Written Answers Nos. 286-301
286. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to provide in tabular form a list of all external assurance process reviews tendered for to date; the value of the contract and the name of the successful company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22546/23]
View answerThe majority of public investment projects are delivered on budget and on time and there is a high level of professionalism across the sectors. However, noting the higher risk profile of larger projects, my Department introduced additional procedures in November 2021 in order to improve project out-turns, avoid cost overruns and avoid delays to project delivery.
Responding to this need, DPENDPDR put in place an External Assurance Process (EAP) to provide independent scrutiny for major public capital projects (for projects which cost in excess of €100m when introduced, increased to €200m as of March 2023). This involves independent expert reviews at the Decision Gate 1 (approval in principle) stage of the project lifecycle
The purpose of the EAP is to improve value for money and support funding departments and Government with expert insight relating to project risks, delivery feasibility, and robustness of costings, governance and procurement. Funding departments can avail of external assurance services and independent expertise through a framework of qualified service providers which has been established by this Department.
The application of the external review process is the responsibility of approving authorities, the spending Departments in the main, and their Accounting Officers in order to rigorously assess business cases that have been issued to them from their Sponsoring Agencies. The responsibility is on approving authorities to procure for the external review from a framework of experts and to ensure the feedback from the review is reflected in any updated business case.
Therefore, the information requested by the Deputy is a matter for the Departments who procured the External Reviews. To date, this applies to the following Departments:
• Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
• Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
• Department of Health
• Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media
287. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will arrange for resources to be issued to the OPW to allow them to extend the opening hours of (details supplied) to be in line with other nearby parks in the vicinity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22602/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works is responsible for the conservation and management of Iveagh Gardens along with a number of other parks and gardens including St Stephens Green Park, less than half a kilometre away.
The majority of OPW parks and gardens open at 8:00 and close at various times throughout the year. Closing time is determined by a number of factors including seasonality, number of people using the particular park/garden, topography and layout, artefacts and features, antisocial behaviour, security concerns and staffing resources.
In order to operate both Iveagh Gardens and St Stephens Green efficiently during the summer months, the Iveagh Gardens opens at 8:00 and closes at 19:30. The Constable team are then available to close St. Stephen's Green Park at 21:00, which is a much larger park with 12 access/egress gates. Currently, a six-person constable team are employed to monitor both parks during opening hours and to undertake the opening & locking up process, safely seven days a week, year round.
Taking into consideration the various factors listed above, there are no plans to extend the opening hours of Iveagh Gardens.
288. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the proportion of contracts awarded under the Office of Government Framework for the Provision of Electricity Supply to Public Sector Bodies in Ireland that were 100% renewable. [22666/23]
View answerThe proportion of 100% renewable contracts awarded by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) under the Dynamic Purchasing System for the Provision of Electricity to Public Sector Bodies is 93%. (representing 25% of the total monetary value of all contracts awarded).
All OGP electricity contracts require suppliers to provide minimum percentages of renewable electricity (45% in 2023, rising to 50% in 2024). In addition to this minimum requirement, in using the OGP arrangement individual Public Sector Bodies can opt to seek bids to contract for 100% renewable electricity.
289. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if there are plans to reduce the water levels at Termonbarry Harbour, County Roscommon, to previous levels and have the gates re-opened for the release of water to prevent further flooding of adjacent farmlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22724/23]
View answerWater levels on the Shannon River are managed in accordance with agreed protocols between Waterways Ireland and the ESB and there is daily communication and a co-ordinated approach in this regard. The ESB manages the water levels for electricity production, ensuring the safety of the embankments and dams and assisting Waterways Ireland with navigation levels. Waterways Ireland manages the sluices and weirs at Jamestown, Roosky, Termonbarry and Meelick, for navigation purposes.
Waterways Ireland have informed me that on the date on which the Deputy raised this matter, the water level on the upstream side of Termonbarry weir was 15cm above summer level and dropping. Waterways Ireland will continue to monitor water levels on a daily basis and adjust sluices as required in line with the protocols.
I understand that Waterways Ireland responded directly to the Deputy on this matter on 10th May.
290. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the reason the OPW is denying access to Oweynagat Cave, Rathcroghan, County Roscommon; the steps that will be taken to ensure access to the cave remains open; if a site visit has been carried out and, if not, when it is planned that such a visit will take place; if the impact such a closure would have on Rathcroghan visitor centre and its work in the local community has been taken into account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22903/23]
View answerOweynagat Souterrain is one of a number a National Monuments in State Ownership or Guardianship at Rathcroghan, Co Roscommon and in the care of the Office of Public Works. It is the understanding of the OPW that the Manager of the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre put forward a proposal in relation to the site which drew attention to a number of issues.
The proposal, which was forwarded to the Office of Public Works by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage for comment, identified significant concerns in terms of the archaeological integrity of the monument in addition to Health and Safety concerns regarding access and egress for visitors. The proposal urges solutions for the provision for a safe and archaeologically sensitive visitor transition into the cave area.
The Office of Public Works has not closed the Cave but rather advised the Manager of the Visitor Centre that no visitors or Guide staff should enter the Cave until the OPW has completed an inspection. This inspection was carried out in recent days and a Report is expected within the next two weeks.
The OPW has worked closely with the local team at Rathcroghan Visitor Centre for many years and my officials will continue to work with them to optimise visitor experience, visitor safety and ultimately, public enjoyment of the national monuments at Rathcroghan, by locals and visitors alike.
291. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he has any plans to change or discontinue the additional superannuation contribution (ASC) for public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22964/23]
View answerThe Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC) was introduced as part of the Public Service Stability Agreement and became a permanent contribution towards the cost of public service pensions with rates relating specifically to pension scheme membership and benefits arising. ASC was introduced under the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017, with effect from 1 January 2019. ASC only applies to serving public service employees who have a public service pension entitlement and does not apply to pensioners. ASC forms a significant additional contribution from public servants towards the sustainability of public service pensions.
It is not intended to discontinue ASC. While the high level operation of ASC is monitored on an ongoing basis, there are no current plans to change the ASC policy as it currently operates.
292. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the percentage of social media posts made on each of his Departmental social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit that were exclusively in Irish between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023, inclusive; the percentage of same that feature bilingual translations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23035/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that during the period specified no social media posts on my Department’s Twitter (@IRLDeptPER) or LinkedIn accounts were posted exclusively in Irish or bilingually. My Department is committed to providing effective and accessible communications to all members of society. As such, the communications team in my Department is engaging with internal and external stakeholders to support the drafting of a new communications strategy. As part of this, strategic communication options available to the Department will be reviewed.
The percentage of social media posts by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), which is also part of my Department, for the specified period exclusively in Irish was eight per cent and there were no social media posts featuring bilingual translations.
Details of the percentage of posts in the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under my remit that were exclusively in Irish and the percentage of same that featured bilingual translations are detailed in the table below:
|
Body |
% of social media post exclusively in Irish between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023 |
% of social media posts featuring bilingual translations between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023 |
|
Office of Public Works (OPW) |
4% |
1% |
|
National Shared Service Office (NSSO) |
Twitter – 6.66% LinkedIn – 8.33% |
0% 0% |
|
Office of the Ombudsman |
0% |
0% |
The Office of the National Lottery Regulator and the State Laboratory do not have any social media accounts.
The Public Appointments Service will forward the relevant details directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
293. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform how his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit meet their obligations for reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. [23053/23]
View answerCivil Service employers must and do consider their obligations under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015 to provide reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation is about meeting the needs of people with disabilities so that they can have access to and can participate and advance in employment. The intention of the provisions dealing with reasonable accommodation is to create a level playing field between individuals with and without a disability.
The Civil Service is strongly committed to equality of opportunity for all in terms of its recruitment and employment practices. The provision of reasonable accommodations is a key element in supporting new staff with a disability and existing staff who acquire a disability. In my Department, the provision of reasonable accommodations required to support a staff member with a disability is managed primarily through my Department’s HR Unit and Disability Liaison Officers (DLO). Reasonable accommodations are provided on a case-by-case basis and, depending on the nature of the accommodation and relevant medical advice, may require further input and support from a number of areas and individuals including Health and Safety, facilities management, ICT support, and the individual’s Line Manager.
