Written Answers Nos. 21-33
21. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the specific actions he is taking on foot of the recently published Comptroller and Auditor General report, to ensure expenditure occurs in the best interests of the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40602/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has introduced a number of significant reforms to ensure that taxpayer money is allocated to the maximum benefit of society. Public service reform remains at the heart of this Government's agenda to ensure efficiency and improved outcomes for citizens.
In this regard, the wide-ranging reforms to the budgetary architecture introduced by this Government support the efficient use of public funds to deliver effective services for citizens. The implementation of a medium term budgetary framework and the introduction of wide-scale reviews of public expenditure with the Comprehensive Reviews of Expenditure allow for greater consideration and debate about key challenges facing public expenditure.
The Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES), which was established in 2012, is an integrated cross-Government service which enhances the role of economics and value for money analysis in public policy making. IGEES staff operate in designated economic evaluation units and engage widely with other Government Departments.
The revised Public Spending Code, which sets out the economic appraisal requirements for new current and capital expenditure proposals, brings together in one place all of the elements of the value-for-money framework that has been in force up to now, updated and reformed in some respects. The Code is maintained on my Department's website under the management of the Central Expenditure Evaluation Unit (CEEU) as a resource for the entire Irish public service. In September 2013, Departments and Offices were formally notified by circular that the Public Spending Code is in effect. Departments/Agencies proposing the expenditure are generally responsible for undertaking the required appraisal for each new spending proposal or project. It provides that appraisals and detailed assessments should be carried out before Exchequer resources are committed.
In July 2015, the Government agreed a new three-year Value for Money Review Programme for each Department. Under the programme, Departments will review expenditure across a number of programme areas. This Programme which is reviewing 40 topics is aligned with the multi-annual budgetary cycle, and the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure process.
As the Deputy will, of course, be aware the Oireachtas itself and its Committees also plays a central role in seeking to ensure that the expenditure of State resources occurs in the best interest of the general public.
22. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will extend the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 to cover the strategic operations of An Garda Síochána; if he is aware that comparable freedom of information legislation in other jurisdictions permits queries on police force operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40601/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contained a commitment to extend Freedom of Information (FOI) to the administrative side of An Garda Síochána, subject to security exceptions. The Government has honoured that commitment by providing that Freedom of Information Act should apply to the force's administrative records relating to human resources, finance and procurement matters. Applying FOI to An Garda Síochána in this manner represents a very significant extension of FOI. It is a step that I was determined to take since coming into office and has been widely welcomed.
The Government has no plans to extend FOI to cover what the Deputy's question terms the strategic operations of An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will be aware that, in contrast to the position in many other European countries, An Garda Síochána constitutes the State's security and intelligence service to which any application of FOI would not be appropriate on grounds of national security. It is also important to note that, I am aware from the research carried out by my Department, the application of FOI to police forces in other jurisdictions is, in practice, subject to significant exemptions and restrictions.
In the course of drafting the FOI Act, in consultation with the Minister for Justice, I gave extensive consideration to meeting both requirements reflected in the Programme for Government commitment that is making administrative records available under FOI consistent with the safeguarding of sensitive policing and security functions of An Garda Siochana. In this regard, I concluded that certain administrative records could contain information related to sensitive security matters the disclosure of which could compromise priority operations and the safety and security of Garda personnel. For that reason, specific exemptions are included in the FOI Act, for records relating to, for example, the Emergency Response Unit, the Special Detective Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau.
It is, of course, the case that significant information relating to the strategy and priorities of An Garda Síochána is made available as a matter of course outside of FOI by the Garda authorities themselves and the website www.garda.ie and by the Minister for Justice, for example in responding to Parliamentary Questions.
23. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the steps being taken to address flood risks within the Shannon basin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40404/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Shannon Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study being undertaken by the Office of Public Works is the core strategy for addressing flood risk in the Shannon basin. I am advised that good progress continues to be made on the Study. A total of 66 locations along the Shannon, covering an area of 17,800 square kilometres, have been identified for further assessment under the Study, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW with the involvement of relevant local authorities. A programme of local public consultation days on the draft predictive flood mapping for these locations concluded in April 2015. A national public consultation on the draft flood maps will commence tomorrow, 20 November and run until 23 December 2015.
