Written Answers Nos. 25-34
25. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the level of funding that will be provided by the Office of Public Works to Cavan and Monaghan county councils in 2017 to deal with flooding problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3271/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding, is the Office of Public Work’s Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. 300 locations nationwide are being assessed under the Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the OPW working in partnership with the local authorities.
CFRAM’s Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment (PFRA) study, carried out in 2011, identified; Cavan Town and Ballyconnell, in County Cavan, and Ballybay, Carrickmacross, Iniskeen and Monaghan Town in County Monaghan, as Areas of Further Assessment (AFA) and are being assessed as part of the North Western-Neagh Bann CFRAM Study. These AFAs have been modelled, mapped and assessed for options to manage flood risk. Public consultation events were held in Spring 2015 on the draft flood maps, in Spring 2016 on the preliminary options and Autumn 2016 on the draft plans.
Following this public consultation process, the draft plans are being finalised taking on board the comments received. The finalised plans will include a prioritised list of measures, both structural and non-structural, that can address flood risk in an environmentally sustainable and cost effective manner. Amongst the feasible measures that may form part of a flood defence scheme, as part of the implementation of the FRMPs will be; structural defences built through the OPW’s Arterial Drainage (Amendment) Act, 1995; Local Authorities own powers; and/or the Minor Flood Mitigation Works & Coastal Protection Scheme. The plans, when finalised in Spring 2017, will be sent to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for approval.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in September 2015 announced details of a €430 million 6 year programme of capital investment on flood defence measures as part of the Government’s overall Capital Investment Plan 2016 – 2021. During this time, the annual allocation for flood defence schemes will more than double to €100m.
The flood protection capital programme 2016 – 2021 will build on the very significant investment that has already been undertaken in flood relief works throughout the country over the last 20 years. It will provide the means to provide feasible protection to homes and businesses in major urban areas together with investment in many minor works projects to address more localised flooding problems.
In August 2016, I contacted the CEOs of all local authorities to acknowledge the significant work of and contribution made by the City and County Councils in addressing flooding problems throughout the country. In addition, I also reminded the local authorities of the availability of the Minor Works Scheme and to make the best possible use of the scheme to deal with localised fluvial and coastal flooding problems that may be eligible for funding under the scheme.
Under the scheme, applications are considered for projects that are estimated to cost not more than €500,000 in each instance. Funding of up to 90% of the cost is available for approved projects. Applications are assessed by the OPW having regard to the specific economic, social and environmental criteria of the scheme, including a minimum cost benefit ratio of 1.5:1.
On a national level, close on €38m has been approved for over 600 projects since the scheme was introduced in 2009, with over 400 projects already completed providing protection to 5,000 properties.
27. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the decision of the Education Procurement Service to issue a tender (details supplied) for the national supply of library books and audio visual material, which includes a requirement to use software currently not available here and thereby discriminated against Irish companies in the tender requirements. [3264/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provision of public library services, including the procurement of books, is a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under the Local Government Act 2001. Local Authorities are under the remit of the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and as such my Department has no role in these matters.
I am informed that a national tender for book stock procurement is being progressed by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) on behalf of local authorities. The Request for Tender was published on the 'e-Tenders' website in October 2016 and the process is expected to conclude shortly. The LGMA has confirmed that the process was conducted in a fair and transparent manner and in full compliance with all regulations, policies and guidelines governing public procurement in Ireland. There was no discrimination against any supplier. Indeed, the publication of the tender in six lots sought to ensure equality of opportunity for all suppliers.
I also understand that the tender process is ongoing it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the process or the outcome at this time.
28. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the provision he has made for inflation in expenditure targets of 2017; if those targets include the provision of all new services promised under the programme for Government to be delivered in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3283/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Revised Estimates Volume (REV) 2017 outlines Gross Voted Expenditure for 2017 of €58,072 million. The increase in the 2017 Estimate over the 2016 Estimate, including Supplementary Estimates, is €1.7 billion or 3.1 per cent.
The Mid-Year Expenditure Report, published in July 2016, set out the pre-Budget Ministerial expenditure ceilings that reflected certain expenditure pressures in Health, Education and Social Protection arising from demographics and the projected carry over impact of certain Budget 2016 measures including additional pay costs arising under the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
As set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government (PfPG), the Government is committed to tackling the most pressing challenges Ireland faces, in areas such as housing and health, while continuing to focus on increasing employment across the country. The additional expenditure announced on Budget day, and allocated in the REV 2017, provides funding towards progressing a number of key commitments in these areas.
