Written Answers Nos. 362-383
362. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department has reviewed its position on public-private partnership guidelines following the EUROSTAT and European Investment Bank publication of guidelines on the statistical treatment of public-private partnerships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36081/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Guide to the Statistical Treatment of PPPs published jointly by Eurostat and the European PPP Expertise Centre (EPEC) in September has brought considerable clarity and certainty in relation to how PPP contracts will be assessed by Eurostat for classification purposes and is very helpful in planning future PPPs. The Guide also clarifies the position in relation to the key concerns that the Irish authorities had expressed in relation to the uncertainty that had been created by the revised MGDD which had been issued in March 2016.
My Department has carefully considered the provisions of the new Guide, in conjunction with the NDFA, the CSO and also colleagues responsible for PPP policy in other jurisdictions. NDFA are currently making the necessary changes to the template contract to reflect the requirements of the new Guide in this regard. The CSO will continue to assess PPPs based on finalised contracts and the latest guidance and will confirm this assessment with Eurostat. My Department and the NDFA are confident that the clarity and certainty brought by the latest guidance allows us to continue to procure PPPs based on the template PPP contract currently used by the NDFA (and TII) with only a few relatively minor modifications required to ensure that the projects will continue to be classified as off-balance sheet.
363. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the value of contracts awarded to companies and businesses in Northern Ireland; the post-Brexit implications for those companies that have contracts under EU law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36114/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Government Procurement (OGP) can access the information sought by the Deputy for EU threshold contracts awarded to companies in Northern Ireland which was entered on the National eTenders system in respect of 2015. However, this information is not readily available so the OGP will reply directly to the Deputy on the matter.
In relation to implications post-Brexit for those companies that have contracts under EU law, it is not possible at this point to anticipate the potential effects of the UK withdrawal from the EU. Negotiations cannot commence until Article 50 has been triggered and the process for withdrawal will take place over at least two years and possibly longer. For the moment, the UK remains a full member of the EU with all the rights and obligations of a Member State, and businesses can continue to trade as normal. The Government will be working with our EU partners and with the UK with the aim of ensuring a strong EU-UK relationship and a well-managed withdrawal.
364. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when further funding will be provided to upgrade and reinforce the Bellurgan embankment in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36179/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe upgrade works on the coastal embankment at Bellurgan, Co Louth, are being advanced by Louth County Council with funding from the Office of Public Works (OPW).
The Council has informed the OPW that works have now commenced and are expected to be completed in the early part of 2017. Funding will be provided to the Council upon request, on the basis of certified monies expended.
365. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the dredging of a river. [36192/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe channel referred to by the Deputy forms part of the Inny Drainage scheme, responsibility for the maintenance of which lies with the Office of Public Works.
I can confirm that the OPW foreman for the area has been in contact with the Chairperson of the Multyfarnham Tidy Towns Committee and has agreed that maintenance of the channel will be carried out in the new year as part of this Office’s 2017 arterial drainage maintenance programme.
366. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if a Brexit sub-committee has been established in his Department; if so, when it was convened; the number of times it has met; the number of members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36209/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU/North South Unit of my Department has overall responsibility for coordinating issues relating to Brexit within the Department. It represents the Department on the Inter-Departmental Committee on EU/UK Relations, which is chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach, and also supports me in my role as a member of the Cabinet Committee on Brexit.
Brexit features on the agenda of the Department's Management Board as well as the Principal Officer Forum, both of which have received detailed briefings within the last month and will continue to do so.
Brexit has been reflected in the Department's Risk Register since before the UK Referendum and will feature in the Department's forthcoming Statement of Strategy for 2016-2019.
367. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of vacant sites, properties and land owned by his Department or bodies and agencies under its aegis in the Dublin City Council area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36226/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Commissioners of Public Works own the following properties and sites in the Dublin City Council area that are currently not in use.
10/11 Castle St, Dublin 2.
This property is adjacent to Dublin Castle and retained for strategic purposes.
