Parliamentary questions

Flood Relief Schemes Funding

Bernard Durkan

103. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if and when the necessary funding is likely to be approved for drainage and flood prevention works associated with the Morrell river in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32477/15]

Coastal Protection

Dara Calleary

104. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans in relation to coastal protection; if he is in receipt of applications from Mayo County Council to assist with coastal protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32513/15]

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Robert Troy

105. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of bonus remuneration paid to staff in his Department and in agencies under his aegis to date in 2015; the number of persons to whom these payments were made and their purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32541/15]

Freedom of Information Remit

Terence Flanagan

66. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will address a matter (details supplied) with regard to the Freedom of Information Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32353/15]

Public Sector Pay

Michael McGrath

67. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set out his plans to legislate for the proposed changes to the pension-related deduction or pension levy, as provided for in the Lansdowne Road agreement; when and the way in which he intends to provide for these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32364/15]

Flood Risk Assessments

Tom Fleming

68. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will arrange for the Office of Public Works to investigate and carry out remedial works to a river (details supplied) in County Kerry to alleviate and eliminate the recent flood incidence which severely damaged business premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32371/15]

Flood Risk Assessments

Tom Fleming

69. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will arrange for the Office of Public Works to examine the recent recurrence of flood damage to a property (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will ensure that emergency remedial work is carried out to prevent this recurring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32375/15]

Office of Public Works Expenditure

Brendan Smith

70. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline the expenditure incurred by the Office of Public Works for the years 2011 to 2015 on drainage works in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32447/15]

Office of Public Works Expenditure

Brendan Smith

71. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline the details of funding provided by the Office of Public Works to Cavan County Council to carry out drainage works for the years 2011 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32448/15]

Data Protection

Michael Lowry

395. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a guarantee that all sensitive personal waste data is destroyed as per European Standard EN 15713:2009 and Irish data protection legislation; if he will confirm that all vendors and contractors who are used to destroy sensitive personal data adhere to Shred Grade No.5 of the EN 15713:2009 Standard achieved on-site at the client's location which was a condition of a recent tender by the Department of Social Protection (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30646/15]

Data Protection

Michael Lowry

396. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all waste management service providers who were appointed to the framework for confidential shredding through the request for tenders to establish a multi-supplier framework for the provision of Waste Management Service Tender Document 16/01/2014 met all requirements outlined in the tender document; if he will confirm that all vendors who operate under Lot 6 of the tender process comply with section 1.8 Quality of the Confidential Material Shredding Proposal (details supplied); if he will confirm that all vendors and contractors comply fully with the Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 which insure codes of conduct issued by the Data Protection Commissioner are legally adhered to, inclusive of only registered data processors being legally allowed to process personal data for registered data controllers; if he will confirm that the three appointed framework members for confidential shredding have on-site capability to destroy sensitive data to shred No. 6 of EN 15713 which has Irish precedent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30647/15]

Data Protection

Michael Lowry

397. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all contractors and vendors who supply sensitive waste data disposal to Government Departments and offices are registered with Data Protection Commissioner Office; if these contractors and vendors can provide a certificate of registration of quality systems to I.S EN ISO 9001:2008 and provide evidence they can provide the provision of high quality security shredding on-site and off-site incorporating the shred size requirements of I.S EN 1573:2009 to suit the Department of Social Protection specific customer requirements of Shred No. 5 of I.S. EN 15713:2009 800 mm2 sized particles (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30648/15]

Drainage Schemes Status

Michael Healy-Rae

398. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when construction works will be undertaken in respect of a project (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31106/15]

Pension Provisions

Sean Fleming

399. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to introduce a guarantee on pension restoration (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31116/15]

Flood Risk Assessments

Charlie McConalogue

400. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when a Flood Risk and Area Management report for an area (details supplied) in County Donegal will be finalised and published; the reason the report has not been published to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31384/15]

Garda Stations

Tony McLoughlin

401. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the fact in April 2015, this Deputy requested if the Office of Public Works would allow Easkey Garda Barracks, County Sligo to be used as a heritage centre for the village and was advised that it was to be sold by public auction in the second half of 2015, when this auction is due to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31658/15]

