Thursday, 18 Jun 2015

Written Answers Nos. 97-107

Flood Risk Insurance Cover Provision

Ceisteanna (97)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

97. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the transfer of information between the insurance industry and Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management; the timeframe on the future implementation of information exchanges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24366/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Office of Public Works (OPW) and Insurance Ireland, which was signed on 24th March 2014, outlines the principles of agreement between the parties on the provision of information to insurers to facilitate, to the greatest extent possible, the availability to the public of insurance against the risk of flooding. The OPW is committed to providing Insurance Ireland with data on all completed OPW flood defence schemes showing the design, extent and nature of the protections offered by these works. Insurance Ireland members will then take into account all information provided by the OPW when assessing exposure to flood risk within these areas.

Since June 2014, the OPW has provided Insurance Ireland with data on the following sixteen completed OPW flood defence schemes.

River Suir, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary

River Dodder Tidal, Dublin City

River Tolka, Dublin City

River Tolka, Dublin Fingal

River Tolka, Meath

River Nanny, Duleek, Co. Meath

River Bandon, Dunmanway, Co, Cork

River Fergus Upper, Ennis, Co. Clare

River Blackwater, Fermoy, Co. Cork

River Nore, Kilkenny City

River Mornington, Mornington, Co. Meath

River Tullamore, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Munster Blackwater, Mallow South and West, Co. Cork

Hazelhatch, Celbridge, Co. Kildare

Derrymullen, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway

River Barrow, Carlow Town, Co. Carlow

The details of the information provided to the Insurance Sector is available on the OPW website, www.OPW.ie.

While early indications from the insurance sector are that flood risk insurance is widely available in areas where flood relief schemes have been completed by the OPW, the Department of Finance and the OPW have recently set out the range of detailed information that they require from the insurance industry to measure the benefit to the availability of affordable flood insurance to households and businesses from these completed flood defence schemes.

Under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme detailed flood maps for 300 communities at potentially significant risk from flooding are being produced by the OPW. Their development involves public consultation and when finalised these maps will inform the Flood Risk Management Plans on how best to address the flood risk in each of these areas. It is envisaged that these plans will be completed in the second half of 2016 and the details of those planned schemes will be provided to the insurance industry in line with the Memorandum of Understanding.

I recently asked the Oireachtas All Party Finance Committee to give consideration to Flood Insurance and possible policy options that they would like considered. I await the submission of their report which I will ask the Department of Finance to examine. Officials from the Department of Finance and the Office of Public Works have received the report from the All Party Committee and are considering its recommendations.

Flood Relief Schemes Expenditure

Ceisteanna (98)

Barry Cowen

Ceist:

98. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide, in tabular form, the total funding of flood defences, by county, for each year from 2008 to 2014 and for 2015 to date. [24367/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The OPW has expended approximately €275 million on flood relief activities between 2008 and the end of 2014 with €224.4 million being spent on flood defence works and €43 million approximately on the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, hydrometric data collection & processing, research on flood risk related issues and other flood relief programme areas of work. A further €7.68 million was provided to Local Authorities in 2014 for repair of public infrastructure damaged by the severe storms of December 2013 and January 2014. Of the total spent on flood defence works, €197.6 million has been invested on Major Flood Relief Schemes such as in Mallow, Ennis, Clonmel and Fermoy and another €26.8 million on the Minor Flood Works & Coastal Protection Scheme that commenced in 2009, under which the OPW funds more localised works undertaken by Local Authorities up to a maximum of €0.5 million per project. A detailed breakdown by county of the expenditure on flood defences is set out in the table attached. A breakdown by county of the funding of Local Authorities for the storm damage repair works is available on www.opw.ie.

