Written Answers Nos. 258-281
258. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the policy position in regard to the taxation treatment when a person wishes to pass on a non-farming business to adult children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47007/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by Revenue that for gift and inheritance tax purposes, the relationship between the person who provides the gift or inheritance (i.e. the disponer) and the person who receives the gift or inheritance (i.e. the beneficiary) determines the maximum amount known as the “Group threshold” below which gift or inheritance tax does not arise.
There are three separate Group thresholds based on the relationship of the beneficiary to the disponer. The Group A threshold (currently €310,000) applies, inter alia, where the beneficiary is a child (including adopted child, step-child and certain foster children) or minor child of a deceased child of the disponer.
I am further informed by Revenue that sections 90 to 102 of the Capital Acquisitions Tax Consolidation Act (CATCA) 2003 provide for business relief. The relief takes the form of a 90% reduction in the taxable value of gifted or inherited business property.
In order for business relief to apply, business assets that are the subject of the gift or inheritance must constitute what is defined as ‘relevant business property’. Included in the definition of relevant business property are unincorporated businesses, unquoted shares in certain family companies, and also assets used wholly or mainly for the purposes of a business carried on by a family company or a partnership, but not owned by the company or partnership. A business consisting wholly or mainly of dealing in land, shares, securities or currencies or making or holding investments does not qualify for business relief.
The relevant business property must also have been owned by the disponer for a minimum period prior to the gift or inheritance in order to qualify for business relief. The minimum period for gifts is 5 years and the minimum period for inheritances is 2 years.
Business relief is clawed back if the relevant business property is sold or compulsorily acquired within 6 years of the date of the gift or inheritance or if the business ceases to be carried on within that 6 year period. A claw-back of business relief will be avoided if the sold relevant business property is replaced within a year of the sale by other qualifying relevant business property.
The position as regards gift and inheritance tax is, therefore, that parents can transfer a family business with a market value of up to €3,100,000 to a child without any charge to gift or inheritance tax arising on the transfer, providing the parents, the child and the business assets each meet the conditions for business relief and providing the child has received no prior gifts or inheritances from his or her parents under the Group A threshold.
259. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if banks are permitted to rely on certain social welfare income in considering an application for a mortgage to purchase a principal dwelling house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47015/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe European Union (Consumer Mortgage Credit Agreements) Regulations 2016 (which transpose the Mortgage Credit Directive into Irish law) imposes certain obligations on lenders in relation to assessment of the creditworthiness of consumer mortgage borrowers. In particular, the Regulations provide that, before concluding a mortgage credit agreement, a lender must make a thorough assessment of the consumer’s creditworthiness. The assessment must take appropriate account of factors relevant to verifying the prospect of the consumer being able to meet his or her obligations under the credit agreement. The lender must ensure that the procedures and information on which the assessment is based are established, documented and maintained. The Regulations also provide that a lender should only make credit available to a consumer where the result of the creditworthiness assessment indicates that the consumer’s obligations resulting from the credit agreement are likely to be met in the manner required under that agreement.
The assessment of creditworthiness must be carried out on the basis of information on the consumer’s income and expenses and other financial and economic circumstances which is necessary, sufficient and proportionate. The Central Bank of Ireland has indicated that, on 1 June 2015, the European Banking Authority (EBA) published its final Guidelines on creditworthiness assessment. These Guidelines support the implementation of the Mortgage Credit Directive and are intended to ensure that consumers are protected consistently across the European Union when interacting with creditors. The Guidelines provide greater detail on how creditors should give effect to the relevant Mortgage Credit Directive provisions. As a further support to the implementation of this Directive, the EBA has also published an Opinion on Good Practices for Mortgage Creditworthiness Assessments and Arrears and Foreclosure, including expected mortgage payment difficulties.
The Guidelines state, under the heading ‘Verification of Consumer’s Income’, the following:
1.1 When verifying a consumer's prospect to meet his/her obligation under the credit agreement as referred to in Article 18 of the Mortgage Credit Directive, the creditor should make reasonable enquiries and take reasonable steps to verify the consumer's underlying income capacity, the consumer's income history and any variability over time.
1.2 In the case of consumers that are self-employed or have seasonal or other irregular income, the creditor should make reasonable enquiries and take reasonable steps to verify information that is related to the consumer's ability to meet his/her obligations under the credit agreement, including profit capacity and third-party verification documenting such income.
