Written Answers Nos. 195 - 208
195. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the policy he has with respect to dividend payments to the Exchequer from commercial semi-State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14925/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraHistorically, there has not been comprehensive central guidelines for State companies regarding dividend policy although, over recent years, dividends of approximately 30% of profits after tax have been sought and expected from most commercial State companies and, in Budget 2013, an additional €100m was sought from the sector.
However, with the establishment of NewERA in 2011, this Government began the process of reforming how the Government's shareholder role in relation to the commercial State sector is managed. NewERA now provides financial and commercial advice to the relevant Ministers in relation to the six key commercial State companies in the NewERA sectors of energy, water, telecommunications and forestry. The companies in question are ESB, EirGrid, Ervia, Bord na Mona, Irish Water and Coillte.
As part of the reform, NewERA, in conjunction with the relevant Government Departments, has developed a Shareholder Expectations Framework which is intended to provide clarity and guidance for each of the companies in relation to the Government's strategic priorities, policy objectives, and financial performance and reporting requirements. One of the key areas addressed as part of this shareholder expectations framework is dividend policy. To-date the boards of ESB, EirGrid, Bord na Mona and Coillte have respectively engaged with NewERA and the relevant Government Departments with a view to developing a new formal dividend policy, striking an appropriate balance between the payment of dividends and re-investment in the business.
A new dividend policy for ESB, as announced by ESB in October 2013, will see ESB increase its dividend payout to 40% of normalised profits after tax by 2017, subject to ESB sustaining a minimum credit rating of BBB+.
The Board of EirGrid recently agreed a new dividend framework based on factors that EirGrid have set out in its recently published annual report. This has led to the Board of EirGrid recommending a dividend of €3m based on its financial results for the year end 30 September 2014.
Significant levels of organisational and structural change have occurred and are continuing within Ervia including the sale of Bord Gáis Energy, the establishment of Irish Water and preparation for the transfer of the gas network assets and liabilities of Ervia and Gaslink to a newly established subsidiary of Ervia called Gas Networks Ireland. Dividends to the State arising from the sale of Bord Gáis Energy are expected to be up to €1bn, of which the first €150m was paid in 2014. The process of reviewing levels of future dividends and agreeing a dividend policy based on the future financial performance of Gas Networks Ireland is expected to commence shortly. In the medium term it is not envisaged that any dividends will be paid from Irish Water.
In the case of Bord na Mona and Coillte, the Boards of these entities are currently giving consideration to the development of a formal dividend policy, in consultation with NewERA.
In this way, a new formal dividend policy has been or will be agreed for each of the NewERA companies, thus giving greater clarity and certainty in relation to the State's future expectations in this regard.
My Department is also working with other relevant Departments, reviewing the shareholder management and oversight arrangements applying across the wider commercial state sector - i.e. in those commercial State companies which do not currently come under NewERA's remit. The intention is to introduce a more structured and consistent approach to the management and oversight of these companies also, and thus the entire commercial State sector, modelled on the approach already adopted for the NewERA companies adapted, as appropriate, for the particular circumstances of each individual company. This will include establishing a Shareholders Expectations Framework for each such company, which will include the development of a specific and appropriate dividend policy for each such company.
196. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of restoring the public sector pay cuts that took place over a number of budgets, by each Government Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14928/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Haddington Road Agreement (HRA), underpinned by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) Acts 2009-2013, contains a number of measures directly affecting the pay of staff, with an estimated €2.2bn of direct reductions in public service remuneration and pensions, in addition to the savings achieved through the reduction in numbers employed in the public service. Notwithstanding our improving economy, because of the magnitude of these reductions, the Exchequer could not sustain the immediate restoration of such reductions.