OPW Expenditure on Flood Relief Works

-	-	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	TOTALS
-	-	€,000	€,000	€,000	€,000	€,000	€,000	€,000	€,000
Carlow Co Co.	Major Schemes	9	57	0	1,088	2,732	716	0	€4,602
-	Minor Works	0	0	32	611	439	114	0	€1,196
Cavan Co. Co.	Major Schemes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	€0
-	Minor Works	0	0	72	0	111	0	0	€183
Clare Co. Co.	Major Schemes	2,873	4,793	1,995	2,390	287	9,668	4,196	€26,202
-	Minor Works	0	45		617	426	271	205	€1,564
Cork Co Co.	Major Schemes	5,097	9,618	6,162	6,235	9,395	12,167	6,581	€55,255
-	Minor Works	0	32	1,045	402	282	222	59	€2,042
Donegal	Major Schemes	13	34	0	0	0	36	64	€147
-	Minor Works	0	0	484	32	79	76	0	€671
Dublin	Major Schemes	3,117	3,678	3,162	805	4,046	2,710	6,315	€23,833
-	Minor Works	0	0	0	320	873	373	446	€2,012
Galway	Major Schemes			285	1,518	795	234	190	€3,022
-	Minor Works	319	35	2,937	1,510	765	248	144	€5,958
Kerry	Major Schemes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	€0
-	Minor Works	0	377	359	44	190	35	0	€1,005
Kildare	Major Schemes	2,019	835	814	1,470	715	130	89	€6,072
-	Minor Works	0	180	1,176	209	352	57	3	€1,977
Kilkenny	Major Schemes	787	1,180	62	4	0	0	0	€2,033
-	Minor Works	0	68	65	538	58	108	27	€864
Laois	Major Schemes	121	0	0	0	0	0	0	€121
-	Minor Works	0	0	0	14	0	0	0	€14
Leitrim	Major Schemes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	€0
-	Minor Works	0	0	160	125	101	111	0	€497
Limerick	Major Schemes	40	422	72	0	60	0	691	€1,285
-	Minor Works	0	0	309	268	92	142	291	€1,102
Longford	Major Schemes	164	116	0	0	0	0	0	€280
-	Minor Works	0	0	202	261	0	0		€463
Louth	Major Schemes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	€0
-	Minor Works	0	45	137	67		72	49	€370
Mayo	Major Schemes	0	0	0	0	12	11	78	€101
-	Minor Works	0	233	309	31	76	0	41	€690
Meath	Major Schemes	391	874	1,669	1,130	479	58	36	€4,637
-	Minor Works	0	77	0	45	4	163	0	€289
Monaghan	Major Schemes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	€0
-	Minor Works	0	115	0	32	227	28	463	€865
Offaly	Major Schemes	0	22	0	13	799	997	53	€1,884
-	Minor Works	0	27	209	0	0	0	0	€236
Roscommon	Major Schemes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	€0
-	Minor Works	0	105	951	0	105	87	0	€1,248
Sligo	Major Schemes	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	€0
-	Minor Works	0	41	423	0	59	290	0	€813
Tipperary	Major Schemes	5,743	7,584	5,495	11,280	4,170	786	1,323	€36,381
-	Minor Works	0	14	306	327	133	0	5	€785
Waterford	Major Schemes	30	500	2,700	600	3,315	3,996	4,240	€15,381
-	Minor Works	0	0	54	0	14	15	12	€95
Westmeath	Major Schemes	130	233	58	0	0	0	0	€421
-	Minor Works	0	90	54	83	0		0	€227
Wexford	Major Schemes	93	231	124	0	51	88	8	€595
-	Minor Works	0	90	518	0	90	38	0	€736
Wicklow	Major Schemes	313	299	1,738	0	7,117	997	4,875	€15,339
-	Minor Works	0	227	248	70	389	8	0	€942
TOTALS	-	21,259	32,277	34,386	32,139	38,838	35,052	30,484	224,435

Public Procurement Contracts

Ceisteanna (99)

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

99. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he might expect a review of the public procurement contract process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24384/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

As the Deputy may be aware, Ireland is required to transpose a suite of three new procurement Directives. On 28 March, 2014, the European Commission published three new Directives as a collective reform of the existing EU regime for public procurement under the existing provisions of Directive 2004/17/EU - coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors and Directive 2004/18/EU - on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts.

