Written Answers Nos. 86-98
86. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which the benefits accruing from the Haddington Road and Croke Park agreements are in line with expectations, with particular reference to the need to ensure the targets are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41091/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am satisfied that the Croke Park Agreement delivered on its objectives by facilitating significant cost savings amounting to €1.8 billion over its lifetime, with the vast majority of commitments around reform being delivered. This was a view shared by the Implementation Body in their final report.
As part of the measures required to repair the Government finances and meet our international commitments to reach the GDP Deficit target of 3% by end 2015, it was necessary in 2013 for the Government to secure agreement (the Haddington Road Agreement) with Unions and Associations representing public servants for the introduction of significant productivity measures and also additional pay cuts for public servants earning over €65,000.
Given the scale of the fiscal crisis facing the country and the fiscal consolidation measures required to restore our finances, the contribution made by public servants has been significant.
In addition to delivering on monetary targets, a number of reforms and changes to work practises, such as additional working hours, have been implemented since 1 July, 2013. Approximately 15 million additional hours have been provided by staff right across the Public Service. These reforms have contributed to the maintenance and enhancement of existing public services during a period of significant constraints on public expenditure and at a time when public services were under increasing demand.
Due to the difficult measures adopted and the resulting improvement in the economy, it has allowed the Government to commit additional resources and improve services in a number of key areas including the Health, Justice and Education sectors while remaining firmly within our fiscal parameters including meeting the GDP Deficit target of less than 3% in 2015. The significant improvement in the fiscal position has also enabled the Government to bring forward a series of proposals under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015 to provide for an ameliorisation and gradual unwinding of the fiscal emergency measures impacting on public servants with effect from 1 January 2016.
87. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he and his Department have identified the vital infrastructural projects in respect of which he expects progress over the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41093/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the initial stages of the capital review process, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform consulted with each individual Department requesting submission documents outlining capital pressures over the next 6/7 years.
On foot of this, Departments and agencies with sectoral responsibilities conducted their own detailed assessments of demand requirements to inform their prioritisation of capital expenditure. This analysis allowed us to craft the Departmental allocations going forward to ensure funding is focussed where it is needed most in order to protect economic recovery and meet social needs.
The scale and profile of the Exchequer component of the Capital Plan was developed with reference to the Government's medium term economic growth forecasts and is fully consistent with Ireland's fiscal targets over the coming years. This marks a step change in the Government's capital investment policy setting a course for a return to the normal, long run capital investment levels required to meet social needs and sustain a modern, growing open economy.
Both our national and European fiscal rules are designed to ensure that growth in public expenditure reflects the underlying strength and output capacity of the economy, thus enabling the public finances to progress towards a structurally-balanced budget over the medium term.
It is important to note that while my Department is responsible for setting the overall capital allocations across Departments, the management and delivery of individual capital investments within the overall Capital Investment Programme, and the timescales over which they are to be delivered, is the responsibility of each relevant individual Minister and Department.
Finally, as is normal in a programme of this length, there will be a Mid-Term Review, which will take stock of progress to date and provide the Government with an opportunity to reaffirm priority projects. This Review will also provide the Government with an opportunity to consider the scope for increased levels of investment, should Ireland's economic growth and fiscal progress exceed the present forecasts and make this possible.
The Deputy may wish to note that all Departmental capital review submission documents will be made available on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform website shortly.
88. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which recruitment throughout the public service has reopened, with particular reference to the need to replace positions lost during the economic downturn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41095/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn my Expenditure Statement for 2015, I announced that there will be a targeted programme of recruitment into the civil service to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills consistent with the maintenance of strict control over public service number and pay budgets. This programme commenced in late 2014, is continuing in 2015 and includes a number of open competitions providing employment opportunities for qualified candidates.
The following competitions across a broad range of Civil Service grades have recently been completed or are ongoing at present:
- Temporary Clerical Officer
- Clerical Officer;
- Administrative Officer (i.e. the graduate recruitment grade for the Civil Service), for general service as well as for the Irish Government Economic Evaluation Service (IGEES);
- Executive Officer (both for general service and for the ICT area);
- Assistant Principal Officer and
- Principal Officer.
The Moratorium which was in place since March 2009 was not a blanket ban on recruitment, and during its operation, provision was made for targeted recruitment in certain areas, in particular in the key front line sectors in Health, Education and Justice.
With improvements in the fiscal environment, it is possible to employ more people to deliver the critical services that Irish people need.
On top of the additional resources announced for Budget 2015, under Budget 2016, over 2,260 teachers and up to 600 Gardaí are to be recruited.
This recruitment will bring new people and new skills into the public service and will help address any imbalances which may have developed during the Moratorium.
89. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide details of the gains to public sector workers' incomes (details supplied) under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41097/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question Numbers 23828, 23829 and 23830 of 16th June regarding the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013 to 2016 where I undertook to have my Department compile relevant data and write to you in relation to same.