However, neither the Mortgage Credit Directive nor the associated EBA Guidelines make a specific reference to income in the form of social welfare entitlements or payments received. On that basis, there is no legal restriction on a lender taking social welfare entitlements or payments into account in their assessment of creditworthiness. However, subject to these provisions and also subject to compliance with any other legal or regulatory provision governing the provision of services to consumers, it will ultimately be a matter for lenders to determine their own credit policies and to make their own individual credit and lending decisions.
260. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance the criteria used by the banks in each of the years 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017 whereby a hire purchase loan could be sold to vulture funds at a discount; the type of calculation or formula that was used to determine that a loan was impaired and that it could be sold to a third party; if the Central Bank monitored or issued parameters whereby hire purchase loans could be deemed to be impaired and sold to a third party; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47025/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ability to sell loans to a third party is governed by the original contract between the lender and the customer and I do not have the data requested by the Deputy in respect of individual banks.
If a borrower has a difficulty with interpretation by a particular lender, I should point out that the Financial Services Ombudsman can investigate complaints from individual consumers about the actions of hire purchase firms and I would urge a customer who may have a complaint about such a firm to make a complaint to the FSO if the issue cannot be resolved with the firm concerned.
I understand from the Central Bank that the impairment of any exposure on a Bank’s balance sheet is governed by the relevant accounting standard. The Central Bank of Ireland issued guidelines in 2013, entitled ‘The Central Bank of Ireland Impairment Provisioning and Disclosure Guidelines’ which cover regulatory expectations regarding the policies, procedures and disclosures which the State supported Covered Institutions should adopt for loans and receivables financial assets (and held to maturity financial assets, where applicable) that are subject to impairment review in accordance with the requirements of International Accounting Standard 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement (“IAS 39”).
It is also important to highlight that the transfer of a loan from one entity to another does not change the terms of the contract or the borrower's rights and obligations under the original contract.
261. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance the number of hire purchase loans that were sold to third party unregulated vulture funds annually in each of the years 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017 by a bank (details supplied) or other companies associated with or to the bank; the value of these loans annually, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47026/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra262. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance the number of hire purchase loans that were sold to third party unregulated vulture funds or other third parties annually in each of the years 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017 by a bank (details supplied) or other companies associated with or to the bank; the value of these loans annually, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47027/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra263. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance the number of hire purchase loans that were sold to third party unregulated vulture funds annually in each of the years 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017 by a bank (details supplied) or other companies associated with or to the bank; the value of these loans annually, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47028/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 261 to 263, inclusive, together.
Officials in the Department of Finance have received the following responses from the banks in relation to the Deputy’s questions:
AIB:
“Hire Purchase agreements have not been a feature of loan portfolios sold to date.
Due to the nature of the contract involved, assets financed in this manner remain the property of the Bank until such time as the agreement has been successfully completed. Hence the resolution of instances where the Bank cannot agree a repayment solution with the customer will typically involve the recovery and disposal of the asset.”
BOI:
“As a publicly listed company, Bank of Ireland makes all appropriate disclosures to the market in relation to all operational matters. All Annual and Interim Reports, and other market disclosures, are available at the following link:” https://investorrelations.bankofireland.com/.
PTSB:
The bank responded that no such transactions took place. For clarity, the bank did confirm that it did sell its PTSB Finance business in 2012, which included c. €21m of hire purchase loans (2,865 customers), to Consumer Auto Receivables Limited which was an SPV backed by Deutsche Bank.
264. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance the number of hire purchase loans that were sold to third party unregulated vulture funds annually in each of the years 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017 by a bank (details supplied) or other companies associated with or to the bank; the value of these loans annually, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47029/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no agreement on the precise meaning of the term “vulture funds” and it has come to have pejorative connotations. I presume that the Deputy is referring to private equity funds. The Deputy will be aware that international private equity funds invested much needed capital in our economy during a period of high risk and uncertainty.
In this regard, the only sale of agreements during the period requested, relating to Ulster Bank Ireland DAC or a company associated with Ulster Bank Ireland DAC, was by Lombard Ireland Limited in 2012. 9,870 agreements with a gross value of approximately €216 million were sold to a third party.
