Thursday, 10 Oct 2013

Written Answers Nos. 153-160

Local Government Fund

Ceisteanna (153)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

153. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 477 of 01 October 2013, which indicated that the current gross payroll bill for the local government sector amounts to €1.354 billion whereas the payroll figure in his Department's consolidated Financial Statement is €1.682 billion, if he will explain the significant difference between the figures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42977/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Quarterly returns including Payroll and Superannuation are collected and collated by my Department in a prescribed format under the IMF / EU Programme of Financial Support (PFS) for Ireland. In this regard, the Gross Cash Remuneration costs in 2012 for all local authorities amounted to €1.354 billion. This figure comprises core pay, overtime, allowances and other pay related costs for the period 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2012 inclusive.

2011 is the latest year for which audited local authority Annual Financial Statement data are available. Total payroll expenses, sourced from Appendix 1 of the audited 2011 Annual Financial Statement, were €1,785,020,113 in that year, inclusive of salaries and wages, pension and gratuities and other payroll costs.

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

Ceisteanna (154)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

154. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the communication his Department has had with Fingal County Council in relation to assisting them to deal with the crisis in the operation of libraries as a result of retiring librarians who have not been replaced as a result of the recruitment embargo. [42297/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department operates a delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for implementation of the moratorium in relation to local authorities. Any exceptions to the moratorium in local authorities require sanction from my Department.

Under section 159 of the Local Government Act 2001, each City and County Manager is responsible for staffing and organisational arrangements necessary for carrying out the functions of the local authorities for which he or she is responsible. In this regard, it is a matter for City and County Managers, in the first instance, to ensure that the moratorium is implemented while the appropriate service levels are maintained.

My Department examines all staffing sanction requests on a case by case basis having due regard to the continued delivery of key services in the context of staffing and budgetary constraints. In considering sanction requests public safety, maintaining key front line services, and economic issues are given precedence.

In relation to the specific posts referred to in the question , my Department recently sanctioned two library assistant posts on a permanent basis for Fingal County Council.

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Ceisteanna (155)

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

155. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of public servants in his Department that are being paid in excess of the Taoiseach's salary and in excess of the Government's pay cap; the annual cost of these excess payments over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43395/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

There are no civil servants employed by my Department and no public servants employed by local authorities or by agencies under the aegis of my Department who are being paid in excess of the Taoiseach’s salary and in excess of the Government’s pay cap.

Road Traffic Offences

Ceisteanna (156)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

156. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide in tabular form information according to the figures available for each of the past five years on the amount of revenue collected for drink driving offences; the number of offences involved; the number of fines that went unpaid; the revenue subsequently lost by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42904/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have asked the Courts Service to provide the information sought by the Deputy and I will write to him as soon as the details are available.

Garda Stations Closures

Ceisteanna (157)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

157. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for the Donegal town Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42800/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

Donegal Garda station was not identified for closure in the Policing Plan for 2013 and currently there are no proposals being prepared to close the station or alter its opening hours. As the Deputy is already aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, throughout the organisation and I have no direct function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly monitored in the context of demographics, crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public. As of the 31 August 2013, Donegal Garda Station had a complement of 30 members.

Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission Administration

Ceisteanna (158)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

158. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason he has not enabled GSOC to access the PULSE system under the new protocols, despite their outlining on a number of occasions that this was necessary to enable them to carry out their function effectively. [42873/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

Last month, revised protocols between the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and the Garda Síochána under section 108 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 were agreed by the Chairperson of the Ombudsman Commission and the Garda Commissioner. The revised protocols provide the Ombudsman Commission with access to PULSE through the two Garda Superintendents working on secondment with the Ombudsman Commission.

I have no function in determining the content of protocols under section 108 of the 2005 Act, but it is clear that it is the view of both the Ombudsman Commission and the Garda Síochána, as evidenced by this agreement, that these protocols provide a basis for timely and complete co-operation in the conduct of investigations by the Ombudsman Commission.

It is also the case that, in order to facilitate early engagement in relation to any future emerging issues concerning the protocols, I have established a committee chaired by a senior official of my Department, with senior representatives from the Ombudsman Commission and the Garda Síochána, to act as a forum where any such issues can be identified and appropriately addressed.

Courts Service Issues

Ceisteanna (159)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

159. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide a breakdown of the running costs for the courts over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42888/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

As the Deputy may be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998 management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions and I have no role in this matter.

However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided expenditure details in respect of the period 2008 to 2012, as set out in the table below. It should be noted that this expenditure is reported annually in the appropriation account for the Courts Vote.

Year	Total Gross Expenditure	Appropriations in Aid (Receipts)	Total Net Expenditure
2012	107,697,000	48,541,000	59,156,000
2011	112,724,000	50,085,000	62,639,000
2010	148,594,000	50,447,000	98,147,000
2009	125,772,000	51,358,000	74,414,000
2008	138,038,000	39,018,000	99,020,000

In addition to the standard running costs, incorporating payroll and other administrative costs, the details supplied include capital expenditure and the repayment costs related to the Criminal Courts of Justice Complex which was provided under a Public Private Partnership arrangement. The Courts Service also receives moneys to the benefit of the Exchequer (Appropriations in Aid), by way of its court fees, thereby reducing greatly the overall cost to the Exchequer. The above figures do not include judges remuneration which is paid from the central fund.

Courts Staff

Ceisteanna (160)

Terence Flanagan

Ceist:

160. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of judges appointed to each court and the total hours the courts sit for annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42889/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice and seven ordinary judges. In addition, the Government recently nominated two additional Supreme Court judges and they are due to be appointed shortly. The High Court consists of the President and thirty four ordinary judges. The Circuit Court consists of a President , thirty-six ordinary judges and six specialist judges who were recently appointed to deal with the new work arising as a result of the Personal Insolvency Act 2012. The District Court consists of a President and sixty two ordinary judges.

As the Deputy will be aware, the management and administration of the courts is a matter for the Courts Service. The allocation of the business of the courts, scheduling of court cases and the management of court lists are matters for the judiciary and the Presidents of the courts. The sittings and vacations of the courts are currently provided for in Rules of Court. The Presidents of the respective courts can and do, on occasion, schedule additional sittings to address particular issues. In addition to the scheduled sittings High Court judges are at all times available to hear urgent applications outside of regular business hours. In order to guarantee access to justice when required as a matter of urgency, this includes late evening and night time sittings as well as regular sittings at weekends and during any court recess.