Where practicable, reasonable accommodations are provided within four weeks of receipt of a request. The provision of a reasonable accommodation typically comprises a number of stages: submission of the request; evaluation of the request; implementation of the reasonable accommodation; ongoing monitoring of the reasonable accommodation. My Department will continue to provide reasonable accommodations to staff who have a disability so they can fully participate and advance in their employment.
There are a range of supports available to staff and employers that can help with reasonable accommodation.
• Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) are appointed across government departments. A key part of the DLO role is to support staff with disabilities. The DLO can work in conjunction with other sections, e.g. Human Resources (HR), and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Division to assist staff with disabilities.
• The Civil Service Employee Assistance Service provides a wide range of free and confidential supports to all staff and management of the Irish Civil Servic
• My own Department has increased training and support aimed at ensuring civil service employers are aware of their duty of care as an employer. For example, DPER has provided:
• Training on Reasonable Accommodation for over 150 people who work with staff with disabilities.
• Guidelines on the provision of reasonable accommodation.
Going forward we want to ensure we continue supporting staff who have disabilities. ‘Better Public Services: A transformation strategy to deliver for the public and build trust 2030’ has 3 core themes, one of these is ‘Workforce and Organisation of the Future’. This strategy will deliver an inclusive, high quality and integrated Public Service provision that meets the needs and improves the lives of the people of Ireland. We are want to ensure we are harnessing the full potential of our staff and that our organisations provide the environment to support this. Diversity – of background, of life experience – brings different insights, creates challenge and encourages change and innovation. We want diverse staff and to have progressive policies and inclusive workplace cultures. Access to different pathways to careers in the Public Service and growing skills within organisations will help attract and retain staff.
My department will contact the deputy directly regarding the position with regard to the bodies under the aegis of my Department.
294. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of suppliers currently on the Office of Government Procurement Multi-Supplier Framework for the provision of executive coach-hire services. [23085/23]
View answerThe Office of Government Procurement does not have any framework agreement for the provision of executive coach-hire services.
295. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the revenue generated through visitors' entrance fees to heritage sites under the remit of the OPW in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [23086/23]
View answerA breakdown by county is provided below in relation to the revenue generated through visitors' entrance fees to OPW heritage sites in 2022 and to-date 2023 in tabular form below.
|
County |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Clare |
€30,380 |
€5,616 |
|
Cork |
€487,492.00 |
€80,062.00 |
|
Donegal |
€166,144.00 |
€22,984.00 |
|
Dublin |
€3,415,543.00 |
€1,125,955.00 |
|
Galway |
€488,141.00 |
€80,454.00 |
|
Kerry |
€250,158.00 |
€54,931.00 |
|
Kildare |
€71,034.00 |
€15,611.00 |
|
Kilkenny |
€1,502,234.00 |
€405,447.00 |
|
Leitrim |
€37,023.00 |
€5,291.00 |
|
Louth |
€2,403.00 |
Nil |
|
Mayo |
€54,841.00 |
€9,195.00 |
|
Meath |
€1,165,666.00 |
€297,358.00 |
|
Offaly |
€502,206.00 |
€89,403.00 |
|
Roscommon |
€14,320.00 |
€2,844.00 |
|
Sligo |
€84,761.00 |
€7,709.00 |
|
Tipperary |
€1,743,423.00 |
€397,776.00 |
|
Waterford |
Nil |
€6,731.00 |
|
Wexford |
€132,683.00 |
€54,686.00 |
|
Wicklow |
€151,418.00 |
€36,460.00 |
|
Total |
€10,299,870 |
€2,698,513 |
Where nil return is recorded, this means that no payment was received due to closures of some sites due to works being carried; some sites are opened seasonally and have not opened yet in relation to up to date 2023 figures.
296. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the steps he is taking to ensure that degrees undertaken by State employees paid for by public monies are suitable for the areas they are working in; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23122/23]
View answerCircular 23/2007:- Post Entry Education - Refund of Fees, Study Leave and Examination Leave (attached), sets out the terms a conditions of the refund of fees scheme which applies to the Civil Service.
As noted in the circular, the approach of the circular is to maximise the discretion available to Departments/Offices in addressing post-entry education matters in ways that are most relevant to their own areas of responsibility.
In all cases, the decision as to whether civil servants are refunded rests with the Head of the Department/Office who must take into account both the estimated total cost of fees and travelling expenses (if any) and (ii) the available financial resources. Further to this, as outlined in the circular, it is a matter for individual organisations to monitor the operation of the scheme to ensure effective skill development for the organisation as well as equality of opportunity in access to training and development.
297. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there is an overall cross-departmental approach to the rapidly developing technology surrounding artificial intelligence; and the estimated number of jobs that will be lost in the Irish economy in the next decade arising from the advancement in this area. [22961/23]
View answerAI is a powerful and fast evolving technology that is and will continue to have huge impacts on our economy and society.
The Government has been preparing for the increased prevalence of AI for a significant period of time. That is why we developed the National AI Strategy “AI – Here for Good” which was published in July 2021, and my Department is leading on cross-Departmental implementation of the strategy.
Underpinning our Strategy are three core principles to best embrace the opportunities of AI:
• adopting a human-centric approach to the application of AI;
• staying open and adaptable to new innovations; and
• ensuring good governance to build trust and confidence for innovation to flourish.
Substantial progress has been made on its implementation across various parts of Government in the two years since its launch and my officials are finalising an implementation report which will be published shortly.
The strategy recognises the potential of AI as a powerful problem solving tool as well as a driver of productivity and innovation. It is clear is that we can already see the benefits of AI in a range of fields including in healthcare settings, climate action and education.
AI is a general-purpose technology and will have potential application across a broad range of sectors and occupations. As such, AI adoption is much like the adoption of any broadly applicable technology, like the steam engine, electricity and information technology. On balance, the lessons of history suggest that AI, like earlier general-purpose technologies, will result in jobs lost but also jobs created, and the challenge for policy will be to ensure that the benefits from the jobs of the future are shared by all workers.
Due to its extremely broad application, and the fact that AI will reach into some areas deeply but affect many others in lesser ways, it is not possible to estimate the overall net impact on the workforce. However, it is anticipated that much of the disruption caused by AI will result in changes to job roles, tasks and distribution, rather than actual job losses. A key priority of Government's approach to AI is to ensure that our skills infrastructure is prepared to meet the training and upskilling needs of the current and future workforce.
In June 2022, the Expert Group on Future Skills needs published a review of the skills implications of AI over the next five-to-ten years, as well as the skills-related actions needed to realise the potential of AI. Work is underway to implement the recommendations of the review, which includes programmes for workforce upskilling and lifelong learning.
I encourage all workers and firms to start making an assessment of the likely impact of AI on their own jobs. In most cases, we are not talking about actual job losses, just changes to the ways jobs are done.
Last week the OECD published a review of Ireland’s National Skills Strategy which confirmed the strong foundations of Ireland’s skills development system- but also areas for improvement if we are to future proof our economy and maintain a competitive edge in a constantly evolving enterprise and skills needs context.
The report and its recommendations are particularly welcome in the context of the White Paper on Enterprise, which highlights the critical role of skills in our enterprise model.
298. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a Trade Mission to Canada is scheduled for Quarter 3, this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22388/23]
View answerEach year, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland prepare a programme of trade missions and events which support the goal of securing high-level market access for companies based in Ireland who are aiming to grow business overseas and increase domestic employment, and showcasing opportunities for foreign direct investment in support of high-quality jobs and regional development throughout Ireland.
In recent years the majority of Ministerial-led trade missions have taken place to the Eurozone, North America and Asia Pacific, which represent the strongest growth opportunities for Irish companies. These missions have focused on promoting the innovative capabilities and competitive offerings of Irish companies to international buyers in a range of sectors including internationally traded services, fintech, high-tech construction, engineering, ICT and life sciences.