National Lottery Funding Disbursement

Clare Daly

402. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason no funding has been provided from the national lottery for work on the natural environment despite the fact that section 41(1) of the National Lottery Act 2013 includes the natural environment as one of six categories that can receive funding; and if he will ensure that a fair share of the national lottery funding is allocated in budget 2016 for work on the natural environment. [30453/15]

Pension Provisions

Clare Daly

403. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to allow civil servants who are presently required to retire at 65 years of age but who are not eligible for the State pension, the option of remaining in employment until they reach the age at which they are eligible for the State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30498/15]

Pension Provisions

Clare Daly

404. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a difference in the amount of pension due to a pre-1995 and a post-1995 Civil Service retiree, if the years' service and credits were equal, and the basis for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30499/15]

Departmental Functions

Eoghan Murphy

405. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of internal audit across his Department; internal audit's relationship with external auditors and audit committees, as well as internal audit's adherence to professional standards. [30514/15]

Pension Provisions

Eoghan Murphy

406. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will allow a period of time for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, who are working or who have worked in the Civil Service and who have entered civil partnerships or who will marry, to change their single person pension to a spouse and children pension on payment of equitable contributions in view of the fact that such a change would recognise that civil partnerships and marriage were not previously available to these persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30591/15]

Pension Provisions

Róisín Shortall

407. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason a person's (details supplied) employment status in relation to their pension was changed from constable to labourer; and the implications on the rate for payment to this person. [30778/15]

Pension Provisions

Clare Daly

408. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will amend the Civil Service retirement age from 65 years of age to synchronise with the State pension age, for those who choose to work on rather than draw jobseeker's benefit until they are eligible for their pension. [30785/15]

Departmental Reports

Sean Fleming

409. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to make available an audit report (details supplied) recently completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30822/15]

Pension Provisions

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

410. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide funding for a gratuity or lump sum payment to community employment supervisors and assistant supervisors who retire on age or other grounds in advance of the possible introduction of a pension scheme for such workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30883/15]

Pension Provisions

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

411. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to provide funding for a pension scheme for community employment scheme supervisors and assistant supervisors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30884/15]

Drainage Schemes

Michael Healy-Rae

412. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to address a matter (details supplied) regarding the River Feale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30951/15]

Pension Provisions

Brian Walsh

413. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a person (details supplied) in County Galway can be considered for pension entitlements based on post 1 July 2013 salary rates; his plans to extend or eliminate the retirement grace period date for pensions of 30 June 2016 in order to achieve pension parity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31055/15]

Public Sector Staff Redeployment

Sean Fleming

414. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider introducing formal arrangements within the Civil Service to facilitate requests for transfers to other locations where vacancies may arise at grades above clerical and staff officer level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31057/15]

Departmental Properties

Michelle Mulherin

415. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the planned use of the newly-refurbished former Social Welfare office at Bohernasup, Ballina, County Mayo; the cost of the refurbishment; the expected ongoing running and maintenance costs of the building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31098/15]

Pension Provisions

Sean Fleming

416. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views in relation to Retired Public Service Pensioners who will continue to pay the public service pension reductions in view of the fact that many retirees have been removed from this situation; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31115/15]

Public Sector Staff

Finian McGrath

417. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding public service workers returning to work under specific circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31119/15]

Pension Provisions

Jerry Buttimer

418. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform following the introduction of civil partnership in 2011, the number of civil servants, serving and retired, who have applied, following their civil partnership, to change their pension option or made inquiries as to doing so; the number of such requests that were granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31172/15]

Pension Provisions

Jerry Buttimer

419. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform following on the introduction of divorce, the number of civil servants, serving and retired, who have applied, following their divorce and remarriage, to change their pension options or made inquiries as to doing so; the number of such requests that were granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31173/15]

Public Sector Staff Sick Leave

Sean Fleming

420. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied) regarding pension rate of pay and medical leave threshold under the PeoplePoint project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31205/15]

Public Sector Staff

Finian McGrath

421. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding reinstatement in the public service in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31330/15]

Drainage Schemes Status

Éamon Ó Cuív

422. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to previous parliamentary questions, when approval will be given for a drainage scheme on the Clare river; the reason for the delay with the approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31373/15]

Flood Prevention Measures

Michael Healy-Rae

423. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding works required to prevent damage to land by a river for persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31382/15]