390-396 Clonard Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12.
This property was vacated by the Probation and Welfare Service in 2016 and alternative State usage is currently under consideration.
Debtors’ Prison, Halston Street, Dublin 8.
The future use of this historic property is currently under active consideration with alternative State usage being explored.
24-28 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
The transfer of the former Coláiste Mhuire school to Dublin City Council is at an advanced stage.
Hammond Lane site, Dublin 7.
This site, while currently vacant, is the proposed location of the new Children’s Court.
Military Road, Kilmainham, Dublin 8.
This strategic site is to be developed for State usage.
Leeson Lane, Dublin 2.
This site is to be developed and a planning application is currently with Dublin City Council.
368. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider an application by an association (details supplied) on 26 January 2015 for the temporary lease of the building known as the Sergeant's House, Old Garda Station, Abbeyville House, Ennis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36307/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the Sergeant's House, Old Garda Station## (formerly RIC Barrack), is being retained for State use for the purpose of meeting future accommodation needs and, therefore, it will not be possible to facilitate the Clare 22nd Battalion Association.
369. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost of public service pensions in 2015, including any lump sums payable to persons upon retirement; the number of recipients at the year's end; and the projected equivalent figures in 2016, 2020, 2025 and 2030. [36346/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cost of public service pensions inclusive of lump sums in 2015 was €2.909 billion, as reported in 2015 Appropriation Account. The number of recipients was 154,681. For 2016, the estimated cost of public service pensions is €2.929 billion, with the estimated number of recipients at 161,876.
My Department has published a figure of €98 billion as the estimated accrued liability for Public Service occupational pensions as at 31 December 2012. This represented a 16% reduction since the previous valuation published in 2009. The Department is currently revising and updating its estimate of the accrued liability, as of end-2015 and this information is expected to be published in 2017. Further information on the public service accrued liability update can be found at http://www.per.gov.ie/en/public-service-pensions-accrued-liability/. In this context, the Department does not maintain detailed forecasts of the annual cash cost of public service pensions for specific years into the future, such as referred to in the Deputy's question.
370. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding works on an embankment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36354/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I outlined to the Deputy in my reply to his Parliamentary Question on 5th July this year (PQ #390 refers), the location referred to is part of the tidal reaches of the River Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme. This scheme was carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 and the OPW continues to have a statutory responsibility for its maintenance.
This year the South West Region prioritised a section of Flood Defence at Callinafercy East which was in much greater need of refurbishment works due to its deteriorated condition. The timing of work on individual projects is determined having regard to the needs of regular maintenance and the prioritisation of urgent jobs.
OPW did carry out some coastal defence works at Douglas this summer following the completion of necessary appropriate assessments. This involved the placing of rock armour at this location to protect an eroded flood defence.
It is this Office’s intention to carry out flood defence refurbishment works at Gurrane in summer 2017. The Appropriate Assessments are in place to allow works to proceed, pending one final otter survey in advance of works commencing.
Each year the OPW carries out work to approximately 2,000km of channels and some 200 structures around the country as part of its ongoing and rolling arterial drainage maintenance programme. While the average cycle of maintenance is generally in the range of 4 to 7 years, the OPW does routinely inspect all channels and structures for which it has maintenance responsibility.
371. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans regarding future commemorative events related to events 100 years ago falling during her term of office; and her plans to re-establish herself or instruct the Minister for State to re-establish the decade of centenaries all-party consultative committee and its related advisory committee. [36105/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government will continue to mark significant events throughout the Decade of Centenaries. This will be based on the inclusive, open and consultative approach that has worked so well this year. At all times, the Government has been supported in its plans by the guidance and advice of the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations and the Oireachtas All-Party Consultation Group on Commemorations.
For example, next year, we will remember the battle of Messines. In 2018, we will mark the end of the First World War and the General Election of 1918 and then moving on to commemorate the First Dáil in January 2019. Commemorating the period of the War of Independence and the Civil War will present its own challenges. However, I strongly believe the same open and honest approach which we used for this year's successful commemorations, allowing all narratives to be heard, will ensure that we will be able to reflect appropriately on the all of the major historical events as they unfolded.