The requirements of the Consumer Credit Act 1995 still applied to the agreements that were sold and approximately half of the agreements related to Hire Purchase Agreements. In 2016, Lombard Ireland Limited transferred all their remaining agreements to Ulster Bank Ireland DAC.
265. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance the full procedure whereby a person that has been declined lending by a bank can get the Credit Review Office to review the decision of the bank; if the bank can offer to perform an internal bank review on the matter; the number of times an offer of an internal review before the Credit Review Office is obliged to step in and carry out an independent review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47032/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the deputy is aware, the Credit Review Office is a government initiative that helps SMEs who have had an application for credit of up to €3 million declined or reduced by the main banks, and who feel that they have a viable business proposition. This is a strictly confidential process between the business, the Credit Review Office and the bank. Banks who are covered by the Credit Review process are AIB, BOI, Ulster Bank and PTSB.
The Credit Review process is available to borrowers (SMEs, farmers and sole traders) who have had their application for credit refused or reduced, or their existing credit facilities reduced or withdrawn, and feel that the bank’s decision is unjustified. The review process will operate after the borrower has unsuccessfully appealed through the bank’s own internal credit appeals process. If an internal appeal is unsuccessful, the Credit Review Office will undertake an independent and impartial re-evaluation of the bank’s decision.
In addition, the borrowers may appeal where there has been a constructive refusal as defined below:
- Where a decision on an application for a credit facility is not given by the participating institution within 15 working days (beginning from when the bank received all requested information), this shall be regarded as constructive refusal and the borrower may apply for review to the Credit Reviewer.
- Where a borrower considers that the terms or conditions attached to a credit facility or its price are so onerous as to amount to a constructive refusal, the borrower is entitled to apply for a review. The Credit Reviewer shall issue guidance on the reasonableness of terms, conditions and pricing.
Usually, the borrower will have had a credit request declined, and will then have had the decline decision reviewed internally by the bank, who have a separate appeals unit (different review team to the one that initially declined the credit) before a Credit Review begins.
The borrower can appeal to Credit Review Office any decision in relation to a new facility, or a restructuring of existing facilities – the restructuring may be proposed by either bank or borrower. The borrower may appeal a number of separate refusals. The borrower must request the appeal using a simple application form available on the website www.creditreview.ie.
A small fee is paid (between €100 and €250) as detailed in the Statutory Instrument S.I. No. 127 of 2010.
266. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if the Central Bank has received complaints or carried out investigations in relation to business loans in which the person is of the view they were wrongly removed from an interest rate linked to Euribor or were denied the option of reverting to a rate linked to Euribor following a period on a fixed rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47039/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been informed by the Central Bank due to the confidentiality requirements imposed by domestic and EU legislation, which provides for confidentiality of information relating to ongoing supervision and limits disclosure to circumstances specifically provided for in Section 33AK of the Central Bank Act 1942, the Central Bank cannot comment on individual interactions with regulated entities or release supervisory information regarding any regulated entity.
Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises who are customers of lenders are protected under the SME Regulations, including the right to make a complaint.
On 18 December 2015, the Central Bank published the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013 (Section 48) (Lending to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) Regulations 2015 (the Regulations). A small number of technical amendments were made to the Regulations in June 2016, the Central Bank (Supervision and Enforcement) Act 2013 (Section 48) (Lending to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises) (Amendment) Regulations 2016 were published. These Regulations came into effect and apply to regulated entities, except credit unions, since 1 July 2016. For credit unions the Regulations came into effect on 1 January 2017. The Regulations replaced the existing Code of Conduct for Business Lending to Small and Medium Enterprises 2012.
The Regulations state that in good time before a borrower is bound by a credit facility agreement, the regulated entity shall provide the borrower with information in a durable medium including: “terms and conditions applying to the credit facility agreement together with the relevant fees, charges and interest rates which will apply to the credit facility agreement including an explanation of the basis for calculation of the interest charge”.
In addition, regulated entities must, at least once a year, provide a borrower with a statement which must, where applicable, include the interest rates charged. Where the enterprise is a ‘micro and small enterprise’, a regulated entity must also inform a borrower of any change in the interest rate and the notice must inform the borrower -
(a) of the date of the change to the interest rate,
(b) of the payment amount after the entry into force of the new interest rate and, if the number or frequency of the payments changes, particulars of the changes,
(c) that the borrower should contact the regulated entity if he or she anticipates difficulties meeting the change in repayments, and
(d) where the change in interest rate arises as a result of a change in the interest margin on a credit facility, of the details of that change.