The relevant data was forwarded to the Deputy by way of letter on the 20th of July 2015.
90. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to impose additional reductions in pay, and changes to working terms and conditions, on those public sector workers who are members of unions who have not signed up to the Lansdowne Road agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41098/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I explained during the debates at Committee and Report Stages of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Bill 2015 the Government will adhere in full to its commitments under the Haddington Road and Lansdowne Road Agreements. Therefore the issue of additional reductions in pay, and changes to working terms and conditions for public service workers does not arise. I would expect those who benefit from the Agreement to abide by the terms of that Agreement which has been ratified by the Public Services Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
91. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the measures he has in place to improve the representation of women in higher civil service grades above assistant principal officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41099/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Civil Service Renewal Plan recognises the clear need to continue to increase female participation at senior levels in the Civil Service. To this end, the Renewal Plan contains a commitment to improve gender balance at each level by reviewing supports and policies to ensure these are impactful and measurable. This work has commenced and is now a key project under the Plan.
In addition, earlier this year, the Department of Justice and Equality, with the assistance of funding from the EU's PROGRESS programme and supported by my Department, undertook a pilot mentoring and leadership development programme to increase the number of women in the top decision-making levels of the Civil Service. The pilot was cross-Departmental with female Principal Officers from each of the 16 Government Departments participating in the programme. The participants received executive coaching, mentoring and leadership development training which is focused at the competencies required at the Assistant Secretary General grade.
My Department will support the mainstreaming of this programme more widely across Departments and Offices in conjunction with a renewed Learning and Development model for the Civil Service which is currently being developed. The programme will be complementary to a new approach to developing future leaders at senior levels in the Civil Service which is currently being developed under the Renewal Plan.
At the end of Quarter 3 2015, the following table provides the gender breakdown of officers at AP level and above in the Civil Service:
|
Grade |
Male |
% |
Female |
% |
|
Secretary General |
24 |
80 |
6 |
20 |
|
Second Secretary |
3 |
75 |
1 |
25 |
|
Deputy Secretary |
15 |
79 |
4 |
21 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
151 |
69 |
68 |
31 |
|
Principal |
801 |
63 |
468 |
37 |
|
Assistant Principal |
1916 |
54 |
1612 |
46 |
92. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for details of all instances from 1 January 2000 to 2015 to date where legislation introduced by him or on his behalf, which is enacted and still in force, contains a provision amending the Data Protection Acts to allow for the transfer of personal or other data collected, retained and processed by the State for a particular purpose towards another specific purpose, in tabular form; the financial cost of creating and administering such databases, by case; the projected financial cost for databases not yet complete; the specific legislative provision which enabled such data transfers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41142/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy's question no legislation has been introduced by my Department that contained a provision to amend the Data Protection Acts to allow for the transfer of personal or other data collected, retained and processed by the State for a particular purpose towards another specific purpose.
93. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for details of all instances from 1 January 2000 to 2015 to date where legislation introduced by him or on his behalf, which is enacted and still in force, contains a provision amending the Data Protection Acts to allow for the transfer of personal or other data collected, retained and processed by the State for a particular purpose towards another specific purpose, in tabular form; the financial cost of creating and administering such databases, by case; the projected financial cost for databases not yet complete; the specific legislative provision which enabled such data transfers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41140/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo legislation was introduced in my Department from 1 January 2000 to date, which contains provision amending the Data Protection Acts to allow for the transfer of personal or other data collected, retained and processed by the State for a particular purpose towards another specific purpose.
94. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of new State bodies and agencies under his remit that have been established since February 2011; the number of such bodies subject to a sunset clause; the number of new public bodies currently being planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41272/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA substantial programme of reform has been accomplished within my Department in relation to Agencies and public bodies including the merger, reform and abolition of bodies as set out under the Government’s Agency Rationalisation Programme.
The Low Pay Commission was established on 26th February 2015, initially on an interim basis, and subsequently on a statutory basis under the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Act 2015, enacted on 15th July 2015. The Commission has 9 members, one of whom acts as an independent chairman. The primary duty of the Commission is to make recommendations to me each year regarding the national minimum hourly rate of pay, but it may also examine other related matters, at my request.
With effect from 1st October 2015, the activities of the Labour Relations Commission, the National Employment Rights Authority, the Equality Tribunal and the first instance functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal and the Labour Court were merged into a new Body of First Instance, known as the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
In addition, the appellate functions of the Employment Appeals Tribunal are now incorporated into an expanded Labour Court. From 1st October all complaints fall to be referred to the Workplace Relations Commission in the first instance, and, on appeal, to the Labour Court. This heralds the biggest reorganisation of the State’s industrial relations and employment machinery in almost 70 years and is the result of four years of reform driven by my Department.
