Written Answers Nos. 146-156
146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the extent to which he remains satisfied that expenditure remains within the constraints laid down by the international community/banking sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22344/23]
View answerThe Summer Economic Statement 2021 set out a fiscal framework which allows us to meet the key objectives set out in the Programme for Government: investing in our economy and society to deliver improvements in infrastructure and public services, while reducing the deficit in order to underpin the sustainability of the public finances as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.
For core expenditure, the strategy set out overall core spending growing at around 5% per year on average over the period, a rate broadly in line with trend growth rate of the economy. This level of core spending increase, combined with unwinding the temporary Covid supports once no longer required, seeks to ensure that the level of spending and overall position of the public finances are sustainable over the medium term. The strategy of linking expenditure growth to the trend growth rate of the economy allows for counter-cyclical supports when required, and also, when revenue is buoyant, supports reductions in the General Government deficit.
However, our Expenditure Framework must be responsive to the economic and fiscal context. Developments in 2022 and 2023 have altered the economic landscape significantly, including higher inflation and borrowing costs. Price pressures due strong demand exiting the pandemic and supply side issues, which have been compounded by the war in Ukraine, have led to pressures on people and businesses.
To balance the immediate need to support households and our core public services against the longer term need to ensure sustainable public finances, a short term adjustment to the Expenditure Strategy was required. In finalising the fiscal and budgetary parameters for Budget 2023, we sought to strike a balance between helping to mitigate cost of living pressures and ensuring sustainability of the public finances. This looked to ensure budgetary policy complements the monetary approach by ensuring that tax and spending policies do not add to inflation.
The 2023 Government Expenditure Ceiling is set at €91.1 billion. This funding will support our core public services, provide investment in infrastructure under our National Development Plan and continue to provide non-core supports where needed. Budget 2023 provided for significant investment in our schools, healthcare provision, our childcare sector and our public sector workforce. This increased investment can be seen in the expenditure to date in 2023. The overall expenditure ceiling provides for €5.2 billion in non-core expenditure. This funding will provide continued support for temporary challenges, including the provision of humanitarian assistance for people arriving in Ireland seeking protection, cost of living supports and Brexit.
At end April, expenditure is line with the parameters set out in the Revised Estimates 2023. Total gross voted expenditure amounted to €26.9 billion for the first four months of the year and this is €0.1 billion or 0.5 per cent below profile. Further information on expenditure trends can be found in the monthly Fiscal Monitor published on the Department of Finance website.
Last month the Minister for Finance and I published the draft Stability Program Update (SPU). This is an important point in the annual budgetary cycle and a reporting requirement to European Commission under EU Regulation 1175/11 or "six pack" of reforms. It sets out the state of play in the overall economy and allows us to take stock of the continued investment in our day-to-day public services and infrastructure. The macroeconomic figures demonstrate the continued resilience and strong performance of the Irish economy which has been supported by a responsive approach to fiscal policy as outlined above.
147. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he agrees with the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications' recent analysis that thousands more civil and public servants are required to match the size of the economy and the demands placed on the State; the number of WTEs across the entire civil and public service as of 1 May, 2023 compared to the same date in 2020, 2021 and 2022; how many additional WTEs his Department is planning for in terms of workforce planning out to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22366/23]
View answerStaff numbers in the public service have grown considerably over the last number of years. Between 2015 and 2021, the estimated numbers in full-time equivalent terms increased from about 302,000 to 366,000, an increase of 64,000 or over one-fifth.
In terms of public service staff numbers across the wider public service, forecast numbers in 2023 are almost 393,000 in full time equivalent (FTE) terms. This is the highest level ever of employment in the public service, representing an increase of over 16,500 FTE on the final reported figures for 2022 of over 376,000 FTE. These are the most recent figures available. This data was notified to my Department by the relevant organisations.
Delegated sanction is the policy in place across the majority of the public service for the management of public service staffing levels since 2015. It was introduced by Government to provide Offices and Departments with flexibility to manage identified business needs subject to remaining within overall pay ceilings. Delegated sanction permits Departments to fill vacancies through recruitment and/or promotion in specified, designated grades up to and including Principal Officer (PO) standard or equivalent, subject to the overall pay bill ceiling as set out in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV). Projected staffing numbers and composition should fall within the parameters of the Department’s pay bill. Failure to remain within a given Exchequer pay bill allocation may result in the withdrawal of delegated sanction.
148. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the plans the OPW has to protect and preserve the High Crosses at Monasterboice, County Louth; the quantum of resources the OPW has allocated for this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22367/23]
View answerAs it pertains to the High Crosses at Monasterboice, the role of the Office of Public Works is one of conservation and preservation as these National Monuments are in the ownership of the State. It is worth noting that all cut stone located outdoors without shelter is exposed to the elements and is gradually weathering over time.
To protect the High Crosses of Monasterboice, Office of Public Works staff undertook repair works to grave kerbings and relocated headstones of graves adjacent to Muiredach’s Cross, as they were deemed to present a risk to the cross should they fall over. The large yew tree growing in close proximity to the cross was assessed by an arborist and was cut back substantially. This work greatly improved the immediate environment around the cross and minimised algal growth.
In 2009 and 2019, the Office of Public Works commissioned assessments of Muiredach’s Cross. A Specialist Stone Conservator examined the Cross in detail on both occasions and reported that it remained in a very stable condition.
There are no further specific plans in place for the immediate future. However, I would like to assure the Deputy that the Crosses are regularly assessed and the Office of Public Works continues to undertake it’s statutory obligations in relation to them.
150. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform what plans he and the OGP have to provide for the recruitment of a minimum number of craft apprentices in the context of the State's public procurement framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22369/23]
View answerIn 2021 Simon Harris T.D., as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, published the Action Plan for Apprenticeships 2021-2025.
The Office of Government Procurement, an office in my Department, published an information note on Apprenticeships and Public Procurement on 18 April 2023 in line with Action 6.4 of the Action Plan to deliver guidance on the inclusion of an apprenticeship/staff development provision within Public Sector tendering processes.
Inclusion of apprenticeship provisions and the monitoring of the impact of such provisions is primarily the responsibility of each individual contracting authority.
Contracting authorities may wish to carefully consider, on a case-by-case basis, whether it is appropriate to include apprenticeship provisions as part of the procurement, having regard to the conditions relating to such incorporation. A key consideration for any contracting authority is whether incorporating apprenticeship conditions within a procurement competition is related and proportionate to the subject matter of the contract.
Provisions setting requirements for construction sector craft apprenticeships are already included in certain projects. For example, Dublin City Council has a contract performance condition which stipulates that 5% of the person weeks worked under the contract are carried out by individuals who are employed under a registered scheme of apprenticeship or an equivalent national training or educational work place arrangement.
A requirement for a specified target percentage of workers on the site who are to be engaged in an approved registered apprenticeship, training or educational work placement scheme has been included in the PPP programme and certain education projects that are being delivered by the National Development Finance Agency (on behalf of several departments) for several years now.
Under the Action Plan for Apprenticeships, the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) has been established with responsibility for all aspects of the management, oversight and development of the apprenticeship system in Ireland and for implementing the Action Plan, including monitoring and assessing targets.
Furthermore, the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has been proactive in advising on the use of strategic procurement, including apprenticeships, by contracting authorities with the publication of an Information Note on Incorporating Social Considerations into Public Procurement in 2018 followed by Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement.
It is not intended to include blanket provisions into the suite of public works contracts around apprenticeships since they should be introduced following careful consideration by the contracting authority of the project’s scale, location and the scope of the works.
Not all projects will lend themselves to the application of apprenticeship provisions, however, consideration is being given to developing template contract clauses and guidance for contracting authorities to deploy in public works projects on a case by case basis where the scale and nature of the project lends itself to apprenticeship opportunities.
151. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current budget for Enterprise Ireland; and the estimated cost of increasing its budget by 5%, 10%, and 20%. [22194/23]
View answerThe current budget for Enterprise Ireland for 2023 is set out below
|
2023 Budget |
|
|
€'000 |
|
|
DETE Exchequer Funding |
524,773 |
|
Own Resource Income (Estimated)* |
82,223 |
|
Total Budget 2023 |
606,996 |
The estimated cost of increasing its DETE Exchequer Funding by 5%, 10%, and 20% is set out below
|
5% |
10% |
20% |
|
|
€'000 |
€'000 |
€'000 |
|
|
DETE Exchequer Funding |
26,239 |
52,477 |
104,955 |
* ORI figure is largely determined by trade sales which are substantially outside the control of Enterprise Ireland, and are fundamentally determined by the market
152. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial return generated from Enterprise Ireland investments in 2022; and the projected return for 2023. [22195/23]
View answerIn 2022, Enterprise Ireland had an investment income target, as part of its Own Resource Income (ORI) sanction, of €69m and it received €87m proceeds from investment activity.