I have indicated that, following receipt of the 1st Quarter Exchequer returns and engagement with my Government colleagues, it is my intention to engage with Public Service Unions regarding the gradual unwinding, in parallel and consistent with our improving economy, of the emergency measures implemented under the FEMPI Acts. Any discussions on pay will, of course, take place in the context of the State's fiscal position and the pace of financial recovery for this year and 2016. Any proposed changes to the FEMPI legislation will be subject to Government approval and will be brought before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
Public service pay rates will continue to be frozen in 2015 the 7th consecutive year in which there will have been no pay increases for public servants and, as we know, there have been 2 or 3 actual cuts in wages over that period. The Government is now planning for the development of a sustainable public service pay and pensions policy that will continue to support our ongoing economic recovery over the medium term.
197. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe an bhfuil sé i gceist ag Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí airgead a chur ar fáil láithreach chun an creimeadh cósta i gCill Mhuirbhigh, Árainn, a leigheas, á chur i gcuntas go bhfuil cosc ar thrácht ar an mbóthar ansin dá bharr agus an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an mbóthar sin do dhaoine áitiúla agus do chuairteoirí; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [13863/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI gCinneadh Rialtais dar dáta 11 Feabhra 2014, leithdháileadh maoiniú suas chuig €19.6m in iomlán um dheisiú ar chosaint phoiblí an chósta agus ar infreastruchtúr cosanta i gcoinne tuilte, a bhí ar fáil cheana agus a ndearnadh díobháil dóibh le linn na droch-aimsire i ndeireadh 2013 agus i dtús 2014; bhí sé seo bunaithe ar aighneachtaí a rinne an Roinn Comhshaoil, Pobal agus Rialtais Áitiúil (R/CP&RA). As an iomlán seo €19.6m, leithdháileadh suim iomlán €1,144,800 ar Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe (CCG) le haghaidh oibreacha deisithe cosanta cósta faoin gCinneadh Rialtais. Chuir na húdaráis áitiúla, CCG san áireamh, cláir um oibreacha deisithe cosanta cósta faoi bhráid Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí (OPW), inar leagadh amach conas a bhí sé ar intinn acu a gcuid leithdháiltí a chaitheamh. San aighneacht a chuir CCG faoi bhráid OPW, i gcás oibreacha cosanta cósta ag Bóthar Íochtarach na Mainistreach agus Cill Mhuirbhigh, Inis Mór bhí suim €120,000 um oibreacha deisithe agus suim €720,000 um oibreacha neartaithe. Chuir OPW in iúl don Chomhairle, de réir téarmaí an Chinnidh Rialtais, nár faomhadh um mhaoiniú ach an chuid sin de na tionscadail sa chlár oibre acu a bhain le deisiú.
Críochnaíodh na hoibreacha chun an díobháil ar na struchtúir chosanta cósta ag Cill Mhuirbhigh agus An Mhainistir a dheisiú sa bhliain 2014; tharraing an Chomhairle anuas €111,392 ó OPW as an tsuim €120,000 a faomhadh le haghaidh na hoibre seo. Go dtí seo tá €907,099 as an leithdháileadh iomlán €1,144,800 le haghaidh deisithe ar dhíobháil stoirme tarraingthe anuas ag an gComhairle. Tá fuílleach an leithdháilte ar fáil le tarraing anuas i mbliana. Chuir OPW in iúl don Chomhairle go gceadófaí solúbthacht áirithe maidir le costas tionscadail ar leith a choigeartú agus cuid comhréireach um oibreacha neartaithe a áireamh iontu, ar an gcoinníoll nach rachadh an costas iomlán sa bhreis ar an leithdháileadh iomlán €1,144,800.
Ba chóir a thabhairt faoi deara freisin gur chuir CCG suim ar leith €100,000 san áireamh sa chéad aighneacht acu chuig an R/CP&RA i ndiaidh na stoirmeacha maidir le costas deisithe bóthair ag Bóthar Íochtarach na Mainistreach agus Cill Mhuirbhigh. Is ceist idir CCG agus an Roinn Iompair, Turasóireachta agus Spóirt soláthar agus tarraingt anuas an mhaoinithe seo.
