Parliamentary questions

Public Sector Staff Retirements

Seán Kyne

19. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons who have retired from the public service and Civil Service under Government voluntary early retirement and voluntary redundancy schemes since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11694/15]

Public Procurement Contracts

Mick Wallace

20. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress made in improving access to State contracts for Irish firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11689/15]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Richard Boyd Barrett

21. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on any meetings he has had or intends to have with the relevant unions on restoring public service pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11686/15]

Departmental Staff Retirements

Niall Collins

59. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be awarded a pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12190/15]

Public Sector Staff Data

Sean Fleming

60. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of persons evaluated under the Civil Service performance management and development system in 2013 and 2014; the number of persons who received a rating of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 under each system; if he will provide an explanation as to what each of these ratings mean; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12208/15]

Departmental Contracts

Michael Colreavy

61. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he provided his consent under section 66 of to the Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Act 2011 in respect of a contract with Capita for the development of a system of postcodes; the factors which he considered when granting such consent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12279/15]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

John O'Mahony

62. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons who have been called to fill clerical officer posts from the panel (details supplied) for counties Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12302/15]

Drainage Schemes Applications

Patrick O'Donovan

63. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding an application for funding submitted by Thurles Municipal District in respect of funding for the Loughmore Drainage Scheme in County Tipperary. [12313/15]

Public Expenditure Policy

Bernard Durkan

64. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he might be in a position to prioritise and encourage the provision of vital infrastructure, particularly where such provision is vital to economic recovery nationally and regionally; the extent to which public private partnerships or specific Government development bonds, as a means of addressing such issues without impact on the national balance sheet, can be authorised by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12329/15]

Public Service Reform Plan Measures

Bernard Durkan

65. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which his Department can encourage reform or policy initiatives with a view to maximising the potential for economic recovery and development in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12330/15]

Public Service Reform Plan Measures

Bernard Durkan

66. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to indicate the degree to which he expects public expenditure constraints and reform policies, effective in the context of economic recovery, to be used as a basis for prudent economic development in the future; his plans to implement innovation, in this regard in the future, to maximise economic benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12331/15]

Public Service Reform Plan Measures

Bernard Durkan

67. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the most effective policies pursued by his Department over the past four years in addressing the economic needs of the country, with a view to identifying the most likely and effective strategy to be followed in terms of public expenditure and reform, and the future economic needs of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12332/15]

Public Service Reform Plan Measures

Bernard Durkan

68. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which all Government Departments and their subordinate bodies have met the targets set down by his Department, in the context of public expenditure and reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12333/15]

Public Service Reform Plan Measures

Bernard Durkan

69. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the Croke Park and Haddington Road agreements have achieved their objectives; the extent to which this is likely to influence policy in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12334/15]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Bernard Durkan

70. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he sees recruitment, in specific vital areas of the public sector, being adopted as a policy initiative in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12335/15]

Public Service Reform Plan Measures

Bernard Durkan

71. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he expects to utilise reform policies throughout the public sector in the course of the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12336/15]

Sale of State Assets

Bernard Durkan

72. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which strategic disposal of State assets remains an economic policy option; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12337/15]

Public Service Reform Plan Measures

Bernard Durkan

73. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he expects savings to continue to be made throughout the medium of public procurement in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12338/15]

Public Service Reform Plan Measures

Bernard Durkan

74. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of the budget for each Department to meet its requirements over the next 12 months; if any particular measures are required to address specific issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12339/15]

Public Service Reform Plan Measures

Bernard Durkan

75. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the requirements of the Troika, which he inherited from his predecessors, have been met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12340/15]

Departmental Contracts

Thomas P. Broughan

76. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the contracts a person's businesses and-or subsidiaries (details supplied) have with his Department; the value of these contracts; their length; and the other companies that entered the tendering process that resulted in this person's companies winning the contract. [12359/15]

Economic Policy

Micheál Martin

295. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he and his Department will be preparing for the new social dialogue announced recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11113/15]

Public Sector Pensions

Áine Collins

296. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update with regard to public service pensions, in order to address a query (details supplied). [11151/15]

Flood Relief Schemes Status

John O'Mahony

297. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans for flood relief work in respect of a town (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11152/15]

Flood Relief Schemes Status

Dara Calleary

298. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a flood relief plan has been finalised in respect of a town (details supplied) in County Mayo; if he will publish the plan; if he will offer a time frame for completion of the plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11202/15]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael Moynihan

299. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the staff of Waterways Ireland in Portumna in County Galway have been asked to pay an increased pension levy; the cause of the most recent increase; the company that the pension scheme is being paid into; if it is Irish managed or a United Kingdom managed company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11076/15]

Flood Relief Schemes Status

Michael Ring

300. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress with flood relief plans for an area (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11323/15]

Flood Prevention Measures

Denis Naughten

301. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to a meeting (details supplied), if he will approve funding for a project; the total projected cost of the project; the time frame for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11514/15]

