Written Answers Nos. 656-63
656. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount allocated to flood relief measures in budgets 2015 and 2016; the amount which was spent in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19379/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is shown in the table and relates to the allocations for capital investment on flood risk management in the Vote of the Office of Public Works:
|
2015 |
2016 |
|
|
Allocation |
€61.284m |
€52.561m |
|
Outturn |
€48.368m |
€51.856m |
Expenditure on the flood relief programme in 2015 was less than budgeted for due primarily to delays in the planned commencement of construction of certain capital projects. These delays were due to a variety of factors affecting the finalisation of the detailed design and tender documentation for the projects and delays in the procurement process. Underspending in this or other years on the OPW's capital allocation is dealt with normally through the system of deferred surrender or capital carryover which allows underspending in the allocation in one year to be carried forward into the following year.
I am fully satisfied that the OPW has had and will continue to have sufficient funding available to it to meet its requirements for flood relief in any year. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has committed to spending €430 million on the Capital side of the Flood Risk Management area between 2016-2021 which will mean annual expenditure doubling from current levels to €100 million by the year 2021.
This increased allocation will allow sufficient funding for the implementation of major projects in the current flood relief capital programme and proposed projects arising from the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Plans, which are soon to be finalised.
657. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funding schemes available for works at Carrowkeel megalithic complex, particularly for a park and turn area; if funding will be made available to the local authority for low-cost works at the site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19507/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works is responsible for the care and conservation of the Monuments at Carrowkeel and is interested, in the context of a sustainable tourism model, in working with others to develop a good standard public access to the site. However, my Office does not control any land outside the immediate area of the Monuments and is not therefore in a position to either do the work to create the access or provide funding for any project such as the one described by the Deputy.
A number of consultations have taken place between the Office of Public Works and Sligo Co. Council in relation to this issue and they have recently moved to broaden this process to include a number of other relevant stakeholders with the aim of progressing a viable plan. The proposals are still in the preliminary stage however and have not reached a stage where realistic cost estimates have been developed. Once the proposal has reached this stage, the issue of a funding source will be addressed.
658. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans, in conjunction with the OPW and the Department of Finance, to strengthen the engagement with the insurance industry to improve the availability of flood insurance cover, in view of the State's ongoing investment in flood defence schemes as per point 70 in the Action Plan for Rural Development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19741/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March 2014, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Insurance Ireland (II), the representative body for the insurance industry in Ireland, and the Office of Public Works (OPW). This Memorandum sets out principles of how the two organisations will work together to ensure that appropriate and relevant information on completed OPW flood defence schemes is provided to insurers to facilitate, to the greatest extent possible, the availability to the public of insurance against the risk of flooding. II members have committed to take into account all information provided by OPW when assessing exposure to flood risk within these areas.
The Memorandum came into effect on 1 June, 2014 with an initial tranche of data provided by the OPW to II in respect of 12 completed flood defence schemes and showing the design, extent and nature of the protection offered by these works. A further tranche of data was provided to II in January 2015 covering a further 4 completed flood defence schemes. Earlier this year my officials shared data in relation to phases 2,3 and 4 of the completed scheme in Waterford City benefitting in excess of 400 properties.
II estimates that flood cover is included as standard in 98% of household insurance policies throughout the country. II has carried out a number of surveys among its members to ascertain the extent to which flood insurance cover is available in the areas for which OPW has provided data, by early 2015, on completed flood defence schemes. The results of the most recent survey were provided in December last year; they indicate that 83% of property insurance policies in these areas include cover against flood risk. Where the defences are permanent in nature the percentage is 90%; where demountable defences are used the percentage is 77%.
In line with Action No. 270 of the Action Plan for Rural Development, the OPW and the Department of Finance are now engaging with II on a quarterly basis. The OPW and II have established a sub group to explore the legal, technical and administrative arrangements that may allow for the further sharing of data on flood insurance cover for those 300 areas where the OPW has mapped the flood risk through the CFRAM Programme. This sub group has held its initial meeting and work is progressing in this area.
I am happy with the work of the Group thus far and am confident that it will continue to progress the issue of flood insurance.
659. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the discrepancy that applies in the context of pension adjustment orders issued as part of family law proceedings in court involving a public service pension whereby, in view of the fact that social welfare pensions are not the subject of such orders, the net financial impact on a person of such orders can vary significantly depending on whether the pension concerned is pre-1995 or post-1995, in which case the public service pension is reduced by the social welfare pension the person is entitled to. [20539/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAny decision on whether to seek a pension adjustment order (PAO) is a matter for the parties concerned. When an application for a PAO is made it is the role of the pension administrator to ascertain that the proposed order is legitimate and implementable.
