Written Answers Nos. 501-517
501. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of agencies, authorities, boards, committees, working groups, tribunals, council services, task forces, agencies or other quangos set up by his Department since February 2011; the number abolished since then; the extra cost of quangos which were established; the savings from the abolition of quangos; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37250/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince February 2011 my Department has not set up any agencies, authorities, boards, committees, working groups, tribunals, council services, task forces, agencies or other quangos. With regard to the numbers abolished since February 2011 the only group that was abolished was the Decentralisation Implementation Group. The Decentralisation Implementation Group was disbanded in November 2011. The costs of the Group arose directly from the meetings it held. There were no savings from the actually abolition of the Group as its work had already been substantially reduced in 2009 with the deferral of the majority of the remaining elements of the Decentralisation Programme at the end of 2008. There were only two meetings of the Decentralisation Implementation Group in 2010 and no meetings at all in 2011.
502. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of each quango in his Department; the amount expected to be saved from the mergers of quangos in his Department; the basis for this figure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37266/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy's question no non-governmental organisations or quangos are in receipt of remuneration from my Department. Grants-in- Aid are provided to both the ESRI and the IPA and details of the amounts paid to each can be found in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) which is published annually.
503. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of new jobs created by his Department as a result of the jobs initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37282/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra504. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of new jobs created by his Department as a result of the action plan on jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37298/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra505. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of new jobs created by his Department as a result of budget 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37314/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 503 to 505, inclusive, together.
The Government is responding to the challenge of the jobs crises in Ireland right across the public policy spectrum, as encapsulated first in the jobs initiative and now in the Action Plan on Jobs. The aim is to identify those actions each area of Government can take to improve and sustain job creation. In some areas this involves direct action and job creation, such as through the enterprise agencies under the aegis my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, or through capital investment in key infrastructure such as transport and school buildings. In other areas, such as in the area of public sector reform, it involves improving procedures, systems and service delivery in an overall effort to enhance competitiveness and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy.
506. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total amount spent on taxis by his Department since February 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37330/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total amount spent by my Department on taxis since February 2011 is €7,747.00.
507. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of press officers in his Department; the number of press officers in each agency under his auspices; the total cost of press officers in his Department and in agencies under his auspices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37346/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department employs one press officer, who is a civil servant and is currently paid a gross salary of €71,359 per annum. With regard to the press officers in the office/agencies under the aegis of my Department the following is the position:
Special EU Programmes Body
The SEUPB currently employs a Communications Manager, and a Programme Officer (Communications). The total cost for the employment of both positions is approximately €89,000. As the SEUPB is a North/South Body these staff costs are funded by the NI Executive and the Irish Government jointly. The Irish Government element is approximately €42,000.
Office of Public Works
The Office of Public Works has one Press Officer at Assistant Principal Officer grade, who is currently paid a gross salary of €76,768.
508. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total number of board appointments he has made since he came to office; the names, salaries and expenses of each appointee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37362/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total number of board appointees made by me since coming into office is as follows:
Department appointees
The Secretary General of my Department, Mr. Robert Watt became a Member of the Outside Appointments Board on an ex-officia basis. The position is set out in paragraph 2.1 of the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour As drawn up and promulgated by the Minister for Finance on 9 September 2004. There is no salary or expenses associated with this appointment.
Mr. Enda Holland was appointed to the Board of the Local Government Computer Services Board until the establishment of the Local Government Management Agency on 1 August this year. No salary or expenses arising.
Board of An Post National Lottery Company
Mr Donal Connell, was reappointed as chairman of the Board with effect from 29 February 2012 on the nomination of An Post (which is the majority shareholder of An Post National Lottery Company).
Mr Peter Quinn, was appointed as a member of the Board with effect from 16 February 2012 on the nomination of An Post.
No remuneration is paid to either Mr Connell or Mr Quinn in respect of their service as Board members of An Post National Lottery Company.
509. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will detail, in tabular form, the total photography costs for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37378/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not incurred any costs in respect of photography since coming to office.
510. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will detail in tabular form the total cost of providing entertainment for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the occasions for which entertainment was provided; the entertainers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion; if there is a policy regarding the booking of entertainers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37450/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra511. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on food and drink by his Department; if he will provide a breakdown of what this involved; the occasions on which food and drink was provided; those present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37466/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 511 together.
