Written Answers Nos. 66-75
66. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the Supplementary Estimates for public services for 2017 published to date; the EU and national rules regarding the provision of funding for Supplementary Estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52339/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraManaging expenditure within their voted allocations is a key responsibility of each Minister and their Departments. At the end of October overall gross voted expenditure of €46 billion was 0.8% below profile. However, given the cash basis of Government accounting and the scale of gross voted expenditure, over €58 billion in aggregate for 2017, Supplementary Estimates play an important role in achieving proper alignment of funding allocations with planned expenditure. The need for Supplementary Estimates can arise from policy decisions, overruns, timing issues or shifts in expenditure requirements. Additional expenditure requirements in one Department may be offset by underspends in other areas.
The procedures in relation to Supplementary Estimates, both substantive and technical, are set out in Public Financial Procedures. As there is no facility provided under Public Financial Procedures for negative Supplementary Estimates, offsetting voted expenditure underspends in Votes not requiring Supplementary Estimates are not reflected in the aggregate amount below.
The aggregate amount in respect of Supplementary Estimates is €0.49 billion. The amounts by Vote are set out in the table.
Supplementary Estimates proposed for 2017
Substantive Supplementary Estimates
|
Vote |
Amount (€m) |
|
Vote 5 – Director of Public Prosecutions |
0.4 |
|
Vote 12 – Superannuation and Retired Allowances |
6.5 |
|
Vote 17 – Public Appointments Service |
0.7 |
|
Vote 20 – An Garda Síochána |
44.2 |
|
Vote 26 – Education and Skills |
124 |
|
Vote 34 – Housing, Planning and Local Government |
100 |
|
Vote 35 – Army Pensions |
10.7 |
|
Vote 37 – Employment Affairs and Social Protection |
10 |
|
Vote 38 – Health |
195 |
Technical Supplementary Estimates
|
Vote |
Amount (€m) |
|
Vote 30 – Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
0.001 |
|
Vote 31 – Transport, Tourism and Sport |
0.001 |
|
Vote 32 – Business, Enterprise and Innovation |
0.001 |
As we are operating under the fiscal rules that apply under the preventative arm of the Stability and Growth Pact, Supplementary Estimates can only be provided where they can be accommodated within the requirements of the fiscal rules, in terms of the projected structural budget balance and the application of the Expenditure Benchmark.
Looking at compliance with the Expenditure Benchmark, when compared to the projections set out on Budget day in October this year, the Supplementary Estimates that have been proposed this year would have an estimated impact of c. 0.1% of GDP on compliance with this fiscal rule. However, this does not take account of offsetting underspends to be surrendered at year-end that would mitigate this impact. Given the aggregate underspends at the end of October and November this year, and the amounts surrendered to the Exchequer last year, it would be expected that such underspends would reduce this potential impact.
67. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of flood defence measures for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52424/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been advised that the Office of Public Works approved funding of €148,370 in October 2017 under its Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection scheme to Kerry County Council for localised flood relief works at Clieveragh, Listowel, Co Kerry.
The implementation of these works is a matter for the Council and I understand that the Council is currently progressing the necessary site investigation surveys, detailed design and preparation of tender documents for the project.
68. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 29 November 2017, the process by which external members of TLAC are appointed; the qualifications and skill sets sought relative to external members; the level of professional human resources qualifications of each member; the rationale behind the decision to have two ex officio members; the skillsets required by the two Secretaries General appointed; the process by which they are selected and appointed; the attendance record of each member; the number of occasions when a split decision occurred in terms of an appointment; the way in which such a decision is dealt with; the number of persons appointed to vacancies that had no connection with the civil or public service out of the 615 appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52475/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC) operates in an independent manner and strictly on the basis of open competition and merit. TLAC is responsible for determining its own procedures and remit, subject to Government decisions as appropriate. All TLAC interviews are conducted by sub-panels of the Top Level Appointments Committee each comprising two Secretaries General, two external members and chaired by the TLAC Chairperson.
The process for the appointment of internal and external members to TLAC is undertaken by the Chair of TLAC and the Secretary General of the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, with input from the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach.
The criteria for selection of external and internal TLAC members includes experience in HR; Senior Management leadership experience; Public Service management experience; functional experience in Strategy, Operations, HR, Finance, IT, Legal, Corporate Services; or other relevant senior functional experience.
All final interviews are conducted by sub-panels of the Committee, each comprising two civil service and three external members and chaired by an external member. There is adequate rotation among the members in the composition of boards.
Since early 2007 when the policy for open competitions for Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary and equivalent posts was first introduced, circa thirty-six people were appointed from outside the civil service.
69. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if additional drainage schemes will be put in place in counties Laois and Offaly in view of recent floods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52446/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for maintaining Arterial Drainage schemes completed under the 1945 Arterial drainage Act. The Boyne and Brosna Arterial Drainage Catchments contain scheme channels in Counties Laois and Offaly. In 2017, 98km of river channel was maintained in Offaly and 15km of river channel was maintained in Laois. The 2018 Boyne and Brosna maintenance programme will include 127km of river channel in Offaly and 3km of river channel in Laois.
Separately, Local Authorities are responsible for the maintenance of Drainage Districts in their area. I am engaging with the Minister of Housing, Planning and Local Government to examine the funding available for Local Authorities to fulfil these obligations.
70. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if additional flood defences will be put in place in the midlands as a result of recent flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52447/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe core strategy for addressing areas at potentially significant risk from flooding is the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. This Programme is focussing on 300 Areas for Further Assessment (AFAs), mainly in urban locations nationwide, identified as being at potentially significant risk of flooding. Seven AFAs were identified in County Laois, five were identified in County Longford, nine were identified in County Offaly and three were identified in County Westmeath.
Feasible flood risk measures, both structural and non-structural, were identified in draft flood risk management plans which were the subject of public consultation in 2016. The final Plans are currently undergoing an independent review of the environmental assessments by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
I would hope early in 2018, to seek the approval from the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform for the Flood Risk Management Plans developed under the CFRAM process.
Thereafter, I would hope to announce the proposed structural measures contained within those Plans that will be taken, through a prioritised approach over the coming years, to detailed design to protect those communities at assessed risk.
71. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the OPW recently advertised in the national press for guides and sought information on age and marital status on the application form in breach of equality legislation; and the steps he has taken to ensure it does not happen again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52460/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn their standard annual application process for Seasonal Guides for Heritage visitor sites, the OPW routinely seeks key information from prospective candidates in order to progress the selection process. The online application form for the 2018 season can be viewed at https://www.opw.ie/en/seasonal-guide-recruitment-form/
Information in relation to specific date of birth is sought in order to ensure that the OPW remains compliant with certain regulatory requirements in relation to age. The OPW requires firstly that candidates are over 18 by the 1st January of the year of recruitment in order to comply with its policy in relation to employment of persons below that age and for reasons of child protection. There is also a further requirement that candidates be under the age of 70 at time of contract start date since the employment is pensionable in accordance with the terms of the Single Public Service Pensions Scheme (as defined in the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012), and retirement is compulsory on reaching 70 years of age. A simple tick box stating that the candidate is over 18 and under 70 would not fully capture the necessary information sufficiently accurately in all cases and a specific date of birth detail is therefore sought.
Details of marital status are not sought at any stage in the OPW’s recruitment processes and the online application form for the current recruitment process does not have a question in respect of this.
The OPW is cognisant of the importance of a robust approach where issues of personal data are concerned and, given ongoing developments in respect to data protection, will keep this issue under review to ensure that, if personal data is being sought without a firm basis, or if data is incorrectly handled in any way, it will be in a position to change its approach accordingly.
72. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the report compiled by Dublin City University regarding the BA course run by a college (details supplied); the conclusions his officials have drawn from the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52323/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have received a copy of the research report prepared by the team involved in the Adult Learning BA (ALBA) for Personal and Professional Development. The ALBA Programme was offered at All Hallows College in Drumcondra and was accredited by DCU. When All Hallows College closed, DCU facilitated the completion of ALBA by existing students.
The ALBA Programme sought to provide a flexible, learner-centred and competency-based offering for adult learners. The case study records positive impacts on education and lifelong learning; transversal skills; self-confidence and self-development, amongst others. I received the report approximately 2 weeks ago and an official from my Department met with some members of the ALBA team on 4 December to discuss its findings. I have asked my officials to give further consideration to the report and to identify what lessons might usefully inform the design of programmes offered by higher education institutions in attracting, retaining and meeting the needs of adult learners.
73. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons who have applied to Caranua for support; the number of applications that have been granted for each year since its establishment to date; the number and value of awards given in each year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52324/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCaranua is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The legislation provides that €110 million in contributions from religious congregations will be made available to Caranua to help meet the needs of persons who, as children, were abused in residential institutions. To date some €101million, comprising contributions and associated interest, has been received from congregations and deposited in the special investment account opened by the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) in accordance with section 29 of the 2012 Act.
Caranua’s annual reports which may be accessed on its website (www.caranua.ie) provide extensive details regarding the organisation’s activities including information regarding the number of applications received and the number of persons in receipt of supports and various related matters. Caranua also provides regular updates on its website in regard to these matters. The most recent published update, which provides figures to 30 September 2017, indicates that in the period from its establishment in March 2013 to that date Caranua had received 6,024 applications and had expended some €66.2 million in support of 4,886 applicants.
74. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 161 of 28 November 2017, if his attention has been drawn to Circuit Court Record No. 2006/07275 (details supplied); if so, if his attention has been further drawn to the expenditure to date by this institution on this action; the amount expended to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52330/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA institutions. The HEA allocates this as a block grant to institutions to cover teaching, research and administration. The internal allocation of this grant is a matter for each institution. Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions and my Department does not have any function in their day to day operational affairs, including the management of legal cases and their associated costs.
I understand that this specific issue relates to admission to an academic programme. Higher education institutions have direct responsibility for determining the criteria for entry to their academic courses. My Department does not have any involvement in such matters.
75. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be awarded a minor works grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52356/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra77. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the position of a school (details supplied) in relation to the minor works and other funding requirements will be examined; the best course of action for the concerns raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52384/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra81. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the minor works grant has not been made available to schools to date in 2017; when the grant will become available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52388/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra82. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a minor works grant can be made available for a school (details supplied). [52389/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra87. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if payment of a minor works grant to a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52496/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra88. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the minor works scheme will be introduced. [52580/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra90. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a minor works scheme grant for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52589/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 77, 81, 82, 87, 88 and 90 together.
I am pleased to advise that on Tuesday I announced the Minor Works Grant 2017/2018 for primary schools across the country and payment will issue next week.
The funding will allow minor works to be carried out on the physical infrastructure of schools or on the purchase of items of furniture and equipment.