Where the enterprise is a medium-sized enterprise, the regulated entity must inform a borrower of -
(a) any change in the interest rate where the change in interest rate arises as a result of a change in the interest margin on a credit facility, and
(b) the details of that change.
The Regulations also set out requirements which must be complied with by regulated entities in relation to offering borrowers the option of a review meeting on an annual basis, to include a review of credit facility agreements.
If a consumer is concerned or unhappy with how they have been dealt with by a firm regulated by the Central Bank, there are clear processes in place in the Regulation for handling complaints. The Central Bank encourages consumers who are dissatisfied with their experience of financial products or services to ensure that they communicate their complaint directly to their financial services provider. This ensures that their complaint receives the protections provided by the Regulations.
267. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Finance his plans to address the unfair loading of motor insurance premiums on the elderly with some quotes increasing over 50% from the previous year. [47047/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Finance, I am responsible for the development of the legal framework governing financial regulation. Neither I nor the Central Bank of Ireland can interfere in the provision or pricing of insurance products, as these matters are of a commercial nature, and are determined by insurance companies based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept. This position is reinforced by the EU framework for insurance which expressly prohibits Member States from adopting rules which require insurance companies to obtain prior approval of the pricing or terms and conditions of insurance products. Consequently, I am not in a position to review individual cases as to the pricing level or terms or conditions that they should apply in those cases.
Nevertheless, my officials contacted Insurance Ireland in relation to the specific issues outlined in your question. In particular, the instances of quotes increasing by over 50% in some cases was highlighted, given the context of an overall year-on-year reduction in average motor insurance costs for each of the last six months (i.e., from April to September), according to the latest available CSO statistics.
Insurance Ireland responded as follows:
“The premium charged by an insurer is due to a large number of underwriting criteria which determine the nature of the risk and the resultant premium. One of these rating factors would be the age of the person; however, this is only one factor. It would be recommended that the consumer should request a breakdown of the premium for clarification in the calculation of the premium”.
Some of the other rating factors used by insurers include the type and age of the vehicle, the driving experience, claims record and penalty points of the driver, the number of drivers, how the vehicle is used, and the location where it is normally stored, etc. My understanding is that insurers do not all use the same combination of rating factors – in addition to which they also price in accordance with their own past claims experience – and as a result prices and availability of cover vary across the market.
In this regard, the Deputy should note that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission website has an informative section regarding the purchase of car insurance – see https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/money/insurance/car-insurance/#1. One of the tips listed to help cut costs is to "shop around" and to "always get quotes from several insurance providers when you need to get or renew insurance". A checklist for motor insurance shopping around is also provided.
Finally, in relation to the ongoing work regarding the cost of motor insurance generally my officials will continue to discuss these matters with Insurance Ireland.
269. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Finance his plans to appoint two persons with a background and career experience in consumer protection to the board of banks that the State has a majority share in; his further plans to formulate legislation whereby the State can appoint two such persons to all lending institutions in the State that wish to operate here and be regulated by the Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47058/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, during the week commencing October 23rd I met with the CEOs of the largest five retail banks operating in Ireland, in order to spur quick and appropriate resolution to issues raised during the Central Bank's review into Tracker Mortgages. It was clear to me, following those meetings, that significant cultural issues and challenges in some of the retail banks still exist. Customer interests have not always been sufficiently protected or prioritised and this is unacceptable.
I have therefore mandated the Central Bank under section 6A of the Central Bank Act to prepare a report for me on the current cultures and behaviours and the associated risks in the retail banks today and the actions that may be taken to ensure that banks prioritise customer interests in the future.
On foot of this report, the Government will determine whether any additional legislative and regulatory changes are needed that would enhance accountability in the banks for ensuring customer interests are prioritised. I will await the recommendations of this report before determining how best to proceed.
As the Deputy will be aware, the State continues to have the ability to appoint directors to banks in which we have a large shareholding. My officials have been developing new procedures for any future appointments to bank boards, that will address the commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government to, “Cease to appoint new Public Interest Directors to the banks, and reform the procedures for the appointment of bank directors by the State, with a view to increasing transparency in the process".
