Written Answers Nos. 195-214
195. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on the ESB’s plans and ongoing work to prepare for floods along the River Shannon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41561/23]
View answer214. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the status of the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-Ordination Working Group, which was established in 2016; the current membership of the group; the last time the group met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41545/23]
View answer215. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an overview of the work done by the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-Ordination Working Group since 2020; an overview of the work scheduled for 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41546/23]
View answer216. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform for an update on the €7 million provided to remove the pinch points on the River Shannon; the amount of funding drawn down to date; the progress made to date; the works planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41557/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 195, 214, 215 and 216 together.
In 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 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 Group is comprised of the following membership and comes under the chairmanship of the Office of Public Works.• Office of Public Works (OPW);• Local Authorities, represented by the City and County Management Association (CCMA)• Waterways Ireland;• Electricity Supply Board (ESB);• Inland Fisheries Ireland;• Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine;• Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage;• Bord na Móna;• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);• Uisce Eireann; The Attorney General’s Office and other Government Departments may also participate, as requested by the Chairman. The Group previously met on 26 April 2023 and the next meeting of the group is scheduled for 11 October 2023. Minutes of the Groups meetings, details of membership and work programmes are available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/4d487d-shannon-flood-risk-state-agency-co-ordination-working-group/
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 ESB is currently carrying out essential maintenance on Water Control Equipment, Generators and other elements as outlined in the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Group work programme for 2023. The ESB continuously monitors the water levels throughout the Shannon and operates in accordance with its regulations and guidelines for control of the River Shannon. The Government has noted the study by the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group that supports a programme of strategic maintenance to help mitigate flooding along the River Shannon and a further study on the removal of a series of constrictions or ‘pinch points’ through the Shannon Callows that can help to delay flooding in the area. However, the Shannon Callows includes two sites designated under European Environmental legislation, the River Shannon Callows SAC and the Middle Shannon Callows SPA. Any proposed solution will be subject to the relevant assessments and consents.
The Government has agreed that the OPW will provide €7m for all of these works, of which €4m relates to the removal of ‘pinch points’ through the Shannon Callows and €3m relates to strategic maintenance. Under the strategic maintenance fund, €500,000 was provided by the OPW to Waterways Ireland for the initial phase of the strategic maintenance works.
196. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if an application for funding for a flood relief scheme for Freshford, County Kilkenny has been approved by his Department; and if there is a timeframe for the commencement of the project. [40960/23]
View answerA flood relief scheme for Freshford is part of the Flood Risk Management Plans being funded by €1.3bn for flood relief under the National Development Plan to 2030.
The flood relief scheme for Freshford Co Kilkenny was approved in May 2023 to be included as part of a national pilot to inform the delivery model for future flood relief schemes. This pilot is being overseen by a Steering Group that includes representatives from Kilkenny County Council. This pilot will involve data collection by the Council ahead of and to inform the appointment of engineering and environmental consultants.
197. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform to publish all the documentation relating to contacts between his Department, the Departments of Finance and the owners past and present in the matter of lands at Castletown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40963/23]
View answerThere has been no direct contacts between my Department and the current or previous owners of the lands at Castletown. Engagement with the owners of the land is a matter for the Office of Public Works.
198. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if his Department will sanction the acquisition of the lands around Castletown House for the public and in the public interest, given these lands are not simply an amenity but regarded by the wider community as a cultural, social and environmental inheritance that is to be held in trust for future generations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40964/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works sought approval to purchase the lands at Castletown in September 2022 as the lands were placed for sale on the open market. Sanction was provided; however, the OPW were ultimately unsuccessful in acquiring the lands following the conclusion of a private treaty sale process.
199. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform about progress to date in developing and implementing a system to track and report expenditure allocations that may adversely impact biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41016/23]
View answerSince 2019, the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform has been reporting the level of expenditure with a probable climate impact annually in the Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services (REV). The classification of such expenditure is validated and updated every year before being published in the REV.
Building on the progress made in relation to capital expenditure as part of the National Development Plan Review, the next phase of reform focuses on both broadening the coverage of Green Budgeting to further areas of public spending and identifying government spending measures that may be having an adverse impact on climate and environmental outcomes, including biodiversity impacts.
