Written Answers Nos. 68-80
68. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the recent cross-party Topical Issue on community employment supervisors; the reason the meeting of the forum regarding community employment scheme supervisors to be hosted by his Department was cancelled; when the meeting will be rescheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47439/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn considering the particular matter regarding entitlements for community service supervisors, regard must be had to the costs and precedent of such an arrangement were one to be created. A scoping exercise is currently being finalised by officials in this Department and should be completed later this year. Due to unforeseen circumstances, it was necessary to postpone the meeting scheduled for 2 November. A meeting of the Forum has been arranged to discuss the scoping exercise in the coming weeks.
It continues to be the position that state organisations are not the employer of the particular employees concerned and that it is not possible for the State to provide funding for such a scheme. The employees in question are, or were, employees of private companies notwithstanding the fact that the companies concerned are, or were, reliant on State funding.
69. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will publish a draft version of the capital plan in advance of the plan being considered by the Cabinet. [47498/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Budget 2018, I announced the Government's capital spending plans for the next four years. I also set out the intention, as already announced, that the Government will publish a new 10-year capital plan alongside the proposed new National Planning Framework (NPF) for spatial policy detailed in the Ireland 2040 Plan.
As the Deputy will be aware, Government has allocated a significant and well-planned, increase in public capital investment amounting to €4.3 billion over the remaining four years of the current capital plan. This is in addition to the additional €2.2 billion for housing allocated in the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
Consequently between 2014 and 2021 public capital investment in Ireland will have more than doubled and, as set out by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, this will see public investment levels in Ireland moving to among the highest in the EU.
The long-term capital plan will comprise a financial and budgetary plan for public capital investment over the next ten years. It will contain detailed information on public capital investment projects and programmes already funded over the next four years, on the basis of the allocations announced in the recent Budget. It will also identify the longer-term public infrastructure priorities which are intended to underpin the achievement of the key strategic outcomes set out in the Ireland 2040 Plan over the period to the late 2020s.
The NPF which the new 10 year capital plan is designed to help deliver, is the product of extensive consultation, and is a key vehicle for establishing national infrastructure priorities. In addition, as part of the recent review of the current capital plan my Department held an extensive public consultation and has engaged with experts and key stakeholders. Hence, I am satisfied that both the NPF and 10 year capital plan will represent the product of considerable consultation and public deliberation.
I fully expect given the constitutional role of the Dail in approving and scrutinising Voted Expenditure that the 10 year capital plan will be subject to extensive discussion and debate in the Oireachtas, including through the work of the Committee on Budgetary Oversight, of which the Deputy is a member.
In this regard the key messages contained in the Committee's report last July on public capital investment were highlighted in the review of the capital plan published in September. These aligned closely with several of the key themes set out in the review which are informing and guiding the preparation of the 10-year plan.
70. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the south Ennis flood scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47382/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme is being progressed by Clare County Council as the Contracting Authority with funding from the Office of Public Works. When completed the scheme will provide protection for 74 residential and 10 non-residential properties in the area.
A report on the outcome of the tender process is currently being reviewed and this should be completed shortly. It is hoped that the contract for the construction of the works can be awarded shortly.
71. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his attention has been drawn to the recent Topical Issue on community employment supervisors; the reason the meeting of the forum regarding community employment scheme supervisors to be hosted by his Department was cancelled; the date for the rescheduled meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47491/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn considering the particular matter regarding entitlements for community service supervisors, regard must be had to the costs and precedent of such an arrangement were one to be created. A scoping exercise is currently being finalised by officials in this Department and should be completed later this year. Due to unforeseen circumstances, it was necessary to postpone the meeting scheduled for 2 November. A meeting of the Forum has been arranged to discuss the scoping exercise in the coming weeks.
It continues to be the position that state organisations are not the employer of the particular employees concerned and that it is not possible for the State to provide funding for such a scheme. The employees in question are, or were, employees of private companies notwithstanding the fact that the companies concerned are, or were, reliant on State funding.
72. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason dredging has ceased on the river Shannon; if this will recommence; if so, the areas that will be dredged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47512/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2016, the Shannon Flood Risk State Agency Co-ordination Working Group took a major decision to develop a plan for strategic maintenance works on the River Shannon to complement the Group’s existing Work Programme.
A sub-committee of the Group was established to examine all of the necessary legal, environmental, technical and other considerations. The sub-committee identified a small number of areas where targeted maintenance would increase the conveyance capacity of the river.
Work has been undertaken at Maddens Island and Muckinish and tree cutting at Shannon Grove is ongoing, in accordance with the environmental consents in place. Any further dredging has been suspended for the time being, in accordance with the consent conditions associated with the environmental window for such works. Further works will continue to be the subject of license applications for the appropriate environmental consents.
73. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which public procurement procedures can achieve savings in the course of 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47554/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe OGP and its partner sector sourcing organisations in Health, Education, Local Government and Defence have enabled procurement savings estimated at €300 million over 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
The 2017 savings outturn has not been finalised but the target for 2017 was between €80 and €100 million and current indications are that this will be achieved. The OGP and its partner sector sourcing organisations in Health, Education, Local Government and Defence are currently developing the 2018 savings targets. Additional direct and indirect benefits attributable to the new model arise from cost avoidance, reduced administration overhead and improved specifications. Increasing the application of professional procurement also reduces risk to the State by identifying risk and establishing contractual arrangements to manage those risks, such as damages payments for non-performance where applicable.
It is important to note that the consistent approach enabled by the new procurement structures can also deliver savings to businesses who bid for State contracts through standardised documents, proportional insurance requirements and reduced administration in submitting documents only when short-listed or successful in competitions.
74. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether further reform or policy initiatives are now required to maintain a stable path towards economic recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47555/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra75. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which reform is likely to remain a key element in managing costs throughout the public sector in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47556/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together.
Public Service Reform was a central element of the response to the challenges of recent years and remains an essential part of building for the future. We must build on progress made in recent years and maintain and renew our focus on Public Service Reform. It is essential that targeted recruitment and investment in public services is done in tandem with further Public Service reform measures, not least as current and future demographic trends will continue to place demands on public service delivery.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently developing a new phase of public service reform plan called Our Public Service 2020 which is expected to be published by the end of the year. It will set out a series of actions to be delivered out to 2020 and beyond which will both build on the achievements of the last six years and respond to new challenges.
Our Public Service 2020 aims to deliver better outcomes for the public, to support innovation and collaboration and to build public service organisations that are resilient and agile. The framework is built on three key pillars.
- Delivering for our public
- Innovating for our future
- Developing our people and organisations
The new reform plan also aims to strongly link expenditure with reform. This is to ensure that real reform is delivered and that there is a continued emphasis on ensuring value for money principles are adhered to across the public service.
Ensuring value for the tax payer is an important element of managing the costs of public services and maintaining stable public finances. In July this year I published the output of the spending review. The papers prepared for the Spending Review cover a wide range of policy areas and account for a significant proportion of current expenditure. In total, 21 papers have been produced by officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and other Departments. In addition, an analysis of expenditure trends in key sectors was also published. This was the first in a planned series of 'rolling' selective reviews that will take place each year to 2019.
The aim of the Spending Review process is to examine existing spending by reference to the principles of efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability and impact. This approach allows for systematic examination of existing spending programmes to assess their effectiveness in meeting policy and reform objectives and also to identify scope for re-allocating funding to meet both expenditure and reform priorities.
In this way, we can ensure that we achieve real reform across the public service and that value for money is achieved for every euro of public funding spent.
76. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the full extent to date of recruitment throughout the public sector in the context of economic recovery; the expectation in respect of future recruitments throughout the sector by the end of 2017 and thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47558/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, in my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for workforce planning in and recruitment to the Civil Service.
