Parliamentary questions

Coastal Protection

Thomas Pringle

232. 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 Buncronan, Mountcharles, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10544/15]

Public Sector Pensions

John Browne

233. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the capitalised value of full pensions for Garda inspectors, Garda superintendents, school principals, directors of services in county councils and paramedics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10002/15]

Public Sector Staff Sick Leave

Olivia Mitchell

234. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the sick leave policy introduced for the public sector in March 2014, and for the education sector in September 2014, was backdated for four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10004/15]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Billy Kelleher

235. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Public Appointments Service has the discretion to permit someone to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process in the following circumstances (details supplied). [10039/15]

Heritage Sites

Brian Walsh

236. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of visitors to, and the total annual turnover of, each individual Office of Public Works visitor site, in 2014; the net profit returned to the State in respect of each of these sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10101/15]

Teachers' Remuneration

Anthony Lawlor

237. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the ongoing discussions with regard to pay increases, if consideration has been given to revisiting the Haddington Road agreement, with a view to improving the rates of pay for new teachers who are currently receiving much lower salaries than their colleagues for the same work; if he will prioritise this particular group in any future pay discussions with the teaching unions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10125/15]

Public Sector Pensions Levy

Clare Daly

238. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will reverse the pension cuts provided for in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts. [10348/15]

Care of the Elderly Provision

Billy Kelleher

239. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will reconsider the transfer of the senior alert scheme to Pobal, as there have been a number of issues raised (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10357/15]

National Lottery Ticket Sales

Sean Fleming

240. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the lottery regulator has quantified the loss of sales of national lottery tickets, arising from persistent technological problems and the consequent reduction in money available for good causes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10367/15]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Pat Deering

241. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow, who applied for a position in the Civil Service; and when that person will receive further communication in respect of this application. [10485/15]

Local Authority Members

Mattie McGrath

242. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will confirm that a person (details supplied) is a councillor in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10582/15]

Office of Public Works Properties

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

99. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 192 of 18 November 2014, the progress that has been achieved in identifying space for community use at the building developed by Newbridge Credit Union; the form of community engagement that has taken place, or will take place, on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9653/15]

Office of Public Works Properties

Patrick O'Donovan

100. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the ownership of a public slipway in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9660/15]

Pension Provisions

Finian McGrath

101. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the spouses' and children's superannuation scheme. [9722/15]

Office of the Ombudsman Staff

Éamon Ó Cuív

102. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to delays in the Ombudsman’s office processing complaints, due to lack of adequate staffing; his plans to assign further staff to this office; his views that the office responsible for investigating, among other things, delays in other public bodies, should not itself be subject to excessive delays in its own investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9725/15]

Professional Fees

Michael McGrath

103. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has held discussions with representatives of providers of professional services to the State in respect of cuts made to professional fees under financial emergency measures in the public interest legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9828/15]

Appointments to State Boards

Mary Lou McDonald

78. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of senior civil servants in his Department who retired since 2011 who have been appointed to a State board under his aegis following their retirement; if he will provide in tabular form the names of these persons, the boards to which they were appointed and the appointment process followed in each case. [9448/15]

Departmental Properties

Patrick O'Donovan

79. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of all properties rented by his Department; the annual cost of the leases; the duration of the leases; and the capacity and occupancy of each premises as of 31 January 2015. [9463/15]

Public Sector Allowances Payments

Gabrielle McFadden

80. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to reinstate the rent allowance for new public servants including gardaí, prison officers and fire officers, which was abolished in early 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9560/15]

Coastal Protection

Michael Healy-Rae

227. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if funding will be provided to protect the road and coastline from storm damage in an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8794/15]

Heritage Sites

John McGuinness

228. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the lease in place between the Office of Public Works and the Arts for Peace Foundation relative to Durrow Abbey, County Offaly; the amount charged by the State each year; if €250,000 has been sanctioned as a grant to restore parts of Durrow Abbey; if so, the amount that has been drawn down, and the work concerned; the agreements in place between the foundation and the office for certain works to be undertaken by the office; if these works have been completed; the purpose of the meeting with the office, persons (details supplied), and the foundation held on 4 November 2010; the instructions given by the office to the architect at this meeting; if the minutes of this meeting will be provided to this Deputy; if he will confirm the nature of the stipulations for the drawdown of the €250,000, as set out at a further meeting in November 2012; if the minutes of the meeting of 16 November 2012 will be provided to this Deputy; if the Chief State Solicitor's office advised the Office of Public Works and the Minister, relative to the meeting of 16 November 2012; if he will confirm the Government commitments that were provided to the foundation from the very outset of this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8905/15]

Flood Relief Schemes

John McGuinness

229. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works has inspected the works carried out at Killaan, Woodlawn, Ballinasloe, County Galway, to determine if they are in line with what was committed to in the funding of €15,000; if, arising from these works, the office can confirm that the original issue of flooding at this location has been resolved; if the concerns expressed by a person (details supplied) have been dealt with; if the office will provide a full report on the work carried out, and what further work is required to deal with any remaining problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8909/15]

Departmental Properties

Michael Ring

230. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a full and comprehensive reply will issue to a group (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9350/15]