To this end, I can advise the Deputy that a number of new appointments have recently been made to the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations and that Group is currently considering the issue of guidance around the approach to the second half of the Decade of Centenaries. I am currently considering the steps necessary to re-establish the Oireachtas All-Party Consultation Group on Commemorations.
372. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will reverse some of the cuts in funding to the Irish language and Gaeltacht authorities since 2018 (details supplied). [35821/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my replies to recent Parliamentary Questions in regard to the 2017 Estimate provisions. Almost €60m has been provided in the 2017 Estimates for the Irish language, Gaeltacht and Islands programme, including funding for An Foras Teanga. This effectively represents an increase of €2.3m over the 2016 provision when account is taken of capital developments such as Inis Oírr pier and Ionad Cultúrtha an Phiarsaigh, Ros Muc.
As I indicated in my response to Questions No. 285, 287 and 288 on 8 November 2016, the budget for Foras na Gaeilge is subject to approval in due course by the North South Ministerial Council, given its status as an agency of An Foras Teanga, which is a North South Implementation Body co-funded with the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.
An indicative provision of €13.239m has been provided within my Department’s Vote for An Foras Teanga in 2017. In regard to funding for specific programmes of work, the dispersal of the budget will be an operational matter for Foras na Gaeilge within the framework of the NSMC-approved business plan and budget.
With regard to Údarás na Gaeltachta, an additional €1m in once-off capital funding had been secured as part of the 2016 Revised Estimates. This has been retained for next year, which means that €6.687m is the new capital baseline in Budget 2017 for Údarás na Gaeltachta – an increase of €1m on the baseline in Budget 2016. In addition, I have secured an additional allocation of €2.4m for Údarás for capital projects in 2016. I will continue to seek additional capital resources for Údarás over the coming period.
The Deputy may also be aware that in order to further underpin the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy and the language planning process, as set out in Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, a specific allocation of €1m has also been provided in the current year. As announced in Budget 2017, this allocation is being increased to €1.25m for next year and will further enable my Department, acting in co-operation with Údarás na Gaeltachta and relevant stakeholders at community level, to implement a range of specific and practical measures aimed at both supporting the implementation of the Strategy, as well as the language planning process in Gaeltacht areas.
A further increase of €1m in current funding provided in Budget 2017 for the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and Islands programme area will enable my Department to allocate extra resources to Gaeltacht support schemes such as the Irish Language Colleges and Gaeltacht community groups funded by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
The Deputy can rest assured that I will continue, insofar as I can, to seek additional funding for the Irish language, within the overall budgetary resources available to the Government.
373. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of post office closures each year from 2002 to 2016 to date. [35901/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Post Office network comprises an extensive range of offices throughout the country, most of which are operated by postmasters under contract to An Post.
Given the nature of the network, at any point in time there may be a number of Post Offices that are temporarily closed due to factors such as retirement, death in service, etc. In such circumstances, post offices may subsequently re-open under a contract with a new postmaster. This closing and re-opening could potentially straddle two different calendar years.
With regard to the number of post offices that have closed over the period in question, it has not been possible to compile the information requested by the Deputy in the time available. I will arrange to forward a comprehensive list of post office closures to the Deputy shortly, within the timeframe set down in Standing Orders.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
374. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of applications that have been refused for injury warrants under the Superannuation Acts since 1995 within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35979/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was established on 9 June 2016. The Department has responsibility for all the matters that previously came within the remit of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, which was itself established on 2 June 2011, and in addition is also responsible for certain functions transferred from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
I am informed that since the establishment of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in June 2011 there are no records of any applications from staff in my Department being refused for injury warrants under the Superannuation Acts. It should be noted that the decision to make such an award rests with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
375. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will expedite the review of the archaeological impact assessment of a house (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36169/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has reviewed an archaeological impact assessment in relation to the house in question and has informed the planning authority that it is satisfied that the archaeological requirements of the grant of planning permission have been complied with.
376. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a Brexit sub-committee has been established in her Department; if so, when it was convened; the number of times it has met; the number of members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36198/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Working Group to deal with Brexit issues was established in my Department on 18 October. It has met twice and is scheduled to meet again on 5 December. The Working Group is chaired at Assistant Secretary level and is composed of ten officials drawn from across the Department.
My Department is also represented on the Inter-Departmental Group dealing with Brexit since it was established in April.
377. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of vacant sites, properties and land owned by her Department or by bodies and agencies under the aegis of her Department in the Dublin City Council area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36215/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management of properties occupied by staff of my Department and of those bodies under its aegis in the Dublin City Council area is in general a matter for the Office of Public Works.
However, I am advised that Waterways Ireland, one of the two North-South Implementation Bodies co-sponsored by my Department, owns the Royal Canal and Grand Canal corridors and their adjoining towpaths and banks within the Dublin City Council area. Arising from this, Waterways Ireland owns the Sea Lockhouse at Britain Quay, Grand Canal Dock, and the 1st Lockhouse at Newcomen Bridge, both of which are currently vacant. Waterways Ireland is also the owner of a Graving Dock site adjacent to Grand Canal Dock.
378. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the UNESCO recommendations on the publishing of the documentation on the conservation works, at an academic and a popular level, on the Skellig Michael site in County Kerry will be fully complied with; the timeline for the publication of these works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36283/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe report in question is the responsibility of the Office of Public Works (OPW), as managers of the particular World Heritage site referred to.
I understand from OPW that the full record of the conservation works undertaken over a number of years will be published in accordance with UNESCO requirements.
The compilation of the report, which will form a substantial series of volumes, has been prioritised by OPW and has been under way for some time. I am advised that it will be completed as soon as possible.
379. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to bid to purchase the Pearse letter of surrender which is now on display in the GPO and is reported to be going for auction in December 2016, in view of the historical importance of the letter to the nation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36284/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere exist a number of historically important original documents in the possession of the State written by Pádraig Pearse during the 1916 Rising and during his subsequent imprisonment. Following consultation with the relevant institutions under the aegis of my Department, it is a shared view that the amount being sought for this one letter – between €1m and €1.5m - was not justifiable in terms of expenditure of public monies and in the context of historical material already held.
380. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the advice he would give a person (details supplied) who would like an inquiry into the death of their baby infant in Temple Street hospital in 1966 shortly after birth in view of the fact there was no autopsy and the fact that they never received any remains and did not receive a birth or death certificate until 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35943/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to express my deepest sympathies to the person concerned in this case. I understand that Temple Street Hospital has been in contact with this person to discuss and clarify the circumstances of their child's death, post-mortem and burial, and has issued an apology. If the person wishes to pursue the matter further, it is open to them to refer the matter to the HSE Director of Advocacy and the Ombudsman/Ombudsman for Children, in line with the complaints process details, of which are on the HSE website, athttp://www.hse.ie/eng/services/yourhealthservice/feedback/complaints/.
381. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Health the reason there has been a delay in the commencement of Part 2 of the Children and Family Relationships Act, concerning donor-assisted human reproduction; if he will provide a timeline for commencement of this section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35952/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe detailed preparatory work required to facilitate the commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 is under way involving officials from my Department.
382. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health when the memorandum referred to by the Taoiseach during Leaders' Questions on 15 November 2016 (details supplied) will be brought before the Cabinet. [36137/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is my intention to bring a Memorandum to Government early in the new year in relation to the new children’s hospital and associated satellite centres.
383. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health the funding available from his Department for the start-up costs of a men's shed (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36275/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity groups such as Allenwood Men's Shed, Co Kildare, may apply for Lottery Funding to help with start-up costs to the Department of Health or the Health Service Executive.
