Written Answers Nos. 519-538
520. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for a breakdown of the number of secretariat staff provided, on either a full-time or part-time basis, to each of the different programme areas under the Office of the Ombudsman in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37461/23]
View answerThe serving staff under the Office of the Ombudsman 31 December for each of the past ten years is provided in the table below. Figures are provided for each of the three programme areas and are provided for both headcount and full time equivalent numbers.
|
Programme A |
Programme A |
Programme A |
Programme A |
Programme A |
Programme A |
Programme B |
Programme B |
Programme C |
Programme C |
Total |
Total |
|
|
Ombudsman |
Ombudsman |
CPSA |
CPSA |
OPDC |
OPDC |
SIPO |
SIPO |
OIC/OCEI |
OIC/OCEI |
|||
|
Year |
Staff |
Whole time equivalent |
Staff |
Whole time equivalent |
Staff |
Whole time equivalent |
Staff |
Whole time equivalent |
Staff |
Whole time equivalent |
Staff |
Whole time equivalent |
|
2013 |
64 |
61.56 |
3 |
2.8 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
7.8 |
20 |
20 |
95 |
92.16 |
|
2014 |
59 |
56.06 |
4 |
3.3 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
8.4 |
22 |
21.8 |
94 |
89.56 |
|
2015 |
71 |
67.36 |
4 |
3.3 |
0 |
0 |
12 |
11.4 |
24 |
23.6 |
111 |
105.66 |
|
2016 |
74 |
70.16 |
3 |
2.8 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
13.2 |
24 |
23.6 |
115 |
109.76 |
|
2017 |
74 |
70.36 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
14.2 |
25 |
24.6 |
119 |
114.16 |
|
2018 |
80 |
75.68 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
18.6 |
28 |
26.72 |
132 |
126 |
|
2019 |
86 |
82.15 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
17 |
29 |
28.55 |
139 |
132.7 |
|
2020 |
85 |
80.6 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
21 |
18.75 |
27 |
25.36 |
138 |
129.71 |
|
2021 |
87 |
82.5 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
20 |
17.75 |
28 |
26.6 |
140 |
131.85 |
|
2022 |
92 |
89.06 |
4 |
3.5 |
1 |
1.5 |
22 |
19.2 |
35 |
33.6 |
154 |
146.86 |
Notes:
• The figures provided are in respect of the serving staff at 31 December in each respective year (i.e. 2022 figures are serving staff numbers on 31 December 2022).
• Ombudsman figures include the Director General and staff working in the Corporate Spine across all organisations (HR, Finance, Legal Services, Communications, ICT, Facilities Management and Service Officers).
• The Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner was established with effect from January 2023. Two staff members were assigned in 2022 (one shared with CPSA) to carry out set-up functions. The current staffing compliment for OPDC is 3.5.
Figures exclude staff on career breaks.
• Abbreviations used in table: CPSA - Office of the Commission for Public Service Appointments; OPDC - Office of the Protected Disclosures Commissioner; SIPO - Standards in Public Office Commission; OIC - Office of the Information Commissioner; OCEI - Office of the Commissioner for Environmental Information.
521. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the average time it takes for a recruitment process by the Commission for Public Service Appointments to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37462/23]
View answerThe Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA) was established under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. The Commission is the principal regulator of recruitment and selection processes within the public service. It has a statutory role to ensure that appointments in the organisations subject to its remit (that is, those that fall under the authority and scope of the Commission) are made on candidates’ merit and as the result of fair and transparent appointment processes. Its primary role is to ensure probity and fairness are at the heart of public service recruitment. While the CPSA can deal with complaints from candidates about selection processes they have participated in, it does not undertake recruitment itself and therefore has no direct responsibility for the operation of any particular recruitment process, including the timeliness of any such process.
The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 also established the Public Appointments Service (PAS) and gave it powers regarding the undertaking of recruitment for the civil service and certain other public service bodies. These powers include responsibility for operational issues in recruitment in the public service bodies for which PAS has remit.
PAS is the centralised provider of recruitment services to the Civil Service, as well as to over 150 public bodies in Ireland. PAS carries out recruitment campaigns for a wide range of public sector bodies across the civil and public service. PAS, through publicjobs.ie, conducts recruitment for clients in a range of sectors: for the civil service, An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service, the Health Service Executive (HSE), for local authorities, for other public services and for State Boards. The types of roles for which campaigns are conducted are extremely varied; they range from campaigns for high-volume entry-level administrative positions through to the most senior executive and State Board positions. These roles are filled by a mixture of large volume campaigns creating multi-annual panels and smaller scale individual campaigns.
