Written Answers Nos. 1 - 25
13. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost and works required for the Seanad Éireann move to the ceramics room in the National Museum of Ireland; the arrangements in place; the safeguards in place for this room; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3742/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPrior to and following the agreement with the National Museum of Ireland to temporarily relocate Seanad Éireann to the Ceramics Room of the Museum, the Office of Public Works has been actively engaged with the management and the staff of the Museum to assist with the process of their preparation of the detailed plans and tender documentation required to advance these works. Any and all works proposed will ensure that the integrity of the museum will be maintained and respected at all times. The outcome of investigative works that are now being undertaken will inform the detailed design and specifications of the works required and this accordingly will facilitate detailed cost estimates.
16. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the legal negotiations on the site for the new Garda station in Bailieborough will be finalised as a priority; if there is a problem with the proposed new site in view of the fact legal negotiations have been ongoing for 15 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10489/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe OPW is progressing the legal matters relating to the acquisition of the site as a matter of high priority. Legal negotiations, by their very nature, are complex and can take significant time to complete. It is expected that the current process will be completed shortly.
17. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that as public sector pay progresses post-FEMPI all public sector pensions will rise pro rata; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10500/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the past, the ocupational pensions received by public service pensioners were generally adjusted in line with changes in the wages or salary of the pensioner's grade at retirement. Sometimes referred to as "pay parity", this non-statutory linkage lapsed in 2010 when pensions were left unchanged notwithstanding salary cuts at the beginning of that year affecting all public servants.
This pension protection, albeit tempered from 2011 in some cases by the imposition of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR), has worked to the benefit of pensioners, as indeed have the "grace periods" in respect of new-award pensions which accompanied the public service salary cuts in 2010 and 2013.
In addition, the PSPR burden on pensioners is now being significantly alleviated under FEMPI 2015. This substantial part-reversal of the PSPR is proceeding in three stages over the period 2016 to 2018. When complete on 1 January 2018 it will mean that most public service pensioners are not affected by PSPR.
In light of these developments, the issue of how to adjust the post-award value of public service pensions through appropriate pay or other linkages will be considered by Government in due course.
18. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the cost to revert to a single tier pay structure across the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10498/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra21. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his Department's progress in bringing to an end the two tier pay system that exists across the public service to the detriment of more recent entrants to the public service. [10626/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 21 together.
The 10% reductions in starting pay for certain new entrants were introduced in January 2011 as part of the National Recovery Plan in order to reduce the Public Service Pay Bill by the then Government and as a response to the serious fiscal position presenting at that time.
The issue of addressing the difference in incremental salary scales between those public servants, who entered public service employment since 2011 and those who entered before that date was addressed with the relevant union interests under the provisions of the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA). From 1 November 2013 pre and post-2011 pay scales were merged into a single consolidated scale applicable to each grade. Generally, the third point of 1 November 2013 payscale is equivalent to the first point of scale of the pre 2011 scale. Guidelines in relation to the merging of the scales are available on my Departments website www.per.gov.ie/en/haddington-road-agreement/.
There are various factors which impacted on the pay scale and point of scale under which employees were recruited in the period from January 2011 such as prior public service experience and incremental credit agreements. Detailed costings would require collation and estimation on an individual sector level, based on detailed data on the position of staff on each salary scale across the public service for each individual grade.
Any further remuneration adjustment, for any group of public servants including new entrants, can be examined under the framework of the Lansdowne Road Agreement but must also be considered in the context of the total cost of the agreement (€844m) and the total cost of the outstanding FEMPI restoration post Lansdowne Road (€1.4bn).
Acting within these constraints, the Agreement has provided the flexability to address particular sectoral issues such as the restoration of supervision and substitution payments and new entrant payments in the Education Sector and the restoration of rent allowances to new entrant firefighters and members of An Garda Síochána.
19. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the expenditure reviews current and capital his Department is undertaking on Government spending in the lead up to budget 2018; the areas that will be reviewed; if these reviews will be brought to the budgetary oversight committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10493/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork on the Spending Review announced in my speech accompanying the publication of the Estimates last October is now underway. This review will systematically examine existing spending programmes to assess their effectiveness in meeting policy objectives and also to identify scope for re-allocating funding to meet expenditure priorities. The review differs from the 'comprehensive' reviews of expenditures carried out in previous years, moving to a 'rolling' system of selective reviews. A significant proportion of current Departmental expenditure - with the exception of pay rates - will be examined this year, with the remainder to be covered in 2018 and 2019. The topics selected for review in this year's round are currently being finalised. This approach to the review is informed by the Irish Government Economic Evaluation Service paper 'Spending Reviews in Ireland: Lessons for the Future' and has been tailored to reflect the changed context and lessons from previous reviews.
A review is also being carried out of the Capital Plan 'Building on Recovery', to ensure that capital spending is strictly aligned with national economic and social priorities, consistent with the objectives of the Programme for Partnership Government. The review will be undertaken in two stages. Phase one will be aimed primarily at advising the Government in the context of the Estimates 2018 on how the additional funding committed for capital funding should be allocated, over the remainder of the period of the plan. This will involve examination of priority areas for investment, consistent with the objectives of the existing capital plan, as well as reflecting the specific investment priorities set out in the Programme for Government. Phase two of the review will assess and report on the framework required to underpin longer term analysis of Ireland's infrastructure planning needs. The Taoiseach, in his recent address to the Institute of European Affairs 'Ireland at the heart of a changing European Union' reaffirmed that the new National Planning Framework for spatial planning due to be finalised later this year will be complemented with a long-term (i.e. 10 year) capital plan.
Regarding engagement with the Committee on Budgetary Oversight on the outcomes of these reviews, this will build on those already in place between my Department and the Committee throughout the Budget cycle.
20. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the failures or non-compliance with public procurement rules identified by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10496/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPublic Procurement guidelines require that a competitive process should be the norm when purchasing and awarding public contracts except in duly justifiable circumstances. Even in the case of procurement which might not be subject to the full scope of EU Directives, the EU Commission and European Court of Justice have ruled that EU Treaty principles must be observed. The essential Treaty principles include non discrimination, equal treatment, transparency, mutual recognition, proportionality, freedom to provide service and freedom of establishment. There is also a requirement to publicise contracts of significant value to a degree which allows parties in other Member States the opportunity to express an interest or to submit tenders.
Department of Finance Circular 40/02: Public Procurement Guidelines requires Central Government Departments to complete an annual report in respect of contracts above a €25,000 threshold (exclusive of VAT) which have been awarded without a competitive process. The circular states that all contracts awarded without a competitive process should be subject to an internal review, preferably by the Internal Audit Unit or alternatively by an appropriate senior officer who is not part of the procurement process. The annual report signed-off by Accounting Officers sets out a legitimate reason for not using a competitive process in relation to each contract. The report is forwarded to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
The Corporate Governance Standard for the Civil Service and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies also identify procurement as one of a number of activities requiring special attention in promoting good corporate governance. It is the responsibility of the Government Departments and State Bodies to satisfy themselves that they adhere to the requirements for public procurement and to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that tender processes are carried out in an appropriate manner.
In relation to compliance, public bodies are subject, at the Comptroller and Auditor General's discretion, to examination regarding their adherence to EU and National rules on public procurement.
22. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the latest data and the date it was recorded, on the number of persons currently in direct provision for one year or less, one year to two years, two years to three years, three years to four years, four years to five years and more than five years in tabular form; and if she will provide the equivalent data for the same date in 2015. [10789/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the Reception and Integration Agency database, there were 4,644 persons residing in State provided accommodation at the end of February 2017. At the same date in 2015, there were 4,460 persons availing of State provided accommodation. This increase in the overall number of persons in accommodation masks the fact that there has been a significant decrease in the length of time protection applicants are spending in the system and the natural churn in the system. For example in 2016 alone, 1,960 persons left State provided accommodation and 1,685 persons took up the offer of State provided accommodation.
