525,000) as the miscalculation resulted in a balance in excess of €20 for these owners. However, if property owners had other outstanding LPT liabilities that brought the cumulative balance they owed above €20, then a compliance letter issued to that property owner in respect of the full balance. A significant number of property owners impacted by the miscalculation have already paid the outstanding balances from 2021.
116. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the current operation of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; the current membership of the board; when the latest members of the board were appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20657/23]
View answerThe Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme provides relief from Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT on 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 (DDMBA). To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate (PMC) an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled, and satisfy at least one of the six medical criteria, as set out in the Finance Act 2020.
In the event that a PMC is not granted by the relevant Senior Area Medical Officer an appeal may be made to the independent Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA).
At an appeal hearing the Board reviews the decision by a HSE Primary/Senior Area Medical Officer and determines if an appellant does, or does not meet, one of the six medical criteria. Only if an appellant meets one of the six eligibility criteria will the Board issue a Board Medical Certificate.
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.
As the Deputy is probably aware the previous DDMBA members resigned in November 2021. The reappointment process has proved to be a very challenging and slow process due to the small number of applications received. In order to fill the five positions, there were three Expressions of Interest Campaigns in 2022 which the Department of Health led on. The process was completed in January 2023 with the completion of Garda vetting for the final two candidates.
However the process has been further complicated by the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) deciding in February 2023 to withdraw their services with immediate effect. Finance and Health officials are actively seeking to implement new arrangements, including engaging with the NRH. As there are a range of requirements and complex issues involved this may take some time.
In addition in March 2023, one nominated member of the DDMBA resigned for personal reasons. The Department of Health with support from Department of Finance officials launched another Expression of Interest Campaign on 3 April 2023 with a closing date of 28 April 2023.
You should be aware that requests for appeal hearings can still be sent to the DDMBA secretary based in the National Rehabilitation Hospital.
Assessments for the primary medical certificate, by the HSE, are continuing to take place. In this regard, an important point to make is that even though there has been no appeal mechanism since the previous Board resigned, applicants who have been deemed not to have met one of the six eligibility criteria required for a PMC are entitled to request another PMC assessment six months after an unsuccessful PMC assessment.
117. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the options available to a person (details supplied) who is unable to appeal a decision due to the absence of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20658/23]
View answerThe Deputy should note that even though the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal (DDMBA) is not operational at the moment, assessments for a primary medical certificate (PMC), by the HSE, are continuing to take place. In this, regard, an important point to be aware of is that applicants who have been deemed not to have met one of the six eligibility criteria required for a PMC are entitled to request another PMC assessment six months after an unsuccessful PMC assessment. This therefore is an option for those who are currently unable to appeal to the DDMBA.
The reappointment of members to the DDMBA has proved to be a very challenging and slow process due to the small number of applications received. In order to fill the five positions there were three Expressions of Interest Campaigns in 2022 which the Department of Health led on. The process was completed in January 2023 with the completion of Garda vetting for the final two candidates.
However the process has been further complicated by the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) deciding in February 2023 to withdraw their services with immediate effect. Finance and Health officials are actively seeking to implement new arrangements, including engaging with the NRH. As there are a range of requirements and complex issues involved this may take some time.
In addition in March 2023, one nominated member of the DDMBA resigned for personal reasons. The Department of Health with support from Department of Finance officials launched another Expression of Interest Campaign on 3 April 2023 with a closing date of 28 April 2023.
119. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Finance if he spoke with the Commissioner of Internal Revenue during his recent visit to the United States. [20675/23]
View answerI visited the United States on two occasions recently, visiting Chicago for a St. Patrick's Day programme during March, and visiting Washington DC for the Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank during April.
The St. Patrick's Day programme involved visits to both Toronto and Chicago. During the programme in Chicago I met with a wide range a wide range of political and business figures and members of the Irish community, as well as undertaking a number of business engagements in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.
During my visit to Washington last month, I attended a range of a range of high-level meetings, including bilateral meetings and roundtable discussions. I engaged with other Finance Ministers and senior management of both the IMF and World Bank.
During these visits I did not meet with the current Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, Danny Werfel, who took office during March of this year. He took over from Doug O'Donnell, who served in the role on an interim basis since the departure of Charles P. Rettig in November 2022.
120. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to increasing the allowances for those who qualify for vehicle registration tax, VRT, and VAT relief for the purchase of a specially adapted vehicle under the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20701/23]
View answerThe Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme (DDS) provides relief from Vehicle Registration Tax and VAT on the 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. Certain other qualifying criteria apply in relation to the vehicle, in particular that it must be specially constructed or adapted for use by the applicant.