Flood Prevention Measures

Tom Fleming

231. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will have the bridge at Barrack Street, Castleisland, County Kerry, over the river Maine investigated, as there is an impediment with a sewer service pipe blocking the flow of water in times of flood and it is causing high water levels in the river, posing high risk to the properties adjacent to the river; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8861/15]

Pension Provisions

Denis Naughten

232. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will have a pension entitlement processed; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8901/15]

Public Sector Reform Implementation

Terence Flanagan

233. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8978/15]

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Tony McLoughlin

234. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim, who was successful in obtaining a position via the Public Appointments Service, category specialist higher open, Office of Government Procurement, may obtain a position based in the proposed new office in County Sligo as opposed to a Dublin based office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8995/15]

Freedom of Information Remit

Sean Fleming

235. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Freedom of Information Acts will apply to EirGrid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9000/15]

Public Sector Staff Sick Leave

Michael Creed

236. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will clarify the situation regarding the revised sick leave arrangements for public servants, and the consequences for a person who is on certified sick leave for over 92 days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9025/15]

Departmental Properties

Michael Ring

237. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works will provide a copy of an agreement signed between persons (details supplied) and the office in the 1980s regarding entitlement to traverse a bridge. [9040/15]

Departmental Legal Costs

Billy Kelleher

238. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department, or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department, use solicitors firms (details supplied); the amount paid to these solicitors each year from 2011 to 2014 by his Department, or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department; the date until which his Department, or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department, are contracted to use these solicitors' firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9199/15]

Climate Change Policy

Catherine Murphy

239. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the fact that the Environmental Protection Agency has conceded that Ireland will fail to achieve its binding EU 2020 greenhouse gas reduction target by as much as 15%, the financial contingency planning he is putting in place to cover this eventuality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9222/15]

Sale of Aer Lingus

Mary Lou McDonald

240. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if existing Irish and European Union fiscal rules, such as the expenditure benchmark or fiscal treaty debt and deficit rules or any other policy or legal commitment to the European Union institutions would restrict the use of any proceeds from the sale of State assets, such as Aer Lingus, from being used to fund current or capital expenditure, and would require the Government to divert such proceeds exclusively or primarily into reducing Government debt. [9255/15]

Flood Prevention Measures

Seán Kyne

241. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the Office of Public Works progress on flood relief and defences at a location (details supplied) in County Galway. [9333/15]

By-election Issues

Denis Naughten

80. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total cost of each by-election to the current Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8485/15]

Ministerial Advisers Remuneration

Colm Keaveney

81. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total severance packages, individually detailed, received by any special advisers in his Department, or those under his aegis, since January 2014, specifically in respect of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8498/15]

Flood Risk Assessments

Michael McCarthy

82. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the Office of Public Works has deemed a portion of land (details supplied), in County Cork, to be a flood plain; if this adjudication could be reviewed in view of the fact that this land has never been the subject of, or at risk to, flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8502/15]

Valuation Office

Michael McNamara

83. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the average length of time taken by the Valuation Office to issue a valuation certificate; if that time period has increased during the Thirty-First Dáil; if this represents a satisfactory level of public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8508/15]

Ombudsman's Remit

Sean Fleming

84. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Ombudsman's remit extends to An Bord Pleanála and EirGrid; when this changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8520/15]

Court Accommodation Provision

Brian Stanley

85. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of floor space available for use in the accommodation rented at Kilminchy, Portlaoise, County Laois. [8315/15]

Commercial Rates Valuation Process

Michael Colreavy

86. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the recourse open to the owner of a small, rural business whose enterprise is at imminent risk of closure because their appeal against an unfair rateable valuation was unsuccessful. [8327/15]

Public Procurement Contracts Social Clauses

Mary Lou McDonald

87. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if public purchasers, including local authorities, are precluded from using social clauses in public procurement contracts until such time as the Working Group on Social Clauses in the Office of Public Procurement has completed its pilot projects, and decided what conditions to insert into the Government form of contract, they are required by law to use; and the scope such bodies have to use social clauses in the interim. [8351/15]

Exchequer Returns

Thomas P. Broughan

88. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the income generated for the Exchequer from mobile phone masts at Garda stations in the Dublin region for 2014 and to date in 2015. [8367/15]

Office of the Ombudsman Remit

Sean Fleming

89. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the organisations that have been removed from the remit of the Ombudsman; the dates on which same occurred; the reason in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8372/15]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Pat Deering

90. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the process for entry to the Civil Service; when it will open; and if there will be a regional breakdown of the applications. [8381/15]

Pension Levy

John Paul Phelan

91. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to remove the public sector pension levy; and if so; if he will provide the timetable for its removal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8415/15]

Revised Estimates Publication

Sean Fleming

92. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No 244 of 10 February 2015 and the assertion that the readability of reports published by Departments is enhanced by the use of 12-point font or greater, his views on the point size of the font used on page 103 of the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2015, published by his Department; and if he considers such a point size to be easily readable. [8432/15]

Office of Public Works Properties

Fergus O'Dowd

93. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the properties in County Louth, under the care of the Office of Public Works, the spend, capital and current, by the Office of Public Works on each of these properties, for each year since 2012; the works carried out and the plans, capital and current, for expenditure in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8441/15]

Flood Risk Assessments

Brendan Griffin

255. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a serious flooding risk at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7716/15]

Office of Public Works Projects

Michael Healy-Rae

256. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a permit and a competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7883/15]