The three new Directives, including the Directive referred to by the Deputy are:

- 2014/23/EU - on the award of concession contracts

- 2014/24/EU- on public procurement and repealing Directive 2004/18/EU

- 2014/25/EU - on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors and repealing Directive 2004/17/EC

The three Directives require to be transposed into national law by all EU Member States by April 2016.  In this regard, the Office of Government Procurement, which is under the aegis of my Department, is progressing the process of transposition into Irish law. The criteria for the award of contract will be based on the provisions in the Statutory Instrument that implements each Directive into national law and they will be applied in accordance with the subject matter or nature of the contract.

A Report on the performance of the Public Works Contract was published on 11 December last year. It contains 4 interim recommendations and a framework for a medium term strategy to inform engagement between industry stakeholders. Engagement with industry stakeholders is underway on the interim recommendations and the three recommendations which amend the conditions of contract will be implemented by the middle of this year. The recommendation relating to the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) award for works contracts will be implemented later this year upon publication of robust criteria and guidance material. Broader engagement on the procurement of public projects will be ongoing with industry stakeholders throughout 2015. They will be invited to contribute to a medium-term strategy which will encompass procurement and recent developments in the fields of technology and legislation governing the construction industry. Key areas such as performance evaluation, risk management and different contracting strategies will also be considered as part of the strategy with recommendations to be put to Government before the end of this year. A copy of the report is available to download from the construction Procurement Reform website:  http://constructionprocurement.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Report-on-the-Review-of-the-Performance-of-the-Public-Works-Contract.pdf.

Departmental Reports

Ceisteanna (100, 101, 102, 103, 104)

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

100. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the action taken in response to the contents of a report dated 31 March 2014 by a group of persons (details supplied) entitled Property and Accountability, which is available on the website of his Department, and which concerns the problem of accountability within the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24385/15]

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

101. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the contents of a report dated 31 March 2014 by a group of persons (details supplied) entitled Property and Accountability which is available on the website of his Department, if he is satisfied that his Department is adequately resourced to keep track of the annual budget it delivers to the Office of Public Works; if he is satisfied that his Department has the capability to see that the annual budget delivered to the Office of Public Works is handled in a commercially accountable fashion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24386/15]

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

102. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the contents of a report dated 31 March 2014 by a group of persons (details supplied) entitled Property and Accountability which is available on the website of his Department, his plans to provide for sanctions to be imposable against the Commissioners of Public Works in response to incidents of incompetence, misappropriation of resources and corruption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24387/15]

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

103. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the contents of a report dated 31 March 2014 by a group of persons (details supplied) entitled Property and Accountability which is available on the website of his Department, if he has implemented, or plans to implement, an increase in the degree to which professional services and advice are sought in respect of transactions involving the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24388/15]

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

104. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the contents of a report dated 31 March 2014 by a group of persons (details supplied) entitled Property and Accountability which is available on the website of his Department, his plans to split the Office of Public Works from his Department, and place it on a semi-State footing; his plans to provide the Comptroller and Auditor General with a dedicated monitoring property professional; his plans to make the Office of Public Works and its staff more accountable to the Comptroller and Auditor General and the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24389/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 to 104, inclusive, together.

My Department is responsible for policy advice on the allocation of public funds across each area of Government spending and for ensuring that overall expenditure is managed in line with such allocations. However, the day-to day operations of individual Departments/Offices are the responsibility of those Departments/Offices.

The Commissioners of Public Works are charged by Government to administer and manage a significant property portfolio for the State. This is conducted in an environment of changing market forces, time constraints and the requirements for the delivery of critical State services. I have full confidence in the Commissioners and their ability to discharge their statutory functions and responsibilities in this regard. The Deputy is aware that the OPW is subject to the same accountability process involving the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) and Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) of the Dáil as other Government Departments and Offices.