A single Contact Portal and information service, workplacerelations.ie, a single complaint form replacing 30 individual complaint forms, and a process supported by a modern IT infrastructure ensures a better experience for all in need of assistance to resolve their employment grievances.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was established on 31st October 2014 as a result of the merger of the Competition Authority and National Consumer Agency. The Commission has 5 members and has a dual mandate to enforce competition and consumer protection law and will build on the work of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority to protect and strengthen competition, empower consumers to make informed decisions and protect them from harmful business practices.
Forfás was integrated into my Department with effect from 1st August 2014 under the Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Act, 2014. As part of this integration the functions of the Irish National Accreditation Board were transferred from Forfás to the Health and Safety Authority.
The transfer of enterprise functions from Shannon Development to IDA, EI and tourism functions to Bord Fáilte took place during the last quarter of 2013. The legislation to merge Shannon Development and Shannon Airport into a new commercial state company, State Airports (Shannon Group) Act 2014, was enacted on 27 July 2014. Responsibility for the newly formed Shannon Group plc rests with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
As the Deputy may be aware, on 15th April 2014, the 35 County and City Enterprise Boards were dissolved under the County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Act, 2014. On the same date, 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) were established. Under the legislation, the functions, assets and liabilities were transferred to Enterprise Ireland (E.I.), and these functions are now being delivered on behalf of E.I. by the LEOs within the Local Authority structure.
In addition, I would draw the Deputy’s attention to the fact that, following enactment of the Microenterprise Loan Fund Act 2012, Microfinance Ireland was established as a private limited company in August 2012, as a subsidiary of the Social Finance Foundation and has charitable status.
Microfinance Ireland has been funded by the Government to provide loans to newly established and growing microenterprises across all industry sectors that do not meet the conventional risk criteria applied by banks.
None of the above bodies are subject to sunset clauses.
My Department does not have any current plans to establish any new Public Bodies.
95. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of defined benefit pension schemes currently listed for employees under his remit; the number that are in deficit; his plans to consolidate any of these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41291/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are 13 defined benefit pension schemes for employees of a number of bodies that come under my Department’s remit as listed below. All are “pay-as-you-go” schemes (i.e. are unfunded schemes where the ability to pay pensions in the future is essentially underwritten by the government) and are not, therefore, in deficit.
1. IDA Ireland Superannuation Scheme
2. Enterprise Ireland Superannuation Scheme
3. National Standards Authority of Ireland Superannuation Scheme
4. Science Foundation Ireland Superannuation Scheme
5. Health and Safety Authority Superannuation Scheme
6. Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority Superannuation Scheme
7. Personal Injuries Assessment Board Superannuation Scheme
8. National Consumer Agency Superannuation Scheme
9. The Competition Authority Staff Superannuation Scheme
10. The Competition Authority (Chairman and Members) Superannuation Scheme
11. Labour Court (Members) Superannuation Scheme
12. The CEO of the Labour Relations Commission Superannuation Scheme
13. Shannon Free Airport Development Company Superannuation Scheme (SFADCo) - (The assets of this scheme were transferred to the National Pension Reserve Fund under the Financial Measures (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and so it is now a pay-as-you-go scheme).
There are no plans to consolidate these schemes as they are unfunded. However, Agency restructuring such as the merger of the National Consumer Agency and the Competition Authority to form the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission gives rise to administrative amendments to individual schemes.
Also, since the introduction of the Single Pension Scheme in 2012, newly recruited employees will become members of that scheme rather than any of the individual schemes mentioned above.
Finally, Civil Servants of my Department are members of the Civil Servants Superannuation Schemes.
96. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the 2015 basic payment scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who visited her Department's offices in Portlaoise, in County Laois, and clarified any departmental misunderstandings in connection with the claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40930/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the Basic Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 22 May, 2015. Processing of this application has been finalised and payment issued on 19 October 2015.
97. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40937/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTwelve cows calved in the herd of the person named in 2014 and payment of €240 is due under the Beef Data Programme. Payment will be expedited as soon as possible .
98. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the latest date for farmers to submit returns under the beef data and genomics scheme in order to be eligible to receive payment in 2015; the number of cattle for which samples have been submitted; the number of surveys returned, both by post and online; the expected expenditure under the scheme in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40945/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraLetters are currently issuing to all participants in the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) urging them to submit all genotype samples and surveys by 8 December so that payment can be made in the current year.
A total of 252,672 genotype samples have been returned so far while 26, 684 herds have submitted some or all of the surveys. Of the 26,684 herds who have submitted data , 813 of these herds use my Department’s on line facility, Agfood.ie.
Payments will commence in December to all eligible applicants and subsequent payment runs will continue as applicants provide evidence of compliance. It is too early to estimate the final financial outturn for this year.