Depending on the nature of the campaign (volume of applicants, level of position, administration versus specialist, etc.) a range of different assessments may be utilised which can affect the length of a campaign (these include psychometric testing, short-listing, written exercises, role or group exercises and interviews).
|
Recruitment Type |
Average of Recruitment Service Delivery Timeliness (in weeks)** |
No of campaigns completed in 2023 |
|
General Grades |
13 |
7 |
|
Hospital Consultants |
11* |
116 |
|
Justice |
23 |
2 |
|
Local Government |
17 |
37 |
|
Professional & Technical |
14 |
58 |
|
Senior Executive |
19 |
19 |
|
State Boards |
12 |
41 |
|
TLAC |
12 |
29 |
|
TLAC Specialist |
18 |
5 |
|
Grand Total |
12 |
314 |
*Advertising for individual competitions is sometimes extended due to nature of specialist roles, this additional time is not included in these figures.
** From advertising date.
522. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to the flooding that occurred in east Meath recently which destroyed many homes, if he will seek an urgent update on when proposals for additional flood relief works for the area will progress as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37682/23]
View answerA senior level group involving the OPW and Meath County Council has been established to oversee this project delivery process for measures in the Mornington/Bettystown area.
On the 9th of August a meeting was held between the OPW, Meath County Council and the engineering consultants RPS who are currently involved in designing further defences for some of these locations.
At that meeting, the OPW asked the consultants to investigate both the cause and magnitude of the recent flooding event. This investigation will inform any appropriate short term measures that can be taken to manage the flood risk in this area and in the longer term the design for those further flood relief defences currently proposed, I have been advised that work on this has now commenced.
523. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the progress made, if any, on developing a single competent authority to co-ordinate flood risk and management along the River Shannon; if he plans to develop such an agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37829/23]
View answerIn 2016, the Government established the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Coordination Working Group to improve coordination on flood risk management between all state agencies involved with the River Shannon. This Group, which is chaired by the OPW, provides a forum where all statutory organisations with roles and responsibilities that involve the River Shannon catchment can further monitor and co-ordinate their respective work programmes to assist with managing flood risk along the Shannon catchment.
The OPW in partnership with Local Authorities is progressing a programme of flood relief schemes to address flood risk on the River Shannon. There are currently 13 completed schemes in the Shannon River Basin District and these schemes are already providing protection to over 2,600 properties. A further 36 flood relief schemes will be delivered in the Shannon catchment as part of the Government’s €1.3bn investment in flood relief measures over the lifetime of the National Development Plan to 2030. 24 of these schemes are currently being progressed including Athlone and Springfield which are currently at construction stage. When completed, the schemes will protect 95% of properties identified as being at significant risk from flooding in the Shannon River Basin District.
Outside of the major flood relief schemes, local flooding issues are being addressed by local authorities with support from the OPW under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. This scheme provides funding for minor flood mitigation works or studies, costing less than €750,000 each, to address localised flooding and coastal protection problems. To date, the OPW has approved funding of €35m for over 600 projects for the Shannon River Basin District.
To add to the overall flood protection from flood relief schemes, the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Coordination Working Group produces an annual Work Programme that demonstrates the extensive work and co-ordination by all State bodies to jointly and proactively help address flood risk on the Shannon under the following themes of activity: physical works, maintenance, water management, regulatory, policy and planning. The group is currently progressing a number of collaborative initiatives including developing a strategic maintenance programme. The Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Coordination Working Group also prepares an implements an annual maintenance programme.
According to Met Eireann, this July was provisionally the wettest on record. On a day to day basis, water levels on the Shannon River are managed in accordance with agreed protocols between Waterways Ireland and the ESB. There is daily communication and a coordinated approach between those two bodies. Water levels on the Shannon are monitored on a daily basis, along with weather forecasts. This informs decisions around sluice gate opening and closing procedures and the operation of weirs, within the agreed protocols.
These operations influence the levels on the Shannon but due to the shallow gradient of the river and the many natural restrictions along its course, the levels cannot be fully controlled especially when the Shannon is in flood. In circumstances where there is heavy summer rainfall and increased river levels, flood risks are mitigated to the greatest extent possible, through these actions. However, once all measures have been taken by Waterways Ireland and the ESB, summer flooding in the Shannon Callows can still occur, as it does in the winter period.