Further details on the Shannon CFRAM Study are available on the Study website www.shannoncframstudy.ie. Following the finalisation of the flood mapping and the assessment of appropriate flood risk management options, the final output from this important project will be integrated plans containing specific measures to address in a comprehensive and sustainable way the significant flood risk factors in the Shannon basin.
The Flood Risk Management Plans due to be completed by the end of 2016, will include a prioritised list of measures, both structural and non-structural, to address flood risk in an environmentally sustainable and cost effective manner. The Plans will be used to determine national priorities for State investment in flood defences, on a systematic and objective basis that takes into account social and environmental factors as well as economic criteria.
The Office of Public Works also has in place a Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. It is open to Councils to submit funding applications under the Scheme or carry out works from their own resources. The Scheme's eligibility criteria, including a requirement that any measures are cost beneficial, are published on the OPW website, www.opw.ie. Any application received will be considered in accordance with the eligibility criteria and having regard to the overall availability of resources for flood risk management.
24. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the indicators that exist to measure the participation of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in public procurement; if there are targets for the participation of these enterprises in public procurement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40612/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublic Procurement is governed by EU and National rules. The aim of these rules is to promote an open, competitive and non-discriminatory public procurement regime which delivers best value for money. It would be a breach of the EU rules for a public body to favour or discriminate against particular candidates on grounds such as nationality, organisational size, etc. and there are legal remedies which may be used against any public body infringing these rules.
Earlier this year the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) published a report on 2013 spend and tendering activity from 64 large public service bodies. The report titled "Public Service Spend and Tendering Analysis for 2013" contained positive news for Irish businesses and SMEs. The EU definition of a SME was used in this analysis. The spend data that was analysed indicates:
- 93% of public service expenditure is with businesses in the Republic of Ireland
- 66% of public service expenditure is with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
The Government acknowledges the significant role that SMEs play in the Irish economy and is committed to ensuring that SMEs are fully engaged with public sector procurement. In order to encourage greater SME participation the OGP is working with industry representative bodies to promote the engagement of Irish business in public procurement (including ISME, IBEC, SFA, Chambers Ireland, and CIF) as well as the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, InterTrade Ireland and Enterprise Ireland.
This year, for example, the OGP supported two 'Meet the Buyer' events - one in Belfast and the other in Dublin, Go To Tender workshops and Taking Care of Business events with a combined attendance in excess of 2,000 businesses. In addition, the OGP is proactively promoting the eTenders system to get more businesses to register which resulted in over 12,000 new supplier registrations in 2014 and a similar number is expected for 2015.
The reform of public procurement across the public service is on-going and will continue to provide opportunities to the SME sector to win business. The Office of Government Procurement will continue to work with industry to ensure that winning government business is done in a fair, transparent and accessible way and to ensure that government procurement policies are business friendly.
25. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress being made on flood alleviation measures in Foynes and Askeaton in County Limerick; his plans to carry out further works on the River Shannon embankments in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40403/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of flood defences in Foynes is being undertaken by Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) with funding from the Office of Public Works (OPW). The Council has developed a scheme which has been approved under Part Viii of the Planning and Development Regulations. The Council is currently progressing the procurement of a civil works contractor to undertake the scheme works and is expecting to appoint a contractor shortly. The Scheme is expected to be completed in the summer of 2016.
Limerick City & County Council applied to the OPW for funding in Askeaton in 2013 and was subsequently approved for funding on 31 March, 2015 of €30,000 under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme (Coastal) for the appointment of consultants to design proposed improvements in Askeaton, to include costings and cost benefit analysis. It is a matter for the Council to progress these works. The Council has not drawn any of this funding allocation to date.
