Thursday, 30 May 2013

Written Answers Nos. 106 - 118

Office of Public Works Properties

Ceisteanna (106, 107, 108, 109)

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

106. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of gift/books shops in Office of Public Works sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26589/13]

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

107. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of running the gift and book shops in Office of Public works sites for 2010, 2011 and 2012 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26590/13]

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

108. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the revenue made in the gift and book shops in the Office of Public Works sites for 2010, 2011 and 2012 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26591/13]

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

109. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the gift and book shops at Office of Public Works sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26592/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 to 109, inclusive, together.

The Office of Public Works has 70 visitor sites across the country. The majority of these sites do not operate a separate retail outlet but sell limited visitor memorabilia on an across the counter basis. As such facilities are contained within an overall site structure, and administered by general guide staff as part of their normal range of duties, information relating to the cost of administering such activity is not available.

Two visitor sites, namely Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre in Co. Meath and Dublin Castle have a designated retail outlet which operate on a franchise basis. In the case of Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, the franchise operation was introduced in June 2012 with a fee of €20,000 per annum payable. The fees for 2010, 2011 and 2012 in respect of Dublin Castle Gift Shop amounted to €19,046.16. A tabular breakdown by site, of the sales income generated by visitor memorabilia in respect of the Office of Public Works sites for the years 2011 and 2012 is as follows. The figures in respect of 2010 are currently being complied and will be furnished to Deputy O'Mahony in due course. As the majority of Office of Public Works visitor sites have limited space and facilities to operate a retail outlet, and our prime focus is on the preservation and presentation of the sites in question, there are no immediate plans for the development/expansion of this area.

Publications sales (only) by site

Site Name	2011	2012
Ardfert Cathedral	€180.09	€186.70
Athenry Castle	€356.26	€330.03
Aughnanure Castle	€1,900.87	€2,128.38
Ballyhack Castle	€276.00	€294.50
Barryscourt Castle	€275.50	€241.00
Blasket Centre	€1,862.86	€2,778.50
Boyle Abbey	€310.05	€384.70
Cahir Castle	€13,350.18	€12,672.63
Carrowmore	€3,939.00	€3,816.50
Casino Marino	€2,486.00	€1,811.00
Castletown House	€6,305.60	€11,485.50
Céide Fields	€3,460.21	€4,108.46
Charles Fort	€3,797.93	€4,407.97
Clonmacnoise	€17,095.60	€16,008.01
Corlea Trackway Visitor Centre	€409.49	€475.55
Derrynane House	€3,552.20	€3,456.50
Desmond Castle	€952.50	€863.50
Desmond Hall	€123.20	€142.40
Donegal Castle	€1,283.52	€1,423.06
Dublin Castle - books only	€1,110.00	€1,070.00
Dún Aonghasa	€6,497.50	€6,056.50
Dungarvan Castle	€406.94	€384.50
Dunmore Cave	€2,149.51	€2,876.50
Emo Court	€391.49	€1,262.26
Ferns Castle	€490.10	€381.10
Garinish Island	€9,857.40	€8,948.40
Glebe House and Gallery	€3,107.30	€2,038.88
Glendalough Visitor Centre	€27,286.12	€27,087.38
Hill of Tara	€2,119.50	€2,050.50
J F Kennedy Arboretum	€95.20	€39.70
Jerpoint Abbey	€2,486.80	€2,694.99
Kilkenny Castle	€23,863.20	€20,919.00
Kilmainham Gaol	€37,674.03	€36,234.94
Main Guard	€47.30	€165.90
Maynooth Castle	€115.40	€343.50
Mellifont Abbey	€1346.28	€1,295.75
National Botanic Gardens	€3,309.60	€2,859.30
Newgrange	€6,635.95	€9,807.50
Newmills Corn and Flax Mills	€216.41	€190.40
Ormond Castle	€1,845.80	€1,676.80
Parke's Castle	€386.70	€454.96
Pearse Museum	€461.37	€1,434.05
Pearse's Cottage	€1,096.81	€692.83
Phoenix Park Visitor Centre	€2,471.21	€2,651.08
Portumna Castle	€1,453.38	€1,905.73
Rathfarnham Castle	€125.00	€311.50
Reginald's Tower	€1,089.20	€1,308.91
Rock of Cashel	€20,612.46	€12,211.34
Roscrea Heritage	€187.60	€196.91
Ross Castle	€3,452.29	€3,230.45
Scattery Island	€538.60	€411.50
Sligo Abbey	€325.30	€432.00
St. Audoen's Church	€394.90	€340.90
St. Mary's Church, Gowran	€44.00	€35.50
Swiss Cottage	€2,815.80	€2,539.91
Tintern Abbey	€1,584.80	€487.60
Trim Castle (and Keep)	€5,198.35	€5.796.85
-	€235,206.67	€229,840.71

Garda Station Refurbishment

Ceisteanna (110)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

110. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans, if any to upgrade a Garda station (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26390/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Having been prioritised for attention by the Garda authorities, the existing layout of Donegal town Garda Station is being reviewed to assess whether or not identified deficiencies can be addressed in the present Station building.