A first step in this regard which was the publication of a review of fossil fuel subsidies and other potentially climate-harmful supports in January 2023, incorporating an inventory of fossil fuel subsidies and other potentially climate harmful supports.
My Department has begun working towards incorporating the tracking of both climate-favourable and potentially climate-unfavourable expenditure across a wider range of areas, including biodiversity, within the REV reporting structures, and is currently in the process of developing an appropriate methodology for this, informed by international experience and the lessons learned to date. Further refinement of the methodology is underway, and it is intended to include a table identifying potentially climate unfavourable expenditure allocations in the publication of future iterations of the Revised Estimates Volume. The Department will also publish supporting information on methodologies used to arrive at assessments alongside the REV.
Green budgeting initiatives can play an important role in enhancing transparency and accountability and this planned expansion of green budget tagging will play an important role in strengthening our understanding of the direct and indirect climate and biodiversity impacts of public expenditure.
As this is a continually evolving area of budgetary reform, my officials remain available to arrange a more in-depth briefing on this work, and to directly consider any concerns or comments you may have in relation to the proposed plan of work.
200. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the status of the proposed bridge across the River Liffey at the War Memorial Gardens; the timeline for construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41094/23]
View answerThe Office of Public Works continues to work with consultants, Ian Ritchie Architects, to complete the necessary documentation to submit a planning application for a new commemorative bridge and entrance plaza at the Irish National War Memorial Gardens and Conyngham Road. Due to the environmental sensitivities of the location, an extensive Flood Risk Assessment and Section 50 Application is currently being carried out by consultants for the OPW. All other baseline studies have been completed including the Feasibility Study, Ecological studies and a Business Development Strategy. Funding has been approved to planning permission stage and approximately €100,000 has been spent on design consultant costs, along with the survey reports required for the planning application. A further €700,000 is allocated for projected works to bring this to planning. It is anticipated that the OPW will tender for the construction works later in 2024. It should be noted that Dublin City Council amended the local area plan for Inchicore to allow for development of this piece of infrastructure and the project is widely supported by local elected representatives, community, stakeholders and the general public. Subject to further availability of funding, a full procurement process will be undertaken and it is hoped that works will commence on site before the end of 2024.
201. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will liaise with his counterparts in OPW, Arts, Finance and Public Expenditure to secure the lands adjoining Castletown House for the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41226/23]
View answer202. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will liaise with his counterparts in OPW, Finance and Heritage to secure for the public, the cultural inheritance that are the Castletown Lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41227/23]
View answer209. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he will clarify whether the OPW has entered into a mediation process with landowners at Castletown House and boundary lands. [41362/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 201, 202 and 209 together.
The Office of Public Works has entered into a process of constructive dialogue with the owners of the Castletown lands in the form of commercial negotiations with the intention of arriving at an outcome that is in the public interest.
It should be noted that it has long been the policy of the OPW to seek to reunite the historic Castletown Estate. In 1994, when the Office of Public Works took responsibility for Castletown House and Estate there was an initial landholding of only 13 acres of land. In 1997, one hundred acres south of the house was acquired. The farmyard adjacent to the house was acquired in 2001. In 2006, lands associated with the Batty Langley Lodge were acquired with former Coillte lands to the north and east of the House acquired in 2007. Since 2008, the OPW has reassembled 227 acres of the original 580 acres of land which formed the historic demesne.
As part of the policy to seek to reunite the historic Castletown demesne lands with the house and lands in the care of the State, the OPW has sought on several occasions to purchase the lands in question from Janus Securities including when the lands were offered for sale on the open market in 2022. However, despite the very best efforts of the OPW, the State was out-bid in the open market process and ultimately, the lands were acquired by a private purchaser.
As Minister, I have spoken with my government colleagues on this issue and my officials in OPW have engaged with the relevant departments. The OPW remains committed to acquiring lands that formed part of the original estate, where they became available. This objective will be pursued in line with the requirements of the Public Spending Code.
203. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the average cost of producing an IGEES report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41283/23]
View answerThe Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) is a cross-Departmental network of Civil Service economists and policy analysts working directly for their respective Departments. IGEES consists of persons recruited through the IGEES recruitment stream and other Civil Servants in policy analysis roles, who, through the use of data and analytical work, support evidence-informed policy making in the Irish Civil Service.
IGEES staff work on a variety of different tasks, depending on the work programme of their Department. As part of this work, IGEES analysts produce analytical reports and publications. These papers include Spending Reviews, Value for Money Reviews, Social Impact Assessments, Budget Papers, Departmental Papers and Focused Policy Assessments.
The IGEES economists and policy analysts, who produce these reports, are civil servants working within government departments. In line with other reports that are produced by civil servants in government departments, the costs of producing such reports are part of the overall employment costs of the policy analyst/economists involved in producing such reports. Where a production of an IGEES report includes external research expertise, this expertise is procured following public procurement procedures.
204. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the average cost of a private consultant report for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41284/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the cost of a report from a consultancy company is completely dependent on the nature of the report commissioned. It is therefore not possible to provide an average cost that is in any way meaningful. To illustrate the point, the table attached sets out a list of all studies, research and reports externally commissioned by my Department since 2020, which was provided in response to a Parliamentary Question last week. As the Deputy will note, the cost varies very significantly based on the subject matter and nature of the report, the number of phases of work, overall duration, etc. I hope that this information will provide useful context for the Deputy.
205. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the number of TFS office spot-checks and infringements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41285/23]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no role in relation to Transfrontier Shipments (TFS). The National TFS Office in Dublin City Council is the competent authority for the enforcement and administration of the Waste Shipment Regulation, so the Deputy may wish to put a relevant Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
206. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the cost of backdating the planned pay increase associated with the grade review of the Secretaries General of the Departments of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41286/23]
View answerThe independent Report completed recently on the Grading of these two Secretary General posts recommends that:
· the Secretary General post in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth be set at Secretary General Level II, and
· the Secretary General post in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage be set at Secretary General Level I.
These changes will be effective from the date of appointment of the current Secretaries General to these posts. The salaries for Secretary General Level I, II and III (since 01 March 2023, as published in Circular 02 of 2023) are as follows:
|
PPC |
Non-PPC |
|
|
Secretary General - Level I |
€255,000 |
€242,250 |
|
Secretary General - Level II |
€240,000 |
€228,000 |
|
Secretary General - Level III |
€227,369 |
€216,000 |
*PPC rates apply to Civil Servants appointed on or after 6th April 1995 and are required to pay a Personal Pension Contribution (otherwise known as a main scheme contribution) in accordance with the rules of their main/personal superannuation scheme.
The impact of any such change on individuals will depend on the personal circumstances of relevant individuals, including any period of unpaid leave (including sick leave) or other working arrangements that may apply. This change will be given effect through arrangements between the relevant line Department and the National Shared Service Office (NSSO).
It should be noted that the calculation of payments will be influenced by the final stage of FEMPI restoration that took effect on 1 July 2022 (Circular 15/2022, which provided for the completion of outstanding FEMPI pay restoration for certain Civil Service Grades with a basic salary of more than €150,000, in accordance with Section 20 of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017). This was the date of the final FEMPI restoration for Secretary General posts, and prior to this unwinding, Secretary General grades levels I and II (PPC) were at the same rate of remuneration under FEMPI.
More generally, Secretary General remuneration is included in the annual Appropriation Accounts. Circular 22/2022, which set out the detailed requirements for the Appropriation Accounts 2022, includes a note on the remuneration and benefits of Accounting Officers (Secretaries General). A disclosure of the Accounting Officer’s total remuneration is to be provided in note 5 to Departments’ annual Appropriation Accounts. The requirement is for a disclosure note to the financial statement including details of the total remuneration for the Accounting Officer, including the total Gross Salary and taxable benefits (excluding employer’s PRSI).
207. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the date on which OPW and or a contractor engaged by them inspected the mature trees at the Kildare Street gate entrance and Merrion side of Leinster House; if it has been established whether the trees are in a stable condition and are disease-free; and if there are future plans to inspect the trees in the context of their long-term preservation. [41315/23]
View answerThe trees to the Kildare Street and Merrion Square sides of the Leinster House complex are an integral and valued part of the site layout and design. The OPW has carried out inspections, by qualified arborists, of all trees on the site in 2005, 2008, 2013 and 2018. More recently, a five year survey was commissioned in 2020 with reviews each year through to 2025.
Following Storm Betty this summer, report No. 3 was carried out in August 2023 and some minor works were highlighted including removal of deadwood.
The Ash trees on the Merrion Square side are in decline due to Ash dieback and other fruiting fungal bodies. The four London Planes on the Kildare Street side have a slight leaf infection. Tree works will be carried out over the winter period as per the independent Arborist’s report. It is the intention of OPW to maintain and preserve all trees on the complex for as long as possible.
208. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform when retired OPW staff will receive a raise in their pension and arrears in relation to the recent raise in their pension; what is causing the current delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41346/23]
View answerThe OPW have consulted with the NSSO in relation to the P.Q. 41346/23 and the NSSO have provided the following response input.
Pension increases due following pay awards on 1 Feb, 2022 and that of 1 Oct, 2022 backdated to 2 Feb, 2022, and the 1 March, 2023 pay increase have already been paid in cases where retirees were on standard pay scale points.
A number of OPW pensioners are occasionally on off-scale points & not linked to Civil Service pay scales which means they have to be reviewed manually. This process is ongoing and OPW are working with the NSSO currently on the payment of any outstanding cases.
Consequently while the majority of pensioners have received increases and their associated arrears, a small number of cases of those with particular allowances and on off-scale points may not have yet received their payments. The OPW and the NSSO are actively working towards finalising this work.
210. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the actions being taken by his Department to make Dame Lane more aesthetically pleasing and welcoming in relation to the Dublin Castle-owned property and walls. [41403/23]
View answerThe current state of Dame Lane is not satisfactory, given its close proximity to the main entrance to Dublin Castle. The Lane is, of course, under the management of Dublin City Council (DCC) and its regeneration and the improvement of its appearance will require close cooperation between the Commissioners of Public Works and the City Council.
Suggestions on potential enhancements and improvements in the Palace Street entrance area, including Dame Lane, are included in the Dublin Castle Strategic Framework Plan which can be found at www.dublincastle.ie/strategicframeworkplan/.
These potential developments would require more detailed consideration and would be subject to planning permission and availability of funding. However, the OPW is committed to the continuous care and enhancement of Dublin Castle, one of our most important civic building. This includes working with DCC to improve the boundary areas of the campus.
211. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the actions being taken to reduce the hostile architecture on Castle Street and Ship Street to make it more welcoming and safe, namely by reducing the height of the tall surrounding walls (details supplied). [41404/23]
View answerThe walls to which the Deputy refers are the historic boundary walls of the Castle and for reasons of security and conservation it is not envisaged that they could or should be entirely removed.
However, as part of the Dublin Castle Strategic Framework Plan which sets out potential works over the coming decade, it was considered that a new pedestrian bridge could be opened between the Castle complex through the walls and connecting to St Werburgh's church and graveyard. This bridge would cross the 40 steps and serve to ameliorate the somewhat forbidding appearance of the Castle walls.
Consideration was also suggested to restoring and reconstructing the facade of the walls in order to make the streetscape in this area of the Castle boundary more welcoming.
212. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the plans and current use for buildings on Ship Street Great, which currently have smashed windows and appear derelict. [41405/23]
View answerI understand that five historic windows in Block M, Dublin Castle, which backs onto Ship Street Great, have been removed and replaced with plywood. This is part of an ongoing important conservation and refurbishment project for this range of buildings. When complete, Block M will house the Electoral Commission. I can assure the Deputy that these works are in the final stages and due for completion in the coming weeks. Upon completion the windows will be reinstated and the plywood removed.
213. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 20 September 2023, if he will outline a timeline for submission of planning mission; and the total allocated funding to the project. [41491/23]
View answerAdditional time is needed to collate the required information. The OPW will respond to the Deputy directly on the matter.