Oibríonn Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí Scéim Oibreacha agus Cosanta Cósta um Mhaolú ar Mhiontuilte. Foilsítear critéir cháilitheachta na Scéime, ar a n-áirítear riachtanas go gcaithfidh céimeanna a bheith costas tairbheach, ar shuíomh gréasáin OPW. Níl an scéim seo ar fáil chun díobháil infreastruchtúir a dheisiú nó chun sócmhainní cosanta tuile nó cosanta cósta atá ann cheana féin a chothabháil. Féadfaidh Údarás Áitiúil iarratas a dhéanamh chuig OPW ar thacaíocht faoin scéim ach aird a bheith ar na critéir cháilitheachta sin. Tá foirmeacha iarratais ar fail ar shuíomh gréasáin OPW faoi ‘Bainistiú Priacal Tuile’ agus déantar cinntí le haird ar an maoiniú iomlán atá ar fáil um bhainistiú priacal tuile.
The Government Decision of 11th February, 2014 allocated total funding of up to €19.6m for the repair of existing public coastal protection and flood defence infrastructure damaged in the severe weather in late 2013 and early 2014 based on submissions made by the relevant local authorities to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (D/EC&LG). Of this total of €19.6m, a total sum of €1,144,800 was allocated to Galway County Council (GCC) for coastal protection repair works under the Government Decision. The local authorities, including GCC, submitted to the Office of Public Works (OPW) programmes of coastal protection repair works setting out how they intended to spend their allocations. The amount included in GCC's submission to the OPW in respect of coastal protection works at Lower Road Mainistir and Kilmurvey, Inis Mór was €120,000 for repair works and €720,000 for strengthening works. The OPW informed the Council that, in accordance with the terms of the Government Decision, the repair element only of the listed projects in its programme of works was approved for funding.
The works to repair damaged coastal protection structures at Kilmurvey and Mainistir were completed in 2014 and the Council drew down €111,392 from the OPW out of the amount of €120,000 approved for this work. To date the Council has drawn down €907,099 of the total allocation of €1,144,800 for storm damage repairs. The balance of the allocation is available for draw down this year. The OPW has informed the Council that some flexibility would be allowed as regards adjustment of the cost of individual projects and inclusion of a proportionate element of strengthening works, subject to the overall cost not exceeding the total allocation of €1,144,800.
It should be noted also that GCC included a separate amount of €100,000 in its initial submission to the D/EC&LG following the storms in respect of the cost of road repairs at Lower Road Mainistir and Kilmurvey. The provision and drawdown of this funding is a matter between GCC and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
The OPW operates a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. The Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, are published on the OPW website, www.opw.ie. It is not available for repair of damaged infrastructure or for maintenance of existing flood defence or coastal protection assets. A Local Authority may apply to the OPW for support under the scheme having regard to those eligibility criteria. Application forms are available on OPW's website under Flood Risk Management and decisions are made having regard to the overall availability of funding for flood risk management.
198. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position in respect of a Garda Síochána barracks (details supplied) in County Sligo; and the Office of Public Works's plans for same. [14035/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe former Garda Station at Easkey, Co. Sligo has been identified for disposal and the necessary legal documentation has been submitted to the Chief State Solicitor's Office who are preparing a Contract for Sale. The property will be sold by public auction during the second half of 2015.
199. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding the flood relief works required to the embankment at Bellurgan in County Louth. [14150/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for identifying and implementing appropriate measures to address flood risk at Bellurgan, County Louth rests with Louth County Council (LCC) in the first instance and it is open to LCC to utilise its own resources to undertake any works required on the Bellurgan embankment.