Garda Station Closures

Ceisteanna (111)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

111. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans for the use of the former Garda station building (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26393/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The OPW is currently assessing the property options arising in respect of all closed Garda Stations including the former Garda Station in Malin, County Donegal. The stated policy is to identify if other State Bodies, including government departments and the wider public sector has a use for the property. If there is no other State use for a property the OPW will then consider disposing of the property on the open market, if and when conditions prevail, in order to generate much needed revenue for the Exchequer. If no State requirement is identified or if a decision is taken not to dispose of a particular property the OPW would consider, community involvement subject to the receipt of an appropriate business case which would indicate that the community/voluntary group has the means to insure, maintain and manage the property. The OPW are presently reviewing all expressions of interest for the future use of the former Garda Station in Malin, County Donegal.

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Ceisteanna (112)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

112. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the pay cuts for public sector employees over €65,000 will also apply to providers of professional services to the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26535/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2013 does not provide for reduction of fees in respect of the providers of professional services. Provision to adjust the fees of the providers of professional services to the State is made in the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, 2009. That Act also provides for an annual review of fees and the relevant Ministers can conduct a review of fees in accordance with the provisions of legislation.

Expenditure Reviews

Ceisteanna (113)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

113. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to publish a new comprehensive review of expenditure before budget 2014; the expected date for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26536/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

The Stability Programme Update, published in April 2013, sets out medium term aggregate parameters for 2013-2016, which gives the fiscal framework for Budget 2014.

With regard to savings to be made next year, my Department has requested that all Departments identify savings which will feed into the expenditure decisions by Government for the Estimates 2014 and the setting of future Ministerial ceilings. The identification of savings options should ensure that a sufficient range of proposals are made by all Departments to help the Government make well-informed choices about spending priorities and allocations. The scale of the adjustments for 2014 were set out in part 1 of the Expenditure Report 2013 , which was published in December 2012. Government will be making decisions on the future ceilings as part of the forthcoming budgetary deliberations.

In addition to this, all spending lines are being reviewed in advance of the Budget and my Department continues to conduct in-depth Focused Policy Assessments This is supplemented by ongoing work in relation to Value for Money reports. The results of the FPA’s and VFM reports will help inform Government decisions for expenditure which will be published as part of the Budget in October.

Departmental Budgets

Ceisteanna (114)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

114. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has received any indicative figure from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding the fiscal adjustments his Department will be asked to make in 2014 and 2015; the size of that adjustment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26553/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

In the context of the forthcoming Budget, my Department has requested that all Departments identify savings which will feed into the expenditure decisions by Government for the Estimates 2014 and the setting of future Ministerial ceilings. The identification of savings options should ensure that a sufficient range of proposals are made by all Departments to help the Government make well-informed choices about spending priorities and allocations. The scale of the adjustments for 2014 were set out in part 1 of the Expenditure Report 2013, which was published in December 2012. Government will be making decisions on the future ceilings as part of the forthcoming budgetary deliberations.

Non-Resident Companies

Ceisteanna (115, 121)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

115. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of Irish registered non-resident companies; the total value of holding of such companies; and the total number directly employed by Irish registered non-resident companies. [26378/13]

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

121. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will detail the meeting held with representatives of multinational corporations that have addressed the issue of the operation of Irish registered non-residential companies. [26384/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 121 together.

I understand from my colleague the Minister for Finance that he has been advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of companies that are incorporated here but non-resident for tax purposes is not available as they are not separately compiled. I have had no meetings with representatives of multinational corporations on the issue of the operation of Irish registered non-resident companies.

Non-Resident Companies

Ceisteanna (116, 117, 118)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

116. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the expected impact of the Companies Bill 2012 on the operation of Irish registered non-resident companies. [26379/13]

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

117. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Companies Bill 2012 will address the loophole in which an Irish registered non-resident company can claim tax residence in another state yet not declare itself resident for tax purposes in that state. [26380/13]

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

118. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the Companies Bill 2012 will make company registration a test of residence without exception and, in view of the reputational damage done to this State by the tax avoidance measures of multinationals, if he will now take steps in the Companies Acts to address the abuse of the concept of Irish registered non-resident companies. [26381/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 to 118, inclusive, together.

Policy responsibility for tax issues rests with my colleague the Minister for Finance. I have no direct function for such matters.

With regard to company law, measures were taken in response to concerns in the 1990s regarding Irish Registered Non-resident companies. These measures are contained at sections 42-51 of the Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1999 as amended.

First, as a precondition of incorporation, every application for registration is required to demonstrate that the proposed company intends to carry on an activity in the State.

Secondly the 1999 Act required that every company registered in the state was required to maintain an Irish resident director or a bond to the value of €25,394.76. The Irish resident director requirement was subsequently changed under the Companies (Amendment) Act 2009 to a requirement for a director resident in the European Economic Area. The requirement for either a bond or an EEA resident director does not apply if the company obtains from the Registrar of Companies a certificate that the company has a real and continuous link with one or more economic activities in the state. The company concerned must provide proof of such a link.

A statement from the Revenue Commissioners that it has reasonable grounds to believe that the company has such a link is deemed proof of a link under the Act. Additionally the number of directorships which could be held by one person was limited to 25 (subject to certain exemptions). Finally the Act contained enhanced strike-off provisions and enhanced notification to the CRO where directors have resigned. The Companies Bill 2012 contains similar provisions to sections 42-51 of the Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1999 as amended.