To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled. The terms of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme set out six medical criteria as legislatively mandated, at least one of which is required to be satisfied in order to obtain a Primary Medical Certificate.
The maximum amount of VRT/VAT relief provided and the length of time a vehicle must be retained depends on the applicant and the nature of adaptations as below.
|
Category |
Adaptations |
Specific Adaptations |
Extensive Adaptations |
|
Driver |
€10,000 |
€16,000 |
€22,000 |
|
Passengers |
€16,000 |
n/a |
€22,000 |
|
Organisations |
€16,000 |
n/a |
€22,000 |
|
Organisations (5 or more disabled persons) |
no limit |
||
|
Vehicle must be held for |
2 years |
3 years |
6 years |
Vehicles may be new, imported (not previously registered in the State) or used (previously registered in the State). Where applicable VRT exemption or repayment is first provided, then VAT repayment on adaptation and purchase costs, up to the allowable limit. Any vehicle, including electric vehicles, can avail of DDS reliefs subject to meeting qualifying conditions in respect of the individual and of the vehicle.
DDS Scheme recipients with a petrol or diesel vehicle may claim payment of a fuel grant. The fuel grant covers the excise tax elements of petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). As electricity supplied for household use is not subject to excise tax, there is no provision under the DDS to cover electricity used to recharge electric vehicles.
My officials, with Revenue colleagues, monitor the sufficiency of existing provisions and where necessary make recommendations for any changes, while also recognising the conclusions of the final report of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) Transport Working Group (TWG). The NDIS TWG, comprising members from a range of Departments, agencies and Disabled Persons Organisations, was tasked under Action 104 to review all Government-funded transport and mobility supports for those with a disability, including the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme (DDS). The NDIS TWG final report was published on 24th February 2023 and noted both the outdated approach of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme and the fact that the scheme needed to be addressed as a matter of priority.
121. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Finance if the 70% loan to value ratio required to avail of the help-to-buy scheme applies to the market value or discounted price of the property for a purchase of a local authority affordable home under the affordable housing fund; and, if the former, to explain the reason. [20712/23]
View answerThe Help to Buy (HTB) incentive is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. The incentive gives a refund on Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax paid in the State over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation. Section 477C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 outlines the definitions and conditions that apply to the scheme.
HTB will only apply where a mortgage is taken out to purchase or build a home and where the value of the qualifying loan is a minimum of 70% of the ‘purchase value’ of a purchased new build or 70% of the approved valuation of a self-build.
The ‘purchase value’ of a purchased property is the price paid for the residence. In cases where the price paid is less than market value, the ‘purchase value’ will be the market value. The ‘purchase value’ of a property cannot be less than its market value for the purposes of this calculation.
In the case of a property purchased from a local authority under the Local Authority Affordable Purchase scheme, the HTB loan to value ratio is calculated using the market value of the property.
122. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Finance when arrears will be paid to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20718/23]
View answerI am informed that payroll for Revenue staff is managed by the National Shared Services Office (NSSO). The NSSO recently notified the staff of all Departments and Offices whose payroll they manage that the NSSO faced a number of challenges in delivering the retrospection of pay increases due under the Building Momentum 2022-2023 agreement. Revenue’s senior HR management team are in frequent contact with their colleagues in the NSSO and are assured that the payment of the arrears of pay is being given the highest priority by the NSSO management team.
The NSSO has confirmed that as of the 30 March 2023 over 99% of the February and October pay increases had been paid and the NSSO were working to deliver the remaining arrears.
The remaining cases (for example, people who have left the service, transfers, promotions involving transition from weekly to fortnightly payment) require further and extensive manual review and calculations, before payments can be processed.
The NSSO had hoped to process all the outstanding payments by the end of Q1 2023. Unfortunately, this was not possible due to the volume of manual work involved, alongside other competing demands, such as a further pay increase effective from 1 March 2023.
The delay in completing the retrospection calculations for a small number of staff is regretted and Revenue welcomes the assurances given by the NSSO that they aim to have all outstanding arrears paid within Q2 2023.
123. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform on behalf of a person (details supplied), if the Office of Public Works will take responsibility for a pathway up to a ring fort; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20267/23]
View answerLeac na Buile is within private property and is a monument in State Guardianship only. Under the National Monument Act the State and by extension, the Office of Public Works (OPW), have the right of access for the maintenance of this monument. This right of access is not conferred to the public as a right of way and public access is completely at the behest of the landowner.
I can advise that the OPW makes various arrangements across the country with landowners and key-holders in relation to access to and maintenance of National Monuments in Guardianship of the State. Therefore, I suggest that the property owner makes contact with my officials in the National Monuments Section of the Office of Public Works to discuss this matter further.
124. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he has engaged with the operators of the national lottery or the regulator of the national lottery in the context of gambling addiction in the past five years to date. [20310/23]
View answerMy Department engages regularly with the Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery on all aspects of the National Lottery. Part of the Regulator’s remit relates to monitoring the operation of the National Lottery and enforcing compliance with the National Lottery Act 2013 and the Licence to operate the National Lottery, currently held by Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI). The Regulator carries out its function with a view to ensuring the interests of National Lottery participants are protected. The National Lottery Act 2013 and the Licence agreement between the Operator and the State include a suite of requirements to protect players and prevent problem gaming that must be adhered to by the Operator.
The requirements in relation to player welfare provided for in the Act, the Licence (including Codes made under it) and in schemes of games approved under the Licence, are best understood within the framework of a public health model of preventing avoidable harm. Primary Prevention measures involve preventing and delaying National Lottery play by minors, limits on product availability, and transparent and informative consumer communications. Secondary Prevention is focused on screening and monitoring for problems, including during game design, and early interventions with players before indicators of potential player harm translate into problem gambling. Tertiary prevention is concerned with preventing further or ongoing harm to those already showing signs of problem gambling and includes measures like screening and interventions, self-exclusion support and treatment services. The legal framework imposes a range of requirements and the Operator of the National Lottery must expend resources to ensure that requirements are met.
125. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the deflator that is applied to expenditure projections by his Department in order to estimate the cost of maintaining the current level of public services and benefits in real terms in future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20370/23]
View answerInflationary pressures are generally dealt with as part of the normal budgetary process. This places the onus on Departments to manage expenditure, achieve efficiency dividends and value for money on a year by year basis. However, there is a limit to this approach. The escalation in inflationary pressures in 2022, with inflation reaching 8.1 per cent, was significantly above the assumed average of 2 per cent. The scale of this increase posed a risk to the real value of public services.
In order to support the real value of public services, a temporary adjustment to the medium term expenditure framework was made for Budget 2023. This sees additional core funding being made available over 2022 and 2023 above the amount originally set out in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report 2021, with core spending rising to €85.9 billion in Budget 2023.
Existing Levels of Service or ELS costs relate to the additional funding that might be needed to maintain to same level of supports and public services as currently provided by Government. This includes costs arising from areas such as any demographic pressures on pensions or other areas; carryover costs from measures already introduced in prior year Budgets; and public service pay commitments under existing pay deals.
Under the approach set out in our Medium Term Expenditure Framework, approx. 3% of the core current expenditure base is estimated to meet ELS costs each year. This requirement is reviewed each year as part of the Estimates process using the most up to date information available. In Budget 2023, €1.9 billion was allocated across Departments to meet ELS needs.
Overall, Government has sought to balance the need to provide supports while, at the same time, seeking to ensure that budgetary policy does not become part of the inflationary problem. This has been done through:
(i) increasing core permanent spending in recognition of the core inflationary environment, by less than the level inflation to ensure public policy does not lead to second round effects; and
(ii) deploying non-core expenditure to provide temporary and targeted Cost of Living measures to assist households, individuals and businesses with energy price increases in particular.
This approach has sought to balance the challenge of supporting public services and the most vulnerable in the face of substantial price pressures, while maintaining fiscal sustainability in the longer term.
The Stability Programme Update published last month outlined projections of inflation returning to a rate closer to that seen in recent years, declining to 2.5% in 2024 and 2.0% in both 2025 and 2026.
Over the coming weeks I will be further considering our budgetary and economic position with my colleague, the Minister for Finance, to set the fiscal parameters for Budget 2024. This will be set out in the upcoming Summer Economic Statement.
126. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of framework contracts currently in place to provide roofing services, window fitters and gas engineers to carry out works on behalf of the OPW in the north-east region where the value of works does not exceed €1million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20460/23]
View answerThe OPW currently has no frameworks in place for roofing services, window fitters and gas engineers to carry out works on behalf of the OPW in the North East region where the value of works does not exceed €1million.
127. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when a project (details supplied) which has been granted planning permission can proceed; if this project has been advertised in order that tenders can be submitted; when it is likely that the tender process will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20478/23]
View answerThe Irish Coast Guard, a Division of the Department of Transport, has 44 Coast Guard Units based in 58 coast guard stations around the country. The Coast Guard building programme, which includes the provision of new or upgraded facilities at a number of locations across the country, is managed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of the Department of Transport, from planning design to build and on-going maintenance. These projects are funded by the Department of Transport.
My office provides advice and assistance on the design of such projects, site feasibility studies, acquisition of sites from the local authority or others, planning and detail design, and manages the delivery in line with the requirements of the Department of Transport and Coast Guard Service.