EU Funding

Michael McGrath

424. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the planned Cork Events Centre was included on the list of projects sent to the European Commission for consideration under the €315 billion investment plan proposed by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker; if additional funding is being sought from the European Investment Plan for the Cork Events Centre or if it is proposed that the investment plan would underwrite private sector investment in the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31392/15]

Flood Relief Schemes Status

Billy Kelleher

425. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if all funding required to carry out the remedial flood prevention works in Glanmire, County Cork, has been provided; the up to date position on the progression of the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31464/15]

Flood Relief Schemes Status

Michael McCarthy

426. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update with regard to planned flood relief schemes (details supplied) in County Cork; the commencement and completion dates for each scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31500/15]

Budget 2016

Michael McGrath

427. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the €1.2-€1.5billion of fiscal space identified for 2016 takes account of the commitments for public sector pay increases agreed under the Lansdowne Road agreement or if the actual scope for announcements on budget day is reduced by the costs of these commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31547/15]

Budget 2016

Michael McGrath

428. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the €1.2 billion to €1.5 billion of fiscal space identified for 2016 is constrained by expenditure commitments already entered into; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31549/15]

Flood Prevention Measures

Michelle Mulherin

429. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the priority that has been given to flood mitigation works on the River Moy at Ballina, County Mayo; the timeframe for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31814/15]

Departmental Staff Data

Catherine Murphy

430. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons who have been employed under the positive opportunities scheme in each Department and State agency for the years 2008 to 2014 and to date in 2015; the proportion of total new hires such employees made up in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31819/15]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Clare Daly

431. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason for the decision to outsource testing for recruitment to the Civil Service to two UK firms (details supplied), the reason an Ireland-based company or the PAS, Public Appointments Service, are not performing this function; his views that these firms are best-placed to conduct this testing. [31836/15]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Catherine Murphy

432. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will indicate, in each case where the civil and public service recruitment embargo has been relaxed throughout the course of the embargo, if the 3% target under the positive opportunities scheme was met; if the scheme was taken into consideration at all for each of these cases; if he will provide relevant data in tabular form for each case where the recruitment embargo was relaxed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31851/15]

Departmental Staff Data

Catherine Murphy

433. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his policy plans for the positive opportunities scheme; the revised targets he proposed; his views that the economic crisis and resulting recruitment embargo had a more serious detrimental effect on the opportunities that would have otherwise been available to persons under the scheme than recruits to the Civil Service in general; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31852/15]

Pension Provisions

Billy Timmins

434. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of annual pension payments made by his Department that exceed €60,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32010/15]

Irish Water Expenditure

Michael McGrath

435. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a detailed breakdown of his recent assertion that the cost of abolishing Irish Water would be €1billion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32025/15]

Office of Public Works Staff

Brendan Griffin

436. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a position will be reinstated at a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32042/15]

Departmental Contracts Data

Paul Murphy

437. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual cost to his Department of fees paid to private for-profit companies to provide public services, for example, waste collection, motorway toll operators, public transport such as Veolia-Luas and private bus companies. [32162/15]

Departmental Contracts Data

Paul Murphy

438. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual cost to his Department of fees paid to private for-profit companies to provide services, such as consultancy work, recruitment services, and other outsourced services, for example cleaning, catering, and so on. [32163/15]

Register of Lobbyists Legislation

John Browne

439. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if there is a anomaly in the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 in that one part says that a representative body may only be required to register as a representative body if a paid employee, or an officeholder, is directly engaged in communicating independently with designated public officials, whereas a guidance note from the Standards in Public Office Commission indicates that a representative body should register when a designated public official is, or ever has been, whether before or after the passing of the Act, employed by, or providing services, and who was-is engaged in carrying on lobbying activities for that representative body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32168/15]

Register of Lobbyists Legislation

John Browne

440. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a representative body retaining the contracted services of a person who was a designated public official up to 2008 is required to register under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 if the contracted person is the sole lobbying contact for that body, or if the registration of the contractor is sufficient to comply with the legislation in a situation where no employed personnel or office holders of the representative body engage independently in lobbying; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32169/15]

Public Procurement Regulations

Seán Kyne

441. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures in place to ensure the Office of Government Procurement has the use of local knowledge and experience, for example, but not limited to, the availability of an airport for aviation services, which are at times central to the successful tendering of often crucial public services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32233/15]