In Budget 2015, it was announced that there will be a targeted programme of recruitment into the Civil Service to address service needs and a shortfall in key skills commencing in late 2014 and continuing. The Deputy will be aware that a number of open competitions have already taken place or are in the process of taking place for recruitment to the Civil Service.
I understand from the Public Appointments Service, who are the independent recruiter for the civil service, that since the lifting of the moratorium, approximately 5,300 civil servants from open competitions excluding temporary assignments and professional and technical posts, have been assigned to Government departments and offices across all general service grades.
In the Civil Service in 2017, competitions for Clerical Officer, Administrative Officer, Higher Executive Officer, Third Secretary and Principal Officer have taken place.
It is too early to say at this stage what competitions may be held in 2018. Factors such as the demand from Departments/offices from existing panels, consequential vacancies arising, retirements and defined skill demands will influence decisions to hold competitions and these are currently being assessed.
However, it is likely that an Assistant Principal Officer competition will be held in the first half of 2018.
77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which he remains satisfied of being able to continue to meet the targets set by his Department in the context of spending and reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47559/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the degree to which each Department continues to maintain good practice in terms of expenditure in keeping with both the effects of the economic recession and the growing demands of the recovery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47561/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra80. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the savings achieved through reform or limitation of expenditure in each of the past three years to date in 2017; the extent to which this is in line with targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47562/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 79 and 80 together.
Effective management of expenditure has been a key contributor towards putting Ireland’s public finances back on a sustainable footing. On an ongoing basis, managing the delivery of public services within budgetary allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and their Departments. Important measures are in place to ensure that budgetary targets continue to be met. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is in regular contact with all Departments and Offices to ensure that expenditure is being managed within the overall fiscal parameters and there is regular reporting to Government on expenditure levels. The drawdown of funds from the Exchequer is monitored against published expenditure profiles and this information is published each month in the Exchequer Statement.
As set out in the most recent Exchequer Statement, total gross voted expenditure at end-October 2017 was €46,220 million, which is €375 million below profile, but up €2,001 million (4.5%) in year-on-year terms. Gross voted current expenditure of €43,308 million at end-October is €159 million below profile but up €1,602 million (3.8%) year-on-year. Gross voted capital expenditure of €2,912 million at end-October is €216 million below profile, but up €398 million (15.8%) year-on-year. The Deputy will be aware that 2017 was the third consecutive year in which we were able to increase public spending. As set out in Budget 2018 last month, this will continue in 2018 with a modest, sustainable increase of just over 4% in spending compared to 2017.
Since the first public service reform plan was published in 2011, a comprehensive programme of reform has been implemented and this continues to be a key priority. This is important as the performance of the public service has major implications for the management of the State’s finances, and for economic development and employment creation.
The 2014-16 public service reform plan put the public ever more to the centre of what we do both in terms of service delivery and transparency, openness and accountability. The final progress report on this plan, published in July 2017, was sent to all Deputies and is also available at www.reformplan.per.gov.ie. The report set out a wide range of improved services for the public and savings across a range of projects.
Work continues in implementing reforms initiated under the 2014-16 plan including the ambitious programme of reform initiated under the Civil Service Renewal Plan and other sectoral reform programmes. The CSR Plan aims to create a more unified, professional, responsive, open and accountable civil service that can provide a world-class service to the State and to the people of Ireland.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently developing a new phase of public service reform called Our Public Service 2020 which is expected to be published by the end of the year. This will build on the achievements of the last six years and allow the public service to better respond to new challenges.
Our Public Service 2020 aims to deliver better outcomes for the public, to support innovation and collaboration and to build public service organisations that are resilient and agile. The framework is built on three key pillars.
- Delivering for our public
- Innovating for our future
- Developing our people and organisations
It will also ensure a continued emphasis on ensuring value for money principles are adhered to across the public service.