LCC, with the support of funding provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW), engaged consultants in 2011 to assess the condition of the embankment and to make recommendations for any necessary upgrading. The consultants' report, which was submitted by LCC to OPW in 2013, outlined a number of recommendations for short, medium and long term measures. Following a review of the report, the OPW sought additional information and clarification from LCC in May 2014 in relation to the consultants' conclusions and recommendations, including further details regarding the nature of the proposed works and the basis of the economic benefit attributed to them. OPW and LCC officials met on 1st April 2015, at the Council's request, to discuss the issues involved. Arising from this meeting, LCC is to submit the further information and clarifications that are required. When the information is received from LCC, the OPW will give further consideration to the report's recommendations under the provisions of the Coastal Protection Act.
200. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the maximum number of days of annual leave persons are entitled to, across the public service, including State agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14291/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing agreement between public service management and the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, in the context of the Croke Park Agreement, standardised annual leave arrangements were put in place for the entire public service, including non commercial state agencies, in 2012. The number of days annual leave allowance ranges from a minimum of 22 days to a maximum of 32 days in respect of serving personnel. The implementation of the annual leave allowances is a matter for each sector.
The agreement on annual leave also stipulates that personnel on recruitment or promotion in the public service are to be placed on the standardised annual leave for their sector or organisation ranging from a minimum of 22 days to a maximum of 30 days. For certain grades, this may mean the annual leave allowance being reduced upon promotion to a higher grade.
201. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a matter regarding boat operators (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14697/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe dates for the visitor season at Skellig Michael in 2015 were decided early this year and were confirmed by me in a Parliamentary Question on 15th January. The dates in question are 15 May to 30 September, weather permitting. These are virtually the same dates as in 2014 (16 May - 29 September), so there has been no curtailment of the length of the season.
In previous years, there has been pressure from local interests to access the island earlier than Mid-May. It has been advised on many occasions in the past in response to such demands that this is not possible due to the significant amount of work that needs to be done in the period immediately prior to the official opening. During this period, the site needs to be prepared to receive visitors by the execution of significant Health and Safety preparations for the season carried out. In particular, after the winter the site has to be fully assessed, any hazards cleared from public areas and any necessary repairs carried out. These vital preparatory works are essential in advance of opening the island to the public.
It is undeniable that, in previous years certain Boatmen have ignored the published visitor season dates and landed visitors on the Island when it remains in an unsafe, unprepared condition and is without Guides who provide the trained emergency response including radios, defibrillator, oxygen, first aid etc. In 2014 in particular, visitors were landed on the Island in early May in the middle of a particularly hazardous situation brought about by the severe winter storms. At this time, there were active rockfalls in particular which made the site especially dangerous and enabling the presence of visitors including young children in this scenario, was, in the view of the Commissioners of Public Works, completely irresponsible. This has prompted them to take direct enforcement action this year.
In consultation with the relevant officials of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport the OPW has agreed to the insertion of the season dates in the relevant DTTAS Passenger Licence which is required for the carriage of passengers to Skellig Michael. This will mean that any landings on the Island outside the relevant dates will constitute a breach of the Department's Licence Conditions. Boatmen will however still be permitted to sail to Skellig Michael with visitors and circumnavigate the Island, as a considerable number frequently do, without any fear of breaching the conditions of their Licence.
202. Deputy John Lyons asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to open up the public service and Civil Service so that public servants may transfer freely into the Civil Service, similar to the way civil servants may transfer freely into the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14792/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Service Agreements (PSAs) covering the period 2010-16 (the Croke Park and Haddington Road Agreements) provide for agreed redeployment arrangements to apply in the Civil Service and in other parts of the Public Service.
Under the PSAs, redeployment generally takes precedence over all other methods of filling a vacancy and supersedes any existing agreements on the deployment of staff. Redeployment allows staff to be moved as a result of the rationalisation, reconfiguration or restructuring of public service bodies or where activities have assumed lesser priority arising from changing business needs.
The agreed arrangements for the redeployment staff within the Health, Education, and Local Government sectors are managed directly by those sectors.
The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Act, 2013 provides for the redeployment of members of staff in the Civil Service and certain other sectors of the public service to other positions in the public service.