It is important to note that any new appointment procedure for bank directors needs to have due regard to the distinct differences which exist relative to appointments to State boards. These include the fact that the State is not the only shareholder in these banks, the strict requirements of the Single Supervisory Mechanism's Fitness and Probity regime and the requirement to have a broad set of expertise relevant to large regulated entities in an ever more complex regulatory environment.
270. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the apportion out cost to the Exchequer of budget 2018 changes to the standard rate threshold and reduction in the USC rate between income tax cases below €70,000 and above €70,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47107/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that the table sets out the estimated cost to the Exchequer of the Budget 2018 changes, on a full year basis, in the manner outlined by the Deputy.
|
Gross Income of Tax Unit |
Income Tax €m |
USC €m |
|
<€70,000 |
-75 |
-127 |
|
>€70,000 |
-77 |
-79 |
|
Total |
-152 |
-206 |
These estimates are based on tax units. As the Deputy will be aware, jointly assessed couples are considered a single tax unit. Therefore the income of a tax unit consisting of a jointly assessed couple is the combined income of both individuals.
These estimates have been generated by reference to 2018 incomes, calculated on the basis of actual data for the year 2015, the latest year for which returns are available and adjusted for income, self-employment and employment trends in the interim. They are provisional and may be revised.
271. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department is the owner of the site on which the Intreo office in Carrigaline, County Cork, is located; and if not, the owner of same. [45743/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive owns the site in question on Ballea Road, Carrigaline, Co. Cork.
272. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of civil servants on contracts post-1995 who have had their pay affected by the introduction of PeoplePoint and insisting employees show their sick pay documents despite having no legal basis and threatening that pay may be affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45806/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I previously stated, The Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) (Amendment) Act 2013 provides that I, as the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, can make regulations for a Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. These Regulations are contained in SI 124 of 2014 and SI 384 of 2015. The Regulations set out the terms for the granting of paid sick leave, including that Medical Certificates be provided.
PeoplePoint is the HR and Pensions Administration Shared Service Centre that carries out the administration functions related to HR and Pensions for the Civil Service, applying the Government’s HR and pension policies and procedures.
The role of PeoplePoint in the administration of sick leave is set out in the sick leave circular, Circular 12/2015 Arrangements for Paid Sick Leave. It states that PeoplePoint delivers the transactional elements of sick leave policy for those organisations within the HR Shared Service.
Previous response was provided to PQ37774/17.
273. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the mileage rate payable for 100% electric vehicles; if this rate is consistent with climate action goals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46443/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe motor mileage rates reimburse an officer only for the costs incurred in using their own cars for official business and are not deemed to be a source of emolument or profit. The rates are agreed with Staff Side Representatives and are determined by a methodology which takes account of the various costs associated with officers using their own cars on official business.
The factors taken into account in calculating the rates include items such as the cost of cars, motor insurance, maintenance, fuel, depreciation among others and also engine capacity (size). The rates are based on engine sizes in three bands: 0 – 1200 CC, 1201 – 1500 CC, and 1500 – 2000 CC. The agreed methodology for calculating the rates is based on a combination of figures issued by the Central Statistics Office and information from the motor industry.
All-electric vehicles are a relatively new and developing technology. The comprehensive information available for petrol/diesel driven cars is not yet available for electric vehicles and, as a consequence, it has not yet possible to devise a mileage rate for electric cars in the same manner as for petrol/diesel vehicles. The current policy of my Department is that civil servants using all electric vehicles may claim reimbursement at the lowest mileage rate (0 – 1200 CC).
Future reviews of the rates will be based on changes to these figures according to the Consumer Price Index. The current system as agreed with Staff Side Representatives will remain in place for three years at which stage it will be further reviewed in light of the conditions then applying to business needs and motoring technology.
274. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the funding measures that are available to help enable disability access for public and community buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46890/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen providing new accommodation or carrying out significant refurbishment works on buildings under its remit, the Office of Public Works addresses universal access requirements as part of the project design. This is captured within the overall project cost. Specific minor accessibility projects on existing State owned buildings are funded and addressed from within the OPW’s overall capital allocation.
275. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to improve the facilities at a location (details supplied) in terms of extending the carpark; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47134/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe OPW has understood for some time that the carparking facilities at Clonmacnoise Visitor Centre are limited having regard to the volume of visitor traffic the site is experiencing and has been working in recent months to develop a solution to the issue. Proposals being examined will entail both changes to the system for managing visitors to the site and certain physical changes to the carparking arrangements. A professional study in relation to a proposed extension to the carpark is being undertaken currently to identify the feasibility of various options having regard to the fact that there are significant archaeological concerns which must be taken into account in relation to any programme of works at the site which involve ground disturbance and construction.
276. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the shared model for Civil Service training and development includes suicide prevention training for Civil Service staff; if so, if such training is mandatory, and if not, if he will make such training mandatory with the provision of a refresher online course available to staff to be completed every three years thereafter. [45652/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOneLearning, the new Learning and Development Centre for the Civil Service, is responsible for providing Civil Service Core Training. As a newly established organisation OneLearning is in the process of developing appropriate training modules for all Civil Servants and making these available on an incremental basis.
While specific suicide prevention training for civil service staff is not currently provided, relevant training is provided across training modules dealing with people management, building resilience and customer service. Training content in these modules provides Civil Servants with:
- Awareness of the tools to build and strengthen personal resilience
- A professional approach in handling challenging customer service situations, and
- An understanding of the support available from HR Units in Civil Service organisations and the Civil Service Employee Assistance Service (CSEAS).
The CSEAS is the internal Employee Assistance Program for the Civil Service, it operates on a regional basis under central management in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and is an important shared service element of the human resource structure in the Irish Civil Service. It plays a key part in an ethos of promoting employee wellness and organisational effectiveness. The CSEAS provides a wide range of free and confidential supports to staff and management designed to assist employees to manage work and life difficulties. This includes information for those in suicidal distress and those who have been affected by suicide.
OneLearning will continue to work with CSEAS to ensure that the training developed for Civil Servants is relevant and provides awareness of the tools and supports available to those who may be experiencing issues with their mental health.
277. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the external company undertaking an audit of his departmental website; the cost of the audit; the timeframe for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45865/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is no company undertaking an audit of the Departmental website.
278. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the estimated cost of the provision of a defibrillator in each public building owned by his Department and agency under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45970/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe estimated cost of providing a defibrillator in each building used by my Department and the bodies under its aegis is €46,800. This does not include the Office of Public Works who will provide this information to the Deputy separately.
With regard to my Department itself, I can confirm that each of the buildings that Departmental staff occupy already has a defibrillator.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
279. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the meetings of the strategic communications unit he or his Department officials attended; the date and location of each such meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45997/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has had a number of meetings with the Strategic Communications Unit (SCU), as set out in the table below. I attended one meeting with the SCU, which took place on 19 October. The Director of the Unit briefed myself and the Secretary General and senior officials from my Department on the work of the Unit and the role it will play in improving effectiveness, efficiency and cross-Government cooperation to foster and develop a whole of Government approach to communications.
|
Date |
Location |
|
23/08/2017 |
OGCIO, Spencer Dock |
|
13/09/2017 |
Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings |
|
14/09/2017 |
Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings |
|
19/09/2017 |
Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings |
|
26/09/2017 |
Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings |
|
28/09/2017 |
OGCIO, Spencer Dock |
|
04/10/2017 |
Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings |
|
04/10/2017 |
Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings |
|
18/10/2017 |
OGCIO, Spencer Dock |
|
18/10/2017 |
Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings |
|
19/10/2017 |
Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Government Buildings |
|
25/10/2017 |
Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings |
|
25/10/2017 |
Department of the Taoiseach, Government Buildings |
(OGCIO - Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, which is a Division of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform)
280. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the last time his Department's website was revamped or remodelled; the cost of same; if he or his Department officials have been consulted regarding creating one stand alone online Government portal website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46014/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department's website was last revamped at the end of 2013/start of 2014, and went live on the 12th of February 2014. The cost of the redesign for this work amounted to €16,048.31.
As part of the Government's eGovernment Strategy 2017- 2020 the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), within my Department, has been working on the development of a Digital Services Gateway - a single digital point where citizens can easily access information about Government services that are available to them. This work, which began earlier this year, is ongoing and will involve the rationalisation of existing Government websites and online services over time. This project will be managed and developed by resources within the civil service.
281. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the investment in his Department’s website since 2011 including total associated costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46031/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department's website was last revamped at the end of 2013/start of 2014, and went live on the 12th of February 2014. The cost of the redesign for this work amounted to €16,048.31.