Flood Relief Schemes Status

Noel Grealish

302. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the time frame for when flood alleviation measures will be carried out in Claregalway, Montaigh and Carnmore in County Galway; if he will provide a breakdown of how the €15 million allocated for these areas will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11546/15]

Insurance Coverage

Michael Colreavy

303. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the public liability insurance coverage for Parkes Castle, Dromahair, County Leitrim, would cover a special event in the castle organised by Leitrim Tourism Network on 24 March 2015. [11711/15]

Freedom of Information Requests

Billy Kelleher

304. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of occasions since the start of 2014 in which the Secretary General of his Department has been involved in the clearing or approval of material for release under freedom of information legislation. [11804/15]

Public Procurement Contracts Data

John Halligan

305. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the level of payments made to private sector companies in 2014 for public contracts; if his Department investigates the employment policies of firms in the private sector who tender for State contracts; if a company's employment record has any impact on whether it is awarded public contracts; his views that an equal employment policy should have an impact; his further views that it is important to ensure that the Government supports equal opportunity employers and that contracts of this nature should not be awarded to private sector companies who operate gender discrimination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11849/15]

Appointments to State Boards

Paul Murphy

306. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the remaining vacancies on the interim board of the Office of Public Procurement will be filled; the criteria for selecting appointees; and when legislation setting up the board on a permanent basis will be expected. [11948/15]

Flood Relief Schemes

Anne Ferris

307. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding road restoration works at a location (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11982/15]

Flood Relief Schemes

Anne Ferris

308. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the planned measures by the Office of Public Works to ensure that unsafe access to the River Dargle flood relief construction site by children is prevented; the measures in place by the office to inspect safety hazards at the site; the current line of responsibility for the statutory safety file for this project; if the safety statement for the works has been inspected and approved by the office; the safety audits which are carried out and by whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11983/15]

Flood Relief Schemes

Anne Ferris

309. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to restore the People's Park in Bray, County Wicklow; when these works are due for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11984/15]

Flood Relief Schemes

Anne Ferris

310. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works plans to conduct an audit of traffic movements, construction signage and general traffic and pedestrian safety in the vicinity of the River Dargle flood prevention construction site before work recommences in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11985/15]

Flood Relief Schemes

Anne Ferris

311. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the planting and seeding of disturbed river banks at La Vallee, Bray, County Wicklow; if the planting scheme will be open to public consultation as construction work in this area was not included in the environmental impact statement or planning application for the Dargle flood relief scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11986/15]

Public Sector Pensions

Denis Naughten

312. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will meet with the Alliance of Retired Public Servants, in advance of the completion of his annual review of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009 to 2013; if consideration will be given to the imposition of the public service pension reduction on pensions, in view of the improvement in the Exchequer balance; if he has discussed the application of the universal social charge with the Minister for Finance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12117/15]

Heritage Sites

Tom Fleming

122. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the process for applying for a boat licence for a local boat owner to provide service to the Skellig visitor centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10774/15]

State Properties

Robert Troy

123. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works has been asked to compile a list of State-owned land and buildings to be used to provide child care facilities; when this will be completed and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10759/15]

Public Sector Staff Training

Terence Flanagan

124. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to ensure more staff within the public service are trained to use sign language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11014/15]

Economic Policy

Sean Fleming

68. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the national economic dialogue he is planning to hold in June 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10602/15]

Legislative Programme

Stephen Donnelly

69. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide data on all legislation enacted by his Department since March 2011 and the total number of amendments tabled by him. [10643/15]

Public Sector Pensions

Brendan Smith

70. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of staff at Waterways Ireland and the staff of other all-Ireland bodies regarding the proposal to impose an additional pension contribution on them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10700/15]

Coastal Protection

Martin Ferris

227. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will instigate a technical assessment of the blowout in sand dunes at Banna Strand and Carrahane Strand in County Kerry with a view to preventing the environmental disaster which would result in a breach of the dunes at a point where only 10 m of dune remain, threatening the homes and farmland behind it with flooding by seawater; and if he will arrange for the filling of the dunes to prevent this. [10111/15]

Departmental Properties

Sean Conlan

228. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason no proper consultation has taken place between the Office of Public Works, the Department of Social Protection and property owners in Ballybay, County Monaghan, to find an alternative premises to ensure that the Department of Social Protection jobs will be retained in Ballybay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10113/15]

Departmental Properties

Sean Conlan

229. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps that have been taken by his Department and the Office of Public Works to have an alternative premises in Ballybay, County Monaghan, made available to the Department of Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10114/15]

Departmental Properties

Sean Conlan

230. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason, despite the fact that four property owners (details supplied) in Ballybay, County Monaghan, have offered their premises to the Office of Public Works, and have undertaken to do any upgrading works necessary at their own expense, his Department has failed and refused to engage with them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10115/15]

Coastal Protection

Thomas Pringle

231. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received an application for funding for coastal erosion works from Donegal County Council for protection works at Maghery Strand in west Donegal where large volumes sand are being blown inland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10278/15]