In 2023, as part of the annual Own Resource Income sanction request from DPER, Enterprise Ireland has an investment income target of €75m from investment activity.
Any excess ORI generated above the sanctioned amount is either returned to the Exchequer as Extra Exchequer Receipts, or retained by Enterprise Ireland subject to additional sanction by the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform with a corresponding reduction in the Exchequer allocation drawdown by Enterprise Ireland.
153. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if all moneys generated by Enterprise Ireland from investments is kept by EI to reinvest. [22196/23]
View answerMonies generated by Enterprise Ireland from investments are classified as Own Resource Income (ORI).
The amount of ORI retained by Enterprise Ireland is subject to annual sanction by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and is used, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland’s Exchequer allocation, to fund its activities.
Any excess ORI generated above the sanctioned amount is either returned to the Exchequer as Extra Exchequer Receipts, or retained by Enterprise Ireland subject to additional sanction by the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform with a corresponding reduction in the Exchequer allocation drawdown by Enterprise Ireland.
154. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current budget for InterTradeIreland; and the estimated cost of increasing its budget by 10%, 20%, and 50%. [22197/23]
View answerInterTradeIreland (ITI) is one of six North-South implementation bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement. It operates under the oversight of the NSMC and of its sponsor Departments, the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment and the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy. ITI works to promote trade and business on an all-island and cross-border basis. Through its range of programmes, the Body continues to support and develop cross-border trade and businesses as they face the challenges that have emerged in recent years, including Brexit and, more recently, Covid-19.
ITI is jointly funded by my Department and the Department for the Economy on a 2:1 ratio. For 2023 my Department has allocated a total of €11.586m to support ITI’s work. This closely matches its allocation in 2022 and will allow the Body to continue to deliver its effective work to grow trade across the border and assist SMEs to scale their business and address challenges in the new trading environment. I have set out below the cost of increasing the Body’s budget at the different levels you have requested:
10% -
€12.7448m
20% -
€13.9032m
50% -
€17.379m
As ITI is under the joint oversight of both my Department and the Department for the Economy, its budgets require approval from both Departments. This is normally set out in advance in InterTradeIreland’s three-year Corporate Plans. In its draft Corporate Plan for 2023-25, ITI anticipates an overall budget of approximately €16.86m in 2023, €17.44m in 2024 and €18.6m in 2025.
155. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the financial return generated from InterTradeIreland investments in 2022; and the projected return for 2023. [22198/23]
View answerInterTradeIreland (ITI) is one of six North-South implementation bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement. It operates under the oversight of the NSMC and of its sponsor Departments, the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment and the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy. ITI works to promote trade and business on an all-island and cross-border basis.
One of InterTradeIreland’s key performance indicators is the Business Development Value it generates, a metric which demonstrates the positive financial impact InterTradeIreland programmes have on the growth and economic development of participating businesses. This is an aggregation of impacts from the body’s portfolio of programmes and incorporates additional revenue generated, efficiency savings and investments made as a direct result of a company’s participation on an ITI programme. Business Value is captured through ITI’s monitoring activities and independent evaluations and is based on business values reported directly by individual companies that have previously completed our programmes.
In 2022 ITI achieved a Business Development Value of €138.7 million against a target of €113.9 million. ITI’s Business Development Value target for 2023 is €121 million, with the body having achieved a value of €46.2 million for the year to date. ITI have indicated that they are on track to meet their target for 2023.
156. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current budget for Workplace Relations Commission; and the estimated cost of increasing its budget by 10%, 20%, and 50%. [22199/23]
View answerThe Workplace Relations Commission is funded under the Workplace Relations programme of my Department's Vote. The Commission does not receive any capital funding but it does receive current funding to support its operations. A total of €21.447m has been provided to support the Commission in 2023. The table below outlines the estimated cost of increasing this allocation by 10%, 20% and 50%.
|
REV Allocation 2023(€,000) |
10% Increase(€,000) |
20% Increase(€,000) |
50% Increase(€,000) |
|
|
Workplace Relations Commission |
21,447 |
2,144 |
4,289 |
10,723 |