Possible approaches to provide a long term solution to summer flooding in the Shannon Callows are being developed by the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group. This work is subject to the required environmental assessments and any works will be subject to appropriate consents.
The preparation of legislation to improve the management of flood risk on the River Shannon is a Government priority. The management of flood risk on the river is closely intertwined with other uses of the river such as for navigation, dam safety and electricity generation. The OPW has conducted an analysis of existing legislation regarding the management of the River Shannon, including a review of the powers of various bodies involved with the river. Given the powers an functions of the various bodies the preparation of legislative proposals is a complex piece of work. The OPW, in line with Government direction, is prioritising this work.
524. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the policy of his Department to ensure that Irish based businesses and SMEs, in particular, are not prevented from tendering for Government and State business; the measures that he has put in place to ensure that Irish businesses are supported in tendering for Government or State business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37901/23]
View answerThe Government recognises the importance of the SME sector and continues to enhance the already substantial measures to support SMEs in accessing the public procurement market. In March, my Department published Circular 05/2023: Initiatives to assist SMEs in Public Procurement, which replaced Circular 10/2014. The circular includes a suite of policy measures aimed at assisting SMEs to access public procurement opportunities. These include:
• An increase to the threshold at which all contracts for goods and services must be advertised on eTenders from €25,000 to €50,000 (exclusive of VAT);
• An increase to the threshold at which all contracts for works must be advertised on eTenders from €50,000 to €200,000 (exclusive of VAT);
• Enhanced measures that public bodies should take to promote transparency, including a requirement to publish contract award information for all procurements over €25,000 (exclusive of VAT);
• Specific measures that public bodies should take to promote SME participation, including the division of public contracts into lots and the use of proportionate financial capacity and insurance requirements;
• A reiteration of the role that eTenders, the national e-tendering platform, can play in promoting SME participation; and
• Updated guidance for insurance levels for supplies and general services.
The Circular sends an important signal of the Government’s commitment to support SMEs so that they can compete for public procurement contracts as set out in the Programme for Government “Our Shared Future”. It builds on the work already taking place across Government, including through the SME Advisory Group chaired by Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement and eGovernment, Mr Ossian Smyth TD. The group, which meets quarterly, has afforded the Government the opportunity to hear first-hand from SMEs about their experiences tendering for public contracts and to voice any concerns to Government on issues affecting SME participation in public procurement. Minutes from the meetings of the SME Advisory Group are available on the website: www.gov.ie/en/collection/8a305-sme-advisory-group/ of the Office of Government Procurement (OGP).
The OGP launched a new eTenders platform in May 2023. To assist suppliers with the registration process, the OGP has developed interactive materials and user manuals, which are available on www.etenders.gov.ie. A dedicated helpdesk has also been established to address any technical queries regarding the new eTenders. Further resources for suppliers, including a dedicated “Sell to Government” information page and informational videos, are available on the OGP website and YouTube channel.
My Department will continue to proactively engage with business to enhance the significant measures and strategies already in place to support SME access to public procurement opportunities building on the progress to date.
525. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the Office of Public Works plans to refurbish the vacant public toilets on Infirmary Road, Dublin 7 overlooking the children’s playground at the Phoenix Park; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37911/23]
View answerThe facilities located on Infirmary Road have not been in use for over 15 years and when in use, Dublin City Council employed a caretaker who opened/ closed and maintained the toilets. Unfortunately, the building was subject to considerable anti-social behaviour and arson. This led to the decision by DCC to close them to the public.
The Office of Public Works is preparing to go to tender for some remedial works to the external fabric of the building on Infirmary Road which you have referenced. The building is in a state of disrepair and the works being planned are to the roof and upgrading the windows. It is envisaged, subject to a successful tendering process, that a contractor should be on site later this year. While the building will be made safe and be secured, the OPW has no plans in place to reinstate facilities on the Infirmary Road area. However, the OPW is open to working with DCC should the council wish to reinstate the previous arrangements for the operation of these bathrooms.
I can advise that there are several toilet facilities located within the Park. These are all open during daylight hours where cleaning staff provide passive surveillance. The provision of toilet facilities in the Park is kept under continuous review.
526. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will provide an update on engagements he has had with the Department of Justice in relation to the restoration of barrister fees under the criminal justice (legal aid) scheme following FEMPI cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37961/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, as part of a broader Government agenda to reduce escalating legal costs, the Minister for Justice exercised powers conferred to them under section 10(1)(b) of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) Act 1962 to apply reductions to professional fees paid to barristers under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme in 2009, 2010 and 2011. These reductions were underpinned by Government decisions and formed part of a broader Government need to reduce costs across the public service.
I fully acknowledge and appreciate the important work undertaken in this area and annual expenditure under the Scheme has risen by 44% since 2016, which gives some sense of the scale of the State’s investment in this area.
The Department of Justice established a Criminal Legal Aid Oversight Committee in 2016, and I understand that the Department has recently decided to refocus the work of the Committee to, amongst other things, advise on the necessary reforms to the scheme. I note that the Minister for Justice and the Minister of State for Law Reform recently published the General Scheme of the Criminal Justice (Legal Aid Bill) 2023. This Bill will enable the future modernisation of some of the administrative processes for the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme and strengthen oversight and governance structures. I have asked that such improvements are pursued at the earliest opportunity.
My officials continue to engage with their counterparts in the Department of Justice on this matter, and it is important that any proposal to adjust legal fees paid under the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme is considered in the context of reform measures that improve the administration of justice, support a transparent and rational framework for providing legal aid, and which help to control costs which have increased very substantially in recent years.
527. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform who is responsible in paying the pensions of gardaí who joined An Garda Síochána on or after 6 April 1995; how it will be paid; how it is calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38003/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, I have overall policy responsibility in relation to public service occupational pension schemes payable to retired public servants.
For all new entrants to the public service (including members of An Garda Síochána) on or after 6 April 1995 (the date of introduction of full social insurance for public servants who now pay Class A PRSI) and before 1 January 2013 (the date of introduction of the Single Public Service Pensions Scheme) pension payment comprises of three components:
A Public Service Occupational Pension payable by the public service employer, in the case of An Garda Síochána this is paid by Garda Pensions;
Social Insurance Benefit(s) payable, subject to eligibility, by the Department of Social Protection (DSP); and
Where the full rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC) is not payable by DSP, a supplementary pension equivalent to a pension that is not integrated with the Social Insurance system which is payable, subject to eligibility, by the public service employer.
The Public Service Occupational Pension referenced above is calculated as follows;
Gross Pensionable Remuneration (GPR) up to 3.333333 times the SPC (currently €46,144.51) divided by 200 multiplied by Years of Service (S) –
GPR up to €46,144.51/200 x S
PLUS
Gross Pensionable Remuneration in excess of 3.333333 times the SPC (currently €46,144.51) divided by 80 multiplied by Years of Service –
GPR > €46,144.51/80 x S
Where a public servant does not qualify for the SPC or qualifies for a Social Insurance benefit at less than the value of the SPC they may be entitled to a supplementary pension, subject to eligibility criteria, including:
• The retired public servant is not in paid employment;
• The retired public servant, due to no fault of their own, fails to qualify for Social Insurance benefit(s) or qualifies for a benefit at less that the value of the SPC; and
• The retired public servant must have reached minimum pension age or retired on grounds of ill-health.
The second condition is important to ensure no duplication of payments from public funds. To verify this condition, prior to payment of the Occupational Supplementary Pension, a retired public servant must engage with the DSP and obtain proof that they have exhausted any relevant benefits for which they may be eligible under the social insurance system.
My Department is aware that there are some issues concerning the procedures for qualifying for the payment of an Occupational Supplementary Pension and we are liaising with the Department of Social Protection and other key stakeholders to review the processes involved and establish if a more efficient and streamlined approach is possible.
528. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the date on which the playground in the grounds of Kilkenny Castle will be fully useable; and the number of consecutive weeks it has not been fully usable. [38008/23]
View answerKilkenny Castle playground is an extremely popular amenity which attracted approximately 105,000 visitors in 2022. The majority of the playground in Kilkenny Castle has remained fully open and fully operational. There were three specific items of equipment that required repair and these were cordoned off in the interest of health and safety.
These items are: the multi climbing frame, the space net and the ability whirl carousel. The multi climbing frame was cordoned off for a total of two weeks. This was repaired brought back into use on 30th August 2023.