The following table sets out the duration of stay of those in State provided accommodation (based on their last entry into State provided accommodation) at end of February 2017 and the corresponding statistics for the same date in 2015.
|
Duration |
End February 2015 |
End February 2017 |
|
0 > 1 Year |
1,172 |
1,754 |
|
1 > 2 Years |
531 |
1,229 |
|
2 > 3 Years |
408 |
603 |
|
3 > 4 Years |
366 |
303 |
|
4 > 5 Years |
352 |
181 |
|
5 years + |
1,631 |
574 |
|
Total: |
4,460 |
4,644 |
As can be seen from the table, significant progress has been made in resolving the long stay cases and this is evidenced by the fact that just over 64% of those persons residing in RIA accommodation at the end of February 2017 have been there for less than two years.
23. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations with no Internet access. [10794/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra24. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations that have been allocated or issued with a computer; and the number of these stations that have no Internet access. [10795/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra25. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of memory sticks that have been allocated to each Garda station. [10796/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra28. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of digital cameras allocated to each Garda station. [10799/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 23 to 25, inclusive, and 28 together.
As the Deputy will appreciate, decisions in relation to the provision and allocation of Garda equipment and resources, including ICT, are matters for the Garda Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct role in these matters.
However, I understand from the Garda authorities that every Garda station has been allocated a computer but, as I informed the Deputy in response to Parliamentary Question No. 13 of 16 February 2017, there are some 178 stations that are not connected to the Garda Network. The Deputy will be aware that the matter of enhancing rural access to the Garda network by connecting non-networked sites to the Garda Network is an initiative under the Garda Síochána Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021. This includes plans to introduce mobile technology solutions to enable operational Gardaí to access core information systems, including PULSE, while on duty and away from Garda stations. Providing members with real-time information on mobile devices, as well as enabling investigation teams to collect and share information digitally, will improve the effectiveness of the service provided to communities. Work on this has commenced.
In relation to the number of memory sticks allocated to each and every Garda station in the State, I have been advised by the Garda authorities that this information is not readily available and that the provision of the information would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources. I have asked the Garda Commissioner for the other information requested by the Deputy and will revert to him when it is to hand.
I might add that the Garda Síochána Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021 is intended to professionalise, modernise and renew An Garda Síochána to ensure that the organisation can meet present and future challenges. I am informed that the Programme prioritises technology projects with the aim of improving the services delivered to communities by members of An Garda Síochána. The Government is highly supportive of these initiatives and this is underpinned by significant Government investment under the Capital Plan of some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to Parliamentary Questions No. 13 for answer on 16 February 2017 and Parliamentary Questions Nos. 23 and 28 for answer on 2 March 2017 in which you requested information regarding, inter alia, the number of Garda stations not currently connected to the PULSE system or with internet access and the number of digital cameras allocated to each Garda station.
You will recall that, as all of the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available, I undertook to contact the Garda Commissioner on the specific queries raised and revert to you.
I have subsequently been informed by the Garda authorities that Garda stations generally receive internet access via the PULSE network. As I indicated to you in my response to your questions, there are some 178 stations that are not connected to the network and I have included a list of these stations in Appendix A.
The Garda authorities have also advised me that there are some 402 digital cameras currently allocated to Garda Stations nationwide. These figures are operational and liable to change and, accordingly, to provide a breakdown by Garda station would require a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources.
As I previously mentioned An Garda Síochána continues to extend the Garda network and is working to ensure that additional stations gain access to the relevant systems. Garda Information Systems such as PULSE will also be modernised to ensure members have quick access to timely and accurate information.
The Government is highly supportive of these initiatives and this is underpinned by significant Government investment under the Capital Plan of some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AWAITED