Askeaton was identified through the national Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment as a location where flood risk was potentially significant. It is therefore designated as one of 300 Areas for Further Assessment under the National Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. A detailed flood risk assessment of Askeaton is being carried out by engineering consultants on behalf of the Office of Public Works, under the Shannon CFRAM Study, in partnership with Limerick City & County Council. Draft flood maps, which represent predicted flood extents for certain probabilities of flood events, have been produced and were the subject of a Public Consultation Day in Askeaton on 6 November 2014. The draft maps will be finalised following a national consultation due to commence shortly, details of which will be available on www.cfram.ie. As part of the flood risk mitigation options development process, a Public Consultation Day was held in Askeaton on 7 October 2015. Flood Risk Management Plans for each CFRAM Study area are scheduled to be prepared during 2016.
The OPW continues to maintain the Shannon Embankments in Co. Limerick in fulfilment of its statutory obligations under the Arterial Drainage Acts. The embankments have all been refurbished within the past ten years and are functioning at their design level. Work on the embankments consists primarily of vegetation maintenance and periodic inspections.
26. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to a previous parliamentary question, and given the acknowledgement by the Road Safety Authority of the restrictive, unsatisfactory and unsuitable nature of the existing driving test centre in Galway city, relating to lack of facilities including parking and the availability of space in which to carry out testing for larger vehicles, the progress by the Office of Public Works in securing new accommodation for the centre in Galway city. [40599/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of improved facilities for the driving testers and test candidates in Galway remains a priority and the Commissioners of Public Works continue to work with the Road Safety Authority in an effort to advance matters.
As stated in replies to previous parliamentary questions and representations on this matter, the question of providing Heavy Goods Vehicle testing facilities in an urban area has proven to be problematic, both in the identification of a suitable site and in regard to the availability of funding. The Commissioners of Public Works are keeping this matter under review in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority.
27. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a determination will be made on an application for disability allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40923/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Allowance is a weekly allowance for people with a disability aged between 16 and 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year. The person concerned must pass a medical exam, a means test and be habitually resident in Ireland to get the allowance.
No application for disability allowance has been received in my department from the person concerned to date. Further information on disability allowance is available on my department's website www.welfare.ie.
Illness benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. One of the PRSI conditions is that a person must have a minimum of 39 reckonable contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. Claims made in 2015 are governed by the 2013 tax year, and only PRSI Classes A, E, H, and P are reckonable for illness benefit purposes.
The person concerned made a claim to illness benefit and this claim was received in my department on 9 Nov 2015. This claim was disallowed as the person concerned does not satisfy the above contribution criteria. The person concerned has been notified of this decision.
If the person concerned is unable to meet their needs or the needs of their household, they may be entitled to supplementary welfare allowance and should contact the department's community welfare services at their local Intreo office.
28. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to allow self-employed persons to pay extra voluntary contributions in order to be allowed access social protection entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40017/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSelf-employed persons who earn €5,000 or more in a contribution year are liable for PRSI at the class S rate of 4%, subject to a minimum payment of €500. These contributions entitle them to access social insurance benefits, including State pension (contributory), widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner's pension (contributory), guardians payment (contributory), maternity benefit and adoptive benefit.
In its 2013 report, the Advisory Group on Tax and Social examined issues relating to the provision of social insurance cover for the self-employed on a cost-neutral or cost-reducing context.
The Group was not convinced that there was a need to extend cover for jobseeker's benefit to the self-employed. The Group did, however, find that extending social insurance for the self-employed was warranted, in cases related to long term sickness or injuries, through the invalidity pension and the partial capacity benefit schemes.
In this regard the Group recommended that the rate of contribution for class S should be increased by at least 1.5 percentage points. Based on the 2010 report on the Actuarial Review of the Social Insurance Fund an increase in the region of 17% would be required for the core contributory State pension plus invalidity pension for the self-employed. This takes account of the 15% needed to provide the core full-rate State pension.
The Advisory Group considered the issue of allowing self-employed persons pay extra contributions to access benefits on an optional basis. The Group recommended against it as allowing people to opt in or out could lead to the selection of bad risks. It therefore recommended that any extension of social insurance to the self-employed should be on a compulsory basis.
29. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied)l in County Monaghan is awaiting a decision on an application for an invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40956/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions.
The department received a claim for IP for the person concerned on 14 August 2015. The person concerned was refused IP on the grounds that the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. She was notified on the 05 October 2015 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal to the independent social welfare appeals office (SWAO).
