Tuesday, 18 Sep 2012

Written Answers Nos. 125-143

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (125, 126)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

125. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach 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. [37452/12]

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

126. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach 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. [37468/12]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together.

The total expenditure by my Department on official and state entertainment from 10 March 2011 to end August 2012 was €158,546. The accompanying table provides details of major events for which entertainment was provided, the supplier used, and the costs. My Department tenders for the provision of all entertainment.

Date	Event Description	Vendor Name	Costs
4th April 2011	Visit by His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco	Catering (Wine) - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade	€ 962.20
		Catering - Knights Catering	€ 5,578.00
		Total	€ 6,540.20
17 & 18 May 2011	State Visit of HRH Queen Elizabeth II - Islandbridge Wreath-laying Ceremony	Catering - Fitzers Catering	€ 7,093.75
22nd May 2011	State Funeral of Dr. Garret FitzGerald	Catering - UCD O’Reilly Hall	€ 22,646.02
		Staff Catering -	€ 109.30
		Total	€ 22,755.32
23rd May 2011	State Visit by President of the United States of America Barrack Obama	Catering and Room Hire - Buswells Hotel	€ 970.00
		Total	€ 970.00
17th June 2011	Visit by President of the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy	Catering – Fitzers	€ 1,058.35
11th July 2011	National Day of Commemoration 2011	Catering – Cypress Catering	€ 21,980.56
3rd November 2011	Dinner in honour of Mary McAleese	Catering – Knights Catering	€ 2,957.66
11th November 2011	Presidential Inauguration	Catering – Fitzers	€ 45,265.75
		Catering – Houses of the Oireachtas	€ 70.28
		Total	€ 45,336.03
19th February 2012	Visit by Chinese Vice President, Xi JingPing	Catering – Vinny Hanlon Catering	€ 12,236.47
15th June 2012	Reception for International Eucharistic Congress	Catering – Knights Catering	€ 9,639.49
8th July 2012	National Day of Commemoration 2012	Catering – Brambles	€ 21,799.04
		Catering – Houses of the Oireachtas	€ 278.44
		Total	€ 22,077.48
15th August 2012	Reception in honour of the Irish Olympic Team 2012	Catering – Knights Catering	€ 5,901.42

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (127)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

127. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Taoiseach 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. [37484/12]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

My Department has incurred no cost on hair and make-up from 9 March 2011 to date.

Question No. 128 answered with Question No. 94.

Consultancy Contracts Issues

Ceisteanna (129, 131, 132)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

129. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach if he will provide details, 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. [37516/12]

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

131. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach if he will details, in tabular form, of 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. [37549/12]

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

132. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach if he will details, in tabular form, of the amount paid to consultants since February 2011; the name of each organisation used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37565/12]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 129, 131 and 132 together.

The following table provides details of all expenditure by my Department on external public relations consultants, including communications consultants, from 1 January 2010 to end August 2012.

2010

Name of Company	Reason for payment	Amount paid
Mazars	Payroll Audit of Financial Shared Service Centre	€2,499.86
Mercer (Ireland) Ltd	Staff surveys for the Organisational Review Programme	€23,595.00

2011

Name of Company	Reason for payment	Amount paid
QTS Ltd	Health & Safety Consultancy H&S Safety Statement 2011.	€1,270.50
Towers Watson (Ireland) Ltd	Facilitation of ORP Workshops and Report	€12,100.00

2012

Name of Company	Reason for payment	Amount paid
QTS Ltd	Health & Safety Consultancy - Annual Safety Review to include Risk Assessment Nov/Dec 2011 & Full Review & Update of Safety Statement 2012	€1,270.50
Caroline Erskine	EU Communications Advisory Service	€25,830.00

Ministerial Staff

Ceisteanna (130)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

130. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach 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. [37533/12]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.

Office	September 2011	September 2012
Taoiseach's Private Office	€1,065,227	€1,080,286
Taoiseach's Constituency Office	€281,422	€289,151
Government Chief Whip's Private Office	€281,267	€275,134
Government Chief Whip's Constituency Office	€133,180	€136,326
Minister of State for European Affairs's Private Office	€104,406	€104,243

Where increases in salary costs in 2012 over 2011 are shown it is due to incremental progression in accordance with standard civil service procedures. Where decreases occurred it is due to staff transfers where the incoming staff are on lower points of the incremental scale than the outgoing staff.

Questions Nos. 131 and 132 answered with Question No. 129.

Question No. 133 answered with Question No. 94.

Ministerial Transport

Ceisteanna (134)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

134. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the amount spent by his Department on drivers and ministerial transport since February 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37597/12]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

My Department has incurred no spend on drivers and ministerial transport since February 2011.

Departmental Reports

Ceisteanna (135)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

135. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the total amount spent since February 2011 on external reports commissioned by his Department, including payments from ministerial allowances, details of the consultants employed and costs of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37629/12]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The following table provides details of external reports commissioned by my Department from 1 February 2011 to end August 2012.

