Parliamentary questions

Departmental Legal Costs

Mattie McGrath

401. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expenditure incurred by his Department in respect of legal fees in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32531/18]

Departmental Legal Services

Mattie McGrath

402. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has contracted the legal services of a company (details supplied) at any point over each of the past six years; if so, the costs involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32646/18]

Earcaíocht san Earnáil Phoiblí

Peadar Tóibín

403. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe cé mhead daoine ag obair sa seirbhís poiblí; cad é aois profíl na daoine seo; cén grád ina bhfuil na daoine seo; agus cé mhéad daoine a bhíonn ag fágáil an seirbhí gach bliain. [32828/18]

National Monuments

Noel Grealish

404. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works plans to reopen Ardamullivan tower house (details supplied), which has been closed to the public for more than a decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32943/18]

Departmental Correspondence

Catherine Murphy

405. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to correspondence from a person (details supplied); his plans to review the use of 1890 phone numbers across all Departments, in view of the fact that these lines may incur higher call charges from mobile phones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33038/18]

Office of Government Procurement

Bríd Smith

406. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number and cost of all tenders awarded to companies (details supplied) under the external workplace investigations services guidelines of 2015. [33167/18]

Departmental Investigations

Bríd Smith

407. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if an audit of all external workplace investigations conducted by companies (details supplied) will be provided; the outcome of complaints against his Department; when the investigation will commence into an allegation against an employee; the number of occasions on which a complaint was upheld against his Department by the investigators; and the number of occasions on which an investigation against an employee found grounds for disciplinary action. [33168/18]

Office of Government Procurement

Bríd Smith

408. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the companies selected to be placed on the panel for external workplace investigation services since the first contracting out of such investigations; the number of investigations undertaken by each company; and the cost of each investigation. [33169/18]

Public Sector Staff Retirements

Robert Troy

409. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expected changes to the public service retirement age; if the changes will come into force from the date on which they were announced or from the date they are signed in to law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33216/18]

Labour Court Recommendations

Carol Nolan

410. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures he is putting in place to yield in whole or in part the pension claims of community employment supervisors in budget 2019 and to honour Labour Court Recommendations LCR 19293 and LCR 16000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33545/18]

Garda Stations

Catherine Martin

411. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the decision on the construction of a modular Garda station for Stepaside, County Dublin is final (details supplied); if it is still planned that the station itself will be refurbished or rebuilt; if consideration has been given to making drawings or models of the modular construction available to the local community in advance of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33569/18]

Public Sector Staff Data

Sean Fleming

412. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons employed under the disability percentage programme across the public service; the systems in place to monitor the implementation of these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33657/18]

State Properties

Sean Fleming

413. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the role of the Office of Public Works in drawing up a master plan for a location (details supplied); the person or body that prepared the brief for this project; the decision-making process that proposed that this location be used for a number of purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33673/18]

Flood Risk Management

Sean Fleming

414. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for flood relief at a location (details supplied); the available funding in 2018 for the project; the estimated funding available in 2019; the programme of works to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33696/18]

Public Private Partnerships

Sean Fleming

415. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the protection offered under public private partnerships to subcontractors who carry out work on projects in which the main contractor does not pay for the work carried out; the arrangements in place to ensure that those who carry out work under publicly funded contracts in the public private partnership system are paid for their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33699/18]

Public Private Partnerships

Sean Fleming

416. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the protection offered under publicly funded contracts to subcontractors who carry out work on such projects in which the main contractor does not pay for the work carried out; the arrangements in place to ensure that those who carry out work on publicly funded contracts are paid for their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33700/18]

Register of Lobbyists Data

Micheál Martin

417. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number and name of the groups he met each month to date in 2018 that fall under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33715/18]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Sean Fleming

418. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public service recruitment applicants who sought to be included under the disability percentage programme in respect of a competition (details supplied) administered by the Public Appointments Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33728/18]

Departmental Funding

Maureen O'Sullivan

419. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a company (details supplied) received funding; the person or body accountable for the ways in which this funding is spent; and if he has oversight on the matter [33887/18]

Departmental Expenditure

Michael McGrath

420. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of insurance under headings (details supplied) for his Department and each body under its aegis; the cost of the premium for 2018 or the premium paid in 2018 if the policy year straddles two calendar years; the comparable premium amount paid in 2017; the number of outstanding insurance claims against his Department or bodies under its aegis; the estimated cost of those claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34004/18]

Flood Risk Insurance Cover Provision

Barry Cowen

421. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the outcome of consultation between the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works and flood relief and an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the provision of insurance in areas protected by demountable flood defence systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34176/18]

Brexit Preparations

Barry Cowen

422. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the contingencies that have been put in place to deal with a hard Brexit; if there is scope to increase expenditure ceilings in Departments that will be most affected; if there is scope to increase staffing levels in Departments and agencies most affected; if his Department has consulted with other Departments on contingencies to deal with a hard Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34177/18]

Public Sector Pensions Data

Barry Cowen

423. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of restoring pensions in full for retired public sector workers by 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34180/18]