The REV allocates some €1.2 billion for the Housing programme in the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, an increase of €0.4 billion or 50 per cent over the amount allocated to that programme in 2016. This will support delivery of the commitments outlined in the Action Plan for Housing.
As outlined in the PfPG, increases of an average of more than 3 per cent per annum, combined with an ongoing reform agenda, are needed to make real improvements in the Health service. The REV allocates €14.6 billion to Health in 2017, an increase of almost €0.5 billion or 3.5 per cent on the 2016 allocation.
Social Protection is allocated €19.9 billion in 2017. This allocation will provide for increases of €5 per week, starting in March, for all weekly social welfare payments.
Higher quality and more affordable childcare benefits children, families and the economy. There is an increase of 15 per cent in the allocation for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
These increases demonstrate the Government's commitment to improvements in public services in line with the PfPG by delivering sustainable growth in public spending.
30. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of a site for Bailieborough Garda station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3278/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe OPW is progressing the legal matters relating to the acquisition of the site as a matter of high priority. This process will be completed as soon as possible.
31. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has satisfied himself with the legislative measures undertaken or in motion by his Department to improve standards and transparency in public office, for example, the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 and the Public Sector Standards Bill 2015; if his attention has been drawn to the continuing concerns of advocacy groups such as TASC regarding ethics codes, the arguably permissive approach to gifts and ongoing difficulties in ensuring adherence to the transparency code; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3422/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government Reform programme was undertaken to facilitate more open, transparent, responsible and responsive public governance. A very substantial programme of legislative reforms has been delivered including the Ombudsman (amendment) Act 2012, the Oireachtas (Inquiries Privileges and Procedures) Act 2013, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Freedom of Information Act 2014, the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 and three Statute Law Revision Acts. In addition, the Public Sector Standards Bill was published and drafting of the Data Sharing and Governance Bill is underway. I am satisfied with the legislative measures undertaken to date and currently underway.
In relation to the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, while responsibility for implementation rests with the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPOC), work undertaken by my Department and the SIPOC in building awareness and understanding of the Act has been effective and I am confident that this momentum will be maintained. The first four reporting deadlines for those who have lobbied designated public officials have now passed and I am very pleased with the level of compliance achieved. There are currently more than 1,500 organisations and individuals who have registered, and almost 11,000 returns have been submitted to the Register.
Regarding the Transparency Code, the Act provides for an exemption from registration requirements for communications between members of certain types of working groups, task forces, committees, etc. where the group in question complies with this Code. All Departments have been made aware of the Code by both my Department and SIPOC. The first review of the operation of the Act is underway and any issues raised regarding the Code will be fully considered as part of this review.
In relation to the Public Sector Standards Bill 2015, I expect that it will recommence at Committee Stage in the Dáil towards the end of February with a view to enactment before the summer.
I can confirm also that officials from my Department have recently had a very productive meeting with a representative from TASC regarding this Bill, and subsequent to this meeting I received a letter on the subject from TASC. I have asked my officials to consider the matters raised in this letter with a view to making recommendations to me on legislative amendments, if any, that may be required.
34. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the schedule for the river Shannon dredging works which were announced prior to Christmas 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3427/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn January 2016, the Government took decisive action to support the existing plans in place to address flooding on the Shannon and established the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group to enhance ongoing co-operation of all State agencies involved with the River Shannon.
The Group is focused on ensuring the best possible level of co-ordination between all statutory bodies involved in flood risk management on the Shannon. It is solutions focused and designed to deliver the highest level of efficiencies to add value to the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme.
The Group, which is chaired by the OPW, has taken a decision to develop a plan for strategic maintenance works on the River Shannon. Over the years there have been many calls for a maintenance programme to be put in place for the Shannon. A planned maintenance programme to halt the deterioration of the River Shannon would complement the Group’s existing Work Programme and the specific measures that are identified for the areas at risk in the Draft Shannon Flood Risk Management Plan.
In order to progress work on this initiative, significant background work must be undertaken to firstly look at all of the issues associated with such a proposal and then to develop a project plan to bring the initiative forward.
A sub-committee of the Group is currently being established to review and assess all the issues involved including financial, environmental and legal issues. The sub-committee will determine the scope of the project as part of their deliberations including the potential targeting and phasing of works. The resources required will evolve as the various strands of the project are identified, reviewed, assessed and ultimately agreed on.
It is important to state that there are a range of activities that can be considered when carrying out river channel maintenance, of which dredging is only one such potential activity. The maintenance required may involve work on the river bed or the river bank and may range from the removal of silt deposits to the cutting back of vegetation. The sub-committee will consider the full range of activities as part of their deliberations.