Name of Consultant	Details of Report Commissioned	€
QTS Limited	Health and Safety Consultancy Health and Safety Statement 2011	€ 1,270.50
QTS Ltd	Health & Safety Consultancy - Health and Safety Statement 2012	€ 1,270.50

Labour Court Recommendations

Ceisteanna (136)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

136. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach if he will supply a list of all Labour Court recommendations that have been issued in respect of his Department and organisations under his aegis that have not been complied with in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37760/12]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

No Labour Court recommendations have been issued but not complied with in respect of my Department or the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), which is the only agency under its aegis.

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (137)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

137. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the position regarding recruiting persons with a disability; the number of persons currently employed in his Department; the number of persons with a disability who have been employed since 1 January 2011 to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37844/12]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has direct responsibility in Government for policy in relation to the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service. Obviously, opportunities for employment in the Public Service is limited by the recruitment and promotion moratorium which was announced on the 27th March 2009. The moratorium applies, with limited exceptions, to the civil service, local authorities, non-commercial state bodies, the Garda Síochána, the Permanent Defence Forces and to certain bodies established by enactment and wholly or partly funded out of the Central Fund. Arrangements have been modulated also regarding the education and health sectors.

The 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities in the Public Service remains in place, notwithstanding the moratorium. My Department, as published in the National Disability Authority's latest report on compliance of 2011, exceeded the 3% requirement (4.2%).

My Department is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all staff. Staff are recruited on the basis that they meet the requirement of the positions they are to fill. In addition to complying with the provisions of the Disability Act, 2005, we follow the guidelines set out in the Commission for Public Service Appointment's Code of Practice for the Appointment of Persons with Disabilities to Positions in the Civil Service.

Recruitment to my Department is made in line with the Public Appointments Commission's Code of Practice and through positive action programmes such as the Willing, Able and Mentoring Programme under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Promotion, training and all other benefits, supports and opportunities are decided on the grounds of ability, qualifications and other relevant objective criteria. There are currently 205 people employed in my Department. Given the relatively small size of my Department, it would be inappropriate to disclose the number of people with a disability who have been employed since 1 January 2011 to date as this could possibly make these individuals identifiable.

Departmental Staff Training

Ceisteanna (138)

Gerry Adams

Ceist:

138. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the amount of money spent on an annual basis on education and training of staff in 2011 and to date in 2012; the number of staff that availed of each course; if he will provide a list of the courses staff undertook and the cost of each course per person. [38492/12]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

The performance of the Department is dependent on the knowledge, skills, competencies and commitment of its staff. Achieving improved performance through appropriate and relevant learning and training will continue to be an integral element of ensuring the Department achieves its strategic objectives. This is a key element of the Department's new HR Strategy for 2012-2014. Financial assistance for further or higher education is provided to staff under the Refund of Fees Scheme as set out under the Department of Finance’s Circular 23/07 (Post Entry Education – Refund of Fees, Study Leave and Examination Leave).

Education and Training 2011

The total cost of Education and Training in 2011 was €61,541. Financial assistance was provided for further education or higher education and training in 2011 as follows:

No. of staff	Course	Fees
2	Degree Courses in Counselling & Psychotherapy	6,450 (average 3,225 per person)
5	Language Training	3,959 (average 792 per person)
1	MSc in Economic Policy Studies	10,085
1	Diploma in Computer Studies	2,990
1	BA (Hons) Public Management	2,820
1	BSc (Hons) Information Systems	5,779
1	Diploma in Public Management	2,820
1	Diploma in Computer Studies (Project Mgmt Stream)	2,995
1	Certificate in HR	2,100
1	Internal Audit	1,620
1	Diploma in Project Management	1,500
	Seminars and Programmes
2	Health and Safety Training	450 (average 225 per person)
12	IT	10,753 (average 896 per person)
2	Policy Development	800 (average 400 per person)
2	Civil Service Pensions Administration	1,620 (average 810 per person)
1	Communications	300
1	Common Purpose Programme	4,500
36		€61,541

Education and Training 2012 to date

The total cost of Education and Training provision to date in 2012 is €32,356. Financial assistance is being provided for further education or higher education and training in 2012 as follows:

No. of staff	Courses	Fee
5	Language Training	3,170 (average 634 per person
1	Certificate Audit Skills	4,800
1	Diploma Health Economics	1,990
1	LLB Bachelor of Law	2,155
2	BA Public Mgmt	5,640 average (2,820 per person)
1	Certificate HR Practice	2,200
1	Certificate Safety and Health in Work	2,295
1	BSc Information Systems	5,780
1	Professional Diploma in Official Statistics for Policy Evaluation	1,450
	Seminars and Programmes
1	Administration Law	810
8	Health and Safety	435 (average of 54 per person
8	IT Training	1,475 (average 184 per person)
1	Civil Service Pensions Administration	810
1	Policy Development	796
Total 33		€33,806

In addition, 3 management training courses have been provided to date this year for staff at Assistant Principal Officer, Higher Executive Officer, Administrative Officer, Executive Officer and Staff Officer grades. 23 staff participated on these programmes in conjunction with staff from the Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food. The total cost of the courses was €5,554 which is an average of €241 per person. We will continuue to collaborate with the Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food as well as the Department of Social Protection in the provision of training programmes for staff during the Autumn.