The total cost of providing entertainment, food and drink for my Department since coming to office is €1,845.20, the breakdown is as follows:
Ministerial
|
Date |
Details |
Cost |
|
Lunch 18 July 2011 - 30 people |
Buffet lunch hosted by Minister Howlin when attending a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council Sectoral meeting. |
€315.90 |
|
- |
- |
€315.90 |
Departmental
|
Date |
Details |
Cost |
|
Lunch 20 June 2012 |
Lunch Pearl Brasserie with New Zealand delegation |
€180.40 |
|
Lunch 22 July 2011 |
Lunch at the Unicorn Restaurant |
€228.25 |
|
7 October 2011 |
Merrion Hotel with US delegation |
€63.75 |
|
16 December 2011 |
Food and drink for Departmental staff |
€539.60 |
|
8 May 2012 |
Official Entertainment – Troika Visit |
€517.30 |
|
Total |
€1,529.30 |
512. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount spent on hair and make-up by his Department since he came to office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37482/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo money has been spent on hair and make-up by my Department.
513. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number and names of all special advisers, special press advisers, or any other type of ministerial adviser in his Department; the name of the Minister or Minister of State to whom he or she reports; the salary of each adviser now; the salary of each adviser at the time he or she was appointed; if any salary increase was asked for; if it was granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37498/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe name and salary of each of the Special Advisers appointed by me is as follows:
|
Name |
Title |
Salary (per annum) |
Increases |
|
Anne Byrne |
Special Adviser (D/PER) |
€83,337 with effect from March 2011 |
€86,604 with effect from March 2012 |
|
Ronan O’Brien |
Special Adviser (D/PER) |
€114,000 with effect May 2011 |
Nil
|
As I have advised in previous PQs since I appointed Anne Byrne and Ronan O’Brien as special advisors no salary increases have been requested in respect of either appointment.
However, on appointment, Ms Anne Byrne was placed on the second point of the PO Standard non-PPC scale with effect from 10 March 2011. In accordance with the ‘Instructions to Personnel Officers - Ministerial Appointments for the 31st Dail’, dated 24 March 2011 which was issued by the Department of Finance and which states the following in relation to Special Advisers and Increments: -Where a Special Adviser is placed on a salary point below the maximum of the scale he or she may be paid an annual increment until the maximum of that scale is reached - Ms Byrne progressed to the next point of the scale with effect from 10 March 2012.
514. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide detail in tabular form of the names of all external public relations and consultancy persons and organisations used by his Department for the years 2011 and 2010; the amount paid to each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37514/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra516. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will detail in tabular form the amount paid on external public relations and communications consultants since February 2011; the reason for the payment; the name of each organisation used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37547/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra517. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will detail in tabular form the amount paid to consultants since February 2011; the name of each organisation used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37563/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 514, 516 and 517 together.
My Department did not make any payments to public relations and communications consultants in the period from 2010 to date in 2012. The following amounts were paid to consultancy persons or organisations during the same period*:
|
Year |
Contractor |
Payment |
|
2012 |
Step Performance Group |
€1,665 |
|
2012 |
People Resources |
€2,655 |
|
2012 |
SEVEN |
€3,500 |
|
2012 |
PCS |
€2,300 |
|
2012 |
Accenture Consulting |
€1,783,025 |
|
2012 |
Dr. Richard Humphreys** |
€36,863 |
|
2012 |
Ms. Ciara Kennedy** |
€5,396 |
|
2012 |
Siobhan Browne & Associates |
€1,046 |
|
2012 |
Davy Corporate Finance |
€615 |
|
2011 |
Mercer (Ireland) Limited |
€1,210 |
|
2011 |
MKO Partners Limited. |
€35,820 |
|
2011 |
Red C |
€41,043 |
|
2011 |
Advanced Organisation Limited |
€5,000 |
|
2011 |
Accenture Consulting |
€80,465 |
|
2011 |
Deloitte & Touche |
€65,915 |
* The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was established in July 2011. Expenditure prior to that date is covered by material provided by the Department of Finance.
** Contractors who provide professional services
515. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the gross annual salary costs for his private and constituency offices at present; the same figures for this time last year; the same figures for any Ministers of State in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37531/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis Parliamentary Question was answered previously in PQ number 25526/12 on 22nd May, 2012. There has been no change to the information supplied in that PQ.