My Department is working with Enterprise Ireland in relation to the implementation of the 2023 Ministerial-led trade mission programme and, as part of that programme, it is intended to carry out a trade mission to Canada during Quarter 4 of this year.
299. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the salary figure for visa applications relative to the hospitality sector will be reduced to €25,000 per annum to enable employers to recruit a wider range of skill sets. [22471/23]
View answerIreland’s employment permits system is designed to accommodate the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill skills and labour gaps for the benefit of our economy, in the short to medium term.
The system is managed by means of two Occupations Lists determining either highly skilled roles in critical short supply or those that are ineligible for an employment permit. The lists undergo regular, evidence-based review to incorporating current labour market intelligence, guided by relevant research and a public/stakeholder consultation. The views of the Economic Migration Interdepartmental Group and relevant policy Departments, including the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media are also taken into consideration.
My Department continues to actively respond to the concerns raised by various sectors with regard to the critical short supply of skills in a number of roles crucial to the economy. Following extensive reviews, since 1st January 2020, all grades of Chef with appropriate experience were removed from the Ineligible Occupations List and became eligible for the General Employment Permit. Approximately 3,200 employment permits have been processed for chefs since the start of 2022.
The General Employment Permit is the main permit used by the State for occupations experiencing a labour or skills shortage that cannot be filled by the resident and EEA labour market. The minimum remuneration for this permit type is €30,000. The minimum remuneration thresholds are a legislative requirement, prescribed in the Employment Permits Acts. The use of a salary threshold is a key labour market protection instrument. The goal is that economic migration serves the skills needs of the economy without disruptively depressing wage levels in the wider labour market. Setting the level for minimum annual remuneration is a balancing act and any amendment to the thresholds for employment permits may only be considered on the basis of a thorough review. The first formal review of the minimum remuneration thresholds was in 2017, and was, subsequently, subsumed into the Review of Economic Migration Policy. It was on foot of the recommendations in that report that an increase to the Critical Skills Employment Permit threshold was approved from January 2020.
At present, there are no proposals to reduce the current remuneration levels for the General Employment Permit accessed by a particular sector and the current remuneration threshold for the General Employment Permit remains at €30,000.
Employment permit policy is part of the response to addressing skills deficits which exist and are likely to continue into the medium term, but it is not intended over the longer term to act as a substitute for meeting the challenge of up-skilling the State’s resident workforce, with an emphasis on the process of lifelong learning, and on maximising the potential of EEA nationals to fill our skills deficits.
300. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when he intends to make an order to commence Part 3 of the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 regarding the right to request remote working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22548/23]
View answerThe Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was enacted on the 4th of April 2023. Under the Act, all employees have a right to request remote working. The right to request other types of flexible working arrangement, such an adjusted working patterns or reduced hours, is limited to parents and carers as defined in the Act.
A single Code of Practice will be developed which will provide guidance to employers and employees on dealing with requests for both flexible and remote working arrangements. I have formally requested the Workplace Relations Commission begin work on developing this Code of Practice. Part 3 of the Act will be commenced as soon as is practicable following the completion of this Code.
301. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will outline any plans to change the minimum wage for persons under 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22576/23]
View answerIn the past, the Low Pay Commission (LPC) was asked to examine the issues around subminimum rates under the National Minimum Wage Acts and reported on the matter in December 2017.
The LPC, having examined all available evidence and submissions, and having considered a range of options, made recommendations in its report to simplify youth rates based on age and to abolish training rates unless an employee is part of an apprenticeship programme already approved by the State.
Recently there has been some debate relating to subminimum rates of the national minimum wage. In this context, the Low Pay Commission has been asked by the Minister to re-examine the issues around retaining or removing the youth rates and to make recommendations on the subject. To inform its work, the LPC has asked the ESRI to conduct background research on this issue under the terms of the LPC-ESRI Research Partnership Agreement. The LPC’s report and recommendations on sub-minimum rates are expected in the second half of 2023.
While the issue of subminimum youth rates is being considered, the Government will continue to be guided by the recommendations of the LPC with regard to any future changes in the National Minimum Wage.