Appointments to State Boards

Ceisteanna (139, 140)

Dominic Hannigan

Ceist:

139. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Taoiseach if he will outline, in tabular form, both the number and the percentage of women and men on State boards under the aegis of his Department in each of the past ten years; if he will provide the most up-to-date figures available regarding the number and percentage of women and men on State boards under the aegis of his Department in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38864/12]

Anne Ferris

Ceist:

140. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Taoiseach the steps he is taking to ensure that State boards have at least 40% of each gender, as provided for in the programme for Government; the percentage at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39160/12]

Freagraí scríofa

The Taoiseach

I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together.

The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is the only State Agency under the aegis of my Department. The NESDO was established on 1 January, 2007 under the NESDO Act 2006 and is the body corporate for the National Economic and Social Council (NESC). Details of the gender balance on the NESDO Board since its establishment date on 1 January 2007, are set out in the following table.

Date	Total Number of Members	Female Members	Male Members
1 January 2007	5	2 (40%)	3 (60%)
1 January 2008	5	2 (40%)	3 (60%)
1 January 2009	5	2 (40%)	3 (60%)
1 January 2010	5	2 (40%)	3 (60%)
1 January 2011	2	0 (0%)	2 (100%)
1 January 2012	2	0 (0%)	2 (100%)
18 September 2012	2	0 (0%)	2 (100%)

It was not possible in the time available for to provide the gender breakdown in relation to appointments made to the NESC in each of the last 10 years and this information will be forwarded to the Deputy.

Although the National Statistics Board (NSB) is not classified as an agency under my aegis, I am providing the following for the information of the Deputy. Under the Statistics Act, 1993, the NSB comprises a Chairperson and seven Board members. Appointments to the NSB are made in line with the provisions of Section 18 of the Statistics Act 1993. My functions in relation to the NSB were delegated to the Government Chief Whip, Minister of State Paul Kehoe T.D., on the 22 March 2011. The following table provides a breakdown of the membership of the National Statistics Board by gender, for each of the last 10 years. These numbers are taken from the membership of the Board on the 1st of July of each year.

Date	Male	Female	Total	% Male	% Female
Current	7	1	8	87.5%	12.5%
1st July 2011	7	1	8	87.5%	12.5%
1st July 2010	7	1	8	87.5%	12.5%
1st July 2009	6	2	8	75.0%	25.0%
1st July 2008	6	2	8	75.0%	25.0%
1st July 2007	6	2	8	75.0%	25.0%
1st July 2006	5	3	8	62.5%	37.5%
1st July 2005	5	3	8	62.5%	37.5%
1st July 2004	5	3	8	62.5%	37.5%
1st July 2003	4	4	8	50.0%	50.0%
1st July 2002	4	4	8	50.0%	50.0%

Since coming into office on 9 March 2011, I have made a small number of appointments to NESDO, NESC as set out in the following tables.

NESC Membership

Total Membership	Female Membership	Male Membership
34	10 (29% of the Council)	24 (71% of the Council)
Number of Taoiseach's appointments since 9 March, 2011	Number of females appointed by the Taoiseach since 9 March, 2011	Number of males appointed by the Taoiseach since 9 March, 2011
14	4 (29% of the Council)	10 (71% of the Council)

NESDO Board Membership

Total Membership	Female Membership	Males Membership
2	0 (0% of the NESDO Board)	2 (100% of the NESDO Board)
Number of Taoiseach's appointments since 9 March, 2011	Number of females appointed by the Taoiseach since 9 March, 2011	Number of males appointed by the Taoiseach since 9 March, 2011
2	0 (0% of the NESDO Board)	2 (100% of the NESDO Board)

These appointments were made in accordance with the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006 and S.I. No. 603 of 2010, National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010.

In the case of the NESC, I appointed members on the basis of nominations from business and employer interests, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, farming and agricultural interests, the community and voluntary sector and the environmental sector. I also appointed Secretaries General on the basis of the Departments they represent and historically, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson posts are filled from my Department at Secretary General and Assistant Secretary level.

The 8 independent members of NESC I appointed in June and July last year were made following careful consideration of the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise relevant to the functions of the NESC and NESDO. The independent appointments to NESC are mainly from the academic sector. I appointed four women as independent members of the Council. In relation to the NSB there has been one appointment since I took office and the appointee is an Assistant Secretary in my Department.

Question No. 141 answered with Question No. 113.

Question No. 142 answered with Question No. 94.

Question No. 143 answered with Question No. 123.