Office of Government Procurement

Barry Cowen

424. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of construction procurement processes that the Office of Government Procurement has been involved in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018; the number of those contracts that have gone to Irish small and medium enterprise, SME, construction companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34181/18]

Office of Government Procurement

Barry Cowen

425. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of construction procurement contracts involving the Office of Government Procurement in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018 whereby the construction firm went into liquidation or insolvency during the implementation of the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34182/18]

Public Procurement Regulations

Barry Cowen

426. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has considered changes to the public procurement process to prevent low cost competition among construction firms whereby the financial stability of those companies is jeopardised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34183/18]

Climate Change Policy

Barry Cowen

427. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way in which the State will pay fines accruing if Ireland fails to meet its targets under the Paris Agreement; the cost of those fines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34184/18]

Departmental Expenditure

Jack Chambers

428. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his Department's spending on travel and subsistence expenses in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34219/18]

Departmental Expenditure

Jack Chambers

429. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his Department's expenditure on photography and other promotional services including the creation of social media content in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34236/18]

Departmental Expenditure

Jack Chambers

430. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his Department's expenditure on public relations in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34253/18]

Departmental Expenditure

Jack Chambers

431. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his Department's expenditure on external consultancy in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34270/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Jack Chambers

432. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the detail of each non-Civil Service appointment that has been made in his Department; the pay grade of each appointment; and the relevant qualifications that each appointee has for their position. [34287/18]

Departmental Expenditure

Jack Chambers

433. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his Department's expenditure on the purchase of newspapers and other media content, such as, print, digital and other forms in 2017 and to date in 2018. [34304/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Jack Chambers

434. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of full-time equivalent press officers employed by his Department and him personally. [34321/18]

Brexit Supports

Niamh Smyth

435. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the particular infrastructural needs of areas such as counties Cavan and Monaghan will be given priority consideration if cohesion funds are available post-2020 in view of the negative impacts Brexit will have on the Border region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34331/18]

Departmental Contracts Data

Róisín Shortall

436. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the contracts awarded by his Department to a company (details supplied) in each of the past three years; the value of these contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34365/18]

Seirbhísí Oileán

Éamon Ó Cuív

437. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe cén dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh ag Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí chun áit shábháilte le páirceáil do rothair, carráistí capall agus busanna a chur ar fáil gar do láthair Dhún Aonghusa in Árainn; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [34375/18]

Departmental Communications

Seán Sherlock

438. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received documentation in relation to funding for a building (details supplied) in the past month. [34388/18]

Brexit Preparations

Barry Cowen

439. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of employing 1,000 extra staff to prepare for a hard Brexit; the number of these jobs to be filled in 2018; the impact of same on Ireland's structural balance and general balance for 2018; the number of these jobs to be filled in 2019; the impact of same on Ireland's structural and general balance for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34652/18]

Brexit Preparations

Barry Cowen

440. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown of the 1,000 extra staff to be employed to prepare for a hard Brexit by Department and agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34653/18]

Brexit Preparations

Barry Cowen

441. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider outsourcing certain services to private companies if positions are not filled in time to prepare for a hard Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34654/18]

Brexit Preparations

Barry Cowen

442. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of extra employees to be hired in his Department between now and March 2019 to prepare for a hard Brexit; the specific roles these new employees will take up; the estimated cost of hiring these new employees; the impacts on his Department's expenditure ceilings for 2018 and 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34669/18]

Departmental Staff Data

Barry Cowen

443. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of unfilled vacancies in his Department; the time these vacancies have been open from when the roles were first advertised to date for each vacancy or group of vacancies; the number of unfilled vacancies in each agency under his remit; the time these vacancies have been open from when the roles were first advertised to date for each vacancy or group of vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34687/18]

EU Directives

Jim O'Callaghan

444. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the EU directives that fall under his remit not yet transposed into law; the deadline imposed by the EU for the transposition of same; and the estimated date for the transposition of those directives into law. [34715/18]

Flood Prevention Measures

Charlie McConalogue

445. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of assigning responsibility for funding and management of rivers not identified under the Arterial Drainage (Amendment) Act 1995 as being under the remit of the OPW to ensure an agency is made responsible for their management, in view of the damage to many waterways in Inishowen, County Donegal, as a result of floods in August 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34728/18]

Legislative Measures

Richard Boyd Barrett

446. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the full-year cost of repealing the FEMPI legislation. [35053/18]

Public Sector Pay

Richard Boyd Barrett

447. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the full-year cost of paying all employed public sector staff on the pre-2011 pay scale. [35054/18]

Regulatory Impact Assessment Data

Billy Kelleher

448. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of proposals (details supplied) over the 2011 to 2018 period on an annual basis in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35147/18]

Capital Expenditure Programme

Brendan Howlin

449. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the breakdown by project for the capital allocation of €174 million in 2018 to his Vote group; the breakdown by project for the proposed allocation of €203 million in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35281/18]

Consultancy Contracts Expenditure

Richard Boyd Barrett

450. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount paid for consultancy services in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35386/18]