New accommodation for the Castelfreke Coast Guard Unit is included as one of the key priorities on this delivery programme. Planning permission for the construction of this Station was granted on 14 November 2022. The next steps of this project, including the appointment of full design team, the prequalification and shortlisting of firms that are capable of undertaking the works and the detailed design of the new facility, will be progressed subject to the availability of resources. After these processes are compete the shortlisted firms will be invited to tender for the works.
128. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the Garda stations within the Kildare division that were refurbished by the OPW in 2022 and to date in 2023; the nature of the refurbishment, in tabular form, that exceeded works costing €50,000 and above; and if each refurbishment project is still ongoing or completed. [20496/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works can confirm that refurbishment works, with costs in excess of €50,000, have been carried out to a Garda Station in the Kildare Garda division in 2022 and to-date in 2023. The Garda Station along with the nature and status of the works is outlined in the table below.
|
Kildare Division Garda Stations |
Description of works where the costs were in excess of €50,000 |
Completed/Ongoing |
|
Athy GS |
Cell Upgrade Works |
Ongoing |
129. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he has plans to review the current pension abatement arrangements for public service staff who complete their employment in one area of the public sector and, subsequently, take up employment in another area of the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20693/23]
View answer130. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of exemptions from pension abatement applied for and issued across all Departments under the Public Service Pensions Act 2012, for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20694/23]
View answer131. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the amount of revenue generated under pension abatement arrangements for 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20695/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 129 to 131, inclusive, together.
As the three questions relate to pension abatement, I am addressing them together. As the Deputy is aware, abatement is provided for under Section 52(1)-(5) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012. Section 52(4) of the Act provides for Ministerial discretion to grant a waiver of abatement. These waivers are subject to specific criteria being met and are generally granted only in exceptional circumstances and for a limited period of time. Each waiver application and business case is assessed on its merits.
The Deputy has queried the exemptions applied for and issued by this Department in respect of individual cases/applications for the years 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. In this time period the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform has received 6 completed applications, covering 13 individuals and granted 3 waivers, with one application currently under consideration.
In addition, the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform granted a delegated waiver in the Education sector, which permits retired primary and secondary school teachers to be re-engaged by a school and their public service pensions are not subject to abatement for the first 50 days of re-employment in a given calendar year. This delegated waiver was granted in 2019 and is due to expire at the end of 2023.
Furthermore, at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic my Department received multiple applications from the Health Service Executive, via the Department of Health, for waivers of pension abatement for health care workers. A delegated waiver was granted to the HSE for 86 individuals in March 2020, which expired in June 2020, with an extension granted encompassing 114 individuals in July 2020. A further extension was granted in September 2020 as the crisis continued, which expired on 31 March 2021. Subsequently, we received further applications in respect of 8 individuals, of which 3 were granted in February 2022 and have expired and 5 of which are currently under consideration.
There is a saving to the Exchequer when a retired public servant is re-engaged in public service employment and their pension is subject to abatement. My Department does not hold a record of the level of savings each year. The onus is on the pensioner’s pension paying authority to keep a record of each public service pensioner whose pension is abated, including details of the level of abatement, the start date of such abatement, the end date, where applicable, and any changes to the level of abatement.
The Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform has no plans to revise the rules of abatement of public service pensions. Abatement has always been a feature of public service pensions. The principle of abatement is longstanding and dates back to the Superannuation Act, 1834. The key change introduced by section 52 of the 2012 Act is that it extended the principle of abatement to retired public servants in receipt of a public service pension who secure another public service appointment in any public service body. A recent Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform circular (Circular 24/2022) was issued as a guidance note on the how abatement should be applied and managed in the public service.
132. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when the flood defence works on Strand Road, Sandymount will commence and be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20780/23]
View answerDublin City Council is the lead authority for the Sandymount Flood Relief Scheme. Following discussions between the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Dublin City Council (DCC) in 2022, it was agreed that the Sandymount scheme would be best progressed through a Steering Group consisting of representatives from the OPW and DCC.
DCC is finalising the procurement documentation to procure the engineering and environmental consultancy services to design a viable scheme. It is envisaged that DCC will be in a position to issue its tender in Q2 2023 and appoint consultants prior to the end of Q4 2023.
The development of a detailed project programme for the Sandymount scheme will commence following the appointment of a consultant. It is envisaged that Stage 1 of the Sandymount scheme will take approximately 2 years to complete, which will result in the identification of a preferred option for the whole scheme. Following the identification of the preferred option, the Sandymount scheme will be required to go through various stages including planning, detailed design and construction.