The space net pyramid and the ability whirl carousel have been more challenging to repair. This is because the required parts had to be sourced outside of Ireland. This has led them to being closed for forty weeks for the space net pyramid and sixty eight weeks for the ability whirl carousel. The appropriate parts have now been sourced and will be arriving in Ireland at the end of September 2023. It is anticipated that these playground amenities will be fully usable by the middle of October 2023.
529. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the OPW has given consideration to providing free, sports-equipment-sharing lockers in the Phoenix Park (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38130/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works has, for many years provided extensive sporting facilities in State owned parks and gardens to several different sporting organisations and clubs. At the Phoenix Park a range of sporting activities take place and cricket, GAA, soccer and polo clubs have operated for decades on a lease basis with the OPW.
The sporting groups organise and run their venues, pitches, or grounds independently of the OPW and the clubs are directly responsible for the provision of the equipment required for the particular sport.
The OPW will consider how this BoxUp scheme operates over the coming months with local authorities and the Local Sports Partnerships. If successful, and if there is potential for the model to be considered for the Phoenix Park, the OPW will further explore the feasibility of providing equipment sharing in suitable areas of the Park.
530. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the proportion of public procurement contracts divided into smaller contracts in order to facilitate application of smaller providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38169/23]
View answerIn March, my Department published Circular 05/2023: Initiatives to assist SMEs in Public Procurement, which replaced Circular 10/2014. The circular highlights the positive measures that contracting authorities can take to promote SME participation in public sector procurement, including the separation of contracts into lots where reasonable and without compromising efficiency and value for money.
Circular 05/2023 also sets out the threshold at which contracting authorities are required to advertise all contracts for goods and services on the national electronic tendering service, eTenders, is now €50,000 (exclusive of VAT). Based on the data available to my Department through eTenders, please find in the table below details on the proportion tenders for public contracts published on eTenders where those contracts have been sub-divided into Lots. This data relates to all tenders published on eTenders, whether above or below national and EU thresholds:
Proportion of Public Procurement Tenders published on eTenders with Lots
|
Year |
Proportion based on total number of tenders published |
Proportion based on total estimated contract value of tenders published |
|
2022 |
8.67% |
30.82% |
|
2021 |
8.86% |
29.61% |
|
2020 |
8.20% |
40.12% |
|
2019 |
8.76% |
40.34% |
|
2018 |
8.53% |
20.06% |
|
Five Year Average |
8.62% |
30.47% |
Table 1. – Proportion of Tenders published with Lotting applied between 2018 and 2022 inclusive
It is important to note , there is no data available to my Department to determine precisely the reason for a contracting authority’s decision to sub-divide their contracts into Lots.
The use of lotting is but one measure within a suite of measures that can be taken by contracting authorities to assist SMEs access public procurement opportunities. As part of their pre procurement planning, contracting authorities consider strategies to achieve greater value for money in line with the overall strategic objectives of their organisations. Therefore, each contracting authority is best placed to determine how it can incorporate the measures outlined in Circular 05/2023 into their Corporate Procurement Plans and individual procurements within the remits of EU Procurement Law.
My Department will continue to proactively engage with business to enhance the significant measures and strategies already in place to support SME access to public procurement opportunities building on the progress to date.
531. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the steps taken since 2020 to support training and professional development across the procurement system making particular reference to procurement systems in local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38170/23]
View answerSince 2020, my Department, specifically the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), has taken a number of significant steps to support training and professional development across the procurement system.
These steps include:
In 2020, the Commercial Skills Academy launched a programme of training supports to increase the commercial capabilities of public servants tasked with the delivery of capital funded public works projects. Since 2020, the programme has delivered over 1000 hours of training to more than 3000 public servants, with a significant numbers of the public servants availing of the training coming from local authorities.
A dedicated unit now exists within the OGP to deliver a programme of events focusing on procurement knowledge and information sharing across the wider public sector. Since 2020, this unit has hosted over 100 hours of procurement related events for public servants, with significant proportions of attendees from local authorities.
In 2020, a unit was created to develop OGP's procurement capability, through the provision of a programme of on-the-job training and supports.
In 2021 my department welcomed and endorsed ProcureCompEU, a tool designed by the European Commission to support the professionalisation of public procurement.
In 2023, the Professional Practice Unit was formed within the OGP with responsibility for leading the development of professional procurement practice and skills across the public service.
532. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when he intends to establish the OGP on a statutory basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38172/23]
View answerIn commencing the procurement reform programme in 2013, the Government decided that the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) be established initially as a Division within my Department, with an intention to establish it thereafter on a statutory basis.
In progressing legislation to establish a body on a statutory basis, there are a number of factors that I must assess including potential benefits, costs, regulatory considerations and risk. I am currently considering this matter. As the Deputy is aware, primary legislation is required to establish the Office on a statutory basis and, to that end, it is included in Government's Summer Legislative programme.
533. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of times the OGP has been contacted by contracting authorities for guidance on the inclusion of social and environmental criteria in procurement contracts; if the OGP monitors the level of use of social and environmental criteria in procurement by contracting authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38192/23]
View answerThe Office of Government Procurement (OGP) has received very few queries specifically on the inclusion of social and environmental criteria in procurement contracts, relative to other aspects of public procurement. However, questions from contracting authorities at the wide range of events in which OGP officials facilitate (Procurement Officer Network meetings, Procurement Client Conference, Procurex, Category Councils, circular economy and sustainability conferences…) show much interest amongst contracting authorities more broadly in the areas of green and socially responsible public procurement.
The Green Public Procurement (GPP) Criteria Search online tool was developed by the OGP with collaboration from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), to facilitate use of the GPP criteria published by the EPA. These GPP criteria are environmental criteria. The GPP Criteria Search tool was visited over 14,000 times in the nine months following its launch in early November 2022.
Circular 20/2019: Promoting the use of Environmental and Social Considerations in Public Procurement states that queries in relation to the development and implementation of Green Public Procurement, the annual reporting templates, and related guidance can be sent to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment (now DECC).
Compliance with the green, social and other horizontal policy requirements rests with individual public bodies. The OGP does not have the capability to monitor the use of social and environmental criteria in tender competitions by individual contracting authorities.
However, for green public procurement, each Government Department is required to monitor and report upon its own use, in order to publish this in its Annual Report, as required under Circular 20/2019. The EPA monitors the use of GPP in procurement across Government Departments. To date, the EPA has published two reports on GPP by Government Departments, one for contracts signed in 2020 and one for contracts signed in 2021. These show the percentage of contracts (of over €25,000), both by value and by number, that the Government Departments class as GPP. The latest report is publicly available on the EPA’s Green Public Procurement webpage. The reporting template issued to Government Departments by the EPA is also available on this webpage. The EPA has commenced the process of surveying Government Departments on their use of GPP in contracts signed in 2022, and will similarly publish a report amalgamating results across Departments for that year.
The Government's Climate Action Plan 2023 introduced a revised Public Sector Climate Action Mandate that includes a commitment to implementation of GPP. Public bodies report on implementation of the different aspects of the Mandate to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Climate Action Roadmaps set out how they will implement the Mandate. The SEAI recently updated its guidance on completing the Roadmap, recommending that public bodies set up a system to gather and record data on GPP implementation within the organisation, using the reporting template issued by the EPA to Government Departments as a reference.
The OGP and its partner Central Purchasing Bodies in Health, Education, Local Government and Defence record the inclusion of green criteria in their central purchasing arrangements, and collectively report this to the Procurement Executive and in the published annual report of the interim Procurement Reform Board.
534. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if the Public Appointments Service will run a general civil service competition for person’s with fluency in Irish at Clerical Officer and Principal Officer level during Quarter 4, this year. [38238/23]
View answerThe Public Appointments Service (PAS) has informed me that it is proposing to advertise a CO Irish competition in Q4 this year. The date has no yet been confirmed but it is likely to be in October. The PO Irish competition was launched on the 5th May 2023 and the selection process was completed and a panel established in August. There are currently no plans to run a further PO Irish competition this year.
535. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the arrangements that are in place for remedial works in an area (details supplied) to ensure people in the area affected can get insurance in the future. [38284/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for leading and co-ordinating the implementation of Ireland’s National Flood Policy, which includes the development of a planned programme of feasible works for flood relief schemes. Such works provide flood protection for cities, towns and villages throughout Ireland, and can be undertaken directly by the OPW or the relevant Local Authorities.
With regards to recent flooding events in Clontarf, Dublin City Council (DCC), is compiling a report on the exact mechanisms of recent flooding in Clontarf and the potential short term remedial measures.