Flood Relief Schemes Status

Seán Kyne

442. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the flood defence works in the Claregalway region given the legal difficulties regarding an EU directive which necessitates further environmental impact statements and has delayed the works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32254/15]

Public Sector Pay

Sean Fleming

443. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated costs in 2016 of the increases that will arise as a result of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32277/15]

Flood Risk Assessments

Bernard Durkan

236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which any assessment has been completed with a view to identifying areas of potential flooding which could be remedied by way of improved drainage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29671/15]

Valuation Office

Catherine Murphy

237. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it was possible when the Valuation Office had oversight for foreshores for it to value the foreshore as land within the meaning of section 3 of the Valuation Act 2001; if so, when that remit changed; if it has been transferred elsewhere; if not, the way it is valued; if the foreshore in question abuts a residential unit, the legal issues this creates in the context of ground rent and lease agreements; if this issue is covered by legislation, the details of that legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29845/15]

Departmental Properties

Sean Fleming

238. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the next step to be taken by his Department, and a timeframe for this, in respect of a project (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29883/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Paul Murphy

239. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a breakdown, by Department, of the annual amount of current and capital spending cuts for each year since 2008. [30401/15]

Departmental Strategies

Terence Flanagan

240. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform her Department's priorities for the remainder of this Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29590/15]

National Lottery Funding Disbursement

Sean Fleming

241. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount paid in 2013 and 2014 and in 2015 to date, and the plans for future payments, under the national lottery good causes fund, in respect of the natural environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29607/15]

Financial Instruments

Michael McGrath

242. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the provisions of the financial emergency measures in the public interest legislation that are due to expire at the end of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29765/15]

Public Sector Pensions

Michael McGrath

243. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of public servants enrolled in the single public service pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29802/15]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Michael McGrath

244. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the public sector posts, including in commercial State companies and Government advisers, for whom he has approved a breach of the pay cap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29803/15]

Public Procurement Contracts

Michael McGrath

245. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 92 of 2 July 2015, the steps the Office of Government Procurement has taken by to initiate a new competition for the stationery contract; the number of framework panel members who have expressed an interest in tendering for the contract; if framework panel members are now free to offer stationery services to the relevant public bodies; the arrangements that will be in place following the expiration of this contract on 3 September 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29819/15]

Departmental Properties

Michael McCarthy

246. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if local social welfare offices are exempt from the payment of rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29852/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Martin Heydon

247. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of investment from capital spending his Department has made in County Kildare since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29917/15]

Architectural Heritage

Anne Ferris

248. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Office of Public Works' plans to conserve, protect, and restore the rare and historic Killmacurragh House in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29927/15]

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Terence Flanagan

249. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the opportunity and prospects for the promotion for existing civil servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29949/15]

Departmental Advertising Expenditure

Denis Naughten

250. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of public advertising, statutory and non-statutory, funded by his Department in 2013 and 2014; the corresponding figure for agencies under the control of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30030/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Denis Naughten

251. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost in 2013 and 2014 of printing reports by his Department and agencies under the control of his Department; the corresponding figure for annual reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30045/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Denis Naughten

252. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost in 2013 and 2014 of issuing hard copy payslips to staff or retired staff by his Department and agencies under the control of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30060/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Lucinda Creighton

253. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline and itemise all expenditure undertaken by his Department on private travel for him and-or for his private office, on legal fees, on consultancy fees and on hotel accommodation, during the 12-month period to 30 June 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30075/15]

Office of Public Works Expenditure

Jerry Buttimer

254. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the investments in County Cork made by the Office of Public Works in each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30086/15]

Office of Public Works Projects

Charlie McConalogue

255. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of work currently being carried out at an Office of Public Works managed tourist attraction (details supplied) in County Donegal; when this work began; the reason it has not progressed in the past number of months; the date by which the work is due to finish; the cost of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30090/15]

Office of Public Works Properties

Charlie McConalogue

256. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the Office of Public Works has any plans to provide toilet facilities at a tourist attraction (details supplied) in County Donegal; if an assessment has been carried out as to the feasibility of providing toilet facilities; if the Office of Public Works has examined the possibility of providing a café or other tourist reception infrastructure close to the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30091/15]