Action 15 of the Civil Service Renewal Plan, published in October 2014, includes a commitment to extend mobility over time to provide additional development opportunities and enable greater mobility across the Public Service.
The Renewal Plan contains 25 actions and a commitment to complete all actions within 3 years. Implementation has commenced with the establishment of the Civil Service Management Board and a central Programme Management Office (PMO). Implementation of this provision will take place during the term of the Plan.
203. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details in respect of all Government Departments where employees therein have been the beneficiaries of injury warrants under the Superannuation Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14799/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Injury Warrants are a series of statutory instruments, made under the Superannuation Act 1887, which provide benefits to or in respect of officers who, through no fault of their own, are killed or injured while performing their duties.
These benefits comprise (a) annual allowances, (b) gratuities, (c) loss of earnings allowances and (d) refunds of certain expenses.
The amount charged to Vote 12 - Superannuation and Retired Allowances in 2014 in respect of Injury Grants was €258,352.
While the award of injury warrants under the Superannuation Acts is ultimately decided by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the cost is a charge on the Superannuation Vote, the process is always initiated in the officer's parent Department; that Department's personnel section would have the relevant details.
I understand for the Deputy's information that the last injury warrant approved was in 1995.
204. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if, in respect of the soon-to-be-passed Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012, he will clarify the situation, and if the changes in valuation of sports clubs will have immediate effect when the legislation is passed, and thus influence rates bills for clubs so as to benefit clubs in the current year, or if he will outline what the Valuation Office or local authorities have to do to implement the legislation; the length of time this process should take and when sports clubs may expect to see revised rates bills; if the process is prolonged, if sports clubs will be able to seek a refund or amended bill from the date the legislation is passed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14823/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Valuation (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012 was passed by the Seanad on 20th November 2014 and by the Dáil on 31st March 2015. There were some amendments to the Bill in the Dáil and it is scheduled to return to the Seanad on 16th April 2015 when it is expected to complete its passage through the Oireachtas.
Section 39 of the Bill, if enacted, will amend Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001 and will provide a partial exemption from commercial rates for Community Sports Clubs that are licensed under the Registration of Clubs (Ireland) Act, 1904. It will mean that for Community Sports Clubs that can have a bar, it will only be the commercial parts of their premises that will be valued for rates purposes rather than a valuation of all of their premises which is what happens under the current legislation. I am pleased to have been able to introduce an amendment which will give relief to local sports clubs who fulfil an important role in our communities and to resolve a long standing anomaly in the legislation.
If enacted, the Commissioner of Valuation will initiate a process of updating the valuation lists for Community Sports Clubs that will benefit from the amendment to Schedule 4. This process will involve seeking information from Community Sports Clubs so that the necessary changes to the valuation lists can be made. Any changes resulting from an amendment to Schedule 4 of the Valuation Act 2001 will be made in 2015 and will be effective for rates purposes in 2016. The calculation and collection of commercial rates is a matter for Local Authorities.
205. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on concerns (details supplied) in Dublin 3 regarding reversal of pay cuts in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14831/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my response to PQ No. 11966/15, regarding the restoration of reductions in public service remuneration and pensions, and also to the unwinding, in parallel and consistent with our improving economy, of the emergency measures implemented under the FEMPI Acts. The position remains unchanged. I have no statutory responsibility in relation to how any proposals in relation to my statutory functions are reported.
206. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the plans of the Office of Public Works to intervene and carry out a detailed inspection of the drainage and sewer at a location (details supplied) in County Galway, and to make a determination as to remedial works, in view of the lack of confidence that residents have in Galway City Council and Irish Water, as a result of the manner in which they have handled the very serious issue of water contamination. [14843/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that having considered the question, the Office has no function nor responsibility in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy.
208. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a list of the semi-State commercial companies under his control; the policy of a dividend payment to the Exchequer from each company; the dividend paid by each company to the Exchequer for each year from 2000 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14969/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy's question I can confirm that there are no commercial semi-state companies under the aegis of my department.