Separately the OPW and DCC are collaborating to procure engineering and environmental consultants to investigate, propose and develop long-term remedial measures to reduce flood risk in the area.
It will be open to DCC to apply for funding from the OPW to undertake such remedial measures, and any such application will be considered by the OPW accordingly, having regard to the overall availability of funding.
536. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his attention has been drawn to correspondence from Wicklow County Council in relation to the need to upgrade the Greystones Garda Station building; the actions he proposes to address the concerns raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38310/23]
View answerThe Commissioners of Public Works await direction from An Garda Síochána regarding the inclusion and prioritization of Greystones Garda Station within its ‘Capital Works programme’.
Subject to its inclusion in the programme, any planned works to include redevelopment of adjacent buildings are contingent on the Coast Guard moving from its current location in the buildings adjacent to the Garda station.
537. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he has taken into account that there are employees in the public sector for whom it is mandatory to pay into the compulsory spouses and children scheme regardless of their marital or familial situation, and who will never benefit for the scheme; if he has considered whether or not such a mandatory scheme is in contravention of equality legislation for those that will not benefit; if he will consider a refund mechanism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38311/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, I have over-arching responsibility for public service pensions policy.
The original widows’ and orphans’ contributory pension schemes were first introduced in the public service in 1968 and were open to male employees only; membership was subsequently extended to female employees and the schemes were renamed Spouses’ and Children’s schemes. The date of introduction for the schemes varied in different parts of the public service. At the time of their introduction for each cohort, membership was made optional for serving staff and mandatory for new entrants.
The revised Spouses and Children’s Superannuation Scheme was first introduced in the civil service in 1984. Membership of this scheme is mandatory for anybody who joined the civil service as a new entrant after its introduction. Similar provisions exist in most areas of the public service.
The revised scheme, which was introduced in agreement with staff interests, extended the benefits payable to include post-retirement marriages and also extended the children's benefit to include adoptive, post-retirement/resignation and non-marital children of the member.
All public service S&C schemes, both original and revised, are contributory in nature, regardless of whether the relevant main pension scheme required pension contributions. Members of the original scheme receive a full refund of contributions on retirement if they remain unmarried throughout their period of membership, as post-retirement spouses and children are not covered under that scheme. Members of the revised scheme do not receive this refund because the scheme is designed to cover post-retirement relationships.
Survivor Benefits and associated contributions are embedded in the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. Members of the Single Scheme (all new entrants from 2013) are not also members of a separate Spouses and Children's Scheme. The applicable Survivor Benefits are in keeping with those available through membership of a revised Spouses and Children's Scheme.
Member contributions are compulsory under revised Spouses and Children’s Schemes and there are no exemptions available based on marital or family status. In certain circumstances where a member has in excess of 40 years' service, they are entitled to a refund in respect of the excess period only, starting with the initial contributions paid.
Spouses and Children’s schemes operate on a similar basis to any group insurance scheme, whereby each member pays a contribution to ensure coverage, but not every member will receive a benefit from their scheme.
The nature of the schemes are such that they provides for contingent benefits to each member. Spouses & Children Scheme benefits only become payable in the event of the member’s death; if a married member is pre-deceased by their spouse, no spousal benefit is payable.
All officers hired after a certain date are enrolled in the applicable scheme on a mandatory basis, regardless of their marital or family status. Contributions are payable at the same rates by all scheme members, and marital or family status does not impact upon the members’ benefits within the main pension scheme; the pension benefits payable for any public service scheme are calculated in the same manner for all members regardless of this.
It is for these reasons that I do not believe that public service Spouses and Children's Schemes are in contravention of equality legislation, and can confirm that a further refund mechanism is not possible.
538. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he can indicate the OPW conservational management plans that are in place for remedial works on Cairn T at the Loughcrew Cairns National Heritage site Neolithic passage tombs near Oldcastle, County Meath, which is currently held up with industrial props and closed to the public since 2018 ; the schedule for these remedial works in order to re-open this important site to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38342/23]
View answerOPW has had constructive meetings on site with the National Monuments Service, D/Housing, Local Government and Heritage to agree details of the continued structural supports that will be needed to safeguard Cairn T. OPW’s Structural engineers are finalising detailed plans regarding permanent structural support work to replace the temporary prop currently in situ. It is expected this work will commence before the end of the year. A CMP for the site is being commissioned as part of the long term preservation of this site.