Appointments to State Boards

Lucinda Creighton

257. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he is responsible for all board appointments where such power to appoint persons to State boards is vested in him by statute; if any politically appointed State employee outside of his Department is involved in decision-making concerning such appointments, in particular, if, during the lifetime of the Government, a named person (details supplied) has had any influence over any appointments made by him; if he or officials from his Department have corresponded with that person regarding the composition of and appointments to State boards to which he has statutory power to make appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30115/15]

Departmental Funding

Denis Naughten

258. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total current and capital funding allocated to his Department; the underspend or overspend in 2015 to date under each category based on his Department's spending profile; the funding made available within and external to his Department's functions to support innovation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30130/15]

Departmental Expenditure

Denis Naughten

259. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department or agencies under the authority of his Department have performed an assessment of the potential savings to be accrued if current paper-based application processes by members of the public were replaced with a fully online application system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30145/15]

Departmental Reports

Billy Kelleher

260. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when his Department's annual report for 2014 will be published. [30218/15]

Commercial Rates Valuation Process

Denis Naughten

261. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a mezzanine floor which is freestanding and not structurally attached to the building is excluded from a valuation assessment under the Valuation Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30222/15]

Flood Prevention Measures

Denis Naughten

262. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to address the flooding issue in Ahascragh in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30260/15]

Office of the Ombudsman Investigations

Finian McGrath

263. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 290 of 23 June 2015, the options that are open to a person who is still dissatisfied with the way the Ombudsman investigated that person's complaints and with the in-house complaints process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30389/15]

Departmental Legal Cases

Finian McGrath

264. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 98 of 12 June 2014, the outcome of the application for legal costs made by the Commission for Public Service Appointments; if he will detail the amount the proceeding has cost to date; his views on whether an alternative dispute resolution mechanism may have been more cost effective in dealing with the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30390/15]

Office of Public Works Properties

Finian McGrath

265. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 314 of 13 May 2015 and 85 of 8 July 2015, if he will address the question (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30393/15]

Flood Prevention Measures

Thomas P. Broughan

109. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will indicate any current estimates by the Office of Public Works of the total cost of addressing flood risks in 300 areas of Ireland under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management Programme up to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29360/15]

Ministerial Pensions

Thomas P. Broughan

110. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to introduce a cap on ministerial pensions, for example, until the debt-to-gross-domestic-product ratio reaches 60%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29405/15]

Departmental Offices

Thomas P. Broughan

111. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total annual expenditure by Departments on the rental of State-occupied properties in Dublin city for the years 2011 to 2014, inclusive, and 2015 to date; the number of leases and general timeframes involved; the measures he has taken to reduce this expenditure, and to terminate upward-only State rental leases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29323/15]

Pension Provisions

Michael McGrath

112. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has considered amending the rate of the public service pension reduction on amounts over €100,000 to ensure that high paid retired public servants are not financially better off as a result of the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29414/15]

Pension Provisions

Thomas P. Broughan

318. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated savings to the Exchequer if pension payments to previous Ministers were reduced by 10%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28352/15]

By-election Issues

David Stanton

319. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost to the Exchequer of each of the by-elections held since the 2011 general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28871/15]

National Lottery Funding Disbursement

Thomas P. Broughan

320. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to restore national lottery funding for work on the natural environment as per section 41(1) of the National Lotteries Act 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28937/15]

National Lottery Funding Disbursement

Thomas P. Broughan

321. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funding allocated from national lottery funding for work on the natural environment as per section 41(1) of the National Lotteries Act 2013 in 2013, 2014 and in 2015 to date; his plans to promote funding available for work on the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28938/15]

Valuation Office

Catherine Murphy

322. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if it is possible for the Valuation Office to value foreshore as land within the meaning of section 3 of the Valuation Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29165/15]

Pension Provisions

Noel Coonan

323. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department plans to enact a Labour Court decision in favour of a pension scheme for supervisors and assistant supervisors of community employment schemes; the levels of discussion currently under way in this regard; the likelihood of a pension scheme being initiated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28242/15]

Ombudsman's Reports

Finian McGrath

324. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 290 of 23 June 2015, the options open to a member of the public who is still dissatisfied with the way the Ombudsman investigated that person's complaints, and with the in-house complaints process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28288/15]

Court Judgments

Finian McGrath

325. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 98 of 12 June 2014, the outcome of the legal cost application made by the Commission for Public Service Appointments; the amount the proceeding has cost to date; his views on whether an alternative dispute resolution may have been more cost-effective in dealing with the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28289/15]