The person concerned has requested a review of this decision and has submitted further medical evidence in support of her request. This review will be processed as quickly as possible and when a decision is made the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. If the outcome of the review is not in favour of the person in question, she will have the right of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.
Supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) provides a basic weekly allowance to eligible people who have little or no income including eligible people who are awaiting a decision on another social welfare scheme. Applicants must satisfy a number of qualifying conditions including a means test. The person concerned may make an application for SWA through her local community welfare service so that her eligibility may be determined.
30. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application for a review of disability allowance entitlement by a person (details supplied). [40979/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application for disability allowance, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused by a deciding officer (DO) on medical grounds.
The person in question requested a review of the decision by a DO and submitted additional evidence for consideration. The review has now been concluded but the outcome is that the decision to refuse on medical grounds has been confirmed.
The person in question has been notified directly of the review outcome on 17 November 2015. They have been advised of their right to appeal this decision to the independent social welfare appeals office.
31. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of applications, successful applications and unsuccessful applications, respectively, for partial capacity benefit since its inception in February 2012; her plans to revert to the previous exemption arrangements for persons on illness benefit and-or invalidity pension; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40984/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe numbers of persons claiming and/or receiving Partial Capacity Benefit (PCB) since its inception are set out in the following table.
|
Partial Capacity Benefit figures since inception (Feb 2012) |
Total |
|
Applications since scheme launch |
4923 |
|
Successful applications |
4116 |
|
Unsuccessful applications |
211 |
|
Applications currently under consideration |
596 |
It is a condition of the PCB scheme that a person may not commence employment until they have received written approval to do so from the Department of Social Protection following
an assessment by one of the Department's Medical Assessors will assesses the restriction on the person's capacity for work.
It should be noted a number of people who apply for PCB and whose applications are successful do not proceed to employment. Those applications remain in the "under consideration" category until they notify the Department otherwise. Persons continue to remain in receipt of their primary payment i.e. illness benefit or invalidity pension.
There are no plans to revert to the previous exemptions arrangements for persons on illness benefit or invalidity pension.
32. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to reverse the cuts experienced by recipients of illness benefit and invalidity pension in respect of training allowances; her views on whether these cuts are unjust, especially for persons in rural Ireland who cannot avail of public transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40985/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would point out that recipients of illness benefit and invalidity pension retain full entitlement to their social welfare payments when they commence a training course with SOLAS.
From 1 January 2014, SOLAS has not paid a general training allowance to new participants on training courses as concurrent payments of social welfare payments and training allowances ceased on that date. However, depending on the course, other specific allowances in respect of travel, accommodation and meals may be payable to participants by SOLAS.
33. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of her announced independent financial advice service (details supplied); the number of persons who have availed of the service; the number of accountants who are members of the panel and who were members of the panel during any given year; the number of persons on the panel from the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ireland, the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants, respectively, by year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40988/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mortgage Arrears Information and Advice Service was established to provide a comprehensive and coordinated approach to assist people in mortgage arrears or pre-arrears in assessing their options. The service includes the website www.keepingyourhome.ie, the Mortgage Arrears Information Helpline (phone 0761 072000) and the provision of independent financial advice to mortgage holders who are being presented with long term mortgage resolution proposals by their lenders.
The independent financial advice is provided by a panel of accountants drawn from members of the main accountancy institutes in Ireland. A county by county panel with over 1500 participating accountants is in place and their details are available on www.keepingyourhome.ie. Borrowers are free to choose their own advisor from this panel and the lender will pay €250 to the accountant of the borrower's choice for the provision of this advice.
The panel of accountants is refreshed regularly, based on information received from the various accounting bodies. While historical data is not maintained, the current breakdown is as follows:
- Chartered Accountants Ireland: 995
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants: 315
- Institute of Certified Public Accountants: 214
- Institute of Incorporated Public Accountants: 55
Since the service was made available towards the end of 2012, there has been well in excess of 300,000 visits to the website, over 13,000 people have called the helpline, and 2,144 people have availed of the independent financial advice service (to end Q3, 2015).