When providing pension estimates, figures are based on the scheme member's occupational pension only. It is a matter for the parties concerned and the Court to take cognisance of any other pension entitlements such as the social welfare pension.
660. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the details of the reversal of cuts to date to the pensions of public service pensioners; the schedule of future reversals that have been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19164/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe particular measure affecting public service pensions under the financial emergency legislation is the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR), which was introduced on 1 January 2011 under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2010.
PSPR reduces the pay-out value of those public service pensions whose with pre-PSPR values above specified thresholds. It does so in a progressively structured way which has a proportionately greater effect on higher value pensions. At all times, public service pensions up to a value of at least €12,000 have been unaffected by PSPR, while a higher exemption threshold of at least €32,500 has applied to pensions awarded to persons who retire from 1 March 2012 onwards.
PSPR is being significantly reversed in three stages under FEMPI 2015, with PSPR-affected pensioners getting pension increases via substantial restoration of the PSPR cuts on 1 January 2016, 1 January 2017 and 1 January 2018 as follows:
- On 1 January 2016, increases in the annual pension thresholds for PSPR application were activated. These exemption threshold increases fully removed PSPR from a significant number of pensions with relatively lower values, while those pensions which continued to be impacted by PSPR received a boost of €400 per year.
- On 1 January 2017, additional PSPR amelioration, acting principally via further exemption threshold increases, fully removed PSPR from another significant tranche of public service pensioners, while at the same time boosting those pensions which remain affected by PSPR by up to €500 per year.
- On 1 January 2018, the third phase of PSPR amelioration will ensure that all PSPR-impacted pensions with values up to €34,132 will be fully restored, meaning that PSPR will no longer affect such pensions, while those pensions which continue to be impacted by PSPR will get a boost of, in most cases, €780 per year.
At 2015 year-end, public service pensions with annual values up to €12,000 were exempt from PSPR. Under the FEMPI 2015 three-stage roll-back, which I have outlined, on 1 January 2016, all pensions up to €18,700 became exempt from PSPR; from 1 January 2017, all pensions below €26,000 are now exempt from PSPR, and from 1 January 2018 all pensions up to €34,132 per year will be exempt from PSPR. Those pensioners not fully removed from the reach of PSPR will, in the majority of cases, benefit by up to €1,680 per year. The cost of these changes is estimated at about €90 million on a full-year basis from 2018.
As we move beyond FEMPI and PSPR unwinding towards more normal pay and pension setting conditions in the public service, 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.
661. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the Civil and Public and Services Union, which by its own published financial accounts 2015 and 2016 has provided funding of upwards of €31,000 to a group (details supplied), is still being recognised under the conciliations and arbitration scheme for the Civil Service; his views on whether this is appropriate.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19374/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe particular organisation referred to by the Deputy is not registered as a political organisation on the current Register of Political Parties in Ireland. It is therefore considered that no issue arises under the Civil Service Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy in respect of the civil service trade union concerned.
662. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the progress his Department has made on the adjustment of the post-award value of public service pensions referred to in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 2 March 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19471/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 2 March 2017. The position remains unchanged.
663. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he and his Government colleagues have given consideration to aligning the retirement age for public servants with the pension age; if he will, in particular, allow those who work in the public service and who wish to continue in their employment beyond the age of 65 to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19477/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn Interdepartmental Working Group, chaired by my Department, was established early in 2016 to examine the issues arising from prevailing retirement ages for workers in both the public and private sectors, in the context of the current age of entitlement to the State Pension and the scheduled increases to the State Pension age in 2021 and 2028.
The Group, whose Report was agreed by Government last August, considered policy around retirement age in both the public and private sectors, examining implications arising from retirement ages now and in the future. The Group identified a set of framework principles to underpin policy in the area and made a number of recommendations assigned to Government Departments and Employer bodies for follow-up in that regard. A copy of the Report is available online at http://www.per.gov.ie/en/report-of-the-interdepartmental-group-on-fuller-working-lives/.
On foot of one of the recommendations of the Report, my Department, with Public Service employers, was tasked to review the current statutory and operational considerations giving rise to barriers to extended participation in the public service workforce up to and including the current age of entitlement to the Contributory State Pension. This review is currently underway and is expected to be completed in Q2 2017. Future policy in this area will be considered by Government following the outcome of this review.
Any change in the compulsory retirement ages for public servants will require primary legislation.