Property Asset Management reform is an important element of the Government's overall Public Service Reform Plan and the OPW has been assigned as the lead agency in delivering on this programme. The key objective of this reform agenda is to improve the management of the State's property portfolio in an even more professional, coordinated and efficient manner that realises value for money and facilitates business needs and service provision across the Public Service. The Government agreed a range of measures to realise the benefits of better property management and these are set out in "Accommodating Change Measuring Success", the Government's Property Asset Management Delivery Plan, which was published in July 2013. A copy of the Delivery Plan is available on www.opw.ie. A progress report on the implementation of this plan will be published before the end of July.

My Department has fully supported the OPW in the implementation of this strategy through:

1. its participation on the Steering Group on Property Asset Management; and

2. sanctioning the filling of posts considered essential to address issues identified in the Capacity and Capability Review of the OPW's Estate Portfolio Management function conducted in 2013-14 by external experts.

In addition, this Government has sought to introduce greater openness, transparency and accountability through the Public Service Reform and Civil Service Renewal programmes. It was in this context that I established the Independent Panel on Strengthening Civil Service Accountability and Performance, to which the two OPW surveyors made their submission. The submission indicated that, in property transactions, the potential for corruption exists if effective governance arrangements are not present and it sought an increase in the number of professionals in the property management area in the Civil Service.

I understand that the OPW has engaged with its surveyors in a positive and constructive manner on the issues raised in their submission. While the surveyors did not identify any instances of "corrupt actions", they did make reference to a number of property transactions going back over many years about which they had concerns. The surveyors have been asked by the OPW to review these projects in more detail and any issues arising will be referred to the C&AG for review. The surveyors involved are fully engaged in this process.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (105, 106, 107)

Bobby Aylward

Ceist:

105. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way it transpired that tourism, cultural and heritage organisations in the inland counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, Kildare and Tipperary are prevented from accessing valuable INTERREG funding by the restriction to coastal counties outlined in the new Ireland-Wales Co-operation Programme (INTERREG) 2014 to 2020 Citizens Summary document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24405/15]

Bobby Aylward

Ceist:

106. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason, in relation to Priority Access 3: Cultural and Natural Resources and Heritage, the drafting process led to the final version of the Citizens Summary featuring such explicit changes, from the 2014 consultation document, excluding inland counties from the Axis and focusing solely on coastal areas; if he will justify this seismic change of focus in relation to this specific aspect of the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24406/15]

Bobby Aylward

Ceist:

107. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason, in relation to Priority Axis 2: Adaption to Climate Change, the drafting process led to the final version of the Citizens Summary featuring such explicit changes, from the 2014 Consultation Document, excluding inland counties from the Axis and focusing solely on coastal areas; if he will justify this seismic change of focus in relation to this specific aspect of the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24407/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 to 107, inclusive, together.

The Ireland Wales Co-Operation Programme has a total value of approximately €100 million over the period 2014-2020. It will support projects with partners in both Ireland and Wales focussing on activities across three priority areas: cross-border innovation; adaptation of the Irish Sea and coastal communities to climate change; and cultural and natural resources and heritage.

The Programme was prepared in line with the reformed Cohesion Policy for 2014-20, which has a new focus on thematic concentration, performance, and results. The final Programme was the result of a detailed process of programme planning in line with EU regulations, and included public consultation and negotiations with the Commission.

Given that the Ireland Wales border is a maritime border, the Programme must have a maritime focus. Nevertheless, the eligible area in Ireland includes inland counties (Kildare, Carlow, Kilkenny, and Tipperary) as well as coastal counties (Meath, Dublin, Wicklow, Waterford, Wexford, Cork, Kerry).

Project partners in any of the counties in the eligible area may put forward project proposals for any of the priorities. As a cross-border Programme, projects must have partners in both Ireland and Wales and they must have a cross-border added-value element. In the case of one of the three priorities (cultural and natural resources and heritage) the project benefits must accrue to coastal communities. This was a requirement of the European Commission and applies equally to Ireland and Wales. Inland counties are not precluded from taking part in this priority, but the benefits must accrue to the coastal community as well as to the non-coastal community.